Best Humboldt Wedding Venues
Julia Morgan Redwood Grove
Julia Morgan Redwood Grove is one of the best wedding venues in Humboldt County and one of my favorite venues in Northern California. Located just off of the storied Avenue of the Giants in Garberville, California, this carefully manicured property is worth the winding drive from the Bay. With ceremony locations nestled in a redwood grove or a rose garden, the grounds feel like they are straight out of a storybook in the summer months. Outside, the abundance of greenery and blooming gardens mixed with romantic stone walkways feel effortless and opulent at the same time. Inside, the estate is designed by redwood coast architect (and legend) Julia Morgan.
History
Julia Morgan was the first woman to be admitted to the architecture program at L’École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and the first female architect licensed in California. Redwood Grove is among the distinctively Northern California Arts and Crafts style homes that Morgan helped pioneer. She is best known for her work on Hearst Castle.
There’s a stately feel to the Julia Morgan Redwood Grove that’s hard to put into words – refined without being cold, rooted without feeling heavy. It feels both lived in and deeply considered. The redwoods feel like quiet witnesses, and the architecture brings a sense of presence that makes the day feel not just beautiful, but meaningful. It’s the kind of place where intention lives in the details, where history and design wrap around you without pulling focus. It lets you be fully in it – with your people, with your person, with the moment.
Wedding Weekends
For guests staying the weekend, there’s plenty to explore without feeling rushed. Browse the antique shops in Redway, take a slow drive through Lost Coast Headlands, or wind down with wine tasting at a nearby vineyard. The pace here invites presence. It’s less about cramming in activities and more about choosing your vibe.
The Julia Morgan Redwood Grove sits about 4.5 to 5 hours north of the Bay Area, depending on your route and how often you stop to soak it all in. It’s far enough to feel like you’ve truly stepped away from the everyday, but close enough to make it part of a long weekend without needing a flight. The drive itself becomes part of the experience – winding through wine country, rolling hills, and eventually, into those towering redwoods that always feel like welcoming sentinels.
Bespoke Event Space
One of the many things that makes this property unique is the thoughtful layout. Terraces, gardens, mature trees and rolling lawns create ample room for guests (up to 200) to mix, mingle and enjoy the space. Julia Morgan Redwood Grove is also a flexible and customizable space. While the unadorned space is remarkably beautiful on its own, there’s plenty of room to personalize decor.
Wedding Accommodations
Up to 4 people can stay in the Carriage House, making it an ideal getting ready space for the wedding day. While the estate does not have hotel space for guests, the Benbow Inn (another stunning historic Northern California venue) is a ten minute walk from the property and offers 65 rooms.