A Decade of ‘I Dos’ at Hollins House Wedding Venue in Santa Cruz
Wedding Ceremonies at Hollins House Wedding Venue:
A Timeless Santa Cruz Setting
Jenna and James’ interfaith wedding ceremony at Hollins House. There’s nothing quite like that “Just Married” glow!
Updated October 2026
For more than a decade, I’ve officiated weddings at The Hollins House at Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz, CA. Unlike Nestldown, for example, The Hollins House is not a big, sprawling venue. One of the things I love most about it is the intimate setting, and how there is something both classic and distinctive about the venue.
When I first meet with engaged couples, I always ask them why they chose their wedding venue...
The most common answer I’m given about why couples chose The Hollins House is its timeless elegance: the crystal chandeliers, the tall windows and French doors, the brick terrace and stately fountain, the sweeping view of Monterey Bay, the beautifully maintained lawns and mature oaks, the original hardwood floors, the mirrors and sconces, and the iconic Tap Room, with its old-school cigar-lounge feel. Couples also love the ease of having catering and venue coordination handled in-house.
For some couples, the draw is golf; for others, it’s the local history. The Hollins House is a historic venue dating to the early 1930s. Marion Hollins, the visionary developer behind Pasatiempo, was a national golf champion who won the 1921 U.S. Women’s Amateur. In addition to being a consummate athlete, she was very conservation-minded and required that no tree could be removed to make way for the golf course without her personal permission. I appreciate that she paid such close attention to the trees as well as to the course.
The ceremony lawn used to have a large white gazebo—a kind of Hollins House signature feature. But it was removed a little over a year ago, leaving an unobstructed view of Monterey Bay. The gazebo was a matter of personal preference, to be sure, and I much prefer the ceremony lawn without it. Not only does it open up the ocean view, but it gives couples the opportunity to create their own ceremony aesthetic.
When I asked Patrick and Megan (one of the couples featured below) why they chose the Hollins House, they said: “The Hollins House represents a lot of what we want out of life. It’s serene and quiet but close enough to the action, and it has a clear view of the horizon.” I love that they saw their hopes for their shared life reflected in the setting.
I’m sharing some photos and stories from just a few of the many weddings I’ve officiated at The Hollins House in Santa Cruz over the last 11 years.
My First Wedding at Hollins House
Scot and Nicole’s Nonreligious Ceremony
Nicole and Scot had all the details dialed in for their wedding at The Hollins House at Pasatiempo. Everything, that is, except their wedding officiant—and not for lack of trying. Scot initially asked his older sister to officiate. She agreed, then changed her mind when she realized her beliefs would prevent her from giving them the kind of ceremony they wanted and deserved. You see, Scot’s family are Southern Baptists and evangelical Christians. Nicole’s family is also conservative Christian. But Scot and Nicole are not. They are drawn to personal growth, mindfulness, and connection to nature.
They searched and searched for an officiant who could represent their wishes and beliefs, and they were just about to give up and hand their ceremony over to a priest—to recite the traditional liturgy and placate their families—when they found me.
The three of us talked at length about what was meaningful and important to them, and about what they absolutely did not want in their ceremony. I wrote a ceremony that made them feel good about their wedding and life choices, while being careful not to offend their relatives and friends. As a courtesy to their families, and to add some “legitimacy” to the ceremony, the couple asked me to wear my minister's stole.
It turned out to be a beautiful ceremony—not only were Scot and Nicole thrilled with the outcome, but Scot's sister told me how perfectly the ceremony suited them, and how happy she was that I could give them what they wanted since she could not.
Afterward, Scot wrote that their anxiety about finding an officiant disappeared once they found me, and that our work together helped them better understand their personal commitments. Nicole shared that she felt grounded and that the ceremony honored their spirituality while respecting and including every guest.
Jewish California Yogini + Irreverent New Yorker =
Eclectic, Interfaith Wedding Ceremony
Alan and Michelle’s origin story was not all rainbows and sunsets. They met after Alan and the motorcycle he was riding flipped over the top of a car, fracturing his pelvis and leaving him with some serious back issues. Michelle, who became Alan’s physical therapist, would send him home from PT appointments in so much pain that he could barely get out of his car. (Romantic, right?)
Alan and Michelle couldn’t be more different. He’s an irreverent East Coaster, and she is a Bay Area Jewess with a strong devotional yoga and mindfulness practice. She’s petite and graceful, and he’s a six-foot-tall Chinese guy built like an ex-linebacker. She loves being in the spotlight, and he’s an introvert who strongly dislikes being front and center. But somehow they work, and well.
It was a dynamic ceremony with a little bit of everything: a few mindful breaths, several Yiddish words, a couple of Thích Nhất Hạnh quotes, a stunning version of the Gayatri mantra by Awaken Love Band for Michelle’s processional, a chuppah, a Jewish glass-breaking ritual, smudging, gift-giving, remembrances, and anointing. It reflected the uniqueness of their relationship—their histories, beliefs, values, affinities, quirks, friend groups, and of course, their dreams and wishes for a bright future together.
