The Best Wedding Venues in Santa Cruz, CA

The Best Wedding Venues in Santa Cruz, CA

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16 Wedding Venues in Santa Cruz, CA

Quick responder
Carmel Fields by Wedgewood Weddings 

5.0

Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
  • Up to 270 guests
  • All-inclusive
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Starts at $9,040
  • Offer

Nestled along the dramatic cliffs and gorgeous white-sand beaches of the Central California Coast, Carmel Fields by Wedgewood Weddings boasts exceptional views across Monterey County. Choose from either the garden ceremony site set alongside Palo Corona Regional Park - an area of outstanding natural beauty - or head down to nearby Monastery Beach for a toes-in-the-sand beach wedding ceremony. Then, settle into your choice of elegant reception rooms, where the modern chandeliers and bistro lights provide a romantic glow guaranteed to make everyone feel the love.

Carmel Fields was the perfect wedding venue! The venue itself is beautiful, newly remodeled with a beautiful nature preserve for photos. The planning staff was incredibly responsive, accommodated all of our additional asks and requests, and helped consolidate all the planning into one place. Our day could not have been better. I would absolutely recommend this venue for couples who want to streamline the planning process but not compromise on quality.
Molly N., a month ago
Chaminade Resort & Spa 

5.0

Santa Cruz, CA
  • Up to 200 guests
  • All-inclusive
  • Indoor & outdoor

The Chaminade Resort and Spa is a woodland wedding venue located in Santa Cruz, CA. The newly renovated resort offers an atmosphere of luxury, charm, and tranquility for your special day. There is no better place to say "I do" than surrounded by a dramatic redwood and eucalyptus forest, lush green lawns, and stunning views of the sparkling Monterey Bay. This venue is brimming with West Coast Charm, bringing a refreshed, modern perspective embracing the property's Spanish heritage and enhancing its sprawling 300-acre footprint. With a selection of culinary and accommodation options to boot, this rustic retreat sets the scene for a fairytale wedding. Defined by its Spanish-influenced design and old-time ornaments, this resort is guaranteed to dazzle. Devoted to realizing your marital vision, their staff is eager to share their sublime surroundings with you in a celebration of your love story.

We got married at Chaminade in November 2023 and highly recommend the venue. We discovered the resort when happened to take my mom there for dinner to celebrate her birthday. Every member of the staff was kind and helpful. In fact, Christopher was able to give us an impromptu tour of the hotel rooms, banquet halls, and ceremony locations. Once we signed our contract, Rebecca and Lizzie helped plan the catering and day-of details which included the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception dinner. I felt very comfortable going into the wedding day and knew everything would be handled smoothly by the Chaminade team. I can't emphasize enough how kind and helpful every member of the team was throughout the event. We had so many guests comment that the food was outstanding - even months after the wedding! Sadly, my appetite was thrown off from the excitement of the day but the catering team offered me ginger ale and toast throughout the night. The venues were set up beautifully and we appreciated all that went into creating the settings for the ceremony, bar, and reception areas. Chaminade made our wedding day unforgettable and I am so thankful to the team for bringing all the details together!
Erin W., 5 months ago
Sydalyn Hill 

5.0

Felton, CA
  • Up to 150 guests
  • Raw space
  • Outdoor
  • Starts at $17,000

Welcome. Sydalyn Hill is a new, exclusive family-run farm and venue that hosts a limited number of weddings a year between May and September. Perched on a sunny hilltop off Highway 9 across from the Garden of Eden and surrounded by Henry Cowell State Park, this hidden treasure has an expansive view of the San Lorenzo Valley, providing a magical backdrop of rustic elegance for your special day!

