We had our wedding reception at OAC and it was absolutely perfect! Such a stunningly beautiful building, and the gardens were gorgeous in early April. The space was perfect for everything we needed, and although we had our ceremony down the road at Old Mill Park, it would have been a beautiful place to have that too. The space is so gorgeous it needs very little additional decoration, and everything you add is just magnified by the surroundings. As a historic building in a small town they have a number of rules and restrictions, and when we decided to book I did wonder if they might be difficult to plan around. But it wasn't hard at all, and everything from the decor to the music was exactly as I hoped and not held back at all. I would definitely strongly recommend booking vendors who are familiar with OAC though, because with them you never have to worry about a thing, knowing they have it handled! I'll specifically mention music volume, as that was the main thing I worried about - we wanted a dance party, and we got one without any issue! Our DJ (Airsun) was really familiar with OAC and with our coordinator (Stacey Dillon) - who herself works there all the time - and they all knew what they needed to do, so I didn't worry for even a second about it. And I never would have guessed there were any sound restrictions by the experience, it didn't hold back the party at all. The facilities manager Dave did a great job with setup and was so kind and helpful about drop off and pickup of all our stuff. We also worked with Rodney of Marin Event Lighting to hang bistro lights (he is the only one allowed to do it) and they were gorgeous and perfect. They also require you work with one of their approved caterers, and Sage did a phenomenal job! OAC is a stunning hidden gem in Mill Valley and I would highly recommend it for any event! read more

See all

We knew from the moment we walked into the Outdoor Art Club that it was where we wanted to host all our friends and family. We had our wedding in September 2023 at the Outdoor Art Club, and I could not be happier with every detail. We had visited many venues, and nothing gave us the right vibe until we stepped foot into the OAC. What's most important to me is always the people, and every single person we got to work with there was beyond helpful and kind. David helped us plan out the most perfect layout for our group. He is so fun and a true delight to be around. He made everything flow and planning with him was a piece of cake because he knows exactly what to do! Mary was welcoming from Day 1, super responsive always, and a pleasure to work with. Kenny was also a great person to meet, and he does a great job with the grounds - always offering a kind word and a smile! Hilary was there the day of our wedding and she kept everything in check. Beyond the people, the venue is so naturally beautiful and has such a storied history. Guests were so happy to be there, and kept commenting on how beautiful the flowers and grounds were kept. You also cannot beat the location to downtown Mill Valley, and yet it still feels very tucked away and private from the hustle and bustle of the town! We are so happy to have had our special day at the Outdoor Art Club with all the wonderful OAC staff and volunteers who made it a happen. read more

Outdoor Art Club - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Mill Valley, California

Lovely venue. Was here for an event for the Mill Valley Film festival. Can cater to larger crowds without feeling claustrophobic. Charming neighborhood and parking is fairly accessible. Edit: Some steeper hill inclines on the way to the venue, within the neighborhood, to keep in mind if you're arriving with mobility devices. read more

OAC is such a lovely venue that feels intimate and tucked away, like you stepped out of town and into a peaceful, lush garden. The indoor cabin is perfect for your dinner reception and the dance party. As a wedding floral (vendor), during the summer, we had set up for a wedding outside in the garden with the lovely sunny weather, where they permit a tent if you'd like. The staff there were so friendly and helpful. They checked in on us as we were setting up and assisted with any questions we had. You'll be good hands here and I loved learning the historical fact that this non-profit venue was founded by 35 Mill Valley women back 1902! read more

