A wedding in the redwoods is always a good idea, and if you’re looking for a quiet standout location, consider a Sanborn County Park wedding at Peterson Grove.
I had the chance to photograph Haley and Josille’s wedding at Sanborn County Park, and their day was so special and full of so many happy tears and sweet moments. This location comes with a glowing recommendation from me!
Read on to learn more about what your wedding day at Sanborn County Park could look like and take a behind-the-lens look at Haley and Josille’s gorgeous spring wedding at Peterson Grove.
Planning a Wedding at Sanborn County Park
Sanborn County Park is an affordable and beautiful wedding venue in Saratoga, CA, and it’s a great spot if you’re looking for a wedding venue that is outdoors and immersed in nature.
Inside Sanborn County Park, you’ll find the stunning Peterson Grove, which has a raised deck area in a fairy circle of redwoods perfect for your ceremony. This location is very much a hidden gem that is conveniently located close to Silicon Valley and offers you a private, secluded nature oasis to enjoy.
At Peterson Grove, you’ll find a deck and space for 100 guests for your celebration, and next to it are the reception grounds, which provide you with a picnic-style area that has space for up to 300 guests.
One of the standout features of this location is the gorgeous redwood trees – not only are they a stunning backdrop for your ceremony, but they also block out a lot of harsh sunlight, which creates a soft and flattering light for your wedding photos! You can walk around the trails at the park to get some beautiful photos too.
You can have your ceremony at Sanborn County Park any time from 8:00 am to sunset (personally, I’d recommend a sunset ceremony as the lighting is simply breathtaking), and you can organize your wedding timeline so that you’ll have an entirely private ceremony, leaving the grove and reception grounds for just you and your nearest and dearest.
Keep in mind that the park does close at sunset, so if you want to have a party that lasts late into the night, you won’t be able to do so inside the park.
How much does a wedding at Sanborn County Park cost?
A wedding at Sanborn County Park starts at $495 and includes a 1-day photography permit, a 1-day rehearsal Monday through Thursday, a one-on-one meeting with a ranger, and the option to book up to 1 year in advance of the date.
Pro tip – the sooner you can book, the better! Another thing to be aware of is that there is a $6/vehicle parking fee. For more information on pricing, fees, and who to contact to reserve the venue, go here!
When is the best time of the year to plan a wedding at Sanborn County Park?
Each season in Saratoga has something different to offer you, so it really all depends on what you’re looking for on the day of your celebration. Heads up, a summer or early fall wedding will be much warmer, even with the shade of the redwoods in the park.
The South Bay area can experience a long and dry heat wave in summer (typically June through October), compared to the rest of the year when the temperatures are cooler and your chances of fog or rain are higher. However, that’s not to dissuade you from choosing a summer wedding as a celebration at this time of year can still be absolutely gorgeous.
The peak season for weddings in Saratoga is normally from late spring to early fall, so just make sure to plan in advance if you want to have your celebration at this time of year. The good thing about the off-season (late fall to early spring) is that it’s much quieter in Saratoga, and prices are typically lower.
Queer Wedding at Peterson Grove in Sanborn County Park
If all of this has your attention, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Haley and Josille’s day to help you imagine what your celebration could look like!
Haley and Josille’s day started with couple and family portraits on the charming bridge inside the park before their ceremony on the deck at Peterson Grove. These two had a beautiful and emotional ceremony where you could just feel so much love radiating between these two stunning brides.
They also had their adorable dog present as their ring bearer/ dog of honor at their wedding, who was wearing the cutest little tux and bow!
Post-ceremony
After their ceremony, we of course had to grab some more gorgeous gently posed photos in the redwoods – there are so many great spots throughout the park for photo ops.
Then it was time for their reception, which was held in the park’s picnic area. Their reception included a covered stage where the DJ and chocolate-covered strawberries were set up.
This was also the same spot where Haley, Josille, and a few of their guests gave their speeches and where they held all of their special dances. One I hadn’t seen before was a money dance, which was so much fun to watch! They also played a “who is more likely to” shoe game, and everyone was having a blast with it.
Another super unique feature of their wedding was that Haley and Josille DIYed their photobooth backdrop using dyed coffee filters to make the pink and white flowers. For crafty brides and engaged couples, this can be a standout way to create a focus point for your reception space. All the guests had so much fun taking photos in front of it!
Custom edits
If these photos look a bit different than what you see on the rest of my website, that’s because Haley and Josille asked for a custom edit. They wanted a filmy, moody vibe with cool-toned highlights. If my clients know that I’m the right person for them but they want something different when it comes to editing style, I’m open to switching things up!
I often have people send inspo images of edits they like, and then I creatively weave them together to create a one-of-a-kind custom edit that perfectly fits with what they were envisioning.
A quick note: This isn’t something that every wedding photographer will offer, but if you really like the photographer you’re considering and want to work with them, it never hurts to ask us if we are willing to do a different editing style for your wedding, just like Haley and Josille did!
Haley and Josille’s wedding reminded me how much I truly love what I do!
Ready to Plan Your Wedding at Sanborn County Park?
I hope you found all this info on planning a wedding at Sanborn County Park + inspo helpful!
And…if you’re in the Bay Area, looking for a photographer who specializes in photos of love, weddings, surprise proposals, and engagements, feel free to reach out here or learn more about my services here. I’ll fully support your nontraditional ideas and celebrate you wholeheartedly! I can’t wait to learn more about your vision and all the ideas you have in mind.
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