Rancho Nicasio

We held our wedding rehearsal dinner/Welcome Party here. We had a blue grass band, the food was delicious and it was perfect! Everyone really enjoyed themselves. Marina Elliott was so easy to work with. She was helpful, had good suggestions, responded quickly. Rancho Nicasio has several locations for events, depending on size, including an oak deck that was beautiful. I highly recommend Rancho Nicasio, especially working with Marina.

Rancho nicasio was the best decision we made for our wedding! We received so many compliments from guests saying it was the best wedding food they have ever had. The staff was great- friendly with an attention to detail.

It can be very nerve wracking to plan an event you want to be special from a distance. The folks at Rancho Nicasio made creating a wonderful rehearsal dinner for my son and daughter in law so pleasant. They had two spaces available: outside on a deck with heaters or inside a cozy room. The weather was beautiful but changeable on the weekend of the wedding, and they were able to wait until the day of to let me decide which space I wanted to use. I know this isn’t always possible because a place books up, but they said we could wait as long as someone else didn’t want space then we would get first choice. The food was delicious, the servers had the perfect amount of attentiveness, and our guests kept raving about how wonderful the evening was. Thank You Rancho Nicasio!

We had the pleasure of having our wedding at Rancho Nicasio, and honestly couldn’t have dreamed of a better place to have our day. Everything was perfect and everyone was wonderful. People are still talking about how delicious the food was ! I cannot say enough good things about Marina, she is warm, kind and more than helpful. She was always there to answer any and all questions we had anytime we had anything we needed help with. Our wedding was just two weeks ago and we can’t stop thinking about every single moment. If we could rewind and do it all over again, we’d sign up immediately!! Thank you to Marina and the whole Rancho Nicasio crew, for making our day absolutely perfect ❤️

Rancho Nicasio was the perfect venue for our wedding! It was beautiful and fun and our guests loved it. Marina and the entire Rancho Nicasio staff were friendly, detail oriented and rock solid. The food was really good (Oysters and salmon especially!) We feel lucky we were able to have our wedding there. Thank you Marina!

Amazing venue!! Great ceremony space (beautiful backdrop, very fun walk-down), great food (oysters! stellar veggie options), great knowledge and organization from staff. Excellent dance floor space too. Highly, highly recommend. Couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else.

I cannot praise Rancho and the team there enough! From day 1, even just touring the venue, we felt right at home. Marina is so attentive and helpful throughout the whole process. Any fears or concerns I had, there was a practical and helpful answer. The quality of the work and service was incredible, and it made the entire wedding experience from the planning to the event, easy and low-stress. The venue itself was so accommodating to our guests. It’s the perfect blend of rustic and natural beauty. Small details really show the charm and character of Rancho that your generic venue could never. Also, I could rave about the food for another paragraph too. SO good! The guests loved it.

An absolutely AMAZING experience! I can't possibly recommend Ranch Nicasio more. From our first initial walk through with Max we were positive our experience planning out wedding would go smoothly, and we were proven right every step of the way. Marina's planning skills and attention to detail are unmatched! She was there every step of the way to answer any questions we had, no matter how big or how small. The staff on the day of the event went above and beyond to make sure every detail was perfect! They were polite, respectful, and there to help with everything we needed! The food was incredible and we're still getting compliments from our guests about how amazing everything tasted. You can't go wrong by choosing Rancho Nicasio for your wedding venue, they will make sure your day is everything you want it to be!

Max , Marina and the whole Rancho Nicasio team made the planning process so easy and stress-free, even through multiple COVID cancellations. Their recommendations (makeup, flowers, band) were perfect so that we really didn't have to research other vendors - and their food is wonderful so no stress with catering either. Marina's organization was very helpful in the months leading up to the wedding especially since we took a more hands-off approach to planning- she guided us in all the relevant decisions and when they needed to happen so I never felt lost or confused. They helped our guests feel welcome and crafted a casual, fun atmosphere.

Rancho Nicasio was the perfect place for us to have our wedding, and I am so glad we did it here. The staff was perfect, at both preparing us for how the day would run, to a perfect execution of everything that needed to happen on the day. Furthermore, the food was some of the best I have ever eaten, anywhere, let alone at a wedding. The location is fairy-tale-dream beautiful, and every part of the wedding process was made easier by the staff at Rancho Nicasio that worked with us. Marina, their wedding coordinator, not only ran around tirelessly the day of our wedding to make sure everything happened that needed to, she also shared with us her preferred vendors list that lead us to an amazing photographer, florist, and baker for our dessert. Every part of the day went flawlessly, deliciously, and beautifully. Thank you Rancho Nicasio for making all of our wildest wedding dreams come true.

Rancho Nicasio created our dream wedding day! The location, setting and layout of the venue brought a warm and relaxed vibe to our wedding. We couldn't imagine having it anywhere else. The venue coordinator Marina and her team made the day so seamless for not only us but our families. They were accommodating, organized and helpful in pre-planning and day of logistics. We didn't think or worry about anything during the wedding itself and fully able to live in the moment. The food and service was so much better than we imagined. It can be hard to make quality/fresh food for large groups of people, but it delicious. Not to mention, the variety and options during menu planning. We cannot recommend Rancho Nicasio enough!

Our wedding at Rancho Nicasio was wonderful! Everything was amazing - the venue, the food, the setup, the staff. It was everything we wanted and all of our friends and family kept saying what a great time they had. The oyster bar was a big hit and the dinner buffet was much much better than most wedding venue dinners I've had. The ceremony in the grove under the trees was intimate and special, the dinner outside on the lawn was great, and then the dancing inside with a live band was so much fun. We wouldn't change a thing. Max was great to work with at the beginning as we finalized the contract and the date. He was really approachable, flexible, and we appreciated that he didn't charge a fee for every little aspect of the event like a lot of other venues do. Marina was very helpful and responsive as the venue coordinator during the planning process, and she made sure everything ran smoothly the day of. We were a little nervous leading up to the event, but everything was perfect from start to finish, and a big reason for that was Marina and the Rancho Nicasio staff!

