March Photo Tour: Great Wedding Venues in Saratoga CA

This month Stacie and I stayed close to home and photographed some of the most interesting places in Saratoga, California. Only this time we each chose a different perspective to feature at these places of interest. Since all of these stops are great places to hold a wedding I chose to spotlight them as wedding venues. Stacie's focus is to share them with her readers who want to take in all of the great spots when they to visit Saratoga. To see Stacie's Tour of Saratoga post just click here.

We planned to visit four locations all of which I have had the pleasure to be the DJ/MC many times for a number of wedding celebrations over the years.

Villa Montalvo – 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga, CA 95071  www.montalvoarts.org

Hakone Gardens – 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070  www.hakone.us

The Mountain Winery – 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga, CA 95070  www.mountainwinery.com

Saratoga Springs – 22801 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070  www.saratoga-springs.com

We began our tour at one of the crown jewels of Saratoga, Villa Montalvo. This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is so rich in history that I am surprised the public can actually rent it for events. It would be a major tourism attraction even if all you could do is walk around the grounds and view it from a distance.

The main entrance leading to Villa Montalvo is on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road

Stacie's excitement began before we even entered the Montalvo property because she loves the Griffin statues at the front entrance. She even blogged about them earlier this year in this post.

Griffins "guard" the entrance to Villa Montalvo

The sprawling lawn and Historic Villa make Montalvo one of the most sought after wedding venues in Northern California. If you're seeking European flair without going overseas, Villa Montalvo is the ticket.

The Historic Villa makes a great first impression upon arrival.

For ceremonies the two outdoor choices are the Oval Garden behind the Historic Villa or the Love Temple on the opposite end of the front lawn.

Most ceremonies are held in The Oval Garden behind the Historic Villa.

The Love Temple can also be used for wedding ceremonies.

My favorite space at Villa Montalvo is called the Spanish Courtyard. Often the wedding guests congregate here for the pre-reception beverages and appetizers while the bride and groom finish their photographs. Then the steps down into the courtyard make for a very dramatic Grand Entrance for the honored couple.

The Spanish Courtyard

Most of the weddings I have done at Villa Montalvo then move onto The Veranda for dinner which is a nice space for outdoor dining. The views of the front lawn and Love Temple make for a great setting.

At this point I am going to defer to one of the top professional wedding photographers who is on the Montalvo preferred vendor list, Todd Rafalovich to show you how really great a wedding can look at Villa Montalvo. Here are some of Todd's images he was kind enough to let me include in my post to spotlight Villa Montalvo.

Photo by Todd Rafalovich

Photo by Todd Rafalovich

Photo by Todd Rafalovich

Photo by Todd Rafalovich

Hakone Gardens, our next stop, has been selected as one of only twelve sites in the United States to receive the Save America's Treasure award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. These incredible Japanese gardens were created in 1917 and like Villa Montalvo it is surprisingly cool that they are made available for weddings and events.

Entrance at 21000 Big Basin Way

Hakone Gardens' Main Gate

The Main Gate welcomes visitors and opens directly into the large area where the wedding ceremonies take place.

Hakone's wedding ceremony area has plenty of room for seating

The Koi Pond and Moon Bridge is the centerpiece of Hakone.  This area is not only incredible for photographing brides and grooms but also provides the visual backdrop for the wedding ceremonies.

 A gently cascading waterfall flows down the hill into the Koi Pond.

The Koi are plentiful and eager to position for feeding.

Reception facilities include a pleasant outdoor area for dining and inside the Cultural Exchange Center for dancing and dessert. The back side of the center boasts great views of the Santa Clara Valley.

The Cultural Exchange Center Building

Viewing Deck of the Cultural Exchange Center

The photo opportunities at Hakone Gardens are seemingly endless including their famous Bamboo Garden with its cool lighting and infinite patterns.

Bamboo Garden (Kizuna-en)

On the Hakone Gardens' website they feature the work of several great photographers. I was fortunate enough to get the following photos of a Hakone Gardens wedding taken there by professional wedding photographer, Chung Li. Thank you Chung for offering your beautiful images.

Photo by Chung Li

Photo by Chung Li

Photo by Chung Li

The Mountain Winery sits high above Saratoga and is one of my all-time favorite wedding venues. I have been the DJ/MC at 48 weddings there between 1991 and 2004. There is just nothing like a nice warm summer or fall evening with dancing on the Chateau Deck and the valley view as a backdrop.

The sign at Big Basin Way (Highway 9) and Pierce Road

One of the first things you see as you walk up the front driveway is the huge Concert Bowl. The concert series at the Mountain Winery is legendary and features some of the biggest names in entertainment. Before the winery did their major remodel one of my 2004 clients actually had their entire wedding reception in the bowl. It was a blast keeping 300 guests rocking the dance floor in the same place I had danced myself at so many concerts!

