With everything going on with Alan’s health at the end of last year, I wasn’t in much of a wedding-planning mindset. But then, 2014 arrived, ushering in this beautiful summer-y weather, a boost of optimism and… we’re ready to do this! It’s one thing to be a wedding guest or a member of the bridal party, but planning my own wedding feels crazy and surreal. It’s so exciting! I’ve started looking into local venues and recently toured Hazlwood, a property tucked into the Santa Cruz mountains. I thought I’d share some of the pictures and pricing in case anyone else is interested.

Next to the pond is a grass lawn (on the right) where the wedding ceremony takes place. The white greenhouse on the left is where the dinner buffet is set up.

This is the view of the ceremony site from the porch of Barbara’s house. (See the white structure in the distance?) It’s under a pretty grove of redwoods, but the lighting is a little dark for my tastes.

This is the “summer house” where the bride gets ready and which later turns into the cake-cutting spot and dance area. The doors open up so guests can dance inside and/or outside.

 Here’s the inside. Those windows!

Hazlwood had a few different areas for photo ops or for guests to roam and explore. This set of stairs led up to a wishing well.