About Wylder Space 
Santa Cruz Wedding & Retreat Catering with Heart (and zero headaches)

I see you. I’ve got you.

You want a day that feels effortless. Guests raving. Mom included. No mental load.
That’s our lane. We handle every detail — menus, rentals, bar, staffing, timelines — so you get to be the most present, celebrated person in the room.




Why We Exist

I’m Molly — chef, author, mama, and your calm in the chaos. After years in professional kitchens, I built Wylder Space to do two things really, really well:
  1. Host you beautifully. Farm-to-table catering for weddings, retreats, and gatherings across Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
  2. Pass on the wisdom. Canning classes, community, and mentorship for women launching kitchen-based businesses — the old ways, made doable for modern life.
Because food isn’t just food. It’s how we say: “We're glad you're here and we love making you feel at home.”


 

What You’ll Feel Working With Us

  • Relief: We run point with your planner, venue, rentals, and bar. Back-up plans for back-up plans.
  • Confidence: Licensed, insured, venue-approved. Permits handled. Service that feels like family.
  • Pride: Seasonal menus sourced from farms we actually know — Fogline, Markegard, Dirty Girl, and more.
  • Belonging: Every dietary need honored (GF, vegan, dairy-free) — not as an afterthought, as a love note.
  • Ease: All-in pricing, no surprises. Clear proposals. Clear timelines. Clear heads.
“I actually got to be a guest at my own wedding.” — Whitney B.
“Three months later, people still text about the food — and how peaceful it felt.” — David & Emma


How We Care for Your People (and you)

  • Full-Service Catering: Chef-led seasonal menus, rentals, bar, setup + teardown — handled.
  • Drop-Off & Intimate Dinners: Same ingredient integrity, scaled for cozy rooms and family tables.
  • Corporate & Retreats: Nourishing food that fuels real connection and clear thinking.
  • Education & Mentorship: Canning workshops and our Sovereign Kitchen Society to help you build pantry resilience — or even a legal, home-based food business.

Our Food Philosophy (in plain talk)

Real food. Real farms. Real care.
We cook in color (rainbow on a plate), seasonally and from scratch. We source locally because you can taste integrity. We compost, repurpose, and run a low-waste kitchen because stewardship matters. And we plate with beauty — because your story deserves it.

Kind Words (the feelings our clients name)

  • “Stress melted away. I got to breathe and be present.” — Sarah M.
  • “Every diet honored. My mom felt so included.” — Jessica
  • “Host with the most — without lifting a finger.” — Event Planner, Carmel Valley
  • “Seamless. Our families left planning reunions.” — Whitney & Blake

Two Ways In

💬Plan an Effortless Event » We’ll map the whole flow (menus, rentals, bar, staffing) and build a custom proposal that feels like you. All-in pricing. No surprises.



💬Explore the Kitchen Side » Join the Sovereign Kitchen Society for canning classes, community, and step-by-step mentorship to launch your cottage food business.

Learn more about the Sovereign Kitchen Society →

Quick Answers (so you can exhale)

  • Pricing: Weddings commonly start around $120/guest depending on guest count, service style, and rentals. We’ll tailor a clear, all-in estimate to your exact needs. 
  • Bar + Rentals: Yes — ABC-licensed staff, thoughtful wine/cocktail packages, glassware, linens, farm tables, flatware, eco disposables — one team, one invoice.
  • Permits & Insurance: We carry the coverage and secure the permits for redwood, coast, and mountain venues.
  • Tastings: Complimentary guided tastings after a preliminary proposal is approved — come hungry and bring your top three people.

A Note from Molly

Hosting shouldn’t feel like work. It should feel like a deep breath. Hand us the logistics and keep the joy of planning your special day. We’ll protect your peace like it’s our own.
Ready to feel cherished at your own event?
→ Let’s Plan Your Stress-Free Day