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Established:	1912
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Nestled against a wooded slope in the private and secluded Saratoga hills is VILLA MONTALVO at Montalvo Arts Center, a lovely complex with a variety of venues for concerts, weddings, corporate events and private parties. For weddings, the focal point of this estate is its beautiful Mediterranean-style mansion, Villa Montalvo. Built in 1912 as the private summer residence of Senator James Duval Phelan, this National Register Historic Landmark is now home to an arboretum and a nonprofit center for the arts.

An inviting one-way road leads up to Villa Montalvo. As you round the last turn, you get your first glimpse of the estate’s expansive manicured lawns and colorful gardens, as well as the mansion’s terracotta-tile roof, light stucco walls and wide veranda. To your left, you’ll also see the Love Temple, one of two ceremony sites on the grounds; it’s an open-air, white-columned pavilion set at the end of a wide brick path featuring historic marble statues. Couples get married on its steps, with a view of the surrounding Mediterranean garden and the Villa and woods in the background.

Directly behind the Villa, the Oval Garden offers a lush garden setting complete with classical statues and wisteria-covered pergolas. This open-air courtyard is an intimate and delightful place for a ceremony; a brick pathway serves as the center aisle, and a column-supported arcade is the backdrop for taking vows.

The Villa’s entire first floor, verandas, courtyards, gardens and outdoor grounds are available for ceremonies and receptions for up to 300 guests (more with tenting). After the ceremony, guests can mingle in the Spanish Courtyard, sipping champagne and sampling hors d’oeuvres and then move onto the Front Veranda for a majestic seated dinner while enjoying splendid views of the estate’s lawns and gardens. The ornate fireplaces can be filled with glowing candles in the summer or warm cozy fires in the winter. Wedding ceremonies & receptions can be held indoors during the winter months. A portion of the rental fee is a tax-deductible donation to the arts center and supports our educational arts programs for the community. The Montalvo Arts Center is an extraordinary site for an elegant and sophisticated wedding.

Nancy Liu Chin Designs	One of the most beautiful locations in the Bay Area - hands down! A must for discerning brides!
Precious and Blooming	Villa Montalvo is one of the best venues in the Bay Area. Kathleen, is organized, friendly, warm and fun! As many have said, a dream to work with! Genuinely great to work with. The property speaks for itself with beautiful gardens and timeless architecture.Any wedding here= gorgeous!
Thomas Hughes Video Productions	There is no location more beautiful than Villa Montalvo. We have been filming weddings there for fifteen years and are always still in awe of how gorgeous it is. The staff and service is excellent and the grounds are stunning!
Door51 Photography	My wife and I had the pleasure of photographing a wedding at Villa Montalvo last weekend. It is a gorgeous location! It emanates class, beauty, and romanticism, and lends itself to amazing photographic opportunities. You can view a few of the photos on our blog: http://www.door51.com/blog/?p=207. We would also like to add, that Kathleen, the even organizer at Montalvo, is a joy to work with. She is well organized, always relaxed, and pleasant to be around. If only all event organizers were like her!
Savadelis Films	If we were to get married again and were looking for the ideal location, we would choose Montalvo Arts Center. Montalvo is gracious and opulent yet intimate. Our only dilemma would be which beautiful part of the Villa we would choose for the ceremony and reception... The Love Temple at the far end of a rolling grassy lawn, the Italian courtyard with fountains, the terrace that overlooks the lawn where deer browse at dusk, or the grand ballroom. You can't go wrong with any of the options. And what makes a venue extra special? The hostess - Kathleen Kirkpatrick. Kathleen knows what a wedding means to a couple and their families. She truly cares about making your day special in every way. Definitely. This would be our first choice.
Flower Divas, Inc.	The most beautiful Venue in the Bay Area, Kathleen is a dream to work with!
Nicole Lisanne Weddings & Events by Design	Villa Montalvo speaks for itself! The grounds lend a grand estate like feel that is just perfect for a wedding! Kathleen Kirkpatrick is a wonderful site coordinator, she is a dream to work with! She really cares about each client's event, and works her hardest to make sure the site is in tip top shape for everyone to enjoy.
A Different Kind of DJ - Ron Grandia	Montalvo is one of my favorite venues EVER. First, the obvious: It's beautiful. Anyone can see that. Who would not want to have a wedding ceremony and reception on these amazing historic grounds? There is something about the look of the place that lends itself well to all the functions and feelings of a wedding day. It's formal without being stuffy or austere, and the place warms up right along with the party as the night wears on. It is also very functional. It's close to civilization, but not TOO close. There is a perfect spot for every activity from parking to preparation, ceremony to reception. This may sound odd, but some really popular venues might look great in photos, but just don't quite fit the purposes of a wedding reception, but Montalvo just "works." Another great reason Montalvo is tops: Kathleen. Ask anyone in wedding circles, and you find that she is regarded as one of the most kind, caring and capable people on the planet. Everyone loves working with her, and you will too!

DO WE OFFER DRESSING ROOMS FOR THE BRIDE, GROOM, BRIDAL PARTY? Yes. We have very large dressing rooms for both the bride and groom with private bathrooms. The Bride's room has access to the beautiful balcony overlooking the Verandas and the Great Lawn. I recommend that the bridesmaids arrive dressed and ready to assist the bride to keep the pre-ceremony time as calm as possible. I recommend that the bride arrive with hair/makeup done and bring her gown to slip into at the Villa. There is a large foyer adjacent to the Bride's room where the bridal party and immediate family can wait for the ceremony to begin. The foyer overlooks the Oval Garden, ceremony site. DO WE OFFER OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS? Not on the property. However, I have excellent hotel partners in the area that offer very special packages to my clients. They are located in Los Gatos, Campbell and Cupertino. WHERE ARE WE LOCATED? Saratoga is 5 minutes from Hwy. 85 and Hwy. 17, ten minutes from Hwy. 280, 15 minutes from Hwy. 101, 15 minutes from San Jose Intl. Airport, 35 minutes North of Santa Cruz, and 1 hour south of San Francisco. It's an ideal location for a destination wedding. Your guests can stay in one of our partner hotels nearby (all 5-10 min. from Villa) and spend an extra day exploring museums and Santana Row in San Jose, visit SF for the day or drive up to Napa/Sonoma for the day.

HAVE FUN with your wedding and make it personal to reflect your style as a couple. Think about all your family customs, history, pictures, hobbies, vacations and look for ways to incorporate them into your wedding celebrations. We have a beautiful antique desk in the Library (it was the Senator's) that is perfect for displaying framed family photos. Think of displaying wedding photos from all your relatives with your engagement photo in the center. After dinner your guests can sit at the Senator's desk and sign your guest book, read through your photo album, sign your photos, a fun sentimental after-dinner activity.  BRIDES, IS YOUR BEST FRIEND A MAN? OR YOUR BEST MAN A WOMAN? I've had weddings with a Man of Honor instead of a Maid of Honor. Same with the groom, I've had female Best Men = Best Lady, it all works. Be true to your friendships and include them in your wedding. Remember, it's not about copying the magazine pictures, it's about celebrating with your combined families and friends.