Where to even begin with how amazing Kennolyn is? The staff, the location, everything about our…read morewedding was perfect! When we toured Kennolyn back in 2023, we met Elyse for the first time. She was incredibly helpful and friendly from the start. We immediately felt great about the venue and decided to book it for our wedding. Between booking and the wedding, we enjoyed several fun events like the wedding overview day and the details meeting. The overview day was a blast--meeting vendors, sampling the food we'd enjoy on our wedding day, and exploring all the beautiful spaces Kennolyn has to offer. The bridal area was lovely for getting ready, the groomsmen had a fantastic time in the groom's suite, and the ceremony and reception spaces were perfect. There was even a grassy lawn for the kids to run around on. From our first meeting, Elyse was incredibly responsive and helpful with my countless questions. She ensured everything was perfect for our big day. We got married at Hilltop Hacienda, and the day went off without a hitch. My husband and I didn't have to worry about any details because the staff had everything under control. They were friendly and helpful to all our guests, who couldn't stop raving about the perfect day. The views were gorgeous, and the ceremony and reception spaces were stunning. The bartending staff were so kind and made everyone feel like old friends. The food was phenomenal, with many delicious options for our guests. The entire staff made sure everything flowed smoothly from one moment to the next. We genuinely had the BEST DAY EVER, thanks to the Kennolyn team. Elyse and Deirdre ensured everything went well and helped calm any nerves I had. It's been a month since our wedding, and my husband and I keep saying we wish we could do it again every weekend because it was so much fun. I cannot recommend Kennolyn enough to anyone looking for a wedding venue.

I wholeheartedly recommend Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda! I was married on 5/20/23 with the Spring…read morePromo package, and I was so happy with the experience. The venue is gorgeous, and it was the perfect place for my outdoor wedding. There is a redwood grove or great lawn facing distant views of the Pacific Ocean that are both beautiful options for a ceremony. The patio facing the lawn is perfect for dinner, and the indoor courtyard is stunning and great for cocktails and dancing. We didn't use the Hacienda itself much except for guests who wanted to sit by the fire (it's a good backup plan for inclement weather). The bridal house is amazing and accommodates many people for getting ready (multiple rooms and bathrooms, living/dining areas, with a gorgeous patio with the same amazing views out to the ocean). There is also a separate Casita with a bathroom for the groom's party to get ready. There are so many beautiful natural and architectural places for photographs as well. The landscaping is beautiful, so you don't need to spend money on many extra florals. Weddings have exclusive use of the venue, which makes it really private and intimate. The Spring Promo deal was a great value and included buffet catering/cake/dessert, alcohol package, DJ/MC, tables/chairs/etc, ceremony arbor, some florals (it was enough given the landscaping), taxes/tips. The deal is for 100 guests, and when my group ended up being half of that, Andrea (Events Manager) was so kind and tried to give us more value for the money: double the variety of passed appetizers than was initially included in the package and adding orchids (my favorite flower) to the florals. The all-inclusive nature of the package was so amazing for not having to worry about each of these things individually. Since the catering was included and food was very important to us, I was initially nervous to sign the contract before tasting the food. My family and I were so happy on our Tasting Day when the food was excellent, and everything we tried was delicious (and I think we have pretty high standards for food)! They were also so accommodating of dietary restrictions and preferences. Since our package was a served buffet, the vegetarian/vegans were given their own plates separately. The cake and assorted dessert were also delicious (and they were willing to make a chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting as we requested). The DJ/MC (Courtney Helms) was assigned from Sound in Motion, and we got along great. He did a wonderful job too - I danced the whole night! He was also very accommodating with including French music that we compiled (my husband is French). Finally, I cannot say enough wonderful things about Andrea (Event Manager), Elyse (Wedding Coordinator), and the entire staff! I did not have a wedding planner, and they filled the job beautifully. I was so impressed with their communication. They responded promptly and warmly to every email, line-by-line, answering all my questions for months! They were so supportive and patient, and they seemed as invested as I was in having a wonderful wedding day and making everyone happy and comfortable. I am forever grateful to them and to Kennolyn for such a magical day! (Beautiful photos by @EmilyMerrillWeddings)

The absolute most beautiful wedding venue - it is stunning, serene, and feels like you're tucked…read moreaway in the forest. I can't emphasize how many endless compliments we got on how gorgeous and unique the Sequoia is (especially the ceremony space surrounded by redwoods, and the cocktail hour deck with an amazing view of the forest) Diane, the owner, is so lovely, responsive/communicative, and accommodating. I was worried about having a secure place to store my jewelry- she got a safe just for us to use! I realized the morning of the wedding that I hadn't assembled our fujifilm cameras - she immediately stepped in to help. The venue is very customizable - it's BYOB (though FYI about wine/beer only policy- we served spritzes and sangria as our signature drinks), you can choose your own caterer, and we were able to save on florals because the venue is so pretty, it doesn't need any dressing up. We initially debated venues solely because the Sequoia was farther away for our guests -- but we kept coming back to the Sequoia, and I am so so glad we did. We would pick it again in a heartbeat!

I'm a wedding planner and I work with Sequoia retreat a lot. The staff there are beyond top notch…read more The dedication and care they show to their couples and vendors is so rare and meaningful. Whenever we have the privilege to work at this property I already know it will be a dream experience. If you want to find a venue that truly cares about you and creating a meaningful experience for you and your guests this is the spot. It's tucked away amongst noble giants offerings stunning views from their deck. The owners really go above and beyond. When faced with any type of situation they meet it head on and provide an atmosphere for vendors to collaborate and create magic together.

Event space for weddings and also There are cabins to stay in overnight…read more Just beautiful to be in the forest in nature and soak it all in

Just so beautiful! My son has his wedding here 9/18/25. The pics look like they should be in a…read moremagazine.

My husband and I spent a long time looking at wedding venues in the Santa Cruz/Los Gatos area. We…read moreprobably looked at more than 10 places! A lot of places weren't quite the right fit, had too many weird restrictions, or were overpriced (if your've looked at venues you know what I mean!) The Castle House and Gardens was the last place we looked at and we knew it would be the most perfect, picturesque and enchanted woodland setting for our outdoor wedding. It has lush, wild gardens that remind me of the Secret Garden. There's a beautiful redwood grove where we had our ceremony and a poolside courtyard with two outdoor fireplaces, perfect for dining and dancing, where we had the reception. It was great to have the ceremony and reception at the same place. The Castle House is a historic estate located in the Santa Cruz Mountain Community of Bonny Doon. It's bordered by beautiful redwood forests and just 10 minutes from the ocean. The family that lives there were the most gracious hosts for our event and went to extra care to make sure the grounds looked stunning on our wedding day. They own the Bonny Doon Garden Company and grow all of the flowers for their floral design business organically in their home gardens. It was really cool because my bouquets and centerpieces all came from the garden where I got married! We got so many compliments about the venue from our guests and everyone kept asking me, "How did you find this place?" I definitely recommend this place to other brides if you are looking for a unique, non-cookie cutter type venue full of natural beauty and rustic charm.

We were fortunate enough to have our wedding here on June 22nd, 2013 and let me tell you, the venue…read moreand it's owner, Teresa, ensured the most magical, welcoming, and organized experience ever. From the initial meeting, through hiccups with our caterer, and until the day-of coordination, Teresa was amazing: Helpful, friendly, knowledgeable, and assertive when she needed to be. She also did our flowers which were out of this world. The venue itself is enchanting with it's floral gardens, towering redwoods, and cozy courtyard. Our guests could not stop talking about how ours was the best wedding they have ever attended. We had a wedding of 100 people, and it was the perfect size. Count yourself very fortunate if you have the opportunity to have your event at Castle House and Gardens.

