Kennolyn – Hilltop Hacienda and Stone Creek Village Reviews

We could not be happier with our experience at Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda! From start to finish, everything about this venue made our wedding day feel effortless and magical. We wanted a casual yet beautiful setting, and the stunning scenery here was everything we had hoped for and more.

The wedding coordinators were the biggest contributors to our wedding day's success. They guided us through every single step of the planning process, making it feel smooth and stress-free. We booked far in advance and they were constantly touching base and there to answer every and any question. Our day-of coordinator was an absolute gem too, ensuring that everything ran seamlessly so we could relax and fully enjoy the day.

One of our favorite features of the venue was the charming courtyard. It created the perfect intimate space for our loved ones to mingle during cocktail hour, get cozy during first dances, and ultimately dance the night away. It was exactly the atmosphere we had envisioned. Not to mention, the DJ (Sound in Motion) that the venue provided read the room perfectly and was not only an amazing MC, but flawlessly catered to our guest's vibe.

Our guests were also blown away by the venue’s beauty. We had countless people telling us throughout the night, "How did you find this place?" and "The drive up here was absolutely gorgeous."—a true testament to how breathtaking it is.

I was never someone who dreamed of their wedding day. Working with Kennolyn though, my mindset completely changed. We had so much fun planning as they brought amazing energy and motivation to the process. Choosing Kennolyn was one of the best decisions of our lives. No exaggerations!

If you’re looking for a venue with gorgeous scenery, a relaxed vibe, and an incredible team to bring your vision to life, choose Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda.

I wholeheartedly recommend Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda! I was married on 5/20/23 with the Spring Promo package, and I was so happy with the experience.

The venue is gorgeous, and it was the perfect place for my outdoor wedding. There is a redwood grove or great lawn facing distant views of the Pacific Ocean that are both beautiful options for a ceremony. The patio facing the lawn is perfect for dinner, and the indoor courtyard is stunning and great for cocktails and dancing. We didn't use the Hacienda itself much except for guests who wanted to sit by the fire (it's a good backup plan for inclement weather). The bridal house is amazing and accommodates many people for getting ready (multiple rooms and bathrooms, living/dining areas, with a gorgeous patio with the same amazing views out to the ocean). There is also a separate Casita with a bathroom for the groom's party to get ready. There are so many beautiful natural and architectural places for photographs as well. The landscaping is beautiful, so you don't need to spend money on many extra florals. Weddings have exclusive use of the venue, which makes it really private and intimate.

The Spring Promo deal was a great value and included buffet catering/cake/dessert, alcohol package, DJ/MC, tables/chairs/etc, ceremony arbor, some florals (it was enough given the landscaping), taxes/tips. The deal is for 100 guests, and when my group ended up being half of that, Andrea (Events Manager) was so kind and tried to give us more value for the money: double the variety of passed appetizers than was initially included in the package and adding orchids (my favorite flower) to the florals. The all-inclusive nature of the package was so amazing for not having to worry about each of these things individually.

Since the catering was included and food was very important to us, I was initially nervous to sign the contract before tasting the food. My family and I were so happy on our Tasting Day when the food was excellent, and everything we tried was delicious (and I think we have pretty high standards for food)! They were also so accommodating of dietary restrictions and preferences. Since our package was a served buffet, the vegetarian/vegans were given their own plates separately. The cake and assorted dessert were also delicious (and they were willing to make a chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting as we requested).

The DJ/MC (Courtney Helms) was assigned from Sound in Motion, and we got along great. He did a wonderful job too - I danced the whole night! He was also very accommodating with including French music that we compiled (my husband is French).

Finally, I cannot say enough wonderful things about Andrea (Event Manager), Elyse (Wedding Coordinator), and the entire staff! I did not have a wedding planner, and they filled the job beautifully. I was so impressed with their communication. They responded promptly and warmly to every email, line-by-line, answering all my questions for months! They were so supportive and patient, and they seemed as invested as I was in having a wonderful wedding day and making everyone happy and comfortable. I am forever grateful to them and to Kennolyn for such a magical day!

