Blog, Venue

Oz Farm Weddings: A Wild, Heartfelt Venue for Couples Who Want to Be Themselves

Tucked into the hills near Manchester, California on the Mendocino Coast, Oz Farm is the kind of wedding venue that feels less like an event space and more like a shared adventure. Remote, expansive, and deeply rooted in nature, it’s a place where couples gather their favorite people, slow down, and celebrate over multiple days — not just a few hours.

For couples drawn to redwoods, open fields, farm dinners, and a camp-out-with-your-people kind of energy, Oz Farm offers something rare: the freedom to truly be yourselves.

Aerial view of Oz Farm Wedding and Event Venue in July

A Nature-Forward Wedding Venue on the Mendocino Coast

Getting to Oz Farm is part of the experience. The drive winds through the Yorkville Highlands, drops into Anderson Valley, then climbs back up toward the coast near Manchester. It’s long and winding — and absolutely beautiful. That sense of leaving the ordinary world behind is exactly what makes Oz Farm feel so special once you arrive.

The property itself is large and diverse, with open meadows, working vegetable and flower farms, a stunning dahlia garden, redwood groves, and rustic structures that anchor the celebration. Weddings here tend to feel immersive and intentional, often unfolding over a full weekend with guests camping or staying nearby.

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It’s an ideal setting for boho, outdoors-loving couples who value connection, creativity, and time together over formality.

A Venue Designed for Exploration (and Beautiful Wedding Films)

One of the things I loved most about filming a wedding at Oz Farm was how much the day encouraged movement and discovery.

The couple got ready in two geodesic domes tucked away from the central area of the property. Reaching them meant parking, carrying gear along a dusty road, crossing a footbridge over the Garcia River, and walking through the woods. I began filming before I even arrived — capturing that quiet transition from forest to celebration.

That sense of journey shows up beautifully on film.

Bride and groom frolicking in a field of golden grass with their wedding party dressed in a rainbow of colors near the geodesic domes at Oz Farm in July

Outside the domes, the couple and their wedding party laughed, played, and moved freely through tall grass — relaxed, playful, and completely at ease. Moments like that are hard to manufacture, but Oz Farm naturally invites them.

Ceremony in the Redwoods: Intimate, Sacred, Unforgettable

The ceremony took place in a grove of old-growth redwood trees — a powerful, grounding backdrop for such a meaningful moment. The couple held a Jewish ceremony beneath a chuppah, with guests stepping forward to offer blessings and readings.

From a filmmaking perspective, the redwood grove creates an incredibly intimate atmosphere. Drone use is understandably limited in enclosed forest spaces, but I was able to capture a straight-up aerial moment to establish the setting, then let the rest unfold quietly and unobtrusively from the ground.

It felt profound, emotional, and deeply personal — exactly what this space does best.

Bride and groom with joyful looks on their faces just after stomping on the glass at the end of their Jewish wedding ceremony in the redwood grove at Oz Farm

Oz Farm Wedding Film Reel

Here’s a short venue-specific wedding film reel I created to show what weddings at Oz Farm actually feel like — from the quiet forest paths to golden light in the fields.

Why Oz Farm Is Incredible on Film

Oz Farm offers something many venues don’t: contrast.
  • Enclosed redwood forest
  • Open meadows and gardens
  • Rustic farm structures
  • Ocean views in the distance

Later in the day, I was able to capture broader drone shots of the couple moving through the dahlia garden, wider views of the property, and even glimpses of the Pacific Ocean beyond the hills. These transitions give wedding films depth and rhythm — moments to breathe, expand, and then return to intimacy.

It’s a venue that rewards patience, curiosity, and storytelling — especially for couples who want a natural, documentary-leaning wedding film that feels true to the weekend.

Interested in wedding film coverage at Oz Farm?

If you’re getting married at Oz Farm and want your day captured in a natural, cinematic way, you can check pricing and availability here

Jump to Check Pricing & Availability

Dinner, Dancing, and a Joyful Evening Under the Stars

Dinner was served outdoors, buffet-style but beautifully presented — paella, cheeses, nuts, dried fruits, and a generous spread that encouraged guests to linger and connect. Long tables were set in front of the barn, which features an attached stage and becomes the heart of the evening.

Toasts took place there, followed by first dances that were equal parts elegant and wildly entertaining — especially the groom’s energetic, joyful dancing that quickly pulled everyone onto the floor.

The celebration flowed naturally into open dancing, desserts on the side, and a packed dance floor filled with people fully present in the moment.

