When Amy Morris
talks about the Sheraton Sonoma County–Petaluma hotel, she turns poetic:
“Amber-colored chandeliers and a sophisticated palette of copper, yellows and subdued whites create a memorable space,” she says.
Her passion is natural, considering that she is the catering sales manager for the Wine Country property, and part of her job is building dreams for wedding couples in resort ballrooms. The space she describes above is the main wedding reception site, the Great Blue Heron Ballroom.
In Sonoma County, many people may think of outdoor weddings, such as in vineyards. Yet picturesque landscapes may not always be suitable for receptions, more formal gatherings, evening events or in inclement weather. That’s when a ballroom is invaluable.
A first-class, modern ballroom is so much more than the stark corporate meeting spaces of older days and, as Morris describes, is thoughtfully and artistically designed.
The luxury experience should start with the entry, she notes, as it is with the Sheraton Sonoma County–Petaluma, a posh property located at the gateway to the Wine Country amid an artful complex of buildings along the grassy banks of the Petaluma River. When guests arrive, the upscale experience begins as soon as they step through the front doors, with a grand fireplace and sweeping staircase.
While many people think of ballrooms as being for large groups, interior event space can be entirely intimate, as well. The Sheraton’s second floor area, called the Snowy Egret Room, gracefully accommodates more intimate receptions, rehearsal dinners and the actual ceremonies, says Morris. Accessed via the glass staircase, it has a full wall of windows and an adjoining balcony that overlooks the marina.
Another benefit of resort ballrooms for wedding parties is the easy “commute” back to the honeymoon suite. Newlyweds frequently reserve the two-story Loft Suite, says Nelson. In addition to fabulous views of the marina and Petaluma wetlands through double-high floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s outfitted with its own bar, two marble-appointed bathrooms, a Jacuzzi, and a state-of-the-art entertainment center.
Modern ballroom dining is anything but boring banquets, either.
“This Sheraton derives another benefit from its enviable Wine Country location,” Morris says. “There is a cornucopia of locally grown foods whose quality has been compared to that of Provence, France.”
That means the freshest regional ingredients are incorporated into all wedding meals, from showers and rehearsal dinners to receptions and post-wedding farewell breakfasts.
For this, the poetry is simple: “mouthwatering.”
Details: Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma, 745 Baywood Drive, Petaluma, (707) 283-2888, sheraton.com/petaluma.
