Hartley Botanica Reviews

When we were searching venues.. we came across Hartley and I told my husband this is the one I have to see it we booked the tour and the day we looked we booked our wedding day.. it’s a hidden gem honestly, we had soo many compliments and it was a literal dream come true

Our wedding at Hartley Botanica was absolutely PERFECT. It was the most magical day, and we know that's in part because we chose Hartley for our venue. The venue itself isn't just stunning, it's a sensory delight. It's lush with vegetation and flowers, it smells amazing from all the jasmine, and you can hear water trickling in the background. We loved that there were so many different spaces too, from the gorgeous ceremony, the lotus garden for cocktail hour, the rose garden, to the reception area. Even though we got married in July, we never once felt too hot because the venue is so shaded with all the trees and vegetation.

Every single staff member was warm, helpful, and easy to work with. The on-site coordinator Karen was particularly helpful and communicative. We weren't nervous about anything leading up to the day because it was clear we were in good hands. Karen and the rest of the staff at Hartley made it very easy for us to prepare and plan, and they orchestrated the day smoothly--it's clear they have a ton of experience and they know how to organize a wedding.

We also received tons of compliments about Hartley from our guests, who gushed about the beautiful space, the delicious food, etc.

We are so grateful to everyone at Hartley Botanica who helped to make our wedding day unforgettable. We wouldn't change a thing!

I'm the owner of Tayler Ashley Photography and I had the pleasure of shooting a wedding here. The grounds are INSANELY beautiful and you feel like you are in a fairytale! The staff was wonderful and the whole day was absolutely magical. I LOVE this spot!

I had the absolute pleasure of capturing Mica and Ralph's wedding at Hartley Botanica, and I must say, it was an experience beyond compare. From the moment I set foot on the grounds, I was enveloped in an aura of botanical bliss and familial warmth.

Hartley Botanica isn't just a wedding venue; it's a testament to the Hartley family's decades-long love affair with horticulture and hospitality. As a family-run business since 1971, they've cultivated not only stunning gardens but also a legacy of love and dedication to their craft.

The venue itself is a masterpiece of natural beauty, with meticulously landscaped grounds that provide the perfect backdrop for any couple's love story. From the tranquil Paliuli Gardens to the enchanting Lotus Tea Garden, every corner of Hartley Botanica exudes elegance and charm.

But what truly sets Hartley Botanica apart is the personal touch that comes from being a family-owned business. Richard and Kate Hartley, along with their children and grandchildren, pour their hearts and souls into every aspect of the venue, ensuring that every wedding is a truly unforgettable experience.

As a photographer and videographer, I couldn't have asked for a more picturesque setting to capture Mica and Ralph's love story. The abundance of natural light, lush greenery, and stunning water features provided endless opportunities for breathtaking shots, while the Hartley family's hospitality made me feel like part of the family.

I wholeheartedly recommend Hartley Botanica to any couple seeking a magical, unforgettable wedding experience. Whether you're drawn to the rustic charm of Hartley Farms or the timeless elegance of the Lotus Tea Garden, you'll find that Hartley Botanica is more than just a venue—it's a sanctuary of love and beauty.

Thank you, Hartley Botanica, for providing the perfect backdrop for Mica and Ralph's special day. It was an honor and a privilege to capture their love amidst the splendor of your gardens.

-Legacy Union Photo Co

We could not be happier with our choice to be married at Hartley Botanica. It was magical - a total fairytale, and we're STILL hearing from our guests about how stunning the venue was.

One of my favorite things about Hartley Botanica is how expansive the venue is. Each aspect of your special day happens in a different area of the grounds, giving you and your guests the feeling of being transported to separate, enchanting places for ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The grounds are absolutely stunning and very well taken care of. The lush greenery, gorgeous flowers and chirping birds made you feel like you're in a tropical, botanical garden far outside of Somis, CA.

Hartley is also a great option because of it's included planning and flexibility with vendors. PROS: you don't have to decide on a caterer because it's decided for you (Command Performance - their food is amazing). You have an onsite bridal suite and groomsmen quarters to get ready in if you choose. You're able to bring in your own alcohol (HUGE cost savings) as well as your own vendors for entertainment, decor, etc. Parking, valet, cake cutting and many other costly line items are included in their fee, making it feel more like one-stop shopping as opposed to getting nickel & dimed.

Barbarba, Hartley's owner, is extremely responsive and accommodating - she truly enjoys having couples get married and create lifelong memories on her property.

We are very impressed and beyond happy about how our wedding turned out - we couldn't have asked for a better venue!

Ahh, where do I even start! Hartley Botanica is the most gorgeous, magical, and fairytale venue I have ever encountered! This place is truly a gem! We saw pictures and thought it was beautiful, but seriously I think the photos on the site do not do it justice, because seeing it in person will really blow you away! We immediately fell in love with this place the moment we stepped foot on the grounds & starting walking under the archway--an absolute dream. I seriously found any excuse that I could to go and visit before & after the wedding.

