Montalvo Arts Center 15400 Montalvo Road • Saratoga • California 95071


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Why You'll Love This Place

A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review

Nestled against a wooded slope in the secluded Saratoga Hills is Montalvo Arts Center, a lovely complex that holds a veritable treasure trove of venues for corporate events, private parties and, of course, weddings!

An inviting one-way road leads up to the center, and as you round the last turn you get your first glimpse of the expansive manicured lawns, colorful gardens, and Montalvo's beautiful Villa. Built in 1912 as the private residence of Senator James Duval Phelan, the Mediterranean-style estate is now a National Register Historic Landmark.

One of the property's most popular ceremony sites is the Love Temple, set inside the Italianate Garden at the bottom of the Great Lawn. A wide, rose-lined brick path flanked by antique marble statues leads to this open-air, white-columned pavilion, and couples wed in view of the surrounding garden with the Villa and woods in the background.

Directly behind the Villa, the Oval Garden offers a lush, intimate setting complete with classical statuary and wisteria-covered pergolas. A brick pathway serves as the center aisle, and a columned arcade makes a stately backdrop for exchanging vows. A third ceremony option is the new West Lawn Garden, which can accommodate 300+ guests.

While the newlyweds are photographed on the picturesque grounds, family and friends enjoy the cocktail hour either in the West Lawn Garden or the scenic Spanish Courtyard. Receptions follow on the Villa's broad veranda, where everyone is treated to splendid garden vistas and the occasional visiting deer.

The Villa's interior is equally impressive. All of the first floor's adjoining rooms open onto the veranda, creating a wonderful flow to your event. The huge Main Hall at the center of the house boasts a high, beamed ceiling and gilded chandeliers. An enormous fireplace topped with a tile and carved-wood mantel is usually set with flickering votives. The Hall is often used for dancing, its many French doors left open so that the music carries out to guests relaxing in the adjacent courtyard and on the veranda.

Other unique gathering spots include the handsome Library, paneled with rare New Zealand walnut. A working fireplace, soaring bookshelves and a grand piano are just a few of the Library's attractions. The bridal couple sometimes displays family photos on the Library's large desk, and arranges the wedding gifts on a built-in marble bar. Then there's the Dining Room, a cozy salon with a century-old fireplace and richly paneled walls.

Perhaps the Villa's most charming space is the Solarium, the perfect niche to showcase the wedding cake. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the north and east walls frame the scenery and let in abundant natural light, while the other walls are covered in 100-year-old lattice wood. The original terracotta tile floor, inlaid with floral patterns, enhances the vintage ambiance.

And that's not all: The entire upstairs is reserved for the wedding party and their immediate family. The three spacious suites include a lavish dressing room, with its own balcony overlooking the Great Lawn.

Video

Video by Regan Elizabeth Films.

Video by Wedding Documentary Photo + Video.

Video by SIX50 Productions.

Video by Dreambook Productions.


PRICES: What's this going to cost?

Package Prices
  • $17,000/event and up
  • Package prices vary depending on:
    • Day of week
    • Guest count
  • Full-service wedding packages range $17,000–30,000 and include:

    • 9-hour venue rental for your event (2–9pm)
    • Access to two dressing suites starting at noon
    • Use of Montalvo's unique inventory of furniture, including umbrellas, a wood-toned dance floor, tables & chairs, and more
    • Up to 3 on-site planning meetings with the event manager
    • 1-hour wedding rehearsal and ability to drop off décor and prep items
    • Staff members on site throughout the day to assist with parking, guest transport to the ceremony site, setup, and more
    • Parking for up to 150 vehicles

    Ceremony-only packages are available Monday–Thursday, and must be booked within 4 months of the wedding date. Pricing ranges $5,000–10,000 and includes:

    • 6-hour venue rental for your event (anytime between 9am and 5pm)
    • Access to two dressing suites and the Villa for photos
    • Assistance from the event management team
    • Umbrellas, tables & chairs, beverage stations, and more!

    Intimate elopements are $1,500 for up to 20 guests. Pricing includes a maximum of 3 hours for the event and the ability to bring your own seating and décor. Elopements must be booked within 2 months of the wedding date.

Capacity

Indoors Outdoors
Ceremony Seated 150 350
Cocktails, etc. Standing 400 1000
Reception Seated 150 300
Meetings Total meeting capacity for this venue is 1200.

CEREMONY CAPACITY: The Oval Garden accommodates 250 seated, the West Lawn Garden seats 300-350, and the Side Veranda seats 130 in case of inclement weather. The Love Temple capacity is 150.

EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: Indoors, the Villa holds 150 seated or 300–400 standing; outdoors, it's 300 seated or 1,000 standing. For other special events and business functions, the venue can accommodate up to 2,000.

MEETING CAPACITY: Meeting venues accommodate groups of 4–300 people; the Villa's main floor holds up to 100. The Carriage House Theatre can accommodate up to 300 people seated theater-style. The outdoor Garden Theatre accommodates 1,200 guests. The upper Villa has 3 large rooms that can be used for staff meetings or dressing rooms. The Cottage accommodates up to 14 guests.


Venue Details

Site Uses

  • Ceremony
  • Outdoor Ceremony
  • Wedding Receptions
  • Outdoor Reception
  • Elopement Packages
  • Small Wedding
  • All-Inclusive
  • Rehearsal Dinner
  • Special Events / Parties
  • Business Functions / Meetings
  • Late Night
  • LGBTQ+ Friendly

Essential Info

Price

$$ • $$$

Catering

Preferred list

Alcohol

In-house
BYO

In-house beverage service is preferred.


Amplified Music

Indoors
Outdoors
Some restrictions

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair accessible

Availability

Weddings are held year-round, although December–April events have a guest maximum of 150.

Venue Type

Buildings & other settings available:

  • Garden
  • Historic / Landmark Building
  • Mansion
  • Non-Profit
  • Park
  • Private Estate
  • Unique
  • Patio / Deck / Terrace

Venue Views

Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!

  • Cityscape
  • Forest / Woods
  • Fountain / Water Feature
  • Garden
  • Hills
  • Landscaped Grounds
  • Meadow / Fields
  • Valley

Services & Amenities

Feel like a VIP with these services and amenities:

Catering: select from preferred list
Kitchen Facilities: ample
Tables & Chairs: provided
Linens, Silver, etc.: caterer
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: yes
Dressing Areas: yes
AV/Meeting Equipment: WiFi; full range CBA, extra fee
Parking: valet may be required for over 200 guests, carpooling is encouraged
Accommodations: no guest rooms, hotel partners
Outdoor Night Lighting: yes
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: BYO
Cleanup: caterer
View: manicured lawns, formal gardens, historic sculptures and Santa Clara Valley vista

Restrictions

But take note of the following limitations!

Alcohol: in-house beverage service is preferred
Smoking: outdoors only, designated area
Music: amplified OK with restrictions until 10pm
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: certificate required


Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
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Alternate Info: Villa Montalvo at Montalvo Arts Center