OAC already has rave reviews, but we had such a wonderful experience with our July wedding we have to join in on the praise! Luckily we started our venue search early enough that they still had availability, it's a good value in the Bay Area and books up quickly. The location is very special, and feels like a secret garden with the convenience of being downtown. We live in SF and appreciated the short drive for our multiple visits. Everyone we met was welcoming and helpful. Dave in particular is a gem - he was always up for answering our questions and able to meet at the venue when needed. We really appreciated how comfortable he made us feel, and truly seems to love his role interacting with couples! We looked forward to sharing the space with our guests on our wedding day, and they had lovely feedback on the unique architecture and cozy vibe. 85 fit well in the back garden for the ceremony, and we were able to seat everyone in the main space (instead of using the overflow side room) for dinner without breaking down tables for dancing. We were especially glad about this as dancing ended up starting just after some of the last tables were served. It was very helpful that tables and chairs were included (although the indoor chair aesthetic is very particular so you have to be on board with that) which saved us a lot of money. There is a list of caterers to select from, which we actually found really helpful since it provided somewhere to start - the variety was good and we loved our caterer (CaterMarin). A wedding venue is a huge decision and we were so happy the OAC worked out for us. Nothing but fond memories, and if you're considering it would highly recommend booking the free tour so you can experience it in person! read more

Oh Outdoor Art Club, how much do I love thee... let me count the ways. #1: The space is absolutely beautiful no matter the season or the weather. I was fortunate to experience a wedding in March with on and off rain throughout the morning. The greenery came alive after the storm and looked just as gorgeous covered by the shadows of the clouds. #2: The staff that work there are phenomenal! Dave, Mary, and the whole gang are not only super communicative but just lovely people to talk to. You can tell they genuinely enjoy their work which makes all the difference. #3: The required list of caterers they selected are not only affordable (a huge win when so many venues in the Bay Area do not take this into consideration) but delicious and super helpful. They know the venue well and really add to the experience as a whole. If you haven't already done so, schedule yourself a tour! read more

We got married here a few months back, and it was such a wonderful time. The venue is absolutely beautiful, with lush gardens and redwoods in the courtyards and the stunning building itself with all the wood and windows. We fell in love with the OAC immediately when we were looking for venues. We wanted somewhere that had an outdoor ceremony space, an indoor reception space, and that was near the redwoods without being totally in the woods. OAC was the first place we looked at, and it checked off every possible box. Their docents show you around and have a packet that can answer any and all questions. They've done tons of weddings here and they know how to make the day perfect. The have a preferred list of caterers that you have to choose from that are familiar with their kitchen, and if you require tents then they ask you to rent from Big 4 Rental who is most familiar with their space. Other than that, they offer some suggestions for vendors but largely you are free to choose everything and can run any vendor by the coordinator Mary Ware if you're not sure. Ultimately, that list they offer is a huge help. We chose most of our vendors off it, and it definitely helped make our wedding unforgettable. The week leading up to the wedding, it rained endlessly, we were so worried it was going to pour. The site manager was THE BEST and talked to my husband to walk through all our rain options, that they could make it happen for us to move everything inside and still keep our overall vision. We got really lucky, it was sunny and didn't rain during the ceremony, only once everyone had moved inside for the reception, but knowing we had that option took a lot of pressure off. And beyond all the logistics, the venue was just beautiful day of. We had about 80 guests, and were able to fit everyone easily. Once dinner was over, we broke down the bridal party table and one of the round tables in the middle to make room for a dance floor. Everyone had a wonderful time, and my friends and family are still telling me how much fun they had and what a nice venue it was. This place is awesome, and we're so glad we got married there. The only word of warning: there are not a ton of hotel lodgings in Mill Valley. We got a hotel block in San Francisco and paid for a shuttle to bus folks to and from, and it worked out really well cause most of our out of town friends had never been to SF and loved getting to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. For getting ready, my husband and I booked separate Airbnbs that were within a block of the venue, it worked out really really well. We could literally walk to the venue. So, just plan your lodgings accordingly. read more

See all

We got married at the Outdoor Art Club in August 2023. It's a gorgeous venue that feels private and tucked away and also has the convenience of being in the center of Mill Valley. There's little need for additional decor because of all the lush greenery, flowers, and trees. The architecture is beautiful as well. It's a stunning setting! Mary and Dave were wonderful to work with, and we really appreciate how Dave made himself available so we could have a site visit during off-hours with our planner, and hold our rehearsal onsite the day before the wedding. The venue provided much of the furniture we needed (dinner tables, cocktail tables, chairs, umbrellas, etc.), which really simplified the planning and rentals process. All of our guests loved the venue too. There was plenty of space indoors and outside for everyone to mingle. We're so glad we got married at the Outdoor Art Club! read more

