Me and my husband just got married in May at Brownstone Gardens and it was absolutely the most amazing day of our lives and it couldn't happen without the help from Jaime and the rest of the team at Brownstone Gardens. Everyone was always so kind and understanding, always kept very good communication and respond fairly quick to any questions or concerns we would have. Truly made our whole planning and the day of experience as easy as one can have planning a wedding they were very welcoming and understanding with everything we had brought to them and was more than willing to work with us with our culture, vendors, family, and everything else that came along with the day. We especially really appreciated Jaime she had helped us most being our coordinator she was a rockstar and made all our dreams and visions come true, one of the sweetest most understanding women we had ever met. The venue also itself is beautiful and not too expensive at all compared to other venues we had looked at. Definitely would do any form of special event there and amazing for photos! We are truly blessed and thankful for everything we received and had help with for our wedding day and will definitely always keep in mind with happiness Brownstone Gardens. read more

The venue is perfect. Great setting, ambiance and presentation. The ladies hosted a party here and it turned out to be fabulous. Can't wait to come back next year. read more

We hosted my daughter's wedding here on October 13, 2025 -- and, wouldn't you know it, it poured torrential rain the entire time we were at the venue! Since the space is completely outdoors with no covered areas, everyone had to scramble to make the most of it. Apparently, this kind of rain has only happened twice in the last 10 years. Through it all, Tena, the wedding coordinator, and Ravine, the owner, were absolutely amazing--as was their entire team. They went above and beyond: setting up every pop-up tent and market umbrella they had, purchasing umbrellas for our guests, wiping down seats as people sat, and so much more. Their calm, positive, can-do attitude kept everyone reassured and lifted our spirits. When the power went out across the area five minutes before the ceremony, they even pulled out a generator so my daughter could still have music as she walked down the aisle. They handled a difficult DJ, laid down boards to cover muddy spots, and graciously allowed us to wait a couple of days to clean up once things had dried out. Despite the weather challenges, the day was still beautiful--and that's thanks to the incredible kindness, flexibility, and hard work of this team. The venue itself is stunning, but the service and care shown to us were just as exceptional. We are so grateful and highly recommend this venue (just maybe not the rain--ha!). read more

Beautiful private venue. New Owners are great people. They are a very easy going couple and will make sure your event is one to remember. Such a pleasure to work with. We will be looking forward to many more events here! read more

Amazing venue for a type of event. It has multiple spots for a ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The owners are super sweet too!

From the moment me and my new wife seen the venue we knew this was the place we wanted to be to say our "I do's" and celebrate our commitment to each other with our loved ones. Tena one of their coordinators was amazing for the whole process from tour to the moment we picked up all our items and leftovers. We could not have asked for a better experience or atmosphere to be married in. The venue is so beautiful and staff so helpful and accommodating, again especially Tena. Can't say enough good things about her. We are so thankful for Brownstone Gardens and the amazing memories they helped bring us read more

This place was simply beautiful. We got married here two weeks ago and everything was so dreamy. Jaime was my wedding coordinator and wow!!!! I love her so much. Having her by my side through my wedding planning was so helpful, she made sure any stress I had she would find away to help. Her and Tina went above and beyond the day of our wedding. They're so great. The venue speaks for itself but the staff is what made it such a memorable experience. So impressed with our experience, if you're looking for a beautiful venue to impress your guest with a great staff look no further! Wishing them so much success and sending a hug from yelp jaime! Thank you again for everything! read more

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**This review is solely based on our experience doing an engagement shoot here** When I won a free engagement photoshoot during a wedding festival, I needed to choose a venue local to my photographer. After lots of research online and on Yelp, I found Brownstone Gardens. I don't think they normally were open on the Sunday we visited, but luckily my photographer had a close relationship with the owners and we were able to get in while they were closed! I really appreciated them accommodating us. The grounds are beautiful! If you're looking for a venue/photo space with a lot of greenery, this is a great option. Plus they have so many different areas, you could almost make it look like you went to different venues for photos. I could see how this would provide the perfect setting for an intimate outdoor wedding. The venue is split up into: + a stone/waterfall area where I believe they usually do the wedding receptions + a grassy (or turf) area with Roman columns where I believe they do the ceremonies + and another true garden area that looked like it could also be for a cocktail hour/reception We even took pictures in a small nook right outside the grounds - truly there are so many photo spots. It is a bit hidden from the road and the parking lot is large, but dusty. Still, a great spot for engagement photos! read more

