An awesome venue has recently opened up in the Sacramento region, and we’re so excited! Belle Vie Vineyard & Event Center has so much to offer ~ the first of which is the fantastic scenic drive to reach this 37-acre private estate. An hour’s drive from Sacramento (and the same from San Francisco but closer to certain other bay area communities) will have you enjoying the Sacramento River landscape winding along the levee roads, across historic draw bridges and eventually out into the open spaces of the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta. The last stretch will have you on Sherman Island (you may not realize you’re actually on an island) travelling a farmland country road passing fields and cattle grazing. The Antioch Bridge is visible which is a unique juxtaposition!

Belle Vie Vineyards & Event Center has a Mediterranean Tuscan feel which is quite evident as fragrant lofty Eucalyptus trees border the property and on the left of the entry are newly planted rows of Chardonnay grapes (wonderful for photo ops!) On the right, across an open lawn, is the Cypress Courtyard which can be an option for a wedding ceremony site, or for evening dancing. Encircling this space are decorative white ornate columns and tall cypress trees.  Belle Vie’s in-house staff could installed market lights which would give a wonderful outdoor garden feel to your evening.

The main building/event center, referred to as the Villa, is made up of a graceful welcome front foyer, the Great Hall on the right is a wonderfully large open room, and then on the left is the smaller party room. The flooring throughout is a granite-marble which is quite striking. Combining the two rooms allows for seating of approximately 270. The front foyer with its lovely wood sideboard hutch for sign-in book, display of family photos or other items, and the refreshment/bar is perfect with its handsome wood backbar and stone and slate appointments.   Great Hall is white, airy and breezy which is a perfect “blank palette” to design with any color you wish. The venue manager has created sweet centerpieces to compliment the room, which are available for rent! The Villa’s smaller side is a wonderful room if having an intimate dinner (less than 60), but we see the flexibility to this side… set up the buffet or food stations, display the wedding cake under the gorgeous wrought iron chandelier, and turn this room into the inside dance-party space. The ability to walk directly out to the great outdoors for a bit of fresh air, and enjoy the spacious lawn is very convenient.

Flexibility and options are the descriptive words for Belle Vie Vineyards & Event Center. The large Pavilion Lawn  can accommodate up to 350 people! A wedding ceremony under the pergola is perfect and all this faces a huge row of white oleanders. The pergola can be draped in fabric and the intersection in the long processional walkway can be turned into an outdoor dance floor. Fun! The lawn can certainly be tented and many options for this large space can be utilized – art festivals, wine tasting, concerts… you name it!

Saving the best for last… a short walk up to the top of the river levee offers the most magical view from a pier out over the San Joaquin River. This pier is the best place on earth for sunset shots {swoon}, and we even suggest that an intimate elopement wedding ceremony be held on the pier. How awesome is that?

Belle Vie offers tables, nice white chairs and tablecloths. A caterer would provide napkins and all tabletop china, glassware, flatware. At this time, outside catering is allowed upon proof of insurance and management approval. The prep kitchen is spacious for plating and organizing and rinsing of rental items. Other perks of Bell Vie are the ample parking lot, a sweet bridal changing room with attached restroom, and the ability to rent the venue for 10 hours.

We are excited for a future visit when additional improvements will be made… such as The Grove, which will be an awesome cocktail area within the shade and protection of trees, and when the rows of grape vines fill out more, one could hold an intimate Dinner in the Vines!

We had a great time with photographer Mischa Purcell. A few photos were added to Mischa’s collection from Images by RJM and one from a staged photo shoot by Christopher Cook.

~ Vixen Lora