Chico Wedding Venues

A comprehensive list of wedding venues in Chico, california. (updated: March 2021)

Wedding Venues in Chico Ca

If you’ve ever wondered where to get married here in Chico, this list is for you.

Our little city here in Butte County, founded by John Bidwell in 1860, is known as the “City of Roses”. And it lives up to it’s name, offering many gorgeous wedding venues to get married at and host your reception. From Modern venues to rustic farms and creek-side ceremony sites with canyon views. We have receptions in old barns, beautiful venues in Bidwell Park, the iconic Chico State red brick, and urban-esque spaces downtown. There are so many beautiful and unique wedding venues to “say I do” and celebrate here in our corner of Butte County.

I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph weddings at most all of these places over the 30 years I lived in Chico, so if you have any questions about a wedding venue here in Chico or Northern California, please don’t hesitate to ask! Or if you know of a wedding venue or reception space that I’ve missed, please let me know as I’d like to keep this list updated.

Farm Style and Rustic Wedding Venues

Patrick’s Ranch

Patrick’s Ranch is the perfect blend of rustic and elegance for weddings. Located and visible from the Midway halfway between Chico and Durham, it offers acres of space for your ceremony, reception, and photos. Most ceremonies are held in front of the historic house that offers shade for afternoon ceremonies. Receptions can be outdoors on the lawn behind the house or inside the barn next to the lawn. My favorite locations for photos: on the porch and steps of the house, and in the adjacent fields.

Bella Rosa Farm

Shooting one of the first weddings at Bella Rosa Farms as it opened, I discovered a charming farm, perfect for your outdoor wedding. Located in Durham, it’s property is lined with beautiful oaks that provide afternoon shade for ceremonies. It’s ceremony site features a rustic arch and milled logs for seating. It’s reception space features a long table that can be used as a head table for a large bridal party or serving table for dinner. Favorite photo location: under the oaks along the westside of the venue.

White Ranch

If you’ve seen wedding photos of a ceremony in front of a huge weeping willow tree, it was most likely taken at White Ranch. Though it’s hit with lots of afternoon sun, White Ranch’s weeping willow is truly magnificent both for photos and as a backdrop for ceremonies. The ranch itself is quite large with lots of opportunities for photos. Receptions are typically held on a large patio, a short walk from the ceremony site. Favorite photo locations include near the huge cactus and weathered barn, the field and driveway above, and, of course, the weeping willow.

Gale Vineyards

Gale Vineyards is awesome for it’s beautiful shady tree lined paths that run through the core of the venue, giving it the feel of an oasis in the midst of the orchards of Durham. It’s ceremony site is on the lawn in front of a charming cottage (which can be used as a small getting ready space), giving it the ease of a backyard wedding without having to transform a backyard for your wedding. Receptions are typically held on the large tree lined crushed granite courtyard in the middle of the venue giving you lots of shady space for your guests.  Favorite photo locations include the vineyards and the walking paths.

TJ Farm

TJ Farms is a beautiful working farm featuring a colonial style home, rustic barn, and lots of afternoon shade. Couples typically get married in the shade of the tall birch trees that line the lawn next to the home. Receptions are held next to the barn and gets beautiful dappled light coming through the trees in the evening. Favorite photo locations include the dirt road, the pumpkin patch, and the orchards.

Almendra Winery

Coming Soon

Honker Bay Ranch

Coming Soon

Outdoor Wedding Venues in Chico

Centerville Estate

Nestled up against the creek of Butte Creek Canyon, Centerville Estate is one of the only, if not THE only, wedding venues in the Chico area where you can get married right next to a creek. Located a short drive up Honey Run Rd with a left at the Honey Run Bridge (RIP) towards Centerville, it was spared in the Camp Fires of 2018.  The ceremony site most used is located on a large stone patio right against Butte Creek and gets a lot of afternoon sun. The reception site is a short walk through the garden-like property that stretches along the creek, where it opens up into another large stone patio shaded in the evening by the main house and canyon. Favorite photo locations: Anywhere along the creek or the walking paths.

