Amphitheater of the Redwoods at Pema Osel Ling Reviews

If you are shopping for a forest / redwoods venue for your wedding, you can stop now, because you will not be able to find a more beautiful venue, with a more dedicated and empathetic staff, at a better price than the Amphitheater of the Redwoods at Pema Osel Ling (POL). My wife and I recently hosted 90 of our closest friends and family here for our wedding a few weeks ago, and we are still reminiscing about how wonderful and unforgettable of a weekend it was! We can sing their praises all day, but for brevity's sake, here are the main reasons we went with POL and how they somehow exceeded our already high expectations:

1 - The Ceremony Location. It's a wooden deck that is built seamlessly into a redwoods ring or "family circle" that carry touching parallels that write themselves. Some may know that all redwoods in the ring share the same root system underground, allowing any tree to send nutrients, water, and even disease resistance to other struggling trees to nurse them back to health. You would be inviting your guests into a literal "inner circle," a solemn space that resembles a natural cathedral with majestic pillars, a ceiling of interlaced branches, and even "stained glass" sunlight filtering through the trees. Truly, a place of deep peace and solemnness to witness your vows.

2 - The Value. If the ceremony site didn't make your jaw drop, the prices definitely will. The price was almost a THIRD of some other wedding venues we were looking at in the Bay Area. But that's not all - in a market where some venues book two different ceremonies for the same day, POL gives you access to the entire beautiful grounds for the ENTIRE weekend (Friday afternoon to Sunday noon). BUT that's still not all - this price also includes a fantastically talented and considerate on-site coordinator who will likely eliminate your need for a separate wedding coordinator. Which brings me to the next reason to book POL...

3 - Mia and Venue Staff. Wow, just wow - they are an all-star Formula 1 pit crew with the singular goal to to make your wedding day run smoother than you ever dreamed. We simply cannot overexaggerate how fantastic, professional, patient, and empathetic Mia was throughout the entire process. She checked in with us at key intervals with a well-curated checklist with deadlines for confirming our vendors, making key decisions, and various decor options. Her thoroughness and diligence gave us absolute peace of mind that we were not forgetting any important detail, because Mia already gave us a heads up about it two meetings ago. And on the day of, Mia and her team masterfully orchestrated the entire weekend, making it feel like the entire event came together by itself. Bride and groom haven't had a chance to eat all day? Appetizers and champagne already waiting in the dressing room after the ceremony. Didn't tell anyone what to do with your ground florals after the ceremony? They've magically appeared by the sweetheart table. Never even thought about how to handle all the cards and gifts your guests might bring? They've already set out a nice basket to receive your guests' well-wishes. This team allowed us to fully bask and soak in our special day, focus on our guests and each other, with complete faith that they would handle all the details. Bravo all.

4 - The Menu. Most wedding food sucks, because venues know that you're a captive audience and don't need to worry about your return business. Not so with POL and Chef Brian. The food was impeccable, and I will not do it the injustice of its experience clumsily conveyed by text. I will just note that Chef Brian took the time to introduce himself to us and our guests, who were all too eager to ask him about his food. We learned that he had been the executive chef at a number of French establishments, that he is now living the dream chef retirement of creating and curating bespoke menus to share with people on their special days, and that they would need to drag him out of the kitchen before he stopped doing what he loved. And his food reflected that. Be warned that you too might be stricken by the bittersweet thought that the best wedding food you've tasted was at your own wedding when you were least capable of going back for seconds.

There are genuinely so many more great things we can say about POL - their lovely pond that welcomes your guests as they arrive, the modest yet cozy cabins and houses on the grounds, and the captivating drive your guests will experience along Eureka Canyon as they get to your venue. But in the spirit of fairness, here are also the reasons that you might NOT want to go with POL:
- This is through and through a forest venue, which is very different from a winery or hotel wedding for folks who would prefer those instead.
- The buildings and location are charming but are not glitzy or glamorous (e.g., the cabins do not have bathrooms inside, and you'd have to walk to a common bathroom for showering). If you come in expecting mountain luxury resort, you will be disappointed. If you come in expecting summer forest camp, you will be pleasantly surprised!
- Getting to the venue is a beautiful drive but can be somewhat tricky. Certain routes are on winding narrow mountain roads, but the venue will suggest routes that are easier to drive.

We have often heard from too many friends about the stresses of wedding planning and the many unexpected crises that crop up on the day of. This venue and its cast of professional and thoughtful staff completely flipped that script and far exceeded what we imagined our dream wedding would be.