About San Francisco
San Francisco has long been a massive melting pot on the west coast in Northern California. Dominated by leg-trembling hills, the trolley system throughout the city has become iconic across the world. With world class sights such as Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge and outstanding colleges such as Stanford, there is a real mix of people, cultures and styles in the city.
Being so close to the coast – with some great, if not slightly chilly surfing on hand – to Redwood forests and only short drives to mountains and the illustrious wine country, there are so many reasons to have your next celebration in San Francisco.
Celebration Options in San Francisco
Whether it’s a christening, wedding, birthday, anniversary, quinceanera or another type of celebration, there are a lot of things to consider when trying to realize your vision.
- Flowers
Floral arrangements or bouquets can bring any venue to life. Most florists will have several arrangements options for different occasions and should be able to help you find the best flora and fauna to match your theme and your San Francisco celebration venue.
- Music
What’s a celebration without a bit of music? Whether you want to dance the night away with a modern DJ, get a family-friendly cover band playing the classics, or a more elegant string quartet or jazz singer, there are plenty of options.
- Catering
Do you know what stops a party in its tracks quicker than anything else? Running out of food and drink. From buffets to food trucks to sit-down occasions, you can always find something to suit your celebration’s style and theme.
Celebration Companies in San Francisco
Sorting out an entire celebration party can be a daunting prospect but luckily, there are tons of vendors in San Francisco ready to help.
- DJ Jeremy Productions
Whatever your musical vibe or the taste of your guests is, DJ Jeremy Productions tailor their mixes and playlists to your needs. They also provide all their own audio and visual equipment, so if you need lighting as well you’re covered.
- Above and Beyond Catering
Serving tasty, refined food to the Bay Area since 2005, Above and Beyond Catering has a great reputation for delivering memorable catering experiences no matter what your theme or style. Chef Anthony Barr makes a point to work with sustainable, local products.
- Fillmore Florist
Offering same-day delivery on bouquets and floral arrangements all around San Francisco and the surrounding areas, you can bet that the flowers you get from Fillmore Florist are going to be some of the freshest around. They are a premier florist on BloomNation.
Pros and Cons of Celebrations in San Francisco
The city is pretty amazing but there are also some cons to consider before you commit to a San Francisco celebration venue.
Advantages
- Culture
Given San Francisco’s long illustrious history as a port city, it’s a massive, multicultural wonderland. Any kind of festival, culture, language or cuisine, you’re going to find it in San Francisco.
- Wine
If you’re a fan of delicious wines or just like exploring different vineyards and wineries, then San Francisco is the perfect base for checking out California’s extensive wine country. Pro tip: get a tour with a driver so your whole group can enjoy.
- Nightlife
Being a city of San Francisco’s size means that there are tons of bars, restaurants, clubs and comedy clubs to check out and have a great time.
- Weather
As a northern Californian city, you get the benefit of great sunshine without it being super hot and humid. That Bay breeze really is a lifesaver in the summer months and it never gets the really cold snaps that neighboring Washington and Oregon endure.
- Travel connections
San Francisco is not only on the Pacific Highway going the length of the West Coast, it’s also served by a huge international airport and by a whole host of long distance Amtrak routes, making it an ideal place if you have guests coming from all over.
Disadvantages
- Expensive
San Francisco has a notoriously high cost of living, one of the highest in the entire country. With so many big tech firms and businesses calling the city and surrounding Bay Area home, it’s made the price of living skyrocket. Be sure to have a financial plan for your gathering.
- Traffic
As with any large city where the majority of the locals commute to work, San Francisco gets snarled up by pretty insane amounts of traffic. If you can, avoid traveling at rush hour or around major sports events.
- Earthquakes
Being in California comes with sunshine but also considerable earthquake risks. The San Andreas fault line runs right through the Bay Area and although there’s not a lot you can do about earthquakes, it’s worth knowing about.
- Hills
If you go to San Francisco and don’t want to spend a fortune on public transport and Ubers, you better bring your running shoes and expect to burn out your quads. Apart from the shoreline and the Piers, San Fran is super hilly.
- Homelessness
As with any major city with a high cost of living, homelessness is pretty high in San Fran. If you’re coming from another major city in the US this might not come as a surprise, but for people coming from elsewhere, it can be harrowing to see.
Famous Locations in San Francisco
- Golden Gate Bridge
One of the most iconic sights in the whole of the US, the Golden Gate Bridge is definitely one for your San Fran bucket list. Whether you’re standing in Golden Gate Park for a photo or being more daring by riding across it on a bike, it’s a must-see.
- Wine Country
If you’re looking to escape the city for some peace, quiet and good times, then grab a shuttle and your friends and head out to Napa or Sonoma. Hop from vineyard to vineyard or camp in one particular winery for a full day and enjoy.
- Pier 49
Looking for some typical touristy fun out on the waterfront? Head to Pier 49, grab some food and hit the shops before hanging out with the seals that come right up close.