We had our wedding at Brownstone Gardens in May this year (2023) and it was an absolutely perfect venue for us. Here are some of our key takeaways: - We had a 150+ person wedding and it never felt too crowded. - We receive so many compliments about the garden from our guests. The cocktail hour/dance floor area is gorgeous and makes you feel like you're out of this world. - The gardens are beautifully maintained. So much greenery, flowers, and real grass. - The day of coordinators (Jaime and Tena) were a dream to work with. They were incredibly nice, organized, and I didn't have to worry about anything on the day of. - (Mostly) all inclusive - it took the away the stress of planning lots of little details. The catering, drinks, and many items that are normally rentals were bundled together. - Price point: completely reasonable for what you get aka a beautiful property. We can not recommend Brownstone enough. It was literally the perfect place to have a wedding. (Note: we visited over 20 different venues in the Bay Area before finding BG. Once we saw it, we made the decision that day to have our wedding there) read more

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Our wedding was on 10/14/22 and it was absolutely perfect. Looking back on the wedding planning process and the actual wedding day, my husband and I agree that choosing Brownstone Gardens as our venue was the absolute best decision we made. I could go on forever about how amazing everything was, but some key highlights for couples considering Brownstone as their wedding venue: -The grounds are GORGEOUS, especially at night. Honestly photos don't even do the space justice. Everything is well-maintained and immaculate, with the garden lush and in full bloom from April to October. But the space really comes alive when the sun goes down and all the lights come on. One word: VIBEY. You don't even really need to worry about decor; the place is so beautiful on its own. -Everything was EASY. Brownstone staff are all pros. I worked with Tena and Jaime, and they were so communicative, patient, and so sweet. I dropped off my decor the day before, and on the day of everything was set up beautifully. I didn't have to worry about a single thing come wedding day. You can really trust them to execute. -The food was DELICIOUS. Wilma Lott is their preferred caterer and they delivered. Juicy chicken, tender steak, perfectly fluffy buttery potatoes! Everything was cooked to perfection and we got so many comments from guests saying they loved the food. -Compared to other wedding venues in the Bay Area: AFFORDABLE. Also their payment plans are uncomplicated. Give your approximate guest count, they give you a quote, divide that quote by the number of months until your event, and that's your monthly payment. It was so nice to be able to spread payments out over time. I personally have not attended any fully-outdoor weddings before and having ours here felt very unique. Not only that, but coming out of a pandemic, it felt safer having the event in open air. The weather was perfect on our day, and everything flowed without a hitch. Our guests were wowed by the venue. I'll always remember dancing under the night sky, among Brownstone's lush garden and gorgeous lights. Brownstone Gardens was the perfect venue for our best day ever and we'll remember it forever. read more

Brownstone Gardens - Everyone loved Brownstone! One of our guests even wrote it in our guestbook. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California

Brownstone, where do I begin? Thank you for giving us the wedding of our absolute dreams, and a night that we will remember for the rest of our lives. My wife and I chose Brownstone to host our wedding early in 2020 after visiting the grounds and speaking with Barbara, Brownstone's manager. Even though it was quite out of the way, the venue itself was beautiful, and Barbara gave us confidence that she could take care of business. Then the pandemic hit--and our wedding was delayed for a year. But we stuck with Brownstone, and boy, are we glad we did. Prior to our wedding night, we had never seen Brownstone at night (only in photos)... but actually seeing it at night, it was absolutely magical, and more beautiful than we could have imagined. The night went flawlessly--from the ceremony in the courtyard, to the sunset shots, to dinner under the lights, to desserts and dancing at Bridal Falls. We had guests with kids, so we ordered the Kids Package, which included a bouncy castle, face painting, and pizza for the little ones, and they loved it. Barbara made sure everything was taken care of, and it absolutely was. Thank you Brownstone, and Barbara, for a magical night that we will remember forever. read more

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My daughter's wedding was on August 6, 2022, and it was absolutely fabulous. Brownstone Gardens did an excellent job of managing the entire process and creating a beautiful day for my daughter and her husband. A few things to note about the venue. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous, especially at night. The space large and so well organized that it flows from one area to another with ease, the ceremony, reception, and dancing. Everything was immaculate including the lush garden. You only need to add a few things to make it your own on your special day. The venue was also very cost effective, after looking at many venues around the bay area, nothing was affordable. They finally found Brownstone Gardens and could be happier with their special day. The staff is amazing and very professional. Alana was our coordinator, and she was so patient, insightful, and answered even my questions with care. We dropped everything off the night before at the rehearsal and it was set up beautifully the day of the wedding. We didn't have to worry about anything. Wilma Lott was our caterer, the food was delicious, and we received many compliments from our guests. Dancing in the evening under the trees, lights, and stars couldn't have been more beautiful. Thank you Brownstone Gardens for making my daughter and her husband's day so special! read more

