Nestldown

Nestldown is a lovely wedding venue! It’s a really beautiful setting for both the ceremony space and the reception barn area, and there are also many hidden nooks that make interesting photo opportunities. The best thing about it was definitely the staff — we worked with My-​Dung as our main coordinator, and she was amazing! She was very organized, always had a calming effect, and was really good at anticipating all our needs. Everyone else was also extremely helpful!

Nestldown is absolutely stunning as every other reviewer says. This is mainly a review for My-​Dung, who was our coordinator. She is AMAZING! When we didn’t know where to begin with all the wedding planning work, she helped us get started. She also kept us on track during the whole planning process. And I can’t thank her enough for making the wedding day so smooth despite all the unexpected incidents (due to my carelessness and the weather)!! LOVE LOVE My-​Dung!

It’s a beautiful place to have a wedding.

Nestldown was the first and the only wedding venue with visited – and for a good reason! The beauty of Nestldown is incredible, and though we didn’t know it at the time of booking, the level of service is also impeccable.
The beautiful ceremony space, surrounded by redwoods, could not be more idyllic. Our guests were absolutely blown away by the beauty of the grounds, including the beautiful ponds, the meadow space for dinner, and the majestic wooden barn. The spaces truly are breathtaking – I am still overwhelmed looking at photos nearly 2 months later.
Allison was our coordinator, and I can’t say enough about how helpful and supportive she was through the process. Her experience running events at Nestldown were a huge plus, as she handled our day like a pro in the planning and organizing ahead of time, and the day of. Everyone we interacted with through Nestldown, from the owners to support staff were friendly, helpful, and offered attentive service.
Our wedding would not have been so beautiful or so organized without Nestldown. Thank you for continuing to offer such an incredible space for events such as ours.

My husband and I got married at Nestldown in August 2015. If you’ve ever been to Nestldown I don’t have to say much, and if you haven’t been there you should go. The grounds are enchanting and the staff is fantastic. Once we visited we stopped seriously looking at other venues because it was clear that we wouldn’t find anywhere more magical than Nestldown. Between the barn, gnome cottage, meadows, miniature train, topiaries, orchard, and redwoods it has everything. My husband and I love hiking in the redwoods around Northern California, so getting married in a redwood «chapel» was the dream. We went to the venue about six times before the wedding for various reasons, but often it was just to go see it, and the staff were warm and welcoming every time.
Our wedding day went off without a single issue and it’s not because I’m a great planner, it’s because the staff at Nestldown is a finely tuned machine! We heard so many stories about brides and grooms not getting to eat at their weddings — we had appetizers and champagne brought to us directly after our ceremony! They took care of every detail and really know how to make everyone involved in the wedding feel special.
Our coordinator, My-​Dung (say it My Young), is officially one of my favorite people in the world. I don’t know how, but whenever I needed her she showed up at my side. She coordinated with everyone throughout the night and made sure that nothing was missed. My favorite My-​Dung moment was when she radioed someone to let them know we were on our way, took my husband and my champagne glasses, piled us and our photographer into a golf cart and shot off to our next destination (glasses in hand, didn’t spill a drop).
Everything about Nestldown is fantastic — check them out!

After months of looking for a venue, my husband and I took a drive to Nestldown (without an appt) and stumbled upon the most breathtaking place. Even the drive to the venue felt special, it had rained the night before we toured Nestldown and the sun was shining through the trees! Of course they were setting up for a wedding but luckily I knew the florist who happen to be there setting up. She was able to show us around really quick and from the moment we walked down the path we knew this was our venue.
Everything else fell in place. The ceremony space (redwood grove) is magical, the meadow was perfect for cocktail hour and games, the garden was a beautiful space for an intimate dinner and dancing in the Barn with the chandeliers was just amazing. It really was perfect for us and many of our guests are still (2 months out) talking about this gorgeous venue.
My-​Dung, along with Alexandra (and really everyone else) were a dream to work with. We loved the family vibe and story of Nestldown and feel so lucky to have found it. Thank you for providing the most beautiful backdrop for our special day!

I got married on July 4, 2015 at Nestldown and could not have dreamt up a more perfect location for our wedding day. I researched nearly every wedding venue in Northern California and it was clear that Nestldown was something special. The grounds are breathtaking & magical but what I loved even more than the property was the amazing staff. The Beck’s are so down to earth, lovely, and ORGANIZED! I knew without a doubt that the day would go perfectly smooth thanks to their expertise, and it sure did! Thanks so much Alexandra & family!

