Venues & Event Spaces near Cool, CA

“I'll let you in on a secret; wedding photographers all have favorites when it comes to wedding venues. And Black Oak Mountain Vineyards is one my favorites.

California itself has a reputation for rugged natural beauty as well as innovation, and this location showcases all of those realities in one space. You get all the best views of the Sierra Nevada foothills and foliage, with structures that are chic.

Working from the top down, the hilltop house is a high-end, modern build that offers a great place to relax, get ready, and even celebrate an after party. The infinity pools are gem-like for a splash of blue (or a literal splash, if you like), and the deck offers a commanding view of the surrounding Gold Country. The greenhouse and wooded areas behind the house are also great spots for more rustic photos--especially when they include the lone tree on the hill.

The larger reception area at the bottom of the hill is spacious enough to host medium to large weddings under the open sky. When needed, the celebration can spill into the neighboring barn which is also modern in style. And which a quick walk down the driveway, you've got grapevines and a grove of olive trees for romantic portraits.

Thanks to creative design, great support staff and a stunning backdrop, this is on incredible place for NorCal couples to get married.”

“Came across Eden Vale Inn when looking for a place to stay for a rafting trip with All-Outdoors on the American River. It’s such a cute inn!

We checked in after 6pm, so check in instructions were texted to us. Easy to follow. Was easy to find. We stopped at Wally’s Pizza for dinner in Cameron Park based off their restaurant suggestions on their website and sent via text check in instructions. Great suggestion!

The next mornings breakfast is texted the night before, offering some options like juice preference. And it’s delivered around 9am the next morning. Since we had to be at rafting at 9 our first morning at the Inn, they delivered us fruit, scones, and juice early at 8:15am which was really nice. Breakfast was delicious, both mornings. And super fresh.

We stayed in the Cypress room. Was as pictured online. Room was clean. The patio area is nice. We explored the grounds a bit our last morning and saw many places to sit around. We enjoyed some time up at the pond in the morning.

The staff - I assume owners - were very friendly. We were very happy with our stay here and would return!”

“Cool place to hang out by the river. Kid friendly. Paid parking. Clean bathrooms. Gold panning. Historical buildings. Ice cream shop. Gelato. Check it out.”

“This venue exceeded my expectations for my wedding. Truly a blessing working with Sara and her team. She truly shows nothing but professionalism and wants it to be your special day. This place is awesome and if I could do that whole day over again I would!”

“Totally cool place!! Very comfortable family, dog friendly! You cannot have better or more knowledgeable servers! And did I say friendly!? I always feel like a King here! And most importantly, the wine is exceptionally good, and getting better by the minute! Over the last couple of years, the wine has improved. Most wine here is estate grown and bottled! A gem in Gold Country!
Yesterday, the shortest day of the year 2025, I went to taste some wines! I am loving the Cab Franc and Native Cabernet Sauvignon and Primativo Bianco. As always, friendly and fun!”

“Excellent place to stay, especially if you are planning on white water rafting. The food and staff were fantastic. It is a step up from tent camping but a great camping experience for the kids. Plus, there are showers and bathrooms that are well kept and clean.”

“Oh whow! If you haven't been, it is worth a stop. Friends had a memorial service here. The place is beautiful. They hv cabins you can rent. Not sure if they are overniters, but the family rented one for guest to change in. I will b going back for lunch in the spring, cuz o.m.g.! It was beautiful!”

“Sorry Matt and Jessica, I meant to post this awhile back.

Newcastle Gardens was absolutely amazing. My daughter had a lovely wedding there in late November and it went extremely well. Maggie, our wedding coordinator was excellent, very professional. She kept everything running very smoothly, almost exactly down to the minute. She was super helpful when the bride had a pre-reception mishap. She also kept the bride's drink full all night and helped out wherever needed. I don't know how she did it. I have to say she seemed hyperaware of the goings on around her and was really on top of things. I highly recommend her.

The ceremony area was very nice. The huge oak tree really added to the setting. The reception area, called the barn, was perfect for the number of people we had (about 100). Plenty of room for us. I think they can accommodate around 130, but discuss your needs with them. The barn can be opened to expand the space to the outdoors. It was open during the appetizer hour, but closed during dinner since it was a little chilly that evening. Jessica really made the space beautiful with her flower arranging and decorating skills.