Merlo Park

If you want to get married next to a forested pond, Merlo Park in Sterling City is THE place for your wedding. It is located about a 45-60 minute drive up Skyway, but is worth it for the park in the forest feel. The main ceremony site is nestled up against a large pond surrounded by trees. The reception space is a short walk along the wooded paths to a large patio with picnic tables that is also surrounded by large pines. (see a theme here? There are so many beautiful trees at Merlo Park.) – Favorite photo locations: amongst the trees and along the ponds.

Irongate Garden Inn

Coming Soon

The Nature Center

Coming Soon

Outdoor Wedding Venues with Indoor Reception Space:

Any of these outdoor wedding venues below have indoor ceremony and reception spaces should fate bring rain on your big day and you have to go with “Plan B”.

Lakeside Pavilion

Extra high ceilings with a patio overlooking the California Park Lake, Lakeside Pavilion is versatile in its space and usage. Ceremonies can be held on the patio that gets shade later in the afternoon, or inside the ballroom that gets lots of natural light from the floor to ceiling windows that line the east side. Favorite photo locations: along the lake, or the Stilson Canyon fields just a short 3 minute drive away.

Creekside Rose Garden

Creekside Rose Gardens is one of the few wedding venues located in Lower Bidwell Park! It’s outdoor ceremony space sits amidst a beautifully manicured rose garden with the large oaks of Lower Park as the backdrop. It’s reception space features a skylight in the middle and has an outdoor patio that is great for cocktail hours, toasts, cake cutting, etc. Especially when the summer days stretch, I would recommend utilizing the outdoor patio as much as possible. Favorite photo locations – anywhere in Bidwell Park or amongst the roses.

Canyon Oaks Country Club

Canyon Oaks is a beautiful country club, nestled into the foothills above California Park. Couples marry in front of the gazebo and hold their reception in the Vista Room. Favorite photo locations: anywhere along the golf course, so grab a cart and go!

Butte Creek Country Club

Butte Creek Country Club is beautifully manicured with lots of options for photos amongst the oaks and redwood lined walkway. It’s ceremony site is on the north lawn overlooking the 18th green. The ballroom for receptions has large bright windows that lets lots of natural light in. Favorite photo locations – Amidst the redwood trees and the stone bridge.

The Palms

The Palms is one of the more unique venues in Chico. Shedding the typical rustic vibes of the area, the Palms instead, is more tailored instead with tropical tastes. It’s ceremony site is in the middle of the palm lined paths leading up to a tiki-type gazebo. Inside is a large, versatile reception space with tall ceilings and drapery lined walls.

Neighborhood Church

Though you can get married in the dome or fellowship hall, the true gem of Neighborhood Church is the island split by a small creek that forks and rejoins at either end.  Lined by large trees, covered in grass, you can marry in front of or at either end of the island next to the creek. Favorite photo locations: along the creek, in the trees.

The Manzanita Place

The Manzanita Place, near the entrance of Upper Park, is known for its long stretching lawns and tree lined esplanade.  Ceremonies can be held on the lawns. And its large ballroom can be partitioned to accommodate any size reception. Favorite photo locations: the tree lined esplanade or Upper Park just a 3 minute drive away.

Indoor Wedding Venues in Chico

Chico Event Center

The Chico Event Center, located on the second floor at the corner of East 2nd Street and Wall street, would be perfect for a small to mid sized wedding. It’s skylit center dance floor and window lined walls fill the space with natural light. And it’s wood floors and white walls give the room lots of warmth and flattering skin tones for photos. Many weddings hold their ceremony elsewhere and use the Chico Event Center as their reception space. Favorite photo locations: Walking around downtown for photos.

Chico Women’s Club

Coming Soon

Windchime Chapel

Coming Soon

Hotels and Air Bnb’s for Getting Ready in Chico: