Our History

Hillside Gardens has a history as unique as this beloved venue. The beautiful four acres, with scenic mountain views, was used as a dairy farm in the early 1900s. Then, it became a neighborhood nursery in 2000. It was so charming that people started asking to get married there. Eventually, the whole place was transformed into the enchanting venue it is today.

At the end of 2021 brother/sister duo, Donavan and Ashlee took over ownership of Hillside Gardens. Like all old places, Hillside probably has a thousand stories to tell. We hope you join us to be a part of this new chapter.

It’s Nice to Meet You!

  • Erika Weeks

    WEDDING COORDINATOR

    Meet Erika Weeks, on-site wedding planner/coordinator at Hillside. She oversees all of our contracts and is available to help Hillside couples through full-service planning or coordinating services. She has been with Hillside since 2019 and loves the uniqueness every Hillside wedding brings to the gardens - she loves to see how each couple brings their own personal touches and the gardens transform to make a perfect space for the perfect day. Her greatest joy is helping couples be fully present in the moment while she oversees everything else.

    When she is not at the gardens Erika is enjoying life raising her three little girls and going on date nights with her hubby of 10 years! Always ready to talk weddings, Erika is happy to sit down and talk about your vision over a decaf vanilla latte anytime!

  • Donavan Kennedy

    OWNER

    Meet Donavan Kennedy, owner and manager of Hillside Gardens. As a Colorado Springs native, Donavan has enjoyed watching the city sprawl and mature over time. In years past, you may have run into Donavan at Yobel Market, which he co-founded in 2008. During his tenure there, he loved teaching small business owners all over the world how to build strong, sustainable businesses and helped fund school building projects in developing countries.

    For the past six years, he has been selling wine and spirits to restaurants as a level 3 Sommelier WSET. Hillside concert-goers may recognize Donavan as the wine expert at the Wednesday Concerts over the past five years. With over 20 years of hospitality industry experience and a passion for his hometown, Donavan is excited to utilize Hillside as a place to connect, be refreshed and celebrate.

  • Ashlee Kennedy

    OWNER

    Meet Ashlee Kennedy, owner of Hillside Gardens. Ashlee is a Colorado Springs native and a mountain girl, through and through. Though she always loves to come home, her adventurous spirit and her work in the non-profit sector has taken her all around the world. Those years of travel truly opened her eyes to the beauty of different cultures, food, and drinks. Most recently, as a WSET level 2 in Spirits, she has worked in the hospitality industry as a spirits and wine rep. Ashlee will bring her passion for food, wine, community and culture to create a welcoming and fun atmosphere at Hillside to share with Colorado Springs!