UC Botanical Garden 200 Centennial Dr • Berkeley • CA 94720

In the hills above UC Berkeley is a spectacular 34-acre garden of earthly delights, nestled in Strawberry Canyon and overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The Botanical Garden is home to over 12,000 different kinds of plants, including many rare and endangered species. A stroll through its varied environments takes you past a cloud forest, a Japanese pool with waterfalls, and even an orchid and carnivorous plant house! This place is more than just a collection of pretty flowers—it's a living museum.

Among all the natural splendor are several lovely sites for a celebration. Imagine saying "I do" in a grove of majestic redwood trees. Your guests are seated in a demi-amphitheater atop benches built into the earth itself. They anticipate your arrival, catching teasing glimpses of flowing white as you make your way up the forest path. Finally, you and your partner exchange vows, refreshed by air that's crisp and tinged with the scent of moist bark and leaves.

The latest addition to the gardens is the historic Julia Morgan Hall, designed by the famous architect in 1911 and moved to its new home here in 2014. The building is perfect for small upscale receptions and rehearsal dinners, with an interior done entirely in warm, dark wood. The elegant main room features a fireplace and a floor-to-ceiling picture window that looks out to the attached deck and the California section of the garden beyond. It opens to both the deck and a charming sunroom, creating a wonderful indoor/outdoor flow between the spaces. Just steps from the Hall, the elevated Tour Deck provides an excellent spot for toasting the newlyweds while surveying the New World Desert garden below.

Scenic backdrops for photos abound—one that's particularly appealing is a footbridge spanning the green banks of the creek. Here, in the forest's dewy coolness, brightly colored dragonflies dart from delicate ferns to lily pads, and the silhouette of you and your partner is mirrored in the water below.

Whichever sites you choose in this horticultural wonderland, you can be sure of one thing: You're taking the concept of "a simple garden wedding" to a whole new level! And if you're planning a meeting or private party, this unique venue works beautifully for those events, too.