I don't think that I have ever had as much fun at a wedding as at did at my sister's wedding which was held at the Forest House!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place, and the owners; Patrick and Monica! My sister had a HUGE ass wedding - I guess that's what happens when you are Italian/Portugese. I'm telling you...weddings and funerals bring 'em out of the wood work! The Forest House beautifully catered to our VERY large family from the rehearsal dinner, to the ceremony, to the reception, to the PAR-TAY, to the morning after breakfast - EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT!! Some things I love about this place... 1. The history behind the lodge. Built in the 1800's the owners have kept this place GORGEOUS. It's antique qualities are oh so charming with an updated and modern twist, again, GORGEOUS! 2. The Bridal "Suite" is a HUGE room down stairs with a bar turned cosmetics table and all the space you need for you and your girls to get ready. We rolled in the champagne and HAD A BLAST preparing for my sister's wedding! 3. Their outdoor ceremony site overlooks the American River Canyon. 'Nuf said!! You couldn't ask for a more breath taking view. 4. They have NO TIME LIMITS. When you book the place IT IS YOURS ALL WEEKEND. 5. The bar is ROCKIN' and PRIVATE. Music, booze, midnight snacks...SO MUCH FUN!! 6. Monica actually made my sister's wedding cake! BREATH TAKINGLY GORGEOUS - and yummy!!! The cake was amazing and perfect - I couldn't believe that this cake was made by a single woman, surely you'd need an army of bakers to accomplish this task. 7. The Forest House provides EVERYTHING you need to have your wedding. Linens, place settings, cake, champagne and cake cutting service, DJ options...there was absolutely no running here to get catering and there to order linens...the Forest House does it all and it was a weight off the shoulders of my sister and her wedding party. This place is awesome, and I cannot stress enough how much FUN your wedding will be! But I worn you...if you had as much fun as I did...you will be hugging one of the toilets in the hotel suites upstairs until the wee hours of the morning... read more

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Attention all Brides and Grooms who had their Forest House wedding reception postponed or canceled because of COVID 19 restrictions. Be aware of this venue's refund policies. Did the Forest House refuse to refund your money? Are you interested in taking legal action? I am the father of a Bride who has been devastated by the cancelation of her wedding and reception that was supposed to be held at the Forest House Lodge in March 2020. On February 2, 2019, I made a $2,000 deposit. By March 5, 2020, I had my $24,000 package fee paid in full. All wedding party members had their tuxedo and dress in their possession and paid for. All guests had their transportation and lodging booked. Flowers and DJ was booked and paid for. One week before the event, the virus hit and Forest House was forced to shut down, thus canceling all events until further notice. As the pandemic continued to grip the world, we saw no hope in trying to plan another wedding. I requested a refund from the Forest House; stating that these are extenuating circumstances and although I don't have a contract with the Forest House (daughter does), I paid in trust. The following is the reply I received from Monica Nickel: "We did not cancel their wedding. The government did. If you choose to cancel, as per our contract you will not be entitled to a refund." My request was not based on a contract. It is based on personal hardship, and individual circumstances that other businesses are handling on a case by case basis. I asked Forest House to do the same and to lead by example, and be a part of the solution, not part of the problem. Because of COVID 19, some of our guests lost their jobs, have children doing home schooling, and are reluctant to make travel and lodging reservations due the COVID restrictions. I have since secured legal counsel and resubmitted my request via a demand letter. I've given the Forest House 30 days to answer my full refund demand. Based on the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, this is a legitimate CLRA demand and there is rarely only one consumer who has been damaged. This raises the very real possibility of a class action law suit. read more

Went there over the weekend for a friends wedding. It was an amazing experience. From the moment we checked into the room to the time we left it was so magical. The rooms are def not what I expected but they were cute and cozy. The bathroom is communal but stocked and ready for all your needs. So cocktails started at 3pm. They served quesadilla's, cucumbers, and steak skewers till it was time to go the the overlook for the ceremony. The ceremony was beautiful. Overlooking the mountains around twilight. They offered water and bug spray to everyone(which came in handy deep in the woods). When we arrived back to the lodge they had appetizers waiting. Spicy meatballs, fried artichoke hearts, and a mashed potato bar. Oh yes mashed potato bar. Let's just say I went back a fee times to try out all the gravy's lol. Next came dinner. Beautiful room over looking the back patio. Let's just say so much food. Stuffed chicken, steak, bacon Mac n cheese, asparagus, Caesar salad, and all the fruit you could want. After dinner the dancing began which quickly went to the man cave. Downstairs is the party place to be. Dance floor, pool table, shuffleboard, air hockey, movie theatre.. There is so much to do. They served an late night snack of chicken fingers and French fries before the bar closed. But the party didn't end there. The bride and groom danced with us all till 5am. The breakfast was a yummy buffet the next morning. Not a continental breakfast for sure. Check out was 11am. Perfect time. Everyone one was so nice and accommodating. Love love love the look and feel of the whole Lodge. I'm telling everyone about this amazing place. read more

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This review is long overdue and we cannot say enough good things about Forest House Lodge. From the moment we found them on IG and stalked their photos until we got engaged and booked the venue via a FaceTime with Julie, we knew FHL was meant to be for us. FHL has several events they invite brides and grooms to leading up to the big day, including a cocktail party, food tasting and vendor faire, and they allow you to visit the venue whenever there's not a wedding in progress and treated us like family at all times. For the big day, they made our special day even more special. They made sure that every detail was exactly as we wanted it and gave us the Winter Wedding of our dreams. Our coordinator Chenoa is the absolute best! She listened to what we wanted and then turned our dreams into reality. She took everything in stride and was able to handle everything that came up during the day. Chenoa created our vision perfectly and made sure everything was in the right place at the right time. In addition, the FHL team worked tirelessly to prep and shovel the ceremony site and trudged through a foot of snow to set up our décor and clear the aisle way to allow us to have the million dollar view we dreamt of. It was an absolutely magical day, all thanks to Chenoa, Heather, Trevor, Julie and all of the amazing staff at the lodge! We can't thank them enough. We still receive so many "the best wedding ever" comments from all of our guests and that is all due to the Forest House Lodge stunning venue and team. In addition to this several of our guests are interested in either getting married or renewing their vows there. Also, now that we are married, they still treat us like family. At the Grand Re-Opening party post COVID shut downs, we were able to hang out with other FHL couples and the owners, Monica and Patrick who are so down to earth and easy to get a long with. They gave us our Wedding night room and took care of all of the accommodations and liquor!! We can't wait to come back to this magical and amazing place. We couldn't recommend Forest House Lodge enough! read more

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Great venue is a beautiful location. The staff is friendly and they definitely know what they are doing.