We had a fantastic 3 day wedding event at Stone Creek Village, beautifully set in the redwoods with a very reasonably priced package of accommodation and food for our 75 guests. The staff were all very helpful and flexible and did everything to help everything run smoothly for us.

They love weddings, but we love weddingwire! All of our friends have commented on how great the pictures look!

Working with Kennolyn staff was easy and they were so organized and accommodating. Our wedding day was perfect and the venue is amazing!!

We couldn't have asked for a better, more beautiful and dreamy venue in the redwoods for our wedding. We were also sold on the all-inclusiveness of the venue. We worked closely with Janine on all the details leading up to the big day - she was very responsive and always had great suggestions for making our day perfect. I also had special circumstances given I was doing my own flowers, and I needed to be able to check in to Casa de Caldwell early - Janine and the other Kennolyn staff were flexible and were able to accommodate me! Jenn and Lauren were so supportive and helpful from the time we checked in to Casa de Caldwell - they took over handling of the final wedding details, and even put together some last minute decor so my bridesmaids and I could relax! They also arranged all the decor, put the flower centerpieces out, and even helped me pull off a T-Rex encounter/first-look prank - they did an amazing job! All of the food was delicious and plentiful - we chose the buffet option for dinner and all our guests loved it and were so happy they could go back for seconds (and thirds!). All of the staff went above and beyond our expectations to make it a fun and stress-free weekend - everyone was a real joy to work with. We only had one minor issue, which really doesn't reflect on Kennolyn, but since they require using Sound in Motion for a DJ, I will mention it here - The DJ selected for us by Sound in Motion did a great job on everything up until the last 2/3 of the dance party, where he didn't stick to our selection and the funk/soul train vibe we asked for - I had to request several times throughout the evening that he play certain songs. Although our friends could tell it wasn't our type of music, everyone still had a great time so we really can't complain. It would be nice though if there were more options for DJs. That said, Kennolyn was amazing and we're so glad we chose to have our wedding there; you wont regret having yours there either!

I can't say enough about how wonderful Kennolyn and its staff are. The venue itself is so gorgeous - it overlooks the ocean and is situated in the Santa Cruz mountains surrounded by Redwoods. The staff is incredibly helpful and responsive - we worked with Janine for over a year. During that year, she would respond to our emails within 24 hours and continuously make us feel at ease. She coordinated with our vendors the day of and made sure we did not have to deal with anything the actual day of our wedding. The actual wedding went off without a hitch and was the day we both dreamed it would be. We feel incredibly lucky to have chosen such a wonderful place for our wedding!

Our wedding was at stone creek village and it was a magical weekend. Everything went brilliantly, the service was exceptional and everyone was super friendly and kind. We felt very taken care of and the space amongst the redwoods made it all more magnificent.

The staff at Kennolyn was so awesome and easy to work with! I felt like they were looking out for our best interest and helped us have a great time with family and friends. Jenn, the coordinator, is super sweet and responds quickly to any questions or concerns you might have. She and her team will take care of your wedding day wishlist and it's so nice to not have to be in charge of the set up beforehand so you can just enjoy yourselves wedding weekend! They are pros at what they do and the site is beautiful no matter what type of weather. Have fun and congrats on your marriage!

Our weekend wedding event was the experience of a lifetime. The professionalism and genuine enthusiasm from the entire staff was second to none. Jenn and Janine became our friends and every moment from our first planning meeting to our departure was delightful. Do not hesitate, you will make beautiful memories at this beautiful location with very supportive and professional people.

Spending an entire wedding weekend planned by Jenn and the kennolyn team was an absolute dream. A year later, and I'm still being told it was the "Best Wedding EVER!" by friends and family. The only tricky part is organizing cabins and transportation- but the rest was made super easy! My family and friends are a hard group to host, due to food sensitivities and accessibility issues, but they somehow made it look effortless! We all had a marvelous time.

