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Award winner
Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
  • 2023

The Ruth Bancroft Garden

Up to 150 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Get Ready Rooms

Why couples loved this venue

  • Unique aesthetic style
  • Guests comfort
  • Amenities
Katherine
Ting
C
M
T

Recommended by 87% of couples

About this venue

Nestled by blossoming blooms and an enchanting atmosphere, Ruth Bancroft Garden is a one-of-a-kind wedding venue located in Walnut Creek, California. Ideal for couples who adore the outdoors, this botanical venue boasts natural beauty around every corner. This destination can grant you every wish with picturesque spaces, streamlined services, and more.

Facilities and Capacity

The Ruth Bancroft Garden offers indoor and outdoor venues for your engagement party, wedding shower, rehearsal dinner, elopement, ceremony, or reception. The garden is colorful, with various floral features, from waving trees to round cacti. This garden also includes a small pond with multiple rocks and a smooth stone edge. You and your partner may also say "I do" in front of the charming gazebo or dance with all your loved ones in the modern Great Room. This stylish room has polished floors, white walls, and circular lighting. Furthermore, the venue will provide you, your partner, and your party members with a contemporary chic dressing room.

Services Offered

The management team at Ruth Bancroft Garden hopes to make your event as memorable as possible. Thus, they provide several services, such as setup, cleanup, and event rentals, so your day looks flawless. These items may vary between dinner tables and a state-of-the-art projecto. These wedding professionals will also be honored to work with your outside vendors to ensure every inch of your day reflects your personality and love story.

What You'll Love About The Ruth Bancroft Garden

The Ruth Bancroft Garden offers a beautiful, picture-perfect setting for the most important day of your life. In addition to its dedicated staff, breathtaking scenery, and flexible event spaces, the property also invites you to book a private tour. This way, you can check out the venue for yourself and see how it can help you transform sparkling dreams into reality!

Features

LGBTQ+-owned

Medium team (11-20 members)

Experience

  • 7 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

Visit website

Weddings at this venue

Fangting & Daniel's wedding
Fangting & Daniel
69 photos
Whitney & Russel's wedding
Whitney & Russel
25 photos
Emily & Nick's wedding
Emily & Nick
32 photos
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FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$6,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$6,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$3,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$3,000

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Clean Up
Parking
Set Up

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

7

Describe your venue:

Garden
Historic Building
Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Clean Up
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Tables
Tents

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
July
August
November
December

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of The Ruth Bancroft Garden

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

Ruth Bancroft Garden is a stunning, well-maintained botanical venue offering intimate, photo-ready indoor/outdoor spaces and flexible layouts. Staff are responsive, organized, and handle setup and breakdown smoothly, making the day run seamlessly. Couples praise affordability, vendor/alcohol flexibility and the memorable garden atmosphere.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Ruth Bancroft Garden is a stunning, well-maintained botanical venue offering intimate, photo-ready indoor/outdoor spaces and flexible layouts. Staff are responsive, organized, and handle setup and breakdown smoothly, making the day run seamlessly. Couples praise affordability, vendor/alcohol flexibility and the memorable garden atmosphere.

Weddingwire
4.3/5 18 reviews
Google
4.7/5 434 reviews
C
Catherine Sent on 05/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The most beautiful venue with the best staff!

We loved getting married at the Ruth Bancroft Garden! We got married there at the end of April when everything was in bloom in the garden and it was so so beautiful.

The team was so nice and kind and super responsive. Tawny was so great to work with from booking the venue to the execution of the event and responded so kindly to all my questions. She has an amazing team and they also work to set up all the chairs and tables and stay on site for the whole event. She worked seamlessly with our coordinators, Contigo Events, to make sure the wedding ran smoothly!

I found this venue to be very affordable compared to a lot of venues in the Bay Area and it was one of the most beautiful venues that me and my husband looked at. We were very picky and were looking for the perfect place to have a garden-y wedding where we could have a delicious meal outside in a beautiful location and we were so lucky to have found Ruth Bancroft! The garden feels so intimate, there are so many different nooks that you can explore, and so many cool plants. We had a 45 person wedding and it was just worked wonderfully.

We also loved that we were able to bring in our own vendors -- we were able to save a lot of money on food and alcohol by having our event here. You do have to bring everything in yourself, except for tables and some miscellaneous furniture, but it was very worth it to us to customize our event and save money on food and bev that are usually even more marked up at all-in event centers.

