Nestled in the idyllic landscape of Walnut Creek, in California's San Francisco Bay Area is The Gardens at Heather Farm, a public garden, education center, and award-winning wedding venue. With six acres of enchanting indoor and outdoor spaces, this premier garden venue has been a perfect place to say "I do" for over 35 years.
Facilities and Capacity
The Gardens' philosophy this this: One wedding, one venue. Share your special day with friends and family enjoying the beauty of nature. Have your outdoor ceremony in our lush garden at the classic, vine-covered Gazebo or the expansive Meadow Lawn. Take unforgettably romantic photos in the Cowden Rose Garden surrounded by thousands of colorful flowers from spring through fall. Cocktail hour is the perfect time to relax at the outdoor Patio & Pavilion with drinks and appetizers in hand. An elegant and fun reception awaits you and your guests, as you dine and dance the night away in the spacious Camellia Room banquet hall. At every spot along the way, you're never without an insipriring view of the lush natural lanscapes around you. The venue accommodates up to 150 guests and provides plenty of opportunities for your special wedding designs and customizations at all times of year.
Services Offered
An experienced team of event professionals will work directly with you throughout the planning process to ensure a successful event. Ceremony and reception furniture come included in your rental package, and the venue staff provides assistance with logistics and sourcing vendors. On your event day, a member the venue's events team will be on hand to assist with site needs.
History
The Gardens at Heather Farm is a cherished community resource dedicated to preserving and protecting the natural world. The nonprofit organization managing the venue offers educational programs for individuals of all ages and provides a variety of spaces for cultural, social and business events. The nonprofit was founded in the late 1960s by a group of garden enthusiasts and the facility officially opened in 1983. Both a Certified Wildlife Habitat and a Certified Green Business, The Gardens is supported by charitable gifts and program fees and is run by a dedicated group of staff and volunteers.
Gardens at Heather Farm was the first venue we visited and as soon as we visited, we knew we had to book! At the time, we booked 2 years in advance and a lot of the Spring/Summer weekends had already started filling. Jen and Rebecca were very responsive via email to all our questions about venue specifications and vendor recommendations. GHF is a very beautiful, natural venue; but the best time to be at the gardens is definitely when all the roses have started blooming in the Spring/Summer.
If you’re looking for a venue that has very romantic, simple, natural, garden vibes— this is the place to book. They are one of the most affordable venues in the bay area that has a space for an outdoor ceremony, a cocktail hour, and an indoor reception. The reception area is also just a beautiful canvas to DIY decorations-wise. And if choosing to do the ceremony in the gazebo area— you can definitely save on ceremony flowers when the roses are in bloom!
When COVID hit, due to the lockdown, we had to postpone/cancel our big wedding. After rescheduling twice, we were finally able to have an intimate outdoor ceremony there a year later from the original date, and we’re just so grateful that GHF was flexible at the time and able to accommodate us. On the day of, our attendant Lauren made sure we had everything we need, made sure no one else that was not there for the wedding was lingering in the gardens for our ceremony, and was just so professional and easy to work with that day. I’m also so so glad we were also around for when all the flowers were finally in bloom. Thank you again Rebecca and team!
Photos by Olivia Marshall Photography
Sent on 06/09/2021
Jennifer N.
· Married on 11/22/2020
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
The Perfect Venue
I cannot give The Gardens enough praise for being absolutely flexible when it came to planning my wedding. The outdoor space is absolutely amazing no matter what time of year and I am in love with my photos. Although I was unable to use the indoor space due to COVID, it is also lovely and one of the main reasons I chose this venue. Rebecca was fantastic and was a valuable resource during planning. I am so thankful that The Gardens were flexible when I had to downsize our wedding and applaud them for being so on top of everything. Thank you again, Rebecca!
Sent on 02/01/2021
Vessy I.
· Married on 10/02/2020
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Wish we could have had our wedding here!
We had booked the Gardens at Heather Farm for our wedding in May of 2020, but unfortunately had to cancel everything due to COVID. However, I wanted to write a review because working with everyone at the Gardens was a joy. They were always quick to respond, very professional and informative, and super sweet. They even gave us a full refund of our booking when we had to cancel, so we really appreciate that! The venue itself is a true gem. So beautiful!
Lovely! The Gardens at Heather Farm provides stunning views, beautiful lush gardens, and reliable communication with the rentals staff. The Gardens at Heather Farm is a gem in the East Bay. And an amazing place for gorgeous wedding photos!
The Gardens at Heather Farms is sooooo beautiful! We love to work events there.
The outdoor gardens are just perfect for any event. So many areas to take pictures , tons of beautiful and colorful flowers. The indoor reception room views the gardens from its huge windows and upper patio. The onsite staff is so friendly and helpful. We cater many wedding events at this location and by far a favorite.
The Gardens at Heather Farm frequently asked questions
What items and services are included in the starting site fee at The Gardens at Heather Farm?
The Gardens at Heather Farm includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
Chairs
Parking
Set Up
Tables
What are the most important characteristics of The Gardens at Heather Farm in terms of venue type, style and location?
The space offered by The Gardens at Heather Farm for wedding events is known for:
Banquet Hall
Garden
Park
What kind of indoor/outdoor options are available at The Gardens at Heather Farm for wedding events?
The Gardens at Heather Farm offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor
Scenic Views
What kind of wedding events does The Gardens at Heather Farm offer?
The Gardens at Heather Farm offers the following types of wedding events:
Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
What services does The Gardens at Heather Farm offer for wedding events?
The Gardens at Heather Farm offers the following services for wedding events:
Clean Up
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Set Up
Wifi
What furniture and decorations does The Gardens at Heather Farm have available for wedding events?
The Gardens at Heather Farm offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
Chairs
Furniture
Tables
What percentage of users recommend The Gardens at Heather Farm and which are the most valued aspects of their wedding services?
The Gardens at Heather Farm is recommended by 91% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.7 in quality of service, 4.7 in average response time, 4.7 in professionalism, 4.6 in value and 4.3 in flexibility.
