A. I specialize in performing weddings on the extraordinarily beautiful and spectacular San Mateo County Coastside just south of San Francisco, following Coast Highway 1 from Devil's Slide to Half Moon Bay and all the way south to Ano Nuevo and the Santa Cruz County border, mostly centered in the Half Moon Bay area.
I also specialize in the Mid-Peninsula/ San Mateo area, next to San Francisco Bay.
Coastside: towns of Montara, El Granada, Moss Beach, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Miramar, Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio, Pescadero, and Loma Mar.
Skyline (Highway 35 area) including La Honda and Skylonda, Woodside, Huddart Park, Purissima Creek Preserve (east end), etc.
San Mateo area: Crystal Springs chain of lakes and Pulgas Water Temple (both under the jurisdiction of San Francisco City and County), Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, and Atherton.
Parks: Butano State Park, Sam McDonald Park, Pescadero Creek and Memorial County Parks, Purissima Creek Redwoods Preserve (west end), Costonoa Lodge, historic San Gregorio Store.
Beaches: Montara State Beach, McNee Ranch State Park, Pillar Point Harbor (Princeton) near Maverick's (of "Men Who Ride Mountains" surfing contest fame), Surfers Beach, Miramar Beach, Roosevelt/Naples Beach, Dunes Beach, Poplar Beach, San Gregorio SB, Pescadero SB, Pomponio SB, Gazos Creek, Bean Hollow SB (Arroyo de los Frijoles), Tunitas Beach, and Ano Nuevo Reserve.
Lighthouses:
Montara Lighthouse and Pigeon Point Lighthouse
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A. Aside from the many Coastside beaches and homes/gardens in my chosen areas, the majority of my recent weddings have been:
Coastside:
*Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay; 650.712.7000
Spectacular location on ocean bluffs with a wide choice of inside/outside wedding sites. It's the Ritz. What else is there to say?
*Mill Rose Inn, 615 Mill Street, Half Moon Bay 800.900.7673.
Classic European Elegance by the Sea.
Peaceful courtyard surrounded by awesome plants and flowers.
* San Benito House 356 Main Street, Half Moon Bay 650.726.3425
Beautiful large garden setting, part of historic HMB hotel, with a large deck for receptions.
* Hastings House, 347 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay 650.726.2513
Peaceful, enchanted private garden setting on the edge of the Pacific
*Harbor House, Princeton-by-the Sea, 346 Princeton Avenue 650.728.1572
Large, fully equipped reception area with deck for weddings right over the water of Princeton Harbor
* Costanoa Lodge, 2001 Rossi Road, at Hwy. 1, Pescadero 650.87.1100 or 877.262.7848
Huge forest setting near ocean. Lodge and lawn area for scenic weddings
* Thomas Fogarty Winery, 19501 Skyline Blvd., Woodside
650.851.6777 or 800.313.4881
Beautiful views from patio and lawn overlooking extensive vineyards.
*Community United Methodist Church, Miramontes and Johnston Streets, Half Moon Bay 650.726.4621
Two beautiful facilities. Historic chapel (100 guests) and new sanctuary (200 guests) All weddings welcome, whether civil or religious.
*Half Moon Bay State Beaches, 95 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay 650.726.8819
Small wedding permits for most beaches are submitted here.(click on the link above to download permit)
San Mateo area:
*Pulgas Water Temple, Edgewood and Canada Roads,
Roman style outdoor temple (where San Francisco's water supply from the Sierra enters a chain of lakes) in dramatic but quiet setting.
* Kohl Mansion, on the Mercy campus, 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame 650.762.1136; Indoor or outdoor weddings in a magnificent estate setting.
*Ralston Hall, on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur University, 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont 650.508.3501 Exquisite mansion and ballroom, huge front lawn.
*San Mateo Garden Center, 650 Parkside Way, San Mateo 650.574.1506
Delightful garden setting with stream and gazebo over pond.
*San Mateo Marriott, 1770 South Amphlett Blvd., San Mateo 650.653.6000
* Holbrook Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Avenue, Atherton 650.752.0534
Outdoor park setting and dining under the oak trees
Lighthouses:
Point Montara Lighthouse, 16th Street at Highway 1, Montara 650.728.7177 (Hostel)
Pigeon Point Lighthouse, 210 Pigeon Point Road, Pescadero 650.879.2120
Both, as you might guess, are extraordinarily dramatic settings at the very edge of the sea.
Misc.
Pillar Point Harbor, Princeton-by-the Sea, Harbormaster:
650.583.4400
Butano State Park, 1500 Cloverdale Road, Pescadero
650.879.2040
or direct contact: Supervisor Gary Strachan 650.879.2028 (information on Ano Nuevo State Reserve and Rancho del Oso may also be obtained at this same number).
Q: Do you perform weddings outside the Coastside/San Mateo area, for instance, Sacramento, Monterey, Castro Valley, San Francisco, San Jose, etc.?
A: Generally, no, except in rare circumstances: Why leave paradise?
I perform several weddings in this area, leaving little time for travel. The additional cost to you of my travel time and distance would add a prohibitive amount to your already mounting costs.
Unless you strongly want a specific officiant, such as a relative or your own family minister to perform the ceremony, I believe that it is both risky and a mistake to book me as your wedding officiant if I live some distance from your wedding site.
What happens if and when, for example, on the day of the wedding, a highway between you and me is blocked for whatever reason, and I cannot get through? You simply would not have a wedding.
But an offciant who lives close to your wedding site and knows that area can easily reach you and arrive at the time agreed, which is why I am more than happy to help you in finding a wedding officiant at or near your wedding location.
