1880 Union Hotel Reviews

I loved having my wedding at the 1880 Union Hotel. It's so beautiful and the team there is amazing. They have a day-of coordinator who comes with every package - we worked with Jessica (from Tricia Dahlgren events) - and she was so on top of things! She answered all of my questions leading up to the day and helped bring my dream wedding to life. Everything ran so smoothly with her in charge. The team at the 1880 is also so great. Krysta, Josh, and Jordan really know what they're doing and can make anything you want happen pretty much. The food is SO GOOD. For real, the food is not your average wedding venue food, it's so fresh and delicious. And the venue itself is gorgeous. Everyone was telling us after that is was the best wedding they've been to. You get to stay on the property (up to 20 people) and it was so nice to stay there the day before the wedding so everything didn't feel so super rushed. I can't recommend this venue enough. You won't regret booking with them!! I want to go back for an anniversary trip haha! And the town of Los Alamos is so much fun. Cute wine tasting rooms and some great restaurants. Such a great location! Seriously, just book with the 1880 and you'll be in great hands!

This place is amazing. It’s not cheap, but for what you get, it’s an amazing value. The venue is unbelievably gorgeous, with lots of fun details, and options for customization. Also, the surrounding neighborhoods is so cute — your guests will love it. The staff is really kind and helpful, and it’s a relief to know they do weddings every weekend (and that’s all they do!) so you’re in good hands, with people who know the space. I can’t imagine finding a place I loved more.

1880 Union is an awesome venue!! Beyond how beautiful the grounds are the staff truly went above and beyond for us. Leading up to our wedding they made everything really easy and seamless. So much was included - catering, lodging, rentals, coordinator - and every element of that was truly stellar. My husband talked about the steak from our tasting for MONTHS and that was possibly the thing he was most excited about going into our wedding day. The rooms were so cozy and well maintained. And Jessica, our coordinator, was incredibly easy to work with and made sure everything went smoothly despite our wedding being the week before CA shut down because of COVID. Even though we weren’t able to celebrate with all of our friends and family, 1880 made sure all of our guests had an incredibly warm welcome and we all felt taken care of every step of the way.

1880! We are speechless. Our wedding was on 8/10/19, and 1880 was our perfect venue and a dream come true for our wedding day.

The venue is such a unique gem in the area- the ambiance, decor, the rooms, the exterior- it's like something out of a book! When we started our venue search, the most important thing for us was having overnight accommodations on-site for the weekend. We wanted to stretch our wedding day out as longgg as we could, and not feel rushed in/out of our venue especially because most of our family/friends were coming in from the East Coast. It took us 4 months before we stumbled upon 1880, and it was SO worth the wait! We loved waking up with our friends and family there for the big day. The set up is also the best- the rooms are all upstairs in a circle around a lounge with game rooms, a kitchenette, etc. A perfect hangout! And as the bride, I could NOT have had a better experience- a giant room equipped with a huge bathtub all to myself all weekend to unwind.... yesss, please! :)

On the wedding day, the backdrop was perfect for getting ready with our crew- so many rooms to tuck into! Additionally, once our guests arrived, they were 100% loving the energy of the place. We used the gazebo for our ceremony space- it's beautiful and feels so intimate- and we used the brick patio with string lights for the reception- which was so dreamy and romantic for our dinner and dance party! We also loved that we could steer the party next door to the Saloon when the night ended (avoiding that transporting to the bar buzzkill!)

Additionally, the staff was SO nice. Ben/Jordan, Aly/Jess, the Chef Josh, Juan... all incredible people. Jordan was ready to help us with whatever we needed around the venue, Jess and her assistant kept us so seamlessly on our schedule like a bunch of secret service agents, Juan was the most attentive soul we've ever met, and Chef Josh threw down some absolutely amazing food! Not to mention, Josh also made us some off-menu items we requested and totally nailed them!

Los Alamos itself is also SO fun! It's so cool because your wedding kind of takes over the town, and it's like being in a small village with all your loved ones. All our guests had an amazing time exploring wineries and spots to eat in Los Alamos and SY valley.

Anyway, our weekend was perfect. We love this venue and still feel so lucky to have been married here!