I don't even know where to begin!!!! The Forest House Lodge is AMAZING! We have the perfect June 16, 2017 wedding! My husband and I originally booked the lodge about two years before our actual wedding while living in Grass Valley, California. A year later, we ended up moving to Idaho. They made planning a wedding from three states away a piece of cake! From the beginning, the lodge was amazing. They were upfront about the costs (we wanted to know everything because we paid for the wedding ourselves with no help). They worked with us on a payment plan so we could afford our perfect wedding. The lodge has a really cool vendor fair around November, and they have a cocktail party in February in which they invite their brides and grooms from the previous year to party with their brides and grooms getting married in the upcoming year! Super fun! The ceremony site is breathtaking!!! It overlooks the Foresthill Canyon, and has some amazing views! When we saw it, we fell in love with it! The lodge is very nice. They have done a lot of renovations to it in the past two years. The bridal suite is their newest renovation, and it is freaking awesome!!! The rooms are cutely decorated/themed. I have some hotel snob friends, and they loved the lodge! The communal bathrooms were not a problem. Everybody thought it was kind of fun to share bathrooms and such. After the weekend, everybody definitely became family! The reception/dining/dancing area is very nice. We got extra uplighting, and it made the room look amazing! The outdoor patio was great! We had our rehearsal dinner there (You can get this at an additional cost). It was so relaxing out there, and had a great ambiance. They have patio lighting, a fountain and pond, and the patio leads to the Bridal Suite The game room downstairs is what sold us on the venue! They have almost everything you can think of! Pool table, ping pong, karaoke, shuffle board, pac man, craps table, poker table, and lots of couches and chairs to lounge on. It was especially fun for after our rehearsal dinner and late night after the wedding. The service at the Forest House Lodge is what stands out the most! Everybody was so helpful, and they took care of EVERYTHING the day of the wedding. Our coordinator was Brie. She was amazing. I heard a week later that some issues arose with the DJ and such, and she handled the whole thing.... I didn't even hear about it! I gave them my ideas and brought some decorations (they also have some that you can borrow from there too), and they decorated the venue perfectly! We hired a horse and carriage for my grand entrance, and the lodge did an amazing job! They had walkie talkies, and snuck the horse and carriage into a back entrance so guests wouldn't see. When it was time for me to come, they walkie talkied to one another, and it went without a hitch! One of my favorite parts of the day was the fact that while everybody was ready to bombard us after our ceremony, the staff at the forest house lodge escorted us into our own room so that we could have some alone time before dinner. When we got in the room, there were appetizers and drinks all ready for us. Our coordinator Brie and Valerie also bussled my dress for me. I couldn't have been happier! The Bar at the Forest House Lodge was amazing! We did mock bride and groom drinks. They have a ton of different types of beer, wine, and liquor. They also asked us if we have any preferences that we really like and were able to bring it in for us. Trevor, the bar tender was awesome!!! He became one with our wedding guests. We also had a couple guests that tend to get out of hand at weddings, and we told them ahead of time. They said they would take care of it. And they did! They cut people off like we wanted! They have a ton of fun hats to borrow and wear. They also have a "shot ski" in which multiple people take shots off at the same time. It was a blast! I keep hearing about how the food was so amazing at our wedding! We had the prime rib, cod with almandine sauce, maple glazed whiskey chicken, asparagus with butter and pine nuts, caesar salad, linguine with butter and parmesan, and twice baked potatoes. We also had fresh bread and butter as well. It was to die for! The cake was amazing! Monica, the owner of the lodge makes all the cakes. We had a 3 tier cake and chose chocolate peanut butter, and marble for our cake choices. We gave her a design, and she made the cake perfect! The afterparty after the reception was awesome. The lodge brought everybody fried foods so that they could sober up a little bit. Everyone loved it! Like I said, I love the Forest House Lodge. Thanks for making such a memorable day for Dale and I. We had a blast, and we are still hearing from our guests that it was the "Best Wedding Ever!" I can't wait to get our professional pictures back, but what we have will do for now! We had such a great time! Thanks Brie and everyone at the Forest House Lodge! read more

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Absolutely horrible service. I got in contact way in advance with forest house for my wedding venue. I told them the date I needed and we scheduled a viewing etc. I have texts and everything stating they had nothing booked for my dates and really at all for 2022. My viewing has been scheduled so we can advance in the wedding planning. I got a text message the day before I was viewing the property and had a strange feeling and went ahead to be sure my wedding date was still available. Well it's not. and not only is it not but I was not even informed and almost everyday for the month is booked and the month after. Are you serious ? Why do you even book viewings for our dates and days if you don't honor waiting until we have finished the process. If I was called and informed that someone else or there were multiple people viewing I would have proceeded to put my deposit. There was NO COMMUNICATION. The last message I received was my date was open (almost all of 2022) and we scheduled the viewing. Horrible how this was handled. read more

