A Garden Venue That's Hard to Forget
We’re in the business of creating experiences for you and your guests to remember forever. Every element of your celebration should be special, starting with the venue.
To find us...
Journey along the westward coast - at the edge of the map. North of San Francisco and just beyond the vineyards of west Sonoma County, the winding highway leads you to the nestled in cove below the coastal fishing town of Bodega Bay, California.
You have arrived...
Take a step through the gates, and behold, an enchanted Secret Garden.
Under the grove of redwoods, and dotted amongst the emerald green and wispy ferns, flowers, in their season, dance in the breeze.
You might say, you have travelled to a magical wonderland of a place. You may find yourself looking back at the gate to make sure you are still where you thought you were.
The Secret Gardens welcomes you. Come along, there is more to see...
As you travel down the path, you are immersed in a world of unbridled beauty. In every direction, delightful abundant blooms of rhododendrons, irises, dahlias, anemones, and camellias offset against a backdrop of delicate Japanese maples and cherry trees, all cozily nestled under the towering redwoods...
A truly idyllic setting for making memories together.
History
Donna Cook Freeman first transformed the two-acre cove of rambling briars and blackberries into a wonderland of fern and willow gardens. Her husband constructed storybook tiny cottages placed perfectly amongst the flowers. The Compass Rose Garden was very loved, carefully gardened and run by the Freeman family for many years. One family's beautiful Compass Rose Garden has now grown into the award-winning "Bodega Bay Secret Gardens"... This hidden spot along the coast holds memory, love and growth.
Hannah and Horus Brailsford, are the proud owners of Bodega Bay Secret Gardens. They bring over 23 years of experience from their legendary Gallatin River Hideaway in Montana . They have loved their experience of having wedding and event venues, sharing many special occasions.
They have in the short course of a few years, updated the Gardens into its former Beauty.
There are many new additions and we continue to add more romance each year. New additions include a Grooms dressing room/Nanny's room-aptly named The "Sweet Suite".
The "Birdsnest", a structure created for Lovers to get away during the hecticness of the wedding, It's purpose is for... the Bride and Groom to steal away for a few Private moments. One Bride threw her bouquet from the Window of the "Birdsnest"....another Bride made her entry into the Garden meeting her awaiting Father to escort her to the newly built Wedding Arbor.
Many changes have and continue to be made to the Gardens....they have been changes that enhance the natural beauty that what was already there!
Horus was a commercial fisherman in Bodega Bay in his twenties. He and Hannah have regularly returned over the years to share their love of the land and waters of the rocky Pacific coastline. On such a visit Fall of 2014, they wandered into the Gardens… and fell in love at first sight.
They soon purchased the Gardens, fully knowing that they would soon begin their adventures inspired by the serenity and sense of wonder found amongst the redwoods.