Rio Nido is a small historic town along the Russian River in Sonoma County California, full of charm and nested in the beautiful redwoods. The ceremony will be held in an outdoor redwood grove, dinner will be hosted in an outdoor area with a gravel floor, and the dancing and afterparty will be hosted in the Rio Nido Lodge hall indoors. All areas are adjacent to each other on the same property. An outdoor smoking area is available. There are limited options for food and drink in town, but lucky for us our friends at Rio Nido Lodge have a wonderful restaurant and bar to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Saints of Circumstance, beloved Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia tribute band from the Sierra Foothills will be playing 3 hours of funky jam wizardry to boogie to after dinner. Music will be hosted in the historic hall, the bar will be open for you to enjoy the cocktails, mocktails, beers and wines offered. There is an outdoor smoking section with a fire pit, giant jenga, and seating.
Please endeavor to RSVP for the Ceremony & Dinner by March 31st. There is limited space, though late RSVPs who would still like to join will likely still be able to join us for the Band and later celebration from 6:30pm onward regardless of when they respond. Please try to set up accommodations promptly as space may fill up fast.
Rio Nido itself is walkable, you can enjoy the Russian River through a small tunnel under the highway which accesses a few beaches and boat launch areas, walk to a minigolf course, the dogpark, or multiple trails. Next door to our venue is the community pool, and the Rio Nido Roadhouse which hosts outdoor live music and a pub. The Rio Nido Lodge has a restaurant serving food all day, drinks, and includes a small market and store, lounge area, and pool table, in addition to the rooms and cabins on the property. In neighboring Guerneville there are multiple breweries, tasting rooms, restaurants, river beaches, boat rentals, and many wineries to explore. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is a 10 minute drive away and has many trails and picnic areas in its 800 acres of woods, including some redwoods over 300’ tall. If you’re joining us from out of town we recommend making time to explore this beautiful area while you’re here! You can reach the Pacific coast by driving west about 30 minutes along highway 116 to the town of Jenner where there are many beaches, cafes, restaurants, and hikes.
You are welcome to come early and enjoy this wonderful area before Saturday. The Wedding Party will be focused on the Rehearsal Dinner on Friday evening, but there will be a Sunday Brunch on 6/14 for those who would like to join us. Brunch and champagne may be purchased at the Lodge, to get a headcount please let us know if you intend to join (we would like to avoid surprising the kitchen with 60 hungover hippies without warning.)
Dress up however makes you feel good! The California redwoods and Russian River area has wonderful weather, days in June are generally warm, but evenings can be cool. Historical average temperatures are in the high 70s to low 80s during the day and 50° - 55° at night so if you plan on staying late bring an extra layer. The ceremony will take place outdoors in a forested area with a soft earth floor and relatively flat footing. Music and dancing later will be hosted indoors within the Rio Nido Lodge Hall. Having you with us is more important than what you're wearing. Have fun, express yourself, this is not a rigidly formal event. Rainbows, sparkles, and bright colours welcome. We’ll be dancing the night away so wear comfortable shoes - or go barefoot, your call.
There is limited space at the rooms at the Lodge which has mainly been reserved for the Wedding Party, but more options within Rio Nido and the neighboring town of Guerneville can be found on the Travel & Accommodations Page. Our hosts at the Rio Nido Lodge also operate multiple housing rentals within walking distance of the venue and in Rio Nido as well as in Guerneville. We recommend reaching out to them first for help finding the best option.
The venue has a dedicated gravel parking area adjacent to the property. There will be signs directing you to park. Overflow parking will be carefully managed if needed. If parking in the gravel lot does fill up, please be courteous of the folks living in town, do not park in their driveways, park anyone in, block roads, or park anywhere where signs disallow it. We recommend carpooling whenever you can.
The Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa is about 20 miles away from Rio Nido. If you are flying in from outside of California your airport will likely be San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Oakland International (OAK), both of which are approximately 58-70 miles away. If you are traveling solo or are interested in coordinating with other guests to carpool from an airport, reach out to Emily and we’ll try to connect you with other guests for possible ridesharing options.
If you would like to bring your children and they are not included in your invitation, please be sure to reach out so we can plan. We would like everyone to enjoy a stress free weekend of celebration without chasing rebellious toddlers, but understand a solo mission isn’t in the cards for all the parents. We will have a small children's area with activities, and the property has lots of room to roam and explore. Rio Nido has a community pool, mini golf, river beaches and many opportunities for family activities.
Invitations include prediscussed plus ones. If yours did not and you would like to bring along a guest, please be respectful and reach out to ask first. Depending on the total guest count, we may be able to accommodate you. We do have a maximum head count for the space and need to be aware of how many guests are attending, along with their needs and how to prepare for them.
Woof - Casey Jones and Guapo will be there to celebrate! Though the venue is dog friendly, we do ask that you keep your furry friends at home unless you have discussed it with us and we have approved it with the venue. We adore animals but it will be a busy weekend and could easily be overwhelming for them.
If you would like to, we always welcome thoughtful gifts. However, your presence is the best gift we can ask for! We understand weddings and travel can be expensive, enjoying time and making memories with you is more important than any material thing. We will have options for donations and gift ideas on our registry if you feel called to give anything.
Your RSVP will ask you to inform us if you have any dietary needs we should be prepared for - gluten free, vegan, allergies etc.
There are no steep grades or difficult terrain, though the outdoor area is not paved. The footing may be uneven. Guests who require parking nearer to the ceremony location, or assistance with any mobility issues are encouraged to reach out prior so we can dedicate accessible space and seating for them.
The full itinerary on the Schedule Page will be updated as details are solidified. You're welcome to arrive early, don't be shy!
Parking is adjacent to the venue of the ceremony and reception, so no shuttle service is presently planned. Taxis and Uber/Lyft are available in the surrounding area. If a large group intends to travel from Guerneville or Santa Rosa together and are interested in a shuttle service a local option is available but must be scheduled and organized in advance.
We will be hosting a live stream of the ceremony for our friends and family afar. Separate links and information will be updated with directions on how to join soon. If you would like to join virtually but cannot attend in person, please indicate that in your RSVP response for easier tracking.
Please reach out to Emily with any questions and to coordinate. Accommodations questions specifically should be directed to Theo or Cherie at the Rio Nido Lodge - see more at the Travel Page.
Whoops! We may have a spelling error in your full name. Please email us and we will correct it. The website requires you to enter your first and last name exactly as it was spelled in the guest list, so if there has been any error it will need to be corrected before you can submit your RSVP.