Kennolyn – Hilltop Hacienda and Stone Creek Village

After reading other reviews, it validates that Kennolyn treated other clients in the same way. March '20. CA is sheltering in place. Our wedding overview day gets cancelled & international travel is banned. We are hopeful that by Sept, we'd still be able to have our wedding & maybe the preview day will be rescheduled. April rolls around & we receive an official update from Kennolyn. If your wedding is from May-end of Aug '20, you can rebook through July 3, '21. All future payments for those couples will be rolled over. For Sept-Nov couples, this isn't being offered & you will only be charged for F&B guaranteed. We thought they were being flexible. In May, we express to Kennolyn that my fiancé's parents cannot travel to the US from the EU. We ask if we could postpone. Kennolyn states that if we want to change our date through July '21, we would lose 50% of our first deposit. Any later date, we would lose 100%. We offered an advance deposit in '20 in order to rebook to '21. Kennolyn declined & said that they would be "losing thousands" if they allowed that. Their response was distasteful, esp. considering these weren't just any guests who were attending; they were the parents of the groom. In June, we were supposed to have our 90-Day Final Detail Meeting. Instead, we got an email stating that our detail meeting was cancelled since their staff were still furloughed but to "please send our 2nd deposit via check to the venue." They got rid of their CC system & were only accepting cash. Since there weren't any "details" to go over, we asked if we could revisit our postponement request a month later in July & defer making payments for 1 month. Kennolyn accepted this. Kennolyn's stance was 1. If in July, Kennolyn is can’t operate in Sept, we can be refunded OR we can rebook w/o penalty to '21 OR 2. If in July, Kennolyn is able to operate in Sept, we can rebook to '21 but lose 50-100% of our deposit (same stance) OR we can have our wedding on the contracted date in Sept '20 w/ social distancing guidelines: * Masks to be worn until seated at the reception. * Guests to be seated within their own household. * No cocktail hour * No singing or dancing Since outdoor weddings were able to be hosted in SCC for cultural ceremonies, Kennolyn held firm in their stance in July. We felt we were being put in a situation to either lose thousands or put our guests health at risk. Days later, SCC is placed on the states monitoring list & Kennolyn "generously offers" to postpone our wedding to '21 OR '22 without any financial penalty. Almost 30 days prior to our Sept wedding, why did it take this long? If this is how they treated us up until this point, how are they going to be when we have our actual wedding? Rather than accepting, we asked for our first deposit refunded & provided documentation around guidances to date & provided backing on how we made multiple attempts to find a middle ground with the venue. We got the sense that they weren't taking the pandemic serious; not only for their guests, but for their own staff. The venue countered & gave us all but $1,500 back as they "spent a great amount of time on calls and emails with us." I knew after all of this, this was as good as it was going to get. This experience has left my fiancé & I both distasteful of weddings now. Thanks Kennolyn, you ruined the magic of our special day. I really wish I was giving Kennolyn a 5-star review for future couples to read, but I have nothing nice to say.

We had really high hopes for Kennolyn when we began to plan our October 2020 wedding with them. Unfortunately, in the midst of the COVID crisis, they made it clear to us that we are just another business deal to them and they care more about our money than about fairness, integrity to our contract, and a positive and warm experience. Once COVID hit, they spent several months telling us we could not move our deposit to another date and would be heavily charged extra for trying to do so, in spite of the fact that it became obvious that October would not be a safe time for gatherings of 100+ people. Spending thousands of additional dollars was not an option for us, neither was risking the lives of our friends and family (not to mention the Kennolyn staff). Later, the general manager informed us that if by August, weddings were still not allowed, we would receive our full deposit back. In August, all of a sudden, Kennolyn stopped responding to our emails and requests to reconnect and figure out our next steps. They left us with vague messages that “we are still holding weddings as planned” which we know is not possible given the regulations (and if they are currently upholding contracts involving gatherings of 125+ people in the midst of a global pandemic and wildfires, this should be considered a pretty awful public health hazard and should be dealt with). Not to mention, their social media has made it clear that they are not upholding contracts for such large gatherings. At this point, it has been a month of a wild goose chase trying to get some response out of Kennolyn. They have thousands of dollars of our money in a deposit and contract, and have not upheld a single portion of their end. I have been told at least 3 times now that “someone will hopefully get back to me by the end of the day!” over the course of the entire month of August. I would not recommend this venue unless you are willing to take the risk of having your money held with no services provided in return. I understand it is a difficult time for everyone, but this is absolutely not how you treat your clients, not to mention questionably legal.

