Top 5 Event Planners in San Francisco
-
Editor & Publisher -
Client Services Leader
- May 14, 2026
- 17 min read
- Events
Source: Peerspace
With the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, a thriving tech and arts culture, and neighborhoods that each carry their own distinct personality, San Francisco is brimming with inspiration for your next event. Whether you’re planning a corporate retreat for your startup team, a wedding overlooking the Bay, or a milestone birthday in a private San Francisco movie theater, the city delivers settings as dynamic as the people who live here.
San Francisco’s event planners are sharp, resourceful, and deeply connected to the city’s vendor networks, permitting quirks, and neighborhood-by-neighborhood logistics. For you, that means access to professionals who craft experiences tailored to one of the most unique cities in the world.
We’ve done the legwork to bring you a curated list of San Francisco’s top event planners. Each company has been carefully vetted based on real criteria that matter. Let’s get into it.
How we curate our list
Putting together a list like this takes more than a quick search. We evaluate San Francisco event planners based on factors that actually reflect the quality of their work and the experience you’ll have as a client:
- Client reviews across multiple platforms: We look at feedback on Google, Yelp, The Knot, WeddingWire, and other review sites to get a well-rounded picture of each planner’s reputation.
- Industry recognition and awards: Planners who’ve earned features in publications or received industry awards demonstrate a level of excellence that goes beyond word of mouth.
- Professional credentials and experience: We consider years in business, relevant hospitality or event management backgrounds, and the depth of each planner’s vendor network.
Best event planners in San Francisco
Here are the five event planning companies that stood out in our research—each bringing something unique to the San Francisco scene.
1. Coastside Weddings & Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: Coastside Weddings & Events / Kelsey Currier
Kelsey founded Coastside Weddings & Events in 2019 after two decades working in weddings and events. She got her start at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, then served as the Director of Private Events and Catering for four years at Sam’s Chowder House. That hospitality pedigree shows in every event she produces.
Specialty/niche: As a Half Moon Bay native, Kelsey brings unparalleled expertise and insider access to the best resources and connections along the Northern California coastline. Her diverse background in hospitality and venue management means she has extensive experience planning everything from large corporate events to intimate private gatherings. She specializes in weddings and celebrations that take full advantage of the stunning coastal scenery.
Notable projects or signature style: Kelsey’s signature is her ability to transform unconventional outdoor spaces into polished event settings. One standout example: a client asked her to plan a wedding at a remote property up a steep, winding, single-lane road with no lighting and minimal parking. Kelsey handled the complex shuttle logistics and vendor coordination without missing a beat.
Pricing: Plans start at $2,495. Get in touch with Coastside Weddings & Events directly through their website to request a custom quote.
Why we love them: Kelsey’s 20 years of experience and transparent communication style mean you can trust her input and advice. Clients consistently praise her exceptional day-of coordination, noting her ability to bring a couple’s vision to life while providing strong value for the investment. Clients rave about her proactive approach and her ability to anticipate needs before they arise. One testimonial highlights, “Kelsey was absolutely amazing. Every single penny we spent was 100% worth it. She made our day amazingly special and effortless.”
Connect with them: Follow @coastsideweddingsandevents on Instagram.
2. SpotOn Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: SpotOn Events / Stephanie Franco
Stephanie Franco is an internationally recognized leader in corporate event production with almost 30 years of dedicated experience. She has on-the-ground event planning experience in more than 20 countries across four continents, bringing a truly global perspective to Bay Area events.
Specialty/niche: SpotOn Events is an award-winning Bay Area event agency providing full-service corporate and social event production, including incentives, meetings, and large-scale company gatherings. If you’re planning a corporate conference, an incentive travel program, or a multi-day brand summit, SpotOn is built for exactly that.
Notable projects or signature style: Stephanie has worked directly with leaders and executives of Fortune 50 organizations to plan, implement, and execute programs that bring stakeholders closer to each other and the brands they represent. She was recently recognized by BizBash Magazine for a national award. Her clients include directors of global events at major tech firms, and she’s produced everything from multi-day brand ambassador summits with over 200 attendees to intimate executive retreats.
