It was a pleasure to take photos for our beloved couple, Alex and Sam, at Nestldown LLC, the most beautiful woodsy venue in the Bay Area, last week. (Hereafter referred to as ND.) I’d like to share my experience of this wedding venue, hoping to provide some helpful insights for those planning to hold their weddings here.

ND is a private property located in Los Gatos. The 36-acre garden is situated in the heart of the California redwoods, with the specific address at 22420 Old Santa Cruz Highway, Los Gatos. The venue features koi ponds, waterfalls, a piano, a Fantasy Garden, lawns, orchards, chess, Apple Hill, a barn, a miniature train, and more, offering a wealth of backgrounds and materials for photography. It’s challenging to capture everything in just one day. The scenery changes with each season, ensuring that it’s beautiful no matter when you visit.

This venue is very popular, hosting nearly 150 weddings annually, and it tends to be fully booked well in advance, especially on weekends. From Monday to Thursday, the cost ranges from $15k to $22k, Fridays cost $20k to $30k, and weekends are priced between $22k and $38k. During March, April to early May, November, and December, the maximum guest capacity is 125 people. From mid-May to October 31, the maximum capacity is 150 guests.

They assign a Special Events Manager (SEM) to help you plan and organize your wedding 7-9 months in advance. About 10 days before the wedding, the timeline is sent to each vendor, along with reminders of key details. On the wedding day, the SEM provides walkie-talkies to various vendors, including photographers, to ensure smooth communication. Important note: drones are strictly prohibited at this venue.

The parking area is quite large, so you don’t need to worry about parking issues. Upon arrival, you’ll first see the barn (where getting ready and the dinner/dancing takes place). Opposite the barn is a koi pond, a small waterfall, and the Main Lawn (where outdoor dining occurs). To the left, you’ll find the iconic small house and butterfly chair, which is called the “Fantasy Garden.” The First Look typically happens on the upper redwood trail, and the ceremony takes place in the Chapel (a woodland setting with a long staircase). Nearby is another pond (with a fountain) and two small wooden bridges. Though the venue is expansive, there’s no need to worry about walking too much. The couple will have a dedicated vehicle for transportation. The SEM will drive a golf cart or a black vintage taxi to shuttle the couple between various spots. At the end of the day, the sparkler exit takes place in front of the barn, with the couple exiting to the taxi and being sent off amid cheers.

Thank you again to our couple for trusting us and having us capture their big day. We wish them a lifetime of happiness.