Beautiful Wedding Sites Near Sacramento, California
In this article I’ll mention a few reception venues in Sacramento, California. Ceremonies are sometimes done at the same site as the reception; often the ceremony will be held outdoors at a site, then move (but on the same property) so the reception is done inside. Many ceremonies are still done in churches and the receptions are being held just about anywhere.
A lovely place for a Sacramento wedding is the Julia Morgan House and Gardens located on T Street and is actually owned by the Sacramento State Campus of the California University system. This house was left to the university with the caveat it be used to “enhance the university’s mission of teaching and learning, research and public service.” The rental fees go towards the upkeep of the house and grounds.
The house is named after the architect, Julia Morgan, who is still considered America’s greatest female architect. She designed the house in the 1920’s as a private residence. Morgan designed over 700 buildings during her 50 year career of architectural design. This home has been listed on the National Register of Historic Homes since 1982.
This facility can handle 50 guests for a sit down dinner in the home’s living room and dining room. Larger parties of 100 visitors can use the entire house, and, using both the house and the grounds together has a guest capacity of 200. The catering services at the university are the only caterer usually allowed to provide the food. (There seems to be a loophole here, so check; the website says they can release your date if you don’t use the university caterer.) For more information visit www.foundation.csus.edu/juliamorganhouse.
The Sterling Hotel and Vizcaya are two wonderful places to have weddings. The Sterling Hotel, an elegant Victorian house is located in downtown Sacramento. Their ballroom can handle up to 400 guests. The ballroom is lit with elegant chandeliers, beveled mirrors, a stained glass rotounda and over six feet tall ivy laced topiaries. The room has the ambience of an English garden. The kitchen provides California cuisine.
There are hotel rooms available at the Sterling Hotel, each featuring Jacuzzis, elegant designer furniture and Italian marble. There is also a bar and a restaurant on the grounds.
The Vizcaya Mansion is also in downtown Sacramento and is surrounded by colorful gardens and three fountains. There is a new Romanesque pavilion at Vizcaya; it has a fountain and a gazebo which is perfect as a ceremony site. Ceremonies can also be held on the brick patio, shaded by a beautiful, old, sprawling oak tree, at the back of the hotel. There are nine hotel rooms at the Vizcaya, each stylishly appointed with Italian marble and luxurious amenities. Most have fireplaces and skylights also.
Their various venues can handle from 40 to 400 guests. There is 3700+ square feet of meeting space available. And, of course, they have all the amenities needed for corporate meetings. Both sites also offer off-site catering and event planning. Visit www.thesterlinghotel.com for additional information on both properties.
Last, but not least, I’m going to include the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento where I had a terrific experience last week. I worked a booth for the wedding/event publication I sell advertising in, and it was the first bridal fair I’ve attended in about 30 years. (And, weddings sure have changed in that time.) This hotel has a great location right across the street from the Arden Fair Mall. Lots of hotel rooms, a pleasant lobby, a cafÃ?© (I’m sure there is a lounge nearby) and many various sized rooms to hold your reception and/or wedding ceremony. The Doubletree catering department served up excellent cuisine – baked brie with two different fillings, spicy chicken wings, superb cheeses, luscious strawberries and other delicious fare. They also had set up round tables using different patterns of china, crystal, and silverware at each table, with several bright or muted linen color choices and beautifully decorated chairs.
Remember to think about the weather – both the summer heat and the possibility of rain almost year round. Make sure your location has a back-up plan for inclement weather. The Sacramento weather is usually very hot in the summer months so you might want the ceremony outside or a combination of cocktails outside with the dinner being held indoors.
There are many, many more choices for weddings and events in and around the Sacramento area. Keep in mind, you’ll need to reserve many of these up to a year in advance. Look for another articles about more reception sites coming soon.
Happy wedding planning!
