River Highlands Ranch

At a Glance

• PHONE: (530) 639-1682
• ADDRESS:  8600 Big Oak Valley Rd, Smartsville, CA 95977
• MAX HEADCOUNT: 200
• ALCOHOL: Full Bar/ Licensed Provider
• CATERING:  Preferred List

Fees, Features, & Furnishings

You head into the Northern California foothills and arrive at River Highlands Ranch, where ranch-meets-vineyard feels expansive without feeling remote.

Guests step into a setting that immediately steadies the day. Ceremony chairs settle into terraced lawns, a fountain provides a soft undercurrent of sound, and the pond catches the light in a way that feels composed, not staged. Roses frame the space with confidence—nothing sparse, nothing scrambling to bloom. The scene reads finished, as if it’s been waiting for this moment.

As the light shifts, the celebration drifts toward the Vineyard Barn. Wide barn doors stand open at both ends, lofted ceilings draw the eye upward, and the line between inside and out quietly disappears. Music spills onto the patio, conversations linger on the terraces, and dancing wanders beneath strings of market lights. Guests move freely, never redirected. The evening unfolds with an ease that feels intuitive, not managed.

The ranch feels most at home with 100–150 guests—enough to fill the barn with energy without crowding the experience. On a Prime Season Saturday, the property is yours from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The $9,800 fee covers events up to 125 guests, with an additional $325 for every 25 guests beyond that—straightforward, predictable, and refreshingly free of fine-print surprises.

Wedding Day Blueprint

Welcome to River Highlands Ranch, where rolling fields, wide skies, and that quietly confident ranch charm create a setting that stands alone beautifully. I’m your venue director for the day—equal parts tour guide, traffic controller, and calm voice reminding you that yes, everything is unfolding exactly as it should. Let’s walk through a pragmatic flow that keeps your wedding day smooth, stylish, and mercifully free of guesswork.

Getting Ready

You arrive late morning and settle into the ranch’s getting-ready spaces, where natural light pours in and time slows just enough to let the moment land. Hair, makeup, champagne—this is where nerves soften and the day begins to feel real. No shuttles, no rushing. River Highlands Ranch makes it easy to stay put and stay present.

Pre-Ceremony

Before guests arrive, we sneak you out onto the grounds for first looks and family photos. Think open landscapes, rustic textures, and an enviable trove of backdrops that don’t require styling or explanation. Everything is close by, which means portraits happen efficiently—and without that “are we late?” edge creeping in.

Ceremony

Ceremonies typically unfold outdoors, framed by sweeping views and open air. Guests arrive, find their seats, and immediately understand the assignment. The setting feels daringly original without veering into the ostentatious—elevated, unfussy, and refreshingly grounded.

Appetizers & Cocktails

After the ceremony, guests drift naturally into cocktail hour. Drinks are poured, appetizers circulate, and everyone settles into finding comfort in the convivial spirit of the ranch.
Behind the scenes: if dinner is planned in the ceremony area, this is when our team performs the quiet reset—chairs out, tables in, lighting adjusted—while guests remain happily occupied elsewhere.

Dinner Reception

Dinner typically takes place under the stars or in a covered reception area, depending on your layout and the season. This is where expert craftsmanship and understated elegance shine—long tables, warm lighting, and a layout that encourages conversation without shouting across the table. Gone is the day of settling for the mundane; dinner here feels intentional and unrushed.

Dancing & Merriment

Once plates clear, the music lifts and the dance floor opens. Everything flows easily—no stairs, no elevators, no dramatic relocations. One space melts into the next, keeping energy high and transitions blissfully invisible.

Send-Off / End of the Night

As the evening winds down, you gather for a glowing send-off or linger over one last song beneath the stars. And remember: this is a blueprint, not a rulebook. Swap the order, extend cocktails, dine first, dance earlier—River Highlands Ranch flexes with you.

Event Sites

• Rustic Vineyard Barn
• Vineyard Lawn / Garden Space
• Barn Lawn / Outdoor Terrace
• Indoor Bridal Suite / Prep Lounge
• Outdoor Vineyard Terrace / Fire Pit Area

Food & Beverage

At River Highlands Ranch, food and beverage is treated less like a checkbox and more like a carefully choreographed performance—one that understands you’re hosting a wedding, not a potluck with ambition. From the moment guests drift in from the ceremony lawn, it’s obvious this is a venue that’s hosted a few weddings before—service flows, timing behaves, and no one is wondering what’s supposed to happen next.

River Highlands Ranch does not offer in-house catering, and honestly, that’s part of the appeal. Instead, they operate with a required preferred catering list—a tightly curated group of professionals who already know how the property behaves on event day. These caterers understand the layout, the power, the pacing, and how to execute dinner service without derailing golden hour. The preferred-vendor model ensures your catering team arrives fluent in the space, not translating it on the fly.

Color Palettes, Design, & Logistics

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