In an especially poignant moment Michelle gave her mother a gift to honor the importance of their relationship, even as she was orienting more towards her life with Alan now. On their behalf I said: “Michelle and Alan hope you know that rather than losing a daughter, you’re gaining a son-in-law—one who is committed to changing your light bulbs and tightening your loose towel racks, on a monthly basis if needed!” I also surprised Michelle with a gift during the ceremony, a mala from Nepal that had been blessed by one of my teachers, Aama Bombo. In addition to being a highly revered “mother shaman” in the Nepali Tamang tradition, Aama Bombo was a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers.
Michelle wrote me a beautiful note after the ceremony (see below) and Alan said: “You knocked it out of the park with that ceremony. *Every* person I spoke to about it loved it, thought it was wonderful and so personal to us. People were sure we’d known you for a long time. And, of course, we loved it too. It was touching, surprising, funny, and meaningful.”
“Naomi, the ceremony was BEYOND. It was everything I’d hoped for, and more than I could have imagined. It absolutely felt like a ritual, rite of passage, and sacred ceremony—exactly what I wanted it to be AND somehow more than I thought it could be. It was the most special moment of my life. You created a magical experience. And I know many of the guests felt it, too. I think every single person I spoke to told me it was the most beautiful wedding they have ever been to!” —Michelle
From Teens in Limerence to Adults in Love
Trevor and Paige’s Old Hollywood Glam Wedding
Theirs was a true first date—as in it was the first time Trevor took a girl out for dinner and bought her a meal. He was understandably nervous and spent half of their date watching the NBA All-Star game. Paige said, “I could tell he was trying so hard to focus on me even though there was a giant TV screen right behind me. It was a really good time. Looking back we thought we looked so grown up and it’s crazy that we were only 16 and 17 years old.” After that, they spent most of their time together Trevor said, “I was young but looked at my life and knew that I would rather spend every day with Paige than anything else. Even if we watched movies for 8 hours straight, I still was happy with the day and happy with her.” As a teenager Trevor knew that he would rather move in with Paige and have it fail than think back when he was in his 50s about what could have been between them. He says he’s glad they met so young because it means they’ll have that many more years together.
Paige curated a picture-perfect, Old Hollywood glamour wedding day, as you can see from the incredible photos by Trinity Rose Photography below. I seriously had to cut myself off because of how obsessed I am with these photos.
A Decade in the Making:
Katie and Kevin’s From Friends to Forever Wedding
Kevin and Katie were friends first. Their friendship was marked by laughter, ease, openness, depth, and an immediate sense of familiarity—as if they had known each other far longer than they actually did. Their conversations flowed naturally and unselfconsciously. They never felt any pressure to perform or be anyone they weren’t. After spending time with Kevin, Katie felt energized rather than depleted, and with Katie, Kevin found a confidence and comfort in himself that didn’t always come so easily. Over time, their friendship deepened and their feelings changed. They were friends for over a year before they went on their first date. It was a high-stakes decision to start dating because if their romantic relationship failed, they risked losing their best friend. But as time went on, it became clear that they didn’t want to be with anyone else, and so they took the leap and started going out. And then one day it hit Katie like a ton of bricks. She was in love with Kevin. She even has a digital artifact to prove it—a cryptic acronym no one else could possibly decipher, something so obscure and unintelligible that not even auto-correct tried to make sense of it. She wrote RIWILWMBF in her notes app. Translation: “Realized I was in love with my best friend.” The feeling was mutual, and it wasn’t long after that they confessed their love and made their relationship official. By the time of their wedding, they had been together for a decade and had learned how to navigate transitions and communicate constructively. Katie even learned to accept Kevin’s highly experimental, “mad sciencey” cooking style. Their ceremony wasn’t just a celebration of their love as it exists now, but of the long road that led them here. Their wedding photos were also taken by Trinity Rose. Super skilled wedding vendor team included: @liaadamsevents, @santacruzdjcompany, @storycakestudio, @tenayafilms, @theflowershacksc, @salslimousineservice and @nomadic_stylist.
Costco, Hooker Piss and Death Metal
Megan and Patrick’s Classy Crassy Hollins House Wedding
Patrick did most of the talking on their first date. Megan was shy and didn’t say much, but he got a few laughs out of her, so he assumed it was going well. He wasn’t wrong. Even though she was quiet, Megan could see how kind and genuine Patrick was, and they immediately planned their next date. When he first reached out to me about officiating their wedding, he said: “We fell for each other while embracing our mutual love of fine foods (your finest Costco dog, please), extravagant cocktails (the more tiki the better!), and our eclectic musical taste.” Their second date was a death metal concert, for reference. They work opposite schedules, and some days, Megan is arriving home just as Patrick is leaving for work. When they have time off together, they are generally glued at the hip. There is always an itinerary, because Megan loves an itinerary, even on days off, whereas Patrick is more likely to “go with the flow or else rage against it.” The ceremony had references to torture museums and hooker piss, and their vows included promises to never go to Costco without one another, unless specifically instructed to do so, as well as a special promise from Megan to never put pineapple juice in Patrick’s Mai Tai. The amazing photos by Finch & Fern Photo Co. showcase Megan and Patrick’s unique personalities and style. Other vendors included Santa Cruz DJ and Pink Petals Floral Design.
Bonus:
Swoon-Worthy Photos by Jocelyn Noel
from Sarah and Mikel’s Elegant AF Wedding
If you’re getting married at The Hollins House and looking for an officiant who has a lot of experience officiating ceremonies there, reach out.