Wedding venues are usually a dime a dozen — but Nestldown is peaceful, intimate, immaculately kept, and visually stunning. The wedding we just attended will definitely remain as one of the most memorable and well planned I’ve been to.
Cons
Nestldown is a little difficult to get too, and has a lot of walking and stairs once you’re on property; however, we rode a shuttle from our hotel — and noticed there were plenty of golf cart rides available for anyone who needed assistance. The sound quality of the wedding ceremony and music was pretty bad — which created unfortunate awkward or missed moments on an otherwise magical day.
Pros
There are tons of little hidden sculptures and artwork, a treehouse with swing, outbuildings (including a fairy house), a pond, gardens, and a gorgeous ceremony area and barn for dancing. I’m not sure if the DJ, caterers, and other vendors are from an approved list of partners but I enjoyed the music and the food was outstanding. The portapotties are even above par — air conditioned, with rugs, flowers, and scented diffuser.
Overall, Nestldown seems to have something for everyone. I was pleasantly surprised and had a wonderful experience through and through.

Nestldown is simply magically. My husband and I got married there 2 years ago, and we still get chills looking through the pictures. The grounds are stunning. The venue feels so intimate and being there feels like time stands still. Without a doubt, it was the perfect venue for us and our families.
The management allowed us to use our own DJ and for my husband’s band to perform. There are certain volume restrictions, which in visiting the property, I’m sure you’d understand why. My only regret is that I wish I would have visited the property ahead of time with his band to help ensure things would run smoothly. Luckily, the staff worked with them, and my husband was able to surprise me with a serenade (he doesn’t sing normally:) It is great that the management accommodated our request, especially since lots of places require you to use certain vendors. I share this specifically because the property is so unique, and if you choose to not use a vendor on the suggested list, you may want to make sure you visit ahead of time with them and have a point person who really understand the property.
All that being said, I can’t imagine our wedding day any place else, and a special thanks to Alexandra for being so amazing before and during our wedding.

I performed a wedding this last Sunday and I have to say that this is a spectacular venue. The staff is so very helpful and you cannot beat the beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Our Wedding Coordinator-​Amy Frugoli
does many wedding here at this location and she and her staff are very professional and efficient at what they do. I would highly recommend this location during the right times of the year. mainly Spring through Fall when the weather is good!

I was recently married at Nestldown in Oct 2014. We absolutely loved the venue, and we are so so glad we chose it. We bought the Nestldown+ package for a day of coordinator, and I’m really glad we did that too. We had a 150 person fusion wedding, so it would have been very difficult for me to coordinate that without extra help. Thank you to Jaynie!
Speaking of Jaynie, she was incredibly positive and supportive and wonderful to work with! In fact, she’s meeting me in a week to deliver some of my leftover decorations she found. So thoughtful!
It’s interesting; there are a few difficult things to deal with at Nestldown, but it all feels worth it because it is just that beautiful and professional. We had a blast at our wedding, and I know a lot of that is because it is gorgeous and has really great management.
Now to describe the difficult parts, Nestldown is very expensive and very strict about their rules. They have you sign a long legal contract that threatens charges for violations. I’m sure this is common practice, especially in the privately owned areas of Los Gatos. You need an approved caterer, DJ, and shuttle driver. You’re also not allowed to take shots?! Use of the driveway is very strictly enforced for the safety of the guests, but that can add hours and $$ to your vendors, like a photo booth. I honestly forget the other rules now, but it felt like a bit much. Again, they run a very good business there though so it makes sense. A good business protects itself.
Despite the above caveat, when our entire event came together, we realized how wonderful it was that the venue looked as beautiful as we dreamed our wedding would look. I don’t miss wedding planning, but I do miss visiting Nestldown! We might stay at the house on the hill for an anniversary…