After touring Forest House Lodge we absolutely fell in love with the canyon and venue. We booked right away and had the highest hopes and expectations. We remained optimistic even in the face of having a ceremony in the middle of a pandemic. While Forest House offered zero flexibility on rescheduling or cancelling we remained optimistic as they gave a written promise of how they would keep our guests safe. Sadly, there was little follow through for our safety and the safety of our guests. Most of the staff did not wear protective masks. The bartender actually told guests they didn't need to wear their mask either. Potential brides toured throughout our event without protective masks including a nice parade through our dressing area the morning of the wedding. Due to the unsafe conditions many of our guest did not stay for dinner and reception. Very disappointed as you can not regain a once in a lifetime event. On a positive note.. The canyon was absolutely gorgeous the day of our event. While rehearsal dinner was problematic due to an internal scheduling issue with the venue..basically forgot to tell the chef, The dinner at the reception was good. Our DJ which I'll cover in another review was amazing! read more

I guess I really don't need to say much considering everyone else has already given it five stars and raved about it to be the best place to get married. Just got back from my boyfriend's sister's wedding. It was rocking. The ceremony site was beeyootiful, although I came back with six mosquito bites. But the view is breathtaking and you feel like you're in the middle of the woods. The staff is very friendly, I absolutely love the game room, and the rooms upstairs are super cute. I also love the hats they leave around the bar for people to wear! Those definitely made some funny pictures! If you're a kinda foresty person who loves the woods and nature, this little wood lodge is definitely the place for you. The best part was having the reception at the same venue as you slept. You could get as drunk as you want, stay up as late as you want because the whole place is yours for the entire night, and when you're tired all you have to do is go upstairs to your room. A really cute place. read more

I attended a friend's wedding here and I have to say the whole experience was unreal. Our GPS system decided to develop a mind of its own on take us on the scenic route to Forest Hill. Even though there's a road that goes straight into town, if you're seeking adventure, try overshooting the first exit by a few miles and let the GPS lead you into an outdoor adventure. We took a turn on some canyon road, and we got to go through the Shirt Tail Canyon and Yankee Jim, which was basically a death-defying ride with switchbacks, dirt roads, and possibilities for driving your car off a cliff. What should have taken us 20 mins took an hour and a half. We arrived at the lodge, only to discover that we had missed the wedding. Luckily, the hot high school girls working there, seemed amused enough at our misfortune that they told us to go straight to the bar. There was an open bar on the top floor with guitar hero, a PS2 with some Karaoke game and more. The food was off the hook. What's not to like about this place: Small Town Folks: Awesome Hot high school girls: Awesome Fact that it used to be a brothel: Awesome Being the only brown person in Forest Hill: Awesome Game Room downstairs (air hockey, rock band, wii): awesome A death defying ride to get there: priceless read more

Yikes, there are so many hidden terrible reviews. We went here and quickly decided to not get married here. It was like a bad dream, only it was impossible to escape b/c we were trapped in their captive audience approach to marketing. The only good thing was that the GPS sent us on a very scenic albeit tour of the American River and we saw a bald eagle. Wow, we thought that was a good omen, turned out to be a sign to fly the other way. Sure this will get hidden too. Felt really scammy, as does that fact their are 20+ hidden poor reviews and only good ones shown. read more

Just wanted to clarify something in Mary Ann C's review --- she said the lodge is in Forestville (upper Napa Valley area) -- the Forest House is in FORESTHILL. Bay area folks seem to confuse the two names......LOL read more

Way out of the way. Signs to wedding site not sufficient. View not worth it. Many unexplained delays kept us out in the heat. Drunken, LOUD wedding guests ruined dinner. Staff handled situation badly. Not ADA compliant. Handrails needed sanding. Food was good but staff took too long to get us through the buffet. Bride was gorgeous. read more

My Husband I have just returned from our wedding. Everything went fabulously and I didn't have to run it all. I'm sure there must have been some things that went wrong, because I'm a terrible planner, but I never saw them or knew about them because that's how good these folks are. The staff here doesn't just do their job, they do it with more love and passion than seems possible. They understand, believe in and appreciate the importance and emotion of this special event and are committed to supporting it's success. I felt like I had very experienced and skilled family gently guiding our event to success which was so important to us. I was loath to have any strangers at our wedding. Our family and friends expressed to us many times how impressed they were with the wedding. We owe a huge amount of that to the fantastic staff and amenities at the Lodge. I won't be redundant about all the details of the lodge but they pretty much thought of everything including a special basket of bath amenities for having a sink bath for my husband's god daughter who is in a wheelchair and couldn't stay on the main floor of rooms with everyone else. They were even able to graciously and gracefully accommodate my 3 guest with Celiac disease. We were so lucky to have stumbled on the Forest House and their amazing staff. For those thinking it's out of your price range....call them anyway...they have every imaginable package for different budgets and you will by far get infinitely more value for each dollar than any place where you have to book every vendor for yourself or do it all yourself. They will let you do a lot for yourself if you're one of those crafty people, like myself, but they also take VERY good care of you. Brett and Kathryn are a dynamic duo. They deserve some kind of award. I cannot find words to say how grateful we were for their grace and skill. Give them a chance and let them woo you. Just like your fiance, they won't disappoint you. read more