My husband and I were married at the Union on Nov 2nd of this year. We choose this venue while we were living in NYC. I was immediately drawn to the Union after I saw the website and we set up a FaceTime tour. We went out on whim and booked without seeing it in person.... It just felt right. The communication from the beginning was perfect, they created a vegan menu for us (which was AMAZING thank you chef Josh), the hotel is gorgeous, and the staff were so friendly and accommodating. You feel like you're in a movie when staying at the 1880 Union. It was the most beautiful day of our lives. If you are thinking about booking do it. :)

You don't need to look anywhere else, GET MARRIED HERE!!! Already married? Renew your vows here (some of our guests want to do this now, this place is that amazing). My husband and I got married at the 1880 Union two weeks ago, and it was even better than we could have dreamed of. We can't stop thinking about it and our guests can't stop raving about it. As you'll see in other reviews, "This was the best wedding I've ever been to" was common feedback from our guests.

When you’re planning a wedding, everyone tells you to expect something to go wrong and when it does to let it go. I’m sure in most cases there are moments where things go wrong, but your best bet at minimizing this is to work with the 1880 Union. Ben and Aly are so seasoned and prepared, we didn’t even have one of these moments. From our perspective the day was absolute perfection.

We started to casually look at venues in November 2017. We only looked at 3 venues and fell in love with 1880 Union the moment we got a tour from Ben. The venue is spectacular, the pictures don't do it justice. Looking back, our decision making process was so easy thanks to Ben. He is welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable. I can't stress enough how great it was to have an inclusive package. It takes the stress out of the process since the Union handles all the catering, rentals, staff, setup, and the package includes Aly's priceless day-of coordination services. We did hire our photographer, DJ, baker, and florist separately, but the good news is that the venue really doesn't need extra decoration.

We loved being able to stay on site the whole weekend. We had the entire wedding party stay with us, which gave us the opportunity to spend more time with them. Being able to have everyone already at our wedding location meant no need to travel to and from the ceremony. Getting ready in the secret room was a blast and made for amazing pictures.

Once the day started, all I had to worry about was getting ready while Ben and Aly handled everything else. Aly even had her assistant Bri with me the whole time I was getting ready. This was something that I didn't even know I wanted, but am so glad I had.

I can't explain how grateful I am to Ben, Aly, and the rest of the 1880 Union staff. The ceremony was perfect, the food was so delicious, the cocktails were amazing, the reception was set up beautifully, and the timeline flowed well. Thank you so much for making our wedding day unforgettable!

(I don't have my professional photos yet, but here are a few from our guests)

My now husband and I had an amazing experience getting married at the 1880 Union Hotel!! Throughout the process, Ben, Aly and their staff were super responsive and quick to answer any of our questions/help us with the planning.

The venue itself was probably the coolest wedding venue us or any of guests had ever seen. Staying in the historic, beautifully appointed rooms for the weekend was truly a treat and the magical backyard was the perfect setting for the actual wedding. It was also awesome to have the Saloon attached, which gave our guests a place to quench their thirsts late night.

On the day of, Aly and her coordination staff were so on top of everything and made sure not only that everything went smoothly, but that my husband and I remembered to eat and drink. (which was so appreciated because the food and beverages were out of this world!).

In sum, our experience at the 1880 couldn’t have been better. The setting mixed with the wonderful staff and management made it a weekend that we and our guests will never forget. Thank you 1880!!!!

I am so glad I chose the 1880 Union Hotel as my venue. My guests were constantly cracking jokes and asking "Why isn't the wedding in Hawaii??" (where I'm from) and even after telling them I don't want to plan a destination wedding they still pouted haha but after seeing how gorgeous, romantic and just breathtaking this venue is all that pouting stopped! Everyone agreed this venue matched us perfectly. It was beautiful, secluded and private. We had the whole property to ourselves which was really important to me as I didn't want any looky-loos peering in on our special day.
The staff was phenomenal! Ben and Aly were so friendly and 100% accommodating throughout the whole process. From the first email to the many many that followed afterwards haha Aly and Ben answered them all without hesitation. When it looked like our wedding wasn't going to happen as planned they worked with me to figured things out. Along with them, the on site staff were great as well. Even the staff in the Saloon next door was so accommodating. To be honest I'm not a super fussy person but anytime I asked if they needed something from me they all said not to worry and just focus on enjoying my day. I literally felt like a princess who had her every need and want quickly fulfilled!
I really loved that I was able to have my whole bridal party and a few family members at the hotel with me and my now husband (^_^) with us the night before, day of, and morning after. They all live in different parts of the country so the 1880 really helped bring us all together and keep us close in the short time they were all here.
Plus THAT TUB! I know it seems like a weird thing to fixate on but the tub in the Bridal/Presidential Suite is the most amazing tub I've ever seen and soaking in it the night before really helped me relax and center myself before the big day.
It was a reunion, slumber party, perfect wedding day all in one and I'll never forget all that they did to make that happen!