We had the best time at the Outdoor Art Club for our wedding 9/26. Everyone at the OAC was very nice and easy to work with and the space was perfect for us-beautiful architecture, wonderful trees and a peaceful setting for an outdoor ceremony, and a great history to the space. The OAC was flexible when it came to moving the dinner outdoors because of COVID and they had wonderful vendor recommendations. Dave Boston helped us set everything up and gave us a great tour with lots of good advice and we just had the best wedding! We are so happy we went with the Outdoor Art Club! read more

See all

Great venue and the catering staff were fantastic. I understand noise ordinances but communicating that with patrons of the establishment is better than being negative and blocking fire escapes. A simple sign over the exits would be more helpful than using yourself as a human shield. Hilary, your job is not that important. If you wanted to communicate that exists were not in use, you would have put a simple sign instead of being absolutely awful to people who needed air. Talk about a power trip. Get over yourself. There were no illuminated exit signs over the exit she was rudely demanding everyone use. Seems like an OSHA violation. read more

The Outdoor Art Club was the perfect venue for our wedding. Mary made the booking process very easy and worked with us when we were figuring out our final date choice, and Dave was a pleasure to work with for setting up the venue before and on the day of the wedding. He let us arrive early because there wasn't a wedding the day before ours, making for an extra relaxing start to our wedding day. We were looking for a beautiful but relaxed venue that felt private, was close to redwoods, and had indoor and outdoor options - OAC fit our requirements perfectly! We got married in the Old Mill Park before heading to OAC for the rest of the day, and we especially enjoyed walking through town with many of our wedding guests after the ceremony. We were also able to find a great caterer from the required list, so that wasn't a downside at all. Overall, we highly recommend OAC for a reasonably priced venue that gives back to the community and also provides a beautiful environment to get married and dance the night away with family and friends! read more

See all

Beautiful for a wedding. Staff was great and recent wedding there was perfect. Loved the ceremony site and just quick walk back around the corner to the open outdoor area. read more

The Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club is one of Marin County's not-so-secret hidden gems. If you're a local and looking to host a special event (wedding, birthday, anniversary, etc.), this venue should be top of your list. It's literally situated across the street from the Sequoia movie theater, right in the heart of downtown Mill Valley. In fact, the Outdoor Art Club is the go-to venue for the annual Mill Valley Film Festival's opening night party. This venue is sheltered beneath beautiful Redwood trees with Mt. Tam in the distance. Their garden is the perfect space for a cocktail party. And they also have a "club house" for a more intimate reception. Is it fancy? No. But it's lovely in an unpretentious way. No wonder it's sold out for most of the year for private events. read more

What a great find for a wedding venue! We had our ceremony in the wedding garden. They just purchased some nice ivory folding chairs, 120 of them. We had about 160 guests, so some of them had to stand for a bit. We didn't do much in terms of decorations in the garden (only rocks lining the aisle) because the trees and surroundings were just what we wanted. We did have amplification for the reverend, vows, music and readers because there is noise that carries from the grocery store. After our ceremony, we had the reception in the beautiful courtyard. We used the tables that were supplied by the club. By the way, Mr. Lewis, their "go to guy"/custodian/set up is absolutely fantastic to work with and will give you great insight on what will work. He has a fabulous sense of humor. Inside the venue, we had 12 - 60" rounds in the main room and 5 - 8's in the side room and buffet in the library. It left us with a very small dance floor but, we removed a couple of tables when the dancing began. The kitchen is great according to the caterer and the bathrooms have recently been remodeled. This space has great value because of the long rental hours, Lauren and all of her staff and docents are fabulous, and they upkeep the space, plus tables/chairs and set up is included. My hubby and I had the perfect wedding here and we are so happy to have had our wedding celebration here for many reasons, but what we felt good about was renting a space which has a great history and a wonderful women's club too that gives back to the community. read more

