"Our daughter's wedding was everything we had hoped for...and MORE!"

I am writing as Mother of the Bride and the Matron of Honor. Having said that, I can say from the first meeting we knew we were in good hands with Brett and Kathryn. I was assured they would take care every last detail and that they did! It was as though we had event planners keeping an eye over every last detail from the moment we arrived. Our guests were treated with every courtesy by their staff. There was nothing they wouldn't do to ensure our stay was everything we had been told it would be. The guests left feeling as though they had been to a destination wedding although they only traveled a short distance.

The backdrop at the ceremony site was magical. It felt as though we were in the middle of nature with the birds chirping and butterflies flying around us while our daughter and son-in-law took their vows. It was the perfect start to a wonderful night. Kathryn saw to it that Bride and Groom had a little time to visit with eachother and nibble on hors d'oeuvres before they made their entrance at the reception. Kathryn suggested thisto ensure they could take some time to live in the moment. I'm the Mother of the Bride and I hadn't even thought of that!

Our guests couldn't say enough about the food. This was far from "wedding food". The chef is an artist. The presentation was as good as the flavor. I typically don't like wedding cake but this was not just any wedding cake. It melted in your mouth. The cake is made on site on the day of the wedding so it was wonderfully moist. They don't use lard so the frosting just disolved once it hit your tongue. We went with a different flavor for each layer and one was better than the next. Our guests kept coming up for more until there was none left!

Their staff made the transition from dinner to dancing/reception appear seamless. While the guests were re-directed to cake cutting they removed tables for dancing. Then the party really began. The after hours party went on all night downstairs in the game room. To say game room is an understatement-it is a lair. It was a great place for everyone to retreat to once the majority of the wedding guests had gone.

The Forest House Lodge staff went above and beyond to ensure our overnight accomidations were perfect. They made sure coffee was brewing for those early risers. Like that wasn't enough, they prepared a wonderful send off breakfast for the guests that stayed at the lodge.

We have received thank you notes from several of our guests because they wanted us to know that they had never experienced a wedding like that before. It is hard not to call it an event....because it wasn't just a wedding-it was like a reunion /mini-vacation because we got to have our closest family and friends stay with us at the lodge. The rehearsal dinner was also at the lodge so we got to relax and get acquainted with everyone before the BIG DAY. Then we got to experience the fabulous wedding the following day. There was none of the stress that I had always heard about. None of the last minute worries. The bridal party was calm and enjoyed the entire day of the wedding without any worry. We just relaxed, ate, drank mimosas while getting ready. Our daughter remained relaxed and joyful while she watched the day unfold. What more can you ask for?

Thinking back to this day will forever bring a smile to our faces. Without a doubt the outcome went far beyond our expectations and we're so thankful to have this lasting memory. I am so appreciative to Brett and Kathryn and their wonderful staff for making our daughter's dream wedding just that.

FH is really there to make your wedding as enjoyable as possible, even if that means going out of their way to go with the flow as things happen. As we were planning, they made it clear they were there to do whatever they could to make our day what we wanted. When we worked with Chef to choose our menu, there were some items we requested that weren't on the menu. We described what we were looking for, and he delivered - guests asked for the recipes! Day of, we had a few unexpected things come up (illness, missing flowers, and surely some other things I never heard about), and they were right on top of it, even if they had to improvise (plain white rice for your meal because your stomach can't take anything else? Done!). They mean it when they say they're there to make your day yours. Not to mention the House is beautiful and the ceremony site even better!

Where do I start? My daughter got married this past weekend at the Forest House Lodge, and as some of the other reviewers have said, the experience was an absolute dream come true. Since the majority of the bride's family lives out of state, we availed ourselves of the Princess package and stayed from Thursday through Sunday.

The main floor of the lodge is beautifully appointed, and guests are dazzled when they come in through the front doors and can see all the way through the lobby and wedding-reception areas to the glass doors going out to a lovely balcony ovecrlooking a tranquil flagstone patio in the rear of the lodge. There is a cozy library with stone fireplace on the main floor for reading, sitting, or playing board games. A grand piano is available for playing on the main floor as well. A long fully stocked bar is situated to the right of the lobby, and is filled with hats of every type. For our rehearsal dinner we had a Mad Hatter party, and everyone who was staying at the lodge from the oldest to youngest donned a hat to their liking, and we had quite a lively dinner.