Kennolyn is a magical place that's hard to describe in words. The venue is breathtaking and the experience we were able to cultivate there was unforgettable. So many people told us that our wedding was the best wedding they've ever been to! From the rehearsal dinner under the lights at Stone Creek Village, to the comfy cabins everyone stayed in and the dance party at the Hacienda - people loved it. The staff was great and allowed us to stay up late and take full advantage of the grounds while we were there for the weekend. I couldn't recommend Kennolyn enough!

The venue is beautiful but there were several reasons why it should only receive 1 star. First, before we signed our contract we were promised certain things, once our contract was signed they went back on things that were extremely significant to us. It’s almost as if they were trying to sell the venue to us and saying everything they could to get us to sign and once we did it changed. Another reason is the lack of communication between the employees at Kennolyn. We would have one person tell us something and another tell us a totally different thing. Also, at the wedding they ran out of potatoes at the buffet. How does that even happen? Especially when less people show up than what they planned for.

Had my dream wedding here, my bridal house is spacious, the wedding site and reception site are beautifully decorated. The staff were helpful. Best pick for wedding venue!

Cannot say enough about Kennolyn! Having out wedding at Kennoyln meant two great things: the cost included a day of coordinator, Janine, who was super on top of it, a joy to work with and just a rock star in general. I probably reached out to her 100 times with questions/ideas and she was always super responsive and helpful, and gracefully managed all the day-of curveballs with ease. Additionally, catering was included, and the caterers are excellent! They could make pretty much anything we wanted to serve, and we went with a taco buffet including vegan and gluten free options. The caterers were professional and sweet anytime I interacted with them day-of, and I was impressed. The venus itself it absolutely stunning. We got married in a redwood grove - a dream, realized - and had a beautiful dinner on the patio overlooking the lawn of the Hilltop Hacienda and Monterey Bay.

There aren't enough nice things I can say about the Kennolyn team; especially Jenn and Janine. They made our wedding seriously magical! We were married on 10.8.16 and also rented out the camp for an adult camp weekend. They are quick to respond to emails, thoughtful in their suggestions, hands-on during the wedding day, friendly and just lovely. They are the kindest, most thoughtful women I've ever worked it. They loved my dog as if it was their own and made sure all of our family and friends were taken care of. The venue itself is beyond beautiful with views to the sea, the food was delicious and we couldn't have asked for a better venue for our special day. I would highly recommend Kennolyn for weddings but really any event needs. You won't be disappointed in the service you receive!

Kennolyn could not have been a more perfect spot for our wedding. The Hacienda is gorgeous, teeming with flowers and plants with a gorgeous view overlooking the ocean and surrounded by redwoods. And the staff -- particularly Jenn and Janeen -- could not have been more helpful. They always responded to requests in a prompt, professional manner, they ran the show meticulously the day of the wedding, and they made the whole planning process so much easier, from start to finish. They are true professionals in how they handle everything, but also very kind and personal. I could not recommend them, or Kennolyn, highly enough. The food was also delicious -- guests remarked that it was the best wedding food they had ever had. And all of the servers were so friendly and helpful. We truly couldn't think of a complaint if we tried. Thank you, Kennolyn!

We had our wedding at Kennolyn on 8-1-14. We went on a venue hunt with our moms and toured about 20 venues along the coast. We fell in love with Kennolyn as soon as we stepped onto the property. We could not have a picked a more perfect location. The natural beauty/flowers/landscaping is a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding and saves money on wedding decor. The food is excellent! Our guests raved about the beauty of the venue, the delicious food and helpful staff. They were able to accommodate for several vegan friends, which was great. We began our consultation with Jenn and then Janeen took over. Both are amazing. Janeen went above and beyond to ensure that our wedding day was successful and everything we dreamed it could be. She was quick to respond to emails and phone calls and answered the millions of questions I had. The day of, Janeen coordinated all the vendors and guests, and did a wonderful job. So many of our guests told us it was the best wedding they had ever been to! We are SO thankful we chose Kennolyn for our wedding. You cannot beat the price for the location, staff and amenities. Thank you Kennolyn! Here's our wedding highlight video so you can see more of the location: vimeo.com/110116102

