Central Coast weddings are some of the most beautiful in California, and a little planning makes them even better. Big Sur, Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Cruz venues come with cliffs, bluffs, redwoods, and ocean views, and they also come with details a DJ should know about: where the power is, how the gear gets in, and what the sound rules are. Hire a DJ who has played your venue or will scout it first, who brings an assistant, and who has a backup power plan. I’ve played 600+ weddings since 2006, and these coastal ones are some of my favorites.
What makes Central Coast and Big Sur weddings different for music?
The setting is the reason you pick these places, and it shapes the music too. Many venues sit far from town, with ceremony sites on bluffs, plateaus, or gardens a walk from where dinner happens. Power can be limited to certain spots, and the terrain affects load-in. A DJ who works in Monterey, Carmel, Santa Cruz, and Big Sur plans for all of that before the wedding day, so on the day itself you only feel the music.
What happened at Alila Ventana in Big Sur?
Alila Ventana has one of the most beautiful layouts of any venue I’ve been to. This couple chose live guitar for their cocktail hour, and one of the guests was in the band Sleeping at Last. They asked me to play the band’s cover of "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)." That is a lot of pressure, and I pulled off a pretty good rendition.
The ceremony had its own excitement. The couple’s friend playing piano arrived late, and the power for the ceremony lives in the bushes behind the ceremony zone, so I sent my assistant off across the property to find the groundskeeper and get the breakers reset. With the property’s help, it was sorted before the ceremony started.
That same assistant is also a drummer. It was a small wedding and the dance floor wanted more energy, so we had him drum over my DJ set. Live piano for the ceremony, guitar at cocktail hour, and drums over the dancing: the guests got three kinds of live music out of one small day.
What makes each Big Sur venue special?
| Venue | Load-in | Power | Typical guest count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alila Ventana | Simple, and up a large hill. A van that can climb it makes it easy, since large trucks may find the tight turns tricky. | In the bushes behind the ceremony zone | About 30 to 100 |
| Loma Vista Gardens | Easy, in a busy parking lot right off Highway 1 | Depends on where you hold the ceremony, and every zone has power | I’ve played up to about 150, and listings say it can host far more |
| Wind and Sea | Right off Highway 1, then down 37 large, natural rock steps to the bluffs | At the tree, then a couple hundred feet of cable down to the bluffs for the ceremony | Usually 75 to 100 at most |
Guest counts are my estimates from the weddings I’ve played, so please confirm them with the venue. Loma Vista Gardens has four plateaus, so decide early which part of the day goes where and I’ll plan the sound for each level.
Wind and Sea is a place I love going back to. The ceremony on the bluffs has breathtaking views, the owners and staff are lovely, and dinner on the patio feels cozy. Getting the gear down to the bluffs is part of the adventure, and with my assistant and a long run of extension cable or a wireless battery, the music has everything it needs.
Which Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Cruz venues have I played?
I’ve been lucky to play many of the Central Coast’s most loved venues beyond Big Sur. Here are some of them, with what each one is known for and what I remember from playing there.
| Venue | Where | What it’s known for | From my sets there |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Barns at Cooper Molera | Downtown Monterey | A historic property with an original barn, adobe buildings, and a lush garden | Ceremonies outdoors near the historic adobe wall and tree arch, or by the trees up top beside the barn. About 125 to 160 guests. |
| The Club at Pasadera | Monterey | A hacienda style club with a ballroom, courtyard, and event lawn | A ceremony under an oak tree, then the party on the club grounds |
| The Perry House | Monterey | An intimate garden venue with an ocean view from the terrace | A cozy, personal celebration |
| Pebble Beach Club | Pebble Beach | A celebrated Monterey Peninsula setting between world famous fairways and the Pacific | A late night dance floor and a surprise guest DJ (the story is below) |
| Quail Lodge and Golf Club | Carmel Valley | A resort with a lawn, a barn, a lake, and a clubhouse with courtyards | A clubhouse wedding of about 50, with cocktails in the courtyard and dinner inside |
| Tehama Golf Club | Carmel | A Spanish style clubhouse and a lawn with views toward the mountains and the sea | A ceremony on the lower level arboretum with about 100 guests |
| Los Laureles Lodge | Carmel Valley | A lodge with a terrace garden and a private hillside house for getting ready | A ceremony at the back of the property under a tree, up a gravel hill. About 150 guests. |
| Dream Inn | Santa Cruz | A beachfront hotel whose ballroom windows face the Wharf and Monterey Bay | A celebration right on West Cliff Drive |
| Hilton Santa Cruz / Scotts Valley | Scotts Valley | A hotel with a big ballroom and outdoor space among the redwoods | A full dance floor in the ballroom |
| Seymour Marine Discovery Center | Santa Cruz | A beachfront venue with a private deck over Monterey Bay and a seawater touch table | A one of a kind setting beside the bay |
What happens when a favorite DJ shows up at the wedding?
At the Pebble Beach Club, my couple came to me with a secret. They had met at the SnowGlobe music festival, where the bride went to see one of her favorite DJs, SG Lewis. Years later, SG Lewis started dating one of the groom’s friends, so he was a guest at their wedding. They asked if I’d be open to him DJing alongside me for two songs during my set.
I was honored and elated to share the stage with a legend. He handed me his USB stick and I plugged him into my Rekordbox. He was mostly familiar with my DJ controller, so we traded sets at 11pm with barely a ripple. He clearly loved how the crowd was responding, and I have one true desire: for my clients to have the celebration of their lives. So I let him play for the final hour of the night.
I even helped a little. My controller is set up with a DJ technology called stems, which lets me separate and remix parts of a song live, and he needed a moment to get used to my unique configuration. It was a great pleasure to play with a legend at a venue prestigious enough that Obama has golfed there.
How does live music work at a Central Coast wedding?
Live music is always your choice, never a requirement. Some couples want a DJ only wedding, and others add live music to a moment or two. A guitarist at the cocktail hour fits the setting and gives guests something to enjoy while they take in the view. A live pianist, violinist, cellist, or harpist for the ceremony is another option. For a small wedding, adding a drummer over a DJ set brings dance floor energy without the cost of a full band. If you’d like to add live music, tell me early so the extra players and their power needs are part of the plan.
What should you ask your DJ before booking a remote venue?
- Have you played this venue before, and what went well?
- What is your plan if power fails at the ceremony site?
- Do you bring an assistant, and what do they do on the day?
- Can you run the ceremony on a silent battery if there is no outlet nearby?
- How long does load-in take, what vehicle do you need, and how many people does it take?
- What’s your plan if the fog rolls in and gets chilly? Do you have heaters to keep your hands working on the DJ decks?
What should you plan for in Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Cruz?
Ask each venue for its sound guidelines, end time, and power locations in writing, and share them with your DJ. Decibel limits are common on the Central Coast, so choose a DJ who knows them and enjoys working with the venue staff so the day goes as planned. At venues with lower limits, I start the music a little softer and build the volume, so guests never feel underwhelmed when the dancing begins. If you are choosing between venues, the one with reliable power at the ceremony site and an easy load-in will cost you less stress than the one with only the best photo. Or have your DJ bring a battery, just in case.
When is a Central Coast venue not the right fit for your music plan?
A long, loud dance party for a big guest list works best at a venue with a late end time and a generous sound allowance, so check those before you fall for the view. Remote venues also mean more setup time and often more hands to carry gear, and a small wedding may not need a full system at all: a guitarist and a compact setup can be plenty. Choose the venue you love, and I’ll shape the music plan around it.
FAQ
Do I need a DJ who has played my Big Sur venue?
It helps a lot. Each venue has its own character, from hills to bluffs to patios, and a DJ who has worked there already has a plan.
Why would my DJ bring an assistant to my wedding?
At a remote venue the assistant can handle load-in, help with details like power, and cover other tasks while the DJ stays on the music. At Alila Ventana, mine also drummed over the DJ set.
Can a ceremony run without an outlet nearby?
Yes, with a long extension cable or a silent battery. Your DJ should tell you which one they will use before the day.
Is live guitar required?
No. Live guitar and singing are an option you can add. Many couples choose a live guitar ceremony and cocktail hour followed by a DJ reception, and others prefer a DJ only wedding.
Can I have live music and a DJ at a small wedding?
Yes. A guitarist for cocktail hour, a pianist for the ceremony, and a drummer over the DJ set can all work together in one day.
Can you hide the ceremony speakers?
Yes. My ceremony speakers are unpowered, so I can run long audio cables and tuck them into trees, grass, or florals to keep the view and your photos clean.
What kind of DJ and MC are you?
I focus on playing the right song, at the right time, for the right duration, and I read the room so the dance floor stays full. I have been on the mic since age 15 and can handle announcements, toasts, and the full program.
How does planning work?
After booking, we meet by video chat and share a living Google Doc with your timeline and logistics. You can build collaborative playlists with your must plays and do not plays, and you control as much of the music as you want.
Do you take requests?
Yes, if you’re open to it. Your requests always come first, and I use judgment on when a guest request fits.
Do you carry insurance, and will my venue require it?
I carry $2,000,000 in event coverage and can provide a certificate of insurance with your venue added as additional insured.
What should I ask the venue about sound?
Ask about the end time, volume limits, and where power is available at the ceremony, cocktail, and dinner locations.
If you are planning a Central Coast wedding, tell me about your venue and I will tell you what I would plan for.