Best Places To Host A Wedding Reception On The Peninsula

If you want to host the wedding of a lifetime, and give your guests a day to talk about for years to come, look no further than the Peninsula region of San Francisco. The following venues and locations offer amenities for all tastes, desires and pocketbooks. From simple to luxurious, and everything in between, there aren't many unique places that compare. Don't miss your chance to make your dreams happen at any of these exquisite and charming venues.

For the down-home duo searching for an intimate wedding venue that offers an air of modest perfection interweaved with nostalgia, the Los Altos History Museum is a simple atmosphere, holding a rich past. The museum includes a balcony, winding staircase and collections of photos and interactive exhibits displaying the details of Los Altos area's comprehensive history. Saunter into the beautiful gardens and paths and take in the serenity of the blooms and whispering trees. Within the grounds is a shingled farmhouse, the J. Gilbert Smith History House, built in 1905. This entire setting, along with a fabulously helpful staff, is why this is the prime location for making history of your own.

(credit: fourseasons.com)Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley
2050 University Ave.
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 470-2843
www.fourseasons.com

Love birds who want to show their guests a wedding unmatched in luxury, combined with tasteful, contemporary touches, can indulge in all that the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto has to offer. The hotel is located within the heart of a city where cutting-edge technology originated. One tour of the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto will make your decision making simple. Flourishing with splendid fountains, exotic floral design, modern furnishings and sophistication at every corner you turn, this lavish locale is sure to keep your guests in delight the entire night.

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For all things decadent, the bride and groom will be able to treat their guests to culinary delights that will tantalize every taste bud at the celebration. Dinah's has ventured with Alexander's Steakhouse and offers a Michelin-rated restaurant, The Sea. The menu is grand, wide ranging and suitable for every diner's tastes. The food and ambience has generated rave reviews from previous satisfied guests. Dinah's reputation for its premium hospitality endures as well. The bountiful Koi fish can be seen in ponds along walkways leading to gazebos. Buddha statues situate in lush, picturesque settings. All of these special touches lend a hand to the Oriental feel of the atmosphere. For an enduring occasion, the happy couple can opt to treat invitees to Dinah's hotel rooms, which are decorated with the same opulence guests enjoyed during the festivities. Your family and friends will relish the pleasures of the hotel's lagoon decks, steam room and pool; all the while basking in the special moments enjoyed the previous night.

Naturalists wanting untouched, pristine and protected habitats as part of their wedding backdrop need look no further than Crystal Springs. The golf course and its serene locale allow the bride and groom a chance to give their guests a special opportunity to see a strictly protected reservoir, accessible only to rangers, scientists and select environmentalists. Guests take in the beauty of matrimony as well as scenery at the gazebo located upon a grassy peak overlooking the reservoir. The beautifully kept greens complement the perfection of the entire landscape. The Wedgewood Banquet Center's Vista Room offers a dining/reception area. The surrounding Vista Deck makes viewing the outside splendor simple, even while indoors. This venue is perfect for all lovers and adorers of nature.

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Harken back to the days of the Wild Wild West and plan a wedding at a venue that brims with an Old Western feel. Long Branch Saloon and Farms is a journey to the past – complete with a saloon, old-fashioned storefronts, an open pit barbecue, stables and rustic charm. Long Branch Farms is located on a 46-acre pasture. There is an indoor country chapel or the option to set up an altar in the meadow. Both settings promise to fulfill any desire to hold a ceremony reminiscent of plantation living. The indoor reception parlor, decorated in chandeliers and glamorous décor from the turn of the century, can accommodate patio seating or reception tents as well. The wedding night at this location is usually topped off with fun and tomfoolery – with lasso tossing, archery, panning for gold and more. You'll keep your guests so entertained, they won't even think about swinging from the rafters.

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