I would pick Kennolyn for our wedding over and over again!! It was such a spectacular venue, and I know that Kennolyn's awesome staff were a huge part of the reason our wedding day was such a success! My mom and I loved Jenn from the moment we met her. She was so helpful and low pressure when we were first looking at the venue, and always very easy to get in touch with during the planning stages. Having her there as a day-of coordinator helped everything go amazingly smoothly! (Multiple guests commented on how flawless our wedding seemed!) It was so great to just be able to drop off our decorations during the rehearsal, and then to return the next day to see them expertly displayed! Jenn also coordinated all of the outside vendors we hired -- I didn't have to worry about a thing on the day of! I just showed up and enjoyed the day! The food was delicious, and the servers polite and professional. Our champagne glasses were never empty! As bride and groom, appetizers and buffet items were brought directly to the sweetheart table. Jenn and Janeen even arranged it so that I could have a special vegetarian meal, and made sure I got a slice of the cake. They really thought of everything, and anticipated my needs before I even could. Also, the location is really beautiful! We had an amazing view of the ocean, including a spectacular sunset during dinner. I love the Spanish hacienda style of the place, and our pictures among the redwood trees came out stunning. It was so nice that it is private (no strangers looking on!) and my guests were easily shuttled to and from the hotel in our charter buses. Many guests came up to tell us how beautiful, comfortable and fun our venue was. Don't hesitate to book Kennolyn as your wedding venue -- I promise you won't regret it! (Thank you again, Jenn and Janeen!)

We had our wedding reception at Kennolyn's Hilltop Hacienda and it was beautiful. The venue is lovely, and was in good condition so it needed little decorating. The coordinators & staff were great to work with & everything they coordinated went off without a hitch, very professional from accommodating vegetarians to arrange high chairs for the little ones, to setting up the things we brought for decor. Our guests had a great time & everyone was raving about Kennolyn.

We just got married at Kennolyn last month. Jenn was very helpful with all of the planning and answered all of my questions. She can be as involved or as hands-off as you want her to be, it just depends on how much you reach out to her either by email or by phone. We picked Kennolyn because we wanted to get married in the forest but also wanted the convenience of some sort of organized area where people could easily eat dinner and dance without having to worry about tons of bugs or tripping over tree roots. There is a huge parking lot that leads to a courtyard. The courtyard itself is where the cocktail hour and dancing happen if you want to keep things outdoors. The courtyard leads to a small banquet hall with a fireplace that they light when it get dark, the buffet tables, and a table for the cake. I personally did not like having the cake inside because it kind of messed up the flow (people had to move inside for cake cutting and then did not end up moving back outside where I had hoped the rest of the dancing would take place). However, it was a very hot day and it was the best place for it considering we did not want the cake to be a melted mess by the time we got around to cutting it five hours after it was delivered. After you go through the hall there is an outdoor, partially covered terrace where everyone can eat and you can see the Monterey Bay (if you're luck and the weather cooperates). Just past the tables are the steps that lead to the lawn area where there is a fountain and steps for the ceremony to take place on. As mentioned, it was a really hot day so it was nice that they provide parasols for the guests to shade themselves. The one suggestion I have about the parasols is that they provide some for the parents and others who sit down after walking down the aisle. Jenn had everything set up when I arrived, from the food platter and water in the (air conditioned!) bridal room to the guestbook and pictures in the courtyard. We weren't able to bring the wedding favors until last minute but Jenn took everything in stride. She was very calm the day of, which was very helpful. We had practiced the ceremony the day before but she was still there to give us our cue to walk and helped everyone look great! She works behind the scenes to make things run smoothly. The only negative that I can see is that if you are interested in using a DJ you must choose from either Sound in Motion or Music Now. We felt a little restricted in this sense but both companies have multiple DJs that should be available if you book early. Good luck with your wedding planning!

