Unity In Marin 600 Palm Drive • Novato • CA 94949

Step back in time to the sun-kissed days when California belonged to Spain and town centers displayed flowing fountains, colonnades, bell towers, gardens and charming baroque façades. Unity In Marin invites you to do just that. Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Novato, this Marin County wedding venue includes a multi-use Chapel area, the versatile Unity Hall for receptions, a commercial kitchen, and a lawn and garden courtyard.

The chapel, which blends pleasingly with the Spanish Colonial-style buildings in the adjacent town center, is surrounded by roses, wisteria, palms and a broad lawn. Its soaring interior welcomes ceremonies and/or receptions, with light-colored walls and cushioned chairs for flexible seating. Windows line the top of each side wall, bringing in views of the ever-changing sky. Pendant chandeliers, suspended from a spectacular exposed-wood-beam ceiling, cast up and down lighting. The room's ambiance is further enhanced by an ethereal half-dome ceiling over the maple-floored chancel/stage area.

The balcony is backlit by a colorful stained-glass window with an arch of clear glass beneath it. Old pews from the original Hamilton Chapel have been restored for additional seating. To the side, a state-of-the-art media booth controls a world-class sound system, theater lights and a rear-lit projection screen. The 8 x 10 screen, designed to be a discreet architectural element over the chancel area, appears as an opaque window when not in use. With this sophisticated AV system, you can project favorite photos, engagement pictures, videos or background images prior to or during the ceremony or reception.

In the vestibule area, there's a soundproof family or "cry" room. This carpeted area has a picture window that allows families with babies or crying children a comfortable place from which to view the ceremony. Adjoining the chapel is a bride's room with its own bathroom and full-length mirror, perfect for treasured moments of privacy and as a place to change before and after the wedding.

Unity Hall is ideal for receptions and banquets, and can also be partitioned into four smaller meeting rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple doors offer views of the courtyard, while other windows look out to the back hillside. The countertops and granite serving counter work well for buffets, and the adjacent full-size commercial kitchen can accommodate any caterer.

Garden-style weddings are easily arranged in the courtyard, which has a fountain as its centerpiece. This outdoor space is enclosed by colonnaded walkways that provide shade and can also be used for a buffet or cocktail table setup. With unobtrusive built-in lighting and sound, the courtyard can be used any time of day.

The campus' newest addition is the Meditation Garden, a beautiful backdrop for photos. A wisteria-covered trellis beckons you down a winding path through naturally landscaped gardens. Wooden benches along the way encourage you to relax and enjoy the surrounding native trees, flowers and greenery.

Unity In Marin is both romantic and spiritually uplifting. When you come by for a visit, take a moment to sit on a bench near the fountain and appreciate how deftly this venue has melded past and present together. We think its combination of carefully rendered classical Mission architecture and cutting-edge facilities is hard to beat.