Family and friends seated outside for dinner in front of the barn at Oz Farm

Thoughtful Coordination Makes All the Difference

Throughout the day, everything ran smoothly thanks to Margaret Grace, Oz Farm’s in-house wedding coordinator. As a vendor, I felt genuinely supported — communication was clear, the timeline was well managed, and there was space for creativity without chaos.

That kind of coordination matters more than couples often realize, and it’s a big part of why weddings at Oz Farm feel calm, intentional, and joyful.

Planning Tips for Oz Farm Weddings

  • Guest count: This wedding hosted around 80 – 85 guests, which felt ideal for the space — intimate without feeling small.
  • Time of year: Late July brought warm days, long light, and beautiful outdoor conditions.
  • Footwear & layers: Expect walking on dirt paths and uneven ground; comfort matters (and evenings can cool off).
  • Embrace the weekend: Oz Farm truly shines as a multi-day, camp-style celebration rather than a quick in-and-out event.

Final Thoughts

Oz Farm is a venue for couples who want their wedding to feel like a shared experience — not just a schedule. Rustic, remote, and deeply connected to nature, it’s a place where laughter echoes through the trees, dinners stretch long into the night, and everyone feels part of something meaningful.

As a wedding videographer, it’s a joy to work in spaces like this — places that invite honesty, playfulness, and real connection.

Groom lifting the bride off the ground in the dahlia garden at Oz Farm

 

Oz Farm Wedding Resources

Below are a few helpful links for planning an Oz Farm wedding — including films I’ve created at the venue, my wedding videography info, and Oz Farm’s direct contact details.

Wedding Films at Oz Farm

Wedding Videography Info

Oz Farm Venue Contact Information

If you’re considering Oz Farm for your wedding weekend, reaching out directly is the best way to confirm availability, policies, and the most up-to-date planning details.

Inquire Below to Check Pricing & Availability

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Nile Sprague Portrait
Nile Sprague
Proprietor & Cinematographer
Photo by Michelle Feileacan

We offer specialty wedding and event film services in Northern California and globally.

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Nile Sprague is the proprietor and primary cinematographer and director at Mendocino Photo & Video. With a lifelong career in documentary filmmaking and photojournalism working for non-profit organizations around the globe, Nile brings with him immense experience in working with families of different cultures and backgrounds. Nile’s passion to tell the organic stories in life led him to sharing with couples their most exceptional day: a wedding, marriage, or celebration of love. He has been showcasing the joy and candid nature of these occasions since 2008, presenting photographs and films that embody the beauty and wonder of lives coming together.

Learn more about Nile and Mendocino Photo & Video

Robyn H 5/20/2023

One of the best vendors we booked for our wedding was Mendocino Photo and Video! We weren’t sure if we were going to have a videographer at our wedding, but now it is the most cherished item we have taken away from the day. Nile made us feel so comfortable and relaxed on our wedding day, and the footage he shot was unbelievable. My husband and I are so thrilled with the ceremony footage and interviews with our family and friends. We are eternally grateful for the hard work from Nile and his team. Thank you, Mendocino Photo and Video! You made our day one we will remember for years to come.

– Robyn H

Kimberley S 8/13/2023

From our very first call, Nile was keenly interested in our vision and started figuring out how to make it come alive. He communicated clearly and consistently with us throughout the process, demonstrated his breadth of experience, answered our many questions, and was generous, flexible, and good-humored.

When reviewing other videographers, we watched example wedding videos that felt rather strung together and less connected. We chose Mendocino Photo & Video as our wedding videographer because their portfolio displays well-crafted videos that have more of a narrative.

We’re very happy with our decision and we love the videos that Nile and his team produced. His skill with piloting drones is also quite impressive. We highly recommend Mendocino Photo & Video.

– Kimberley S

Arjun R – 12/03/2022

“Nile was our videographer for our Mendocino wedding and did an amazing job capturing the event. Nile met with us early on in the process and walked us through his style and vision for capturing the event while also incorporating all of our feedback and goals for the video footage. We really enjoyed Nile’s vibe and he made us feel at ease throughout the whole process. The end result was beautiful – we felt like we were right back there on our magical wedding day and also got to see many extra details that we didn’t get to fully experience during the chaos of the day, especially the heartfelt video messages from our best friends. We would highly recommend working with Nile for any event!!”

– Arjun R.

Breanna 5/6/2023

Nile knows what he is doing behind the camera! He genuinely cares, he creates special moments in his videos with special messages and captures all the meaningful moments. He is a great communicator. I can’t recommend him enough!!!