The 28 guest rooms located on the top floor of the lodge are all very unique and charming, with various configurations which allow parents and children to stay together in adjoining rooms, couples to have a room, singles to share rooms, large suites for families and the bride and groom, etc. Some rooms have private baths, some have shared baths, and there are four other full baths located in the hallways, well stocked with towels and personal amenities.

The lower floor of the lodge is a recently renovated enormous game room, with a pool table, ping-pong table, air hockey, video games, guitar hero, poker table, etc etc, as well as a beautiful bridal salon with two professional styling chairs, four additional stools with lighted mirrors, lots of velvet chaise lounges, two bathrooms, etc. There is also a new groomsmen salon for the guys to get ready in.

The beauty of having three floors in the lodge is that the main floor serves as a buffer between the upstairs guest rooms and the lower-level game room, which makes for a quiet and restful room experience throughout the day and night..

The service by the hotel staff was absolutely sublime. I have traveled extensively and stayed in five-star hotels around the world, and the service at the lodge was on par with that. The staff is available for your every need, yet remain quietly in the background. There are lovely touches like Ghiradelli chocolates in every room, as well as the lobby. Coffee, tea and bottled water are always available. My family said they felt like royalty.

The food was exceptional. We were fed all day long, including late-night hot snacks. My daughter adheres to a strict gluten-free diet, and the chef could not have been more informed and accommodating. The kitchen kept all of her food separated throughout the stay, and even made a separate small gluten-free wedding cake to match the large cake. The lodge was responsive to the needs of our group , and every single meal was delicious and more than met our expectations.

The actual wedding site is located about a mile up the road from the lodge, and I was a bit concerned about transporting folks there and back, as well as newly arriving guests not knowing where the site was, but there was no need to worry because the lodge staff were at the front door giving directions, and everyone got there with no problem. There were additional staff at the site handling the parking. The site is utterly breathtaking, and the extended families of the bride and groom stayed after the ceremony for group photos.

I can say with absolute certainty that you would not find anyone who attended this event who did not have the time of their lives. I cannot tell you how many times people told me that this was the best wedding they had ever been to, and it was the staff at the lodge who made it happen. Brett, Kathryn, Laura, Julie, Trevor, Patrick, Monica, and all the rest of the employess who made this the most memorable event ever, thank you from our entire family.

Dianne Coughlin
Roseville, California

We couldn't have found a better location for our daughter's wedding. Bret, Kathryn, and their entire staff completely hit it out of the park. From the first meeting last year to the moment we left , the experience was first class. Everyone involved was professional, friendly, and anticipated every need and wish for all. The feeling was one of friends handling the arrangements not professionals doing their job. Their handling of the entire affair allowed my daughter, son-in-law and all the guests to have a wonderful and stress free time. We will treasure our time and we owe a big part of that to Bret, Kathryn, and their staff.

My daughter was married in October 2009, and we chose the Forest House Lodge as the location because my daughter just loved the forested wedding site. I had read some of the previous trip-advisor reviews and was concerned. However, i could not have been for pleased, Brett and Catherine did a wonderful job everything came off just as we had hoped.
The food was exceptional and all of the guest raved about the taste and presentation, well done to the chef and kitchen staff, Jules and Rocco in the bar interacted with the guests and helped make their visit a memoral one.

This is not the Ritz or Hyatt, but for a destination wedding with great charm and and lots of personality I give Forest House ***** 5 stars. It really is a wonderful place for a wedding or other large social event.

Thanks again, Jim - San Diego

If I could give this place more 10 stars I would. This place is a bride and grooms dream. My wedding was amazing, fantastic, incredible, memorable, and best of all PERFECT!!!!

Forest House Lodge is very reasonably priced, and more than worth ever penny for what they provide you with.

Kathryn. Brett, Lorie, Julie, Rocky, Chef and the rest of the staff were absolutely the most professional, and hard working people I have ever met. Forest house lodge represents outstanding, 5 diamond customer service at it's best. Kathryn was my guardian angel for the entire day. Everything I or anyone else asked for she had it or had it done in minutes. Thanks to her and the rest of the staff the day went by with no problems, as far as I could see. Forest house has the biggest most beautiful bridal salon ever!!! All of my bridesmaids loved it!