If I could give this venue 10 stars I would. I can't say enough good things about them. Our wedding day was AMAZING and completely STRESS-FREE which is exactly what you want for such a large event. Planning- They have an amazing team of coordinators who worked with us in the months leading up to our wedding. We first met with Brie who took in all of our details and got the ball rolling for us. She wound up taking a position elsewhere about a month or so before the wedding and she called me to personally let me know and assured me that I would be in good hands with Tuana. A few friends of mine thought this might be stressful for me, but they handled the situation in such a professional and dignified manner that I was not worried at all. Brie had filled Tuana in on all of our details and she called me within a couple days to personally review everything we had discussed and ensured that we were on the same page. Tuana was absolutely AMAZING. From the back and forth emails with photos for décor ideas, to ensuring they had some special liquor requests on hand (my husband is Serbian so having plum brandy at the wedding was a requirement haha), she handled everything with such grace and ease. I never felt stressed or concerned about anything with her. Cake- We jokingly mentioned that we would love to have a hexagon shaped cutting cake and they totally made it happen. Monica is the owner of the lodge and the baker and she made the cutting cake look better than what we had imagined (and it was delicious). Food- We barely ate the dinner entrees (typical of weddings) but what we did have was delicious and all the guests mentioned the food was great. They brought appetizers into the bridal suite and for our quiet time and they were delicious. They even made me some gluten free options which were amazing. We also had a few vegetarians in our group and they made them a special meal which they all said was delicious and they were very appreciative of having their dietary preferences honored. Décor- They have an extensive collection of wedding décor which we used quite a bit of. Tuana and the rest of the coordinating team are experts at making an event look beautiful and on par with your theme so they frequently would come to me with ideas to make the venue look even better than what I could have possibly imagined. I told them to do whatever they felt looked good and use what they liked and the ceremony and reception décor turned out absolutely stunning. Staff- The staff are absolutely what make this place stand out. I had a gift bag ready for Tuana to thank her for all her assistance, but by the next day, I was kicking myself for not having brought something to thank every single staff member there. EVERYONE made sure that we were well taken care of and that we wanted for nothing on our big day. All of the staff were so friendly, personable and most importantly- on top of their stuff. All of my bridal party and guests mentioned just how amazing the staff were. The bartenders were the highlight of the night and to this day my guests are raving about how fun they were and how they kept the party going. These people know their craft. You really leave there feeling like you gained a family. We can't wait to go back for their annual cocktail party so we can see them all again. Price- I realize that a lot of people mention that this venue is expensive. However, considering all that you get, this place really is a bargain. The price includes cake, exclusive use of the décor collection (we did beautiful non-floral centerpieces which saved us money on flowers), rooms at the lodge (a must because there is no "lights off, shut down" time), coordination and funds towards your bar tab (which went a lot further than I had thought). We actually wound up being under budget after all was said and done. This venue is 100% worth the cost. Moral of the story is that this venue is the ultimate wedding venue. From the stunning ceremony site, to the staff, you cannot go wrong by hosting your wedding here. read more

We just came here for a 3 day stay for a friends wedding, and what a neet place! It's in a cute mountain town with lots of trees, cool brisk weather, and the charm of a small town. When you come here, it's about spending time with those who are important to you and the reason you're there for. The rooms are small, but you're not in them much anyways. They serve your needs in the most basic of ways, while the rest of the lodge caters to your every whim. The staff is most helpful, the food was great, The bartender Trevor was super cool, a lot of fun, and treated us Fantastic! Downstairs they have an incredible game room, and all had a great time! You've got to check it out! The wedding site they have is breathtaking, omgosh what a view!! Wow! Back at the lodge for the reception, everything was amazing! They do a fantastic job! We were very impressed. read more

I am so excited to write this review! I want to preface that I'm writing this review as a wedding guest/bridesmaid, so I haven't been involved or worked with anyone at the venue, but I have not heard anything negative from the bride or groom in regards to how everything was handled for her wedding, so that is a plus! This review is strictly based on my experience. Here we go. End of May I was a bridesmaid for my friend, and myself and everyone involved had the absolute best time! I know our bride and groom enjoyed themselves to the fullest and that's what I cared about most. The bride and other bridesmaids and I arrived at the lodge about 9am day of the wedding, and the wedding from the previous night was clearing out and finishing up their breakfast. I was a little confused at first, but someone came over and directed us to the bridal suite downstairs that was ready for us, so we went down and began the process of getting ready for the ceremony! There was champagne and orange juice and chilled glasses ready for us in the mini fridge behind the bar, and 6 or so ring light mirrors set up on top of the bar for us to use while getting ready. That was so cool, and majorly necessary so we could all have our own space to get ready. The morning and getting ready and such went great, and all the guys and the groom were having a great time right next door playing in the game room. Come time for photos, the bride and groom did a first look (so cute!) so the bridal party all headed to the ceremony site and we took photos and such a few hours before the ceremony was to begin. Only con about the whole thing is that we all were pretty much attacked by mosquitos in the forest! ha. It was kinda funny, but also very itchy. So, note to all, if your wedding is in Spring or Summer BRING BUG SPRAY. Moving on. The ceremony went off without a hitch. The coordinator, Brie I think, was really awesome. She kept everything moving along, even though she was such a busy lady that weekend with a wedding the day before and one the following day! She still worked with my friend as though she was the only bride she was working with. Really cool. After ceremony, back at the lodge, appetizers and bar are open for business. The bar was incredibly busy beginning of cocktail hour because the Warriors were playing and everyone had to watch. I thought the bartenders were great. Husband and wife team and they handled the busy, rowdy crowd with ease. My only con about the bar is that it is pretty separated from the dance floor, so towards the middle and end of reception I saw a distinct separation in guests. It was still cool though, pretty much half and half of the guests still there were at either spot. After the last of the wedding guests left, via shuttle to their hotels, most of the rest of the people who were staying at the lodge went downstairs to the game room. It was really awesome down there. There's a wii, an air hockey table, corn hole and lots of other fun stuff. It's insane that there really is not "bed time". After hanging out there for a bit, we went back up to our rooms. There are a lot of different layouts for the guest rooms. I know some of them don't have bathrooms, so there are a few communal ones with a toilet, sink and shower. They were all clean and stocked for guests. The room I was in is a jack and jill style, so our room was connected to another room via a bathroom. Our room had a sink and mirror in it, then the bathroom connected had a toilet and shower. I didn't use the shower, as we were only there one night and leaving home in the morning, but it's a homey little old shower. Everything about the guest rooms is eclectic. Everything is pretty old, yet functional. I think this review has gotten long enough. If you read it all, great. If not, here are some bullet points. Pros: -Gorgeous ceremony sight -Cool bar -Excellent service from everyone1 -Fun game room -Tasty wedding food (buffet style) -Tastier wedding cake -S'mores bar!! -Late night snack appetizers Cons: -Bugs Honestly, I don't have any other con than that, it was such a fun and beautiful wedding and a great place to have it at! read more