I do not if I can find the words to describe how amazing, magical, and wonderful this venue is. From the first moment my new husband and I walked in to the venue to the morning after our wedding the 1880 was amazing. We have so many complements from our guests that our wedding was one of the best they have ever been to, and we feel the same way. Ben (General Manager) was absolutely amazing, very informative and there every step of the way to help make your day amazing. The food was absolutely amazing, the signature cocktails phenomenal, and the ambiance of the place is utterly magical. William (chef) and Jesse (bar/ event manager) are absolute masters at their crafts and we had so many compliments on how amazing our food and drinks were. For the whole weekend from the moment of check-in with Chris and check-out they were so helpful, friendly, and so accommodating at such a wonderful and (at moments) stressful time. Chris was even helping us unload all our wedding supplies. And last but most definitely not least the 1880 provides a day of coordinator, Aly, through Tricia Dahlgren Events Company. Aly and her assistant Breanne were absolutely and utterly amazing. The day went off without a hitch and even the days leading up to it were perfect. Aly is on top of everything and made our day perfect and most importantly stress free. From setting up to breaking down and keeping us on our timeline and ensuring the bride and groom were feed and "hydrated" Aly and her time ran a tight and amazing ship. If you are looking for a magical day that you and all of your guests will remember for a lifetime we highly recommend this amazing and stunning venue. I am already ready to start planning our anniversary parties here, and believe me we will celebrate some big ones here! - The photos I am uploading are mostly from guests cell phones and a couple from our photographer, but I just want to give you an idea of just how amazing and magical this place truly is.

JR and I got married here on 11/11 and we spent the entire weekend at this venue with our siblings and wedding party. The most popular question we got during and after the wedding wasn't "Where are you going for your honeymoon?" but "How did you find this venue?!" That's how awesome this place was. People from LA said the 3-hour drive was totally worth it, I did not hear anyone complain about the commute.

The venue was eerie from the outside but breathtaking inside. We couldn't ask for a better venue. One of the best memories I had there was the night before when my close friends and family spent some quality time before the big day. The other one was the day we booked the place when Ben, the manager, gave us the tour. We all celebrated next door with some amazing cocktails.

Service was top notch. Ben was very easy-going and Aly, the coordinator, was incredibly sweet. They answered all my questions via email right away and did not discourage me from all my crazy weird ideas I had for the wedding. Trust me... they were def weird.

This venue is truly one of a kind! Romance, history and uniqueness was what we were looking for in a venue and boy did the 1880
Union deliver!
Food was delicious, the attention to detail exceptional and everyone’s great attitude and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure our happiness really made everything wonderful! We are more than happy to recommend the 1880 Union to anyone!

My husband and I were beyond thrilled with the 1880 Union Hotel! Ben & Aly Cokeley are so easy to work with, very accommodating, and professional. We felt so well taken care of at every stage of the planning process and especially the day of. The staff was awesome, the food and drinks are fantastic. Also, it's immaculately clean and the attention to detail in decor is fabulous. This is no dusty, stodgy ole bed n breakfast. It's a well renovated old hotel in a GEM of a town (I'm almost hesitant to write too good of a review because I don't want Los Alamos to change one bit! HA!)

We initially chose the venue because we wanted something unique... something with character but also really nice. We also loved the idea that both of our families could stay on the property. That was really great because it might be the only time we can get everyone in one place. A couple of our siblings hadn't even met yet so it was important that everyone be close together and share this time with us. We first saw the hotel in January (during the day of course) when the ivy wasn't grown in and the rose bushes were not in bloom. It was, of course, lovely but nothing like the magical beauty we enjoyed late summer for our wedding. With the string lights, the fireplace roaring, and the back of the hotel lit up at night... not only did it have character, but it was STUNNING! It far exceeded ours and our guests expectations. The Saloon attached was perfect for the after party and even had a live band playing. It was so much fun!

