The Bodega Bay Secret Gardens is simply the perfect place to get married. The space requires no decor because the beautiful ferns and redwoods do all the work for you. The space has such a seamless flow from the ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner and dancing. We had SO many guests ask us how we found this amazing venue. The venue comes with tables, chairs, heat lamps and fire pits and the management made sure that all vendors were taken care of during the event. We couldn't have been happier with how everything turned out! Not to mention, we will have the most gorgeous wedding photos :) read more

The Secret Gardens - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

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Absolutely gorgeous wedding venue. We had an amazing time having our wedding here. Every compliment we've gotten about the wedding includes just how incredibly beautiful the space was. While the space isn't too large for your elderly relatives to cross, there's a designated corner for every part of the wedding (ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, chilling). John, who manages the property, is so easy to reach over text or phone call. He laid out the (few) rules that there are and was there the whole wedding in case anything went wrong. Photo credit to Jordan Lennon Photo who really captured the beauty. read more

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The venue is beautiful, but the management is horrible! Red Flag #1 My then fiance and I sought out this venue for our wedding, but I was finishing up my MA degree at the time, so we were a while out timewise. We were told they would pencil us in for our dream date June 20, 2020 and give us priority if there was a discrepancy. Well, that did NOT happen. They gave away our date to a couple that had the cash to wave around, and failed to give us a chance to come up with the money (this is years in advance btw). Red Flag #2 We changed our date to June 6th 2020, put down our deposit immediately and breathed a sigh of relief. We planned for 100 guests and were so excited. Then BAM covid hit. They said it's an outdoor venue, and everything would be fine and to proceed as normal. Well, they LIED! Our caterer rightly informed us that due to the current state (LEGAL) restrictions, the ceremony would be fine for 100 guests, but we could only feed and celebrate with 40! They could no longer fulfill their end of the contract. Red Flad #3 Since we could no longer have the guests we wanted (and didn't see the point in spending over $10,000 for 40 people) we decided to cancel our dream wedding. We we're crushed! Then I recieve a phone call at work from a man I never spoke with before claiming that we would not be getting our deposit back ($3,000). He also claimed that Covid was a joke and the whole shut down is ridiculous. When I protested that they legally can no longer provide the services that we agreed on, so, legally, the contract is void, he claimed, "I have 3 properties to manage, I'm really hurting" (whilst his wife napped on their houseboat). My fiance lost his job in 2020, and we were forced to move in with my parents at the time. There were no condolences or sympathies. It was ALWAYS only about the money. DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE WHO DONT CARE. read more

Magical is the word that comes to mind when I think of this place - it's simply beautiful. The garden is well kept with wonderful little sections all throughout and at night the lighting gives it another boost of wonder and the hidden gazebo that sits slightly in the middle of the venue is romantic. I love the adorable little buildings nestled in different locations for preparation(s) however the restrooms could use a little updating. When I mean updating I mean industrialized toilets or having more than one toilet. A little past halfway through the night the men's restroom went kaputs so the line was extra long for the one stall woman's restroom (By the way girls, work on those squats if you know what I mean). Parking is down the street in an empty field, so if your attempting to find your car late at night you might want to make sure your cell phone is charged for that flashlight app. read more

The Secret Gardens - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

Truly magical venue for a wedding. We had gorgeous weather but even so it was a bit chilly but the venue has some great heaters all around and everyone was toasty warm. The garden itself is one of fairy tales. Plenty of space to socially distance and be outside while having an indoor wedding feel. There's plenty of parking, but make sure you have shuttle service because this venue is a lot of fun and you will want a ride home. A great team of people helped our family members have a dream wedding. read more

It's like you are in the middle of a redwood forest...perfect place for a romantic wedding..We loved everything about the property... The only thing I would warn about is If your event ends at night...and the walk from the venue back to your car In the parking lot is after dark...OH MY, come prepared with a flashlight...it could be a VERY dangerous walk. No street lights OR sidewalks.. Pitch Black doesn't even begin to describe it. Had we Not had our small light from our phone, the elderly couple we were with would have ended up in the berry thicket or the open storm drain. read more

The Secret Gardens - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

IT IS ALL IN THE NAME- literally, It is like you are in the middle of an enchanted forest the ultimate perfect place for a romantic wedding! I was the officiant to a wedding here at this venue. What looks like not much outside is a whole surprise on the inside. Once you walk through the gates you walk into a garden with spider plants, flowers, trees, and a moat. There is a rock area in which seating is usually held. Across from that, a pier with a beautiful alter in which the ceremony I performed took place. There are a number of dens on the grounds for the bride, the grooms, and "birds nest" for the couple to venture to for some downtime between the ceremony and the reception. Following the ceremony guests were invited to a cocktail hour further back into the "woods" lights strewn above made for a romantic feel during the cocktail hour which makes it beautifully inviting when the bride and groom come down from the birds nest and introduced as husband and wife for the first time. As you walk back further you are invited to a large dance floor followed by a huge tent where the dining tables are set and facing fire pit. The overall atmosphere is perfect and you will never believe that you are just near the ocean. The weather was perfect (Wedding performed mid August). I look forward to hopefully doing another wedding here as an officiant. The staff, Wedding coordinator and all the other vender's were incredible (myself included) and maintained a professional level of communication which made it a joy to work with them. read more

We got married here a few weeks ago and we are SO SO SO happy we had it at the Secret Gardens...it was the most beautiful and magical venue - complete with greenery, redwoods, cottages, and a creek! We felt like we were in an enchanted forest. Also, Hannah (the owner) is super nice and responsive. John (the on-site manager) was the MVP of our wedding - he was always available via text/call, he answered all our questions thoroughly, moved all the chairs/tables for us for the ceremony and reception, collaborated with all our other vendors and basically ran the show for us - he alone deserves 5 stars!! What we loved: -BYOB (we hired a bartending service called Bar on the Vine and it was perfect) -the ceremony deck was on the other side of the creek, so the guests are watching the ceremony from across the water, which is super romantic -all the greenery! -the beautiful details - fish pond, fountains, wine barrels, statues, and cottages -2 fire pits we could use! -great dance deck -really "hidden" gem so you feel like you found a "secret" once you park and walk into the garden - from the outside it looks like nothing is there Recommendations: -hire a DJ who knows the venue because it's outdoor and the layout is unique - he/she will need to set up the sound system so that everyone can hear all the time (we hired DJ Wayne) -get flashlights for night time after the wedding because it gets dark - that way guests have a cute little favor to take with them and can also exit the venue safely and walk to the parking lot -ask guests to bring jackets/shawls and comfortable shoes since it's gravel and gets windy/chilly at night. There are also plenty of heat lamps that the venue has that you can use, so everyone is comfortable throughout the night -take advantage of the fire pit! It's amazing for grilling - we hired our friend to grill yakitori for our cocktail hour :) -the beach is only a 5 min drive north from the venue and is PERFECT for breathtaking sunset photos Overall, loved the Secret Gardens and hope to be back soon (maybe for another friend's wedding :) ) read more

My husband and I were married here in early October 2015. This venue is breathtaking. From the outside it is very unassuming, but once you enter its a beautiful secret garden. The venue creates a very private romantic setting. Our guest kept commenting on the beauty of this place. The layout is great. You can have the ceremony in the front half of the venue and reception and dance floor in the back half. We had 100 guest and we had plenty of room to enjoy our perfect evening. The venue comes with amazing cafe and twinkle lights that give great ambiance, but everything else you will need to rent. Melinda is very accommodating, and easy to work with. She also gave us great vendor recommendations. A big plus of this venue is they don't have alcohol restrictions (just insurance and a bartender) that is a big plus. This place is amazing and we are so happy we were married at the Compass Rose Garden. What a gem in Bodega Bay. read more

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Had my wedding here in 2008. The location is absolutely gorgeous, but the owner is only interested in money. She took my deposit and then was impossible to get a hold of. It was extremely difficult and stressful to plan and coordinate without her participation. read more

Wow this place was magical for my wedding venue. My guests could not stop talking about how amazing this place was. John was great to work with & everything went PERFECT. Definitely recommend this venue! read more

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Epic place. We went to my best friends wedding there. This location is extraordinary and hard to describe there are so many nooks and crannies and areas in this venue that truly create magic. Beautiful spot and great hospitality. read more

I booked an appointment with Hannah over the phone to view the place. My family and I drove 50 minutes from Santa Rosa just to see this place, and Hannah didn't show up. She also didn't answer my phone calls or text messages. After a half hour of waiting, we gave up. If you're planning a wedding, it's a very bad sign when the venue staff doesn't even show up to let you in and see it. read more

I am writing this a day after my wedding and the glow and perfection of the Secret Gardens has still not gone away. My husband and I found this venue while we were looking up outdoor gardens near the Bay Area. Hannah was so friendly and answered all of our emails up to the very last minute. Gail, the lady that met us at the gardens was so accommodating and welcoming. We didn't have a ceremony at the gardens but instead used the lawns to play games and entertain the guests. The second you walk into the gardens, you are blown away by the beauty and fairytale of it. This definitely is a hidden gem in Bodega Bay. There were small paths with benches and seats tucked away so that guests could explore and spend time together privately. The stream creates the perfect calming tone and the ferns, flowers, redwoods all make the gardens seem so mystical. My favorite part about the gardens were the lights. As it got darker the lights brought something completely magical to the gardens and made the whole place sparkle. Our guests could not stop commenting on how well maintained everything was and how beautiful the layout of the gardens were. I would strongly recommend any bride who is looking for a private and secluded place to look at the gardens. The price point might be a little steep but it is 100% worth it. We will be talking about this place for years. Thank you Hannah! read more

Aesthetic: 5/5. Compass Rose Gardens is stunningly beautiful. Tolkien-esque, Secret Garden-like, there are redwoods and roses and vines everywhere. There's also a creek they fill up for events, although they didn't for ours (I think because of the drought -- but we weren't using that part of the venue for the most part so it was fine). There's also a huge covered deck/pavilion that fit our 115 guests in two long tables as well as a buffet (rounds work too), a stone area that works great as a dance floor, and a gazebo that the guys escaped into to smoke cigars. It was simply the perfect aesthetic for my vision for the wedding. There's also parking. There's some weird boats and stuff outside and no view of the ocean, but visit - you'll see why it's great. Value: 4/5. The place comes with zero rentals or service -- which means a big rental bill, but a small liquor bill (BYOB and just get a bartender!). It's cheaper than almost all vineyards, but not as cheap as a golf club -- it was $4900 for use of the space for 8 hours. You'll also need insurance (around $150, we found) and there's a deposit they return to you. Professionalism / responsiveness: 3/5. Melinda and family are very responsive via text, but not so much via e-mail. On our appointment to view the space, they forgot about it, and we had to track down their cell number after driving out to Bodega. The rest of the process sort of followed suit with taking forever to respond to us or our vendors. But ultimately they always got back to us and were very sweet and nice about everything, and willing to work with us. Since they don't have to do a lot besides give you access and sign paperwork, it works out. And they really are sweet. We really scored with this location - it really "made" our wedding. In addition, it's just a ten minute drive from St. Teresa of Avila - the iconic little white church in Bodega. (Or you can have the service at the venue itself!) read more

Really cool venue! Rob that runs the place is very gracious and helpful! If you like outdoor settings this is a solid choice. Would give 5 stars but the parking is a safety concern at night, no lights, no path, walking on street!! read more

This review is for the updated, re-named venue: The Secret Gardens. Wow. Seriously. It's hard to even put this into words. As long as your dates and budgets match up, I honestly have trouble imagining anyone declining The Secret Gardens. You can't enter this space and not have your breath taken away. It's just drop-dead gorgeous. I'm sure every guest commented on what a find this place was - as did all of our vendors! It's also just so relaxing to have all of these different little spaces people can wander through. Anyone who feels like taking a break from the crowd can find places to just stroll or sit and relax. It's everything I could have ever wanted and so, so much more. We were the first couple to be married under the new management and everything was just a breeze. The new owners are experienced professionals (they own other venues) and they made everything just so easy and pleasant. They're the kind of laid back you can only be once you've seen it all. And on that note - the pricing is pretty good. It's not exactly a budget option but the amount of flexibility you get for the price is insane. BYO catering / alcohol / etc. - no "preferred lists" you have to pay for deviating from. Of course, they'll give you a list of suggested vendors in the area to help get you started but this place is really hands-off and just wants to let you enjoy your day however you see fit. For every "can we...?" question we asked them, we got an enthusiastic "Yes!" as a response. And no naggy coordinators trying to run your show and stick you to a script - just questions to make sure you've thought of all of the basic stuff you want to do with the space, a breakdown of what you get and what you need to provide, and lists and reminders of everything they need from you. Honestly my favorite thing about the entire day was this place. I already miss it, and as soon as the day was over my husband and I started dreaming up ways to come back. Absolutely the best. read more

The Secret Garden was an amazing venue, and I mean AMAZING. Every guest at the wedding wanted to know, "how did you find this place?". From the moment you walk into The Secret Garden you are blow away with the sheer beauty of it. It is incredibly lush and green. The atmosphere the venue creates makes your wedding feel like it is something out of a fairy tail. Hannah and her team make sure that everything is exactly how you want it, and they make the process as stress free as possible. The layout is well designed and creates a natural flow for your day or evening. In addition, you can rent high quality chairs, tables, and space heaters for cheap. Our wedding was the thing of dreams, and a large part of that was due to how amazing The Secret Garden is. I would highly recommend checking it out if you can. You won't regret it! read more

What a cute and beautiful garden for a wedding ceremony. This place is very photogenic and makes your wedding look better in pictures/video than the real thing. However, it can be too cold, esp evening/ night time. The parking is quite a hassle. Since they have parking lot available for your guests but it's about a block away which should not be a problem except the fact that everyone has to walk on the rough dirt road from parking lot to your venue, bad for all guests who wear high hells. And it's very dark and a bit dangerous in the night time ( for walking back from the venue to parking lot in the dark road ). read more

The Secret Gardens was hands down the perfect place to have for our wedding! We actually were originally going to get married somewhere else (before knowing the Secret Gardens existed) but it fell through and we are so glad it did! First off, the drive up to Bodega Bay (I'm from San Jose) is incredible. All of Bodega Bay really is beautiful. The gardens itself really is a "beautiful secret" with the location being tucked away between a cross street and a boat harbor. They have a parking lot right next to the venue that can hold a good amount of cars. Once you walk into the venue you are blown away by all of the floral and foliage. While you walk through the grounds, there are so many things to look at as far as flowers, garden decor, little cottages. It's a really cool place. Hannah the owner is so sweet. She answers texts/questions pretty quickly which was a huge help! John is a one man army! He set up tables/chairs/ and helped our coordinators with anything they needed). It does get chilly with it being right next to the bay and covered with trees, but they do provide heaters and just inform your guests to bring a sweater. As far as I know, all of our guests thought the venue was incredible. All in all, I am so happy with our venue choice and I would highly recommend checking it out during your venue search!! read more