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The venue for the ceremony is breathtaking. The owner is very cool, the waitstaff is fantastic. The bartender was terrible. The saying "never trust a skinny cheff, it applies to bartenders. "Never trust a bartender who has never had a drink in his life." No joke, never the man has never drank. Trevor the bartender will say anytying to anyone to be your buddy and get tips also his drinks a fairly weak. Absolutely loved the after hours game rooms and bridal/groom party suites. The food the receprion was great! The rooms are outdated which is ok except the plumbing is very outdated! Our room had 0 water pressure making showering impossible, litterally. This place is a great venue with a couple hang ups. I wouldn't come back but it was an amazing weekend for the bride and groom and that's all that really mattered. read more

Forest House - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Foresthill, California

I'd like to update our review of Forest House. After sharing our frustrations and concerns, Patrick, the owner of Forest House, immediately reached out to me to apologize, and offered to help us continue with our planning. Unfortunately at this point we've already booked our venue, but I definitely plan to recommend this place for friend's and family's wedding's to come. Patrick made us feel important, and was willing to do whatever he could to improve our previous experiences. Thank you Forest House for the excellent customer service and support! read more

My wife's sister got married here July 2012, so I saw the venue from the planning side and from the guest side. Forest House is a definite wedding venue that should be on your list to consider if you're thinking about getting married in the Placer County Auburn Grass Valley area. Food: Huge menu with a variety of choices, more then enough items to please anyone. If anything the menu is so big it's almost overwhelming because of all the choices. The wait staff is very friendly and nice and the food is very good. Ambiance: The ceremony site about a mile and a half down the road has a breathtaking valley view and is very peacefully quiet. The Forest House lodge itself has a quaint cozy cottage feel on a larger scale. The basement is the complete opposite with big screen TVs, a ping pong and pool table and games like Rock Band and Wii. Service: Staff is friendly and accommodating. Overall: It's definitely a cool place worth checking out. The only negative thing is the bar is in a different room from the main reception hall. The bar also plays music and it caused a lot of people to stay and hang out at the bar since they were closer to drinks rather than being out and partying on the dance floor. read more

STOP MOVING MY REVIEW TO FILTERED!!!!!!!! So, I have put off writing this since i knew I wanted to be very thorough and detailed,and knew it would take me awhile...so here we go - I got in engaged in Dec.2010, we rushed to pick a venue since we wanted to get married the upcoming summer. It didn't work out with that venue, so in Feb/March we were rushing around to find a venue - we knew we wanted outdoorsy/rustic, a venue that let us plan our wedding the way we wanted it, and had a long venue rental time (after all you only get one wedding day, right?) So, we found FHL actually on Yelp - I went there, met with Brett, thought he was awesome and the venue looked a million times better than online, pics don't do it justice. Well, I thought the price was a bit high, but then found out it's all inclusive - no suprises! We booked the only day they had left for this summer......on to the planning process, we worked with Brett and Kathryn, anytime, I mean ANYTHING we asked for, they said yes to, and accommodated all of requests. this IS the place to get married if you want things done YOUR way, YOUR DREAM wedding is here.... So, our wedding day comes and goes off PERFECT, everything I had obsessed over, envisioned and worked so hard to create came to life! No suprises, no mistakes - most of my guests have called me to tell me it was the most fun wedding they have ever been to. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of how amazing, kind and hard working all of FHL staff was to us, especially Brett, Kathryn, Laura, Julie and Steven, they will always have such a special place in our hearts - If you are a bride considering gettng married here, please email me, I can give you recommendations, vendors we used and any pics of the venue (I even took a video) We actually did our flowers thru Sam's club (set them all up at the venue too) they aren't even strict on who you use for vendors (like some other venues) Be sure to compare their prices to other venues (watch out for sneaky venues to that get you on per head drink tabs and 20% service charges on venue fees, it adds up to well over forest house lodges prices) Have fun planning and enjoy FHL, you can't go wrong with them! read more

We were recently married here on 8/2/2014. I honestly cannot say enough about how amazing the Forest House Lodge was! From the second we walked in the door until the next day after we left, every person was there to help and with a genuine smile. There was not a worry the entire day as everything was already handled and I didn't have to think twice about any detail. This is quite important for me personally as I'm type A and sometimes too anal for my own good. I worry about EVERYTHING! But with Alley as my coordinator I never once worried about a single thing. My Mom was a little worried about the price and the distance but once she saw the lodge she was sure this was the place....she even told me that she wished she could get married there! Every single guest was blown away about how seamless everything went and how amazing the food was! And the view! You could never say enough about the view! It's so breathtaking! The staff again, I couldn't say enough things! One of my lovely guests caused a ruckus in the bar and the way the staff handled it was amazing and I'm so thankful for that. We recently got out pictures back, and WOW. The day was incredible and it really shows in the pictures. I feel like we had a fairy tale start with a wedding so amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone at the lodge for helping to provide that! read more