Pricing: SpotOn Events creates custom proposals for each client. Reach out to the company directly through their website to request a tailored quote.
Why we love them: What sets Stephanie apart is her willingness to go beyond logistics—she understands your marketing goals and proposes ways to enhance the delivery of your message. Her clients don’t just come back; they call her their “go-to resource.” Testimonials highlight her trustworthiness with high-profile events, her meticulous attention to detail, and her effective delegation skills. As one reviewer noted, “She’s one of the few event planners I would trust with a high profile concept. She’s detailed but also can delegate.”
Connect with them: Follow @spotonevents on Instagram.
3. Hand & Heart Weddings and Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: Hand & Heart Weddings and Events / Kellyne Mendoza
Kellyne Mendoza leads a San Francisco-based wedding planning team specializing in custom, authentic, and personalized events that reflect each couple’s unique story. She has been planning weddings all over the California coast since 2015, and after over 75 weddings planned, she brings nearly a decade of business experience to every celebration.
Specialty/niche: Kellyne offers packages ranging from full planning and styling to month-of coordination, working one-on-one with each couple to build a custom package. Her style lends itself perfectly to the fun, eclectic, and adventurous couple looking to incorporate unique and personalized pieces throughout their special day.
Notable projects or signature style: Kellyne’s design aesthetic is nature-inspired, bold, and deeply personal. One couple worked closely with her to infuse their entire wedding weekend with the funky, effervescent soul of San Francisco—incorporating bold patterns, sculptural florals, and experience-driven moments like a welcome baseball game at Oracle Park. She’s also planned a Hindu/Jewish multicultural wedding in Carmel Valley and an intimate 25-person ceremony in Golden Gate Park.
Pricing: Hand & Heart creates custom packages for each client, so connect with them directly via their website to schedule a free initial consultation. Consulting is available at $225/hour.
Why we love them: Kellyne is passionate about challenging mundane wedding norms—she wholeheartedly believes in delicious food and drinks, jams that keep you on the dance floor, and curating the ultimate guest experience. She works with vendors committed to high-quality products at approachable price points for young couples living in the Bay Area. Clients consistently praise her as a transformative hire, with reviews across WeddingWire and Yelp highlighting her ability to make couples feel relaxed and stress-free. One testimonial raves, “Our wedding turned out amazing, and it started with the best first decision we could have made: Hiring Kellyne!”
Connect with them: Follow @handheartevents on Instagram and @handheartevents on TikTok.
4. Christine Eng Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: Christine Eng Events / Christine Eng
Raised in San Francisco, Christine remembers taking the cable car on her way to school—wistfully daydreaming about engagement rings at Tiffany’s on Union Square or bridal gown shopping along Maiden Lane. Today, she loves bringing her couples’ daydreams to reality, creating events that speak to their individual style.
Specialty/niche: Christine Eng Events offers personal service to coordinate your celebration so that you can relax and enjoy the experience with your guests. Christine handles weddings, baby showers, engagement parties, and milestone celebrations throughout the Bay Area. She also offers destination wedding planning for couples looking to wed abroad.
Notable projects or signature style: Christine brings a deeply personal, San Francisco-native perspective to every event she plans. Her portfolio includes a stunning wedding at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and beautifully designed baby showers that clients describe as “instagrammable.” She’s been recognized globally, with features in CosmoBride China, 7×7, Marin Magazine, and The Big Fake Wedding—plus she’s an eight-time award winner on The Knot.
Pricing: Christine Eng Events creates custom packages for each client, so get in touch directly through their website to request a proposal based on your needs.
Why we love them: Christine’s deep roots in San Francisco give her an insider’s understanding of the city’s venues, neighborhoods, and vendor landscape that you simply can’t replicate. Clients consistently describe her as a “true thought partner” who handles large wedding parties, last-minute vendor changes, and complex logistics with calm professionalism. Clients praise her meticulous attention to detail and timeline creation. One testimonial highlights, “Christine is an ABSOLUTE and consummate professional! Trust me when I say that she went above and beyond our own expectations with every single detail.”
Connect with them: Follow @christineengevents on Instagram.