Having our wedding at Rancho Nicasio was a dream come true. The setting was perfect with such an easy feel surrounded by nature. The food was outstanding and every single guest commented that it was the best food they’ve ever had. Marina, was the perfect person who organized our day for us. She was very kind and straight to the point. She had great input about the day and gave us ideas that we would’ve never thought of. She was extremely professional and answered all of my questions and emails right away. The day of the wedding, I didn’t worry about a thing. I knew with her behind the scenes, that everything would be taken care of and perfect. Thank you so much Rancho Nicasio and Marina and Max for making our day one of the best days of our lives. We truly will never forget it!

SL

We truly had the best day of our lives at Rancho Nicasio and cannot say enough good things about it! From the beginning the process was seamless. RN provides nearly everything - food, alcohol, lights, wedding coordinator, etc so all we had to do was make a few decisions and provide DJ, photographer, dessert. Marina was incredible to work with and made the months leading up and day of stress free. The location is the perfect combination of character and beauty and the fact that they source local food and drinks was the cherry on top. Our guests are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and nearly every person said it was THE BEST food they ever had at a wedding!

We had the BEST wedding experience at Rancho Nicasio! This place is an absolute gem. The entire experience was great -- they provide the rentals, food, drink, service, and incredible planning expertise. We brought in florals, DJ, some additional rentals, photographer, videographer, dessert, lighting, and additional decor. Our guests were blown away by the beauty of the venue (stunning views of West Marin's rolling hills), the food (a lot of sourced locally!), the incredible drinks, the staff, the fun and laid back atmosphere, and so much more. Rancho Nicasio has the best in-house event planner, Marina, who worked with us for months to bring our vision to life. She is a true expert planner with an impeccable attention to detail who runs a flawless show! We were in such good hands with her and the team at Nicasio. Cannot recommend Rancho Nicasio and their incredible team enough! We are so grateful.

Rancho is a perfect place for a wedding! The venue is lovely, and your costs include a personal planner whose help is indispensable, as well as all the food except the desserts, so it gives you a pretty good guide as to the total cost of the wedding. We were 100% pleased with everything there.

Our Wedding Day exceeded every expectation we had, all thanks to Rancho Nicasio! The food was outstanding and the whole setup was absolutely perfect. Julii (Rancho's Wedding Planner) made every part of planning our special day easy and fun, she really made it for us. I would recommend Rancho to ANYONE.

This was the perfect venue for us. Gorgeous surroundings, lovely weather (we were married in August), great staff, and delicious food. I've lost track of how many guests have told us that our wedding had the best food! We definitely recommend choosing the oyster bar, but you cannot go wrong with any of the great food choices. You have access to so much space here. We appreciated having a separate area for the ceremony, dinner, dancing, and dessert. The combination of indoor and outdoor really helped diminish any stress about weather issues also. Overall this is a fun and beautiful venue. We highly recommend choosing Rancho Nicasio.

Rancho Nicasio was an amazing place to have our wedding. We saw many venues in our search, and as soon as we stepped foot in Rancho, we were sold. It has pretty much THE perfect layout and combination of factors to make for a great party -- there's a grove of trees for the ceremony, an outdoor lawn for cocktails, huge area outdoors for dinner on the lawn, spacious indoor dance floor and stage fully equipped for live music right next to the main lawn, and a huge bridal cottage (actually a small house on the property) that is great for getting ready etc. The way the event flowed from place to place within the venue was easeful and just perfect. Rancho also has an in-house event coordinator/caterer Julii, and she basically took care of everything for us so we didn't have to stress about the small details. I cannot emphasize enough how much of a difference that made - the fact that the venue provides furniture/infrastructure and then Julii and her staff sets everything up for you is worth its weight in gold!! All of those elements and the staff's hard work meant that we could actually enjoy our day with a glass of champagne and not have to ask our friends and family to be setting up chairs and tables all day. Julii also has all kinds of back-up supplies and decor if you need any supplements (table cloths, decor, etc) she will take care of it. One thing I will say is that if you are the type of bride who needs everything to be exactly a certain way and you will freak out if the napkin is one inch to the right instead of left, Rancho might not be for you. That is not to say that they didn't do an amazingly beautiful job, it's more that they have this down to a science and ask you to trust them on a lot of stuff and they don't hand-hold you with details leading up to the event. They definitely came through in a major way and everything was gorgeous, so I'm glad we trusted them. And omg the FOOD - Julii and her team got everything fresh at the farmers market that week and cooked up a bounty of beautiful dishes for our wedding. For cocktail hour we had an oyster bar (!!) and local cheeses and passed hors d'oeuvres, and then the dinner was a huge spread of delicious fresh gourmet dishes. I've had many, many people tell me it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding. Overall, Rancho was fantastic and we're beyond happy that we had our wedding there. Thank you so much to the Rancho Nicasio staff for making our wedding amazing!!

Rancho Nicasio was a beautiful venue with excellent food! I had multiple people tell me it was the best wedding food they ever had! Julii and her team did an excellent job with utilizing the decorations I provided (along with some great items from Julii's collection of wedding decor) in a way better than I envisioned. With almost everything included, it was a relatively stress-free process to plan and execute a wonderful wedding day.

We had the most amazing wedding at Rancho Nicasio. From the moment we walked into the backyard, we knew it was a special spot. Max gave us a great tour, and as soon as he said "oyster station and cheese table" we were sold. The food really is incredible - having delicious local food and great drink options was a huge priority for us, and RN did not disappoint. Our friends and family are still raving about the charcuterie table and BBQ oysters, and the buffet spread was unreal. Our guests also really appreciated the late night grilled cheese and french fries. Julii and her team went above and beyond for us, my husband and I are amazed at how smoothly the day went. Julii worked with our DOC to pull off a seamless event. Without them, I truly don't know if we would have been fed - we were sad to miss oysters and cake, only to find that they saved both for us! We had an array of party favors (coasters at the table, bags of popcorn, and custom mugs) and every time we flowed to the next event, the favors moved with them so that guests had every opportunity to remember to grab them. Overall, we were looking for a laid back venue with a rustic vibe, but all of the amenities that make throwing a giant party easier - food and alcohol on site, an event coordinator, an indoor space for dancing and as a backup for inclement weather. What we got was all that and so much more. Julii took care of all the details and allowed us to focus more on the personal touches, and it was so amazing to see our vision carried out so perfectly. We highly recommend Rancho Nicasio, and would get married there again and again if we could!