In the weeks leading up to the wedding I was very stressed out. As soon as I stepped through the doors of Forest House I felt relaxed and at ease. Everyone who came down to see me as I got ready said they could not believe how calm I was.

The guests could not stop raving about the ceremony site. It was quite a drive for most of our guests to get to Forest House, but once they arrived and saw how beautiful it was the long drive no longer mattered.

The food was also great! They fed our guests all day. Starting with lunch, then pre-ceremony appetizers and post-ceremony appetizers, dinner, and my favorite the late night appetizers (they served my favorites mozzarella sticks and french fries).

The bar is also amazing, they made sure to stock it full of the alcohol our guests would drink based on earlier conversations. There is also a huge game room downstairs that all of our guests absolutely could not get enough of.

For half of the guests they have rooms for them to stay in. Some of the rooms are small, but after having such a great day and spending lots of time at the bar no one noticed.

I could spend a whole day writing about my wedding and how absolutely wonderful Forest House Lodge is! To sum up our day it was a very good reflection of who we are and what we love and it allowed our guests to have a good time and share in one of the most important days in our lives.

My daughter was married at the Forest House Lodge in August. We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding weekend. The staff was professional, friendly and unobtrusive. They went about doing their job while being solicitious of our needs. Just as a note we had guests from 6 months to almost 90! Having the whole facility to ourselves mad the experience even more wonderful.

We were warmly welcomed on Friday when we arrived. The staff assisted us in bringing in the many boxes of items that we had packed. While we greeted family and friends, the staff quickly distributed the "gift bags" we had brought, placing them on the beds in each of the rooms. The rooms had quaint decor with great towels - better than I have seen in some hotels.

We had the rehearsal diner catered by another restaurant. The Lodge staff took over and set up the tables with my linens and candles. When the food arrived, they took the time to make the presentation look attractive - putting the cakes on a beatuiful tiered cake tray, finding bowls for salad dressing, putting the silverware and napkins in a lovely basket, etc. I had come prepared with serving utensils, plates, silverware, etc. but had not thought about some of these finer details! When I saw the patio, I was just blown away by how lovely it looked.

Kathryn was an absolute gem when it came to anything we needed. We might still be at the rehearsal if it wasn't for her knowledge and guidance. This was the ministers first wedding and Kathryn provided all the necessary expertise We were done with 2 run throughs of the rehearsal and back at the Lodge in time for the dinner.

The party continued into the wee hours of the morning in the bar. By 10 PM most of the guests were either on the balcony or in one of the lovely lounges. The partyers enjoyed the hats and played hard in the gameroom downstairs. They would then circulate back up to the bar and enjoyed another round of drinks and karaoke. The bartender kept everything light and fun and under control.

Saturday began with a light contintental breakfast in the lobby area. The fruit, muffins and pastries were plentiful. The guests were much appreciative of the good food.

The bridal salon is absolutely gorgeous. The bride and her attendants had so much fun getting ready. With 2 professional chairs, the hair and makeup was easy to do. The couches were great for lounging and enjoying the Mimosa's during the day. Some of the girls realized their dresses had wrinkled on the trip to Foresthill, and the staff provided a steamer to take care of the problem. The room was quickly cleared of the lunch debris and all was ready for the photo session. The gorgeus furnishings and draperies made for some spectacular photos.

Over the weekend, Kathryn and Laura always stopped and asked if there was anything they could do fo us. We never had to look far to find someone when we did need something. As we were headed to the ceremony site, we discovered that the gorrm's father was missing his boutaineer. Laurie (the bartender) quickly jumped in and, looked at my husband's flower, went into the reception area and plucked a rose from one of the centerpieces. She then went into the kitchen and came out with it wrapped in black florist tape and 2 black pins - just like everyone else's flower! All in all we were ready to go in under 5 minutes.

The ceremony site is breathtaking. We had the opportunity to view it several times before the wedding and spent a few hours there last year to find the ideal time of day. The guests could not believe how gorgeous it was. The chairs are there for comfort but do not distract from the views. Kathryn was on site and in constant communication with the Lodge. Soda for the groom's mom appeared within minutes of her asking. Some protein bars appeared for the bride a short while later. Our every need was anticipated and delivered.

