Monarch Cove Inn

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Capitola Wedding Venue
620 El Salto Drive
Capitola, CA 95010
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Contact: Innkeeper
Phone: 831/464-1295
www.monarch-cove-inn.com

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Why We Like This Place

We’re going to ask you to participate in a guided meditation: Relax, breathe deep, and envision your private sanctuary…a place of perfect beauty, peace, and contentment…. Did you conjure up an image of the seashore? Then slow your breathing to the rhythm of the waves…. Or perhaps you see yourself in a pretty garden, filled with butterflies, songbirds and delicate blossoms? Then let the sweetly fragrant air fill your senses…. Now, imagine combining these two idyllic havens into one spectacular seaside garden venue…. Can you picture a romantic wedding at such a divine spot? Wake up! Your dream has come true—at the Monarch Cove Inn.

Poised on an ocean bluff, the Monarch Cove Inn looks out onto a breathtaking curve of forested shoreline, home to flocks of pelicans and the bright butterflies that inspired the inn’s name. Yet the enviable location of this dove-colored Victorian is only part of its allure. The delightfully understated architecture has just enough period features—gabled roof, angled bay windows—to evoke the grace of the past, yet is not so ornate as to make modernists uncomfortable. Originally built in 1883 as a private retreat for two wealthy British families, in the ‘20s the property passed to an oil magnate who added quaint cottages for his celebrity visitors, like silent film star Mary Pickford (it is even rumored that Al Capone once spent the night!). Today, the Monarch Cove Inn offers a variety of genial accommodations—as well as an enchanting site for an oceanview wedding.

The inn’s vintage façade is framed against a backdrop of swaying treetops and flowering greenery. Listen closely and you can hear the rush of the tide just beyond. Off to one side, a serpentine path meanders through an informal English garden, where a parade of fluffy hydrangeas, wild lavender and California poppies charms the eye. Here, a winsome statue peeks out from behind a hedge; there, a canopy of climbing heirloom roses makes an inviting hideaway. Finally, the path comes to a large clearing, and you find yourself face to face with the sea; when the sun dispels the morning mist, the breathtaking azure panorama stretches all the way to Monterey.

The clearing comprises a carpet of green lawn that sweeps along the cliffs, and an expansive wooden deck that takes center stage. Couples say their vows on the deck or the lawn, with the splashing surf just below. A hidden path leads down to an area called The Terrace (really a swath of grass perched below the gardens) where guests sip cocktails and savor the refreshing sea breeze. Next, everyone moves to the deck for the reception. Whether styled elegant, casual or somewhere in between, the picture-postcard setting will have everyone wearing an “I’m-in-Heaven” smile.

The wedding party usually takes over the inn for the weekend, and though continental breakfast is brought to each room, you can arrange for an al fresco brunch the next morning out on the deck. To experience the inn’s nighttime ambiance, host a rehearsal dinner beginning with a blazing sunset, followed by a candlelight soirée. Lodging includes spacious suites and private cottages, some with Jacuzzi and fireplace, all with dynamic views. One thing is certain: Whatever room is yours for the night, the Inn will make you feel at home.

Capacity

Ceremony

Reception/Special Events

Meetings

Max. Seated Indoors: 0
Max. Seated Outdoors: 150

Max. Seated Indoors: 0
Max. Seated Outdoors: 150
Max. Standing Indoors: 0
Max. Standing Outdoors: 150

Max. Seated: 25

CEREMONY, EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: The site holds 150 guests outdoors.

MEETING CAPACITY: The inn accommodates up to 25 guests seated theater-style.

Fees & Deposits

A $2,500 deposit is required to reserve your date. The balance is due 60 days prior to the event. Rental fees range $4,000–10,000 depending on the date of the event. Catering packages start at $65/person with a 100 guest minimum. Tax and service charge is included.

Availability

Year-round, daily, 10am–6pm.

Catering

Provided

Alcohol

BYO

Location Uses

Ceremonies
Wedding Receptions
Special Events, Parties
Business Functions/Meetings
Rehearsal Dinners
On-Site Accommodations

Services/Amenities

Catering: provided
Kitchen Facilities: prep only
Tables & Chairs: provided
Linens, Silver, etc.: provided
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: on deck
Bride’s Dressing Area: CBA
Meeting Equipment: BYO
Parking: limited on site; off-site lot provided, shuttle recommended
Accommodations: 11 guest rooms
Telephone: emergency use only
Outdoor Night Lighting: access only, BYO
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: BYO
Cleanup: caterer or renter
View: ocean panorama, garden, hills
Other: wedding planner/coordinator available

Amplified Music

Outdoors
w/ Restrictions

Wheelchair Access

Access Limited

Venue Type

Banquet Hall/Events Facility
Bed and Breakfast
Garden
Historic/Landmark Building
Inn/Lodge
Private Estate
Retreat
Waterfront/Beach Location

Restrictions

Alcohol: BYO
Smoking: outside only
Music: amplified OK outside with volume restrictions
Wheelchair Access: limited
Insurance: not required

Wedding Venues > Northern California Wedding Venues > Santa Cruz Wedding Venues

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