We had the most wonderful wedding we could have possibly imagined at Rancho Nicasio and continue to receive compliments from our guests, many of whom have said it was the 'absolute best' wedding they'd ever been to (thanks in large part, no doubt, to our having chosen Rancho Nicasio as our venue).  The beautiful, rustic-chic setting with potential for indoor/outdoor festivities, the DELICIOUS food and the fabulous staff are some of the reasons Rancho Nicasio was the perfect venue for us.  Max, the owner, and Julii, the onsite wedding coordinator, were instrumental in executing such a wonderful experience for us and for our guests. They were also responsible for the production of much of the food (I really can't emphasize deliciousness of the food enough -- especially in such large quantities. People RAVED about it)! Julii is an expert (and so fun!) and helped us craft our vision. She accommodated and encouraged us to add special touches to make our wedding as 'us' as we hoped it could be. She and her staff went above and beyond to efficiently execute a last-minute switch-up due to unforeseen weather, which we really appreciated. Julii worked directly with our vendors to ensure everything ran seamlessly.  We recently received our photographs from the wedding and were reminded again of how lucky we were to have been able to have Rancho Nicasio as our venue. The beautiful outdoor ceremony among the trees, the picturesque cocktail hour (complete with fabulous oyster bar!) and the cool inside bar and fabulous dance floor are some the visual highlights. We will cherish these memories for the rest of our lives.

We knew Rancho Nicasio was the perfect wedding venue for us the moment we met Max and he walked us through the site 9 months before the big day. From his laid back and pragmatic approach; how he talked about the food, the day, and the couples before us; it was clear RN knew how to throw a great party with delicious food in a gorgeous setting. What we didnt know was just how great it would be. Family members have said our wedding was the best day of their lives (better than their own!), friends continue to rave about the food (go for the oyster bar!), the rustic and natural beauty of Nicasio, the speeches during sunset, the dancefloor, the staff, everything, and we couldn't have dreamt how wonderful we felt when it all came seamlessly together! Max advised us to reserve one of the few remaining August dates for our wedding, and we're so glad we did. The lighting and weather were perfect, cooling down just enough after a 3 day heatwave. We did end up ordering heat lamps through RN for dinner and the dessert deck, which our guests really appreciated. Julii was a blast to work with - she really knows her way around yummy, local food and how to please a crowd and ensure that the bride and groom are taken care of (that special oyster platter during dinner was icing on the cake!) We also ended up hiring an outside wedding planner about 6 weeks before the big day, which was exceedingly helpful finalizing all the various vendor contracts (shuttles, florals, band, RN sound tech, cake) and ensuring we didnt have to handle vendor communications the weeks leading up to and on the big day. It was also helpful to have the planner take care of delivering gratuities on the day of and orchestrate with Julii behind the scenes, so that we could dance until the last song with no responsibilities other than taking it all in and enjoying being surrounded by our favorite people. Thank you Julii, Max, Steve, and the rest of the RN team for throwing us the best party of our lives!

Rancho Nicasio was an absolute dream venue for our wedding! The aesthetic creates an incredible atmosphere of "California rustic" and the team was so awesome, flexible, accommodating, no-nonsense, and on top of things. There is no bureaucracy or jumping through hoops or senseless rules at Rancho Nicasio -- everyone is on the same team and works hard to pull off a seamless event. Staff is friendly, they do all the set-up and clean-up, and the food is so fresh and so good!! The price is extremely reasonable for a California wedding, and we had 250+ guests pulled off without a hitch!

Rancho Nicasio is the perfect place to have your wedding and made ours so very special. The venue itself is perfectly set up with beautiful views during the wedding and dinner and great dance room and bar to follow. Majority, if not all of our guests and us included, believe it was the best food we have ever had at a wedding. The food was truly remarkable prepared by Julii and staff. The oysters, mini hamburgers and charcuterie board were a huge hit. The salmon, prime rib (Max the owner working the pit), and grilled vegetables were cooked to perfection with amazing sauces. The staff was more than attentive and constantly there to take care of our needs. We were actually shocked how many employees were there checking in on us and our guests. We took photos for part of cocktail hour and were not able to visit the appetizer table but when we sat down for dinner the staff brought us a bit of each appetizer and made sure we were served dinner and drinks. We hired a 6 week planner to help take the burden off us which is not necessarily needed because Julii does an amazing job but she worked great with our planner. We could not have asked for anything more and Rancho Nicasio went above and beyond our expectations.

Rancho Nicasio did such an amazing job. They helped us develop a great menu, and the food was amazing. We had multiple guests tell us it was the best meal they had ever had at a wedding! Rancho was also super accommodating, letting us drop items off the day before, pick up items the day after, and worked with us to come up with appropriate seating arrangements and a timeline for the day. We are so glad we had our wedding at Rancho Nicasio, it was so beautiful and seamless!

Everything about this event was amazing! The wedding was magical. Max an Julie were fantastic and so helpful as was all the staff at Rancho Nicasio. My son and his wife had over 200 guests and everyone said they had a great time! I would highly recommend this venue.

Our wedding was more than we could have asked for. The whole experience was extremely stress free and I felt incredibly taking care of the whole time. Starting the planning for someone like me was nerve-wracking because I am quite the low key person. Julii made everything perfect. She brought all my ideas to life, and even better than what I thought it would be. She worked with all of our vendors and everything went perfectly without a flaw. The food was an incredible highlight of the high. We still get compliments from our guests. I cannot say enough about how amazing everything was. Look no further, this is the place.

