Where is the wedding taking place?
Waterfall Lodge and Retreat
325 Hidden Falls Trail, Ben Lomond, CA 95005
From Highway 9, turn on to Alba Road, and then make a left on to Hidden Falls Trail. Go past the Sequoia Retreat Center until you see the Waterfall Lodge Guest Hub. Please do not drive up Hubbard Gulch Road to reach the property.
Waterfall Lodge is located 35 minutes from the San Jose Airport, 20 minutes from Santa Cruz, and 90 minutes from San Francisco.
Please reach out if you are flying and would be interested in shared or pre-arranged transportation — we are trying to gauge interest!
What time should I arrive for the weekend?
We will begin welcoming guests to the property at 2 on Friday. Please arrive no later than 4:30 to allow yourself time to get settled into your cabin. We will be gathering to welcome everyone with a special program at 5 p.m. in the Lodge.
What is the dress code? What should I wear?
The dress code for our ceremony and reception is cocktail attire. Because our wedding is taking place in the redwoods, we recommend avoiding high heels. Please bring a jacket or an extra layer for dinner outside. The dress code for Friday night's welcome dinner is casual—wear something you're comfortable in.
Will the wedding be indoors or outdoors?
Most of the weekend events will be held outside, including the ceremony, all meals, and optional activities. However, a portion of our Friday night welcome event and Saturday night’s dancing will be held inside the Lodge.
What weather should I expect?
Of course, we can't guarantee anything, but the weather in the Santa Cruz mountains is typically dry and warm in May. Expect highs in the 70s, and lows in the 40s. We recommend packing a warm layer for the evenings. Keep an eye on the weather here.
How do I RSVP?
We sure hope you'll be able to join us for our special day. With your invitation, there is an RSVP card that you can fill out and return, or feel free to click here and let us know your plans right here on the website.
When is the RSVP deadline?
Because of the nature of our venue and our desire to accommodate all guests on-site, we appreciate early RSVPs. Please respond as soon as you know whether you’ll be able to attend and no later than December 20th, 2022.
Can I bring my kids? Will there be a babysitter?
Due to the limited capacity of our venue, we are unable to accommodate children at our wedding. We hope you understand. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help.
Can I bring a Plus One?
We are at capacity with our venue which means we are sadly unable to accommodate additional guests. We will only be able to accommodate those listed on your invitation. If you have any questions, please reach out.
Do you have a hotel block for guests? Where do you recommend I stay?
Waterfall Lodge and Retreat has 32 charming cabins on-site and we’re asking our guests to book lodging for both Friday and Saturday nights. The nightly rate is $275 per cabin + taxes. We will assign a cabin number to book directly through the venue once we have initial RSVPs back.
Please reach out to us if you have questions or want to discuss your specific situation!
DO you have a wedding registry?
Your presence is the most important gift you can give us on our wedding day. If you’d like to give additionally, we have set up a registry through Zola that is embedded directly on our website on the Registry page.
I have dietary restrictions. what’s the best way to communicate that with you?
We definitely want to make sure you enjoy your time and meal during our wedding weekend! Please let us know when you RSVP about your dietary needs.
Will there be an open bar?
We will have an open wine and beer bar. Our venue does not allow liquor on the property and the owners reserve the right to ask anyone found with hard alcohol to leave the premises.
When will the reception end?
The reception will end at 10 p.m. The venue is located in a residential community in the Santa Cruz Mountains and local noise ordinances require quiet hours after 10 p.m. We will not have an after party, but we will provide s’mores around the camp fire for anyone who wants to stay up a bit later.
Can I take and post pictures of the wedding on social media?
We love photos! We encourage guests to post pictures and tag us so we can see them, too!
What is the Redwood Train?
The Redwood Train is an 1890s era narrow-gauge steam train with open air seating that winds up to the summit of Bear Mountain. It is a 20 minute drive from Waterfall Lodge to Roaring Camp.
Where should I get lunch on Saturday?
Humble Sea Tavern and Wild Roots Market in Felton are favorites, and right around the corner from Roaring Camp for those who are joining on the Redwood Train. See our list of recommended food and drink spots in the broader county below as well!
What COVID health and safety measures will you be taking during the event?
Getting married in the midst of a global pandemic means that everyone’s health and safety is a top priority for us. Part of our online RSVP process asks each person to confirm they are fully vaccinated with all boosters as recommended by the CDC. We will also be checking vaccination documentation upon arrival for the weekend. As we get closer to our event weekend, we will be monitoring case numbers and determining whether additional measures, such as a proof of a negative Covid test, are necessary to keep ourselves and our guests safe. Most of the weekend events will be held outside, including the ceremony, all meals, and optional activities. However, a portion of our Friday night welcome event and Saturday night’s dancing will be held inside the Lodge.
What is there to do in Santa Cruz County?
We have so many recommendations for things to do in both Santa Cruz (and the Bay Area more generally)!
Walking and Hiking: Santa Cruz has amazing walking and hiking. There are wonderful cliff-side walks at Wilder Ranch State Park or West Cliff Drive. In Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near our venue, we highly recommend taking a dip in the Garden of Eden swimming hole (access via Ox Trailhead) or looping around the Redwood Grove Trail (access by the Visitor’s Center).
Beaches and Surfing: Santa Cruz also has great beaches. We love Natural Bridges State Beach, which has great tide pools and is at the northern end of West Cliff Drive. Capitola Beach is a great family-friendly beach with beginner surfing lessons and is right at the center of Capitola Village, which has lots of little shops and ocean-view restaurants.
Tourist Bucket List: One of the most iconic tourist attractions is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. We love its old wooden rollercoaster, mini golf in Neptune’s Kingdom, and huge arcade. You’ve probably seen the yellow bumper sticker for our second tourist recommendation: The Mystery Spot. Its the ultimate kitschy tourist trap roadtrip stop in the redwoods. Highly recommended! Get tickets in advance, as their timed tours often sell out.
Food and Drink: For great Mexican food in a beautiful historic space, head over to Santa Cruz favorite El Palomar. Jordan loves the cheese enchiladas, Emily loves the guacamole sopes, and everyone loves the unlimited chips and salsa! Or stop for breakfast sandwiches (or veggie burgers, but we recommend getting a breakfast sandwich anytime of the day) at Pretty Good Advice in Soquel and then head over to Sante Adairius’ original brewery and tap room in Capitola for their great farmhouse ales. Or check out Sante Adairius’ new taproom with Bookie’s pizza kitchen on the east side of Santa Cruz—the pizza is good, but the vegan buffalo mushroom wings are even better! We also love the seasonal and rotating offerings at Discretion Brewing and Humble Sea.
If you’re planning to stay for a few extra days on either end of our wedding weekend, let us know! We would love to convince you to go to Yosemite, give you a list of must-dos in San Francisco, or share our favorite wineries in Sonoma.
I have a question that I just can’t find the answer to, what is the best way to contact you?
Please send us a note using the Contact page.