I Do Venues ~ Julia Morgan Ballroom

Photography by: Chung Li Photography

About the Venue

 

There is not a designer, florist, photographer, or musician in San Francisco who does not love working at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. There are so many magnificent architectural elements, huge open spaces, intimate enclaves, and world class views. As a planner though I must admit, my favorite part about the Ballroom is the staff. Lynda Hylan has been a part of San Francisco weddings long enough to know how to do things right. Her staff is professional, passionate about pleasing their clients, and the facility has always run with the precision of a fine watch.

The space is ideal for the traditional bride that wants to play up the old-world decadence of the venue. Elegant history manifests itself all around the space, and only a little fine tuning is necessary to turn this venue into a place that reflects your wedding style. The ballroom’s dark patterned carpets are highly sophisticated, and its lavish draperies let in the perfect amount of light whether it is day or night. Sunlight during the day brightens the rooms, and the gorgeous cityscape lights of the San Francisco skyline pour in during the evening. Couples often feel the need to use elaborate designs in such an incredible space in order to complement its already extravagant décor; however, this is completely unnecessary. While drama is perfectly suited for the Julia Morgan Ballroom, we suggest moving toward simple and elegant décor designs so that a balance is created in the already elaborate space.

Ask the Expert

 

The Julia Morgan Ballroom offers an expanse of dark wood touches from the inlaid ceilings to the incredibly carved wood walls. Adding a rich jewel tone keeps the drama of the space but brightens it up and gives the feel of a signature style. The rich purple tone used by this couple is so regal and adds to the beauty of the space instead of distracting from it. There is no need to add additional patterns in the linens - just rich color and opulent fabrics will be enough to achieve the desired look. The saturated color in the wedding pictured above comes from a dramatic combination of purple uplighting, linens, favors, and flowers. This achieves the strong look necessary for a room with big dramatic design.

The tall centerpieces used here echo the circular pattern of the carpet and ceiling, but the clear vessels add a modern point of view. The ceilings in the room are tall, so the grand centerpieces work beautifully. Keeping the vases clear and thin allow guests to still have conversations across the tables. The chargers, which have a rim of clear pearls, also reflect this modern circular pattern. Like the rich eggplant hue, the circular design is carried throughout for a design with abundant drama.