Memory Garden

Memory Garden, located at 20 Custom House Plaza in Monterey, California, is a beautiful venue for private and community events such as weddings, receptions, and banquets. Designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. in 1927, the garden features a central fountain, historic flower garden, arbor, and barbecue area. Surrounded by an eight-foot adobe wall, the garden also includes wheelchair accessible gates and Southern Magnolia trees for shade.

The venue can accommodate up to 300 guests for luncheons and dinner receptions, and up to 150 guests for weddings ceremonies and receptions. Events can take place during daylight and evening hours year-round, with music allowed until 9 p.m. The venue does not provide parking, but guests can park nearby in the Wharf Parking lot or downtown parking garages.

Alcohol is allowed at events, but must be served by a certified server. Caterers must be chosen from the preferred catering list provided by the venue. Tables and chairs are not provided, but can be rented through the venue's preferred rental company list. In case of rain, the venue does not allow tents but does permit freestanding umbrellas.

In addition to the main Memory Garden venue, there are smaller gardens available for expedited weddings, such as the Stevenson Garden located behind the historic Stevenson House. These smaller gardens have limited capacity and are only available for small, expedited weddings. The venue also offers Bocce Courts for public use and private rental, as well as the Custom House Plaza for large receptions and events overlooking Monterey Bay.

With a dedicated Special Event Coordinator available to assist with event planning and permitting, Memory Garden is committed to helping event organizers create safe and successful events while preserving the unique resources of the State Parks.