We live in Southern California with no shortage of beautiful locations to get married... If I had an unlimited budget and I could have any Malibu mountaintop residence or palatial Los Angeles estate I wanted... I'd still pick the 1880 Union Hotel. It is truly that special of a place!

We recently got married here and had the best experience ever. We were looking to get married in Feb. 2018 but unfortunately due to family health issues we shot-gunned the wedding and decided in May 2017 to get married in Aug. 2017. As soon as I walked into the venue I knew it was the place. Ben was EXTREMELY wonderful to work with and helped us tremendously in the short time we planned the wedding. The property is beautiful and more than I could've imagined. Food was delish and the menu can be adjust to your desire. The chef is awesome. We even had a pizza waiting for us at the end of the night which is highly recommended. :) Aly managed day of/rehearsal and was helpful and professional. The hidden room and beautiful balconies are reason enough to book it. But the saloon, I love that saloon. There was a live band that played the night of our wedding and it couldn't have been a better to end the night. LOVE!!!
Hair: @dosbyjanea, Make Up: @barriking, DJ: @gabevega, Flowers: @thebloomingypsy / @evermorefloral, Photography: @ashleymaxwellphoto
Just a word of caution: The hotel across the street (The Alamo) was difficult for us to work with...I don't think they like weddings and at the time of my wedding put a $750 buy out charge on top of the room costs. We called and let them know we decided against the buy out as we weren't sure if we'd be able to fill the 19 rooms available (there are cute aribnb's near, other B&B’s and some family wanted to stay in Buellton) and told friends/family to just call book themselves. The hotel decided to then block our guests from booking by stating the hotel had been booked by another group, which it had not. It was a hassle but at the end of the day we did have guests book rooms as they started to open up rooms as it got closer to the wedding. I suggest either paying for the full buyout to avoid issues or simply don't call and have guests start booking and not mention anything about a wedding! Or book: Skyview Motel!!!

My husband and I just had our wedding at the 1880 Union. We fell in love with the town and looked into the venue. The location was gorgeous in the photos, but even more beautiful in real life. Working with the duo Aly and Ben was really great. They helped bring our vision to life and our guests truly had an amazing experience. Aly: she was able to handle the task of the wedding from the smallest details to the biggest. She did so with grace and confidence, the perfect combination for someone dealing with friends and family members. Ben was very hands on with the operations and made sure the food and DJ etc. were up to snuff. Our families also loved staying at the hotel-there is a great living room upstairs and a kids room that worked out great for our little nieces. The food was excellent. Thanks to the entire staff at the Union for making our wedding such an incredible experience. If you're considering having your wedding here-you won't be disappointed.

Do you want a magical, delightful, delicious, romantic, unforgettable, smoothly run wedding? Then get married at the 1880 Union Hotel.

Beautiful, versatile outdoor/indoor setting, outstanding food & drink by Chef Brooke Stockwell & Jesse Brockman, stellar planning/coordination by Aly Cokely & Amanda Loesser of Tricia Dahlgren Events, and impeccable guest/hotel services by Ben Cokely. Sam Kapcio also gets props for getting the ball rolling on what many of our guests are saying is the best wedding they’ve ever been to!!

FOOD & DRINK: The standard Union fare is rustic gourmet California cuisine at its finest, but Chef Brooke & Jesse can pull anything off; we wanted some southern flavors, and they created several custom dishes for us including a queso bite app! They are completely accommodating – the only thing they won’t do is use out-of-season, sub-par ingredients. Brooke’s signature tri-tip is OFF THE CHAIN. The specialty cocktails were fab and obviously…killer wine.

EVENT COORDINATION: Aly was our angel throughout the planning phase – so responsive, so detail oriented, so caring and thoughtful. She helped us bring several wacky ideas to life and put our minds at ease that everything was taken care of, which is all you can hope for on your wedding day – to forget all the planning and have a blast. On the day of, Aly brought on the lovely consummate pro Amanda, who attended to our every need quickly & calmly, without missing a beat. So grateful for her!