Awarded Best of Zola
Sydalyn Hill, and its owners, Gwyn and Jon, are simply amazing. The venue itself is gorgeous and hidden in plain site. It's just a little bit off of Highway 9, but it feels like you've arrived in heaven when you get there. At the same time it is, paradoxically, expansive and yet completely intimate. I've dj'd there on a couple of occasions, and both times it felt like there was magic in there air. I know this is full of superlatives, but I can't say enough good things about this place. Gwyn and Jon are delightful and highly professional. They make sure everything is in place and have a high attention to detail. Both are extremely nice and easy to work with. Anyone considering getting married in the Santa Cruz area owes it to themselves to have a look at this gem.
Scott Trugman, 2 years ago
Quick responder
Secret Redwood Retreat Intimate Weddings 

5.0

Aptos, CA
  • Up to 38 guests
  • Raw space
  • Outdoor
  • Starts at $4,850

We offer intimate, real, connective and beautiful weddings and celebrations for 40 or less. This all-intimate wedding private property is set in a redwood forest. WE SPECIALIZE IN MICRO-WEDDING CEREMONIES AND MICRO-EVENT CELEBRATIONS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SERVING 40 OR LESS TOTAL GUESTS. Our intimate wedding and elopement package is inclusive for your filming and photography of your wedding ceremony vows, vow renewals or commitment ceremonies.

Awarded Best of Zola
I have serviced this venue for many years as a florist for weddings, engagements, and special events. It's a lovely woodsy space forrest that offers a forest vibe that offers elegant, rustic, and natural backdrops between the venue property and separate retreat location. There have been alot of different options for my clients to have their event at this property. The Venue owner Tiffany is great to work with and every event I have serviced here has been a joy!
Luxury Floral Designs, a year ago
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The Barn at River House 
Ben Lomond, CA
  • Up to 200 guests
  • Select services
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Starts at $17,000

Nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains, yet easily accessible, River House is a blend of rustic hideaway and country estate. One of the most beautiful aspects of the property is the wisteria covered arbor that leads the bridal party to the wooden gazebo overlooking San Lorenzo River. 14000 square feet of lawn easily accommodates up to 250 guests. a large aggregate patio serves as the cocktail area. A Redwood grove is available for the ceremony or a small cocktail hour. Flower-lined paths encircle the property. Catering station and bridal cottage included. A 3500 square foot barn has just been completed and is an absolutely stunning addition to the property . The Rustic/Industrial barn is furnished with custom lighting and windmill fans. A 600 Square Foot lounge on the second floors allows for relaxing and viewing of the dance floor. A wrap around cat walk circle the second story. Just added beautiful rustic bathrooms

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The Highlands House 
Ben Lomond, CA
  • Up to 200 guests
  • Raw space
  • Indoor & outdoor
  • Starts at $975
  • Offer

The Highlands House is an elegant-meets-homey mansion with a private yard nestled in enchanted forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The venue features several rooms for dining and dancing, a wet bar, a large kitchen, two changing rooms, an elegant staircase perfect for grand entrances. A brick pathway leads from the house to the lawn. There, you’ll find a ceremony area on one side and on the other, space large enough for guests to dine and play yard games. The lawn is surrounded by trees and hedges, creating intimacy for your upscale backyard party. Tables and chairs are provided. The rest - from décor to caterers - is up to you, which makes the Highlands House an extraordinarily customizable venue. The Highlands House can host up to 200 people in the peak season (April – October) and 100 during the winter season (November – March). This includes your guests, vendors, and anyone else helping you on your big day.

Quick responder
Sand Rock Farm 

5.0

Aptos, CA
  • Up to 120 guests
  • Select services
  • Outdoor

EFFORTLESS & DELICIOUS WEDDINGS Weddings at Sand Rock Farm are magical! Guests love the unique, historic setting and clients love the curated vendor services that allow them to relax and enjoy the planning process leading to a beautiful and effortless wedding day. Your experienced and professional wedding planning and coordination team will ensure a seamless event down to every last delicious detail. Weddings include wedding design, planning and coordination, exclusive use of all Sand Rock Farm venue spaces for six hours of event time, complimentary custom wedding cake, cafe lighting, wine barrel cocktail tables, rustic wood bars, fire pit lounge, restrooms, and venue management. Clients work with preferred vendors for catering, sound/music, floral design and shuttle services. A lodging buyout is optional. Sand Rock Farm is also a great location for romantic elopements, engagement photo shoots, retreats, corporate events and film shoots.