Outdoor Art Club - In the courtyard of the Outdoor Art Club. Simply Magical. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Mill Valley, California

Absolutely gorgeous and perfect for a wedding! Over Labor Day weekend, I had the privilege to attend a ceremony here at the Outdoor Art Club. The venue features a delightful patio that was perfect for cocktail hour, a great dining hall for the reception, and a little area tucked in the back for the magical moments of when they say, "I do." The trees loomed over the newlywed couple and it was beautiful. The management team at OAC was fantastic. As a guest, I had no complaints or issues, and they did a fabulous job making sure that we were well fed and boozed up. Of course, that's also the catering company, but the venue certainly dictates what can and can't be brought in for the party. I'm sure this venue gets booked quickly, so be quick before you lose your day. Congrats Erika & Alex, and thank you for inviting me to share in this beautiful moment of your lives. read more

We held our wedding ceremony and reception at the OAC on October 26, 2013 and were extremely pleased with our choice! The venue is absolutely gorgeous, especially the gardens and green space that surround the building. If you want a natural, relaxed, Northern California feel to your wedding, you cannot get much better than this! Also, because of the natural beauty, it means that you have very little decorating to do! In addition to how lovely the venue is, it is also very reasonably priced compared to many others in the Bay Area. We highly recommend that OAC to anyone thinking of holding their wedding there. You won't be disappointed! read more

Outdoor Art Club - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Mill Valley, California

What a GORGEOUS venue for a wedding! I was here last weekend, and it was just great. The little courtyard in the back was where the ceremony was held, and it was perfect under the trees. The cocktail hour was held in the front patio area, with the reception inside. It was a REALLY pretty wedding. You don't even realize you're in downtown Mill Valley--it seems so tucked away! Only downside is that the parking situation is limited to street/metered parking. read more

What an incredible venue this was for our fall wedding! We absolutely loved everything about it - the woodsy feel of the backyard for our ceremony, the openness of the front patio for cocktail hour and the intimate feel of the main room for reception. Not to mention the greenery that surrounded us, which made for amazing background in photos. Throughout the entire process, Mary was always responsive to any questions and concerns - she even stopped by and said hello on the day of. Her team, including the building manager, who helped with setup, and on-site property manager, were also very helpful. Even though we were a little hesitant about having to choose a caterer from a curated list, it ended up in our favor (we chose Debbie Ghiringhelli, who we also highly recommend) since she was already familiar with the venue. All in all, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect venue for our special day! read more

Outdoor Art Club is situated in the quaint downtown area of Mill Valley. Parking is restricted to metered parking. You could also rent out the nearby church's parking lot on Fridays or Sundays (but not Saturday). Book 1 year in advance if you want a Saturday in the May - October. Upon arriving, you see a wood fence and enter the patio area. The patio area is great for the cocktail hour or maybe the ceremony site. Inside there is the indoor reception room, the gift drop off room / children's play area / groom's changing room. I found the reception room with it's high ceilings elegant and a bit dark. The groom's room is quite large. The bridal changing room is ample and would be great for photo ops with your bridesmaids. The outdoor reception is surrounded by trees, so the area is shaded. You might consider decorating with tree lights. You can bring your own wine. However, the facility requires you to use a preferred vendors list (choose from 30). They all look expensive because none of them list a dinner price. I dug around and one vendor charges $110 per person. They have a large kitchen. No outdoor grilling allowed. I love it that they let you set up as early as 9 am. You get the place until 11pm. There is only 1 wedding per day at the venue. It's gated, so random people can't wander in. The tour guide was very informative and the volunteer staff pre-emptively answered all of our questions. read more