Get married here!!! That's simply the best way to put it. We had our ceremony and reception at Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda this Halloween and it was beyond fantastic. The location is gorgeous, you WILL get a million compliments on this venue. Jenn is an amazing coordinator and a super sweet person -- she help us so much along our planning journey. She and Jeanine were indispensable on the day of our wedding, making everything flow flawlessly and seemingly effortlessly through all their hard behind-the-scenes work. Jenn did wonders with all the DIY decor stuff we dropped off the day before the wedding in addition to guiding all our arriving vendors on the day-of. They are super experienced and thought of so many little things I never would have. Jenn knows weddings inside and out, and is also super into working with any silly, non-traditional ideas you may have (and getting hitched on Halloween, we had lots!). All the other staff is awesome, food and drinks are amazing here (get the white wine sangria!), bridal suite is roomy and perfect. They own all their own amenities so no lugging over rented tables and chairs -- they are already super wedding-geared which was pivotal for us as we planned the whole shebang in under 4 months! Guests thought we must have spent all year planning this wedding -- nope, that's just the Kennolyn magic!

The venue was perfect, food was great but the best part was jenn, the wedding planner. she is so organized and thinks of everything. she makes it so easy for the bride to enjoy her day.

Jen was so helpful! She makes the wedding planning process so easy! Everyone who attended our wedding said it was so beautiful and so much fun!

I could not have done this without Jenn and Janeen and all of the amazing staff at Kennolyn! I had a little over a year to plan my wedding, but was became discouraged when I could not find the right venue. I wanted something indoor/outdoor, near the redwoods but not in them, with character/charm, and located in the area where my husband and I met and fell in love. When I found Kennolyn, I knew immediately this was the place.

Once we decided and booked our date, it only got better. Jenn is amazing and basically held my hand though the entire thing, because I know nothing about weddings and had no idea what I was doing. They do everything! They coordinate, decorate, cater, serve, bar tend, setup, and clean up. All I had to do was give Jenn an idea about what I wanted (pictures from Pinterest were a big help!) and made sure she got all of my extra supplies the night before, and she and her crew transformed the hacienda into exactly how I had pictured it. We chose the Stations dining package and the food was absolutely delicious! We had a tasting to make the final decisions, but I would definitely recommend going to the preview day they have in the Spring. They showcase their food, beverages, and preferred vendors. They also have it set up so you can picture it decorated.

Anyway, Jenn and Janeen made sure everything was running smoothly and knew exactly what we were supposed to be doing and when. The entire experience was perfect and I wouldn't change a thing.

Thank you!!!

Kennolyn was the perfect venue for our wedding! Thanks to our coordinator who did not leave one stone unturned we had the best day!!

Truly a beautiful and amazing place to have a wedding. From start to finish the staff at Kennolyn helped me with everything I needed.

I can't say enough great things about Kennolyn! We had our wedding at Kennolyn in July and could not have asked for a better venue. The view is breathtaking, the food was fantastic (the mashed potatoes were to die for), and most of all the event coordinators and staff were extremely helpful and easy to work with. Our wedding was a success due to Jenn, our event coordinator and the rest of the staff on the day of the wedding. Jenn communicated with us throughout our entire process, getting back to us right away with any questions. Also, the day of the wedding, everything went smoothly due to Jenn and the staff taking care of things behind the scenes and keeping everyone calm and taken care of (down to finding a pin for my Mom's corsage when it broke). She was a pleasure to work with and made what could be a stressful event into a stress free, enjoyable wedding. All of our guests keep raving about our wedding and how beautiful the venue was and how smooth everything ran. I wish we could do it all over again...it went by way too fast. If you are looking for an outdoor venue to have your wedding, look no further, as Kennolyn is a beautiful spot in which you have all to yourself and your guests. No other wedding is planned the same day. Also, Jenn and the rest of the staff are extremely helpful, easy to work with and are flexible with your ideas. It is a bit of a drive up to the venue, which could be a problem for some people, but we hired a shuttle service to take people to and from the wedding so they didn't have to worry about driving. It all worked out perfectly. Our only complaint...we wish it could have lasted longer, the venue stops at 9pm, but it was the perfect amount of time because it ended on a high note and everyone having fun. Thank you Kennolyn for our perfect wedding! A great start to our marriage.