Kennolyn was actually the first venue that John and I went to while investigating where we wanted to get married. It was also one of the pricier options as it is all-inclusive (they provide the food, the drinks, ceremony and reception venues and a planner who is amazing). There are several packages to choose from with different prices. We ended up going with the higher buffet and middle drink options and got rave reviews on the food and drinks from all of our guests (and we loved them too!!). Jenn at Kennolyn is an amazing planner....her personality is so sweet and easy to work with. She was so patient with all my emails with questions and got back to me immediately. The venue itself is tucked up in the hills above Soquel/Capitola. From the Hacienda back patio, you have an amazing view of the entire Monterey Bay. The plantings and everything about the venue are just beautiful. We had our ceremony on May 18, 2013, and the weather was amazing. We did it all outside...ceremony on the back lawn with the wedding party on the patio in front of the lion's head fountain; buffet, cake, coffee/tea, photobooth, slideshow, mingling tables and kid's craft table inside the hacienda itself, and the dining tables set up on the back patio. The reception was all in the front patio. It was so nice to have everything in one place and not to have to worry about a separate caterer. This place is stunning, the food is great and the coordinator is amazing. It was definitely worth the price. We had a storybook wedding and so much of it was due to Kennolyn.

Kennolyn was the first and only venue we looked at for our wedding. We lived on Glen Haven and fell in love with the area. This venue was beautiful and well laid out. The entire wedding flowed amazingly and the coordinator we had couldn't have been any better. Jenn was our coordinator and from the very beginning she was so on top of her game and a real pleasure to work with. Our wedding was so successful and beautiful because of her! This venue and it's staff are top notch and I wouldn't change anything. The food was also great, many people told us it was the best wedding food they had ever had! Thank you everyone at Kennolyn!

Kennolyn is the perfect place to get married for a number of reasons! Location is gorgeous and with beautiful views, the staff is top notch, the food is yummy, and the layout of the hacienda is perfect for entertaining. Janeen & Jenn are class acts and make you feel like your wedding is the only wedding they have going on. My sister, best friend both got married here as well and it was a no brainer when it came my turn to get married. Well worth the money spent.

What a wonderful place. Our wedding was fabulous. We fell in love with Kennolyn while visiting during a crazy rainstorm, if that tells you anything! Kennolyn's Hilltop Hacienda knows their stuff. Carrie Geldhof is the most wonderful wedding coordinator. She is enthusiastic without being over the top, she's funny without being sarcastic, she's a straight shooter while being completely professional and kind. Most of all, however, she's on top of her game. I felt completely in good hands when planning my Kennolyn wedding. She made me feel as though I could have the wedding I wanted, without ever leading me astray. Kennolyn is truly beutiful! The view of the Pacific Ocean at Kennolyn is unparalleled--yes, there are amazing views all over the greater Santa Cruz area--but few with mountaintop/redwood/ocean combination that Kennolyn gives you. The lawn is a beautiful place for a ceremony, and the Hacienda and patio give a lot room for a reception, dancing and delicious dinner. The food is delicious--something you really don't find at many venues. Having catering as a part of the venue really alleviated many other decisions/headaches! Because of all the space, you can have separate areas for many different activities if you wish. Kennolyn has great 'green' wedding options as well, which is really nice. There were rooms for both the bride and groom to ready themselves, which doubled as great private nursing areas for nursing friends! Only minor complaint? The alcohol packages seemed a bit steep. However, the wine was both local and delicious! We'll have amazing memories for the rest of our lives. Go Kennolyn!

I am a local wedding vendor that has worked with Kennolyn for a few years now. Everyone in the Monterey bay area loves Kennolyn. Just thinking of the property makes people take a deep sigh and wish they could be there enjoying a cup of tea on the terrace that overlooks the bay, while being secluded in the middle of the forest with deer often not far from you. Janeen and Carrie are super to work with and always have wonderful dispositions while making sure all of the details are attended to. Definately a top spot!