My husband and I just had such an amazing wedding experience at the OAC! Being new residents to Marin county (we moved there a bit over a year ago), we wanted to bring our family and friends to a place that not only captured our style but also fit with the history and style of Mill Valley. The venue conveyed a rustic, romantic, and slightly bohemian vibe while being stylish and elegant. We loved that it was not a "typical" wedding space. Our pictures, which were all taken on-site, turned out beautifully. The venue itself needed little decoration, since it's craftsman styling, artfully done wood paneling, and beautiful grounds seemed complete on its own. All we needed to add was a decorated arch and chair covers for the ceremony area, patterned tablecloths and flowers for the dining room, and a piece of wall decor to hang over our cake. Another plus was that we did not need many rentals since tables, chairs, and other key furniture pieces were provided. Me and my bridesmaids loved the on-site dressing room also! It was also a great experience working with Laureen, the rental coordinator! She was really responsive to any questions I had and was just a fun person in general to work with. read more

The Outdoor Art Club had a couple of minor hiccups at the beginning when it came to scheduling our date. However, the experience from there on out was awesome! Here's why we thought the OAC was perfect for us: * Naturally beautiful venue inside and out that needs nearly no decoration. * You can visit from 10-11am every single Saturday as often as you want without making an appointment. * We got our deposit back within 2 weeks of our wedding without ever having to ask for it or haggle. * You don't have to rent tables or chairs - they are all provided and set up for you free of charge by the very helpful and experienced custodian. * They don't make you chose one of their own caterers. * It is easy to make arrangements for plentiful (and cheap) parking right across the street Anyway, our wedding was picture-perfect and went so smoothly. We were so happy with everything about the venue - it is truly a one of a kind location. read more

We chose the OAC as our wedding venue after my mother strongly suggested it repeatedly (mostly because it is 10 minutes from her house). It ended up being the perfect location for us and will be for you, too, if you're looking for a venue that: - Is significantly cheaper than comparable places in the Bay Area - Provides all tables and chairs at no extra cost - Rents the space for the entire day, allowing ample time to set up - Has a fully equipped kitchen for your caterer (and you can choose your own caterer!) - Has space for an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception - Has a lot of character and Arts & Crafts-era charm as well as beautiful gardens, which is great for those of us who don't want to DIY all the wedding decorations. A couple things to note: - They say they can fit 160 people for your event, but we couldn't imagine fitting much more than the 110 guests we had. - They do not allow open flames in their historic building. We had no trouble using battery-operated candles for our decor, though. Also, working with the rental director, Gail, was a breeze. All-in-all, it was a positive experience! read more

- Do you want to have a beautiful background for your ceremony and dinner reception photos? - Do you want to make it easy for your guests and have the ceremony and reception in one location? - Having kids at the wedding and know that they'll need room to wander? - Love the outdoors? - Planning a small intimate wedding? Then, the Outdoor Art Club is the place for your wedding. You won't be disappointed. We weren't! read more

The OAC was the place for our wedding this May. I loved the Arts & Crafts feel and had a great time incorporating into the shabby chic aesthetic of the wedding. There seems to be a lot of rules, but once you know the regulations, all the docents and facility manager is a dream. Our guests stayed in San Francisco, but we had a shuttle for out-of-towners. The weather in Mill Valley is so much more predictible and warmer than San Francisco. The drive over the Golden Gate and Marin was a treat for them. read more

Has anyone mentioned that Phil and Bobby from the Dead had their weddings here? Will update once ours happens, but I'm really looking forward to a positive experience at this beautiful venue. read more

My husband and I got married here last September and it was a wonderful place to have a wedding. The day of our wedding was about 100 outside, but the trees in the back garden provided ample shade for the ceremony so the heat did not bother anyone. The heat actually expanded the venue because people spent most of the evening outside dancing and enjoying the wedding. We loved this venue because the building itself was the decoration. All we did was use some pretty patterned table linens, flowers and that was it. And it looked great (if I do so myself) and we saved a lot of money on decorations. Also, you are allowed to bring in your own caterer and booze. And you want your choice on the biggest day of your life! The rental organizer was very helpful and responsive to our needs. And go with Ann Walker catering on their preferred catering list--they were a-maze-ing. read more

