Waterfall Lodge and Retreat - Ben Lomond, California

Emily Goulart

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding venue than Waterfall Lodge! It was everything we were looking for and more. From the moment we found this place, we knew it was the one. We wanted to get married in a beautiful forest setting, and Waterfall Lodge delivered beyond our expectations. The property is absolutely breathtaking—surrounded by lush greenery and towering trees, it created the most magical and intimate atmosphere for our ceremony.
One of the things we loved most about Waterfall Lodge was the ability to stay on-site, which made the entire weekend so much more relaxed and stress-free. We were able to enjoy the full experience without worrying about transportation or logistics. It was such a joy to have the entire wedding weekend unfold right there, and the fact that so many of our guests could also stay on-site made it even more special.
The team at Waterfall Lodge was fantastic. They were incredibly accommodating and made sure we had everything we needed. Anytime we needed a lift around the property or had a question, they were right there to help. Their attention to detail and care made us feel so supported throughout the entire process.
If you’re looking for a beautiful, serene, and unforgettable place to host your wedding, Waterfall Lodge is the absolute perfect choice. We’re so grateful to have had the chance to celebrate our love there, and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Zoe Zepp

I was lucky enough to have my beautiful wedding at this breathtaking venue. The venue staff was incredibly helpful, responsive and kind throughout the entire planning process and the wedding day. I was told by many of my guests that it was the most beautiful wedding venue they had ever seen and I absolutely agree. It was truly magical and everything I had dreamed of. I enjoyed seeing the banana slugs and other wildlife all over the venue. The bridal cottage was adorable, quite large and all set up for my bridesmaids and I when we arrived. The shuttle was very convenient and the drivers did a great job transporting my guests all over the venue. Check in was a breeze and I really appreciate how they have the cabin assignments set up for the bride and groom to choose the cabins for their guests. I cannot recommend Waterfall Lodge and Retreat enough! Thank you so much for everything you did to make my wedding day so memorable!

Abigail Greene

Waterfall lodge is an incredible venue. Nothing compared to the towering redwoods and amazing cabins. All of our guests loved it. It is a massive venue but they have an internal shuttle to help with transportation. I loved having a 3 day event where we played volleyball and games night before, had a relaxing wedding morning, and stayed the night after the wedding. Book your wedding here!!

Jady LI

It was such a fabulous wedding at the Waterfall Lodge and Retreat, and I can’t say thank you enough to the whole team! They are truly professional and thoughtful people who really take care the entire process. From the very beginning, the team provided a site tour with lots of hints and recommendations about planning different sections of the wedding and help my husband and I to picture how the wedding day may look like. Having a positive attitude and smooth communication is the most enjoyable part of working with the team. For instance, the team understands our budgets and other expectations, and they were patient to walk through our questions about the contract terms to ensure we have a fair agreement and no surprise. They make the whole process transparent and smooth! There is no doubt how pretty the ceremony site is! All our guests had an unforgettable experience and keep asking us how we found this amazing place! The site location is kind of private and the lodge is built on the mountain. For safety reasons, the site would recommend renting a shuttle to pick up guests who can park their cars in a parking lot near the site. Additionally, the site has Bride’s and Groom’s dressing area separately, and it is perfect for couples who want to plan a “first look”. I would recommend an overnight accommodation to get a full experience about the redwood forest, and it is a cozy and stunning experience for you and your guests!

Jency Gates

The venue was absolutely gorgeous! There is truly nothing like it in the world! Many guests told me it gave “twilight” vibes and it definitely does! I would never want to get married anywhere else. I had found the venue online because I wanted a forest vibe for our wedding and it was the first and last venue we toured due to its unmatched beauty. The lodge itself is also one of a kind and the most beautiful “barn” I have ever seen! The venue is quite pricey and seems to increase in price throughout the years; however well worth it!

Christina, the main contact at the venue, is extremely helpful and kind. She is always there to help answer your questions or cabin needs.

The rooms are very nice, but the bridal cottage showers were not cleaned for us and looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in a while as there were spider webs and a few resident spiders I had to wash down the drain. Not a big deal though, but the rooms are very pricey at ~$300 not including taxes, so it’s kind of weird considering the amount you pay for a room. The cabins offer a unique experience that allows your guests to be immersed in the nature and sights of the venue! However guest cabins do not come with air conditioning and I heard several guests complaining about the temperature in the cabins. The venue does offer fans for each cabin though and it does cool off quite a bit at night, even in July! Nobody made it sound like it was a deal breakers or complained more than one comment to each other; I think it is more just annoying to them since guests are paying >$300 a night. With the views and experience, the guests didn’t act like it was a big deal!

Overall a breathtaking glorious place with exceptionally helpful staff that makes it easy for you and your guests to get settled in! I 100% recommend this venue!

Lizz Clark

What a perfect California mountain retreat! We traveled for a dear friends wedding but we were blown away by the natural beauty and incredible hospitality of the staff! The cabins were adorable

Worth the price!

Sarah Cunningham

Waterfall Lodge is absolutely magical! our wedding there could not have gone more smoothly. Only visit the venue if you are prepared to be swept off your feet by the trees, the peace and quiet of the forest, the adorable cabins, and the beautiful lodge. We were a little nervous when we first booked that the rustic nature of the venue and some of the requirements might make our event more complicated, but we needn’t have worried. We did take care to book vendors that were familiar with the site, which went a long way to enabling such a great day, but they were also very accommodating of our DIY plans and really worked to make sure that we had the chance to create our vision. The shuttle service was wonderful for our older guests, and everyone else really loved walking around the property and finding little paths through the woods to get around. We didn’t even notice the noise restrictions on the dance floor (and we like some bass!). The cabins were cozy and comfy - just what you want after a whirlwind day. Our guests were completely enchanted and really grateful for the chance to experience the redwood forest. If you have guests coming from out of town who might not have ever visited California, the woods just up the road from a quintessential beach town makes for a really unforgettable weekend. We wish we could have spent more time there, but even booking just one night we didn’t feel rushed at all. The staff were so friendly all day, and made everyone feel welcome. Thanks so much for hosting the best day of our lives!

Sydney Duchmann

Waterfall Lodge is a dream of a venue and I would get married there again and again. The ceremony site feels like pure magic, standing under the redwood trees surrounded by the most important people in your life. There is easily space for your welcome table and for people to mingle as they start shuttling in. There is lodging available on site, so our wedding party did stay on site with us which was very special. It did take some extra coordination on our part to assign rooms and ask everyone ahead of time to commit to staying onsite. It also took some extra coordination to organize the shuttles for offsite guests from the parking lot and another shuttle for guests who didn’t want to drive. But in the end, it felt so worth it.

The space for the reception is perfection, from the farm tables to the hanging string lights, to the barrel tables, and the spectacular lodge to host dance parties. My only minor complaint about this area was that there are only 2 bathrooms, so when you have 115 people drinking, there is constantly a long line. But the bathrooms were inside so people were warm and mingling.

Communication with the Waterfall Lodge was okay but I do think could have been better. We found ourselves trying to piece together exactly what the Lodge would come with (from tables and dimensions to decorations) so it would have been helpful to have a list with photos that is continually updating. We also weren’t notified of one of the cabins being taken off the site so when our guest went to book, they weren’t able to and we had to shift things around. Lastly, we were informed when we booked that this was a beer and wine venue only but our coordinator let us know 3 weeks before the wedding that they changed the rules, so we didn’t have enough time to change the menus and add in a specialty cocktail.

All things considered, it was a magical day and Waterfall lodge is so special. It just does take a little extra work to make sure you are getting the wedding of your dreams.