I attended a wedding at the Forest House Lodge this weekend and was quite impressed with the facility. The bride and groom are of the outdoorsy sort, so a rustic type of venue suited them well. Much like the name suggests, this place is very lodge-y with lots of wood accents, comfy furniture, big fireplaces putting off the scent of campfire, and a mountainous surrounding. The actual ceremony site is a short drive up Foresthill Road to a tree laden spot overlooking the forest and mountain range. It is peaceful and beautiful, though not suited for poor weather conditions as I can see it being very slippery and muddy. Thankfully the weather cooperated this weekend and the ceremony was lovely. Perhaps one of the coolest features of the venue is the downstairs basement area. This floor accommodates the bridal suite and the groom's room for wedding day preparation, but it is also a giant recreation room! Ping pong, poker, pool, shuffle board, air hockey, Rock Band, dance floor, etc. The Forest House lets you have the venue for the entire night so your guests are free to have fun downstairs until the wee hours of the morning. I think this is a great idea since most places only give you 6 or so hours for your event. Minus one star because the rooms upstairs for guests who seek overnight accommodations are small and on the old/semi-run down side. Most of the rooms don't have bathrooms in them so guests use common bathrooms in the hall. Not a huge deal, but a slight inconvenience. I also didn't think the food was anything special, but perhaps it depends on how much you're paying for your specific meal option. Overall, a great wedding and a great venue. read more

I was in the wedding party in a wedding held here a few weeks ago. It was incredible! The staff is so wonderful. The bridal salon and game rooms on the bottom floor are amazing and have everything you could possibly think of to keep the guys busy while the girls get ready. The bridal salon is roomy and offers many vanity stations. We arrived in the morning and spent our time getting ready in the bridal salon and sipping champagne. The wedding was at 5 at a breathtaking view. We came back to the venue and the reception began. We went on until 2am. Most places make you shut it down at midnight. At every turn there was food. Just when you start thinking you'd like a snack, woosh...they arrive with a tray of yummies! I love that everything is there on site. I love love love the bar area with all the hats to try on. It makes for some priceless pictures. Being able to crawl up the stairs and sleep off wedding celebrations was so great. The rooms are small but I just slept for a few hours and came down for a FULL breakfast. It is like having a rich old aunt with a well-appointed country home. There were NO snags. I have never been involved in such a problem free celebration. The venue itself is beautiful and perfect for a rustic celebration. It was so romantic and intimate. Best wedding I have ever been to. It was getting late and I was quite a few drinks in. I'm standing at the bar and poof....jalepeno poppers and french fries!!! Loved that touch. I want someone else to get married there so I can go back! The only caveat is that you would not want to try to do a glam wedding here probably. I would take advantage of the rustic details instead. read more

I was the best man at my brother's wedding last weekend and I was amazed. This place is the place to get married. The owners were fantastic, the food was great, the location beautiful, everything was professional and well done. It's an older hotel so some of the rooms are ... not perfect, but it's still 5 stars worth of awesome. I can't think of a better place to get married. read more

We wanted to find a place that was us, after going to a few different venues, we walked into Forest House Lodge knew from the second we stepped through the doors that this was "us" and we cancelled the rest of the appts as we walked out of FHL. I am so glad that we picked FHL for our wedding! I've had most of my guests tell me it was the best wedding they have ever been too... It was certainly the best wedding I've ever been to :) We just got married on 8/4 and I cannot stop thinking about how perfect it was. It was the best day of my life. Brett was very welcoming and reassuring from the moment we met with him. Once we booked, Kathryn is who we were in touch with most. Let me tell you, Kathryn knows her stuff!!! Every time I would have a slight panic attack (due to my lack of decision making) she was right there to calm me and let me know everything would work out just fine... and it did! She is very quick to respond to emails and answer's every question you have! If she can't, she will find out for you (quickly). All my girls and I LOVED the bridal suite downstairs equipped with salon chairs, makeup mirrors, mimosa bar, two bathrooms etc. and the guys loved the "Man Cave" with all the games they were able to play to relax before the wedding took place. The food was amazing! I tried a little bit of everything at dinner and it was delicious! From the appetizers, to dinner, to late night snacks. I've been told by many "it was the best food they have had at a wedding". We were downstairs until 3:30 in the morning just hanging out because we didnt want the night to end. Thank you to the FHL staff for making my dream wedding come true!! Once you step into FHL I guarantee you will not want to go anywhere else. read more

Four and a half stars and rounding up. I was here for my cousin's wedding and found the lodge utterly captivating. The entire lodge was booked for the weekend so we were free to roam around. It's located in a remote area just beyond Sacramento amongst the woods and you feel sheltered from the bustle of the city. In fact, we lost cell phone reception several miles away. Initially I felt naked without my cell but then it was fantastically liberating. The lodge is three stories. The ground level has several rooms. The foyer leads into a small sitting area with the reception desk. To either side are inviting small rooms with comfy sofas, arm chairs and complete with roaring fireplaces. If you proceed straight past the reception desk there is a larger sitting area with half a dozen sofas. And there are two rooms attached to this larger room. One is a smaller banquet room where we had lunch before the wedding. The other is a large banquet hall where the reception was held. There were 185 guests. It was a tight fit, but not uncomfortably so. There's a large patio out back as well, and it overlooks the beautiful grounds. The top floor is where all the rooms are. This is an older facility and not all the rooms have a bathroom, but I think all come with a sink. There are communal bathrooms. The rooms are adorably decorated with different themes: flowers, fruit, trees etc. Some rooms have bathrooms and there are a few two bedroom suites. The basement is extremely spacious and divided into four different rooms: two game rooms, a bar room, and another seating area with lots of plush couches. One game room has a complete rock band set, the other has a pool table and an air hockey table. This was a popular place to hang out between and after wedding festivities. The food was great. There was a little bit of something for everyone. Stuffed chicken, pepper crusted salmon, steak, roasted vegetables, butternut squash pasta, crisp salad, and even a little kids selection complete with mac and cheese and fries. A very solid four stars for food. I took off half a star from the review because the some of the rooms don't have private bathrooms, and that's rather inconvenient. Also, please note that they do NOT have hair dryers. Overall though, this was a lovely lodge in the gorgeous woods of Forest Hill. The beauty of the lodge and the friendly staff more than atone for the shortcomings. read more

My husband and I got married here in March. We had such a great time! I wish I could do the weekend all over again. Julie and Brie were AMAZING to work with. You get so much for what you pay- trust me, I tried to find a "better deal". Our guests raved about the accommodations, great food, and the amazing staff. You will not regret having your wedding here! I can't wait to return for the cocktail party next year. Please feel free to message me any questions you have. I am happy to help!!! read more

