Questions Answered

We're nestled in the Los Gatos mountains between San Jose and Santa Cruz, surrounded by majestic redwoods with sweeping views overlooking Monterey Bay. Our address is 22975 Santa Cruz Highway, Los Gatos, CA 95033.

We're about 20 minutes from San Jose Mineta International Airport and 20 minutes from the beaches of Santa Cruz: a serene mountain retreat that's still close to hotels, restaurants, and coastal attractions.

No. Your venue fee covers exclusive use of the entire estate for your block, event liability insurance, parking, and Greg and Patty on site throughout. There is no service charge, no administrative fee, no food and beverage minimum, no preferred-vendor markup, no per-guest fee, and no different rate depending on what you are celebrating. Optional published add-ons include tables and chairs at $50 per dining set of eight or $3 per chair with setup and cleaning included, a 6-foot sweetheart table and two chairs at no charge, buffet tables (8 ft x 30 in) at $14 each with black linen included, and officiant services with Greg or Patty at $300. Guest-table linens come from your caterer or a rental company rather than from us, since we have no laundry facility on site.

No. A wedding, a baby shower, a memorial and a corporate offsite of the same length on the same day of the week all pay the same. You are renting the same estate for the same hours, so it would be strange to charge differently based on the reason. It also means you never have to explain or justify what kind of gathering you are having in order to find your price.

Tables and chairs are billed separately and the rate is published so it is never a surprise. A dining set, meaning a table with eight chairs, is $50, and individual chairs for ceremony or lounge seating are $3 each. Both include us setting everything out, breaking it down and cleaning it, so there is no delivery charge and no rental minimum. An 80-guest reception (10 dining sets) works out to about $500, which is roughly what an outside rental company charges before adding their delivery fee. You are also welcome to bring your own through a rental company.

Guest-table linens come from your caterer or a rental company rather than from us, because we do not have laundry facilities on the property. Black linen for rented buffet tables is included with those buffet tables. This is how most venues work, and most caterers either include linens in their package or arrange them as a matter of course, so for many of our couples it never becomes a separate line at all. If you are sourcing them yourself, tablecloths typically run $11 to $20 each and napkins under $2, so an 80-guest event usually lands somewhere around $160 to $320. We keep linen suppliers we trust in our vendor guide.

We can comfortably accommodate up to 80 guests. Our 2,000 sq ft lighted redwood deck is the heart of the event space, with the full 4.5-acre property offering additional space for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and exploration of the orchard, waterfall, and gardens.

Our guests describe us as a hidden gem. Unlike a banquet hall or hotel ballroom, Living Well is a private estate, the entire property is yours for the day. You get panoramic Monterey Bay views, towering redwoods, a 150-foot water garden and waterfall, a fruit orchard and garden, a fire pit, and an intimate atmosphere where every detail feels personal.

Greg and Patty are on-site the entire time, not a rotating event coordinator. You dine under the trees and dance under the stars. There's simply nowhere else like it.

Yes, and we are glad to. We have hosted several same-sex weddings here. Same pricing, same welcome, nothing to explain when you arrive. Both Greg and Patty are ordained and will use whatever ceremony language fits you, and you are free to bring any vendors you like.

Absolutely. We welcome four-legged family members. This is your day, and we want everyone who matters to you to be part of it.

Yes, in two designated areas: near the fire pit and in the upper parking area. Cigarettes, cigars, vaping, and cannabis are all fine in those two spots, and we provide ash and butt receptacles in both. We do ask that smoking stay in those areas and not elsewhere on the property.

Yes. The property is effectively step-free, with no stairs anywhere events actually happen, including the redwood deck, the indoor space, the ceremony areas and the parking. Guests using wheelchairs have full access to every part of the property where your event takes place, and we have an indoor ADA bathroom for anyone using a wheelchair or with other mobility needs. We will also designate as many parking spots as you need for wheelchair access, however many that turns out to be, so just let us know ahead of the day and we will have them ready. The only two areas with steps are the fruit orchard and the water feature, which are scenic spots to wander rather than event spaces.

Yes, and we are glad to. Each day is booked as its own rental using the same three blocks, so a three-day celebration is simply three bookings. This comes up often with multi-day Indian weddings and it is very familiar territory for us. The one thing to know is that there is no overnight use: nobody stays on the property between days, and we do not offer camping or lodging on site.

