Category: Wedding Locations

When we last left me, I was reveling in the tranquil charms of Capitola’s Monarch Cove Inn… But another sublime experience awaited me in Carmel-by-the-Sea. I was welcomed to L’Auberge Carmel by a smiling host proffering a fresh watermelon cooler, and I easily settled into the laid-back luxury of this European-style hostelry. The lavishly appointed guestrooms embrace a charming garden courtyard where intimate events are held, but now all was quiet, save for the trickling of a fountain.

My favorite part of working at Here Comes The Guide is visiting wedding locations. During a recent jaunt along the California coast, I spent two very different evenings in two very special places.

Continuing our mission to explore Half Moon Bay, Jan and I uncovered more delights: We visited Cypress Meadows, a new wedding location hidden behind a flower farm. We lingered in the sweet terraced garden as long as we could, and Jan had to practically drag me out of the wooden swing.

My colleague Jan Brenner and I recently combined business with pleasure in Half Moon Bay. With its fun and artsy downtown, exhilarating coastal hikes, and water sports, Half Moon Bay is a day tripper’s delight and a wonderfully easy and rewarding wedding destination—just ask our very own Meredith, who wed her sweetheart on a Half Moon Bay beach!

As the Location Scout for Here Comes The Guide, I’m always on the lookout for really intriguing or unusual places where brides or meeting planners can hold their weddings or events. Going to the free concerts at Rancho La Patera & Stow House seems like a wonderful way to check out an event site. If you make it to any of these concerts at the Ranch or have visited this property, let us know what you think of the place. Should we include them in our next book or on our website?

The Lark Creek Inn has charmed me every time I’ve been to the restaurant, but now there’s another excuse to go: half-price bottles of wine for the whole month of July. If you haven’t thought about your rehearsal dinner location yet, try out a meal this month at this sweet old Victorian in a redwood grove.

I’ve never been to an Indian wedding, but I’ve seen pictures of them and they are a feast for the eyes. I’m fascinated by the rituals and all the color: lots of bejeweled women draped in gorgeous saris, vibrant flowers in abundance … That’s why when I heard about this upcoming event—a “scintillating evening of fun and information, focused on the Bay Area Indian wedding market,” I signed up right away.

Thanks to a recent California court ruling, same-sex couples are now flocking to local venues to formalize their commitments.