The California coastline home to the town of Jenner has always felt like a bit of land that time forgot. And that was definitely true of Timber Cove, a guest lodge with a stunning perch on the Sonoma cliffs and a rustic ambiance that was starting to feel a little too stuck in its 1960s hippie heyday.
The setting is still spectacular, but thanks to a recent redo by the husband-and-wife Novogratz design team, there’s nothing dated about it. While the mid-century modern pieces gives it Instagram appeal, and you’ll find such hipster amenities as yoga mats and LP players in the guest rooms, nothing feels contrived. Redwood and stone, massive windows and Ansel Adams prints (the photographer was a frequent visitor to the area) suit the clifftop site, and the wedding options are some of the prettiest on the Pacific.
LAYOUT AND LOGISTICS
With just 46 guest rooms, the hotel isn’t set up for massive gatherings, but if your guest list tops out at 120 you’ll be in fine shape. Have the ceremony atop those cliffs, where the redwoods meet the sky, move on to a wood deck for cocktails, and then prepare for a dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients—Sonoma cheeses, Pacific salmon—and organic coastal wines. End the night with champagne around the fire pit and it will be hard to imagine wedded life can get any better.
The hotel has a healthy roster of talented local wedding vendors, including hairstylists, photographers, and florists, including one who works exclusively with local grasses and flowers. And should you not be entirely comfortable with driving the hairpin turns of Highway One that lead to this parcel of perfection, Timber Cover will gladly arrange a driver and wheels to get you back home.