– Breanna B

Leah Y 6/24/2023

Nile was very professional and responsive—always willing to answer any questions and even meets with you before your wedding day to get to know you as a couple. He was very creative and “on-it” on the day of our wedding, capturing incredible content that I wasn’t even aware of! Our highlights video captured the day perfectly—I can’t stop watching it and reliving the moment!

– Leah Y

Robyn + Chris – 5/20/2023

“We can’t thank you enough for this beautiful video! We’ve already watched it so many times and cried every single time (in a good way). You captured us and all the people we love so well, and we are TRULY so grateful for this. It’s perfect.

Thank you, again! We are just so happy we had you both there to help us celebrate and capture the best day ever :)”

– Robyn + Chris

Alexander F 6/17/2023

Mendocino Photo and Video was such a pleasure to work with throughout the entire wedding planning process. Nile took the time to get to know us as a couple, gave us great feedback along the way, and helped us come up with a game plan to capture our wedding where we could fully enjoy our day worry-free. We had so much going on at our wedding, and Nile was able to capture it all so beautifully and put together an incredible teaser and highlights video. He has an immense talent for cinematography and video editing and his work wonderfully brought out all the rich emotions during our wedding and told such a captivating story. Can’t recommend enough!!!

– Alexander F

Chris M 6/23/2023 (Elisha and Jared)

I had the privilege to work alongside Mendocino Photo & Video as an officiant. Immediately, there was something unique and special about Nile’s approach. He managed to manage the shots ensuring his ability to capture the perfect moments while not disrupting the flow of the service and the natural interactions of the couple and guests. This created a level of authenticity that seems to be missing from most wedding videos with the high quality scenes you would expect from a professional videographer. The final product was an absolute masterpiece brimming with the artistry of story telling and accurately capturing the joy and excitement of the special day. I couldn’t Mendocino Photo & Video (MPV) more although they really should be considered the MVP for any wedding.

– Chris M

Evan A 10/07/2022

“Nile made our special day a fairy tale. He met with us prior to the wedding to get to know us, who we are as individuals and who we are as a couple. He did that so he could get a glimpse of what we would like and see our day through our eyes and I believe that is one of the reasons he did such a great job. He did a phenomenal job at our wedding and after. He is very professional but also kind and it shows through his work. I couldn’t have asked for a better photographer/videographer. I will be seeking him out for future photo/video ideas.”

– Evan A.

Emily S 11/15/2022

“Nile Sprague the videographer and photographer is absolutely amazing down to every detail. He listens to make note of what your wanting for your desired wedding. He is kind and his work left me and my husband speechless. Would pick him over and over again! ❤️❤️❤️”

– Emily S.

Dan S 09/30/2022

“Nile at Mendocino Photo was amazing! The videos we received were perfect and something my wife and I will cherish for a lifetime. The artistry of the angles and shots are second to none. He was able to capture words for our friends and family to interlace them with the video which was very special. Nile was very accommodating and understanding to our crazy schedule and requests we made both before and after the wedding. I would very highly recommend using Mendocino Photo & Video. You will not regret it.”

– Dan S.

Jill S – 11/08/2022

“I was blown away by how Nile was able to capture the beauty, spirit, joy, humor and FUN of my daughter’s wedding. Words hardly do his work justice — here is the link so you can see for yourself. On top of his artistry, he’s just a really cool, chill guy who brought a sense of calm and fun to his work (which rubbed off on the nervous bride and groom). It’s not possible to recommend someone more highly than I recommend Nile Sprague.”

– Jill S.

Erica A 10/07/2022

“Nile was really thorough and a joy to work with for our wedding in September. He met with us beforehand and went over every detail and gave his advice based on what we were considering. He then also arrived at our venue early to scout the best places and went above and beyond to help us with everything and prepare with us all the timeline and photo details beforehand. We also really appreciated how calm and unrushed everything felt while getting our photos done, he made it a really enjoyable and stress-free experience. The pictures came out beautifully – our venue was heavily shaded in the redwoods forest so not necessarily the easiest to capture, but he did so great! We are so happy we had him document our wedding and capture a piece of our magical day.”

– Erica A.

Vanessa D. & Kristina O. 7/27/2022

“We are positively over the moon for this incredible video. We both just cried non-stop watching it. You captured everything so beautifully. The speech tie-ins are so moving. Thank you for this incredible work and we can’t wait to see more. You are a very special person and have a very special talent. We are so lucky to have found you! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

– Vanessa D.

“Laughter, tears, joy. Thank you, thank you, thank you. That was hours ago. I’ve now watched it two times in a row. So happy. So grateful to be connected back to that day through words, images, your art.”

– Kristina O.