My husband and I were married at Rancho Nicasio a year ago and people are still talking about it being the perfect wedding wedding! From our first experience with Julie and Max I knew we were in good hands. They are professional, knowledgeable and so very kind. (Their team is wonderful as well) From assisting with the set up, menu etc for the venue, to providing ideas for outside vendors i.e. hair and makeup, florists etc... they were amazing! I 100% would recommend Rancho Nicasio as the best venue to get married at!

We had a fantastic experience with Rancho Nicasio. We were looking for a beautiful, relatively outdoorsy venue that was mostly all-inclusive, and we found that at Rancho. The venue was gorgeous, the staff accommodated our schedule in months and days before the wedding, and the food was outstanding. The staff offered us a lot of "extras" -- help with extra decorations, a super convenient place for the bridal party to get ready, and even babysitters for our guests with kids. The vibe was relaxed the whole time, so if you're looking for a stress-free, casual-yet-professional experience, choose Rancho.

We had the best wedding at Rancho Nicasio. The outdoor location is so beautiful and the food is top notch. The oyster bar was big hit with our guests! The staff was super friendly and the night ran smoothly. My champagne flute was never empty! Julii was amazing ensured everything was taken of. She kept me relaxed at a very stressful time. I didn't have to worry about a thing!

Our wedding at Rancho Nicasio was absolutely perfect; from the beautiful backdrop of the rolling hills to the delicious food (guests raved about it!) we couldn't have asked for a more perfect place. The staff, especially Julli and Max were great for helping with all of the details. They are well-organized and know what they are doing. We can't wait to come back for dinner on our anniversary!

I have to say we had the wedding of our dreams and a large part was due to Rancho. Having so much done in house from the food to the furniture cut down on a lot of headaches for us. The food was fantastic. Most of it was locally sourced and we received compliments on it from just about every guest. The staff was on top of things and never needed direction or reminders on the big day. We got married in the grove out back and started eating and dancing directly afterwards. Use the field for photos and you have a one-stop shop. There are many factors in having a perfect wedding but choosing Rancho eliminated a lot of things that could have gone wrong. It's been 3 months since our wedding and I literally had another compliment about how great it was about 3 days ago. Hope this helps you make you choice and your day was as good as ours was!

We loved having our wedding at Rancho Nicasio and our guests did too! Everyone has raved about the food since the wedding, the fantastic oyster bar was definitely a favorite! Julii did a wonderful job helping to create our wedding vision at Rancho. We are very grateful to her and her team!

I can’t recommend Rancho Nicasio and the good people there enough. A special thanks to Julii and Max. Our wedding was early July and we had the ceremony and dinner outside, then dancing inside. Julii was fantastic at coordinating everything and taking care of ALL the details. We had one brief meeting with her to give a general feel for what we were looking for and then just trusted her judgement to figure everything out, and she nailed it! For example, we had no idea what the menu was going to be until it was served, since she just “got whatever looked good at the local farmer’s market,” and it got rave reviews from our guests. Kind of last minute, I came to Julii asking what we could do with all the kids. No problem, she found some babysitters, set them up in the bridal cottage, and all the kids and parents had a blast. The venue has an elegant, rural, casual atmosphere, yet the staff working behind the scenes are highly regimented and professional. The surrounding scenery is beautifully pastoral, so much so that we had to tear our photographer away from shooting. The outdoor area was very convenient and conducive to mingling and eating after the ceremony, then the indoor space was perfect for a packed raucous dance floor. If you do decide to have your wedding here, I would recommend trusting their judgement and letting them make recommendations for you. They’re good at it and it makes it less stressful for you. Obviously you don’t get to compare and review a lot of wedding venues, but we had high expectations and Rancho far exceeded them!

Category: Ceremony & Reception Venue 5.0 We were married on 7/28/18 at St. Mary's Church and had our reception to follow at Rancho Nicasio (RN). As we are in our late 50s, we did not want a formal wedding or most of the usual rituals. We had 70 guests, many who came a long way as my husband is from France. From the first time we set eyes on St. Mary's, we knew this was where we wanted to get married. Neither of us are Catholic or even religious in any way but it is such an adorable little church in a completely bucolic valley. From the first, everyone at RN were accessible, responsive and most of all, professional in a way that was not at all stuffy. They obviously have done this so many times and have a very relaxed confidence that put us at ease from the start. Julii Ashby, the caterer that works with RN is a hoot and a fantastic caterer. She knows her stuff! All our guests raved about the food. Their recommendation for a band (Dee and Mixx Company) was right on! Our guests danced all night! We did hire a Bauer bus from San Francisco as I didn't want my guests driving back home after a great party on the dark and winding road back to Terra Linda. Anyway, everyone said it was the best wedding that they have ever been to and I agree! It was perfect in every way, which is amazing as it was so stress-free. Max, Julii, all of you at RN are the best!!

Where do I start? My husband and I chose Rancho because we wanted to have a fun, unpretentious yet beautiful outdoor wedding where people could enjoy amazing food, drinks and dance the night away to great music, and that is exactly what we got. The location is Marin countryside at it's best, St Marys church just down the street, the small town square, the flowers on site were blooming and rolling golden fields stretch out for miles to provide a beautiful backdrop. Amidst the natural beauty Rancho adds the laid back rustic wagon wheel type charm and then our wedding flowers brought the elegance. The thing that makes this venue so incredible is the farm fresh food that the caterer/coordinator Julii masterminds. Our guests are still commenting on how great the food was, which is incredible when you think about making food for 140 guests. Based on previous reviews we read that she had the magic touch so we had high expectations and it ended up being even better than what we had expected! Not quite sure how she manages it all but Julii also ensured that everything, beyond the food, went off according to plan - including helping us with rentals (she has the hookup with all the local vendors!) and stepping in in a BIG way when our shuttle plans fell completely apart. I only saw her once during the night - but she was like a stealth ninja ensuring it all came together just like we wanted. Highly recommend!

