Wedding Planner: Filoli Filming Location Secrets

The 2001 romantic comedy The Wedding Planner was filmed in various locations in California, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside, San Mateo County, was one of the film's locations. The Filoli estate, located 30 miles south of San Francisco, features 16 acres of gardens and a house museum. The site was used for a scene in which the characters Mary, Steve, and Fran visit a potential wedding venue.

The Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside

The Filoli Historic House and Garden served as a filming location for the 2001 American romantic comedy "The Wedding Planner", directed by Adam Shankman and starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. In the film, the venue is featured as a potential wedding venue for the characters Fran Donolly and her fiancé, Steve Edison.

The gardens span 16 acres and offer a relaxing escape from city life, with lush flower beds, unique centrepieces, and majestic forests. The house museum allows visitors to step back in time and explore the history of the estate. The site also includes a café and a gift shop, the Clock Tower Shop.

The Filoli Historic House and Garden is easily accessible by public transportation. Visitors from San Francisco can take Caltrain Lines 1, 2, or 3 and then transfer to the Belmont Caltrain to reach the estate.

The Lincoln Park Golf Course

The course began as a three-hole course built by local golf enthusiasts and expanded over time, reaching fourteen holes after over a decade and finally becoming a full eighteen-hole course in 1917. Today, it is a favourite destination for golf lovers of all ages and levels, renowned as one of the world's most scenic urban golf courses. The course is also conveniently located near a historic art museum, making it a popular choice for those seeking a combination of sports and culture.

In addition to its appearance in "The Wedding Planner," the Lincoln Park Golf Course has likely been a filming location for other productions due to its picturesque setting and convenient accessibility via public transportation. Its proximity to San Francisco and the surrounding natural beauty make it an ideal choice for filmmakers seeking diverse and visually appealing locations.

The Huntington in San Marino City

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, also known as The Huntington, is a collections-based educational and research institution established by Henry E. Huntington and Arabella Huntington in San Marino, California. The site was formerly the residence of Henry and Arabella Huntington.

The Huntington is a popular tourist destination, with 600,000 visitors annually. It houses a library, an extensive art collection, and botanical gardens. The library contains a substantial collection of rare books and manuscripts, with items spanning from the 11th century to the present. The art collection includes a focus on 18th and 19th-century European art and 17th to mid-20th-century American art. The botanical gardens showcase plants from around the world, with themed gardens such as the Desert Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Chinese Garden.

The Huntington has been recognised as one of the world's great research libraries, with 12 million items. It has one of the most complete collections of 18th-century art outside of London. The botanical gardens span approximately 120 acres, with more than a dozen themed gardens and 83,000 living plants, including rare and endangered species.

The Huntington has been featured as a filming location for several productions, including the 2001 film "The Wedding Planner", in which a scene was shot in the Camellia Garden, one of the spectacular gardens within The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

The Camellia Garden

In the scene, Steve and Mary, the film's main characters, visit the garden to shop for statues for the upcoming wedding. However, their shopping trip takes an unexpected turn when one of the statues falls, causing its male genitals to break off. Mary, ever-prepared, whips out some super glue to reattach the statue's missing part. But the mishap doesn't end there—Steve's hand gets glued to the statue, creating a sticky situation that adds a touch of humour to the movie.

The Filoli Historic House and Garden, located in Woodside, California, also played a role in "The Wedding Planner". The venue served as a potential wedding venue for the characters in the film, providing a scenic and tranquil setting for their special day. With its 16 acres of gorgeous gardens and a house museum, Filoli is recognised as one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century.

The Golden Gate Park

The Music Concourse, located between the old De Young Museum and the old California Academy of Sciences, was featured as a wedding venue in the film. This picturesque location is known for its beautiful architecture and lush gardens, providing an elegant setting for wedding scenes.

The Japanese Tea Garden, another highlight of Golden Gate Park, was the setting for a pivotal scene in the movie. Just before the characters Steve and Fran walk down the aisle, they have an intimate conversation in the garden, questioning their decision to marry. The tranquility and beauty of the Japanese Tea Garden, with its native Japanese plants, stone lanterns, koi ponds, and zen garden, added to the emotional impact of this scene.

In addition to these specific locations within Golden Gate Park, the park's natural beauty and diverse landscapes enhanced the overall aesthetic of the film. The park offered a range of visuals, from lush greenery to unique architectural features, contributing to the charm and appeal of "The Wedding Planner".

Golden Gate Park is easily accessible by public transportation, including buses and streetcars, making it a convenient destination for those wishing to explore the locations featured in the movie. The park's popularity among filmmakers and visitors alike showcases its versatility and ability to cater to a variety of interests and activities.

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