The Mountain Terrace in Woodside | San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photographer

The Mountain Terrace is a gorgeous wedding venue located among the redwoods up in Woodside. With a charming patio lit by fairy lights at night and a expansive lawn ringed by towering redwoods, Mountain Terrace is the quintessential Northern California wedding venue!

We drove up to tour the venue on a warm summer morning where temps in the valley were set to reach nearly 90, but as we drove up the beautiful winding road I watched the temperature in my car slowly drop. By the time we arrive at Mountain Terrace we were greeted by a cool breeze that was so refreshing in contrast to the heat just a few miles down the mountain. Mountain Terrace is a wonderful way to escape the heat while still staying "in town".

Right off of the highway the wedding venue looks a bit unassuming with just a sign letting you know that you've arrived. It's not until your guests enter a charming back door that they will see the beautiful grounds of Mountain Terrace. A large, sweeping lawn opens up to towering redwoods and a partial view of the Bay Area below. Green surrounds you in a way that feels much like a secluded meadow.

To the left you will find wooden wine barrels, Adirondack chairs circling a small fire pit, and a wooden tree swing for the kids (and maybe adults too!) The back of the venue features a large patio for your guests to dine, complete with string lights to add ambiance once the sun dips below the horizon. The large, flat lawn is great for kids as well as any potential lawn games you might want to set up. 

Indoors you will find a large bar, cute getting ready room for the bride, and the kitchen.

The stats:

Number of Guests: 120-150 on average, up to 300 max.

Catering: Done in-house. Accommodations can be made for special requests such as kosher, Chinese, Indian, etc.

Average price: Packages range widely for base site rental fees, anywhere from $2000-$7000 depending on the time of year, day of the week and the number of hours.

Standard package: The standard package includes 8 hours on site, generally from 2-10 with the bride and groom choosing the ceremony and reception times. Chairs for the ceremony and tables and chairs for the reception are provided for up to 150 people. A day of wedding coordinator is not required, but can be added on to the package. Food and drinks are separate. A $100 ceremony fee includes a beautiful arbor that you can decorate with gorgeous flowers. Mountain Terrace also offers morning wedding packages for 5 hours from 9-2 on days where there isn’t an 8 hour wedding already booked or when the wedding is starting at 2 or 3.

I hope this post was helpful in your search for a gorgeous wedding venue in the San Francisco Bay Area! Sarah Hart, the sales manager was so wonderful to work with, so I know that you won’t regret choosing Mountain Terrace as your wedding venue. If you’re looking for venue that offers redwoods as a backdrop for your ceremony, Mountain Terrace is definitely a fantastic choice! Contact Mountain Terrace at info@themountainterrace.com or by calling 650-851-1606 and tell them that Bre sent you.

Marni & Andrew's Los Altos History Museum Wedding

This was my 3rd wedding this year at the lovely Los Altos History Museum. At the time that Marni and Andrew booked me, this was going to be my very first Jewish wedding. I talked a lot with Marni's mom about the details of the day and she lovingly explained the traditions. What struck me the most about Marni, Andrew, their traditions, and their wedding was that family is truly the most important part of a marriage ceremony. Each tradition focuses on the couple and those closest to them, having their parents, siblings, extended family, and honored friends surround them for the Tisch, Badekin, and Hamotzi. While some weddings feel a bit tense and chalked with nerves, this wedding day was jovial, happy, and full of love. A Jewish wedding is a true celebration and I hope that I get to photograph a lot more of them. Thank you Marni and Andrew for allowing me to witness such a beautiful day through the lens of my camera. Your wedding holds a special place in my heart.

Kara & Patrick's Los Altos History Museum Wedding

Kara and Patrick's wedding at the beautiful Los Altos History Museum was my first of four at this venue this year! I love flying into San Jose and I love Los Altos. In many ways, this part of California still feels like home to me. Every time I am hired to shoot a wedding here I get so, so excited. What do I love about the Los Altos History Museum as a wedding photographer? The way the light falls during the reception, the lush gardens, the orchard in the back of the property, the fact that you can have your entire reception outdoors, the ability to openly wander the property without restrictions, and the amazing way that it's run. They make sure that their couples have the perfect wedding experience and as a photographer, that makes me so very happy. I love Kara and Patrick. They are sweet, funny, easy-going, and their love for each other is made clear in every interaction that they have. Their wedding was a joy to photograph. I loved the way their parents cried, Patrick's jokes, Kara's awesome bridesmaids, and their super fun friends and family.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day!