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St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

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San Francisco Wedding Venue
1111 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
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Contact: Wedding and Events Administrator
Phone: 415/928-7770 x225
www.stmarks-sf.org
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St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Why We Like This Place

Known for its welcoming spirit, this landmark brick-and-stone church has been flinging wide its doors to celebrations of life and love since its inception. Designed with an artful blend of Romanesque style and Gothic elements by German-American architect Henry Geilfuss and built to last in 1895, St. Mark’s has easily weathered shakeups of every kind—including major earthquakes. In June of 2005, it underwent an $11-million renovation and complete restoration inside and out, as well as an expansion of its rooms and facilities. Such great care was taken in the process that the church received a Preservation Design Award by the California Preservation Foundation in 2007.

The sanctuary is a stunner. Guests can meet and mingle in the eclectically furnished foyer beneath frosted-glass chandeliers before stepping through the three double doors that lead inside. In the sanctuary, cream-colored walls soar to a sky-blue vaulted ceiling and ten floor-to-ceiling stained-glass windows sparkle with a jewel-like brilliance. Honey-colored floors and pews cushioned in amber velvet add to the beauty of the interior. The lighting—from shafts of sunlight, chandeliers, sconces or the soft aura of candlelight—is exquisite and much of it is adjustable. As for the acoustics, they’re so phenomenal that even Grammy Award-winning musicians love performing here and you can be sure everyone will be able to hear your vows.

For your reception or any other type of gathering, take the staircase with the beautiful mahogany balustrade down to the homey Heritage Hall. Also accessible through a separate entrance at the side of the church, this flexible and extremely affordable family-oriented space includes a roomy salon with grand piano, A/V capability, and mood lighting. It also comes with a full catering kitchen; a nursery with tiny tables, toys, and playhouses for the kiddies; and a roomy ladies’ room with a shower. The vibe is comfortable and casual here, but the expert and accommodating staff can help you create a more formal setting if that’s your preference. You can also opt to either keep the festivities indoors or use adjacent St. Mark’s Square for meet and greets, cocktails, as a tented addition to your event area, or simply as a place for guests to relax on seating beneath the olive trees.

Across the square, the Urban Life Center Auditorium can be rented alone or as another way to expand your celebration. Large and extremely utilitarian, it’s suitable for dances, dinners, party games—just about anything where the atmosphere is low-key and the emphasis is on simplicity and ease. The little fireside room next door, outfitted with a piano, fireplace and TV, could be the ideal hangout for the bride and her attendants, staff or entertainers.

St. Mark’s is such a gorgeous church that even if you’re not a religious person you’re likely to have a spiritual experience.

Capacity

Ceremony

Reception/Special Events

Meetings

Max. Seated Indoors: 470
Max. Seated Outdoors: 350 		Max. Seated Indoors: 175
Max. Seated Outdoors: 350
Max. Standing Indoors: 250
Max. Standing Outdoors: 350 		Max. Seated: 0

CEREMONY CAPACITY: The facility holds 470 seated guests indoors and 350 seated outdoors.

EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: The site can accommodate 175 seated or 250 standing indoors and 350 seated or standing outdoors.

MEETING CAPACITY: Meetings do not take place at this facility.

Fees & Deposits

A $400 deposit is required to reserve your date and the balance is due 30 days prior to the event. Rental fees range $500–3,000 depending on the day and time of the event, guest count and the amenities required.

Availability

Year-round, daily. Only one wedding booked per day.

Catering

BYO

Alcohol

BYO

Location Uses

Ceremonies
Wedding Receptions
Special Events, Parties
Rehearsal Dinners

Services/Amenities

Catering: BYO
Kitchen Facilities: fully equipped
Tables & Chairs: provided
Linens, Silver, etc.: provided
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: CBA
Bride’s & Groom’s Dressing Areas: yes
Meeting Equipment: n/a
Parking: large lot
Accommodations: no guest rooms
Telephone: emergency use only
Outdoor Night Lighting: CBA
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no
Cleanup: renter or caterer
View: garden, landscaped grounds
Other: event coordination, grand piano, clergy on staff, expert vendor referrals

Amplified Music

Indoors
Outdoors
w/ Restrictions

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair Accessible

Site Views

Garden
Garden Patio/Courtyard
Landscaped Grounds

Venue Type

Church/Chapel/Temple
Historic/Landmark Building

Restrictions

Alcohol: BYO
Smoking: outside only
Music: amplified OK with restrictions
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: not required



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