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Franciscan Gardens
4.7 ★★★★★ 148 Google reviews · Garden wedding venue in San Juan Capistrano, California
Romantic, elegant outdoor venue with a courtyard, a banquet hall, gardens and a ballroom.
Plan your tour
- Capacity couples mention 160–160-guest events in reviews — ask the venue for their stated maximum
- Pricing packages mentioned around $15,000 — confirm with the venue, since dates and package tiers change what's included
- Catering in-house catering & bar — confirm the policy (and any fees) before you book your caterer
- Today see hours ·
- Phone (949) 248-1586
- Website franciscangardens.com — most venues book tours right on their site
Hours
| Monday | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The setting
“The venue itself is truly a dream with it's tall hedges, brick lined ball room, and bridal party suites.”
“The outdoor ceremony space, surrounded by greenery and soft light, created a romantic setting that photographed effortlessly.”
Amenities couples mention
“I still cannot get over how stunning and how they transformed it from the point that I saw it at the walk-through, to walking up to our bridal suite, the ceremony and reception.”
“The outdoor ceremony space, surrounded by greenery and soft light, created a romantic setting that photographed effortlessly.”
“I kept my décor very simple, but with the pergola, the fountains, and the natural beauty of the garden, everything looked magical and elegant without needing much at all.”
“I kept my décor very simple, but with the pergola, the fountains, and the natural beauty of the garden, everything looked magical and elegant without needing much at all.”
“The courtyard reception, with its glowing candles and overhead string lights, added a warm and elegant atmosphere to the evening.”
What couples say again and again
“I still cannot get over how stunning and how they transformed it from the point that I saw it at the walk-through, to walking up to our bridal suite, the ceremony and reception.”
“24 Carrots went above and beyond before and during our Wedding day to make it everything we hoped for.”
“The team made the wedding planning and preparation process feel so seamless and our tasting just months beforehand was such a fun experience.”
“The food was already delicious then, but somehow tasted even more delicious the day of!”
“It provided the most perfect backdrop for one of the happiest days of our lives, and we will cherish those memories forever.”
From the reviews
We just had our wedding here a month ago and it was the most perfect night and venue! My husband absolutely loved everything about the venue - from the ceremony space to cocktail hour to the reception, it had everything we were looking for.
Franciscan Gardens was the wedding venue of our dreams!! The courtyard with the twinkly lights is truly magical, and we're still getting compliments about how beautiful the venue was.
My (now) husband and I got engaged in 2024 and we started venue searching in the fall. We went to roughly 20-24 different venue tours, hoping to find “the one.” The most stressful part of wedding planning for me really was finding the perfect venue as you typically have to book them a year or so in advance or risk…
I just have to rave about Anna not only when she’s super attentive in all of my late night emails, but was very hands-on and Offered amazing Advice when it came to picking decor and solidify the drink/dinner menu/appetizers! Truly have nothing but amazing things to say about her as well as everyone Now the venue!
Getting married at Franciscan Gardens
Franciscan Gardens comes up for weddings — confirmed on their own site. Two things make the tour worth it. First, see the garden at the time of day and season you'd actually get married — a garden that glows at golden hour in June can look very different at noon in March, so ask what's in bloom for your date and walk the path your guests take from parking to ceremony to reception. Second, bring your real questions: the rain plan (where does the ceremony move, and does it hold everyone?), shade and bugs for a summer afternoon, the catering and bar policy, the music curfew, and exactly what's included — tables, chairs, setup, and teardown are where quotes quietly diverge. Popular garden dates book 12–18 months out, so if the tour feels right, ask what's open in your season before you leave.
Corporate events & private parties at Franciscan Gardens
Reviews and the venue's own info mention corporate events, retreats, or private parties at Franciscan Gardens — garden venues often have real weekday availability since weddings claim the weekends. A quick call answers the three things that matter: weekday and off-season rates, whether the space works for your headcount and A/V needs, and what catering is allowed. If your event lands on a Friday or Saturday in wedding season, ask early.
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