The Wedding Planner Filming Locations In Napa Valley

The 2001 romantic comedy film The Wedding Planner starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey was filmed in several locations in California, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Marino. While the film is primarily set in San Francisco, with iconic landmarks such as the Lincoln Park Golf Course, the Filoli Historic House & Garden, and the Golden Gate Park featured prominently, there are also filming locations in San Mateo County and Los Angeles County. One notable scene in the movie, where the main characters visit a potential wedding venue in Napa Valley, was filmed at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, California.

Lincoln Park Golf Course

The Lincoln Park Golf Course offers magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco cityscape, and the Legion of Honor Museum. The golf course is accessible to all, whether you are a local or a tourist. An aerial shot of the golf course was used in The Wedding Planner during a scene where the characters Steve and Dr. John are playing golf and discussing Steve's feelings for the wedding planner, Mary. The course can be easily accessed via public transportation, with buses 1, 18, and 38R stopping nearby.

In addition to the Lincoln Park Golf Course, there are several other notable filming locations for The Wedding Planner in San Francisco. These include the iconic San Francisco City Hall, Taylor Street and Sacramento Street, where Mary and Steve first meet, and the Golden Gate Park, which is featured several times throughout the movie.

Filoli Historic House & Garden

The Filoli Historic House & Garden, located in Woodside, California, is a beautiful estate that served as a filming location for the 2001 romantic comedy "The Wedding Planner", starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. The site's stunning natural scenery and historic architecture made it the perfect backdrop for a pivotal scene in the film.

In the movie, ambitious San Francisco wedding planner Mary Fiore, played by Lopez, takes her client, Fran Donolly, and Fran's fiancé, Steve Edison, to the Filoli Gardens to explore it as a potential wedding venue. However, the visit takes an unexpected turn when Mary's childhood acquaintance, Massimo, shows up uninvited and introduces himself as her fiancé.

The Filoli Historic House & Garden boasts 654 acres of breathtaking natural landscapes nestled along the slopes of California's coastal range. The estate features a 54,000-square-foot Georgian revival-style mansion and 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens. The mansion, built between 1915 and 1917, is a testament to early 20th-century architecture and design.

The gardens at Filoli are a sight to behold, with lush flower beds, unique centrepieces, and majestic forests. Visitors can explore various themed gardens, including the Chartres and Rose Gardens, the Walled Garden, the Vegetable Garden, and the Cutting Garden. Each garden offers a unique experience and showcases an array of vibrant flowers and plants.

In addition to its natural beauty, Filoli also has a rich history. Originally built as a private residence, the estate was opened to the public in 1975 and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation and site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The estate is dedicated to connecting its rich history with a vibrant future, fostering a love for nature, and creating unique experiences for visitors.

Golden Gate Park

Many of the film's most memorable moments were shot in specific locations within Golden Gate Park. One of the notable spots is the Music Concourse, which served as the wedding venue in the movie. The Music Concourse is situated between the old De Young Museum and the old California Academy of Sciences, providing a unique and cultural setting for the wedding scenes.

Another iconic location within the park is the Japanese Tea Garden, which was featured in a pivotal scene in the film. In the scene, the characters Steve and Fran, who are about to get married, have a heartfelt conversation where they question if they are doing the right thing. The serene beauty of the Japanese Tea Garden, with its native Japanese plants, stone lanterns, koi ponds, and zen garden, creates a tranquil atmosphere for this emotional exchange.

In addition to Golden Gate Park, other notable filming locations for "The Wedding Planner" include the Lincoln Park Golf Course, San Francisco City Hall, and the Filoli Historic House & Garden in Woodside, California. The film also ventured outside of California, with locations such as the Italian countryside, Hawaii, and Los Angeles, adding to the diverse and romantic settings that complement the story's theme.

The Huntington Library and Gardens

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, known simply as The Huntington, is a collections-based educational and research institution in San Marino, California. The site was once the private estate of railroad magnate Henry Huntington. The Huntington is a major attraction in San Marino, California, with approximately 120 acres of botanical gardens, a library, and an extensive art collection.

The botanical gardens contain more than a dozen themed gardens with some 83,000 living plants, including rare and endangered species. The gardens are divided into various themes, including the Australian Garden, Camellia Collection, Children's Garden, Desert Garden, Herb Garden, Japanese Garden, Lily Ponds, North Vista, Palm Garden, Rose Garden, the Shakespeare Garden, Subtropical and Jungle Garden, and the Chinese Garden. The Camellia Garden, where the falling statue scene in The Wedding Planner was filmed, is recognised as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence.

The library, designed in the Mediterranean Revival style, holds a substantial collection of rare books and manuscripts, with a focus on British and American history, literature, art, and the history of science. The library's holdings contain 7 million manuscript items, over 400,000 rare books, and over a million photographs, prints, and other ephemera. Notable items include a Gutenberg Bible, an illuminated manuscript of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and a First Folio edition of Shakespeare.

The art collection includes 45,000 examples of decorative arts, paintings, prints, drawings, photography, and sculpture, with a focus on 18th and 19th-century European art and 17th to mid-20th-century American art. Notable works include Gainsborough's "The Blue Boy," Mary Cassatt's "Breakfast in Bed," and Rogier van der Weyden's "Madonna and Child."

San Francisco City Hall

The Rotunda, Grand Staircase, Mayor's Balcony, and Light Courts are all available for ceremonies and celebrations. The Mayor's Balcony offers stunning views of the Grand Staircase, while the Rotunda features an ornate dome for dinner and dancing. The Fourth Floor Gallery is another popular spot for ceremonies, as it highlights the architecture of the building.

For those looking to capture their special day with photographs, San Francisco City Hall offers a variety of backdrops, from the grand staircase to the entrance/exit doors. The nearby Memorial Court and Civic Center Plaza, as well as locations like Baker Beach, Crissy Field, and Golden Gate Park, provide additional scenic options for couples.

The process for booking a wedding at San Francisco City Hall involves scheduling both a license appointment and a ceremony appointment. Couples can book these appointments online, and it is recommended to schedule them on separate days to allow for familiarity with the venue.

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