Redwood Wedding Venues in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz

Northern California is famous for its redwood forests, so it's no wonder that redwood wedding venues are one of the first options couples look at when planning an outdoor wedding. As a Bay Area wedding photographer, I've captured so many beautiful redwood weddings and am here to help you get started on your search! Check out this guide on Bay Area and Santa Cruz redwood wedding venues with information on pricing, guest capacity, location, and sample wedding galleries.

Bay Area and Santa Cruz Redwood Venues at a Glance

There are so many redwood wedding venues in Northern California, but how do you sort through them all? One easy way to start is by narrowing down what you envision for your wedding. Typically you'll find the following types of redwood venues:

• FAIRYTALE VENUES like Nestldown, Deer Park Villa, and UC Berkeley Botanical Garden that transport you to another world
• REDWOODS-LITE VENUES like The Mountain Terrace and Saratoga Springs for those who prefer who prefer the outdoors in limited doses (you know who you are)
• CITY OWNED VENUES like Piedmont Community Hall, Stern Grove Clubhouse, and Mill Valley Community Center that typically have few outside vendor restrictions
• WEEKEND RETREATS like Waterfall Lodge, Amphitheatre of the Redwoods, and YMCA Camp Campbell with cabins onsite for a full weekend away with your guests
• STATE + COUNTY PARKS like Sanborn County Park, Roberts Regional Recreational Area, and Henry Cowell State Park for the nontraditional wedding with a focus on the outdoors

Hint: Click on the heading to sort by location, starting cost, or guest capacity. Best viewed on desktop.

Venue	Location click to sort	Starting Cost* click to sort	Guests click to sort
Nestldown	South Bay	$15000	200
Saratoga Springs	South Bay	$2950	500
Sanborn County Park	South Bay	$480	200
Redwood Ridge Estate	South Bay	$5000	100
Pavilion at Redwood Estates	South Bay	$3500	125
The Mountain Terrace	Peninsula	$6000	300
Island Farm at San Gregorio	Peninsula	$15000	150
OVY Camp and Event Center	Peninsula	$10000	200
Venture Retreat Center	Peninsula	$6000	300
Stern Grove Clubhouse	San Francisco	$1500	120
San Francisco Botanical Garden	San Francisco	$1500	70
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden	East Bay	$7100	200
Piedmont Community Hall	East Bay	$4050	200
Joaquin Miller Park	East Bay	$282	120
Roberts Regional Recreational Area	East Bay	$566	350
Deer Park Villa	North Bay	$9000	350
Outdoor Art Club	North Bay	$5000	150
Old Mill Park/Mill Valley Community Center	North Bay	$2950	250
Muir Woods National Monument	North Bay	$700	30
YMCA Camp Campbell	Santa Cruz	$5800	250
Waterfall Lodge	Santa Cruz	$9800	179
Sequoia Retreat Center	Santa Cruz	$8900	100
Roaring Camp	Santa Cruz	$7300	500
Amphitheatre of the Redwoods	Santa Cruz	$7450	300
Felton Guild	Santa Cruz	$3800	250
Fern River Resort	Santa Cruz	$4000	110
Kennolyn	Santa Cruz	$11000	300
Sand Rock Farm	Santa Cruz	$11200	120
Big Basin State Park	Santa Cruz	$325	200
Henry Cowell State Park	Santa Cruz	$525	20
Portola Redwoods State Park	Santa Cruz	$325	100

* Starting costs are based on renting the venue for a weekend wedding for both ceremony and reception (if venue hosts both) with minimum number of guests (usually 50). Costs are subject to change and may be lower if only renting for ceremony or planning a wedding in off-peak season or on a weekday.

Here's a map of the venues, you can also click through each venue for sample wedding galleries.

Tips for Planning a Redwoods Wedding

• Plan for an earlier ceremony. Redwoods provide a lot of shade which is great during the daytime, but that means it can also get dark pretty quickly. I would recommend finishing all portraits at least one hour before sunset.
• Have heat lamps available if planning an outdoor reception. It can get cold once it gets dark, so if your guests will be sitting outside the entire time, you may want to have heat lamps depending on the weather and time of year.
• Accept that your dress will get dirty. It is almost inevitable that you'll start to find branches and dirt in your dress as you walk around, but that's all a part of the beauty of getting married outdoors!
• Check if the venue has cell service or wifi. Many venues are out of range for cell service, so make sure your guests and vendors have a way to contact each other on the day of. Provide vendors with wifi access if possible (some phones have wifi calling and messaging).
• Ask if the area has mosquitoes or bugs. If so, plan to have bug spray available for guests and see if your venue allows tiki torches or citronella candles.