5. Make It Mariko
Company name and founder/lead planner: Make It Mariko / Gina Mariko Rosales
Make It Mariko is an award-winning creative events agency based in San Francisco, proudly led by women of color. Before launching her own ventures, Gina spent over a decade in corporate and nonprofit event planning, including seven years at Google, where she was Head of Marketing Events at Google X working with Self-Driving Cars (now known as Waymo).
Specialty/niche: With community building at the heart of their work, Make It Mariko centers diverse voices, cultivates connection, and creates joy through intentional event experiences. They handle corporate events, fundraising events and nonprofit galas, festivals, and community activations for clients like The Trevor Project, NPR, and Figma.
Notable projects or signature style: Gina has co-founded several cultural initiatives including UNDISCOVERED SF, Pinayista, Balay Kreative, Weddings In Color, and the POC Food & Wine Festival—each designed to amplify the voices of creatives of color. She also helped strategize, design, and launch two new venues in San Francisco’s SoMa district. After experiencing a tragic loss in her family, Gina started the company on her 30th birthday as a commitment to curating a life she’d be proud of.
Pricing: Make It Mariko creates custom proposals for each client, so reach out through their website to request more information, pricing, and relevant packages.
Why we love them: Gina’s mission-driven approach—born from personal experience—combined with seven years of Google-level operational expertise, makes Make It Mariko a powerhouse for anyone looking to create events with real cultural impact. Clients consistently praise the team’s exceptional creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering professionalism. They reliably deliver dream wedding experiences even under challenging circumstances. One testimonial highlights, “We hired Make It Mariko Events for our wedding and it is not an understatement to say that Gina and her crew made it the day of our dreams!”
Connect with them: Follow @makeitmariko on Instagram.
Finding the right SF event planner
With so many talented professionals in the Bay Area, narrowing down your options can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to evaluate planners and find the one who’s truly the right fit for your event.
1. Test their knowledge of neighborhood logistics
Don’t just ask if they know San Francisco—test their knowledge. Ask specific questions like “What’s the parking situation in the Mission on a Saturday evening?” or “Which neighborhoods have noise ordinances that could affect our reception timeline?” A planner with real local experience will answer immediately and offer alternatives.
Vague responses like “we’ll figure it out” are red flags. Ask them to walk you through how they’d handle guest transportation between a ceremony in the Presidio and a reception in SoMa. Their answer reveals whether they’ve actually managed events across San Francisco’s distinct neighborhoods or are just listing the city on their website.
2. Evaluate their vendor network depth
Ask: “Which caterers, florists, and rental companies do you work with regularly, and why?” Strong planners will name three to five vendors per category and explain the relationship. Then ask: “What happens if they’re booked?”
The depth of their backup list matters. Ask for introduction calls with two or three key vendors. During those calls, gauge the vendor’s enthusiasm—do they light up mentioning this planner? That chemistry translates to better service, priority scheduling, and problem-solving on your event day.
3. Verify their permit and regulation expertise
San Francisco has notoriously complex permitting requirements. Ask: “What permits would we need for our specific event type in our preferred neighborhood?” A knowledgeable planner will outline requirements without hesitation—noise permits, street closures, alcohol licenses, fire safety inspections.
They should know processing times (“applications take four to six weeks, so we’d need to file by this date”) and costs. Red flag: “We’ll look into that.” Green flag: “Here’s the exact department to contact, the forms you’ll need, and the timeline.”
4. Review their portfolio for San Francisco specifically
Don’t just ask for their portfolio—ask for events specifically in San Francisco or the neighborhoods relevant to your event. Request three to five examples similar to yours in event type, size, budget range, and venue style.
During portfolio review, ask: “What was the biggest challenge in executing this event?” Strong planners will cite San Francisco-specific obstacles—parking logistics, fog-related backup plans, vendor scheduling during peak season—and explain their solutions. Follow up by asking: “May I contact this client?” Real references reveal whether the planner’s local expertise made a tangible difference.
5. Measure budget realism for this market
Share your budget range and ask: “What’s realistic for our event type in San Francisco with this budget?” Good planners will be honest about what your neighborhood and venue tier can accommodate and where you can save—Peerspace venues instead of traditional hotels, off-peak days, or emerging neighborhoods like Dogpatch.