We 1000% recommend Ruth Bancroft Garden for your wedding venue. Such a beautiful garden and an amazing team!! We had no hiccups planning the wedding and our day went perfectly, we can't recommend them enough!

M
Mark Sent on 02/23/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Magical Desert Vibes in the Bay Area

Tawny and the events team at The Ruth Bancroft Garden made our wedding planning and special day a total joy! On top of just being incredible humans, they were supportive, highly responsive, and detail-oriented throughout the process. RBG was the first and only wedding venue we looked at — it’s just that good. Our buyout gave us the flexibility to use the entire garden and events space to create our ‘Palm Springs Meets Northern California’ wedding vibes. From our fall sunset ceremony in the garden to our EDM-inspired reception and dance party in their new and modern event hall, we couldn’t have asked for a better venue. Highly recommend RBG if you’re looking to host a a once-in-a-lifetime event. Thanks, Tawny and team!
T
Tochi Sent on 09/16/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Venue for Plant Lovers

Our wedding at Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery was nothing short of a dream come true. From the moment we set foot on the property, we knew we had found a perfect place to celebrate our special day.

The natural beauty of the venue took our breath away. The wildly beautiful and well- manicured gardens, the elegant modern architecture for our reception and the scenic views provided the ideal backdrop for our ceremony.

Tawny Bourque, Mary Maxwell and staff at Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery went above and beyond to make our day flawless. From the initial planning staging to the big day itself, they were incredibly attentive, professional, and accommodating. They listened to our every request and made sure every detail was executed to perfection.

One of the standout features of the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery was the flexibility it offered. Whether we wanted an intimate indoor ceremony or an outdoor celebration under the stars, the venue could accommodate our every wish. And the attention to detail in setting up our chosen space was remarkable.

We also appreciated the convenient amenities Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery offered, from the upstairs space to use to get ready to the beautiful cocktail hour area. Everything was designed with the comfort and enjoyment of our guests in mind.

Our wedding day was filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories, and we owe a significant part of that to Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery. It's not just a place; its a magical setting where dreams are brought to life. We will forever be grateful for the incredible team that made our day so special.

If you're searching for a wedding venue that combines natural beauty, exceptional service and a touch of enchantment, look no further than Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the unforgettable experience they provided us on our most special day.

Annie + Tochi
Katherine
Katherine Sent on 07/25/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Naturally beautiful venue, amazing venue team!

We LOVED having our wedding at the Ruth Bancroft Garden! The venue is beautiful, and was such a cool place for guests to explore during the event. There are amazing cacti and desert plants everywhere, and it made for really lovely photos as well. We loved the indoor/outdoor vibe (we had our ceremony outdoors, and there are lots of spots to pick from; our dinner was inside which was great as it got a little cooler at night). The garden itself is just so stunning, so we didn't have to have a lot of florals or decor, since it was naturally beautiful.

Also have to give a huge shout out to the venue team at Ruth Bancroft—every step of the way they were so responsive, helping us plan the layout of our dinner and answering every question we had. And during the event, they were also amazing. Tawny and her team were SO organized and set everything up for us without a hitch, including setting up all the table and chair rentals, and moving all the chairs to the reception area from the ceremony area. They were also so helpful in cleaning up—my partner and I were still seeing the last few guests out while the venue team and our coordinator cleaned and packed up everything for us!

Would 1000% recommend the Ruth Bancroft Garden for anyone planning their wedding!
D
Dylan Sent on 07/17/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Gorgeous venue and wonderful team!

Ruth Bancroft was everything we could ask for! The gardens are absolutely stunning and meticulously maintained, and we loved hosting our wedding at a venue that serves a greater role for the community.

Tawny and the other staff were so easy to work with - very responsive, helpful, and accommodating. They provided great suggestions for the event organization, and helped with set up and breakdown on the day-of.

The venue policies are very reasonable - we were able to provide our own alcohol and they are very accommodating with vendors.

The garden itself is absolutely stunning (which is great if you're trying to do minimal florals/decor) and gives you flexibility to host different aspects of the wedding in different areas of the garden. Our guests loved getting to walk around the gardens during cocktail hour and see all the sculptures on display.