We had my daughters wedding at this venue yesterday. Despite the outrageous rain, the wedding turned out beautiful. The rain did let up when the service actually started and things turned out perfect. The feedback from all of our guests is that our wedding was spectacular!! Kay-Kay was excellent. She was checking in on the wedding party every step of the way, having her staff take care of anything needed since we were experiencing a shower every now and then. They flawlessly pulled off getting the tables set up and decorated in record time when the rain let up and had the wedding party lined up and the service starting right on time. The food was a huge hit with all our guests, it was delicious..... If your a looking for a venue, The Brownstone and the staff won't disappoint you. The grounds are absolutely stunning!! Everything was top notch perfection!!! Thank you Kay-Kay and staff. read more

I run a photobooth business and was booked for a wedding held here tonight. The moment I arrived, Barbara greeted me in a disrespectful manner: "Who are you?!" she yelled with a face that couldn't be more disappointed. "I'm here to set up the Photobooth" and she goes on to say "I DIDNT KNOW UNTIL THIS MORNING THAT A PHOTOBOOTH WAS COMING!"... and that's my fault why? And it's nothing to stress about considering there was plenty of space? I was booked months prior to tonight by my client, discuss it with her not me. Then she was so condescending from here on out saying "Do you even have a backdrop? Or extension cords?! You might blow out the power because there's a DJ too! And if that happens it's your fault!" I'm thinking OF COURSE I DO, ITS A PHOTOBOOTH BUSINESS so just show me where to set up! My contract WITH MY CLIENT states all my requirements from power to space, something that should be discussed with her not me. It's like asking her "does your venue have room for tables and chairs?!" Then she goes "feather boa's aren't allowed! You're making a mess!" I was not aware of that rule, I'm just there to provide Photobooth services. The boa's were part of the props that my client purchased, take it up with her. Since I do have to give at least one star, it goes to the amazing bar tenders, Blanca and Enrique! They were a joy! However, Barbara was chewing out Enrique out in the open where clients could see! Be a little more professional and take it elsewhere. I've never felt so disrespected by any venue/vendor/person in my entire career! While the grass may look greener on the other side, don't forget about the manure that was used to grow it. Barbara shouldn't work in the HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT industry because she lacks exactly that, HOSPITALITY. read more

Brownstone Gardens - Photo booth - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! This is a startling surprise tucked away on a fairly non-descript road. The venue is gorgeous and well cared for. The care and attention to detail is very obvious as you walk around the grounds and notice the thoughtful plantings and unobtrusive lighting. The staff that was on hand for the event that I attended was on point. The event manager ran a tight ship. She was always present and made sure that everything went off without a hitch. read more

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You definitely want to see Brownstone Gardens if you are looking for an amazing Wedding Venue!!! My hubby and I just got married here in August and everybody that attended commented that it was one of the most beautiful weddings they have ever attended. You will love the staff and the venue wedding coordinator Tena. She is absolutely amazing and so easy to work with! She made our day perfect and I never had to worry about anything - she just handled it!!! We could not say enough about this venue!!! read more

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Just got back from a wedding at Brownstone. The venue is pretty. Keep in mind though that at 5 pm, most of the groom's side is still in the sun. It was 93 deg out there today and we roasted. Luckily, I had done my research because I'm OCD and brought a large-brimmed hat, ice water, and a fan, and applied sun block. No one else had a hat, and many got sun-burned. The reception area is pretty, but there was no shade *at all*, until 7:30 pm but then dinner was over and we were asked to move to the dance floor area. The food at the buffet was pretty good, I must say. The salmon was perfectly done; many places overcook fish. But the manager had to come out to tell the servers to show us the sauces that went with each dish. She was quizzing them on what they were; maybe they were new? "See? He knows what to say" she said to another. But why in front of guests? The coup de grace was that after cake was served, people were still roasting in the sun and no one had refilled the water carafes on the tables. When I went to the indoor kitchen area, no less than 4 wait staff were standing around gabbing. I asked them sarcastically "when you have time, can you refill the water on all the tables? We are really hot out there and there are some elderly people". One skinny, overly tan, blonde 20 something male with slicked back hair looked at me and said "you know, the bar has water". I was too taken aback to appropriately chew him out but I managed to come back with "I can't really carry 10 glasses of water back to the table". I should have said "Shouldn't you be doing your job?". The staff finally came out to refill the carafes, but only one person at a time. All the carafes on the tables were empty, and some had 2 empty ones. So keep in mind - the groom's side and the whole reception area is in full sun till 7:30 pm and if it's in the 90's like it often is in Oakley in the summer, your guests will roast. And keep a close eye on the wait staff. read more

