Some venues have that “wedding factory” vibe.
Oceana’s Garden doesn’t—in fact, it feels like a hidden world right next to downtown Boulder.

The property unfolds in the best way, and feels more like stepping into someone’s personal sanctuary rather than entering a wedding venue that churns out events each weekend. For couples who want a wedding that feels a like a secret garden right in our backyard here in Colorado, this is a jewel of an option.

This isn’t going to be a traditional venue breakdown, it’s going to walk you through how I read and understand the space as an ex-architect wedding planner and designer who pays attention to the big picture, your guest experience, and each detail long before anyone sets foot on the property.

I’ve spent the last ten years exclusively planning destination weddings, so here is a peek into my process.

01. The Arrival: Where the Experience Truly Begins

When I stepped onto the property for the first time, I noticed something that most couples don’t immediately think about—proximity.

Oceana’s Garden is just ten minutes outside Boulder, yet feels worlds away. This matters more than most couples realize, as transportation and ease of access might be the least glamorous part of wedding planning, but it’s always an important part of my planning conversations as a way to ensure your guests’ comfort and overall experience.

When you turn off the main road and watch the gates slowly open, something magical happens.

The driveway is long and tree-lined, creating a processional experience the shifts guests out of the usual and into world that is hidden and intimate. The dappled afternoon light filters through the branches, illuminating the driveway in warm, golden tones.

I remember thinking about the power of transition, and how a wedding can begin in this moment—not necessarily just at the ceremony site—but the moment the car slows down, enters through the gate and a new world unfolds.

This is how I design, starting with the very first experiential moment.
I love thinking about how guests aren’t just arriving—they’re being welcomed into a different world. And what could we do with this moment?

If you’re looking for other outdoor venues that I love with strong architectural bones, peruse my guide to Boulder and Denver’s best outdoor wedding venues.

02. The Gardens: 22 Years of Care

There’s landscaping, and then there’s a garden someone has shaped for over two decades. Oceana, the matriarch of the property, planned the entire property’s gardens herself. She planted the trees lining the driveway, she shaped the pathways. The maturity of the gardens is something I immediately noticed and the pockets of magic and sight lines is something special.

What you get here are:

• pathways that are a joy to explore
• shade that creates different experiential spaces
• small moments that don’t show up in photos
• glimpses of the Front Range when you least expect them
• the kind of soft, filtered light only older trees can create

It’s rare for a private estate to feel both expansive and intimate.
This one does.

The property unfolds as you move through it, which always excites me as it’s a rich foundation for a thoughtful guest experience.

03. A Property that Doesn’t Force You Into One Layout

The reason Oceana’s Garden is so compelling for me—and why I believe it will become one of Colorado’s “quiet luxury” wedding venues—is the sheer flexibility of the space.

There is no single way to design a wedding here.

That level of flexibility is fairly rare, and—from my perspective—wonderfully exciting.

The strongest spaces include:

Formal Garden: Symmetrical, architectural, and anchored by the home’s façade. Great for ceremony, dinner, or a long-table cocktail moment.
The Tree-filled House Garden:
 A softer, more organic space with filtered light — perfect for a sunset dinner among the trees for smaller guest counts.
Upper Lawn (Traditional Tent Site): A wide, open canvas for tenting, dancing, or larger receptions.
Arched Patio: Shaded, elegant, and begging for an aperitivo-hour experience with negronis, live guitar, and warm light against the stone arches.
Horse Arena: A surprisingly useful tent site if you want to reserve the gardens for everything else.

The range here is an amazing advantage.
You’re not boxed into a formula.
You get to choose the kind of experience you want your guests to have—and design around that.

If you’re considering a private-estate venue and want support navigating the logistics, here’s how I work with couples through planning and design.

04. The Light: The Real Design Advantage

Light is the first thing I look at in any property. It’s the element that can make or break a design.

Oceana’s Garden has some of the best natural light in Boulder County.

Late afternoon turns everything a warm, golden tone — closer to Northern Italy than anything you’d expect in Colorado. The trees break the light into layers. Shadows move slowly. It gives you depth and texture without trying.

This is the kind of light that supports design and makes each part of your guest’s experience richer. It opens the door to palettes like:

• mustard
• ochre
• deep red
• terracotta
• forest and olive greens

And when the sun drops, candlelight actually glows.
You don’t have to force anything here—the property does the work for you.

05. What Most Couples Don’t Realize About Private Estate Wedding Venues

Private estates require a different kind of planning—one rooted in logistics, spatial reading, and infrastructure awareness.

Oceana’s Garden is no exception. Things most couples don’t know to ask:

• Load-in pathways. The gardens must be protected, requiring plywood and strategic vendor flow.
• Power and lighting plans. Especially if using multiple pockets of the property, a good plan maximizes this infrastructure.
• Tent height + sightlines. Depending on whether the upper lawn or horse arena is used, something to consider.
• Guest mobility needs thought. The driveway procession is long — which can be an advantage if used creatively
• Flow is everything. Because there are so many distinct areas, the design must intentionally guide guests throughout the property.

None of these are problems, they’re simply considerations that make the experience better when handled well.

This is where private property experience actually matters.

06. The Experience Flow: Endless Possibilities

Here’s what makes this venue exciting:

There is no single “correct” way to move guests through the space.

A great estate has more than one viable “story arc.”
Oceana’s Garden gives you several — each offering a different tone.

Option A: Sunset Dinner Under the Trees

• Gate drop-off
• Welcome drink on arrival
• Ceremony in the formal garden
• Dinner under the trees
• Dancing on the upper lawn

Option B: The Aperitivo Wander

• Cocktails on the arched patio
• Food stations throughout the gardens
• Musicians tucked into corners
• Guests moving instead of sitting

Option C: Classic Estate Moment

• Ceremony in the garden
• Grand dinner on the upper lawn
• Reception in a tented arena

Option D: Intimate and Cinematic

• Long table under the trees
• Golden-hour portraits
• A small dance party on the patio

Each of these is strong on its own.
There’s no “backup” that feels like settling.

That’s … uncommon.

07. Aperitivo Magic: The Vision That Started It All

When I toured the property for the first time, the vision that came through was immediate:
Aperitivo at sunset.

Golden drinks.

Warm evening air.

Music floating through the gardens.

A long table among the trees.

Something effortless.

Something European.

Something that feels like a privilege to be part of.

This is the emotional tone of the estate — not overly formal, not overly rustic, but cultivated, warm, generous, intimate.

It invites a slower pace.

Longer dinners.

Laughter that carries.

It asks you to savor the moment.

08. Why This Venue Fits My Couples

The couples I work with tend to choose spaces with intention. They care about:

• good architecture
• meaningful flow
• considered details
• design that feels like it belongs to the environment
• light that enhances the moment
• experiences that unfold naturally

Oceana’s Garden aligns with that mindset.
It’s a venue that supports thoughtful design rather than competing with it.

It offers:

• range
• depth
• movement
• structure
• warmth
• memorable natural moments

You don’t have to force anything here.
You just need to listen to the space and build from what’s already working.

Considering a private-estate wedding in Colorado?

Oceana’s Garden is an incredible choice for:

• destination-feeling weekends
• intimate celebrations
• editorial-driven design
• long-table outdoor dinners
• weddings built around light and movement

It’s refined without being loud.
It’s welcoming without being simple.
And with the right creative direction, it becomes unforgettable.

Legacy, by Design.
Feelings into Form.

If Oceana’s Garden feels aligned with the type of celebration you’re imagining, you can inquire about working together here.