Less than two hours south of San Francisco lies the most magical getaway along the Santa Cruz coastline. I first came upon this impossibly charming storybook B&B while searching for wedding venues, and from the few photos I was able to find online, it appeared to be something out of a fairytale.  Situated just 10 minutes from the ocean and tucked beneath giant California Redwoods of Aptos, is Sand Rock Farm Bed & Breakfast. From the redwood carriage barn, to the turn-of-the-century Craftsman home, and ivy covered stone walls of the winery ruin, it was everything I could have ever possibly dreamed. On my first stay, I knew this was an incredibly special place. We entered through a private gate and drove along a wooded pathway until arriving at a towering yet tranquil home with logs burning in the fireplace. The Arts & Crafts era house was filled with period details like dark wood finishes, original fixtures, and a formal dining room with wainscoting. A grand staircase leads to a second story with window nooks and guest rooms with en-suite baths. And in a neighboring grove, a giant redwood stands tall, a beacon of the property. AND THE FOOD... Derek, the chef, is amazing. The food is fresh, seasonal, and farm-to-table. His attention to seasonal, local ingredients mixed with bold flavors embody the adventurous spirit of this seaside town. From our first breakfast, he was accommodating and cognizant of my dietary preferences, an honorable quality among those with talent.   Staying in this magical getaway, get lost wandering paths through ten private acres, or stay cozy and curl up with a good book by the fire. We did both. All rooms have jacuzzi tubs, robes, WiFi and cable TV. See if you can fit in a long weekend by checking here. Or, even better, rent out the entire property for a company retreat, team-building exercise, family reunion, elopement, girl’s trip, guy’s trip, or family vacation. You will have access to 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a chef's kitchen, large dining room, gardens and a hot tub.  Having our wedding here was beyond my wildest dreams. It was everything I could have hoped for, from the on-site planner, florist (who was amazing!!), and chef (perfection!!), to the breathtaking backgrounds, and multiple settings for custom day flexibility. Jen was super easy to work with and it was far more affordable than other venues at the time. Plus, we loved that our wedding party could stay on-site - there was a great afterparty that ended with a jacuzzi and eating dinner leftovers in the kitchen! Also, conveniently located and very easy for guests to access. This place is truly something special, and I’m already looking forward to our next visit.  It makes me so happy to share it with you.
Jen and D., 6 months ago

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About wedding venues in Santa Cruz, CA

How much do wedding venues typically cost in Santa Cruz, CA?

The cost of a wedding venue varies widely by location, number of guests, and many other details of the wedding package. Santa Cruz, CA offers a range of options that can fit most budgets. Raw venue space rentals (which only include the space itself) start at $150 and average $975. All-inclusive packages start at $2,000 and average $9,000.

What types of venues can I find in Santa Cruz, CA?

Santa Cruz offers a wide range of venues, including Park and garden, Barn and ranch and Restaurant and brewery.

What are some of the best wedding and reception venues available in Santa Cruz, CA?

Some of the most popular venues in this area include The Village, Big Sur, Carmel Fields by Wedgewood Weddings and Sand Rock Farm. But just like finding "the one," finding the perfect wedding venue takes time and a little bit of magic. Start by envisioning your dream wedding - the ambiance, style, and location. Then, explore our extensive collection of carefully curated wedding venues. Our marketplace provides detailed information, stunning photos, and real couples' reviews to help you make an informed decision. Trust your instincts, and when you find that venue that gives you butterflies, you'll know it's the one.

What questions should I ask when booking a venue in Santa Cruz, CA?

It all depends on what you're looking for, but you may want to consider things like whether the venue has an on-site bridal suite (33% in Santa Cruz do) or whether the venue provides an event coordinator (25% in Santa Cruz do!).

Additionally, some venues work with certain caterers and require a minimum food and beverage spend in addition to the space rentals. Others might have a recommended list of preferred caterers that they'd like you to work with.

Can the venues in Santa Cruz, CA accommodate both small and large weddings?

Of course! Small wedding venues in Santa Cruz, CA can host intimate parties while large venues can accommodate up to 450. The average venue in Santa Cruz can seat 100 guests.

What amenities do the reception venues in Santa Cruz, CA offer?

The venues in Santa Cruz, CA are known for the exceptional suite of services and amenities offered to couples and their wedding parties. The most common services provided are Wi-Fi, Wheelchair accessible and Clean up. Some venues even offer Transportation!

What types of wedding venues are in Santa Cruz, CA?

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What other wedding venues are nearby?

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