The San Francisco Mint
The San Francisco Mint is a lovely relic of old San Francisco. The United States mint, which was built in 1854 during the boom of the California Gold Rush, quickly outgrew its original building and moved in 1874 to the structure that still stands today. This venue holds the rare title of surviving the 1906 great earthquake and fire. In 1937 the mint was once more moved to a modern location, but the 1874 building remained standing. The interior of the Old Mint has now been renovated and is slated to become a community museum at an indefinite future date. But for now, the mint is used for community and high-end events, as well as elegant weddings for couples with a taste for historic architecture. A San Francisco wedding is a rare celebration imbued with meaning and grandeur.
A San Francisco Mint Wedding
Affectionately known as the Granite Lady, although the building is actually made of sandstone with only a granite foundation, the mint was envisioned by architect Alfred B. Mullett in the Greek Revival style with a Doric order. Like many grand municipal buildings, it features a stone staircase up to a stately columned portico with wings to each side. The exterior looks nearly identical to its 1874 facade.
Inside, the 92,000-square-foot building has been renovated to accommodate modern events. But the interior maintains the spirit of its original style, with black-and-white marble checkerboard floors, ornately carved sandstone walls, and exquisite chandeliers throughout. There are a variety of venues within the building to host a San Francisco Mint wedding.
Before you enter, you will be greeted by the grand staircase, which is also an excellent location for a couples photography session or a photo op to capture the entire wedding party with the mint in the background.
Venues for a San Francisco Mint Wedding
In the year-round temperate San Francisco weather, many couples choose to host their ceremony and reception in the vast Courtyard, an outdoor atrium completely enclosed by the building. The Courtyard provides space for an open-air celebration that is entirely private for you and your guests.
Other couples choose to tie the knot in the Column Ballroom. Its spacious center aisle flanked by columns is perfectly designed for a traditional wedding with a march down the aisle.
Both the Mint and Gold Ballrooms are beautiful spaces to hold your festivities, with touches of grandeur like their 30-foot ceilings, their carved wood wainscoting, and the wraparound mezzanines above, where guests may watch the celebration from a birds-eye view.
FAQ
How can I get help planning my San Francicso Mint wedding?
Event-planning company Non-Plus Ultra is your liaison for planning all events at the San Francisco Mint. One of the premier event planners of the San Francisco Bay Area, Non-Plus Ultra is proud to work with couples to give them the wedding they want. Non-Plus Ultra can be either an a la carte or full-service wedding planner: they do furniture, lighting, catering, design, etc. Or they can direct you where to go to choose your own outside resources.
How long will the San Francisco Mint continue to host weddings?
The date when the Mint will be converted to a public museum is still unknown, so plan your San Francisco Mint wedding now, while you still can.
How many guests are allowed at a San Francisco Mint wedding?
Typically the Mint allows up to 150 guests per wedding, but with special permission, various venues have the capacity for up to 300 guests.
The San Francisco Mint is located at 88 5th St., San Francisco, CA 94103