Saratoga Country Club 21990 Prospect Road • Saratoga • California 95070

Perched high in the wooded hills above the Santa Clara Valley, the Saratoga Country Club offers everything you need for a superb wedding or festive gathering: beautiful surroundings, a romantic ceremony spot, a casually elegant clubhouse and fabulous food. And best of all, you don't have to be a member to host your event here.

The ceremony site, on top of a gentle hill, is one reason couples gravitate to the club. Surrounded by panoramic hillside views, it's as pretty as a wedding bouquet. The centerpiece is a majestic, one-of-a-kind, 15-foot-high white wrought-iron domed gazebo, set on cobblestones. Encircled by a large lawn and enclosed by a decorative fence, it's a private haven for family and friends to witness your exchange of vows. After the ceremony, it's just a short walk to the clubhouse reception by way of a spectacular lighted staircase with white railings, flanked by pines and oleanders.

The contemporary clubhouse is a well-appointed two-story structure painted in soft beige that harmonizes with the encompassing hillsides. An imposing portico and pergola-shaded walkway add drama to the building's entrance, where the exquisitely crafted cherrywood and cut-glass double doors are reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. In the Main Dining Room, the cream-colored walls are awash in sunlight, thanks to plenty of large windows interspersed with stately columns. French doors lead to spacious decks overlooking the verdant golf course below and the Santa Clara Valley in the distance. There's also a dance floor and stage area, and the soft, neutral beige-and-white color scheme of the dining room allows you to dress it up or down to your taste. Needless to say, this facility is not limited to wedding receptions; in fact, when we viewed it, it was set up for a graduation party with bright colored napkins, star-garlanded centerpieces and displays of yearbook photos and other school-related decorations. The dining room is also available during the week for any type of function.

Are all these great features beginning to intrigue you? Well, let us sweeten the pot just a little bit more. When you book your event at the Saratoga Country Club, you also get the services of events manager extraordinaire, Sherry Stephens. Her assistance is invaluable, especially for weddings. Every year, she updates a minutely detailed wedding guide outlining everything you need to know to plan your wedding, from a reception schedule to a list of preferred vendors. She's a calming influence for brides and a welcome resource for advice. Sherry even provides a detailed map to send out with your invitations, in case some of your guests are directionally impaired (the country club's secluded location is just minutes from highways I-280, SR-85 and I-880). So, schedule a trip to the Saratoga Country Club. Even if you're not a member, you'll be given VIP treatment!