Enchanted Garden Redwoods Wedding Venue | Alice + Tom

Picture this…towering redwoods, lush green foliage, charming gardens draped in twinkling lights. If enchanted forest vibes are what you’re envisioning for your wedding, look no further than this stunning redwoods wedding venue situated just south of San Francisco on the California coast. Welcome to Nestldown, a picturesque wedding venue that feels straight out of a fairytale. And that’s exactly what Alice and Tom’s day felt like as they exchanged vows in the middle of the iconic redwood forest. In this blog, I’ll be sharing all the details on this stunning redwoods wedding venue, the sweetest moments from Alice and Tom’s magical day and tips for getting married in the coastal forests of California.

Enchanted Redwoods Wedding Venue

When you choose a venue like Nestldown that’s surrounded by natural beauty, there isn’t much you need to do in terms of wedding decor and design. They can accommodate everything from an intimate ceremony to a large-scale wedding reception on their 36 acres of California redwoods, gorgeous gardens and unique spaces. One thing to keep in mind is that Nestldown is not a full service venue, so you’ll need to hire additional vendors for catering, music and rentals. However, they do include the following in their wedding packages:

• Special Events Manager
• Day of Event Team of 4 (including the SEM)
• Customized Nestldown Timeline & Layout
• 9 hour Site Rental
• All areas included
• 20 Passenger Train
• Vintage London Taxi
• Ceremony & Reception Tables and Chairs
• Sound System for Ceremony
• Life Size Chess Set
• 2 Bocce Ball Courts
• 30 Minute Changing Room

One of my favorite parts of this charming redwoods wedding venue has to be the vintage London taxi cab that couples can use to get around the property for the day. Not to mention, it makes for the most adorable wedding photos!

Alice + Tom’s Wedding Day

For their summer enchanted forest wedding, Alice and Tom chose a classic aesthetic with lots of romantic details. For her wedding day look, Alice chose the most stunning strapless lace wedding dress with the most beautiful train. Her bridesmaids complimented her in timeless champagne bridesmaids dresses. For florals, they went with neutral summer wedding flowers in shades of ivory and blush with lots of greenery to compliment the lush tones of the forest. The towering redwoods served as the backdrop for their emotional and romantic ceremony. For cocktail hour, everyone moved to the courtyard under the rustic pergolas surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens. To welcome everyone to the reception, they created a seating chart that had a personalized luggage tag for each guest to help them find their seat and serve as an adorable favor to take home. The reception featured an outdoor setup where guests dined al fresco under the cutest umbrellas. To finish off the party, everyone headed into the rustic lodge space to enjoy desserts and dancing. It was truly the perfect night!

Redwoods Wedding Tips

While wedding venues like Nestldown make the process super streamlined, there’s still a few things to consider when it comes to having a redwoods wedding. The weather in Los Gatos is pretty moderate all year round, but unpredictable weather is common due to the proximity to the ocean. The summers are ideal for getting married at Nestldown due to comfortable temperatures and lower chances of precipitation, especially if you’re envisioning an outdoor event. Temperatures can still drop unexpectedly so be sure to plan accordingly. I love the idea of having little baskets of blankets or shawls for your guests to use throughout the venue in case it gets chilly. 

In terms of accessibility, Nestldown is only a scenic 20 minute drive from Silicon Valley situated between San Jose and Santa Cruz. San Francisco is the closest major airport located about 60 miles from the venue. If you’re planning a destination wedding in the redwoods, there is so much for your guests to enjoy during their visit. The iconic coastal Highway 1 is a must-do road trip that takes you to quaint coastal towns like Carmel-By-The-Sea and the iconic National Parks of Big Sur. If big cities are more their vibe, your guests can enjoy the beauty and culture of San Francisco during their trip. Nestldown is the perfect place to enjoy all the beauty that California has to offer!

If you’re not already sold on this redwoods wedding venue, be sure to check out the Nestldown website for more information. But let’s be honest, you’re probably ready to start planning your enchanted forest wedding by now. And that means you’ll need the perfect photographer to capture it all. I’ve captured my couples in just about every spot in California and know exactly how to create those magical photos you’ve been dreaming about. Learn more about me, my process and my style here! If you’re ready to make it happen, you can contact me here to get started!