It's very difficult to find a venue with enough space, the right feel, and within budget in the Bay Area and the Outdoor Art Club fit all of these criteria for our June 17th wedding. We enjoyed working with Mary Ware the rentals coordinator and Lee Lewis the facilities technician. Our guests complimented us on our choice of venue and we enjoyed our time there. It was very nice to have a Bridal Room to get ready in and they made things easy for us by providing a preferred vendor list of various local companies. Be aware that if you hold an event on Saturday that Mass at the church across the street starts at 5, so you will need to make other arrangements for parking. The Outdoor Art Club does not have its own parking lot, but companies like Westpark can help with valet service. read more

When I started my journey in searching for the right venue 20 months in advance for my wedding, the big two musts were in my mind: budget friendly and rustic charm. As most brides would know, rustic venues are quite expensive for some reason. When I was researching for some cool architectural places, I stumble upon Outdoor Art Club. I scheduled a tour and went with my cousin to check out the place. The moment I stepped into this venue, everything just seemed right and I knew at that moment that this is where I want to get marry. The ladies that were giving the tour were really nice, they were knowledgeable about the venue. I was able to book a date about 1.5 years out from our wedding date (we got married just a few weeks ago) and we mainly were in contact with Mary Ware as she is the curator of special events for the venue. The whole venue is surrounded by tall hedges, trees, and a beautiful garden. The place is so enveloped that it feels like a little oasis in the middle of downtown. Mary was super quick in responses; although I never met her in person since our form of communication is email, she seems like the lady that will get things done. Their custodian, Lee, was also a pleasure to work with. We didn't really get to talk to him until the week before the wedding, but as long as you give him everything he needs, he does exactly how you envisioned your wedding. There's a couple downside to this venue, the obvious one is the parking. Parking is a little tricky since it's just street parking. Meter ends at 6PM so if your wedding starts around that time, it's not too bad. It was also hard to schedule a time for a rehearsal because there seems to be a wedding every weekend and the clubhouse is not open to the public any other days so special arrangements must be made with Mary to set something up. I booked a time during the public hours a week before our wedding for a super informal rehearsal and it worked out better than I thought so there's always a way to make it work. Then finally, cleaning at the end of the wedding was a bit of a hassle because there is no cleaning crew provided. I learned that my caterer only cleans the table tops and kitchen which means anything outside in the patio, dressing room, stage, decoration, and etc is up to you, your family, friends, or wedding party so be prepare to roll up your sleeve and recruit help. In addition to that, there was a little rule in the venue guideline that you have to make sure ALL windows/doors are fingerprint/smudge free because any type of additional cleaning by the venue to prepare for the next wedding means a deduction from your security deposit. My advice is to make sure you bring a little cloth and some extra trash bags along with your wedding inventory. Those are just little tiny reminders for the future bride-to-be. At the very end, I had an amazing wedding. The clubhouse was a dream with all the wooden beams and rustic details. The backyard was the perfect spot for an intimate ceremony, not much decoration needed at all. It really was a magical night for me and my new husband, I can't ask for a better venue and better people to work with. read more

This was the perfect venue for our wedding. Everything including the bride's changing room. Perfect blend of nature and design. Very easy to work with in terms of outside vendors. Tons of great photo spots. The only thing that we didn't like was the ceremony spot behind the great hall. It's a great idea to build it. And so easy for the guests. But I didn't like that I could see the back of the Mill Valley Market and hear the AC running. Instead we had our ceremony in the redwoods in Old Mill Park and either walked to the OAC or had a Hired shuttle bring guests. Both turned out to be perfect!! read more

What a relief to find this place! We did a DIY wedding in the summer of 2010, starting the planning right before the summer with an end of August date in mind. Speaking of being optimistic! We want to include elements from our background in the wedding and reception so there are few conditions that are hard to meet, which Outdoor Art Club(OAC) satisfied: (1) A venue with a garden, classical but not stuffy. So it will not be a glistening hotel ballroom no matter how grand. If we had the time and energy, we would have preferred a french country wedding but we do not want to burden our family(my husband's side) with planning that. (2) We want to choose our own wine and food. Being French and Chinese, these are very important to our families. We have had too many cookie cutter menus to offer one for our own reception. This rules out wineries, and packaged locations. (3) Allows us to party late. Many venues, especially gardens and wineries, closes up at 10pm - that's no way to finish a wonderful day! OAC is the only place that allows us to stay until mid-night. (4) Close to SF and within our budget for a venue. We lucked out after some begging and pleading to get a Friday spot in August. So a word of advice, start the venue search first, because by May all Saturday spots are gone for similar places. As opposed to getting a Sunday spot, Friday reception allows us to host a BBQ picnic the next day as a married couple, again a tradition enhanced with American flavor:-). Happy planning! read more