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I had a blast at my friends wedding! Everything was perfectly planned and went off without a hitch. The food was amazing and the entertainment room down stairs was very exciting. I stayed up until 5am dancing, playing air hockey, and they even had karaoke. read more

Forest House - The wedding ceremony. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Foresthill, California

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My wife and I were recent guests at a wedding at Forest House. Not being from the immediate area, we didn't know what to expect in terms of venue or accommodations or staff. I must say that we were pleasantly surprised at almost every turn! From the friendly staff to the spectacular wedding venue, we now have a very fond impression of what awaits a visitor to this gem in Foresthill. At the Forest House, we were greeted by a friendly and welcoming young lady at the front desk where we checked-in before retiring to the bar where we were met with a smile from the bartender. The staff in general clearly understands the nuance of being accommodating without being overbearing---they clearly have a lot of experience with how a wedding should be done! The nearby venue for the wedding ceremony is something that is truly unique to Foresthill; a clearing in a meadow with a backdrop offering a spectacular view of a valley and mountain ranges in the distance. It is a view that you simply can't find elsewhere. The wedding reception back at Forest House was handle in a very organized manner with staff at-the-ready and food served on time...very GOOD food, by the way! Finally, in terms of being accommodating; it turns out that I had left several articles of clothing in the closet of our room upon checking out. I discovered this several days later when I finally had time to unpack. I called Forest House and spoke to Julie and confirmed that they had secured my clothing. She then gathered my mailing information and committed to sending my clothing to me at no charge! (Seems that, with the celebration and revelry that goes along with a wedding, forgotten items is a common occurrence!) Though I felt silly for leaving my things, I couldn't have been made to feel better about how the matter was corrected. If you are looking for a unique experience that reflects the rustic nature of an earlier California, you would be well-served to consider Forest House to handle your arrangements in a way that takes pressure off of the wedding party and envelopes guests in a welcoming atmosphere. read more

I went here for a wedding this past weekend and it was beautiful! I was blown away by the staff and how welcoming they were to everyone. Definitely exceeded my expectations, especially in these COVID times!!! read more

Amazing! We had our wedding weekend at the lodge Dec. 03, 2011. The staff is the best...and are true professionals. My family and friends were so impressed by every single detail. The stress I had to deal with (despite a few issues I never knew about until afterwards) was SO minimal! Kathryn is a DOLL and Brett is a real GENTLEMEN! He even helped my dad (FOB) tie his tie on the big day! I wouldn't change a thing and would recommend this venue to everyone! **Note the lodge is old and the rooms have a very bed and breakfasty kind of vibe. I love this about the lodge, but there were a few slight annoyances from some of my guests who stayed the night about the lack of hot water, comfort of the beds and smoke from the fireplace wafting upstairs. I did not experience any discomforts at all, but am just noting it to be 100% honest. My husband and I were so hungover the morning after, we missed breakfast and Kathryn was sweet enough to make up 2 plates of food with OJ, water, coffee and packets of advil and emergen-c and deliver them to our room! Can't gush enough...my wedding was perfect! My husband and I loved it and so did our guests! read more

In Spring of 2009, we were married at Forest House (I'm a little late on this, I know). It was just amazing and the ceremony site was located slightly over a mile away from everything. There was this beautiful Sierra Nevada overlook. It was perfect for pictures! I think everyone in the family whipped out their cameras for that one! The food was really good (and I admit I am a little picky) but I already knew what I was in for because we had attended the tasting several months before (which I highly recommend)! My *husband* was even impressed (will I ever get used to that?). I think that my friends would say that their favorite part was the all-night party - the bar was open until 2 AM! The drinks were definitely flowing and I have a bunch of hilarious shots of my friends in the goofy hats located around the bar. Pretty funny! I heard that the last few stopped playing pool around 4 or so in the morning (I admit I didn't make it quite that long!). Everything went really, really well. My dad was happy about it all -- he was practically beaming the entire time. I'd say it was money well spent...now, when can I renew my vows? ;) read more

This place is wonderful! We attended a wedding here this past weekend, and I cannot sing enough praises for the staff and venue. The vista where the ceremony took place was breathtaking, and they even had bottled water and bug spray available while everyone was milling about before the ceremony started. Once the ceremony concluded we went back down to the lodge for appetizers and drinks while we waited for the bridal party to arrive. The patio was just perfect with lights strung above and the wait staff was very prompt and super nice! The food was great and everyone who helped us at the buffet had a smile on their face. The bar has crazy hats to wear and the bartenders were a crack up! Let's not forget about the game room downstairs, plenty of table games, video games and lounge areas, it was a great way to round out the night. Highly recommended and worth the drive!!! read more

Loved this venue! My friend just got married here last Friday and it was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to. Despite the unfortunate rain, the crew at Forest House was amazing and so comforting to both the bride and her wedding party (I was a bridesmaid). They waited patiently for her decision on whether to hold the ceremony outside, as planned, or bring it indoors. Even though the rain didn't let up my friend decided to have the wedding outside! It was still an amazing site, thunder and all. The venue was also nice enough to provide many umbrellas at no extra charge. We stayed two nights here, one for the rehearsal evening and one for the wedding, and both were superb. The food was amazing and the bartender, Trevor, is excellent! What I liked the most about this venue is that you truly have the whole place to yourself. We started getting ready on Friday morning at about 10:00 (after a wonderful buffet breakfast) and we never once felt rushed. The dressing room for the ladies was huge! Full length mirrors, bar with personal mirrors, plenty of outlets and extension cords for hairdryers and curling irons, couches, and mimosas! The ceremony started at 5:00PM and after we got back to the Lodge we partied all night long! It was nice knowing we had access to the main floor, with the bar, until 2:00AM and then from there could retire to the downstairs lounge which included a pool table, shuffle board, ping-pong table, air hockey, and a room adjacent for disco ball dancing. We never got bored! All-in-all, this place was great. Great service, close attention to detail, beautiful location. Our bride was never stressed - except for maybe 5 mins when the rain wouldn't let up - but she got over that quick! I would strongly recommend this venue to all brides. read more