Jenn, Jeanine and the rest of the staff at Kennolyn will meet all of your needs. They are the most devoted staff and are willing to do anything and everything to make your day/weekend as special as possible. Our wedding there was more magical than we could have ever dreamed it to be. We also enjoyed the "wedding weekend" that is offered. The weekend was so awesome and relaxing-it allowed for us to spend quality time with all of our guests that stayed for the weekend. We would recommend this venue to anyone and everyone who asks!

We had our wedding at Kennolyn on 8-1-14. We went on a venue hunt with our moms and toured about 20 venues along the coast. We fell in love with Kennolyn as soon as we stepped onto the property. We could not have a picked a more perfect location. The natural beauty/flowers/landscaping is a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding and saves money on wedding decor. The food is excellent! Our guests raved about the beauty of the venue, the delicious food and helpful staff. They were able to accommodate for several vegan friends, which was great. We began our consultation with Jenn and then Janeen took over. Both are amazing. Janeen went above and beyond to ensure that our wedding day was successful and everything we dreamed it could be. She was quick to respond to emails and phone calls and answered the millions of questions I had. The day of, Janeen coordinated all the vendors and guests, and did a wonderful job. So many of our guests told us it was the best wedding they had ever been too!

We are SO thankful we chose Kennolyn for our wedding. You cannot beat the price for the location, staff and amenities. Thank you Kennolyn!

Here's our wedding highlight video so you can see more of the location:

vimeo.com/110116102

I would pick Kennolyn for our wedding over and over again!! It was such a spectacular venue, and I know that Kennolyn's awesome staff were a huge part of the reason our wedding day was such a success!

My mom and I loved Jenn from the moment we met her. She was so helpful and low pressure when we were first looking at the venue, and always very easy to get in touch with during the planning stages. Having her there as a day-of coordinator helped everything go amazingly smoothly! (Multiple guests commented on how flawless our wedding seemed!) It was so great to just be able to drop off our decorations during the rehearsal, and then to return the next day to see them expertly displayed! Jenn also coordinated all of the outside vendors we hired -- I didn't have to worry about a thing on the day of! I just showed up and enjoyed the day!

The food was delicious, and the servers polite and professional. Our champagne glasses were never empty! As bride and groom, appetizers and buffet items were brought directly to the sweetheart table. Jenn and Janeen even arranged it so that I could have a special vegetarian meal, and made sure I got a slice of the cake. They really thought of everything, and anticipated my needs before I even could.

Also, the location is really beautiful! We had an amazing view of the ocean, including a spectacular sunset during dinner. I love the Spanish hacienda style of the place, and our pictures among the redwood trees came out stunning. It was so nice that it is private (no strangers looking on!) and my guests were easily shuttled to and from the hotel in our charter buses. Many guests came up to tell us how beautiful, comfortable and fun our venue was.

Don't hesitate to book Kennolyn as your wedding venue -- I promise you won't regret it!

(Thank you again, Jenn and Janeen!)

Kennolyn was actually the first venue that John and I went to while investigating where we wanted to get married. It was also one of the pricier options as it is all-inclusive (they provide the food, the drinks, ceremony and reception venues and a planner who is amazing). There are several packages to choose from with different prices. We ended up going with the higher buffet and middle drink options and got rave reviews on the food and drinks from all of our guests (and we loved them too!!).

Jenn at Kennolyn is an amazing planner....her personality is so sweet and easy to work with. She was so patient with all my emails with questions and got back to me immediately.