My husband and I were referred to Kennolyn from a friend after visiting over 10 other venues and as soon as we saw it, we knew we were done looking around. The small, intimate venue with gorgeous views was exactly what we wanted. The staff, especially Carrie, went above and beyond what we expected to make our day perfect. Although the price was a bit more than we wanted to spend, we decided it was worth it in the long run and we had an amazing day. I hope some of our friends choose Kennolyn so we can keep coming back :)

As a new vendor working with Kennolyn, we look forward to providing a superior product and service similar to what we personally experienced at our own wedding at Kennolyn more than nine years ago. We were impressed with all our wedding vendors, the Kennolyn staff and professional services they all provided, everyone was extremely knowledgeable, flexible and accommodating. We are looking forward to being a part of the overall experience at Kennolyn, this time not as bride and groom but now as a vendor supplying wine for the various celebrations and events. Steve and Mary Jo SchacherLeoa Cellars

We could not have been more pleased with our choice of Kennolyn Hilltop Hacienda for our son and daughter-in-law's wedding reception! The first time we visited the venue, we all knew that this was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted a private location which would reflect the beauty, style and character of California. With its historic Spanish style hacienda nestled in the forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains and an amazing view overlooking the Monterey Bay, Kennolyn fulfilled our expectations in every way. From the moment our guests arrived, they knew that this would be a very special event. They were warmly greeted by staff offering them chilled champagne and delicious appetizers around the fountain in the hacienda courtyard while the bridal party was being photographed in the gorgeous redwood grove. The chef worked with us to prepare a perfect menu which our guests raved was the most delicious wedding fare they had ever enjoyed. Dancing in the open air patio under the stars and surrounded by the sparkle of lighted trees was truly a romantic experience. Finally, the staff at Kennolyn was the absolute best! They were friendly, efficient, professional, and flexible and really made our planning experience go smoothly. From start to finish, the Kennolyn staff could not have been more accommodating to us in every way and we could not have been happier with our choice of Kennolyn for our wedding reception.

I have worked with Kennolyn as a vendor for four years now, providing transportation for weddings and events with my shuttling and transportation company, Santa Cruz Experience (scexp.com). During this time, Kennolyn has been nothing less than a pleasure to work with. On a professional level, they are responsive, organized, and thorough, with a great staff and low amount of turnover. On a personal level, they are friendly, accommodating, and always helpful. The venue is spectacular and I have heard nothing but great feedback from the countless clients that we have shuttled to and from the property. Kennolyn has everything that one could want in a wedding venue and I would not hesitate to recommend them as one of the premier wedding and event sites in the Santa Cruz and Monterey area.

I have been photographing weddings at Kennolyn for close to 20 years and it is an amazing location. It is private, with stunning views, lovely dining room, warm and wonderful staff. I highly recommend it! Susan Helgeson

I have officiated over 25 weddings at Kennolyn so I have a lot of experience there. It is certainly one of the very best locations a couple could find for their wedding event. The staff is warm, friendly, professional and truly hospitable. I always see them going the extra mile to accommodate everyone’s needs. They do a great job coordinating all of the vendors. But I really want to mention the venue itself. There are private full use cabins for the wedding party to change and relax in. There is an ocean-view lawn for the ceremony, a covered patio for sunset watching, dining or evening cigar smoking. There is an indoor dining room with giant fireplace that adds warmth and ambiance. And there is Hacienda style courtyard with a beautiful fountain for the cocktail hour and after dinner dancing. This facility is so much better than the single room setting. Weddings are also family reunions. At Kennolyn there is ample opportunity for picturesque photos, reconnect with family strolls, and quiet leisurely conversation. And there is also plenty of room when it is time for everyone to come together and dance. Did I mention the food was creative, made on site and delicious! Every couple needs to take a tour and at least see what is possible.

Kennolyn is an such a great place, I highly recommend the staff, service, venue and Jenn the wedding coordinator. The venue is exactly what we were looking for and I'm so happy we chose to go with Kennolyn for our spring wedding.

I had to go back and have my children blessed where I was happily married. Our coordinator was great and the day was perfect. Kennolyn worked with my budget, food was incredible and the waitstaff attended to every need my family and I had. maybe I can come back for my 50th anniversary and get re-married at Kennolyn.

It was a beautiful, magical space, with both indoor and outdoor areas. The ambiance was wonderful and had spectacular views. It was incredibly private and picturesque.;Some of the furniture, especially outdoors, was in need of repair/repainting. There were a couple of things that were not done to my liking.