Rancho Nicasio is the ultimate northern California wedding venue. The food was INCREDIBLE. Our guests could not stop talking about it for weeks after. Local, organic, beautiful, and so delicious. The service was also more than we could've asked for. Julie has impeccable taste. She is creative and thoughtful and made our wedding look amazing. Max is great at food planning and logistics. We are so happy we chose to have our day here. Check out the blog for photos of food and venue: http://annedaivablog.com/stephen-isabel-nicasio-ca/

Everyone at Rancho was amazing! We got engaged at Christmas and needed to plan a wedding asap in half the time you normally would so we were looking for a venue that would do it all and not break the bank but feel like it did to all of our guests. We love Marin Point Reyes Tomales area but there is a slim selection of venues. Especially venues who will fit a big group AND are setup for Live music and don’t shut down until 10:30! I’m possible they are the only ones. After working in the wedding industry in the Bay Area for a few years this was the only venue I looked at and was sold. They do it ALL. Local farm fresh food, drinks, linens, cutlery, chairs, ceremony, servers, even a sound tech! All you have to find is flowers, music, cake, and a photographer and you are set. So easy and after all is said and done it was all so easy and every single thing was elegantly taken care of I had nothing to worry about and not a single person at the venue stressed me out and made me worry about any detail. Staff was amazing, food was amazing local oyster and cheese, passed apps, tri tip fresh salmon fresh local vegetables and so much more. Everyone was in heaven. The location is so gorgeous in the beautiful valley with the sun setting on the rolling hills everything was a dream. I would recommended this hidden Marin gem to anyone who asked

Rancho Nicasio offered everything we ever wanted in a venue: fantastic food, experience with large parties, great drinks, gorgeous surroundings and up-front pricing and no surprise fees. When we went to visit the location, we were instantly charmed by the rolling golden hills and the no frills attitude of the staff. Max and Julii offered everything we wanted: a chill vibe, delicious food sourced locally, made on site, catering to Rancho’s strengths including the grill, and a raw bar, great options for an open bar, a nice wine selection and multiple spaces for the different parts of the wedding. We hired all local vendors in Marin county: cake, flowers, day-of coordinator, invitations, table-settings printouts, buses, etc. so we had this truly local experience and everyone worked great together. Our ceremony was in the redwood grove and it was beautiful, with the golden hills serving as the backdrop. The cocktail hour offered an awesome selection for local cheeses and meats, in-season passed hors d’oeuvres, and raw oysters. Dinner was on the beautiful lawn. It was so awesome that all we had to take care of were the flowers. Julii had her staff take care of the rest: table cloths, place settings, etc. She was also super helpful in implementing our ideas about the seating charts, etc. We did a buffet dinner with grilled meats and fish, as well as tons of salads. Our guests still talk about the food, saying it’s the best food they had ever eaten at a wedding. We had lots of vegetarian options as well, so all our guests were happy and ready to hit the dance floor. People went for seconds and thirds and we still brought leftovers home with us. We hired a full band (Lucky Devils, highly recommend!!!). RN offered such a great setup for the musicians. We hired RN’s sound engineer to make sure the music sounded great on their equipment, and it was very affordable, not some absurd sum. During cocktail hour, LD’s played outside on the brick stage in the shade, and for the reception, they moved onto the stage inside and created a full concert vibe. It was truly awesome. We danced non-stop for many hours, and then stayed an extra hour past our allotted time for a previously-disclosed reasonable rate. Cake and desserts were served on the beautifully appointed deck, with lights and the seamlessly-moved flowers serving as the decorations, along with the little cake toppers and table runner we brought ourselves. Finally, there was another convenient factor: the cottage at the back of the property was so great. We and our wedding party were able to come a few hours before the festivities and take photos in Nicasio and rest in the cottage. This was great for the grandparents and anyone that needed a break from marathon photo shoots. Don’t forget to bring some food and drinks to the cottage for the pre-wedding hours so you have energy for the whole day. We used the cottage throughout the wedding too, just to sit down and breathe and take in the event for a few minutes. We had an early bus and two late buses taking guests back to the hotel in San Rafael, thankfully RN had enough space to park for both buses and cars for those people that chose to drive in. I couldn’t recommend RN more! It had everything we wanted and needed: beautiful, delicious and super experienced. Just choose your package and trust them with the food and the booze so you could take care of the other stuff, like flowers, cake, transportation, music, and having fun.

The staff at Rancho Nicasio will make sure your wedding day is exactly what you hope it is, whatever that may be. In working with Julie, their wedding planner, my wife and I felt that she has the unique ability to not only hear what you are looking for in terms of decorations, organization, etc, but she is proficient at reading personalities and tailoring the feel of the night exactly to the needs of the families involved. There is NOT A SINGLE THING we could change about our wedding day, it was simply flawless. Not to mention, it was about 95 degrees on our wedding day and despite, the staff at Nicasio had no problem keeping every guest at the wedding comfortable and having a good time. There was zero stress on our wedding day because of how good their staff is, and we will be eternally grateful for that. Another thing we were also blown away by is the quality of the food. Wedding food sucks, most people know that, but the food that the kitchen at Nicasio put together for our dinner and desert was out of this world, you won't find a better meal. The ingredients were fresh, selected by Julie, Nicasio's wedding planner herself at local farmers markets and everything was prepared right on time, nothing sat before being served and everyone went home with at least one box of left overs (everyone was full from the incredible oyster bar and hors d'oeuvres hosted during the cocktail hour). The staff at Nicasio are real, down to earth, honest, caring, and hard working people who truly enjoy making this celebration a special day that will always be cherished and remembered. We had people as much as 80, 90 years old at our wedding and they truthfully said that in all their years, they have not seen or been to a better wedding. Others said they felt like they had just been to a wedding right out of a movie. The venue, the people, the food, and the entire package the Nicasio is so precisely and skillfully able to piece together for each couple makes Rancho a heaven on earth for the perfect wedding. We wish we could relive that day every weekend, words simply can't describe how perfect the folks at Nicasio made our wedding.

We got married at Rancho Nicasio in the Fall of 2015 and had a great experience. The outside area was perfect for the ceremony and dining and the bar and main room were great for drinking and dancing. The owners and staff were easy to work with and planning was made much easier having everything under one roof. We especially enjoyed working with Julii on the food and logistics. She's very experienced, her food is great and she has an all-around good vibe.

