Cavallo Point Celebrations of Life - Complete Guide For Families (including photos, insider tips, and prices)
Lindsey Nickel
Planning a celebration of life is one of the most meaningful ways to honor a loved one’s story. Finding a celebration of life venue that feels peaceful, welcoming, naturally beautiful, and centrally located can make all the difference. If you’re searching for a place that offers the beauty of nature, world-class service, and unforgettable views of the San Francisco Bay, a Cavallo Point celebration of life is truly something special.
Lindsey Nickel
In this Cavallo Point celebrations of life guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about hosting an event here - from its truly unique spaces (much of the property was formerly Fort Baker) to insider tips and real event prices.
If we haven’t met yet, I’m Lindsey Nickel. I’m a wedding planner turned celebration of life planner based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve planned 100+ events since 2010, and I specialize in celebrations of life (and Napa weddings). I help grieving families plan meaningful celebrations of life, without feeling even more stressed out. Suddenly, things you didn’t think you cared about become important. That’s where a celebration of life planner comes in to provide you with options, help you make decisions efficiently, and manage the event planning. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place, and you might want to learn more about event planning services.
Lindsey Nickel
Lindsey Nickel
About the Cavallo Point Celebrations of Life Venue
Nestled at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, California, Cavallo Point is one of the Bay Area’s most serene, meaningful, and historic venues for celebrations of life. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this historic property blends timeless architecture with modern comfort.
It is conveniently located just 30–40 minutes from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 15 minutes from downtown San Francisco, and only 10–15 minutes from central Marin, offering easy access to many points in the city and the Bay Area.
The tranquil setting, with its expansive lawns, Mission Blue Chapel, and sweeping Bay views, creates the perfect backdrop for honoring a loved one’s legacy. With multiple event spaces (both indoor and outdoor) to mix and match, every Cavallo Point celebration of life feels unique, thoughtful, and special.
Melissa Habegger Photography
The Different Event Spaces at Cavallo Point
Mission Blue Chapel
The Mission Blue Chapel – formerly Fort Baker’s historic chapel - is a warm, inviting space ideal for remembrance for speakers, and can fit up to 200 guests. A stone patio welcomes guests (a wonderful place to put a welcome sign, flowers, and take in the views of the property and the Bay), and there are even bathrooms at the chapel.
Mission Blue Chapel - Melissa Habegger Photography
Mission Blue Chapel entrance - Melissa Habegger
Inside Mission Blue Chapel - Melissa Habegger Photography
Mission Blue Lawn
Mission Blue Lawn - Located across from Mission Blue Chapel, and tucked in the trees, this 6,000-square-foot lawn can hold up to 250 people for speakers. It also works well for an entirely outdoor event with music, food, and seating (ask me about the “mini music festival” inspired celebration of life we did in this space). With sweeping views of the Bay and two large trees that form the perfect backdrop for speakers, this is a wonderful choice for a nature lover.
Mission Blue Lawn - Lindsey Nickel
Mission Blue Lawn - Lindsey Nickel
Mission Blue Lawn - Lindsey Nickel
Mission Blue Lawn
Tidewater and Surfbird Rooms
Tidewater Room and Foyer, Surfbird Room and Foyer - Tidewater and Surfbird can be used together or separately, depending on the size of the celebration of life. Tidewater and Surfbird are each 2,050 square feet. A wonderful flow is to have the program with speakers in one room and then the reception with food and mingling in the other room. The porch and foyer connect the rooms, and the views of the porch are relaxing and unobstructed.
Surfbird Room - Melissa Habegger Photography
Tidewater Room - Melissa Habegger Photography
Deck off Surfbird and Tidewater rooms - Melissa Habegger Photography
Callippe Ballroom
The Callippe Ballroom transforms Fort Baker's historic gymnasium into an elegant celebration space, where soaring 33-foot vaulted ceilings showcase charming exposed beams overhead. Inside, you can comfortably host 140 guests for a full plated dinner with dancing, or expand to over 200 guests when you incorporate the adjoining foyer and outdoor fire pit area- simply skip the dance floor to maximize capacity.
