A. I specialize in performing weddings on the extraordinarily beautiful and spectacular San Mateo County Coastside just south of San Francisco, following Coast Highway 1 from Devil's Slide south to Half Moon Bay and San Gregorio, mostly centered in the Half Moon Bay area.
Coastside: towns of Montara, El Granada, Moss Beach, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Miramar, Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio, Pescadero, and Loma Mar.
Skyline (Highway 35 area) including La Honda and Skylonda, Woodside, Huddart Park, Purissima Creek Preserve (east end), Crystal Springs chain of lakes and Pulgas Water Temple (both under the jurisdiction of the City and County of San Francisco)
Beaches: Montara State Beach, McNee Ranch State Park, Pillar Point Harbor (Princeton) near Maverick's (of "Men Who Ride Mountains" surfing contest fame), Roosevelt/Naples Beach(where I live), Dunes Beach, Poplar Beach, San Gregorio SB.
Lighthouses:
Montara Lighthouse and Pigeon Point Lighthouses, both on Hwy 1.
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A. Aside from the many Coastside beaches and homes/gardens in my chosen areas, the majority of my recent weddings have been:
Coastside:
*Ritz-Carlton Wedding Locations, 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay; 650.712.7000 http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Events/Weddings/Default.htm
Spectacular location on ocean bluffs with a wide choice of inside/outside wedding sites. It's the Ritz. What else is there to say?
*Half Moon Bay Golf Links, 650-773-8895, on the ocean next to the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay. World class links and clubhouse/restaurant right above the wild Pacific. Dramatic setting for the perfect wedding.
*Oceano Hotel & Spa, 280 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay (650)726-5400
Great views, shopping & culture located in the scenic harbor area.
*Mill Rose Inn, 615 Mill Street, Half Moon Bay 650.726.8750
Classic European Elegance by the Sea.
Peaceful courtyard surrounded by awesome plants and flowers.
* San Benito House 356 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
650.726.3425 www.SanBenitoHouse.com
Beautiful large garden setting, part of historic HMB hotel, with a large deck for receptions.
* Hastings House, 347 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay 650.726.2513
Peaceful, enchanted private garden setting on the edge of the Pacific
*Inn at Maverick's Princeton-by-the Sea, 346 Princeton Avenue 650.728.1572 Large, fully equipped reception area with deck for weddings right over the water of Princeton Harbor
* Costanoa Lodge, 2001 Rossi Road, at Hwy. 1, Pescadero 650.877.1100 or 877.262.7848 www.Costanoa.com
Huge forest setting near ocean. Lodge and lawn area for scenic weddings
*Chateau La Joye, La Honda Road, San Gregorio, 650-747-0163. Beautiful country setting, specifically designed and landscaped for outdoor weddings.
*Mountain Terrace Inn, 17285 Skyline Blvd (at Skylonda)
650-851-1606. http://themountainterrace.com/
Huge grassy area amid the redwoods on the ridgetop of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Lodge with great views. Meadow area for glorious weddings.
*Community United Methodist Church, Miramontes and Johnston Streets, Half Moon Bay 650.726.4621 Two beautiful facilities. Historic chapel (100 guests) and new sanctuary (200 guests) All weddings welcome, whether civil or religious.
*Pacifica Beach Resort, 525 Crespi Drive, Pacifica , 650-355-9999 Beautiful hotel, restaurant and wedding venue, opposite Pacifica beach.
*Long Branch Saloon and Farm, 321 Verde Road, Half Moon Bay, 650-726-3117. Frontier "town" in south Half Moon Bay, with historical bar and western motif. Perfect for a unique wedding and/or reception.
* Cypress Meadows and Gardens, 333 Cypress Avenue, Moss Beach, 650-728-0728. Gorgeous setting and dramatic landscaping in the coastal hills close to the Pacific.
*Pulgas Water Temple, Canada Road, Woodside, 650-652-3212. Terminus of the San Francisco water system bringing fresh water to Crystal Springs reservoir from Yosemite. Roman-style temple on lush grounds, ideal for outdoor weddings.
*Crystal Springs Golf Club, 6650 Golf Course Drive, Burlingame, 650-342-6485. Dramatic gazebo setting in Rolling Hills, next to Crystal Springs lakes.
*Thomas Fogarty Winery, 19501 Skyline Blvd., Woodside
650.851.6777 or 800.313.4881 Beautiful views from patio and lawn overlooking extensive vineyards.
Lighthouses:
*Point Montara Lighthouse, 16th Street at Highway 1, Montara 650.728.7177 (Hostel). Just north of Half Moon Bay.
*Pigeon Point Lighthouse, 210 Pigeon Point Road, Pescadero 650.879.2120 or 879.0633 Both, as you might guess, are extraordinarily dramatic settings at the very edge of the sea, though Montara is better equipped to handle weddings. 25 miles south of Half Moon Bay.
Misc.
Pillar Point Harbor, Princeton-by-the Sea, Harbormaster:
650.583.4400 A working harbor, with piers, hotels, and restaurants.
Q: Do you perform weddings outside the Coastside/San Mateo area, for instance, Sacramento, Monterey, Castro Valley, San Francisco, San Jose, etc.?
A: Generally, no, except in rare circumstances: Why leave paradise?
I perform several weddings in this coastside area, leaving little time for travel. The additional cost to you of my travel time and distance would add a prohibitive amount to your already mounting costs.
NOTE: TRY TO CHOOSE AN OFFIANT AT OR NEAR YOUR WEDDING SITE.
Unless you strongly want a specific officiant, such as a relative or your own family minister to perform the ceremony, I believe that it is both risky and a mistake to book me as your wedding officiant if I live some distance from your wedding site.
What happens if and when, for example, on the day of the wedding, a highway between you and me is blocked for whatever reason, and I cannot get through? You simply would not have a wedding.
But an offciant who lives CLOSE to your wedding site and knows that area can easily reach you and arrive at the time agreed, which is why I am more than happy to help you in finding a wedding officiant at or near your wedding location.
