Amphitheater of the Redwoods at Pema Osel Ling

pend time with anyone, but rather we wanted a special place where we could be present with our loved ones for the whole weekend. We love the redwoods, and Pema Osel Ling was the perfect fit for our needs. Mia was our coordinator and we could not have asked for someone more patient, kind, thoughtful, and decisive in helping us plan and making sure the weekend went as smoothly as possible. All our guests emphasized how much they loved the venue, how good the food was, and how attentive staff were the whole time. Thank you POL!

ure & camping, choose Pema Osel Ling! We unfortunately a few minor issues with the venue, they are as followed... 1. The catering tasting (their onsite catering is the only option) was hosted in the Fall. Most of the food was seasonal only and this is great... but our wedding was the following Summer. A lot of the dishes they served us were only available in the fall and we were unable to try their summer menu. It was also strange that they served us the dishes when they only offer buffet services. Not a big deal but we wish we would have a had a better “taste” of what to expect (as the catering for the whole weekend was approx. 18k) We asked to pay for a private tasting as well but were denied. *Luckily the food ended up being absolutely amazing, so our worries were put to rest. But would have been nice to try the menu instead making choices based on how they sound rather than how it tasted. But like I said, food was 10/10! 2. The final invoice was significantly different than the running spreadsheet they give you. They quoted us for 150 guests & we ended up having 130 but the total was different (much higher with a lower number) We entered the correct data several times over the course of our planning. Upon being given the final invoice the day before the wedding, there was a significant “site fee” that was never included in this or discussed in meetings. 3. We were told there would be an attendant at the front to let guests arriving Saturday (and staying the night) where their cabins were. Instead the info was posted in a booth but non of our guests were directed there and I spent the end of my wedding night telling everyone where to go. Kind of a bummer but everyone found their cabins eventually. Overall besides these minor mishaps it was a wonderful venue and we would recommend it for easy going nature loving couples! Food was incredible and the staff was helpful.

ator was Eden, who was great with answering all of my questions and helped with making everything a smooth process. The food for the reception and brunch the following morning was delicious and a huge hit. We stuck to a pretty basic menu even though we had the option to get really creative and incorporate lots of food items, and it was still an incredible meal that everyone loved. Our wedding was on the smaller side with roughly 70 guests, and we didn't want it to feel like we had a lot of extra strangers/vendors at our wedding, but that was not the case at all. Every single person from Pema that we came into contact with was incredibly nice and added such a positive touch to our wedding. We had our ceremony at the Amphitheatre of the Redwoods, and it was absolutely incredible! The area was able to accommodate all of our guests and more; however, it had a feeling of being very intimate. We were approved to have dried lavender tossed, and the entire amphitheatre smelled of lavender and it was perfect! Cocktail hour was outside of Celebration Hall, and the bartenders provided by Pema were great and kept all of our guests happy (with alcohol that we provided!). For dinner we had everyone seated in the lawn area outside of Celebration Hall. The weather wasn't too cold but we had heaters and everyone was comfortable. Dancing and dessert were inside of Celebration Hall and this provided such a great space for guests who didn't want to be outside. We were worried that the space would feel too big and empty for our guest size, but we felt that it was perfect for everyone to be able to enjoy the venue without feeling too cramped or pressured to do a certain activity. At night we made use of the fire pit, which was a perfect way to wind down the night with our friends and family. It was incredible being able to take a moment to look up and see the beautiful night sky while making smores. We had a lot of friends and family spend the night at Pema, which was really affordable. All of the housing from the cabins, to the yurt, and the houses were clean, comfortable and provided the perfect space for people to spend the night. Pema is about 20 min from major hotels and the road to get to the venue is very windy (which was the only "negative" thing about Pema) so it really helped having such nice accommodations for people to be able to avoid unnecessary late night driving on the road. For getting ready, I got ready at the Orchard House and my husband got ready at the Sangha House. Both homes provided plenty of light and space to get ready before the ceremony. The check-in and check-out process for guests was also extremely easy and straight forward which was another added bonus! Almost a month later, I don't remember all of the specifics of the day, but I do remember the emotions and feelings from the day. Everything went really smoothly, and everyone was so kind and helpful - and these are the things that stick with you. We only have positive things to say about getting married at Pema Osel Ling and are so grateful to everyone that helped make our wedding day such a lovely day to remember.

was perfect, even at night. The staff was very attentive and the food was above our expectations for buffet wedding food! Miranda, our coordinator, made sure everything ran smoothly and perfectly. We would totally do this all over again! ;)

was so lovely and really helped us solidify our decision while being realistic about pricing options. Once we had signed the contract we began working with our wedding coordinator, Miranda. She is such a sweetheart and was responsive to the questions I had for her throughout the year of planning. On the day of she went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect, working with my family and bridesmaids so as not to trouble me on my day. It was truly everything I could have asked for. We had the place to ourselves for the whole weekend and everything from the rehearsal dinner, to the poolside hangout for our guests the day of, to the ceremony, reception, and post-reception (whew! it was a lot!) the entire staff at POL was 100%. Not to even mention the food. I could honestly write on and on about it, but suffice to say the chef is fantastic and we got endless compliments about how great the dinner was. The short ribs... just... do it. Seriously this place is great, if you are realistic about your budget, then there is absolutely no reason not to have your special day here.

