We invite you to consider the facilities offered by the Swedenborgian Church in Pacific Heights, San Francisco. The historic Arts & Crafts chapel with its landscaped lawn and garden provide an unforgettable setting for a marriage ceremony. Our friendly, experienced staff will do everything possible to ensure that your wedding is a joyous event.
This National Historic Landmark is famed throughout the Bay Area for its century-old tradition of celebrating beautiful wedding ceremonies tailored for each occasion, the Swedenborgian Church will serve your needs through a friendly and experienced staff who love going the extra mile to ensure that your wedding is a joyous event for all concerned.
Though the church has an active and vibrant congregation rooted in the Swedenborgian tradition, the wedding program is non-denominational and open to people of all backgrounds. Guest officiants are welcome upon approval.
We cherish our tradition of helping couples begin their marriage with rare beauty. It is best to call or email our office for wedding information:
(415) 346-6466, x10 or info@sfswedenborgian.org.
San Francisco's Swedenborgian Church was built in 1895 by a gathering of architects, artists and spiritual seekers, whose names have now become legendary. The Rev. Joseph Worcester, the founding pastor, was also an unusually visionary amateur architect, often cited as the true pioneer of Bay Region Arts & Crafts architecture.
Working in consultation with A. Page Brown, he brought together the insights and contributions of Bernard Maybeck, A.C. Schweinfurth, Willis Polk, Bruce Porter, and William Keith to produce, not so much architecture, as Brown said later, but rather "poetry of architecture".
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Click here to see a 360 degree view
of the sanctuary and facilities.
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Four oil landscape murals by California's premier nature artist, William Keith, illustrate scenes of the seasons on the north wall. The famed Bruce Porter stained-glass window at a high focal point depicts a dove resting on a fountain against a background of flower blossoms. In lieu of conventional pews, historic handmade maple chairs lend a striking atmosphere of Arts & Crafts.
In its "wedding dress," the church glows day and night from the warmth of a huge fireplace and the flames of more than sixty candles. Madrone tree trunks, with bark left on, arch overhead and convey the sacred peace of a forest.
The beauty of nature and her wisdom provide the vision underlying the grounds and chapel designed and constructed in the Franciscan mission style while the magic of the Craftsman period transports the visitor into a new dimension of nature.
Our turn-of-the-century Parish House, designed by Willis Polk (after whom Polk Street was named), is a charming, convenient, and economical setting for a reception.
Three main rooms include the Garden Room, with deck and large windows looking out onto the garden, an Arts & Crafts library-den, and a long dining room suitable for buffet serving.
Two working fireplaces provide a warm and inviting setting. The house holds up to 100 guests for a buffet-style reception and approximately 60 for formal sit-down dinner receptions. Couples arrange their own catering.
Our staff is ready to answer your questions and help you plan each
detail of your wedding.
Here's what couples are saying:
We absolutely loved our ceremony at the Swedenborgian - it was so immensely special, intimate, cozy, and wonderful in every way. We stopped in again just last Sunday to take it all in again before leaving San Francisco, and it took our breath away once more. We'll look forward to visiting again sometime soon.
With thanks and gratitude,
Amy & Brian
Thank you for all your help facilitating Timmy's and my wedding. The day could not have been any more special and memorable. We're grateful for how kindly you accommodated all our requests. Please enjoy this homemade jam as a token of our thanks for your graciousness for us.
Michael, Timmy, Eli & Ezia
John and I want to thank you and the SF Swedenborgian church for allowing us to have our wedding and reception at your beautiful church facilities. Our guests all said it was a very special, intimate space for a wedding, made all the more memorable by the wonderful church staff.
Kirill and I just want to thank all of you for conducting such a beautiful wedding ceremony on July 25th. We are very happy that we chose Swedenborgian Church for our ceremony site. Several people asked us how we found the church and more people mentioned that it was the BEST ceremony they've ever attended. Without your help, it would not have been possible. Thank you again for your assistance.
Many blessings to you!
Ryoko & Kirill
Thanks so much for helping us coordinate a wonderful wedding
at the church on August 17. Jules and I are so glad we stumbled across
your venue on the internet, because it was the perfect place for us.
Our guests enjoyed it as well.
We especially appreciate your working with us as we planned our day
from half a world away. It was great to have the officiant, the
organist, and the wedding hostess all included. Though we missed
having you as our wedding hostess, Megan did a great job. Please pass
along our thanks.
We hope to come back and attend a service at the church next time we
are in San Francisco, since we didn't get enough time to enjoy the
ambience on the wedding day!
Good luck and peace,
Joe and Jules
Thank you for everything at our wedding on October 4th. We had an amazing time. Glen did a great job and Reverend Moss was amazing.
Many thanks to each of you for the priviledge and pleasure of having our wedding and reception at your church. We could not have asked for more beautiful, welcoming, and unique place. Thank you for making our day so special. Enclosed please find a couple of photos from our wedding. We would love to help provide referrals to potential clients in the future. We recently moved to NY, but are always available via phone. Many thanks once again.
Best wishes,
David & Caitlin
This is to thank you and Megan for your help in making Alice's and Zach's wedding and reception a joyous and memorable event for Alice and Zach and our family and friends. The Swedenborgian Church, the grounds, and the Reception Halls are beautiful, and all our guests loved the setting and the historical aspects of the Church. It was the perfect place for Alice and Zach to renew their wedding vows with their sweet daughter Nina.
Most sincerely,
Susan Barclay
Mother of the Bride
Experience tells us that certain information is important to couples when considering our church for their wedding:
The seating capacity of the church is 100-115 persons (in addition to the wedding party, who, as participants in the ceremony, do not need a seat). Standing-room-only weddings will hold 150, but this is a firm limit. The size and intimacy of our church also make it suitable for smaller weddings.
Our weddings are normally scheduled 3 hours apart with two and one-half hours allotted to each wedding. For example, if yours is a 2 o'clock wedding, you have the use of the church and gardens from 1:00 to 3:30.
A donation fee of $1,800 is required for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday wedding ceremonies. The fee for Monday-Thursday ceremonies with fewer than 20 guests is $900; and with over 20 guests, the fee is $1,200. The reception area rental fee is $400/reception hour. There is no additional fee for setup or cleanup time.
The donation includes a minister's services, staff musician, the assistance of a wedding hostess, wedding rehearsal, all candles in the church, a fire in the fireplace, conferences with the minister and musician, bridal dressing room and use of the garden for wedding photos. Guest officiants and musicians are welcome, upon approval by our staff.
A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your wedding date and time. It will be applied toward your full contribution to the church. For receptions, a $400 refundable security deposit is also required. Full payment is due one month before the wedding. A tentative reservation of up to 14 days is possible without a deposit.
The Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco
National Historic Landmark
Contact Us
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