We had the rehearsal dinner here as well. The food... Man, the food was SUPERB! The rehearsal dinner we had was a Mexican buffet. Every. Single. Dish. DELICIOUS! Of course I snuck up for seconds. I had to! Dessert was churros served with chocolate sauce. Snagged a few of those too. Everyone loved the meal. Additionally, the reception dinner was magnificent! Again everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, raved about the food. Matt, the chef, is a magician! Side note, my daughter made the cake (strictly for the couple). She also made half a dozen other desserts. Matt was so complimentary to her skills and variety. Said it was nice to see something different for a change.

If you have the chance, find out when their open house is and do yourself a favor and go. There were tons of samples so you can get get an idea of what the food is like as well as the grounds. The Mac & cheese with pulled pork was great (I had several servings during our appetizer hour) as well as everything else. Matt and Jessica were readily available to answer questions and discuss decor and menus and the like. There were a couple of other vendors there too so it was nice to talk to them for ideas even though my daughter decided to go a different route.

DJ Matt (different fellow) kept the evening hopping all night. It seemed like non-stop dancing. It was a sight to behold actually. The music was great! He really kept the energy up.

Also, shout-out to the bartenders Abe and Tori (I believe that was her name, sorry!) for keeping the drinks flowing and being very personable. You guys were amusing and fun!

All-in-all, everyone had a blast. The night could not have been more perfect. I wish we had more parties to plan just for the heck of it, I'd definitely have them here.”

“Alphonso, it was an honor meeting you and spending time with you on this New Years Day 2024.We are so glad to have met you and spent time this evening tasting and having a glass of this pure gold. We also met a wonderful couple, Gary and Antoinette, planning their wedding. The sunset was just as good as the wine.”

“One of the best locations overlooking the 49er gold trail. Outstanding pond and pool combination, that includes a waterfall and a swim up bar for two. Very friendly owners who were working to ready the dining area outside for the summer season.”

“Our Rotary Club meets here every week, and the staff at the Elks Lodge are absolutely wonderful! Always friendly, professional, and incredibly helpful—whether it’s setting up for meetings or helping with events, they go above and beyond. The space is well-kept, welcoming, and perfect for community gatherings. Grateful to have such a great local spot that supports Auburn’s organizations!”

“Monte Verde Inn does a phenomenal job of creating a sense of elegance, natural beauty and care for couples looking to celebrate their wedding in the NorCal foothills.

I recently photographed and filmed a wedding at Monte Verde on a spring day where all the foliage on the property was alive with lush, green color. Even the tree-lined driveway offers a beautiful approach to the front of the inn, complete with a fountain bubbling away near the front steps. The tall trees of the ceremony space gave the feeling of getting married in the woods, while also keeping everyone shaded. The back side of the property features a barn for rustic photos that feel so very far away from city life. And when the sun sinks low, the rows of grapevines offer the perfect place for newlywed portraits.

This venue seemed like a perfect choice for medium-sized guestlists, with plenty of room for guests to be seated outdoors or mingle near the outdoor bar. And even that open space is fairly well protected from that Northern California sun.

Don't overlook Monte Verde Inn if you're looking for an outdoor venue that's brimming with style and foothill charm.”

“Located in the Sierra foothills of Auburn, The Ridge Golf Course offers a superior golfing experience. This 18-hole championship course combines natural beauty with rigorous play. The Ridge Golf Course boasts a par-71 layout that spans 6,734 yards, incorporating a variety of terrains. This course is the most challenging course in Placer County and still manages to be very enjoyable. Imagine well-manicured fairways, playable bunkers, plenty of trees for shade, nice tee boxes and smooth greens. The golf carts are equipped with GPS with a layout of holes with accurate calculated distances. I would recommend a beverage cart, due to the lack of drinking water on the course. This would be a great date activity. Start off by warming up at the driving range with a bucket of balls. If the date is going well, play 9 holes while getting to know each other better. IG:SACRAMENTOHONEY”

“I cannot say enough about the outstanding service and support we received from David at the General Gomez ARTS Center during my father’s celebration of life. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing. David went above and beyond to ensure that our family had access to everything we needed, including tables, equipment, and other resources, which truly helped make the event a memorable and pleasant occasion.”

“Was the wedding coordinator for a smaller wedding and was absolutely beautiful. The grounds are amazing, the house and rooms are very nice. Would definitely recommend this venue.”

“What an awesome family oriented camp site, the cabin are all very clean and the staff is super helpful. If you happen to be looking for a puppy the camp host has some Frenchies she is selling they are all paper and oh my gosh so so precious.”