When I got engaged, I started pinning my "dream wedding" on Pinterest the & aesthetics & elements that I gravitated towards. I actually didn't have a vision, setting, or theme in mind just yet. What I realized as I started to pin was that I fell in love and gravitated towards the fairytale, romantic, elegant, whimsical, garden look & feel. What's even funnier is that (before I had even ever heard of Hartley let alone booked the venue), I actually pinned a ceremony picture of Hartley because I thought it looked gorgeous. Months later (after we had already booked the venue), I realized that I had already pinned the venue of our dreams! Needless to say, Hartley was basically our dream wedding venue before WE even knew it!

Everything about this place is impeccable, as this place was specifically made for weddings. There is so much greenery & space that you really feel like this place is your own on your special day. The ceremony setting, cocktail area, reception venue, and all the cute & exquisite nooks and crannies really are incredible--they really thought this one through down to ever last detail.

Barbara, Karen, & Bel were all such sweethearts and very easy to work with! They made the planning process & experience very seamless, and we didn't experience any hiccups whatsoever working with them.

If you want the fairytale, garden wedding of your dreams, this is it!

Barbara and Karen are so incredibly professional, patient, and courteous. I truly wish I could rate them, and their absolutely perfect venue, higher! We were so lucky to have worked with them and their amazing crew. Our wedding was not only fantastic and beautiful, but EXACTLY what we wanted. Barbara and Karen get back to you in a timely manner and facilitate with any curveballs the day (or days leading up to the big day) throw at you. We are so, so, so happy to have had them as our coordinators! Karen also worked really well with our vendors and could not have been more kind or energetic (especially since she was with us for 6 hours+). Barbara was completely understanding of all of our concerns, specially with regard to security. Their equipment was state of the art and our day was timeless and impeccable. 10/10+ would recommend to anyone!

My husband and I were married at Hartley Botanica in October 2017. Everything about it was completely magical. The whole venue is lush, beautiful, and photographs amazingly. Barbara was very easy to work with and the communication was always excellent. It is so valuable to have efficient communication when you are planning for your big day. We received so many compliments from my guests. Karen was our coordinator and she made sure our big day ran smoothly. The venue works with Command Performance Catering and we can't tell you how delicious the food was. We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding day.

Thank you Hartley for making our dreams come true.

Barbara and RJ were so helpful in helping us make a decision and visualize every detail. They are always available if you have questions or need suggestions and set everything up for you so there are no worries or stresses on the day.

Absolutely fabulous, stunning, etc! My husband and I got married at Hartley in August 2015. I cannot say enough good things about the atmosphere, Trevor from Command Performance (caterer), Jennifer from Belle of the Ball Designs (preferred florist), Barbara the owner, Michelle who gave us our first tour and got us all set-up, and of course, Karen the day of coordinator. Everything was beautiful, we heard from several people, "best wedding ever", "stunning location", "great food", "beautiful florals", and great vendors. Barbara was there for us anytime we had any questions and would respond so quickly which always put me at ease. Karen is seriously amazing. Before the wedding she would answer any random question I had (which was frequent because I'd ask her a question anytime a thought came into my head!) and she was so thorough with all of our details. The day of I was shocked that she found me half the time because I was all over the place, but she was able to find us and keep us on our timeline, which I so appreciated! It was amazing. Best day of my life, and Hartley is an absolute dream location. Anyone who wants to have an outside wedding, this is the place for you : )

"The most beautiful wedding I've ever attended" was a phrase we heard from so many people. Getting married at Hartley Botanica was the best decision we could have made. The venue was magical and romantic. Our guests had an amazing time! Barbara, the owner, was so responsive and kind, and she helped with recommendations and guidance. Karen was also a huge help in pre-wedding coordination and setup. I would highly recommend Hartley to anyone. They are not an inexpensive choice, but the experience speaks for itself. If you have a large guest list and wedding party, I would recommend bringing in an additional coordinator for the reception schedule. We would also recommend springing for the bistro lights and chandelier. They were perfect. My husband and I can't wait to come back to Hartley. Thank you for our best day ever!

The Hartley is such a beautiful venue!! Especially with the amazing customer service we received! This is a really great outdoor venue to have your wedding! All of the people at Hartley were welcoming and super nice with all our requests. They were very easy to work with and having everything available through the Hartley made the day so much easier. My husband and I really love the outdoors, so this place was the best!

What can we say about Hartley? From the first day I saw the venue, I knew this was where I wanted to get married and it didn't disappoint. Barbara was fantastic, always available to answer our numerous questions and Karen, our day of coordinator, was incredible. Keeping track of all of us wasn't easy but she did it flawlessly. Our guests are still talking about Hartley and our wedding day was truly the best day of our lives

There simply is no better place to get married in Ventura County. Hartley is beautiful and Barbara and the rest of the staff are all gems.

