Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley

East Bay
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Kensington Wedding Location
1 Lawson Road
Kensington, CA 94707
Contact: Marilyn Hertzberg
Phone: 510/525-0302 x302

www.uucb.org
Request a proposal for your event from Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley

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Why We Like This Place

Although the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley is not actually in Berkeley, it’s right next door in neighboring Kensington, high in the hills overlooking an expansive view of Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington and beyond. Several elements make this 1960s church popular for weddings: a large central atrium, an adjacent sanctuary with a magnificent Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, and an outdoor brick terrace with a sweeping vista of the San Francisco Bay.

Larger ceremonies usually take place in the Sanctuary, whose one-of-a-kind, 2,752-pipe organ will make your walk down the aisle a memorable one. Nineteen rows of wooden pews face a recessed chancel area which functions as an altar. The chancel is dominated by a huge oak table with two bronze candelabras resting on its surface. To one side is a portable lectern, and to the other a wooden pulpit, decorated with fiery orange ceramic tiles. Smaller weddings use the Terrace or the Atrium with spectacular views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

When the ceremony’s over, the Atrium can be used for the reception or for champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Four towering rubber trees create a leafy canopy, and light from skylights filters in through the branches. In the room’s center, a black marble fountain lined with azure tiles bubbles softly while guests mingle. If you need more space or you’d like an outdoor reception, tables can also be set up on the Terrace. On a clear day, it’s one of the few places in the East Bay where you can dine while admiring vistas of the Golden Gate and Bay bridges or a divine sunset.

Two additional reception options are the Social Hall, which has room for more guests and a stage for a band, and the Fireside Room, whose cozy ambiance and magnificent views make it suitable for small gatherings. You don’t have to be a Unitarian or a member of the congregation to be married here, and you may bring in your own officiant. LGBT couples welcomed.

Capacity

Ceremony

Reception/Special Events

Meetings

Max. Seated Indoors: 400
Max. Seated Outdoors: 150

Max. Seated Indoors: 300
Max. Seated Outdoors: 80
Max. Standing Indoors: 500
Max. Standing Outdoors: 175

Max. Seated: 400

CEREMONY CAPACITY: The Sanctuary holds 400 seated, the Atrium 175 seated, the Terrace 150 seated, and the Fireside Room up to 75 seated, theater-style.

EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: Depending on the room, the facility can accommodate 50–300 seated at tables or 100–500 standing guests indoors, and 80 seated at tables or 175 standing outdoors.

MEETING CAPACITY: Primarily nonprofit organizations hold business functions and fundraisers here. Meeting spaces hold 25–400 seated guests.

Fees & Deposits

A $100 nonrefundable booking deposit is required to secure your date. Half of the total fees are due when the room reservation agreement is signed; the event balance is payable 1 month prior to the event. All events must provide a certificate of insurance.

Room rental fees for ceremonies range $480–1,500; fees for ceremonies with receptions range $1,200–3,500. There is a refundable security deposit; organist/pianist charges are additional.

Availability

Year-round, daily. Events are scheduled around the Church’s programmed functions. Events on Saturdays take place 10am–10pm and on Sundays 3pm–10pm. Fees increase sharply after 10pm.

Catering

BYO

Alcohol

BYO

Sites Uses

Ceremonies
Wedding Receptions
Special Events, Parties
Business Functions/Meetings
Rehearsal Dinners

Services/Amenities

Catering: BYO, must be approved
Kitchen Facilities: fully equipped, no utensils
Tables & Chairs: CBA, extra fee
Linens, Silver, etc.: BYO
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: in Social Hall, Atrium or Terrace
Bride’s & Groom’s Dressing Area: yes
Meeting Equipment: PA, VCR, DVD projector
(laptop compatible) and large screen
Parking: large lot, 200 spaces
Accommodations: no guestrooms
Telephone: emergency use only
Outdoor Night Lighting: access only
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no
Cleanup: caterer or renter
View: panorama of SF Bay and region

Amplified Music

Indoors
w/ Restrictions

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair Accessible

Site Views

Cityscape
Ocean/Bay
Panoramic

Site Type

Church/Chapel/Temple

Restrictions

Alcohol: BYO; beer, wine and champagne only
Smoking: outside, designated areas
Music: amplified OK indoors only until 10pm
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: certificate of insurance required
Other: no hard alcohol, rice, glitter, birdseed
or confetti; no open flames

Contact: Marilyn Hertzberg
510/525-0302 x302

www.uucb.org
Email or request a proposal for your event from Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley

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