I’ve just awoken from a real-​life fairytale. No Joke. I’m STILL having trouble accepting the fact that my name isn’t Snow White, Cinderella, or Bell from Beauty and the Beast, or that my husband doesn’t carry a sword harnessed around his waist just for every day purposes…
Having once worked for Poetry In Motion, a delicious local full-​service catering company, I was fortunate enough to discover this hidden gem-​of-​a-​venue 5 or 6 years ago. I’ll never forget my first visit, walking in wide-​eyed, feeling like a kid in a candy shop. The scenery is unbelievably magical, with flowers and greenery neatly grown and attended to (there’s not ONE leaf out of place) and remarkable trees that climb high into the beautiful blue Los Gatos sky. I can recall wishing that one day, when I meet my future hubby, I hope to get married here.
So naturally, after getting engaged, my fiancé and I went straight to Barbara and Mark, the owners of Nestldown. We were immediately welcomed with warm smiles and caring hearts. The two of them pour their heart and soul into uncovering the needs of their clients and making sure every want or wish is met to the best of their ability. From the get-​go, Barbara kindly volunteered to help coordinate our wedding, and had a great «hand on shoulder» approach; walking my fiancé and I through the daunting and seemingly exhausting process of planning details that go into a wedding.
The day of our wedding was truly unbelievable. The venue held our 200 guests and accommodated in every way and more. My husband and I were married in the chapel that is nestled deep within the forest, in front of a lake that includes a waterfall. Post ceremony, our guests made their way to the fox-​glove meadow where they enjoyed their cocktail hour, played games and explored the venue’s train and fantasy cottage (perfect entertainment perks for kids). After dinner, guests retreated into the rustic fairytale barn where we danced the rest of the night away!
We honestly could not have been more pleased with Nestldown and it’s wonderful staff that made sure every wish and request was met. And if you couldn’t tell by reading this review, we HIGHLY recommend it!

We just attended a wedding here and found it to be a beautiful hidden gem in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The owners are very friendly and are very caring. They really make this place.
I was truly shocked when we got here. Granted, it is a little bit of a drive, and for me, I get car sick easily. So, I was really starting to get uncomfortable and then we finally got there.
Since this reception location is literally, in the middle of nature, it requires walking and navigating the property. I had absolutely no problem with this since I am an outdoors person anyhow. AND, the bride and groom had made it very clear that this was the reception location, it was outside, there was walking, to wear comfortable shoes, and that there would be golf carts to help people get around.
All of the attendees were aware of the settings, but you still had a few women wearing heels trying to hike. It was pretty hysterical. So, for those negative reviews on here you see from attendees, my guess is that the bride and groom did not communicate what the grounds were like, or those attendees did not read the invitation carefully. If you do not like to exercise, do not like the outdoors, have a fear of small gnats, and have bad allergies, this place is not for you.
The grounds are full of surprises. When we got there, you just see a dirt parking lot. But, as you walk down the hill (or go by golf cart), you come across several buildings and a beautiful lawn area where our dinner was served. There were multiple cottages on the property, all with their own charm and views. Once we walked further down the hill to where the ceremony took place, there was a gorgeous pond area with a fountain in the middle, and a blue heron was sitting on the side checking things out.
This would be a wonderful place for a family reunion, work event with families, and of course a wedding. We loved it and wished it was open to the public just to explore and enjoy. Really, its a special place.

I secured Nestldown as a venue for an annual memorial event earlier this year. The owners and staff showed immediate empathy, dedication and commitment to making the event a healing day for the families that attended. As you can read from other reviews, the venue is unlike any other. Our guests enjoyed taking family photos around the impeccably kept grounds, riding the train, petting the therapy horses and exploring the sweet minature home. We worked with one of their preferred catering vendors and everything was delicious!
We honestly can’t say enough for the tremendous heart and warmth that the owners and staff poured out in service to the grieving families that attended the memorial event. We are looking forward to hosting our annual event at Nestldown next year!