The venue itself is tucked up in the hills above Soquel/Capitola. From the Hacienda back patio, you have an amazing view of the entire Monterey Bay. The plantings and everything about the venue are just beautiful. We had our ceremony on May 18, 2013, and the weather was amazing. We did it all outside...ceremony on the back lawn with the wedding party on the patio in front of the lion's head fountain; buffet, cake, coffee/tea, photobooth, slideshow, mingling tables and kid's craft table inside the hacienda itself, and the dining tables set up on the back patio. The reception was all in the front patio. It was so nice to have everything in one place and not to have to worry about a separate caterer.

This place is stunning, the food is great and the coordinator is amazing. It was definitely worth the price. We had a storybook wedding and so much of it was due to Kennolyn.

Jenn is incredible. We had our wedding in September and our family and friends had a blast. Everyone said that it was one of the best wedding's they've been to.

Our friends who planned weddings spent months of preparation and were overwhelmed by all of the details, but at Kennolyn we were able to relax while Jenn and her staff took care of so many of the planning details.

After sampling the standard food options, we decided that wanted our own menu based on recipes that we had eaten growing up, and the chef pulled off our custom menu perfectly.

Everyone enjoyed the long relaxed Saturday on the camp grounds filled with sports and swimming and hanging out, and the bonfires Friday and Saturday night were unforgettable.

Accommodations were excellent. The cabins were nicely furnished and the beds were very comfortable.

Finally, the ceremony and reception at the Hacienda were beautiful. Sunshine, views of the Pacific, lots of space to spread out, and a great dance floor.

Highly recommend.

Our wedding was at Kennolyn on June 15, 2012 and everything was AMAZING!! The staff was really helpful and everything flowed so smoothly! Jenn was phenomenal and so awesome to have a s a wedding coordinator! I would highly recommend this place to anyone!!! Well worth the money and every guest told us what a fabulous wedding it was! Food was also fantastic.

We were met by Jenn and she gave us a tour of the facility. Within minutes we were sold. This was what we were looking for. The venue is truly beautiful. A small hacienda at the top of a mountain overlooking the vast pacific ocean. The courtyard so inviting as it beckons you though the Spanish style iron doors and into the tranquil courtyard.

A year later our date was upon us. A year of wedding planning, anxiety and stress was behind us as we were at the venue where we would married. The weather was perfect as if the gods parted the overcast sky so the warm sunshine could cast its soothing rays upon our party.

Our day was amazing as every expectation was not only realized but exceeded.

We used the Kennolyn partners for our cake (the Buttery) and our DJ (Sound in Motion). We continue to receive compliments on the cake now weeks after the wedding. The DJ was extremely professional and did a great job as MC and with the music.

The ceremony sight was spectacular, the tables were placed outside on the patio and comfortably seated our rather large party. Jenn and Henry (Sound in Motion) moved our event along keeping our guests engaged without downtime.

As the sun went down the party moved from the outside facing patio to the warm and inviting candlelit courtyard.

We simply had a magical time and celebrated our most precious day at the most perfect of venues. Our life together much like our drive to Kennolyn has been an adventurous journey full of twists and turns that we wouldn't ever think of changing as it brought us to where we are now.
Kennolyn is the by far our easiest five star review.
Thank you Jenn and team...

Picking a wedding venue is one of the most important things to consider when planning a wedding. It certainly was for us. I can remember when we first started looking at venues. Every place we visited didn't seem to have that person touch we were looking for. The hotels and spas felt too commercial and the wineries felt too typical but when we finally stepped foot into the Kennolyn Hacienda courtyard, we knew immediately we'd found our venue. It had everything we wanted. A beautiful view, gorgeous grounds, an intimate setting but what sold us was their staff.

Jenn McIntyre, was our wedding coordinator. She is truly an angel. She went above and beyond on SEVERAL occasions. During the tasting and vendor event, where couples come to sample their food and meet their recommended vendors, I wasn't able to sample the food. I was under doctor's care that included a special diet but Jenn didn't skip a beat. She offered to set up our own private tasting, which she did the following month when I was no longer on my diet plan. This was beyond appreciated as was the menu Jenn helped us create.