I can't say enough wonderful things about our wedding and reception at Rancho Nicasio. The picturesque scenery and giant redwoods made the perfect place for our outdoor ceremony. The staff was kind and professional. All our guests raved about the food. With the help of the staff and management we were able to plan a beautiful and elegant event. I loved the personal touches from the unique table assignment display to the perfectly placed flowers on the passed appetizer plates ( side note: the staff made sure that my husband I were served all the appetizers that were passed :) ) The surrounding landscape created a beautiful backdrop for many wonderful picture opportunities. If you are planning a small intimate event or a wedding for the masses I can't recommend a better venue then Rancho Nicasio!

We had an absolutely wonderful experience. Julii was intuitive and a pleasure to work with. Our day was better than we could have dreamed, seriously. The decor was as we had hoped, the food is still be talked about a year later. They did all they could to make our dreams come to fruition. The staff was top notch, personable, friendly, attentive, accommodating, understanding and without them, the day would not have been as special. Our guests have visited Rancho Nicasio since the wedding, and if those who worked our wedding are there, they engage and reminisce about how fun that day was. If you're considering Rancho Nicasio, I can't encourage you enough. If "Shabby Chic" is your thang, this is the spot, no question. You'll be in the most capable hands, in Julii. Her and the rest of management and staff have been doing this for decades and have worked with a good deal of local merchants and vendors. I've been enjoying the memories this review has stirred. What a day and what a place.

Rancho Nicasio was the perfect spot for our wedding! Julii has such a creative vision and was a tremendous help in giving us the wedding of our dreams. People told us to get wedding planners, but there's no need when you have Julii! She has a tremendous amount of positive and creative energy. She took the time to get to know us and understand who we are as a couple. She has a wonderful eye for detail. Max and Steve, the sound guy, were also extremely helpful along the way. We forgot to arrange music for early on in the reception, and Steve was able to put something together for us at the last minute. Steve was also great with making sure our first song was done flawlessly. The food was incredible. Every guest raved about it. And we loved the oyster bar. The place was decorated beautifully and the rustic, western feel was the perfect atmosphere for a party. Thank you Rancho Nicasio for the best night our lives!

Our wedding at Rancho was October 1st 2016. The staff at Rancho know what they are doing. They are experts! I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw the attention to detail they put into everything. Not only the decorations but the service. Everything they said they would do, they did and more. If you want a fun, laid back wedding, where almost everything is taken care of. Rancho is your spot. Julii has been doing this for over 20 years and she is an expert!

Rancho Nicasio was a wonderful wedding venue. My husband and I were living abroad at the time we got married so having the venue, catering, bar, and staff all contained in one place made the wedding planning process very manageable. We particularly liked the fact that we were able to have an outdoor wedding but that we were able to move inside in the evening for dancing later on. Rancho is the perfect venue for a rustic, California style wedding and the advantage of being in Marin is that the weather is fantastic all summer long. Max was responsive and easy to work with and Julii recommended an excellent florist, and also guided us on the various floral arrangements, place settings and menu selections. She also coordinated timings with all of the various vendors on the day of the wedding and the entire day went off without a hitch! In particular, many of our guests commented on the fantastic food and the beautiful setting. One tip: If you choose this venue, I would highly recommend sourcing string lights and some other small decorative items to spruce up the indoor portion of the venue. We did this and it made all the difference.

My husband and I were married at Rancho Nicasio in July. We loved it from start to finish! Not only was the outdoor setting simply stunning but the staff was efficient, kind, accommodating and very pleasant to work with from start to finish. The all inclusive package made planning much easier and it was definitely cost efficient in the end. Many of my guests raved that it was the best wedding they had ever been to! I highly recommend Rancho Nicasio if you are looking for a rustic outdoor venue with beautiful fresh food and a laid back vibe.

My husband and I could not be happier with our choice of wedding venue. Rancho Nicasio was everything we hoped for. We chose it for the outdoor space, including the outdoor grill, bar and ceremony space, and we were blown away by the staff's attention to detail, by the caterer Julii's patience with my many requests, and Max's skills on the grill. We continue to get rave reviews from our guests about the food and the venue! Our number one goal was for our guests to have a fantastic experience, and Rancho certainly delivered.

We had our rehearsal dinner and wedding at Rancho Nicasio. It's such a beautiful location, and it was so easy working with Max Brown and Julii Ashby. My husband and I went to several venues all over the Bay Area when we were trying to decide where to have our wedding. When we met Max at Rancho, we knew that was where we wanted to have our special day. Max is so easy going and made the whole process stress free. The outdoor space at Rancho Nicasio is breathtaking, and we loved how we had access to both the outdoor and indoor areas. I would highly recommend this venue to other couples as it was almost all inclusive and accommodated our 146 guests!