My husband and I found Nestldown by chance when we were taking a scenic drive through the Santa Cruz Mountains one day. We fell in love with the venue and called over to book a walk-​through. Although we went in the winter, the venue was simply gorgeous. We wanted to book it for about a year and a half later — and our preferred date was already taken! I can’t stress enough how pretty the grounds are. Go take a look, because anything I say won’t cover it. This place is incredibly popular for a reason (insert several adjective for «beautiful»), but its popularity is reflected in the price which is among the more expensive venues we were looking at.
Some people want to find the most unique venues, where no one has ever done weddings before. But I think the downside to that is that the staff might not be as experienced, vendors might not know the grounds as well and might incur more fees or hiccups, or you run into logistical hang-​ups (maybe you thought it would be fun to have ice cream with your dessert table but you realize the freezer on site is too small to accommodate, or you have elderly grandparents who can’t walk down a set of steps or a hill, and the venue doesn’t have golf carts to take them there — Nestldown does!). Whatever the case may be, Nestldown successfully hosts tons of weddings a year, and they have it down to a science. Each wedding can still be unique and beautiful and personalized, and if anyone goes wrong (it rains, your florist gets lost, etc.) Nestldown has got it covered. They also have a great relationship with their preferred vendors; because they’re preferred, they go to the site a lot and know its ins-​and-​outs. This dynamic between the venue and the vendors really contribute to making the wedding run smoothly. My wedding seemed to run perfectly, in part due to my absolutely amazing wedding planner (Michelle of Simply Events), but also in part to the way Nestldown is run and set-​up. They also have several package options to use an in-​house wedding and/​or day of planner, and that seems to be a great option to team up with you, your MOH, and/​or your wedding planner. So if you just want to sit back and enjoy your big day, Nestldown is GREAT for that.
Some key bullets for you to think about —
Pros:
— Stunningly beautiful venue
— Convenient set-​up/​logistics (kitchenette, barn versus redwood cathedral, etc. all in one place) for weddings
— Very experienced staff
— Great list of (preferred) vendors who are also very knowledgeable
— BYOB (saves a ton of money! Contrast: most wineries only serve beer/​wine, and make you order from their vineyard)
— Really good for small to mid-​sized weddings (ours was about 180 people, and we probably at the upper end of mid-​sized but everything was still comfortable!)
Cons:
— On the more expensive side
— Strict rules (just read carefully and you’ll be fine)
Other things to consider (this isn’t going to be for everyone):
— «Attractions» on site: train, tree-​house play area, bocce ball field, fun sculptures, etc. (some people think it’s too play-​land like, but it was a great distraction for the children that came to the wedding, and the adults had fun on the train also!)
— The venue is a little out of the way and difficult to get to, but this may be a good thing in the sense that it feels like you’re driving to a getaway in the woods. We used shuttles so our guests could take advantage of the open bar; whether it was close to the city or out in Los Gatos, I think our guests would have taken the shuttles anyway, so it really made little difference for us.
— Great cottage to get ready in! It is super convenient for the bridal party to get their hair and make-​up done here, so that your dresses don’t get wrinkly or hair mussed during the ride over. I recommend booking this if you use this venue.
TLDR: Really great venue — convenient, beautiful, and fun; but is on the pricey side with lots of rules.

I photographed a wedding at Nestldown recently and it is truly an amazing venue. Upon arriving for the site visit (before the wedding), I was already amazed at how beautiful everything was, and that was before it was decorated for the wedding!
I can see how some people may be concerned about elderly people walking around the venue, but they have golf carts that they used during the wedding to transport people. The bride and groom made the venue aware ahead of time who would be needing assistance and the staff was on top of everything the whole day. They also have a charming little house that the bride can get ready in that works really well for photos.
Overall, a great venue for a wedding and I can’t wait to shoot there again!

Why did we choose Nestldown for our wedding? Just take a walk through this deep forest-​like venue and everything will come together. My wife and I were already married on paper since November of 2013 which made us somewhat ambivalent about our wedding day on May 11^th 2014. We visited a few venues around the Bay Area and the ambiance was either too tacky or grossly overpriced for the physical location and/​or amount of space available for use. Then our wedding photographers recommended that we give Nestldown a shot.
The instant we visited Nestldown, we knew this was meant to be the perfect place for our wedding. It literally feels like you are in the middle of an enchanted forest with a mid-​sized cottage in the middle. There’s a train on the property where the kids can circle the forest along with a pond filled with fishes and several waterfalls. The place is so spacious that we had to ensure that our guests would not wander off volitionally. The most amazing aspect is that the event price is completely affordable. Regardless of how great this venue is, the owner Barbara Beck is what made all the difference.
About a month before our wedding, Barbara contacted us and raised her concerns about the lack of organization and planning for our wedding. I happen to be a very lucky man to marry a woman who didn’t go crazy and bizarre about her wedding day. Both nonchalant about our wedding, Barbara was worried that we would mess up our special day and decided to take control of all the planning and organization for us. She contacted all the vendor, sent us emails regularly to inform us, and responded all our inquiries in a timely manner.
As a lawyer already married on paper, I had limited expectation and enthusiasm for my wedding day. Nonetheless, I was absolutely surprised as everything went so perfect and far exceeded my expectations. With my wife somewhat carefree about our special day, it is only fair that I give Nestldown and Barbara credit for such professional organization and execution. During this event, we traveled through four different locations, which was an effective use of space. The best part was that after the wedding, I heard through the grapevines that several «soon to be wedded couples» who attended our wedding were flustered because they felt the overwhelming pressure that their wedding will be dwarfed by ours at Nestldown.
I took the time to write this review out of my sincere gratitude for Barbara Beck, THE OWNER of Nestldown. It is truly an honor for the owner of a venue to take matters into her own hands and ensure the successfulness of an event at her venue. If you are interested in Nestldown, be sure you contact Barbara.