The Concert Bowl is home to the phenomenal Summer Concert Series

What makes the Mountain Winery so special for me is the convenience of the great new facility that works hard at preserving its legacy. Everywhere you turn there are more than just simply nods to the rich history of the original Paul Masson Vineyards and Winery.

The Chateau is one of the original buildings and is now surrounded by two great decks The Vista Deck and The Chateau Deck that take full advantage of the fabulous views.

The Chateau at the Mountain Winery

Vista Deck looking down at the Chateau Deck

Wherever you stand at the Mountain Winery the views are incomparable. Even though it was bit overcast on the day we visited it was still breathtaking to see this much of the Bay Area all at once.

I was in luck when I saw that professional photographer, Rhee Bevere, was on the preferred vendor list at the Mountain Winery because I knew she would capture both the romantic moment and also the stunning beauty of this majestic mountain top place.

Photo by Rhee Bevere

Photo by Rhee Bevere

Photo by Rhee Bevere

Photo by Rhee Bevere

On our way out we were reminded of just how special this place really is. The Mountain Winery is and always has been truly minutes away and worlds apart.

Our final planned stop was at another Saratoga landmark called Saratoga Springs. This legendary creek side picnic and campground has been family owned for five generations and home to summer fun since the late 1800's.

Enter the fun zone at 22801 Big Basin Way

I am excited to be the DJ/MC at a Saratoga Springs wedding this coming July. My client is having 300 guests so they are taking full advantage of the huge open spaces of the Longbridge picnic area. The great artificial turf surface feels rustic yet keeps the dirt and dust to a minimum.

The upper Longbridge area can also be utilized for wedding ceremonies or a cocktail hour.

A raised deck overlooks the sprawling Longbridge grounds.

Food and beverage service is handled by in-house caterers and classic BBQ cooking right on the spot.

Natural, majestic and rustic is truly the vibe at Saratoga Springs

Several smaller areas are also available for more intimate groups like the Cathedral Grove,  Redwood Grove and Saratoga Grove. They have all the same great amenities but in a cozier space.

Cathedral Grove picnic area

Saratoga Springs has a wonderful creek that runs completely through it. It is a constant reminder of the natural beauty this charming place eludes. If you are looking for a rustic wedding spot that also has great services and convenience, Saratoga Springs is the real deal. Fortunately, another professional photographer I know, Lucie, of LucieXYZ Photography was able to provide me with these great images of a wedding she photographed at Saratoga Springs.

Photo by LucieXYZ Photography

Photo by LucieXYZ Photography

Photo by LucieXYZ Photography

Now I am going to exercise a little writer's creative license with a side bar. I was married in 1987 at a small ceremony directly across the street from Hakone Gardens. My parents lived in the Saratoga Oaks neighborhood where we had a small ceremony with just 50 guests.

This complex sits right on the very first curve of Big Basin Way as you head out of downtown Saratoga and up Highway 9. It is distinctively marked by a single tennis court on the outer edge of the property. We had a creek side ceremony on this common lawn area followed by a reception in their multipurpose room just across this bridge. This facility is not open to the public but rather for the exclusive use of the residents of Saratoga Oaks. I just can't think of Saratoga and weddings without recalling that special Fall day nearly twenty-five years ago.

Where I was married in Saratoga all those years ago.

Saratoga is obviously a charming little place and certainly a romantic one to tie the knot. For a small town it has an impressive selection of wedding facilities. In just this tour alone we covered a huge range of styles. We had classic European at Villa Montalvo, the tranquil Japanese Hakone Gardens, the California history rich Mountain Winery and the rustic forest setting at Saratoga Springs.

Once again a huge thanks to my contributing professional photographers for allowing me to include all of their great images. Todd Rafalovich at Villa Montalvo, Chung Li at Hakone Gardens, Rhee Bevere at the Mountain Winery and Lucie Silveira of LucieXYZ at Saratoga Springs.

My parting shot is of Kim and I on that October day in 1987. Saratoga will always be near and dear to me. It is a great community with many wonderful wedding venues.

Kim and Carl Mindling

February Adventure: Silicon Valley's History and Tech Tourist Stops

This month my touring partner, Stacie, suggested we stay close to home and visit some of the places where Silicon Valley originated as one of the high technology centers of the world. Also on our list of stops were several of today's hottest companies whose headquarters' fronts have become as popular of tourist attractions as the Golden Gate Bridge. To see Stacie's recap of our tour click here

The number of visitors here for a photo at Apple headquarters is infinite.

Conveniently located adjacent to the front door of Apple is their Company Store boasting the hottest consumer technology devices which just so happens to be open to the public as well as employees. It's like a gift shop where you can pick up a memento of your visit after the photo in front of this iconic company. I am at Apple often and have yet to be there without seeing a steady stream of tourists.

Directly across the street from Apple's headquarters is a favorite geek hang out called The Bagel Café. This little restaurant serves basic sandwiches and drinks but still thrives in spite of the incredible in-house cafeteria and food service provided for Apple employees. Stacie tried a cranberry bagel that was just outstanding.