Everything and more! I don't know about you, but the absolute most stresssful and frustrating part of planning our wedding was the cost of the venues, especially if you want something outdoor and rustic but still classy and beautiful. We were so fortunate to have attended a wedding at Rancho Nicasio the year prior to our engagement that when our search began we called to inquire about pricing. Max was quick to respond and go over all the details. We even booked our date before even meeting him! Perhaps one of the best parts was that he allowed my husband to bring in his wine, as he is a local winemaker! Having a venue, caterer and open bar as one inclusive cost took a lot of the added pressure off us. Once things are squared away with Max, Julii will take over all the nitty gritty "girlie" details. Julii is amazing and not only will she come up with a menu that is to die for, she will also provide the staffing for the day of your wedding and help set-up! Not just food set-up, but like event planner set-up! No day of coordinator necessary, save your money and just be organized. Oh, and she also has a cute chalkboard sign that she will customize on your special day, and lots of white porcelain china to make a dessert table "pop"! One of the beautiful things about Rancho Nicasio is the venue is what you make of it. It has a rustic charm and simple laid back feel to it, but you can easily class it up and make it your own. The dance floor is huge (even with 200 guests) and we loved that there was plenty of seating near the dance floor for those who wanted to take a break. The overall flow of the entire place for a wedding is just amazing! There really is somewhere for everyone. And that bar! AH-MAZING for a wedding! Some constructive criticism: 1. No tastings prior to the event. Thankfully we already knew just how amazing Julii's food was. We got several compliments after our wedding that it was "the best wedding food they've ever had"! 2. Though tables, chairs, glassware, china, flatware etc. were "all inclusive", be careful. All upgrades (including standard white linens that go to the floor) will be an added cost. We ended up renting vineyard tables for the head table, upgrading to x-back chairs, renting standard white linens that went to the floor, adding specialty water goblets and so forth for 200 guests which tagged on another $3k. 3. If you're doing a specialty cocktail make sure to stress that they have enough for the entire evening. We offered to bring in handles of alcohol for those drinks but Max insisted they could handle it. Turns out, they ran out of Seagram's Seven for my 7&7 drink fairly early in the evening (like during dinner). That was a bit disappointing as we knew our guests well and knew what they would like. Overall, very minor things to watch out for. Our guests had a blast and are still talking about our wedding almost 4 months later! Also, an open style photo booth works very well outside where he black shade pulls down! The DJ had guests get up by table and compete with other guests for who had the best photos. Let me tell you, they were hilarious! Also, if you're dining outside and dancing inside...make sure you tell your DJ so they have an additional sound system set up outside for cocktails/dinner. You won't regret finding and booking this hidden gem!

Rancho Nicasio was the perfect place for our wedding. It is in a beautiful, natural setting, and the outdoor space is just the right size for a wedding party. The venue lends itself to less stuffy (but still very nice) weddings, and they are very accommodating with creating just the right ambiance and amenities you want. The biggest surprise was just how great their catering was. All of our guests commented on how good the food was and how well it was presented. The planning meetings and details of the menu selection were frequently a little sketchy and frustrating. But we were pleasantly surprised with how well it translated to a really great experience. The availability of the indoor dance venue after the ceremony was a great asset and makes having the entire event at one location seamless. We loved it and would definitely choose Rancho Nicasio again if we had it to do over.

This country rustic setting proved to be perfect for my wedding. I was told by many guests that I set the bar high. Julii makes all the difference and trust me when I say you can defer most all decisions to her. When you choose Rancho for a wedding, Julii will be in charge of all the catering and lots of decorating. She will help you pick specialty drinks, come up with a killer menu (many people told us it was the best wedding food that had ever had), and she will even loan you things from her own personal decoration collection. In all fairness however, I hired my own floral/design professional (7petal design, http://7petalsfloraldesign.blogspot.com/?m=1), which made a dramatic difference. Important to know though that Julii worked hand in hand with my designers to make everything I wanted come true. The venue needs to upgrade flatware, glassware and linens, and their level one alcohol is not a true level one, it's a minis level one. That weakness creates a fairly substantial out of pocket expense above the cost of venue. If the venue made those changes, it would be five stars. However, overall, I would absolutely recommend having your wedding at this facility.

My husband and I got married at Rancho Nicasio in June. We could not be happier with how everything went and are so glad we chose Rancho Nicasio. They make the planning effortless by taking care of what you would not like to think about (trust Julii - she is a pro, take her advice) but they also are extremely flexible if you have ideas of your own. The food was fantastic, scenery gorgeous and weather perfect. Our photos turned out incredible. The staff was so accommodating and we have received countless compliments from our guests. If you want an easy to plan, worry free, fun and beautiful wedding Rancho is the place!

We had our ceremony and reception here. The space itself worked out great for having everything all in one place. It helped that my wedding planner is an AMAZING decorator because she really added and transformed a lot of the space to make it more beautiful and elegant. The food was great, I got nothing but rave reviews from all of my guests about how good everything tasted. And I think the in-house caterer Julii went above and beyond the call of duty. I major complaint is the business side of it. They have an all inclusive fee but a rather vague contract so that our bill ended up being almost $6,000 more then we were originally thinking. My wedding planner found the location very difficult to communicate with and get clear answers out of. At the end of the day I know weddings are often more expensive then planned. Our day itself was beautiful and all our guest were very happy. I wouldn't change it, even with the added cost. I'd just say to future bride and grooms to request a better contract.

Beautiful venue,excellent food and awesome people. We got married out back under the redwoods - romantic, georgeous and lovely. It was chilly so we ate inside. It couldn't have been prettier. Warm candle light, intimate seating and lots of fun. The food was amazing. Max, Jim, Jane and everyone else did all they could to make guests comfortable. Special recognition is due to Julii, the caterer. She's kind, funny and thoughtful, but above all an expert. Everything she recommended we did and it was wonderful. We cannot recommend Rancho Nicasio highly enough.

This was actually easy wedding planning and I had so much fun at the wedding. Here's the stuff I think best recommend the venue (i.e., what I wish I knew when I was shopping venues): 1. The food, the food, the food. It is HARD to do bulk food well but Julii was undaunted. A couple weeks before the wedding she called to say she was worried the local tomato salad was redundant with our tomato/basil crustini appetizer and asked if she could replace the appetizer with homemade ricotta crustini. I continue to get complements months later. 2. Almost everything included. There is so much to think of when planning and the fact that plates/flatware/tableclothes/food/booze/ceremony set up/A PLANNER all come wrapped up in one was a God-send. Compared to other friends, my planning was a breeze. Also, contrary to what I thought going into this and based on conversations with other friends, I think it's easier to control costs if everything is included - I certainly ended up without all the "surprise" charges people get. 3. The venue. To me, this place captures the natural beauty of Northern California - rolling hills, the dramatic drive through tall tall trees. Decorating was easy. The indoor/outdoor aspect was great as well. Also - I had not predicted how cool it would be to have "dance space" and "bar space." People really enjoyed that aspect after dinner was over. 4. The people. Julii (the planner/chef) is a can-do magician - as creative as can be and perfectly practical. Max (the owner) is upfront (no extra fee for cake cutting, higher thread-count tablecloths or whatever weddings will charge you for) and very easy to work with. And I think his attitude trickles down to all the staff. Could not recommend highly enough!

