Small Wedding

Congrats J.! To save $ try to find a place that is all inclusive. We got married in Monterey by a company called Adventures by the Sea. The cost ncluded the ceremony location and set up, reception location and set up as well as all the food. It was a casual beach wedding and turned out to be the best party. another way to save $ is to stay outdoors. I learned you canf get permits for weddings outdoors and then have a small bbq style reception. Try Big Basin or other spots in Santa Cruz Mountains. Good luck!

For a small wedding, you can look for a park with a nice garden, or maybe a family member has a nice yard they will let you use. I was married 15 years ago, there were approx. 300 people at my wedding and my husband and I found many great deals to help cut costs, you just need to shop around and have an idea of what you want for your special day. While most of my friends were spending nearly 100k on their smaller weddings, our total was under 10k. I chose a bridesmaid dress in white; after the ceremony, the bridesmaid bouquet's acted as the wedding party table decorations, a family member took our wedding portraits, a family friend made our beautiful 6 tier wedding cake, and we found small a local restaurant to cater. Buffet style is usually less expensive because your guests can serve themselves. Hope this has helped. Best wishes for a happy marriage! And congratulations on your expected bundle of joy!

The Sanborn Park Youth Hostel and grounds can be rented for day use at a reasonable price and makes a lovely outdoor wedding setting. It's off highway 9 past Saratoga.

They have a Website with more info at http://www.sanbornparkhostel.org/

we got married at this beautiful bed and breakfast type place by santa cruz called the pasatiempo (sp?) inn (off the pasatiempo exit on hwy 17) it was fairley inexpensive (I think we paid around 1600 for 5 hours and food/wine for 50 people during the week). we had a garden cermony and went inside for dinner and dancing. if your intrested let me know I can e-mail you some pics from the wedding to see what it was like.

the ringstorf house is really cute too but when we looked into it (two years ago) it was about 1500-1600 for only about 2 or 3 hours and you had to set up and clean up everything on your own (which was part of the alloted time) and you had to find an outside caterer.

congrats!

Try Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto. It is inexpensive and very beautiful. I also have photographed at Ladera Oaks in Portola Valley. The Los Altos History museum is juicy and don't forget Hornblower Cruises. I loved the wedding I did aboard the smaller yachts they send out.

I also think you should check out the Rengstorff House at Shoreline Park in Mtn. View. Michael's is right next door for the reception or just have it catered by Armadillo Willie's right there.

If you are looking for an inexpensive venue, try the Historic Adobe Building in Mountain View or the Rengstorff House in Mountain View. They are perfect for a wedding of your size and have gardens. http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/city_hall/comm_services/recre...
Congratulations and good luck with planning.