This place is super cool!…read more There are some low impact trails, a dining hall, conference rooms, places to rent with rooms and decent bathrooms/showers located all around. I went here today for a retreat and was pleasantly surprised. The parking is not too crazy and the pavement is not ridiculously uneven. There is a chapel and during our little retreat a wedding was going on. Monte Toyon is also easy to get to and a hop, skip and a jump away from civilization aka Safeway, gas, coffee and restaurants.

I usually am not so fond of too much outdoorsy activities but this place is refreshing and calming…read more Very spacious. Cabins with bunkbeds. Family type dorms. Big dining hall. Great trails. Basketball court. Big grassy areas. Did I mention they have wireless here!! Muahaha..not that I brought my laptop..(didn't know or else I would've!!) SEE PICS!

I absolutely love this conference center! I go here every year to attend camp and the staff is…read morealways super friendly especially the owner Tess! The food is always delicious and they are always super accommodating towards dietary restrictions. The property itself is beautiful with a really nice pool and a big swing under the redwoods! The campfire is under a circle of redwoods that just look magical when you look up!

My husband and I live nearby and decided to stop by today and take a peek at the pool. We were…read moregreeted by the extremely rude business owner, letting us know that we were trespassing and needed to leave. Had I been aware that we were trespassing, of course we would've never entered the property. Because of her rudeness, my husband would not look at her or acknowledge her, which then she insulted him about. My husband and I are very nice people and get along with everyone. This is a seriously missed opportunity for this business owner, as she could've been polite and welcoming and invited us back but instead, she insulted us and was nasty. If being treated poorly is your jam, this is your place!!

Stayed a few nights in Cabin 9 and never had an unpleasant moment. Location is great, the cabins…read moreare quaint and comfortable, and the grounds are well-kept. Check-in was easy, the resort is quiet and restful. Practically in the state park, easy walk down to the river. A little slice of heaven, we'll definitely return. Every cabin gets a private patio with Adirondack chairs WiFi was spotty, bring a book T.V. Was limited, bring a puzzle or games Kitchen has fridge, microwave and stove/oven. Drip coffee maker, toaster. Plates, bowls, coffee mugs, glasses, silverware, pots and pans. Salt and pepper. You're not making dinner but you can definitely reheat some leftovers.

Felton is stunning--majestic redwoods, peaceful river vibes... or so we thought. Unfortunately, the…read moreproperty owner had other plans. We arrived Mother's Day weekend hoping for serenity and got a front-row seat to her personal 40th birthday rave. The main river access? Taped off for her party from Friday to Sunday. The peaceful sounds of nature? Drowned out by a DJ and enough bass to rattle the trees from 5-9pm on Saturday. Other guests looked just as confused as we were. Things really peaked when our assigned parking spot was taken by a party guest after we came back from dinner, and the "emergency" contact basically said, "Good luck--there's a party going on." Nobody in the office, of course. The cabins themselves? Think sad summer camp meets thrift store chic--hot, musty, and uncomfortable, with a creaky bed and WiFi that gave up faster than we did. The location has so much potential, but, unfortunately is neglected by an owner who doesn't care about you or your stay. In fact, she passed by my family a few times and did not appear to be friendly. If you're looking for peace and nature, this place might deliver--just not when the owner's throwing herself a bash like it's Coachella.

Just got married here over the weekend and it was so beautiful. Kathy was incredibly sweet and…read morehelpful throughout the whole process since day 1. Highly recommend.

The Felton Guild is such a charming and peaceful forest venue tucked away in the Redwoods, and I…read morerecently had the honor of photographing a wedding here; I absolutely fell in love with the setting! It feels secluded and intimate, with a cozy, woodsy atmosphere that's perfect for couples looking for something a little different. From a photographer's perspective, the lighting in the grove is soft and dreamy, especially during the ceremony. The surrounding trees create a natural canopy that adds to the sense of privacy and connection, while the reception space is large enough to host a decently sized guest count. The staff were incredibly helpful as well! If you're dreaming of a redwood wedding that's relaxed, heartfelt, and full of character, this is a venue worth checking out!