We do not offer lodging on the property, so out-of-town guests usually book a hotel nearby. Over the hill on the Santa Cruz side, in Scotts Valley, the Best Western Plus Inn is about 6.6 miles, Four Points by Sheraton about 7 miles, and the Hilton Santa Cruz / Scotts Valley about 9 miles. On the Los Gatos side, in downtown Los Gatos, the Toll House Hotel is about 7.5 miles and Hotel Los Gatos about 8 miles. San Jose Mineta International Airport is 20 miles away. If your group would rather stay together, Airbnb and Vrbo both have plenty of options in Los Gatos, Scotts Valley and the surrounding mountains, and one house often works better than several hotel rooms. Both Uber and Lyft come all the way up to the property, so guests staying off site do not need to drive.

Your rental includes exclusive access to the full property for your whole block, beginning at 9:00 AM, and earlier start times can often be arranged if your ceremony calls for one. Also included:

• Lighted outdoor 2,000 sq ft redwood deck
• Roughly 1,800 sq ft indoor event space for dining, dancing, or presentations
• Full indoor kitchen
• Separate ceremony space
• Bridal party preparation area
• Food preparation area
• On-site parking
• Multiple planning visits
• Ceremony rehearsal
• Vendor site visits
• Scenic forest and bay views throughout
• Event liability insurance, included at no extra charge

Yes. Along with the outdoor deck and grounds, your rental includes roughly 1,800 sq ft of indoor space and a full kitchen. It works beautifully for dining, dancing, and presentations, or as a seamless backup if the weather changes, so your celebration is never at the mercy of the forecast. For a longer outdoor rain-plan guide, see Outdoor Wedding Rain Plan for Bay Area Couples.

Yes, and with every booking rather than only the large ones. Event liability insurance is included in your venue fee at no additional charge, which is genuinely unusual among Bay Area venues where couples and planners normally arrange and pay for it separately. Your outside vendors still carry their own coverage, as they always have.

Yes, we offer optional rental packages:

• Ceremony Chairs: $3 per chair (white padded resin)
• Dining Sets: $50 per set, includes table and up to 8 white padded chairs
• Extra Tables: $10 each (includes setup, takedown & cleaning)

Yes! Both Greg and Patty are ordained officiants and would be honored to conduct your ceremony for $300. This includes an in-person, phone, or Zoom meeting, help writing your vows, and assistance creating your ceremony program. They create heartfelt, personalized ceremonies that reflect your unique story.

Yes, ceremony rehearsals and vendor walkthroughs are included as part of your booking at no extra charge. We also offer additional planning visits throughout your planning process.

There is no hard limit on indoor music volume. Santa Cruz County's sound level limit is 75 decibels, and the important detail is that it is measured at the property line, not at the dance floor. Because we sit on 4.5 private acres, that property line is a long way from both the redwood deck and the indoor space, so a full reception with a DJ or a live band is not a problem. The timing rule worth planning around: all music, indoor and outdoor, ends by 9:00 PM, which keeps us well within the Santa Cruz County noise ordinance, and vendor cleanup can run a little after. We provide on-site decibel meters and a Bose sound system at no extra charge, so your DJ can see exactly where things stand.

Yes. Living Well is a bring-your-own-alcohol venue, with drinks served by a licensed bartender through your caterer or a bar vendor, and anyone serving alcohol should carry Liquor Liability coverage. Alcohol service ends by 8:30 PM, and the party and all music end by 9:00 PM.

Yes. We regularly host Hindu and South Asian weddings, including multi-day celebrations. Mandap setups and Baraat processions are welcome, morning ceremonies are common here, and we are one of the few Bay Area venues that welcomes the sacred Havan fire for the Pheras, indoors or outdoors, with proper fire protection. Bring your own caterer so the food matches your traditions. Same flat rate card as every other wedding.

Yes. We are one of the few Bay Area venues that welcomes the sacred Havan fire for the Pheras, and we have hosted it many times both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors there is no single required spot, so your family and pandit can choose the setting that suits the ceremony best. The only thing we ask is that proper fire protection is taken into consideration. We also accommodate mandap setups and Baraat processions, and we are glad to walk the property with you so you can pick your ceremony location.

Yes, we offer complimentary use of our high-end Bose speaker system at no additional charge. We also provide on-site decibel meters so DJs and music coordinators can monitor sound levels easily.

Yes! DJs and live musicians are welcome, as long as volume stays within county limits. We're happy to coordinate directly with your DJ or musicians regarding our venue's sound requirements.