Absolutely would recommend!
Ting
Ting Sent on 05/07/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Not Your Average Wedding Venue!

Thanks to Heather Rose Garden who canceled us for burst pipe, we found this amazing venue! I fell in love with it immediately when I walked — the big variety of succulents, the color and the otherworldly shapes of them.

Had a little rough time with the previous event manager until Tawny took over! Tawny is such a sweetheart. Sweet, patient, professional and thoughtful! She cares! If the venue itself is 95 out of 100, Tawny had definitely made it 101/100.
J
Jessica Sent on 03/25/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The PERFECT garden wedding venue

I originally booked my wedding venue with Heather Farm, which canceled on me due to a water pipe problem. And I’m so glad I found Ruth Bancroft Garden, because it’s just a much better choice (much more modern reception hall and much bigger garden with an Arizona feel to it). If you are based in the Bay Area and want a garden themed wedding, this is THE place! I had a small wedding with 36 guests and I couldn’t be happier on my wedding - everyone is so helpful and every detail is exactly how I want it to be. Twany and Julia are a dream to work with - I love love love how easy, professional and caring they are. RBG is the PERFECT wedding venue 💜
M
Mindy Sent on 12/20/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Lucky they were available!

Ruth Bancroft Garden was our savior venue after our original venue cancelled on us two months before our date. Since they were so experienced working with our coordinator (TLC Events) it was an incredibly seamless transition to move our day plan and vendors over. Our only tough point was coordinating pictures/timeline since the earliest they could possibly allow guests arriving was 4 and sunset was at 5 (mid November date), but they let us begin pictures at around 230/3 so we were able to get enough sunlit pictures. Because the garden is so beautiful and the patio area is already lit with cute bistro lights, we didn’t have to bring too many outdoor decor/lighting, but did have to rent heaters since it was chilly and everyone wanted to hangout near the bar outside. Our group was around 70 people so dining and dancing fit inside the great room, bar outside in the patio, buffet out near the courtyard.
C
Claudia Sent on 12/17/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Kind, thoughtful, supportive and a wonderful partnership!

It was love at first sight when I went to Ruth Bancroft. The garden is beautiful and unique, with wonderful scenery and natural beauty that it needs little decor. I could have the California boho wedding of my dreams without trekking to the mountains or desert! I loved that the garden allows you freedom to choose your vendors unlike a winery or typical event space. I worked with their preferred caterer and day of coordinator who was a dream, and would highly recommend booking Elisa’s Catering and Brandy to work your event if you book at the garden. They have a wonderful understanding and partnership with the RBG staff that put me at ease and made me feel so supported as I did the bulk of my wedding planning on my own!

I also want to add that I had to reschedule my wedding (2 days before it was supposed to happen!!!) due to Covid and Tawny and Julia could not have been kinder or more supportive or amazing while myself and my fiancé were going through a difficult time. I am so grateful that I could have my wedding at RBG and cannot express how much I appreciate them.

If you are looking for a venue, this one is a show stopper, but the amazing staff will be the real cherry on top!
S
Sally Sent on 11/30/2022
5 out of 5 rating

The Ruth Bancroft is the BEST

What is there to say? The Ruth Bancroft was such an outstanding wedding venue. I was hesitant because we had a larger wedding and I knew that the garden would be open to the public until a specific time, but Tawny and Julia worked with my wedding planner, Jenni Grubba, and all of our vendors to make sure everything was set up and they had access to whatever they needed. It was absolutely STUNNING and having both the indoor and outdoor space meant that people could warm up inside during the chillier portion of the evening. We received so many comments on how perfect and stunning the garden was If we had do it all again we would still choose the RBG.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

18
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
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The Ruth Bancroft Garden frequently asked questions

The Ruth Bancroft Garden includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Clean Up
  • Parking
  • Set Up
The space offered by The Ruth Bancroft Garden for wedding events is known for:
  • Garden
  • Historic Building
  • Museum
The Ruth Bancroft Garden offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
The Ruth Bancroft Garden offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
The Ruth Bancroft Garden offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Clean Up
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
The Ruth Bancroft Garden offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Tables
  • Tents
The Ruth Bancroft Garden is recommended by 87% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.3 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.4 in value, 4.3 in quality of service, 4.3 in average response time, 4.3 in flexibility and 4.3 in professionalism.
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