Congratulations on your engagement!

We are proud to be the best riverside wedding venue on the American River, offering majestic views and complete freedom to celebrate your way. Designed for ease and flexibility, our venue allows you to choose the food you love, serve the drinks you enjoy, invite the vendors you trust, and create an experience that feels like you. Plan on your own terms, without preset packages or limits on your vision. Tables and chairs are included, ready for you to use however you wish.

From cozy cabins to glamping tents, RV sites, and riverside camping, our on-site lodging makes it easy for your guests to gather, celebrate, and stay together in one place. Best of all, the venue is yours for the entire weekend. This gives you time to set up at your own pace, enjoy the river, share moments with loved ones, and take in the beauty of California’s Gold & Wine Country. Nestled in Coloma, California, we are just 45 minutes northeast of Sacramento. We are less than two hours east of the Bay Area, and right off Highway 50 on the way to Lake Tahoe. That makes us easy to reach while still feeling worlds away.

At the River’s Edge venue, the river doesn’t just set the scene, it defines it. The rushing rapid here is a force you and your guests will hear and feel all weekend long. Strong, steady, and unforgettable, it’s an iconic presence that makes this setting unlike any other. A timeless feature that mirrors the meaning of your day.

Come see it for yourself. Choose a date and time that works best for you, and we’ll take care of the rest.

“Your Celebration, Your Weekend, Your Way”

Schedule Your Tour Here

Why Couples Choose American River Resort

Couples tell us again and again that they chose American River Resort because everything felt natural. The beauty of the setting speaks for itself. Yet it is the feeling of ease that makes the decision simple. Here, wedding planning feels less like a checklist and more like creating a weekend that reflects you.

Many brides describe an immediate sense of relief when they realize they can shape the day on their own terms. With no preset packages or restrictions, you are free to choose the food, the music, the vendors, and the details that matter most. Instead of being boxed into someone else’s vision, your wedding becomes a reflection of your style and your relationship.

What couples love most is the chance to extend their celebration beyond a single rushed evening. At American River Resort in Coloma, your wedding is not confined to a few hours. The entire weekend is yours. From the moment you arrive on Friday until you say goodbye on Sunday, you are surrounded by family, friends, and the natural beauty of the American River. As a result, the pace is slower, the laughter lingers longer, and there is time to truly breathe it all in.

The American River Resort Wedding Experience

Welcome to American River Resort, home to Northern California’s most breathtaking riverside wedding venues along the South Fork of the American River. If you’ve dreamed of exchanging vows beside rushing water, golden light, and sweeping views, you’ll find it here in Coloma.

Our setting offers a rare blend of natural beauty and complete freedom. Unlike venues that limit you with preset packages, American River Resort gives you the space to design your celebration on your own terms. From your ceremony to your reception and through the entire weekend, every detail can reflect your vision: authentic, inspired, and uniquely yours.

Your Wedding, Your Way

Your celebration should reflect your relationship, your style, and your vision, not a cookie-cutter package. At American River Resort, you have the freedom to choose every detail.

Bring in the caterer you love, serve family-style meals, host a barbecue, or even invite a food truck. From signature cocktails to local wines or a self-serve bar, the choice of drinks is completely yours.

Work with vendors you trust, or invite friends and family to help create the day. There are no required lists, no preset rules, only the freedom to design what feels right to you.

Decor can be rustic, elegant, bohemian, or minimalist. