Top 3 Golf Course Wedding Venues in Sacramento
If you just got engaged, congratulations! Take a breath and soak it in, because this season of your life is going to be so beautiful!
Now, if you're anything like most of the couples I work with, the very next thought after "we're getting married!" is usually "...okay, where are we getting married?" And as a Sacramento wedding photographer, I am more than happy to help recommend some of my favorite wedding venues in Sacramento. The right space sets the entire mood for your day and makes a difference in your overall wedding gallery.
Golf course venues are some of my absolute favorites to shoot. You get rolling green fairways, plenty of trees, cute lakes and ponds, and tons of space to take portraits with that gorgeous late-afternoon light. Here are my top 3 picks for golf course wedding venues in the Sacramento area, all of which I've had the honor of photographing myself.
Why a golf course venue is such a great choice for your wedding
Golf courses give you something a lot of venues can't… space, and lots of it! All of the greenery and nature make for a naturally beautiful ceremony backdrop without needing much extra décor which can save you money on the set up. They also tend to offer both indoor and outdoor options in one place, so your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception can all happen without guests needing to drive anywhere. That means less coordinating and more time for fun!
1. The Pavilion at Haggin Oaks (Sacramento)
Haggin Oaks is one of the most classic golf course wedding settings right in Sacramento, set on the historic Alister Mackenzie course. You've got a few outdoor ceremony options here which include an 145-year-old Heritage Oak Tree in the garden, a white gazebo backed by the 17th fairway, or the fairway itself. Plus you have their signature white-tented Pavilion for the reception, which sits right between the 17th fairway and 18th green so guests can move easily from ceremony to reception. I love shooting here because the natural light pours into every ceremony spot, the white tent is the perfect indoor/outdoor reception area, and there's no noise ordinance, so the dance floor can stay lit well into the night.
2. Morgan Creek Golf Club (Roseville)
Morgan Creek is one of my go-to recommendations for couples who want a polished, lakeside golf course wedding just outside Sacramento. The ceremony and cocktail hour take place lakeside with the championship course as your backdrop. Then the reception moves into the 5,500-square-foot Grand Pavilion, with its vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, and silk drapery giving it a European, almost ballroom feel. It's a favorite for golden hour portraits because the light hitting the lake in the late afternoon is stunning.
3. Granite Bay Golf Club (Granite Bay)
Tucked between Roseville and Folsom, Granite Bay Golf Club has a slightly more secluded, garden-party feel than the other two. Ceremonies happen in a walled, private garden, cocktail hour spills onto a covered patio, and the reception moves into the sky-lit Conservatory ballroom, wrapped in French glass doors overlooking the golf course. It's also an Audubon Signature Sanctuary, so there's a real sense of quiet and nature here with mature oaks, a natural lake, and rolling hills that make for gorgeous golden hour portraits out on the course by golf cart. Yes, they will drive you around the course on the cart! Excellent customer service at this venue.
https://www.invitedclubs.com/clubs/granite-bay-golf-club/host-an-event/weddings/
What I tell every couple choosing a golf course venue
Don't just pick the prettiest fairway, pick the one that has all (or at least most) of the qualities you’re looking for… The one you can really envision yourself exchanging vows and partying the night away at. A few things to think through… light (when does the sun hit your ceremony spot, and does it work with your ceremony time?), indoor backup (Sacramento summers get hot, so ask what happens if it's 100 degrees), and flow (venues where the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are close together feel relaxed instead of rushed).
Found your wedding venue? I’d love to help capture the magic of your wedding day!
As a wedding photographer, my entire goal is to create a space where you feel so comfortable that the real, joyful, in-love version of you shows up in every single frame. I've photographed real weddings at all three of these venues, so I already know their best light, their best angles, and their best-kept photo spots.
If you're planning a wedding at Haggin Oaks, Morgan Creek, or Granite Bay, I would love to hear about it! Click here to fill out my wedding inquiry form and I will follow up with you as soon as possible.