Secret Gardens Corner of Eastshore and Bay Flat Roads • Bodega Bay • California 94923

When 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!