Get married here. Redwood trees, a beautiful historic lodge designed by renowned architect Bernard Maybeck, lovely docents who don't mind you stopping by every Saturday leading up to your wedding just to check things out again, tables, chairs, silverware, dishes and all day access on your event all included in rental fee, creative ability to design your event as you desire. And, a first class custodian that sets everything up for you before your wedding. I repeat, get married here. I did! read more

We got married at the OAC over Memorial Day weekend. We had done a fairly extensive venue search -- from Marin to Santa Cruz. Before we visited the OAC, we had looked at maybe 5 or 6 other venues -- all of which had pros and cons. After our tour of the OAC, we immediately booked. The only cons for us were: - no awesome view of the water or hills (but you really can't complain about towering redwood trees, a Maybeck building with spectacular beams, and a lovely garden) - guests would have to leave by 10pm since we were renting on a Sunday (which actually turned out to be nice since it meant that we weren't exhausted the next morning when we left for SFO at 8am.) - no open flames (i.e., we couldn't hire Tom from Paella del Reyes to do the food, nor could we have candles). Oh well. We hired Tom for our rehearsal dinner (YUM), and bought LED tealights at Bed Bath and Beyond (which are easier anyways since you just press them down to turn them on, and you don't have to worry about the flame going out - from wind or from running out of wax). The rule is also pretty understandable, considering the building is all wood and 100 years old. The list of pros, on the other hand, was a mile long: - Both indoor and outdoor settings (we wanted an outdoor ceremony, but were hesitant of having an outdoor reception because of the weather and the whole tent thing just seemed like a big hassle) - Beautiful grounds and building. Lots of little corners in the garden for guests to explore. We had 100 people, and the size was perfect. Cozy but not cramped. We did very little in terms of decoration. We did NOTHING to the ceremony area. I mean, how can you compete with redwoods? (Plus, it was one less thing to worry about.) Similarly, we did very little on the patio -- we strung up some lights (which were turned on for all of an hour, I think), and put some tablecloths on the tables Lee set up for us (see below). For the main room, we had two big vases with flowers on the stage, and smaller arrangements on the tables. The lighting in the space gives it a warm glow -- there are chandeliers, uplights on the side columns, and uplights in the ceiling. - Ridiculously nice "docents," rental manager, and staff. It doesn't feel like part of the wedding machine, even though they're booked almost every weekend for weddings. They aren't sticky sweet, don't gush, and don't fawn over you... they're just nice and helpful. - Rental includes indoor tables and chairs, and outdoor tables, canvas umbrellas, and chairs (our caterer was psyched when she found out that there were two sets of chairs... no moving for them). The rental also includes set-up and break-down of said tables and chairs. Lee and his son met us the morning of the wedding (we were setting up, doing flowers, etc.) to make sure that they had set everything up the way we wanted it (and they had). - More on the rental fee... it seems like a lot, but when you compare it to other places, it's a steal. We paid close to 3300, including sound system rental -- they have a built in sound system that is a bit pricey to rent, but completely worth not having to deal with one more rental and setup. - The rental is for the whole day (Lee sets everything up early -- we got there around 9:30 or 10 and everything was set up). - You can use any caterer you want. (They do have a list of "recommended" caterers, but you don't have to stick to it.) - I can't think of anything more. But we loved the OAC, and couldn't have been happier with our decision to get married there. (I can't wait to go back for a film festival event or their spring garden tour!) read more

