You’re getting married. Congratulations. Your wedding is a very important event in your life so far, and where you have your ceremony and reception is a critical choice. It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your wedding. A winery, a beach, a vineyard, a ballroom, a Victorian home, or ? Weddings are done everywhere now with wineries and vineyards being the most popular.
You’re getting married. Congratulations. Your wedding is a very important event in your life so far, and where you have your ceremony and reception is a critical choice. It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your wedding. A winery, a beach, a vineyard, a ballroom, a Victorian home, or ? Weddings are done everywhere now with wineries and vineyards being the most popular.
You’re getting married. Congratulations. Your wedding is a very important event in your life so far, and where you have your ceremony and reception is a critical choice. It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your wedding. A winery, a beach, a vineyard, a ballroom, a Victorian home, or ? Weddings are done everywhere now with wineries and vineyards being the most popular.
In this article I’ll mention a few reception sites in, and, near Fresno, 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.
Chiminello Catering has a lovely facility in downtown Fresno, in the Grand Ballroom located in the International Trade Center. The room has a 22 foot ceiling with marble walls and pillars which give it an elegant air. There is free parking but because it’s not in a good part of town; you should provide valet parking for your guests. There food is excellent and they serve nice size portions. They used to do offsite catering so I think that they still do. (Get more details at www.chiminellocatering.com.)
Nancy Vajretti of Love and Garlic is an excellent caterer whose food presentation is absolutely beautiful. She has done several “publicity” functions I’ve attended and always does a great job. However, when it’s a sit down dinner, the portions tend to be a bit skimpy. Make sure you request full servings when you negotiate your menu and prices. She does off site catering and has an event facility near Blackstone Avenue at Barstow. I believe it’s an indoor facility only. (Check them out at www.loveandgarlic.com)
One of the most beautiful places for an outdoor wedding is Wolf Lakes in Sanger. It’s actually quite close to Fresno, just ten miles east of Clovis Avenue off of Ashlan Avenue and close to the Sierra foothills. It’s a neighboring property to the community I live at; “my” lake and their lake share a common meeting point I believe. Despite its proximity to my home, I had not been there until last summer. Long ago, friends told me it was a fishing lake with facilities for parties. Imagine my surprise as I drove down the driveway and found beautifully landscaped grounds sloping down to a small lake with an island in the middle of it all. Not just a “fishing lake” any longer. They have outdoor, covered facilities for two events at a time and several ceremony options. Your guests can take boat rides during the function and the wedding party can arrive by boat and/or the bride and groom can leave by boat. The good news is – it’s outdoors; the bad news is – it’s outdoors. As beautiful as the setting is, I would not plan a function there except before mid May and after mid September – and, I would have a secondary back up plan if was over 85 degrees. I would also start nothing before six pm and I would look into bringing in portable AC units. (I do not like the heat.) I can’t wait until they add an indoor, fully air conditioned, venue. They provide you with a preferred vendor list; they do the catering themselves and it’s excellent with large portions. If you have a DJ, you must choose one from their preferred vendor list. I’d also to live in the house above and to the left of the lake; their front porch looks out over the lake so the residents can “attend” all the wedding ceremonies. It’s actually owned by the “elder” generation of the Wolf family. (Visit their website at www.wolflakespark.com for more information.)
The next venue is a golf course near Coarsegold, a small community on the way to Yosemite and it’s about an hour from Fresno. This is Sierra Meadows Country Club. They have many options for both the ceremony and reception site. They will also provide golfing packages for your wedding party and/or guests. Other vendors such as photographers, florists, etc. are only 20 minutes away in the Coarsegold/Oakhurst area. There are many hotels, B & B’s and campgrounds in the area that are less than 15 minutes away. (Please visit www.sierrameadowsweddings.com for details.)
Lastly, would probably be my favorite (or, maybe tied with Wolf Lakes) – Bass Lake. I spent lots of time here during my college years and still enjoy the area very much. Bass Lake is just above Oakhurst on the way to Yosemite about an hour from Fresno. If you have a small guest list you can get married in the little white church located in the tiny village of Bass Lake, Then, you cross the parking lot for your indoor or outdoor reception at Ducey’s On The Lake. At Ducey’s you can also opt to have your ceremony lakeside in their beautiful garden. Or, you can have your ceremony indoors along with your reception. There are chalets to rent at The Pines Resort right at the lake, or larger cabins located around the lake can also be rented from them. And there are lots of motels and B & B’s in the Oakhurst area only 10 minutes from the lake itself. Bass Lake is less than half an hour from the Yosemite’s southern gate so you might consider part of your honeymoon to be in Yosemite. And, your wedding guests will enjoy spending a day or two in Yosemite before or after your wedding. (Visit their website at www.basslake.com.)
There are many other reception sites in this area; this is just a few.
Happy Wedding Planning!
