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.