A favorite place of Geeks to grab a bite.

It was only appropriate that our next stop was the garage at a Los Altos home where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak collaborated to build the first Apple computer. It was a nicely renovated neighborhood but also unassuming with no indication that this one house was so rich in history.

2066 Crist Drive in Los Altos, California where Apple began.

The actual garage where the Steve's performed their magic.

On to Mountain View where we photographed the outside of the Computer History Museum. This building is also rich in technology history as it was once home to the legendary Silicon Graphics Corporation. The exhibits here are vast and you need more than one day to take it all in.

The CHM is at 1401 North Shoreline Blvd. at Highway 101 in Mountain View.

Currently showing is an exhibit called "Evolution."

Computer History Museum is a very popular spot for holding private events.

Right around the corner from the Computer History Museum is the world headquarters for another Mountain View company making history, Google. One thing that really struck me was how visitor friendly Google has become. They really get it. They understand the value of making their brand and headquarters a welcome place for visitors.

We found plenty of visitor parking at this very busy campus complex.

The very first thing Stacie wanted to show me was the famous "Google Gate Bridge." Although it does not exactly have the architectural grandeur of its more famous namesake, the employees love it for reducing their walk between buildings. Crossing over this creek used to be more exhilarating on a zip line but practicality dictated that a foot bridge made much more sense.

Google Gate Bridge connects several key buildings on campus.

One of the most entertaining spots at Google to shoot is their famous Icon Garden. Everytime they launch a new operating system they add another one of these whimsical statues to the collection.

In the heart of the campus the icon garden shows Google's sense of humor.

Visitors welcome is definitely the mantra here in Mountain View where photos are playfully encouraged.

As you can see it did not take me very long to get into the spirit.

Dessert anyone?

Nothing like a sundae in the middle of the week!

Beware of the Android Attack!

Google's main entrance is impressive yet welcoming like the rest of the campus.

Our next stop was my most anticipated because I am such a long time fan of Hewlett Packard. My father's company worked very closely with HP in the sixties and seventies. The story of Bill Hewlett and David Packard's humble beginnings in a Palo Alto garage are not only legendary but "The Garage" itself has become a historic landmark.

The birthplace of Hewlett Packard

I was just content to see this place and be able to photograph the famous garage. It is detached from the house like so many homes that were built in the early 1900's. This humble little structure has a huge aura about it when you stand there and think about the level of innovation that took place inside.

As we continued to photograph the outside we had no indication of the surprise that was upon us. As you can see the house at 367 Addison Avenue is quite nicely restored and the flowers were blooming from our unseasonal early spring weather.

367 Addison Avenue near Waverly in Palo Alto

Suddenly we were greeted by an HP employee who just happened to be inside the house and watching us photograph. We were invited inside for a quick tour. I was stunned because sometimes when we photograph we get the opposite reaction and people are suspect of our intentions. If my images seem shaky or rushed it is because I was just so excited to be inside. I had no idea that in 2003 HP had launched a project to restore and renovate this property to replicate it as it was in 1938. What a great project to bring back this important time in technology history!

The Packard's living room.

Original and functional appliances fill the kitchen.

1938 table setting complete with vintage toaster.

Completing the trip back to 1938 is a real functioning rotary phone on the wall.

The employee was kind enough to actually encourage me to try the phone and call my cell phone. It was a real kick to dial my number. I had forgotten just how much patience it takes to move that dial around. :-) Stacie snapped this funny photo of me calling myself.

From 1938 rotary to 2012 iPhone 4S..."Can you hear me now"?

The real thrill came from seeing The Garage and The Shed where Bill Hewlett lived behind the main house. These humble beginnings are a reminder of how the HP house was built long before the days of corporate jets and Peninsula mansions. Bill's bunkhouse was just that and not much bigger than the garage where they worked.

The bed where Bill slept was really just a cot.

Bill's bunkhouse had a simple sink.

Bill's desk complete with the engineer's most used tool of the time, a slide rule.

Bill Hewlett's actual flannel shirt hangs in tribute.

The Garage workbench where it all began.

The renovation project displays many great artifacts from the original collection.

This photo of the founders in The Garage brings the aura of the era completely home.

On a parting note from our incredible HP tour I shot this plaque in the garden. This important renovation project was inspired by the late Greg Winter who worked for HP. In the garden rests this dedication plaque to his efforts in bringing The Garage restoration to fruition.

Stacie and I were blown away and could have wrapped up our tour at that point because we got way more than we expected in Palo Alto. However, one more stop beckoned at the new headquarters of Facebook. They recently moved into the former Menlo Park campus built by Sun Microsystems in the 90's. This final stop was a fitting conclusion to our tour of Silicon Valley landmarks because Facebook is the hottest new company in the industry and on the verge of going public. Our parting shot is where everyone stops for a photo in front of their iconic thumb up "Like" logo sign.

Two thumbs up for a great day touring Silicon Valley's most famous places!