VENUE: When you rent the Union for an event, you get the entire historic hotel to yourself and your loved ones all weekend! Your wedding guests will never be bored because there are so many cool areas & features to explore. SO MUCH FUN. Ben did a fabulous job with all of the room assignments and guests services – he was consistently attentive, reliable, and always with a smile.

THANK YOU 1880 Union, from the bottom of our hearts, for creating a beautiful, unforgettable wedding weekend for us!!!

We just had our wedding at this amazing establishment and it was absolutely perfect. Sam, Jessi, and Brooke were so awesome to work with as well as their event coordinators, Tricia, Krissy and Kaitlyn. My parents were married at this location over 30 years ago and as soon as my (now) husband and I told them our vision for our wedding they bent over backwards to make sure we had everything we wanted and needed. I received so many compliments after the wedding on the food, the venue and just everything about the night. We also barely had to bring in decorations or anything since the wedding venue is so beautiful on it's own. If you are looking for an amazing experience, especially for out of town guests, have your event at this beautiful old hotel. The team and staff are amazing, it's beautiful and unique and you definitely will not regret it.

1880 was the best choice that we could have made for our wedding weekend. The venue was renovated early last year, and while it was gorgeous before, it is even better now. It has a vintage, and rustic quality that makes the chandeliers sparkle even brighter. Each area, be it the outside brick patio with a fireplace, inside lobby with an antique hotel feel, or the upstairs lounge with elegant and comfortable rooms- even a secret one- adds to the character of the venue. The look and feel alone are a reason to choose 1880.

What sealed the deal for us was really the team. The approach that they take toward wedding planning is to work with you and customize every aspect of the day around the vision that you have, as opposed to picking "package A, B or C". Ben, Aly from Tricia Dahlgren Events, and the entire catering staff were all unbelievable. Ben consistently went above and beyond with logistical support and connecting us with vendors and local accommodations during the months leading up to event. Similarly, Aly was attentive and thoughtful, guided us through planning, and ensured a seamless wedding day. And, the food was absolutely incredible- fine dining quality for large groups is very hard to find and they nailed it.

We highly recommended 1880 to anyone looking for their special event!

Amy & Garret Bean

I cannot say enough great things about this venue. Dan, Anna, Jenevieve and the whole crew at the Union made my day a complete success. Not only is the garden gorgeous, but it was the perfect place for our wedding. Everyone was so punctual and right on target with everything, it made me the most non-stressed bride ever. I would recommend this place to everyone!!!

From the minute we saw pictures of this venue, we worried it was too good to be true. When we pulled into the sleepy little Los Alamos, and saw the gorgeous 1880 Union as the focal point of the town, we knew it was our spot. The venue is absolutely stunning, the perfect size, and really a one stop shop (although you’re welcome to bring your own vendors if you want!) Juan, who showed us around, got us so excited to spend the weekend there and even introduced us to the restaurant next door where we made a connection and wound up having a post wedding brunch. No other venue even compared after that hospitality. The process of booking and coming up with the right price point was so easy, no hidden fees, everything spelled out easily and they’re willing to work with you. The food was incredible too - best food I’ve ever had at a wedding and we were looking forward to it for months after the tasting! Gillian, who runs things at the 1880, was totally on point with everything we needed. So helpful, so kind, and made us feel at home from the minute we checked in. She made everything so easy and with her help, and the help of the rest of the wonderful staff, our weekend was absolutely perfect. The best part was definitely getting to stay there and get ready at the venue which is all built into the price. It felt like home. We’re still sad it’s over! Go check this place out - you and your guests will have the best weekend of your lives!!

Our daughter actually had her wedding reception at the Union Hotel. Planning went in for a year. The coordinator Genevieve was a pleasure to work with. We selected this venue primarily because of their beautiful and lush grounds. We ended up renting the entire hotel so that we could enjoy a private party. The hotel is rustic but elegant at the same time. Their rooms were comfortable and beautifully decorated. The hotel was built in late 1800 and has a lot if history. The owner Dan was great to work with and flexible. We had 180 guests that were very well pleased with this event. I have only great things to say about this venue.

