Indoor & Outdoor Weddings in Santa Cruz, California
The Santa Cruz area, with its sandy beaches, gorgeous redwoods, and dramatic hills, provides a naturally beautiful location for any event – weddings in particular. Here are several wedding locations that capture the essence of Santa Cruz in very different ways.
For traditional weddings:
Set in the Soquel hills, the Chaminade is one of the most glamorous hotels in the Santa Cruz area. It combines breathtaking views of the country below with first class catering. Your wedding here can be indoor, but why would you want it to be? Go outdoors, and let them arrange your nuptials in their gardens, maybe with a string trio playing along. Then, once you’re done with photos, everyone can gather inside for a reception beyond compare – there will be no complaints about “wedding food” or chewy cakes when they’re through, that’s for sure. If you want a traditional and elegant wedding with all the trimmings, the Chaminade is for you.
The Shadowbrook is a renowned restaurant and an excellent place to have a wedding & reception. Perched on a hillside facing Capitola Village where the Soquel River empties into the ocean, it has a quiet beauty and stately elegance. Its restaurant features upscale cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood and thick steaks.
Or, look into Peachwood’s. Set on the beginning of Highway 17, Peachwood’s has an extensive garden inside on their grounds, perfect for weddings, complete with a heart shaped topiary. They have banquet rooms for your reception and dancing, and rooms for guests coming in from out of town.
For outdoors weddings:
Have you seen Lighthouse Beach? Hundreds of weddings are held there every year. It’s a dramatic bluff that reaches out into the Pacific Ocean. The surfer’s museum provides a quaint backdrop while the well manicured lawn is the perfect place to set up chairs and a tasteful floral arch.
Santa Cruz County’s numerous beaches for a bare-foot event with the ocean roaring in the background. To reserve this, or any other Santa Cruz area beaches/public property, go to the City of Santa Cruz Website , and search on Weddings to download the appropriate information packet. When you’re done with your ceremony, you can reserve one of Santa Cruz’s great restaurants for your reception, like Clouds, Pearl Alley Bistro, or the Palomar. For something lower-key, your reception can use the Harvey West facility in downtown Santa Cruz (reserving it from the City’s site above) to have a simple catered affair or quiet cocktail hour among friends and family. Another economical reception site – maybe even full wedding, if you like its location and price! – is the Portuguese Hall. It is across from Harvey West Field, and has a full kitchen along with a bar. You can rent the entire place pretty cheaply, depending on the time of year, but reserve it quickly because it is also used for many community events.
High in the Soquel hills, surrounded by redwoods, you can use the Kennolyn Camp – they have gorgeous views of all the surrounding acreage, and full reception facilities. Another redwood location is Big Basin state park, the oldest park in
California. Call far in advance, and let them tell you about the best way to coordinate your wedding in their small amphitheater, under the boughs of the surrounding redwood trees.
This is a big day for you, so find a place that reflects your sensibilities (and stays within your budget!) There’s no limit to attractive locations in Santa Cruz County for weddings so use your imagination, do your research, and most importantly, have fun – and make sure you get lots of pictures of your lovely ceremony. No matter where it takes place in
Santa Cruz, it’s hard to go wrong.