d then did cocktail hour on the patio and dinner on the lawn. The redwood grove is breathtaking, it feels so intimate and cozy, almost like a secret space. Our guests were in awe of the venue and were amazed at the views. One of the best things about Pema is that it comes with a chef and a coordinator! Eden was the coordinator we had and she was the best at making sure everything was done right. She was always so cheerful to be around and had a smile on her face the whole time. She made me feel comfortable and completely relaxed. The food was hands down one of the best meals I’ve ever had! Our guests could not stop talking about the rosemary potatoes and the fresh bread! The staff was friendly and the bartender was awesome! Everyone that works here just seems to love their job and it shows. After we danced all night we went down to the lower lawn to have a bonfire and s’mores! What an amazing time that was to just unwind and soak up the day we all had just had. Our close family and wedding party all had rented cabins and cottages on the property. They are adorable! Waking up in a cozy cottage in the redwood forest is definitely something that should be on everyone’s bucket list. The next morning we saw wild life and listened to the birds sing. The sun came up and the valley below was golden. Our entire experience at Pema was one for the books. I couldn’t have planned a more perfect day or venue to get married at. Thank you again Eden!

f the process. All of our guests were so impressed with how well-coordinated the entire event was, not to mention how beautiful the location is. We are so grateful for Pema Osel Ling and the magical day they helped us create.

ed with 2 large houses, 6 cabins, and lots of camp sites which was great for our wedding as we were looking for a venue with lots of accommodations on site. You can fit about 80 people on site. The catering is included when you book the venue and the food was amazing. Food was a very important part of our wedding and we were so happy to find a venue that had a stellar catering department. We were able to customize the menu to our desire and we ended up with dishes that everyone loved. We want to give a special thanks to Miranda, who is the on-site wedding coordinator. She helped guide us through the whole planning process and was always available to answer whatever crazy questions popped into our minds. During the weekend she was there to receive our vendors, walk us through each event, and make sure all the events went smoothly and on time.

d professional, and several people came up to us afterward to tell us how much they enjoyed the food. The ability to host a weekend-long event was a big draw for us - we had a reception Friday evening and campfires both Friday and Saturday nights, which were a great way for our friends and family to get to know each other and enjoy the beautiful space. The previous review mentioned a less-than-ideal experience with the coordinator, but this was definitely not the case with us. Our coordinator Miranda (who only started at Pema Osel Ling about 8 months ago, part way through our planning) was absolutely fantastic. Especially in the last weeks leading up to the wedding and during the wedding weekend itself, she was very accessible, organized, helpful, and extremely patient. A pleasure to work with! We would highly recommend Pema Osel Ling as a venue, and Miranda as an on-site coordinator!

The only complaint that I have was was the coordinator. I did not at all feel supported by her throughout the planning process but dismissed it hoping that she would step up her game the day of. However, when my maid of honor ripped her dress on the way to set up, she did nothing but watch us and tell us we had to hurry up. When we asked for a sewing kit she stared blankly and made us drive back to where we came from to fix the dress, even though I found out later that she had a kit less than a hundred feet away. She seemed disinterested the entire day and was nowhere to be found when our dj blew a fuse and we had no music for 15 minutes. Again, the venue is absolutely stunning and there's nothing like a retreat for a real wedding weekend. I just wish that she had done her part.

(the food is absolutely amazing, btw- and pick the potatoes for the brunch, not the pancakes), and gave me personal creative freedom to decorate and provide activities tailored to our own tastes. Our wedding was very personalized. -While they don't have a bar, you can BYOB and hire a bartender (we used a couple kegs from BevMo and crates of Two-Buck Chuck from Trader Joes). They also provide you with a long list of rentals for any extras you need: I strongly recommend the umbrellas (it gets blazing hot in the day) and heaters (it gets chilly at night). -The venue is beautiful and spread out. My guests had the full run of it for the weekend to do our rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, Capture the Flag, party it up, wedding, reception, bonfire, and brunches. Mainly I'd list to gush about the amazing staff (it's all in the details): -The day we were leaving for the venue for the rehearsal we had an episode at home in which my fiancee and I were threatened (like I need ANYMORE stress- I was literally shaking as I drove up the mountain to my wedding). We immediately voiced our concerns to Shaunah and Kristie regarding our own safety, as well as the safety of their staff. We had already rented the basic security guard that Pema Osel Ling offers but the staff at Pema Osel Ling felt it would be better for everyone if we hired actual armed security. Not only did Shaunah find an affordable armed security guard LAST MINUTE, less than 24 hours before the wedding, but she kept him hidden from me the entire day of the wedding. She was worried that I would freak out more if I visualized this security guard, and he was so sneaky I literally did not see or think about him until the end of the night when he was leaving. I completely forgot I had security! You might wonder if that meant he was hiding instead of doing his job but that certainly wasn't the case. Everyone ELSE saw him- he had a photo of the unwelcome guests, checked guests in cars as they arrived and patrolled the ceremony and the reception. Thankfully, he wasn't needed to tackle anyone- in fact, there were many guests who assumed he was my hired stripper, and mistakely ran up to him for photos. LOL. Poor guy. I REALLY APPRECIATED the extra mile Shaunah and Kristie went to ensure the safety of my guests and their staff. I was very happy to put the extra money forward last minute. -Shaunah kicks ass. Throughout the entire process. She answered every single question I had- we literally had strings of emails going back and forth full of my nit picky questions and her thorough replies. I was absolutely impressed with how quickly she responded at times- it'd be late at night within a half hour sometimes, and I'm wondering: "you're not in the office, why are you responding?" As the wedding coordinator, she assisted me with finding my own vendors, rentals, collecting payments, reviewing contracts, trouble-shooting decorations and activities with me and generally acted as air-traffic control the weekend of the wedding. She was friendly, personable and professional 100% of the time. Actually, she's the sweetest person in the world.

nt and the facilities were great.

all inclusive there and we were able to have a whole weekend event rather than just one special day. It allowed to spend quality time with friends and family that was priceless. My wedding would not have been my dream come true if it weren't for this place. I couldn't have been happier with everything they offered. Bottom line.. If you want an amazing mountain wedding with great people and delicious food, POL will exceed your expectations!