We got married 4/9/22 at brownstone! We did an elopement package. Everyone was amazed at how beautiful Brownstone was. Unlike the review below, Barbara was a huge help with our wedding! She executed my timeline for the wedding, from the start to end, gave us some tips and tricks with her many years of experience. My husband and I literally said after the wedding how thankful we were that Barbara kept us on track and she even set up our decorations before any of my family arrived to set up! Barbara in the nicest way possible is straight forward, but that is what is needed when there is a whole bunch of people running different directions trying to execute a whole wedding. I would highly recommend Brownstone and their staff. read more

Brownstone Gardens - The dance floor and the lights were amazing! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California

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Beautiful place for events and spacious enough for maybe 200 guest. Clean, beautiful plants., Easy parking read more

I've received an email from Brownstone Gardens describing some improvements and changes they have done since I last visited. -Additional indoor bathrooms have been built for their customers. -5 Outdoor heaters provided to their guests free of charge if the weather is cold -Cleanup of unsightly hose to fountain Since I have not verified this for myself, I'll move by review rating to a more neutral rating. I do recommend you check out Brownstone Gardens yourself to see if it meets your requirements for your wedding. Remember that internet reviews can never be a substitute for doing your own due diligence. I also commend Brownstone Gardens for improving their faculties to provide a better venue for their customers and guests. read more

Had the pleasure of capturing a wedding here in July and this Venue is gorgeous. The staff was professional and made everything run smooth. Can't wait to capture a wedding here again :) Darci Terry Photography read more

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Got married here on September 1st and Jamie (our coordinator) was absolutely amazing and on top of everything! She made the day so easy for us. We got so many compliments on how beautiful the venue is. It is absolutely stunning especially at night. You will not regret booking them for your venue! read more

Lovely place. Went for nephews wedding. Very nice. Friendly staff and beautiful landscaping

So I was just looking at venues and trying to see if they could accommodate smaller wedding since Covid is still going on but we want to get married with our family around. No where on the website does it say it's a guest minimum just the max guest. I received two messages. The first one was just explaining they have a guest minimum on certain days but maybe I might be interested in the other package since that does not require a guess minimum. I replied to that and went on about life. I just received a messages this evening with not even a greeting stating we are not a good fit because I want no more than 40 people. And that she would decline my tour even though the previous email states I could do the luncheon package. Customer service is trash, and I will gladly not recommend them to anyone. read more

Brownstone Gardens - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California

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Tena, Barbara and the Brownstone Gardens team- We had nothing but a perfect experience throughout the year of planning, right up to the wedding day. We were so impressed, time and time again with the thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and organization from the Brownstone Gardens team. We had LITERALLY THE BEST DAY OF OUR LIVES... Thanks to YOU GUYS! read more

Brownstone Gardens - Best Day Ever... - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California

*COVID TOUR REVIEW* My fiancé and I went to visit Brownstone Gardens for our wedding this summer. I was so excited to visit this place because I've heard wonderful things about it. We get there on time for our appointment, but waited still because the person helping us was still assisting others. It wasn't a big deal so we waited patiently. When one of the employees did come up to us, she didn't even greet or welcome us. It was basically like, "let's get started" and just started telling us about their venue. I guess this would be ok if you're a person who doesn't like conversation, but because this was one of the first venues my fiancé and I were looking at, we wanted it to feel home-y? More welcoming and she definitely wasn't. She went through our tour pretty quickly and honestly, like 3 mins. in, she removes her masks for the remaining of the tour. It made us feel incredibly uncomfortable especially because she just did a tour before us. She wasn't even spacing from us or asked us how she felt. I couldn't even listen to what she was saying anymore because i was so uncomfortable. Anyways, towards the end of our tour (not done yet) We asked to go to the restroom and when i came out, she was literally no where to be found. I was so confused. By the time we saw her again, she was already putting the table away i saw her talking to the other people at. She didn't even offer to sit down and answer any of her questions. I walked away from the place feeling so disappointed. read more

I have to give this place a neutral review, which is unfortunate, because it's absolutely beautiful. What a gorgeous venue in the middle of dusty Oakley. It isn't marked too clearly, but if you just look for a large out-cropping of trees in the middle of nowhere, you'll find it. Parking is in a gravel lot, so ladies, watch your heels! It's not easy that easy to walk. When you enter, there is a large reception area also used for cocktail hour. In the middle of the property is a house used for all of the catering and bridal party, etc. The gazebo area is for ceremonies and that opens up into a tree canopied reception area. Tables outline the inset/sunken dance floor, and in the evenings all of the lanterns and lights in the trees create a magical effect. So why the neutral review? This is based off of the service, and only the management staff in particular. One woman created the low star review, and if I could give her just 1 star, I would. For the most part, the catering staff was extremely pleasant and friendly, and timely. They did seem a little disorganized at times. But the woman in charge, was disheveled and downright rude to many wedding guests. There were two empty seats at our table, and she cleared the entire table settings, complaining the whole time. When a wedding guest asked if there was an available wifi password to upload some wedding photos, her reply was "That's not for guests. Staff only." I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you don't want to work with people, then get a different job that's not in customer service! Her poor attitude should not have been a topic of conversation at our friend's celebration. But people all through the evening were commenting on her behavior. She was also complaining about lack of room on the tables for the food.... to the guests?!? Totally inappropriate. Brownstone, your venue is beautiful, but you need a more pleasant manager! read more

So I was here for a wedding and intricacies within the wedding itself makes this a difficult review. I am sorting out what was not part of the venue to give it a fair review. But before I get started I should say that no matter where two people wed and what they put into it (dollar value), what matters most is how much they love each other. In the end it's the relationship that costs more than the wedding service. The two young people married were obviously focused on each other and that was the most important detail here. So this location is in Oakley and way, way off the beaten path. It's a trek to get here unless you are already from this area. It's back country for sure. By the time you get here you have to ask yourself where you are on a map. But the place is gorgeous. It's a converted home now made for events such as weddings. It has good size parking and also offers handicapped parking. The venue had people on the road directing us to the parking lot (nice touch). At the lot, there was no signage. We couldn't tell where to go. We figured to just walk towards the chatter and we found a semi-reception area with a greeter presenting us with ice cold water. However, still no direction as to where to go or what to do. We stood around for a bit and walked by a make-shift bar but we were told drinks were not available until after the ceremony. So I took in the view. It is what they present it to be. It's a huge garden setting. There is a very beautiful waterfall back drop and a level-down stage used as the dance floor. There is a separate site for the ceremony itself, which is perfect for a wedding/anniversary. There was also a separate site for the dinner service itself. All in all this place is spacious. It is beautiful. When the sun went down, the lights on the trees and pathways just made it even more magical of a venue. So now you're wondering why the low rating right? Well, no doubt that this place is beautiful. But now let's talk about service. The bartenders were decent but drinks were limited to simple mixes and low shelf liquor. That's fine but there wasn't a place for non alcoholic beverages before and after dinner service. So even the kids had to line up for drinks from the bartenders for things like soda and juice. The hors d'oeuvres were ok. The crab cakes were the best part of the food. Those were amazing. The asparagus fritters were so-so and the pork BBQ sliders were on stale bread. There wasn't enough pork inside as well. But the trays did keep coming out and everyone there would have had a good taste before dinner. So then dinner was served. I opted for steak and salmon and was surprised I had a choice of two proteins. Then I saw the food and I was let down. The steak was a couple strips of round and the salmon was a couple pieces served with Chinese green beans. Really looked like cafeteria food and tasted like cafeteria food. This was not what I expected at all. I saw the rest of the food come and it was the same. I tried some chicken my son ordered and it was extremely dry. Dinner was then abruptly interrupted by the DJ who wanted everyone back to other side for cake cutting. It took them quite a while to get the food out so there was only really 30 minutes to eat by the time food was served on all tables. Prior to the first dance, the dj announced that the party would be extended an extra hour. I think this was to compensate for the slow dinner service. While people were walking from dinner to cake cutting, the staff already started breaking down the site we were just at and walking through the crowds. This made the pathways a bit of a grind and was inconvenient. The service, time control, and most of the staff was off putting. There was one really cranky bartender who was really reluctant to pour champagne for the toast. She filled my flute with a couple drops and when I asked her for a bit more, she said this was only intended for a toast. I said yes, but I at least wanted to drink champagne and not pretend to drink it. In the end I would certainly go here and host an event here for the beautiful venue itself. But the food service and catering needs some work. I perused the web site to see what the charges were for catering and oh man it is way too overpriced for what you get in portion and quality. I mean the salads served were literally bagged salad with a couple strawberry pieces here and there. The entrees were just upsetting overall. The place also charges a "site fee" which is separate from the catering and then a huge amount for the open bar. The cost overall does not get you what you have paid for. Any hotel wedding service would have gotten you more in terms of quality and flavor. I hope this review is read so some changes can be done. I would love for this place to succeed as it is a great looking venue. As for the wedding, it was an honor to be there as the feeling should be for all weddings. It's sacred and pure. Nothing would ruin a moment of that caliber. read more