When we returned to the Lodge the appetizers were ready, the bar was open and everyone was ready to party. The food was superb and the cake tasted as beautiful as it looked. The pastry chef had incorporated several cakes into one that was elegant. The food was plentiful and everyone raved about how good it was. I know several of the young growing men made several trips through the buffet. The presentation looked like something on a cruise ship and there were no delays waiting for refills. The staff was attentive and on top of everything.

The party lasted until the wee hours of the moring downstairs in the game room. The two great bartenders (one who was brand new) kept everything moving. The evening snacks were served at the bar, final call announced to all in the game rooms and bar (both nights) and eveyone was allowed to party on downstairs. The bartenders were helpful - from helping guests with their ties to providing directions and local points of interest, competent and professional. Julie and Rocky were great!

Sunday morning, the guests found a wonderful hot breakfast awaiting them. The eggs were the lighest, fluffiest eggs I have ever eaten. Again the food was delcious, plentiful and hot. The presentation was beautiful and the guests got to enjoy the reception area one last time.

By the time breakfast was over, we had a piano full of lost items - hats, ties, tux pieces, earrings, a shoe, etc. Everything was claimed by the owners as people reluctantly took their leave. My husband and I could only marvel at the efficiency of the staff. it was with tearful eyes that I said good bye to Kathryn, Laura and Julie. Over the 3 days, we became friends. Kathryn's patience in answering my thousand questions over the previous months was appreciated. Both she and Laura have this quiet, in control attitude and their reply was always a smile and "no problem - we'll take care of it." My daughter had the weekend of her life. Our 15 months of planning came to fruition and her wedding day exceeded her and her grooms expectations. It exceeded mine as well.

Thank you to all the Foresthouse Staff!!

I attended my daughter's wedding at the Forest House Lodge in July, 2009.

This was my first experience with an all inclusive 2-day wedding celebration and what a wonderful experience it was. I absolutely loved the historic lodge and all it had to offer. The bar was a huge hit for party goers. The game room had activities going at all hours of the day and night. In fact, a memorable event was my daughter and son-in-law closing the game room down playing Guitar Hero in full wedding dress. The cozy fireplace room was another wonderful gathering place along with the outdoor deck sitting areas.

The wedding site is beyond description. I can't imagine a more beautiful setting.

The bridal salon was perfect.

I had complete confidence in Kathryn and Laura and there was never a moment I felt a need to do anything other than enjoy myself. The staff was professional and competent.

The food was good. There seemed to be non-stop food at all hours of the day. There was a good variety and plenty of it.

As the mother of the bride I had a wonderful suite that my husband and I shared with my 90-year old mother. We were very comfortable and happy with the accommodations.

I am so happy the bride and groom choose Forest House Lodge. I hope I get a chance to go back.

The Forest House Lodge was beautiful, inviting and luscious. It has a warm relaxing feeling when you walk in. On your first visit you are guided through the Lodge by Brett, one of the warmest people I have ever met. The staff is extremely organized and helpful throughout the entire process. Kathryn is a ravishing breath of fresh air the guides you through the fantastic journey of developing the wedding of your dreams.

Before your event you are invited to one or more Tasting Events, where you get to meet other brides and grooms; get all your questions answered; meet the staff and enjoy an evening of beer, wine, food, fun and even wedding cake. The entire experience is astounding.

The Ceremony site has the most breath taking view. You don't need anything to decorate or detract from the view. All my friends and family couldn't believe how the pictures came out. People thought that we had a fake background inserted into our pictures. They feed you 7 times during the day: Breakfast, Lunch, Pre-Ceremony Appetizers, Post-Ceremony Appetizers, Dinner, Desert and Late Night Appetizers. I love food and I can say that I did get enough food for the day. All my guests raved about how wonderfully mouthwatering the food was. We had the food served family style, which allowed everyone to talk at the table. The Late night appetizers were so good and so needed.

The Game Room and games were such a hit the night before and the night of our wedding. People played Rock Band all night long. They have a pool table, air hockey, ping pong, a wii, Rock Band, and Sing Song. They have plenty of rooms for all of your guests to crash after they are finished partying. Each room was unique and homey.

Most Places only let you celebrate for 5 hours, but you have the Forest House Lodge for at least 24 hours. It is the best deal within the Sacramento Area by far. It was worth every single penny.

They always thought ahead with us and our guests in mind. Every last detail is perfect.