Secret Gardens Corner of Eastshore and Bay Flat Roads • Bodega Bay • California 94923
Secret Gardens
We'd love it if you would mention that you found Secret Gardens on the Here Comes The Guide website.
Why You'll Love This Place
A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review
Read More Show LessWhen we passed through the Secret Gardens’ humble iron gate, we felt as if we had encountered Narnia—the magical, otherworldly kingdom that C.S. Lewis wrote of in his famed children’s books. Entering the gardens, you’re immersed in a world of unbridled beauty. In every direction the eye is delighted: here the abundant blooms of rhododendrons, irises, and camellias; over there delicate Japanese maples, cherry trees, and towering redwoods. A year-round running brook unspools the length of the gardens, pausing now and again to calm itself in one of several lovely ponds. It took 10 years to wrangle this magnificent garden from a tenacious coastal jungle, but the effort was worth it: today it’s truly an idyllic place to hold a celebration.
A variety of scenic spots are available to tie the knot, but most couples prefer to marry on a gorgeous redwood deck with an attached redwood Ceremonial Arch. After the ceremony, folks can lose themselves along the gardens’ meandering paths before joining the feasting and festivities at the handsome pavilion at the far side of the gardens.
Although the Secret Gardens is ideal for outdoor weddings, it’s also excellent for any number of events—seminars, retreats, bar mitzvahs, and anniversaries. Overnight accommodations are easily arranged with both luxury hotels and more modest accommodations available nearby.
The Secret Gardens, a place whose extraordinary beauty has made it anything but secret, has been featured in HGTV, A&E, Town and Country Magazine, radio, and other media! In 2018, it was also voted “Best Wedding Venue in Sonoma County” in the Press Democrat. So if your heart is set on a garden party, call sooner rather than later—this is a venue that books up quickly!
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Prices: What's this going to cost?
Rental Fee
- $11,000–12,000/event
Rentals start at $12,000 for Saturday and $11,000 for Sunday–Thursday, both with a refundable $950 security deposit. Fridays are reserved for rehearsals only.
The fee includes tables, chairs, heaters, access to the venue for engagement photos, and a 1-hour rehearsal. Extra hours are available.
Capacity
Indoors | Outdoors | ||
---|---|---|---|
Ceremony | Seated | 0 | 150 |
Cocktails, etc. | Standing | 0 | 150 |
Reception | Seated | 0 | 150 |
Meetings | Total meeting capacity for this venue is 150. |
CEREMONY & EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: The Ceremony Area holds 150 seated guests and the Pavilion up to 150 seated.
MEETING CAPACITY: Meetings spaces accommodate up to 150 guests.
Venue Details
Site Uses
- Ceremony
- Outdoor Ceremony
- Wedding Receptions
- Outdoor Reception
- Small Wedding
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Special Events / Parties
- Business Functions / Meetings
Essential Info
Price
$ • $$
Catering
Preferred list
Alcohol
BYO
Amplified Music
Outdoors
Some restrictions
Wheelchair Access
Access limited
Availability
Daily, mid-April through October.
Venue Type
Buildings, other structures, and natural settings available at this venue:
- Banquet Hall / Events Facility
- Garden
- Patio / Deck / Terrace
Venue Views
Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!
- Creek / River
- Forest / Woods
- Fountain / Water Feature
- Garden
- Lagoon / Pond
- Landscaped Grounds
Services & Amenities
Feel like a VIP with these services and amenities:
Catering: select from preferred list, or BYO
Kitchen Facilities: yes, limited outdoor
Tables & Chairs: provided
Linens, Silver, etc.: through caterer
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: 2 large dance areas
Dressing Areas: yes
AV/Meeting Equipment: BYO
Parking: ample on-street and in private lot, local shuttle service recommended
Accommodations: nearby hotels and rental homes
Outdoor Night Lighting: yes
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: yes, area available
Cleanup: caterer or renter
View: gardens, pond, creek and redwoods
Other: complimentary sound system for the ceremony area
Restrictions
But take note of the following limitations!
Alcohol: BYO, insurance required, no corkage fees
Smoking: designated area only
Music: amplified OK until 10pm
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: certificate required
Map
Real Weddings

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Alternate Info: Compass Rose Gardens, Bodega Bay Secret Gardens