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This venue is a fairytale in the middle of no where. We traveled from the Midwest to attend a wedding at this venue. We were surprised the event was going to be inland instead of the city. We were blown away by this place. You drive up and from the outside safe really confused if you are in the right spot. Inside is a wonderland of rose gardens, canopies of light filled trees, sculptures and an ambience of magic. The staff and food was fantastic! read more

Brownstone Gardens - Gorgeous gardens surround the property - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California

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We got married here last year. What can I say... Brownstone Gardens really exceeded our expectations. From the moment we walked in we fell in love with the venue. It was beautiful, lush, and romantic. Kay Kay was SUPER helpful!!! I was able to count on her on everything. The support I got from them definitely made our wedding possible. Jacky (day of wedding coordinator) was super hands on! She did above and beyond! There were a few things that slipped my mind but Jacky was right behind me to say "don't worry honey, I got it!". I recommend this place to anyone. You can truly transform this venue to whatever you like. Sincerely, The Rodrigues' read more

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I rarely give a place "five star." This place has taken me by surprise. I live so close to this hidden gem and would have never stumbled upon it had it not been for our friend's wedding. Our friend's evening wedding was on February 14th. They were blessed with a gorgeous weather and for their guest to be enchanted by this amazing venue. From the wedding ceremony that took place in an enclosed Greek like garden. To the reception that carried you away into a piazza feeling (Open and inviting) with a garden instead of buildings. Everyone mingled, drank and ate h'orderves under a string of lights, bar to the side and the music that echoed throughout. The reception area had a path that lead you to the pond and a bridge to walk over and take great pix. After the reception, you are whisked away into the main dining event. Another area where the magic began. This was absolutely a stunning view all around. The large waterfall that made you feel like you are somewhere exotic, with the trees that lite up like Christmas, and the decorated romantic table. The tables were positioned around a coliseum like stage allowing you to get a great view of all the wedding event. From the cutting of the cake, first dance, bouquet and garter toss and the dancing and drinking. Truly a fairy tale experience. I've been to several weddings, lake, beach, 9th hole in Hawaii overlooking the ocean, ballroom, carriage house, you name it... This place took my breath away. And I'm sure it was because of the couple and the happiness that they illuminated making the ambience even more memorable. I honestly felt swept away in this enchanted garden. From beginning to end! read more