Step outside to the spacious terrace, where a cozy fire pit and stunning Golden Gate Bridge views create the perfect spot for guests to relax, mingle in the fresh air, and take in the scenery. This versatile venue shines equally bright for daytime celebrations and evening affairs throughout the year.
Terrace off Callippe Ballroom - Lindsey Nickel
“Lindsey made a difficult event easier to host. We had over 250 people attend and Lindsey made the event enjoyable for all of us. She helped us realize everything we hoped for and enabled us to utilize both indoor and outside spaces at Cavallo Point. ”
What’s Special About This Venue?
A Cavallo Point celebration of life combines breathtaking natural scenery with the convenience of catering, bar service, and furniture all-in-one. It’s rare to find a hotel venue with so much character, and yet it is deeply calming. Of course, the property’s location, just across the bridge from San Francisco, makes it easy for local and out-of-town guests to gather, while its peaceful surroundings feel worlds away from the city. Guests can relax at the Healing Arts Center & Spa, dine at Murray Circle Restaurant, or stay overnight in the historic lodge rooms (an easy option for out-of-town guests). Every moment feels intentional and thoughtful.
Lindsey Nickel
What Type of Family Will Love a Celebration of Life at Cavallo Point
A Cavallo Point celebration of life is perfect for families who:
Want a peaceful, nature-filled setting, ideal for celebrating a nature lover, someone who loves the ocean, a history buff, or an outdoorsy person.
Easy access from San Francisco (maybe you live in San Francisco or have guests flying into SFO) and is effortless to get to from all points of the Bay Area (maybe you live in Marin and have people attending from Berkeley and Oakland).
Looking for a warm, welcoming atmosphere where hospitality, delicious food, and genuine guest experience take center stage? This setting is refined without being overly formal, maintaining an intimate feel that helps you and your guests truly connect and enjoy the celebration together.
Complimentary valet parking, because no one wants to worry about finding a parking spot when attending a celebration of life.
“ Lindsey expertly handled every aspect of “our celebration of my husband’s life” from finding a quartet to play, to recommending an incredible graphic designer, to the florist who created beautiful arrangements within a reasonable budget, to managing our venue and supporting a event manager.
Our check in calls were reassuring and her organizational skills instilled confidence in me from the first day we met. She also suggested several additions that made the event very personalized to my husband. THANK YOU for helping us celebrate his life.”
Lindsey Nickel
Why I Love Working at Cavallo Point
I love planning Cavallo Point celebrations of life because the venue offers so much flexibility and personalization for each family. Families can mix and match indoor and outdoor spaces to create an event that truly reflects their loved one’s personality, style, and legacy. From a formal luncheon to a summer family-friendly event to an indoor reception in the winter, Cavallo Point can easily be tailored to your vision. If you don’t have a vision, I’m happy to offer you ideas and brainstorm until something feels right.
The venue also provides delicious, customizable menus, making it easy to incorporate your loved one’s favorite foods into the day. With both indoor and outdoor options, you have a reliable backup plan in case of rain, allowing events to take place comfortably year-round. Plus, on-site lodging makes it convenient for out-of-town guests to stay close and fully participate in the celebration.
A major plus is Cavallo Point Lodge’s in-house audio-visual team, who know the ins and outs of the historic property and can provide everything from monitors for slideshows, including an extra-bright option for outdoor use, to microphones for speeches, ensuring every tribute is seen and heard clearly.
Lindsey Nickel
Insider Tips for Cavallo Point Celebration Of Life
Minimal décor is needed (we recommend flowers and personal signage), the scenery is stunning on its own, and the buildings have tons of character.
Plan for the wind on Mission Blue Lawn: Use low floral centerpieces that won’t blow over and skip linens on high cocktail tables to keep everything secure and looking polished.
Welcome early arrivals: Some guests may arrive before the ceremony starts. Request a self-serve water and lemonade station to be ready about 30 minutes before your event starts. On chilly San Francisco mornings or during winter, offer a hot beverage station with coffee and tea instead to keep guests comfortable.