We chose this venue because of the great garden setting. Honestly, we did not have a bad picture the place is beautiful!! It also made decorating easy since there really wasn't much to add. My parents ended up renting out the entire hotel which was a lot of fun for family that traveled from around the country. All in all, it was a great wedding and a good time was had by all! The issue we had was with the staff and their lack of organization and unpreparedness. The venue is expensive and they nickel and dime you on everything. Don't be fooled by the women they call the event organizer - she is NOT a wedding planner! If you and your parents want to be able to enjoy the wedding and not have to worry about every little detail, then make sure you hire someone to do the planning and organizing for you on the big day. If I had to do it all over again, would I still get married here? Absolutley! The hotel just needs to do a better job of explaining what is and is NOT provided to make it easier on the bride's family.

We have been looking at this venue for approximately two years; however there seems to be new staff. Previously, we had wonderful communication and were excited to set a date. My wife and I did a ton of research for different venues all across California and narrowed it down to three, this being one of them. However, we recently corresponded with their new chef and he was absolutely pompous, and had the audacity to speak poorly about the old staff… people that we actually had a great experience with. The lack of professionalism from this guy, when he doesn’t even have a name that is well known. Not that we care about that, but speaking ill of previous staff members is unacceptable in our eyes! It is sad that we almost spent nearly $60,000 on this venue. Needless to say, we have decided to go someplace else. My wife is very upset and is wondering what happened to the old staff in charge. She felt as if she was in good hands (despite the fact that she is somewhat picky but considering it’s her special day, I don’t think it’s too much to ask). She had a transplant surgery a few years back and felt very comfortable with the previous chef who was willing to accommodate any dietary restrictions. She did not feel forced to choose what HE wanted, unlike now. This place markets and advertises themselves as being able to choose and adapt what works for the couple. That is what initially drew us to the place. We didn’t want a cookie-cutter wedding. However, now it appears they are cutting corners and in lieu of having an experienced, professional and versatile staff, they hired a pompous and arrogant person, who slanders previous people we got to know and respect. If things were to change, we would possibly reconsider since we have another month or two before we finalize. If whoever runs or owns this place fixes the staffing issue, and mainly the food options, we possibly would reconsider. I never write reviews but felt the need to warn other people, considering that things have changed completely for some reason. I’m not sure when it happened, but aren’t willing to take a chance when so much is on the line.

My husband and I have been coming to Los Alamos for 10 years and knew we wanted to get married at 1880 Union. With beautiful lush green grounds and an amazing renovated hotel that sleeps 16 and saloon bar - we loved the venue and our wedding weekend was memorable. However, our experience was severely marred by the venue's management, particularly the day-to-day manager (Kerri), whose performance significantly detracted from the overall charm of the venue.

*Issues with Management:*

1. *Responsiveness:* The manager was notably slow and often unresponsive leading up to the wedding. This lack of communication persisted until the last minute, causing unnecessary stress and uncertainty. Critical information about venue policy, preference, and process was withheld until the last minute when decisions had already been made and implemented.

2. *Chaotic Interaction:* When the manager did respond, their communications were disorganized and riddled with errors. These were not just minor oversights but significant mistakes that jeopardized the smooth running of our event.

3. *Problem Handling:* Instead of addressing mistakes openly, there was a tendency to conceal them or shift blame onto other parties, at times to an almost laughable extent. This lack of accountability was unprofessional and damaging to the trust required in such a crucial role.

4. *Overstepping Boundaries:* The manager made unauthorized decisions with vendors, directly affecting our event's outcomes negatively. These actions were not within her purview and caused confusion and conflict.

5. *Courtesy:* Her interaction with hotel guests, our wedding attendees, and other service providers was consistently rude and unhelpful. This behavior is unacceptable in a hospitality role, especially during such significant events. We overheard her saying to our planner and vendors, "We have done enough for this couple" - which is incredibly disrespectful after we've paid over 20k to host our wedding at the venue.

7. *Cost-Cutting Measures:* The manager engaged in cost-cutting practices that were detrimental to us, notably mismanaging resources such as serving wine meant specifically for table service at the bar, which breached our agreement and imposed additional costs on us.

6. *Proactivity:* There was a noticeable absence of effort in anticipating or solving problems - causing unnecessary issues that required us and our planner to address at the last minute.

*Final Thoughts:*

While the venue is excellent, the management leaves much to be desired. The myriad issues stemming from poor management practices heavily overshadow the venue's positive aspects. We must advise other potential customers to reconsider hosting significant events here while the current manager remains in charge, as the risk of experiencing similar challenges is considerable.