Wedding planning is all about making choices. Whether you’re a details-loving couple who deliberates on every item (down to place settings), or you’re a bare-minimalist bride who wants a simple celebration, you’ll have to make decisions throughout the planning process. And one of the very first—and most important—choices you’ll make is where to celebrate your special day. Wedding venues come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, so if you’re a bride (and groom!) looking for the perfect place to say, “I do,” here are five key considerations to keep in mind when choosing your wedding site.
Boulder Ridge, photo by Megan Hayes
1. Find a venue with views. One of the most memorable parts of your day for both your guests and yourselves will be setting-specific views, like a sunset casting shadows on rolling hills, or a moonlit, twinkling valley in the distance. Sure, everyone is going to look at the bride’s dress, and maybe a few floral fanatics will notice the bouquets, but for the most part, the breathtaking moments of the event will be determined by views of natural beauty. Give your guests something gorgeous to remember, like an outdoor ceremony at Boulder Ridge Golf Club, overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Boulder Ridge, photo by Megan Hayes
2. Location, location, location. For guests who are traveling from different states, the last thing you want to do is ask them to add more flying or driving time to their trip. Pick a venue that isn’t too far from major airports, has easy-to-access to transportation, and offers a range of lodging options. And if you’re a couple who prefers a more intimate, remote setting, you don’t have to have an ultra-rural wedding to accomplish this! You can have your (wedding) cake, and eat it too, by choosing a venue like one of our scenic Bay Club golf properties, which all provide a feeling of serene escape, but are also located within easy driving distance to plenty of hotels and major airports.
StoneTree Golf Club
3. Go with the planning pros. Trust us, you want planning experts when it comes to your wedding day. Find a venue that has an experienced wedding coordinator onsite, who is familiar with the property and knows all the right questions to ask your vendors. We talked to our very own event-planning aficionados at our Bay Club golf properties, Erica Felix at Boulder Ridge, Robin Lombard at StoneTree, and Michele Surrell at Fairbanks Ranch, who all agreed that finding a good match between you and your planner is key. They recommended finding a planner who gives guidance but also listens, and one you truly feel a mutual connection with as a couple.
Boulder Ridge, photo by Megan Hayes
4. Flexibility to make the day reflect your tastes. Part of the fun in wedding planning is designing a day that’s a reflection of the two of you. Whether that means bringing in a special gluten-free cake maker or a band you love, you want the freedom to use outside vendors. And at the Bay Club, we are all about making your celebration a bespoke event, so our team will work with whatever vendors you choose to create magic. And, if you don’t want to bring in any outside vendors, our professional catering and decorating staff will still provide you plenty of options to customize your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
Fairbanks Ranch, photo by True Photography
5. Good reviews. You probably rely on positive recommendations from friends or family when it comes to a hair stylist or a doctor, so why not do the same when it comes to picking your wedding venue? Choose a place that’s clearly made other couple’s weddings special, and you’ll have more confidence that they’ll do the same for you. And there’s no shortage of great feedback from past brides and grooms who began forever at the Bay Club. Below are just a few of the testimonials we’ve received from happy couples.
We would like to thank you & Executive Chef, Mr. Jesse Frost for a wonderful wedding function on 25th November, and highly appreciate your efforts dedicated towards its success. We were very pleased with your very professional management & our guests were raving about the food, dining hall arrangements & general ambience of the Club. We would be very happy to recommend your facilities that any prospective parties that may be interested in utilizing the same, and will certainly engage your facilities again for our next wedding function. —Chisti & Kavasji
Thank you for tirelessly helping me and Diem achieve the wedding of our dreams. I know there was a lot of work to be done especially with the weather being so unpredictable. Your teams did an outstanding job! Thanks again for all your help. —Diem & Adrian
For more information, or to contact an event planner, click here.