Kennolyn Events - Soquel, California

ONE HEART

Hermoso lugar

Rachel Hausen

Getting married at Kennolyn was our dream come true. Kennolyn was the first venue we toured, and we ended up cancelling our tours for other venues because we knew it was the one. The views here are stunning. You can see the ocean from the hacienda, and are surrounded by Santa Cruz redwood beauty. Our guests had so many wonderful things to say about how gorgeous it was! But the setting was not even the best part of Kennolyn. Their staff is top notch. Our coordinator was Deirdre, and she was so great to work with. She was super communicative and accommodating, and provided regular check-ins to make sure we were prepared for wedding day. On the day of our wedding, she made everything go off without a hitch. From pinning my dress for me when the bustle broke, to tracking down guests, and even going out of her way to drop off the leftover cake that we'd forgotten to a local bridesmaid--we were so appreciative! We had a guest with a few unique dietary restrictions at our wedding, and Deirdre made sure to communicate that to the cook beforehand to ensure there were options she could eat. The cook even took the time to speak with our guest at her table, and provided her with a separate dish to accommodate her needs. Those small details made all the difference for us. We also loved the food, and were stoked that Kennolyn had so many decorations that we were able to borrow so that we didn't need to provide much ourselves. We definitely recommend this venue for anyone who wants a picture-perfect Santa Cruz wedding!

Ethan and Kenzie Conti

Where to even begin with how amazing Kennolyn is? The staff, the location, everything about our wedding was perfect!

When we toured Kennolyn back in 2023, we met Elyse for the first time. She was incredibly helpful and friendly from the start. We immediately felt great about the venue and decided to book it for our wedding. Between booking and the wedding, we enjoyed several fun events like the wedding overview day and the details meeting. The overview day was a blast--meeting vendors, sampling the food we'd enjoy on our wedding day, and exploring all the beautiful spaces Kennolyn has to offer. The bridal area was lovely for getting ready, the groomsmen had a fantastic time in the groom's suite, and the ceremony and reception spaces were perfect. There was even a grassy lawn for the kids to run around on.

From our first meeting, Elyse was incredibly responsive and helpful with my countless questions. She ensured everything was perfect for our big day. We got married at Hilltop Hacienda, and the day went off without a hitch. My husband and I didn't have to worry about any details because the staff had everything under control. They were friendly and helpful to all our guests, who couldn't stop raving about the perfect day. The views were gorgeous, and the ceremony and reception spaces were stunning. The bartending staff were so kind and made everyone feel like old friends. The food was phenomenal, with many delicious options for our guests. The entire staff made sure everything flowed smoothly from one moment to the next.

We genuinely had the BEST DAY EVER, thanks to the Kennolyn team. Elyse and Deirdre ensured everything went well and helped calm any nerves I had. It's been a month since our wedding, and my husband and I keep saying we wish we could do it again every weekend because it was so much fun. I cannot recommend Kennolyn enough to anyone looking for a wedding venue.

Megan Indermill

The venue was obviously love at first sight, but the amount of time and expertise Kennolyn staff were able to offer us along the way was really extraordinary. On the day of, they ran such a tight ship and were so accommodating of our various asks, especially the sparkler exit! So many of our guests raved about the venue, the food (especially the focaccia!), and how smoothly the night flowed. We could not be happier that we chose Kennolyn. We had an unbelievable time and wish we could relive every moment of the day.

Mariel Hall

We cannot sufficiently express what a magical venue Kennolyn Hill Hacienda was for our recent wedding! From the STUNNING setting to the EXCEPTIONAL planning and day-of support and service, coupled with delicious food and wine, you can be confident that your wedding day at Kennolyn will be all, and more, than you could dream for! After viewing 7 other venues , we knew Kennolyn Hill Hacienda was “the place” for our wedding. Kennolyn Hill Hacienda sits atop a peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, surrounded by majestic Redwoods and other native flora. In the far distance from the expansive lawn area is the view of the ocean. The hacienda is gorgeous, starting with its wooden carved door opening into the courtyard, which is framed with flowering trumpet vines on the inside and bougainvillea on its outside walls. In the middle of the courtyard is a beautiful and romantic 3-tiered fountain. This courtyard was perfect for the cocktail hour and dancing, as well as for Memory Tables adorned with photographs, and separate tables for Seating charts, cards, guest book etc. Separating the courtyard from the Terrace, where a very elegant al fresca dinner took place, is the Hacienda Room. Romantically decorated with ambient backdrop lighting, a large striking fireplace and ample comfortable seating, the Hacienda Room was perfect for the buffet and dessert set-ups, as well as for a relaxing indoor seating area. The bistro-bulb lit Terrace beautifully accommodated our 17 8-guest tables overlooking the redwood groves, ocean view and remaining lush landscape. The Casa de Caldwell, available starting at 10 am for the bride and her bridal party, is exquisite. The casa’s interior, terraces and gardens are breathtaking – elegant on their own to hold a wedding ceremony and reception! There is also a casita for the groom and his groomsmen with its own bathroom. The staff even opened a private room for the Matron-of-Honor to comfortably breastfeed and place her baby down for a nap during the wedding. The service and support provided by the Kennolyn staff is truly exceptional. We worked with Elyse (she is remarkable!) for over a year planning our wedding. Andrea, the Events Manager, was often involved and she is absolutely delightful! Both are positive, efficient, ready to make things happen! We also had the pleasure of working with Deirdre (just as lovely and helpful!) All 3 were present for the rehearsal and day-of, which was flawless! Elyse must have received an average of several emails from us every week, for over a year. Often, we barely had time to hit the send button that we received a response, with line-by-line answers to our questions, requests. Never once did we sense that we were becoming annoying. An immediate “cannot be done” is not in Kennolyn’s staff vocabulary. They go way above and beyond in accommodating each couple’s’ vision for their special day, as is feasible to achieve. The food was excellent, as was the wine paired. The bride’s mother is French, and the relatives who attended from France commented on the quality of and how tasty the food was. And the French know good food! From the research we completed before choosing Kennolyn as our venue, we can wholeheartedly state that you will be hard-pressed to find another venue in the Bay Area where you will get so much value for the cost. The value includes an secure site surrounded by unparalleled, endless beauty, a hacienda, a courtyard, a terrace, an expansive lawn area, a redwood grove, the Casa and Casita, an event coordinator who is as good (if not better) than a topnotch wedding planner – along with an equally incredible supervisor and colleague, a “Sound in Motion” DJ (excellent), fantastic food and wine, sweetheart table and lovers’ seat, guest tables, linens, chairs, etc. heaters, fireplace, fountains, sun canopies, guest parasols, bistro lighting, multiple arbors, dessert serving dishes! Most of all, what you will receive is a Kennolyn Team who is as committed as you are to making your Wedding Day a Dream Come True!

Rebecca Hamlin

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!

Ethel-Lynn McDonald

We went here for a wedding on the 21st night of September! Best tag line for their wedding. I have some photos but I'm having a hard time loading it right now but who would have known about this place. If you are planning an intimate wedding check this place out. Its always great to venture into places that are not on the radar. It makes you unique!

Katelyn Epperly

We had our wedding at Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda this summer and we were completely thrilled with the experience from start to finish. The staff was so responsive - our coordinator Elyse even answered our email on a holiday. It was the most beautiful day we could have possibly imagined.