Hyatt Carmel Highlands

Excellent view and perfect weather even in Jan!

We recently had our wedding ceremony at Highlands Inn and it was amazing! From the beautiful views to the amazing staff we were very well taken care of. Between the time that we booked Highland's Inn as our ceremony location to the wedding day the wedding consultant for our wedding changed. However, it was seemless and everything went wonderfully.

The balcony is a beautiful place to get married, with its high elevation overlooking the ocean and Bird Cove (Point Lobos State Park) it is one of the most beautiful spots in Monterey. In the summer the walkway is filled with wild flowers and is beautifully kept. It is also a private location on the property, so guests are not always walking by.

For the balcony we only paid $1000 for the rental, but the food it was over $100 per head and didn't include a lot. This rental is about average for Monterey and we loved the location, however the food was way above our budget so we decided to have our reception at Tarpy's Roadhouse (see review). Also, if you have your whole wedding at Highlands Inn you have to use only the vendors on their preferred vendor list.

Negative Note: There are a lots of steps to get down to the wedding area so be aware if you have family members that have difficulty walking. No wheelchair access.

Also, the room we rented for our honeymoon suite did not have a working tub.

Had our wedding here in June. Everything was fantastic. For people getting married in the Monterey/Carmel area who think it's too expensive, consider the following:
-- your guests won't need to find/pay for parking, the valet service will be free for you & your guests
-- the food IS wonderful. Your guests get to choose their entree on the spot instead of when they fill out your RSVP card
-- printed menus come free
-- if you're not serving alcohol, they won't overcharge you for sparkling cider (some hotels we looked at would've charged us upwards of $20/bottle. Of Martinelli's!)
-- you get a free night (not just a discounted rate) to stay in one of the townhouse suites
-- cake & cake-cutting costs are included
-- you can't beat the view. You don't just see open water. There's beautiful cliffs, rocky shores, breaking waves, and maybe even a passing whale or two (No, really! A few friends spotted a few of them)
-- you won't have to worry about pooping birds. Yes, there are birds in Carmel, but for some reason they don't fly over the gazebo area (we've visited the site at least half a dozen times before the wedding)

Lindsey, and Michele (who took over when Lindsey got promoted & moved,) were the best. We never felt looked-down upon or treated like second-class citizens because our budget was so small. They and the entire staff were outstanding.

Yes, you do need to use their recommended vendors, but if you choose 1 or 2 off the list, they don't mind. However, these vendors are the best in the area & they all have outstanding reputations. Most, if not all, are on the recommended vendor lists for several establishments in the area.

Michele (and Tony from Layers Cakes), thanks for the scrum-diddly-umptious surprise apple pie and strawberries waiting for us when we got back from partying!

We couldn't imagine choosing any other location to get married. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The hotel was featured as one of the Top 10 places to vacation in the world. The service and amenities are excellent. Unlike other wedding venues, our wedding coordinator, Lindsey, treated us like a King and Queen and this treatment continued through the remainder of our planning and the day of our wedding! Our guests were impressed by the location and the service. The planning was an enjoyable experience of picking out our vendors and finalizing details with our coordinator. We would recommend this venue for any couple looking to get married including an ocean view and a back up plan for inclement weather. (although the weather is beautiful every time we've been there)

The staff are very professional and friendly. Willing to work with you on most things. The onsite coordinator is very helpful for answering general questions and is very accomodating to requests. The day of the wedding there were several staff members ensuring things went without a hitch. The food and drink was excellent. The only caveat is that it is an outdoor ceremony site so be prepared for the unexpected, which is always a must for outdoor facilities. I had a spattering of dirty water fall on me from a tree as I walked down the path to the ceremony site (immediately before my big entrance!). The staff were prepared right after the ceremony with clean up supplies and worked to get my dress as clean a possible for the reception. I was very pleased overall with the facility and the staff. You can't ask for a better view either!

AMAZING! The views were terrific. They have a great list of vendors to use, which made planning simple. The rooms are beautiful. The whole staff was helpful. The ceremony went seamlessly and we were able to enjoy our special day without thinking about the details.

It really is one of the most phenomenally beautiful places I've ever been. There are pictures on our wedding website (http://www.weddingwire.com/gregoryandkayce), and you should look!! The view is spectacular and the rooms are amazing. Kristi (who is mentioned in the other reviews) is no longer with Highlands, but when she left Jeri stepped up, took over, and did an excellent job. The entire staff is very attentive and responsive. The day-of coordination they provide is a life saver, and they were great with helping us to plan along the way. We LOVED our vendors, most of whom were chosen from the Highland's recommended list. The food was incredible, and I felt like we were very well taken care of. It's *the perfect* spot for a wedding, and I can't wait to go back!

The view was amazing and they were able to accomodate all my specials requests. I had an evening wedding and the sunset was amazing!! Turned out great in the pictures. I worked with Kristi Hogue at Highlands Inn and she was extremely nice and professional. Oh, and if you get married there, stay in one of there suites. Their rooms were AMAZING along witht he views. My husband and I are going to go back for our 1 year.

I would recommend Highlands to anyone who wants a dream wedding! I live in Kansas City but my husband and I wanted to get married in Carmel, CA. I sought out several sites and was not satisfied with the service I was receiving. My mother-in-law who grew up in the area said this was THE place to get married, so I went with it. They have specific vendors you have to work with, but they allowed me to bring in my own photographer. I had a problem with one vendor, but that was not the fault of Highlands Inn. Everyone truly made the day go smoothly and made it easy for me. Kristi was absolutely wonderful and even called me back at 9pm one night. They made my wedding day truly unforgettable!!!!!!!!!!