We wanted a big family style Paella dinner and Jenn actually worked with the chef to purchase one of those huge paella pans, so they could accommodate this request. Such a fun detail and one our guests enjoyed very much.

She was also amazing during our wedding weekend.

From the rehearsal, to our wedding day, to the day after our wedding she made us feel completely taken care of. I was blown away with how well she executed on all the little details we requested. From re-purposing flowers, to handling vendors, to gathering our things, she made the whole process feel seamless, which to me seemed impossible to do.

All in all, our entire experience with Kennolyn was amazing. I couldn't say enough great things and hope you consider them for your big day!

There was never any other place I considered getting married besides Kennolyn. My sister got married here 10 years ago and best friend 5 years ago. It is the perfect all in one location for ceremony and reception. Just gorgeous! You get married outside over looking the bay, eat dinner on a patio over looking the bay, you party in a pretty spanish style courtyard with a fountain and it's all right there for you and your guests only. Another great perk of this location is you are the only event happening at that time. Jenn & Janeen are absolute pro's and made my experience a good one for sure! Also, catering is on site, so you don't have to worry about finding a seperate catering vendor. Worth every penny!!

We loved everything about our wedding. The planning process was easy and so was the day of execution. We knew we were in good hands and didn't have to worry about anything but enjoying ourselves, we knew that Jenn, our wedding coordinator, would take care of everything and had our vision of what we wanted our wedding to be in mind. We got endless compliments on how gorgeous the wedding was, what a great venue it was and especially on the food!

We got married at the Hilltop Hacienda & it was a lovely venue! I did not hire an outside planner, & in the year leading up to the wedding Elyse & team were so helpful answering all of my questions. Thank you for a magical day!

Kennolyn Stone Creek Village was the perfect venue for our wedding and reception. We wanted to find somewhere that could host all our guests onsite for three nights, and this location fitted our vision perfectly. Stone Creek Village is set amongst the Redwoods and is used as a summer camp. It has a variety of cabins for guests to stay in with en-suite bathrooms, and we did rent some more "rustic" bunkhouses for our single friends for the weekend too. All the catering was organized on-site, and we were able to augment the bar package with additional wine, beer and hard seltzer.
On the day of our wedding, it absolutely poured with rain so unfortunately we had to move our ceremony and reception inside. Kennolyn did an incredible job adapting quickly to the situation and doing their best to make sure everything looked beautiful and ran smoothly. Their lodge was a great location for our wedding dinner and party, and also for relaxing and partying with our guests on the other nights. We rented the heated swimming pool for a few hours and had an outdoor games afternoon on their sports field. They have ping-pong tables and cornhole, and hiking in the area. It truly was the best venue we could have imagined, and Elyse was a fabulous wedding coordinator.
Some of the communication was a little challenging, and we did have to prompt with a lot of questions in the run-up, but this was organized at a time when COVID-19 had impacted the wedding industry quite dramatically. During the wedding weekend the staff could not have been more helpful, even driving two of our guests back to their hotel when rain prevented taxis from getting to the venue.
We would gladly get married again at Stone Creek Village and couldn't recommend it more as a fantastic location for a longer getaway with friends and family.

The staff at Kennolyn helped us make our long-delayed Pandemic wedding an amazing day! Our ceremony was in the gorgeous redwood grove (note: you may want a rug on the deck if you plan on wearing heels!). The day-of coordinators made sure everything was where it was supposed to be and went smoothly. Our guests commented on how beautiful the venue was and how delicious the buffet was! The only slight downside was that we were unable to choose our DJ, and would not have chosen the one we were assigned. I don't think he had done an event at Kennolyn before.