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Stay away!!! Unfortunately, the staff at this venue will prove to be disorganized, unprofessional, and rude. HUGE WARNING about unprofessionalism by on-site coordinator Barbara Dumont to all people considering this venue! We booked it because we thought the venue was beautiful, but we received terrible service on the day of our Fall 2021 wedding. Our special day was only salvaged by the support of friends and family who kept positive and pitched in. Main issues with site coordinator (Barbara Dumont) on our Wedding Day: 1. RUDE COMMUNICATION: Multiple cases of rude communication to our guests, family, other staff. It was so bad that family and some of our bridal party pulled us aside to tell us about it. Cases of "out of my way" instead of "excuse me", yelling at staff in front of guests, etc. Rudeness and anger are not things that should be displayed at a wedding. Worst of all she was rude for no reason, just a terrible demeanor. 2. FAILURE TO SETUP SEATING and DECORATIONS properly: We emailed decoration plans and seating plans well in advance. However, Barbara and her team failed to execute either properly causing stress, confusion, and frustration. It was so bad our bridal party had to help fix the decorations and tables an hour before guests arrived - NOT something you should have to deal with on your wedding day. 3. She actually tried to steal our leftover food! Sadly this is not a joke, this seriously happened. The poor planning & rude attitude that Barbara displayed at our wedding was unacceptable - no bride or groom should have to deal with that! If Barbara is still employed at Brownstone DO NOT book there. You are WARNED! Full DETAILS on our Brownstone Garden service horror story, read on..... 1.RUDENESS: Failed to greet us when we arrived, we actually saw her preparing table cloths outside the Brides changing room and said "Hi Barbara how is it going?" to which she rudely said "we're busy if you need something come by later". Seriously, not even a hello. Worse still, about 30 minutes later she proceeds to barge into the Grooms/Groomsmen changing room sounding panicked "our seating chart is all screwed up! I don't know what we are going to do !"... First off Barbara, any potential issue in the final seating chart should have been identified and communicated much earlier; an hour before our guests arrived was ridiculous. Secondly, take a deep breath and realize you are the coordinator and it is your job to stay calm and resolve issues. The polite approach would have been to say "sorry to bother you, just a couple points we need to sort out for your seating chart do you have a minute?". Panic and rude behavior are never a good options. 2. Failed to setup planned decorations: My wife had emailed instructions on our planned decorations with example photos days in advance. Just like our seating emails, our decoration emails were not reviewed in advance by Barbara and hence there was poor execution by staff in setting them up. This required we ask our bridesmaids and groomsmen to rush over to help set up decorations after changing into their formal wear, something they should not have had to do. Even worse still, Barbara had the nerve to tell one of the bridesmaids who was carrying flowers to our sweetheart table "stay out of our way we control the table area". How could you be so rude to someone clearly trying to help? And to someone who only had to help because you and your team failed?! 3. Tried to steal our leftover food! Also, sadly not a joke. As we were getting ready to leave we went to the site kitchen to ask for the bagged left overs. Barbara told us "sorry you can't take the food because there wasn't room in the site refrigerator the whole time so they sat out too long". While Barbara is saying this we noticed the staff behind Barbara is continuing to move our bagged leftovers from the refrigerator into two silver cooler bags on the counter. So, why is it that our food that was no good was packed neatly and separately into Ziploc bags? And even more weird, why was it being pulled out of a refrigerator and placed into cooler bags instead of the trash if it was bad? Answer: Brownstone staff will try to steal your food, so pathetic! I had to aggressively say "look we paid for this food, your concerns are noted but we are taking it". Fast forward the next day leftovers were great, no issue with taste or health, we enjoyed them for the 2 days leading up to our honeymoon. How ridiculous I had to stop them from taking the leftovers that should have been offered to us! SUMMARY: In summary, if Barbara DuMont is still employed at Brownstone DO NOT book there. Even if you select a different site coordinator, you still might end up with her as we did, that will add stress and frustration to your big day, not something you should have to deal with. read more

We got married at brownstone on 06/20/15. Since the first day we met Barbara to post wedding, the journey has exceeded our expectations. Working with Kay Kay, Barbara and Diana was such a pleasure. Absolute true professionals. Every email, question or concern was addressed in a timely manner. On the day of our wedding, Diana took charge, allowing me and my wife to enjoy our special day. Our family continues to compliment Diana in how organized and friendly she was. Working with the financial side, Kay Kay and Barbara made the entire process seamless. Anytime we needed to make upgrades or changes, it was done instantly without any issues. Even got some extra perks with out asking. As for the venue itself, I don't need to say much. The place pretty much speaks for itself. It doesn't matter which section you would be using, the setting is perfect. read more

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The grounds are beautiful, however, the person in charge there is rude, condesending, and unprofessional. That alone is enough to stay away. I had heard stories, but never imagined they could be that bad. My mistake! They really are that rude. This woman was chastising her employees in front of guests. How do you stay in business? I suggest taking a course on ettiquette and people skills. No way to run a business read more

My son married his best friend and soul mate there last night!! I've been to lots of weddings, this was by far, the best Venue EVER!!! Very organized, friendly people. Most beautiful venue also. It was a very hot day yesterday, but with all the trees giving shade, it wasn't as bad. Everyone who attended seemed to have a blast. The DJ we hired said it was his first time there also. We never would have thought that because the coordinator worked perfectly with him. He loved it there also. They together, made Mike & Brittany's wedding perfect!!! Highly recommend them. read more

When you are first coming up into this place your like thinking in your head .. what is this place ... but when you actually walk inside it is very cute and intimate. The whole place is already set up and they have an alter which by the way is fabulous.. perfect place to have a simple/elegant wedding maybe you can fit 200 ppl here. The front yard is spacious and can be used to entertain guest/etc. The pond in the back is very nice and calming ...A great place for a wedding, my girlfriend is going to get married here next year. YAY read more

