Ben Lomond Wedding at The Barn at River House

Nestled in the scenic mountains of Ben Lomond, The Barn at River House is an unforgettable wedding venue that perfectly blends rustic charm with modern elegance. From the moment guests arrive, they’re welcomed by the stunning mountain views and a beautifully maintained property that sets the tone for a magical day.

The venue itself is thoughtfully designed. The barn’s interior is surprisingly elegant — not your typical rustic space. With its high ceilings, refined woodwork, and stylish lighting (including some very classy ceiling fans upstairs), it’s clear this venue was built for celebration. The bathrooms are modern and pristine, offering comfort without sacrificing the barn’s aesthetic charm.

The ceremony took place outdoors, framed by lush greenery and mountain air. It was a heartfelt moment officiated by the groom’s father, who offered touching insights into the couple’s journey. It added a personal, emotional touch that everyone appreciated.

Following the ceremony, cocktail hour was held outside with smooth Rat Pack classics playing in the background, creating a timeless and romantic vibe. Guests then made their way inside for the reception. A grand entrance and heartfelt thank-you speech kicked off the evening, followed by a delicious dinner and emotional toasts.

Highlights included a touching mother-son dance, a romantic first dance, and then — the party really started! From 7 to 9 PM, the dance floor was alive with energy. The crowd was ready to celebrate, and the music kept the momentum going all night.

If you're looking for a wedding venue in the mountains that offers both elegance and a great atmosphere for celebration, The Barn at River House in Ben Lomond is a top contender. It’s truly a place made for unforgettable moments.

The set up was pretty easy. You can park next to the club house to set up. I was able to load all my gear next to the shade while I separated where the ceremony gear went and the reception gear went.

I was given one power outlet to set up two set ups. We had to use an extension cord to give it power. It was 105 degrees and we asked for an umbrella 3 times and on the third time I offered to carry the umbrella myself.

They had us on the corner of the reception area with the speakers facing the dance floor which was outside. The dinner area was behind us so we had to had the speakers face the dinner area so we were playing music with speakers facing us. There was a building structure in front of us so the dance floor was not 100 percent visible.

The bar area was in a different room so we had to physically round everyone up to get them ready for the ceremony and get them seated for the reception.

Beauty of the place it did get a good score.

The outside dance floor was nice.

But for a dj it was not very practical.

To fix it I would have an outlet close to the ceremony area.

I would have the dj set up in front of the dance floor outside with two other speakers with one in the bar area and one in the dinner area.

I would speak with the bride and let her know what would work for you.

Lori and Tim had a fabulous wedding at Fortino Winery.  Weather could not be any better. What was a treat was with the shade installed on the grounds it was not hot for the ceremony and reception. Fortino Wineries has to be one of the best outside venues in the area since it has a lot of space and a good shelter from the sun. They had a nice ceremony in the grass area by the Officiant Frances. She did a fine job. They incorporated a Japanese tradition of planting a grape wine together. 

Grand Entrance consisted  of the bride and groom and mother of the bride with best man and maid of honor. 

Cocktail hour was only 30 minutes and the great food was served. Dinner had a good r&b vibe during the meal. 

A few toasts were made and one was made via recording that was very touching. The first dance was a special one. It started off as a country song then it turned into C + C Music Factory song with the lyrics Everybody Dance Now Looped 4 times. Folks were able to join the couple with their first dance. Right after dinner it started to get dark. So we arranged to get some uplights to add some color around the venue. Venue is already pretty but the uplights add accents. They were lined up with the trees and bushes. Uplights always add a nice touch. They are a classy touch and it gives the area a new vibe. 

Music was very diverse. It was a lot of old school throwbacks. It was a mix of 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s.