Most amazing venue and top notch staff! We had our wedding up at the Hacienda 8/4/18 and we can't sing our praises enough. The staff, including Lauren and Hannah, were on top of everything and the day went very smooth. Food was tasty, views were unreal, and all our guests raved about the event. HIGHLY recommend! Best wedding day ever.

Kennolyn is incredible! The natural beauty among the redwoods and with a view of the Pacific Ocean is unmatched. The property is classy but not over-the-top. But probably most important, Janine and her staff are A+. Janine has a fantastic attitude and looks for opportunities at every moment to wow you. Our wedding day could not have been better and we owe a lot of that to Kennolyn.

I knew the second that I walked onto the Hacienda patio that this was the place I wanted to get married, and it turned out incredible! The Hacienda is warm and inviting and looks spectacular all lit up at night. It has an outdoor wine bar vibe to it. We were married in the Redwood grove and our pictures are incredible. Most of our guests were from out of town and they are still all raving about how breathtaking it was. You don't only get a great venue, you get your own wedding coordinator to walk you through the process. Jenn made planning everything so straight forward and easy. She was also a great calming presence on our wedding day. Just like most weddings not everything goes the way you planned it, but it felt better knowing that she could help coordinate my bridesmaids and help with managing the flow of the wedding. Everything ran so smoothly and it allowed me to relax and just dance the night away.

Overall great venue- coordination was good especially day of coordination. Helpful and friendly staff and great food ! My husband and I did not have to sweat any details on our wedding from time of arrival until the night ended, Kennolyn took wonderful care of us.

Kennolyn was great! They made everything super easy and hassle-free. They really go above and beyond to make sure you are happy with everything. Jenn is extremely organized and was able to organize the day of timeline and communicate with all my vendors to make sure everyone was on the same page. Having her take care of that the week before took a huge burden off of my shoulders.

Kennolyn is a stunningly beautiful venue, and the staff is great. The wedding coordinator who we worked with, Jenn, is fantastic. She was very helpful during the planning and made everything run smoothly the day of the wedding.

Kennolyn could not have been a more perfect spot for our wedding. The Hacienda is gorgeous, teeming with flowers and plants with a gorgeous view overlooking the ocean and surrounded by redwoods. And the staff -- particularly Jenn and Janeen -- could not have been more helpful. They always responded to requests in a prompt, professional manner, they ran the show meticulously the day of the wedding, and they made the whole planning process so much easier, from start to finish. They are true professionals in how they handle everything, but also very kind and personal. I could not recommend them, or Kennolyn, highly enough. The food was also delicious -- guests remarked that it was the best wedding food they had ever had. And all of the servers were so friendly and helpful. We truly couldn't think of a complaint if we tried. Thank you, Kennolyn!

We just got married at Kennolyn last month. Jenn was very helpful with all of the planning and answered all of my questions. She can be as involved or as hands-off as you want her to be, it just depends on how much you reach out to her either by email or by phone. We picked Kennolyn because we wanted to get married in the forest but also wanted the convenience of some sort of organized area where people could easily eat dinner and dance without having to worry about tons of bugs or tripping over tree roots. The courtyard leads to a small banquet hall with a fireplace that they light when it get dark, the buffet tables, and a table for the cake. I personally did not like having the cake inside because it kind of messed up the flow (people had to move inside for cake cutting and then did not end up moving back outside where I had hoped the rest of the dancing would take place). However, it was a very hot day and it was the best place for it considering we did not want the cake to be a melted mess by the time we got around to cutting it five hours after it was delivered. After you go through the hall there is an outdoor, partially covered terrace where everyone can eat and you can see the Monterey Bay (if you're luck and the weather cooperates). Just past the tables are the steps that lead to the lawn area where there is a fountain and steps for the ceremony to take place on. As mentioned, it was a really hot day so it was nice that they provide parasols for the guests to shade themselves. The one suggestion I have about the parasols is that they provide some for the parents and others who sit down after walking down the aisle. The only negative that I can see is that if you are interested in using a DJ you must choose from either Sound in Motion or Music Now. We felt a little restricted in this sense but both companies have multiple DJs that should be available if you book early.

