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Redwood Venues in the Bay Area

Redwood Wedding Venues in the Bay Area and Santa Cruz

3/5/2020

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Bay Area Redwood Wedding Photographer
Santa Cruz Redwood Wedding Photographer
Santa Cruz Redwood Wedding Photographer
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 Old Mill Park/Mill Valley Community Center that typically have fewer outside vendor restrictions
  • WEEKEND RETREATS like Waterfall Lodge, YMCA Camp Campbell, and Kennolyn with cabins onsite for a full weekend away with your guests
  • COUNTY, STATE, + NATIONAL PARKS like Muir Woods Henry Cowell, and Joaquin Miller 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
Saratoga Springs South Bay $2950 500
Nestldown South Bay $9500 200
Green Mountain Retreat South Bay $3200 150
Pavilion at Redwood Estates South Bay $3500 125
Redwood Ridge Estate South Bay $5000 100
Sanborn County Park South Bay $480 200
The Mountain Terrace Peninsula $6000 300
Venture Retreat Center Peninsula $6000 300
OVY Camp and Event Center Peninsula $10000 200
Island Farm at San Gregorio Peninsula $15000 150
Stern Grove Clubhouse San Francisco $1500 120
San Francisco Botanical Garden San Francisco $1500 70
Piedmont Community Hall East Bay $4050 200
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden East Bay $7100 200
Joaquin Miller Park East Bay $282 120
Roberts Regional Recreational Area East Bay $566 350
Old Mill Park/Mill Valley Community Center North Bay $2950 250
Deer Park Villa North Bay $9000 300
Muir Woods National Monument North Bay $700 30
Felton Guild Santa Cruz $4800 130
YMCA Camp Campbell Santa Cruz $5800 150
Roaring Camp Santa Cruz $7450 500
Sequoia Retreat Center Santa Cruz $12900 120
Kennolyn Santa Cruz $11000 300
Waterfall Lodge Santa Cruz $12000 179
Sand Rock Farm Santa Cruz $12000 120
Henry Cowell State Park Santa Cruz $525 20
Portola Redwoods State Park Santa Cruz $325 100
* Please note pricing is subject to change and not regularly updated, so always inquire with the venue directly. Starting costs are estimates 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). Overall costs may vary depending on many factors including food and beverage minimums, lodging, renting for ceremony only, 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.
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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

Nestldown Bay Area Redwood Wedding Venue
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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

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See photos from E + M 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

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See photos from A + V'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

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See photos from A + T'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

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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. The amphitheater offers a redwood backdrop and can be rented for $350-450 for the ceremony (but here's a local insider tip: I always take my couples to a redwood park nearby for portraits!) 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

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See photos from N + S'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 N + S 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

Santa Cruz Henry Cowell Elopement Photographer
Santa Cruz Henry Cowell Elopement Photographer
Santa Cruz Henry Cowell Elopement Photographer
See photos from K + G's Henry Cowell Elopement.

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!

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Once you've got your venue booked, the next step is to hire a photographer! Ready to chat?
Let's do this!
10 Comments
Krystal
6/1/2020 10:38:36 am

Oh my goodness!! Literally ALL these venues are stunning!! This is such a well done write up for couples, I love that you have list with starting prices for different places, that is super helpful!

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Sienna link
6/1/2020 12:41:08 pm

This is so cohesive and informative for Northern California weddings! I’m sure this article will help a ton of couples when they’re looking for venues!

Reply
Julia
6/1/2020 11:44:11 pm

The venue listings with the prices are amazing! Such an informative venue guide for couples who are looking to get married in the redwoods! Amazing work!

Reply
Anna Bowser Clark link
6/3/2020 08:39:05 am

THIS is incredible! I love the breakdowns, the images to show off how gorgeous they are and the fact that they are REAL! Everything about this is REAL and raw!

Reply
Kristen
6/3/2020 11:15:18 am

DANG! These photos are so friggin beautiful! How can all these places be this stunning!?

Reply
Laura Fisher link
6/3/2020 01:38:26 pm

Deer Park Villa is so cool looking!! I think it's great that you included a comprehensive list with starting price points for each. So helpful!!

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Alex link
4/5/2021 08:50:23 pm

Affordable Event & Wedding Planner in Davao City, the Philippines. We want to give you your dream wedding through an unstressful approach and high standard quality of service.

Reply
Genny
10/5/2021 09:48:46 pm

This is exactly the kind of list I was looking for — thank you so much!!!! I especially appreciate that you included venues for under $2000 because it was feeling like they didn’t exist!!

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Windsong Tagaytay link
7/12/2022 05:34:11 am

Thank you so much for sharing this! It is so inspiring and we got a lot of ideas. This is also a must-read for all people who's looking for an <a href='https://www.windsongtagaytay.com' title='events place' target='_blank'>events place</a>
that is perfect for any kind of occasion. Kudos!

Reply
south bay vacation rentals link
7/25/2022 12:29:28 pm

Nice location and a stunning photo of the venue. I appreciate that you include the details cost of these locations. Thank you for sharing this gorgeous and informative blog.

Reply



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Big Sur Wedding and Elopement Photographer serving BIG SUR | CARMEL | MONTEREY | SANTA CRUZ