Our daughter was married in August 2014 at Rancho Nicasio and everything exceeded our expectations. Max was wonderful to deal with - very personable, honest and helpful. Julii, the planner, was also phenomenal. She really knew what she was doing and made sure things ran smoothly. I can't even count how many people told us during the reception and in the months since then how wonderful they thought the venue and food were. It was truly the best food I've ever had at a wedding - fresh, local and beautifully presented. The wedding was so much fun that we actually had a hard time getting people to leave! Thank you Max, Julii and the rest of the staff for making our daughter's wedding so amazing!

My husband grew up playing Little League on the baseball diamond outside of Rancho Nicasio, so when we were searching for a wedding venue, it seemed like the perfect place. We couldn't have been more right. From the moment we toured the property (we had both been to the bar many, many times, but had never been to a wedding there and I had never even seen the backyard area), Max and Julii took excellent care of us. We became part of the Rancho family. At our reception, Max grilled the food in their outdoor kitchen, chatting up our guests while he was doing so, and it was incredible -- we are still hearing about how good everything was! And the on-site wedding coordinator, Julii, never failed to answer our endless questions and went out of her way to make sure our day was smooth and perfect. We couldn't be happier with how everything turned out, and the venue is absolutely beautiful. At capacity, Rancho can hold several hundred people, but it still feels intimate and family-oriented, the way a small-town wedding should.

After searching for several months for a venue that would allow us to have over 150 people attend our wedding, a live band as well as great food and drink, we were lucky to find Rancho Nicasio. Not only was the venue flexible in terms of allowing us to decorate but the food was amazing and abundant. They did a great job moving the buffet lines along so that everyone was fed in a timely and generous manner. The only drawback to the location is just that the location. Unfortunately, there aren't hotels that are close that can accommodate the number of people that this venue allows you to have. However, we were able to hire a bus that allowed us to transport people without risk of anyone getting a DD or harmed in an accident after consuming alcohol at the wedding. They venue is great for music lovers, people who want an outdoor venue that is somewhat secluded, great service and tasty tasty food!

Personal, welcoming, great food, outstanding views, country atmosphere. We loved Julii's friendly planning and attitude, and her food. Max's BBQ was perfectly cooked and served. The staff was always one or two steps ahead of us, which made us relax and truly enjoy the day. Nothing went even slightly amiss, and we felt that Julii and Max became friends.

Rancho Nicasio was an amazing, beautiful venue for our wedding; and the staff, to a person, were wonderful to work with. Rancho Nicasio offers a great combination of indoor and outdoor spaces. We had our ceremony in the large backyard of the restaurant. The Chuppah was framed by beautiful mature Redwood trees, and the reception and dinner (seating 150) fit comfortably on the expansive grass lawn. Our aesthetic was casual, natural and elegant, and this venue was all of that. After dinner we shifted inside for dancing in a room made magical by a hundred small candles; and later to a side deck, again festively lit for the cake cutting. The wedding managers at Rancho are amazing. Julii Ashby is the caterer/event consultant/day of leader...and an all around anchor to the wedding experience at Rancho. I loved working with her! She is professional, easy going and just quirky enough to make the process fun. Our food was fabulous, our guests could not say enough about how yummy it was! Max also was a pleasure to work with. He is the guy in charge of scheduling the venue and grilling on the wedding day (we had grille oysters and flank steak). The staff did a great job on the day of our wedding with set up and service. Somehow (invisible to me) they moved us seamlessly from one phase of the evening to the next. I didn't think for a moment about logistics. My husband and I highly recommend Rancho Nicasio as a place to celebrate a wedding! In fact, invite your friends to stay in the area for the weekend (we did) and extend the fun in beautiful Marin. We wouldn't change a thing about our wedding at Rancho Nicasio, even if we could!

My husband and I live in San Francisco. When wedding planning, we looked at several venues in the city, wine country, and farther north. When we visited Rancho Nicasio, we knew we found a gem. The venue is charming, the surrounding land is gorgeous, Max and Julii are very welcoming, and we liked that so many services (food, drinks, catering) were included in the package. The price felt like a good deal compared to other places we looked at. Rancho Nicasio has a comfortable, laid back vibe. It has just the right amount of Northern California vibes (wagon wheel chandelier, moose on the wall), while still feeling sophisticated, not campy. Incredibly scenic, too! Rolling hills, tall grasses, and an adorable old wooden church surround the venue. Julii helps you plan the menu (food was excellent!) and figure out all of the details, but she's not a wedding planner per se. As I saw in another review, go with the flow and it'll be a wonderful time. Overall, I'm a very happy bride. The day and night were so incredible and special!

My husband and I could not have been more pleased with our wedding at Rancho Nicasio. Julii, their wedding coordinator is passionate, seasoned, and down-to-earth. We ended up ordering our flowers online and she and her team did the arrangements which came about beautifully. The guests raved about the food - which was EXCELLENT!!! We live in Brooklyn, NY so had to plan the wedding over the phone and via e-mails and that went very smoothly. We opted to rent the cottage on the property, which was the perfect home base for the bridal party. Thank you Rancho and Julii for an unforgettable, gorgeous day.

My husband and I were over the moon with our experience at Rancho Nicasio. The venue is set in the rolling hills of West Marin County. From venue to surroundings, it's rustic and has character - your photographer will be pleased. The staff are wonderful. Julie, the caterer/event planner, created a fresh, healthful, tasty menu - several people shared it was the best wedding food they'd experienced. I found her to be immensely helpful, full of creative ideas, and supportive. Max, the manager, found a way to work within our somewhat limited budget, which we really appreciated. He was also skilled on the grill during our reception. On the day of, we had access to a spacious, on-site cottage, which my bridesmaids and I got ready in (very convenient). Overall, warm, friendly staff and a beautiful setting. Honestly, the day was beyond what we envisioned. We wouldn't change a thing.

The place is beautiful. The food and waitstaff were awesome. Everything was just as we had planned. Could not have asked for a better day!!!