Warning sign: promising everything without discussing tradeoffs. Ask: “Show me two past events—one at our budget and one 50% higher. What did the extra money buy?” Their answer reveals what they actually optimize for and whether it aligns with your priorities.
Planning an event in San Francisco
Event planning in San Francisco is all about timing—and knowing the city’s quirks.
Weather and microclimates. San Francisco is in an area of exceedingly diversified topography that produces some of the most dramatic microclimate variation of any U.S. city. Summertime is characterized by cool marine air and persistent coastal stratus and fog, with mornings typically finding the entire city overcast followed by clearing on the warmer bay side. September and October are actually the warmest, sunniest months—not July and August. If you’re planning an outdoor event, always have an indoor backup plan or tent option, and brief your guests on layering. The up-to-date National Weather Service Bay Area forecast is a reliable resource for checking conditions in the days leading up to your event.
Tourism peaks and major events to avoid. San Francisco hosts several major events that drive up venue prices and reduce availability. Check the official San Francisco Travel events calendar to stay ahead of scheduling conflicts:
- Dreamforce (September)
- San Francisco Pride (June)
- Outside Lands Music Festival (August)
- Fleet Week (October)
- Bay to Breakers (May)
- Chinese New Year Parade (January/February)
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (October)
- J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (January)
Planning around these events can save you significant money on venues and vendors.
Permits and regulations. San Francisco requires permits for many event types, especially those involving amplified sound, alcohol service, or street closures. The city’s official Entertainment Commission permits and regulates entertainment for venues and events in San Francisco. You should apply at least two weeks before your event, though if your amplified sound or entertainment exceeds six hours, or will happen before 9 a.m. or after 10 p.m., you should apply at least 45 days before the event.
Transportation and parking. Parking in San Francisco is notoriously difficult. Consider providing shuttle service, sharing rideshare codes, or choosing venues near Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) or San Francisco Muni transit stops. If your event is in a neighborhood with limited street parking, communicate transportation options clearly in your invitations.
FAQs: event planning in San Francisco
When should I hire a San Francisco event planner?
Aim to hire at least six to 12 months in advance, especially if your event falls during peak season (September through October) or coincides with major conventions like Dreamforce. Popular planners in San Francisco book up quickly, so the earlier you start your search, the better your options.
How much does an event planner cost in San Francisco?
Costs vary widely depending on the event type, size, and level of service. Most planners charge either a flat fee, a percentage of the overall event budget (typically 15–20%), or an hourly rate. In San Francisco’s market, you can expect to pay more than the national average due to the higher cost of living and vendor pricing. Ask planners for transparent breakdowns and don’t be afraid to discuss budget constraints upfront—a good planner will help you prioritize.
Do I need a planner if my venue has a coordinator?
A venue coordinator focuses on the property’s logistics—setup times, catering coordination within their space, and house rules. An independent event planner works for you. They handle your full vision, manage all vendors (not just the venue’s), negotiate contracts, and advocate for your interests. If you want creative freedom and someone in your corner throughout the entire planning process, an independent planner is worth the investment.
Why hire a local San Francisco planner versus bringing someone from out of town?
Local planners know San Francisco’s permit requirements, neighborhood-specific noise ordinances, vendor relationships, traffic patterns, and weather quirks in a way that out-of-town planners simply can’t match. They’ve built trust with local vendors—which often means priority scheduling and better pricing for you. When something goes sideways on event day (and something always does), a planner who knows the city inside and out can solve problems faster.
Great events start with standout spaces—and the people who bring them to life
San Francisco is a city that rewards creativity, and the planners on this list know how to harness its energy to create events that feel truly extraordinary. Whether you’re drawn to Kelsey’s coastal expertise, Stephanie’s corporate precision, Kellyne’s bold design vision, Christine’s hometown knowledge, or Gina’s community-driven approach, you’re in excellent hands. Pair the right planner with the right San Francisco event space, and you’ve got the foundation for something unforgettable.
If you have feedback on our list, our team would love to hear from you. Reach us anytime at [email protected] with suggestions, corrections, or additions. It helps us keep our recommendations accurate, balanced, and genuinely useful for every reader.
