Beautiful Wedding Venues Near Fresno, CA

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 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.

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.

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. Last Saturday, it was 112F at 6pm at my house (a mile away). As beautiful as the setting is, I would not plan a function there until they add an indoor, fully air conditioned, venue. Even in April, May, September or October it might be too hot. But, it's very popular and 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. Personally, I hope they add an air conditioning building soon' I'd love to host a party there. I'd also to live in the house avove 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 wolflakespark.com for more information.)

Quail Lake, where I live, is another lovely place for a wedding, but again - it's completely outdoors. Still, you see large white tents or rows of beautifully decorated tables a few times a month from April to October. The site for the ceremony and/or reception is lakeside and very beautiful. The DJ's lay down a dance floor and you can have amplified music until 10pm. You need to be a resident of the community to "rent" the facility; rent is a misnomer - there is currently no fee. (See their website at www.quailake.com.)

Grand Occasions is a wonderful catering company with banquet facilities in northwest Fresno. I've been to weddings there and they do a delightful job with both the food and the service. Their various rooms can hold from 10 to 400 guests. They do offsite catering as well. (Visit www.gograndoccasions.com)

Piccadilly Hotels have three locations with banquet facilities. One is located on west Shaw Avenue near Freeway 99. Another one, the Piccadilly University, is located on East Shaw Avenue near CSUF. The third one is located across from the airport. I think the west Shaw location has the biggest facilities. I've attended many functions there with excellent food and service. The University location tends to cater to a lot of sport teams that come to town so it would be my last choice of the three sites. (Visit their website for details at www.piccadillyinn.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)

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. They used to do offsite catering so I think that they still do. (Get more details at www.chiminellocatering.com.)

There are many other reception sites in this area; this is just a few.

Happy wedding planning