Nice Wedding Spots We Didn't Pick

To preface, these places all were great locations for a wedding but were too much for our personal budget. We decided to look closer to home instead of the Santa Cruz area.
Kennolyn
This place is on Glen Haven Road, next to Soquel Vineyards in Soquel. Even though it was raining the day we visited and we got lost (with shoddy cell phone reception), the hacienda was pretty with a Spanish-like tile patio. The ceremony would have taken place facing the back of the building in front of a fountain (not the one in the next photo, which is on the front patio area) because even though there is ultimately a great view, the immediate view is a tennis court. Uh...
But that didn't stop of us from considering this place. The inside where the reception would take place was nice, too, as you can see from the photo. Simple but open and airy. And there's that patio. That's where the bar, dancing, and music would take place.

Carrie, the wedding coordinator, is very nice and helpful. I think we may have looked at this place too soon. We hadn't figured out what we could afford when we looked in Santa Cruz. And a Saturday, even in the day, turned out pricier because of the site fees.

Fairview Manor Bed and Breakfast in Ben Lomond, CA

This home was a former house owned by the Wilder family. Gael currently runs the B&B and holds weddings and other events on the property. Since we visited in the winter you can see the neighbors' homes through the trees, but I believe her when she said the leaves and brush thicken in the spring and summer. This is in the middle of a close-knit neighborhood so you might expect strangers stopping by during your reception. There is a concrete pad (a basketball court in off-season) for dancing and hookups for power. There is also the yard and gazebo, seen above, to hold the ceremony. Or if your party fits, you can use the small redwood grove in front of the house. You must rent out the property if you hold a Saturday wedding here.

Monarch Cove Inn in Capitola

The woman who runs the place, Lonna, is very nice and honest. We didn't originally expect to visit this property but a friend introduced us to Lonna and we were considering this venue after visiting.

It is situated almost on the edge of a cliff that faces Monterey (you're facing East really so you can watch the sunrise over water if you stay in a room with a view). The grass is lush and well maintained. There is a large area for ceremonies and then a large wooden deck for receptions and dancing. This is a garden wedding spot so music must be over by 6 pm. But then you can head down to Capitola Village! If you have your wedding here on a Saturday, I think like most B&Bs, you have to rent out the whole place. Monarch Cove Inn is actually a large B&B. There are old Victorian rooms and cottages, so you would need to get or pay for others to spend $200 a night (you would need a buyout for both Friday and Saturday nights). We stayed in the Lilac Room and it was charming. The one problem was the room to room noise. It being an old building the walls and floors were thin. The upstairs guests were a bit loud.

Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast in Aptos

Probably my favorite of the locations going into this search, it made me sad to realize that we couldn't afford a wedding here. This property in Aptos is situated uphill from a busy road that creates a lot of street noise when the leaves aren't on the trees. J had an issue with this, so that paired with the costs, I silently let this site go. I really liked the redwood grove and especially the historic barrel cellar (the photo with the Japanese lanterns). The barrel cellar would be too tight for a reception and dancing inside of it, but look how nice it looks! I guess logistics also played a part in why we decided against this place. But Kris is very informtive and seems to know her stuff with how the coordination is handled. The rooms are lovely as well (especially the rooms in original structure).


Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz

This was a dark horse on the list from the beginning. The whole resort thing is not either of us, but I was lured by the inclusive package and view from the patio. They have a nice menu selection to fit varying tastes and budgets. I think they start at $49 a person, plus a beverage package. They also offer a kids menu and non-alcoholic bev package too.

Originally when we were looking back in the San Francisco area, the Strybling Arboretum and Stern Grove came to mind. Turns out the Botanical Garden in SF doesn't have a space conducive to the wedding size we are envisioning and the rentable areas do not fit. I imagined using the Moon View Garden near the Asian plants but there is a walkway right before the arches. And this area isn't listed on the reservable spaces of the Parks & Rec dept. I guess you could have a mob spontaneously appear if I wanted it badly enough.

Stern Grove in San Francisco

Stern Grove was wet. And that is not only because it rained a boatload this week. The location in the bowl never really dries out, and while there is street noise from 19th Ave right above, it isn't too bad. It was about the same I think as at Sand Rock Farm. The meadow nearby had more noise. However, even if we could get by this because the price was right, the building itself was a lot smaller than we expected. The main room did not look as though it would hold 100 people plus an area for dancing. The bar was in a separate small room. It is definitely a place for a more intimate reception. C'est la vie. So we kept looking. On the other side of the Bay...