If you want to have the most magical, fantasy, enchanted wedding possible-- go with Hartley! The grounds are stunning, even without any additional decoration and MASSIVE. Your guests can not possibly get bored because there's so many beautiful areas to explore. Barbara is so down to earth and wonderful, she really was lovely to work with and was extremely accommodating, even with last minute changes, and helped us to stay within our budget while somehow getting everything we'd hoped for! There's really nothing like walking towards the love of your life under that sparkling archway of tree branches. Cannot say enough good things about this venue!

Fantastic! Barbara and her team were so easy to work with! the location is beautiful! i had to book on short notice and it was no issue! this was my dream wedding!

I looked at a few vendors before I found Hartley but as soon as I stepped foot there I knew that this was THE place. I booked it as fast as I could. This was the most beautiful place I have ever seen and the owners are the nicest and most accommodating people. My wedding was beautiful! They helped make everything perfect. All of my guests commented on how beautiful the place was and how much fun they were having. I highly recommend them for your wedding. They book really fast though. Must be because everyone else loves it there too.

Hartley Botanica is a GORGEOUS garden venue! I absolutely fell in Love with it the first time I step foot in there! I wasn't even engaged and I already knew that I was going to get married there!! Our guest also fell in love with the beautiful location! Barbara the owner is great && was a joy to work with! She made everything simple & fun. And through out the months of planning she became a dear friend! Command Performance there in house cater was amazing! Trevor was also great && joy to work with! The food is Delicious && the service is very professional! I honestly believe that Hartley Botanica is the most beautiful garden wedding location in all of So Cal.! The day went absolutely smoothly! With the help of Karen (the coordinator that's included when you book) and Trevor along with this team from Command Performance everything was perfect && they made sure everything went by smoothly && took care of everything so we wouldn't have to worry about a thing that day! It was the Best Day of our life's && We are glad it took place at Hartley Botanica!

Barbara - Thank you! It was a joy to work with you! And it was fun getting to know you through out the months! You know you'll see us around! && Don't be surprise if we crash the open houses! LoL! JK.. Kinda. Gerry && I are very happy with you && we are extremely happy we chose Hartley!

Hartley's is great, truely beautiful landscaping and waterfalls! Our guests are still raving about how great our wedding was and how smoothly everything went. The food was amazing, Command Performance does an exceptional job with service and professionalism, and I would use them in the future. Wendi the day of coordinator was so patient and so helpful - she really pulled off exactly what we asked for. The florist Belle of the Ball was amazing and knew what we needed for the location so we did not over spend. I would recommend Hartleys if you want a perfect day and perfect memories!

This place is as good as it gets! Absolutely magical and the best venue for an all outdoor wedding. I had so many people tell me ours was the most beautiful wedding they've ever been to (...yes!!) Everything is inclusive and you have the option to add other additions and upgrades too. The caterer that comes with the venue was not only easy to work with, but made the most delicious 'wedding food' I've ever had!

We LOVED Hartley! The evening was flawless. Trevor (From Command Performance Catering) and his staff were so easy and awesome to work with. He was so accommodating when we wanted to create a more personalized menu. BTW, the jalapeno mac and cheese is to die for and your guests will LOVE it. The wait staff was great, and the BYO bar set up is a definite $ saver. Wendi was a big help for the rehearsal and day of! We also used Cakes by Vreeke and Rockrose Floral and couldn't have been happier with both choices. Hartley is worth the drive and every penny!!

My good friend was married at Hartleys and she had nothing but great things to say about the service. When I was engaged I had a hard time finding a place that looked beautiful and had reasonable prices. my friend suggested we try Hartleys, but I didn't want her to be upset that I was married at the same place. When she assured me it wasn't a problem with her I made an appt and took my Mother and the Groom to be and we all fell in love with the garden setting. From the first appt. to the wedding day, Barbara and Wendi were amazingly helpful and helped to make our day special for us. Our guests were blown away by its beauty and intimate feeling. I wouldn't change a thing about our day.

Hartley Botanica was amazing. The venue is gorgeous and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Most of our guests had never heard of Hartley so it was nice to surprise them with such a beautiful location for our wedding and reception. I would definitely recommend Hartley if you're looking for a garden setting. None of the other venues I looked into even came close.

Hartley is so incredibly beautiful, it's like a fairytale fantasy. Everyone told us it was the most beautiful wedding to which they've ever been. Command Performance food was fantastic, Wendi, the Day Of Coordinator, was great, and Barbara, the owner, was really helpful every step of the way.

Hartley Botanica was an incredible venue for our October wedding in all ways. From the moment we set foot on the premises, we were impressed by the enchanting beauty that surrounded us. The natural setting provided an idyllic backdrop for our special day, and it was as if we were immersed in a fairy tale. Throughout our entire event, guests could not stop talking about how unique this venue was! The staff at the venue were also accommodating and attentive to our every need, and were very responsive about any questions we had throughout the process.

Hartley made it all possible to have our dream wedding, and I would highly recommend this venue for anyone who is looking for an outdoor wedding in a botanical environment.