Showing posts with label Santa Cruz wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santa Cruz wedding. Show all posts
Feb 7, 2010
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...
KennolynThis 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 CapitolaThe 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...
Jan 18, 2010
Rainy Day Wedding Site Scouting
We visited a few possible wedding sites in the rain this weekend. Comparing what each costs, provides, and lacks is getting confusing--even with a spreadsheet. I am growing less certain of what I think a wedding venue should look like.
After poor directions on Google maps to not one but TWO sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains, I was beginning to think that the mountains did not want us to hold our wedding there. But we are still looking at places. And the few that we have seen have been slightly different from each other, making the process even harder. None have the exact dates we originally hoped for either. So...
Location #1: hilltop with view, ceremony site on lawn, facing the back of the building and a fountain (it's nice). Cocktail reception on the front patio, where the DJ would be set up as well for dancing after dinner. Dinner served either on the back patio or inside the main room. Decent catering menu options. Beverage portion a little iffy: I would like pinot noir as an option but the more reasonably priced menu does not offer it. I would have to negotiate something. There is lodging on an adjacent property and there would be a two night minimum for 25 cabins. The cabins (we haven't seen them yet) are over $200 a night plus an additional fee for each person (this is for the meals that are included in the Weekend package). It sounds nice but I wonder if we could find cheaper digs in the area and just have a ceremony and reception there.
Location #2: small yard enclosed (in warmer weather) by blooming trees and flowers. A B&B in a neighborhood. We would need to rent the entire place for the event (it's not that big) and they either provide items as a part of the additional site fee or they recommend vendors. But basically, we can decide what we want to do. The redwood grove looked a bit small for our estimated number of guests so we are unsure if it would work out. The owners seem very accommodating though.
Location #3: We didn't see any of the rooms inside this B&B, but there are a few cottages that have hot tubs! Ocean view and nice but small lawn. There is a deck for the reception and dancing. The storm blew down the canopy so the area was a bit messy, but it had a nice feel to it. A garden setting. Music done by 6 pm but the town is within walking distance. They have quite a few rooms in different buildings and they are close to the ceremony site so guests with little ones can sneak away if need be. We'd have to rent the property (or rather guests of the wedding would) for Friday night and Saturday night but the prices include the B&B breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday.
Another location we were considering (Vignette Weddings) informed me that they are booked for 2010, so that made it easy to check them off the possible places. I'm playing phone tag with another place that for some reason won't tell me the available dates in the months I requested, which would make it easier for me to know if this is worth a visit. It's pretty frustrating. And considering the venue, I think it is a tad ironic.
They also request a minimum number of rentals of rooms on their property and considering the number of guests from within the Bay Area, we are unsure if we could meet that number. I am unsure how many East Coasters will actually make the trek to California for a wedding and reception here when in November I hope to have a small reception at my church in NJ as well. I want it so my elderly relatives and those who cannot afford to travel across the country can still see me in my dress. But that also makes it so I feel the need to provide extra value to those who did travel to California for the actual wedding. Is that extra value providing the opportunity to visit California by wedding here?
After poor directions on Google maps to not one but TWO sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains, I was beginning to think that the mountains did not want us to hold our wedding there. But we are still looking at places. And the few that we have seen have been slightly different from each other, making the process even harder. None have the exact dates we originally hoped for either. So...
Location #1: hilltop with view, ceremony site on lawn, facing the back of the building and a fountain (it's nice). Cocktail reception on the front patio, where the DJ would be set up as well for dancing after dinner. Dinner served either on the back patio or inside the main room. Decent catering menu options. Beverage portion a little iffy: I would like pinot noir as an option but the more reasonably priced menu does not offer it. I would have to negotiate something. There is lodging on an adjacent property and there would be a two night minimum for 25 cabins. The cabins (we haven't seen them yet) are over $200 a night plus an additional fee for each person (this is for the meals that are included in the Weekend package). It sounds nice but I wonder if we could find cheaper digs in the area and just have a ceremony and reception there.
Location #2: small yard enclosed (in warmer weather) by blooming trees and flowers. A B&B in a neighborhood. We would need to rent the entire place for the event (it's not that big) and they either provide items as a part of the additional site fee or they recommend vendors. But basically, we can decide what we want to do. The redwood grove looked a bit small for our estimated number of guests so we are unsure if it would work out. The owners seem very accommodating though.
Location #3: We didn't see any of the rooms inside this B&B, but there are a few cottages that have hot tubs! Ocean view and nice but small lawn. There is a deck for the reception and dancing. The storm blew down the canopy so the area was a bit messy, but it had a nice feel to it. A garden setting. Music done by 6 pm but the town is within walking distance. They have quite a few rooms in different buildings and they are close to the ceremony site so guests with little ones can sneak away if need be. We'd have to rent the property (or rather guests of the wedding would) for Friday night and Saturday night but the prices include the B&B breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday.
Another location we were considering (Vignette Weddings) informed me that they are booked for 2010, so that made it easy to check them off the possible places. I'm playing phone tag with another place that for some reason won't tell me the available dates in the months I requested, which would make it easier for me to know if this is worth a visit. It's pretty frustrating. And considering the venue, I think it is a tad ironic.
They also request a minimum number of rentals of rooms on their property and considering the number of guests from within the Bay Area, we are unsure if we could meet that number. I am unsure how many East Coasters will actually make the trek to California for a wedding and reception here when in November I hope to have a small reception at my church in NJ as well. I want it so my elderly relatives and those who cannot afford to travel across the country can still see me in my dress. But that also makes it so I feel the need to provide extra value to those who did travel to California for the actual wedding. Is that extra value providing the opportunity to visit California by wedding here?
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