Nestldown | Los Gatos, CA

See photos from K + L's Nestldown wedding and F + E's Nestldown Wedding.

​Nestldown is a dream venue for a fairytale wedding, just half an hour away from San Jose Airport. Its grand staircase down to the ceremony site is one of the highlights of the private estate, and one of my favorite spots to capture portraits where the light seems to always shine through the redwoods ever so perfectly. Many of the redwood trails are carved right into the hillside so you get the feeling of the being in the woods without having to hike. This large property also has access to a historical house for getting ready, outdoor reception area overlooking the pond, and indoor barn for dancing. Plus you get to arrive in style with their vintage car or by train as you enter cocktail hour! Yes, it's one of the more expensive venues in the Bay Area, but it's truly a one of a kind venue.

Saratoga Springs | Saratoga, CA

See photos from S + C's Saratoga Springs wedding.

Saratoga Springs runs a full schedule with multiple locations for hosting weddings, but if you've ever seen photos here, you will likely recognize Longbridge. This wooden bridge is one of the most unique backdrops for a rustic reception under the twinkle lights. If you want to be truly surrounded by the redwoods, Cathedral Grove is a great spot for couple portraits with sun streaming through the trees and a small wooden bridge crossing the stream. One thing to note is that typically Saratoga Springs books multiple weddings on the same day and same time, but at different locations. Luckily this means that you can take photos at Cathedral Grove while hosting your wedding at Longbridge, but it can be rushed for those hoping for a more private experience. If you've always dreamed of a sparkler exit, check out this venue as not many venues in the Bay Area allow them!

The Mountain Terrace | Woodside, CA

See photos from G + B's The Mountain Terrace wedding.

The Mountain Terrace is what I call redwoods-lite - it has access to redwoods without truly being in the redwoods. With a view overlooking the peninsula, it's just 30-45 minutes away from San Francisco International Airport. Ceremonies are held on the grassy field with redwoods as the backdrop, and receptions can be either held outdoors in the same area or indoors. It's the perfect blend for city dwellers with a love for the outdoors!

Deer Park Villa | Fairfax, CA

See photos from R + C's Deer Park Villa wedding.

Deer Park Villa is one of the most romantic redwoods venues in the North Bay, not too far from San Francisco. While many venues have string lights in the reception area, Deer Park Villa is the only one with string lights over the ceremony site (which also serves as the outdoor reception site). It is also what I call redwoods-lite - it is fully paved and has redwoods without actually being in a redwood forest. With an indoor area for dancing and sparkler exit to end the night, Deer Park Villa is one of the most popular venues for rustic and boho weddings.

Piedmont Community Hall | Oakland, CA

See photos from M + R's Piedmont Community Hall wedding.

For those planning a redwoods venue on a budget, city-owned venues like Piedmont Community Hall are always the first place I recommend. M + R got ready in a gorgeous house nearby, and didn't let the rain stop them from having a beautiful wedding. Piedmont Community Hall does offer an outdoor redwoods amphitheatre for $450 (or $350 with hall rental) for the ceremony. Receptions can be held outdoors or indoors with the 8-hour hall and patio rental for $3700-4550. Because public venues typically don't have any preferred vendors, they're perfect for planning a nontraditional wedding like how these two catered BBQ for their afternoon celebration!

Waterfall Lodge | Ben Lomond, CA

See photos from A + D's Waterfall Lodge wedding.

If you're like me and have always looked longingly at A-frame cabins in the woods, Waterfall Lodge is your dream venue. With 9 A-frame cabins and 12 other cabins onsite, it was the perfect choice for A + D to host their multi-day wedding so that they could provide accommodations for guests onsite. The outdoor ceremony site was a short walk away from the rustic wood-paneled lodge where they danced the night away. With string lights overlooking the patio, it is one of my favorite venues to photograph at. Appropriately located on Hidden Falls Trails, it's a bit harder to find with limited to no cell service, but definitely gives that retreat vibe for those looking for a getaway.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park | Santa Cruz, CA

See photos from J + F's Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Wedding.

Santa Cruz is one of my favorite places because it's where the redwoods and coast meet. Not far from downtown Santa Cruz, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park brings you back in time as you explore old-growth redwood trees up to 277 feet tall. Intimate wedding and elopement ceremonies can be held at the redwood ring (maximum 20 guests) or larger weddings can be held at picnic lot 1 (maximum 150 guests). Fees are minimal compared to wedding venues so it's great for those who don't need all the aspects of a traditional venue. If you're getting married nearby, you can also apply for a permit to take your portraits at Henry Cowell like these two did!

Once you've got your venue booked, the next step is to hire a photographer! Ready to chat?

Let's do this!