On-site lodging for guests: With a variety of on-site accommodations available, out-of-town guests can stay right where the celebration happens - no need to worry about driving, directions, or timing. They'll be steps away from the festivities and free to fully enjoy themselves. The convenience is especially helpful for families with young children who might need a quiet space for a nap before or during the event.
Mix indoor and outdoor spaces: Take advantage of Cavallo Point’s variety of event spaces by using one of the indoor spaces (like Mission Blue Chapel) as a rain (or cold) backup plan. This ensures the celebration of life can still happen even if the weather is not playing nice.
Be sure to use their In-house Audio Visual (AV) if you plan to have a slideshow because they know all about the specific power needs, windy spots, where everything is located in the event space, and more.
“Lindsey was absolutely essential in making our huge Celebration of Life party for my dad a joyful and memorable gift to all who loved him.
With 90+ people in attendance, we organized a full 4 hour party with food, flowers, slideshows, speeches, continuous music, activity stations and photography throughout.”
Melissa Habegger Photography
How Much Does A Cavallo Point Celebration Of Life Cost?
This is by far one of the most common questions, so I looked back at three Cavallo Point celebrations of life and calculated the averages. Each event was very different and used different spaces at the venue.
The total cost of a Cavallo Point Lodge celebration of life can vary widely depending on several factors, such as:
Venue Site Fees
Different spaces at Cavallo Point have different rental rates.
How many spaces you are utilizing/renting will dictate the fee.
Guest Count
Catering costs are usually calculated per person, so the number of guests has a major impact on the overall budget.
More guests also means more centerpieces for more tables, more printed programs, etc.
Catering and Menu Choices
Menus are fully customizable, which is wonderful for honoring a loved one’s favorite foods, but with more elaborate food offerings, chef stations, and specialty foods, costs increase.
Beverages, including wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options, also factor into the catering choices.
Entertainment and Specialty Services
Musicians (for example, a string quartet or a guitar player), DJs (for background music), or sound systems for speeches and tribute videos are extra.
Additional services like a florist, a graphic designer (to create programs and signage) are optional but common for celebrations of life.
Other popular services include a photographer (when else will so many friends and family be together?) and videographer (to capture the speeches, precious moments, and merriment).
Celebration of Life Event Planner
Hiring a celebration of life planner can help give you specific recommendations on which vendors to hire, get quotes, and manage logistics, especially with multiple spaces or a large guest count.
Your event planner is on site the day of your celebration of life to set up your guestbook, answer questions from vendors, oversee the venue setting up furniture, and tending to every detail so that you can simply show up.
Average Cavallo Point Celebration Of Life Costs based on three events
Average number of guests: 141 people
All three events were four hours long, and during the day.
The events mixed and matched different venue spaces
Most Common Celebration of Life Vendors, and Average Price
Catering - $30,441
DJ/ AV/ Musicians - $5,467
Florist - $4,478
Event Planner - $9,425
Venue Site Fee - $5,503
Overall average (including all vendors from each event, not just the ones listed above) - $60,811
Average cost per person - $438
If you are planning a Cavallo Point celebration of life with about 100 people, I recommend budgeting a starting point of $430 per person.
“Lindsey made this process SO much easier than if we had tried to do this on our own. She was instrumental in keeping us organized, was in regular communication with vendors on our behalf, and scheduled regular meetings with us to make sure nothing was ever missed.
She was always efficient, generous with her time, gave helpful insights from her experience, and just in general was such a kind and present person for our family as we searched for how to best celebrate my dad.
We are so grateful to Lindsey and couldn’t recommend her more. ”
Mission Blue Chapel - Melissa Habegger Photography
Mission Blue Lawn - Melissa Habegger Photography
Cavallo Point of Life Facts at a Glance
Address - 601 Murray Cir, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone - (415) 787-4717
Web - Cavallopoint.com
Setting - At the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, resort, national parkland with San Francisco Bay and city views
Event Spaces - Indoor and outdoor, Chapel, ballroom, lawns, terraces, historic buildings
Guest Capacity - More than 200
Catering - In-house, full-service, including bar
Lodging - On-site, 4.5-star resort, listed in the Michelin Guide
Parking - Complimentary valet