The Outdoor Art Club is an incredible place. My husband and I got married here in October on a very gray, nearly raining day and it was even more magical than when we visited in the spring when the sun came out through the clouds and shone on the beautiful garden setting. The Maybeck house is wonderfully charming and rustic, the gardens/grounds are beautifully kept, the bathrooms are updated - it's just overall a really special place. Laureen, the event manager who was our contact throughout the 10 months of planning was just fantastic, as was Mr. Lewis who sets out the tables and chairs for the ceremony and reception. One of the huge advantages (besides the place being affordable and absolutely awesome) is that they have all of their own chairs and tables for indoors and out. They also have an extensive and wonderful list of preferred caterers but you can also go off the list. We fit 130 adults in the back garden/redwood area (some standing) and there were enough tables/chairs inside to accommodate. Because there was a significant chance of rain, we rented a tent that fits wonderfully in front of the building but didn't take away from the look of it. read more

There is a magical old world charm here, with beautiful trees surrounding a patio right in the heart of Mill Valley. I have attended many events held there by the Mill Valley Film Festival. It is so nice at night with lights in the trees, and the indoor part has a cozy lodge feeling with a fireplace and stage. I think it is the perfect place to get married. My cousin is getting married there this summer on my recommendation. read more

Another 5 star review! My husband and I got married at the OAC about two weeks ago, and the event was great. The space was beautiful, the planning staff was very helpful, and we loved that we could have the ceremony in the back garden and the reception on the front patio and in the lodge. Hardwood floors = instant disco dance floor! We also really liked that we could hire our own caterer (we chose Ann Walker catering - yummy food and great service) and bring in our own alcohol, so the costs we saved by hiring our own staff and buying our own booze offset the rental fee. Well worth it. All our guests commented on how beautiful the space was, and how nice it was to be in a garden setting rather than some hotel ballroom somewhere. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing! read more

We adored having our wedding here. We had so many compliments from guests about the space. We especially enjoyed that you have use of the entire property and there are several different areas and spaces for different aspects of your event. Mary, one of the managers, was very responsive when we had questions and the entire facilities team was incredibly helpful in coming up with seating and table arrangement plans. We highly recommend The Outdoor Art Club for your upcoming wedding or event. read more

My husband and I had our wedding reception at the Outdoor Art Club and could not have been happier with our choice. We LOVED this location. It is such a charming venue - romantic, intimate, and an historic Arts & Crafts building. All of our guests complimented us on the setting, and because the building and gardens are so beautiful, it requires very little added decoration. The rental director, Laureen, deserves 6 stars. She was incredibly, incredibly helpful and kind. She answered all emails super promptly, she arranged with the city to get permits to reserve the parking space in front of the building for us, she even offered to store our small wedding cake in her own personal home refrigerator because we needed to bring it over from Oakland the day before the wedding. At a time of so much coordinating, it was wonderful to have our site director be so helpful. This was an amazing wedding venue! read more

I can't say enough great things about the OAC. The ladies were all so helpful and friendly. The custodian has been doing the set up for what seems like decades and knows exactly what to do. The venue was accommodating and we were able to bring in our our drinks and go with our own caterer. The architecture of the building itself is beautiful and with the surrounding redwoods, there was not too much to decorate as mother nature provided most of the décor for us. It also helped that it was right in the middle of the ever so charming Mill Valley. read more

Went to an event by the club, the Garden Tours. The tours were decent, nothing spectacular, probably not worth the money paid to go. The lunch/snacks served during the event was low quality food. Having a severe peanut allergy that had been asked about prior to the event the club responded they could accommodate as best they could. Day of, I go to speak with the head lunch organizer in charge, with a sour attitude and non negotiable position she swiftly and disrespectfully said she could not in any possible way accommodate my allergy. I do not recommend this group to anyone with food allergies, on any strict diet, nor do I recommend this group's Garden tour. Severely disappointed. Went with family to this event for the love of gardening and because of a positive inspiring advertisement on the Garden Tours. Unfortunately I will not be returning under any circumstances, a complete waste of hard-earned money. While I met a handful of lovely old women at this event and heard about the work the group does which sounds nice, the dining experience added insult to injury after viewing disappointing garden homes on the Garden Tour. read more