Good luck with your wedding planning!

Before we even booked Kennolyn for our wedding Jenn and Janine were very sweet and helpful. They offered us to attend their Wedding Day Overview which is typically for couples who have already committed to the venue and gives you the chance to sample their food/wine, meet other vendors from bakeries, florists, photographers etc. They were always quick to respond to emails if I had any questions and were very accommodating when it came to delivering décor. We had planned 300 guests which they had never had before so they were taking on a challenge, but they did a great job in making it work.
Kennolyn is a beautiful venue with redwoods and views looking out to the ocean. It is mostly outdoors, but does have a small hall as well. There is plenty of parking and they let guests leave vehicles overnight if you partied too hard! What I loved about Kennolyn is what is included which were tables, chairs, linens, food, alcohol, set up/clean up and Jenn, Janine, and Courtney are there throughout the whole process and the day of which is very helpful so you don't have to designate someone from the bridal party to deal with questions/concerns.
I'm so sad that the day is over, but happy with my experience. The only negative, and maybe the DJ could've done it, but seconds for dinner was not announced and a lot of people said they didn't get cake so I don't know if it didn't get announced or it didn't get passed around well enough. Also, my bridal party didn't get appetizers so it would've been nice if they set a plate like they did for us (bride & groom). Besides that, Kennolyn is a great venue!

Event Date: 08.19.17
Event Type: Wedding (Reception Only)
Guest Count: 285

This review is long over due but well deserved. My husband and I got married at Kennoyln, last year on the 4th of July. My husband was actually the one who found this place through Google. One day he decided to search "unique wedding locations" and Kennolyn popped up. At first I was hesitant to check out the location because I thought it wouldn't be within our budget, but after looking at a couple places, we figured it wouldn't hurt to look.

Upon arriving, we had immediately fallen in love with the location. It is nestled away up in the mountains, surrounded by the redwoods, with breathtaking views. As I mentioned earlier, I was worried about the costs, but to my surprise, Kennolyn was affordable. The costs included more than I imagined.

Jenn and Janeen, the coordinators were fabulous to work with. They were easy to communicate with and we never had to wait long to get a response to our questions. They were professional and super friendly. The day of our wedding, Janeen made me feel so comfortable about everything and I knew my day was in good hands.

PROS:
-great view
-one of only few places that doesn't charge for various items (i.e, linens, heat lamps, silverware, table numbers and cake cutting)
-super friendly staff
-fabulous coordinators (they took care of everything- putting your worries at ease)

CONS:
-reception needs to end by 9pm (due to noise restrictions by neighbors)
-you have to use the DJ on their preferred vendor list. Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of the DJ. 1) he wasn't the friendliest to the videographer 2) despite giving instructions and providing the music for the bridal party entrance, he didn't listen, nor use the music. My husband and I know a handful of DJs and would have rather given them our money.

If you can look passed having the reception end early and the fact that you have to use their preferred DJ, I would highly recommend Kennolyn.

I had my wedding at the Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda over Labor Day Weekend 2021.

This venue is absolutely stunning. The folks there were pretty easy to work with and I loved that their packages include so many services including catering / bar, DJ, and use of their wedding day items (tables, chairs, linen, plates and flatware, etc..)

The venue is so stunning you don't really need a ton of other decorations or need to splurge on flowers.

Our guests really enjoyed the food as well!

We found that Kennolyn was very accommodating and willing to work with our vision. They also were extremely helpful on the day of when it was necessary to let go and "hand over the keys" to a point person to help things run smoothly. We had some very unexpected rain on our wedding day and Jenn our coordinator made it her mission to ensure our day was special and beautiful. This included working with the rental companies in the days prior to get the measurements and proper tents set up as well as running around day of to execute last minute dining layout set up and correct typical malfunctions that can happen on any wedding day, not to mention one in rainstorm weather.

The most beautiful location, food was great - so happy we got married here!