We had our wedding at Forest House Lodge Sept. 2nd and it was a blast. We partied all night, I literally didn't go to sleep till 6am. The staff was amazing, our coordinator was the best, the banquet staff, and the bar staff was great! Everyone there was so helpful and attentive, and the food was phenomenal. My family all loved the place and I heard so may people say that it was the funnest wedding ever. They are one of the only places that let you actually party all night, what more can you ask for! Thanks for making our wedding so great, you guys really are the best! read more

Chef Mike was the best! Was at Julia and Eric Roesser's wedding, and he cooked exceptional food! Definitely recommend this chef and this lodge! read more

Went there for a friend's wedding and absolutely loved it! I don't typically write reviews but the staff were so great and the amenities were amazing. The downstairs area was a ton of fun and definitely made for a great after party or just a good way to kill some time. The bartender was awesome and always kept drinks flowing. Laura did a great job and must always be so busy but it never shows. She was professional and well organized. I was particularly impressed when my girlfriend left some things there and called the front desk the day after we left. Her belongings had been collected by the cleaning crew and reported to the desk. They priority mailed the items back to us!!!! Very honest and great people! read more

I got married here in August of 2008. If I do say so myself, the wedding was beautiful. You would be hard-pressed to find anywhere in California as unique as the Forest House Lodge. The ceremony site is breathtaking, and the lodge is one of the most fun places that I have ever been. You truly feel as though you are a thousand miles away, private and secluded... a bluff surrounded by trees overlooking the Sierra Nevada mountains. The bridal salon at the lodge is every girl's fantasy: a make-up bar, two salon chairs, sweeping velvet draperies, chaise lounges, and plenty of floor length mirrors. As soon as I saw the bridal salon, I was sold on having my wedding here! I hadn't even seen the ceremony site. The Forest House Lodge is run by a married couple, Patrick and Monica Nickel. They are very accomodating, will set up payment schedules if necessary, and truly want to provide you with the wedding of YOUR dreams, nothing cookie-cutter about it. But since they are a small company, it can sometimes be difficult to get a hold of them and may take awhile for them to return your calls. This was never a problem for me. We had an issue with an incorrect remaining balance, but we addressed the problem and they were quick to fix it. Like you should for all wedding payments, make sure to keep records of everything. All in all, the staff went far above and beyond what I expected of them. They will seriously do everything it takes to make your day perfect. I had quite a few people tell me that it was the best wedding they had ever been to. HOWEVER, this place is not for everyone. It is a very old and rustic (although with a ton of upgrades), historic hotel. If the small bed & breakfast style rooms are not your thing, or if you're looking for the surrounding area to be metropolitan and chic, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a place to have an amazing and unique wedding, followed by a kick-ass party, look no further. read more

This is a review from a bride that got married at the Lodge on 8/3/12. Amazing. That's what I have to say about my experience at the Forest House Lodge. Now, this place is not the Four Seasons Hotel so if you want that kind of vibe then maybe keep looking, but that's really not what my husband and I were going for-although the service level is definitely 5 star. We wanted a venue that represented us, that was accommodating to our (my) specific demands, and that could really host a party. The staff at the Lodge made all of that happen and more. Most of our family and friends were travelling long distances to be there, so we went for the Thurs-Sat morning package. It was so lovely to be able to spend quality time with our guests, and the Lodge made it easy to keep our guests occupied and happy. We also had many German speaking guests with their own expectations/meal preferences/party styles, but the Lodge made it easy to incorporate these things and make our guests feel welcome. In total, our guests spent a full 48 hours there, and we partied for most of them! Brett and Kathryn especially deserve the biggest thank you. You can clearly see how much they care about their brides and grooms, and they really have a passion for making sure your wedding experience lives up to every one of your expectations. (Just an example: they added to their normal breakfast display, they agreed to a never-before rehearsal dinner set-up, they OK'd a mimosa bar for me, they helped convince the owners to purchase new chairs since my mom had asked, and on and on.) Their passion is also present in the rest of the staff, who never once told us "no" to any of our requests, even at 2 am for more bar food and drinks (I won't list all the names, but big props also to Chef Mark who understood my obsession with having the perfect meals-food is a big deal to my family! He was patient and rose to every challenge we gave him-every meal was delicious). It's the little details that make a wedding, and I had a LOT to keep track of since I'm one of "those" brides that had to add her touch to everything. Kathryn was on top of everything, and knew exactly how and when I wanted things to happen. My cake, my centerpieces, my decorations, and even my bar requests were exactly how I wanted them, and trust me, I checked. ;) Other reviews have listed the neat features of this venue, and definitely check out their website for more info. The Lodge also has great traditions in place to make brides and grooms feel special, like annual events for all the couples getting married that year. Even before our wedding, my hubs and I had visited the Lodge at least 8 times during the planning process, had tried their food and appetizers, had gotten to know the bartenders (and tasted tested LOTS of drinks), had spent a late night there, and just felt like the Lodge was 'ours'. Although they exclusively do weddings, not once did we feel like part of an assembly line. Overall, I'm so happy we chose to get married at the Forest House Lodge. Every one of our guests told us how impressed they were with our unique venue and mentioned how representative it was of "us," which is exactly what we wanted. The 2 night package made our wedding into a 3 day celebration, and our guests definitely took advantage that there was no closing time. Even though it will take a week to recover, we're sad that we can't do it all over again! After a year of getting to know this place and the staff, we're definitely planning on taking them up on the offer to come by and visit. Thank you Forest House! read more