Brownstone Gardens - You may now touch the boob - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California

Horrible experience ever !!! THIS IS MY FIRST YELP REVIEW ! My fiancé and I recently got engaged and been looking around the bay area for a " perfect venue " . My fiancé and I came from Hayward all the way to Brentwood to view the venue and we loved it! Anyways a few months go on and we do decide to go with them and wanted to view the venue once again in person .We wanted to discuss the contract before we sign anything . We were talking about the music subject and asking if profanity music is good to play because the contract said we could not play profanity music . Barbara is the woman who is helping us , she said " yes it's okay like 90's type of music is perfect and they just had a wedding with that type of music the other day" but then what triggered me and make me feel SOO UNCOMFORTABLE she said " we don't want music playing for an example NIGGER NIGGER NIGGER "!!! I kid you not she said it 3 times in front of me and my fiancé ( I am a black woman by the way and my fiancé is Hispanic ) I found that rude and discriminating !!!!! Then i stop talking as I'm so uncomfortable and just in shocked like did she really just say what I thought she said ?!? Like Barbra could of said it in a more professional way but DID NOT !! Anyways we end up leaving and want to walk around one more time and she rushes us ! She talked so rudely saying she had to hurry home because she promised her husband to be home at a certain time !!! and we can not be here any longer ....... Idk I wish she wasn't racist if not I would of sign the contract that same day but instead she lost money . HER LOSS !! Oh and also she said she would forget everything that we were talking about with my fiancé and I wedding ideas . She was just so unprofessional for the amount of money they charged ! Our wedding was going to be in September 2022. She was more worried about the weddings now in 2021 instead my wedding when we're very interested in the venue . She made that VERY CLEAR ! read more

Hello My name is sandro and I'm a photographer who recently shot a wedding in this venue. I wish I had good news for you but I don't. I wish I can leave no star for a rating but I can't . I'm leaving this review here to help other people reconsider choosing this venue for your wedding. Once we got there me and the videographer ask politely where we can leave our extra equiptment to the host and she rudely send us to and very hot and dirty shed. As I'm shooting the couple for their intimate session I stepped on a Cabo stone in the garden to get a shot, then the manager came straight to me and said whit these words , Excuse me THE photographers aren't allowed to step in the flowers right in front of my clients, and walked away super mad and fustrated . Well I didn't know a Cabo stone was new flower species. I was very upset and I didn't say anything to her because I was in the middle of my session, please believe when I say this do not have your wedding here, this type of treatment its unacceptable.i would never recommend anyone here. read more

The venue was perfect in every way! Absolutely beautiful! We used Sweeneys for catering and they were fantastic!! I'd give 5 stars except two major things happened. 1st our wedding coordinator quit the company a month before our wedding. We were promised that the other coordinator assigned to us would be just as good as the person we had. We were so disappointed losing Barbara because we felt so confident in her ability to give us the wedding we wanted and we really liked her. There was nothing we could do about her quitting so we agreed to have the other coordinator Kay-Kay. Every thing was going well till the day of. While getting ready, my photographers and videographer were waiting to do a first look between my brother ( who was giving me away) and myself and also capturing my mom and maid of honor buttoning my dress. While this was taking place, Kay Kay started the wedding without confirming with my videographer, photographers, and myself that we were ready. We had no idea the party was walking down. So the wedding party walked and we have no video or photos of anyone walking! On top of it, we had asked for a unplugged ceremony so that no one's hands would be in the shots the photographer would be taking. I was looking forward to seeing my husband and everyone in my party walk and now I have no video, no pictures and we cannot get that back! Ever! She apologized during dinner and said it had never happened before. We weren't really sure of what she was really apologizing for because we were caught in the moment and realized later what actually happened. These are memories we can never get back! We paid so much money to have the perfect wedding and were assured that all would go right with the new coordinator. In addition we were told we would have coffee service added for free due to the mishap with our first coordinator quitting and coffee service was not provided. Everything else was beautiful and Kay-Kay couldn't have been nicer but that doesn't make up for the loss of precious memories. We were offered nothing to make up for this mistake. We both are still so upset over this. read more

I just want to say thanks to Barbara for helping us make our daughters day come true God bless you for everything read more

Brownstone Gardens - 2020 Beautiful cake - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oakley, California