A beautiful location for a fairytale wedding!
I attended a wedding at Nestldown and enjoyed the enchanted, rustic setting. The wedding was held in an upscale «barn» seating around 150 people. The wood paneling, high-​vaulted ceiling, tall windows and chandeliers made it a beautiful venue for the wedding.
After the ceremony, while the barn was being rearranged for the reception, guests were free to explore the grounds. Some things I noted:
* Beautiful landscape surrounded by redwoods, and lots of good photo spots
* A pond with a waterfall, with ¾ of it accessible to walk around
* A garden with hedge sculptures and statues, a very small hedge maze, and a small cottage with props from different fairytales
* A treehouse with a wooden swing
* A train ride on a ¹⁄₃ mile loop
* Free WiFi in the barn
There was ample parking, but a 2-​minute walk down a steep dirt road to get to the barn. Ladies, leave the heels at home. There was one golf cart ferrying passengers, but it would’ve been nice to have stairs or a ramp. Other than that, the grounds were lovely and, if I wasn’t already married, I might’ve considered having my own wedding here!

I LOVED MY WEDDING! The venue is PERFECT and I received nothing but praise from my guests about how unique and gorgeous Nestldown is. Our late afternoon ceremony provided the most amazing lighting in he midst of the redwood trees and landscape. Who doesn’t like sunset pictures, right? Hands down, this is one of the most beautiful and unique venues in the Bay Area. It is not the cheapest venue, but you will save money because the rental includes basic table/​chairs for the ceremony and reception. Also, speakers are wired in the ceremony area so mics are available to ensure your guests will hear your vows.
Mattie was a delight to work with. She was super helpful the entire period leading up to the big day. Her team managed the logistics on my wedding day and coordinated everything via walkie talkies between her team members. With her help, everything was prepped and went as smoothly as possible and I was able to enjoy my special day without any hiccups.
A London style taxi was provided to transport me and my bridal party to the bridal changing room throughout the day. Golf carts are available to help elderly guests or people requiring assistance to the chapel, barn, and reception areas.
Here are some downers, but definitely not deal breakers.
1) This is a natural landscape and stilettos are a big no no (just get the little heel protectors from amazon and you should be okay).
2) The walk down to the chapel from the parking lot is quite far. With that said, the Nestldown team is more than willing to transport people with the golf carts, if necessary.
3) Noise could be an issue after sunset which is hard to control if your friends/​family are louder.
4) The location is a little hard to find, so balloons and signs are a must. These will also need to be taken down ASAP (no later than the next AM) because the neighbors are quite sensitive about having these around.

Tucked away in the hills of Los Gatos is this cute little gem. My husband and I came here for a wedding, and I must say … it was nothing short of spectacular. We were given written directions to Nestldown since they tell you that your GPS will NOT work. We followed the written instructions but did start up our GPS to see if we would be put on *Mr. Toads Wild Ride* ~ and they were right indeed.
Not being a slave to fashion, I wore flats, and thankful that I did. Get ready to walk people. You will park in a dirt lot, walk to the main area where the *barn* is, then proceed down a rocky tiered slope to the *altar* for the nuptials. For those of you who are looking for a wedding venue, make sure that all attendees are able to walk some distance. They do offer rides via golf cart back to your car, but we didn’t take that option. Since this is outdoors and very rustic, this is not a wheelchair friendly place.
After the ceremony ~ we headed back up the hill for tasty little appetizers and beverages. We had a good laugh making fun of the *shrimp nazi* — a woman pan frying shrimp that started to scold us that we’ve «had enough» after our two pieces of shrimp. Hands down, she became the best topic of discussion amongst strangers when they would walk away feeling deprived of the coveted shrimp. We circled her table to see if we could entice a full blown meltdown out of her. We then took a train ride around the property, (dreaming of more shrimp) and had a peek inside a cute little cottage that looked like an elegant children’s playhouse. We walked around the koi pond and spotted frogs amongst the lilly pads, listened to the birds singing, and in complete disbelief this is only 20 minutes from home.
This is the first wedding I have been to in years that the food was amazing! We had been seated outdoors on the lawn near the pond, and the food was buffet style with a great variety of foods to choose from. From what I have read on other reviews, it sounds like there are only a couple of caterers to choose from, and I believe the catering was superb. Of course I never got the name.
Overall it was simply incredible!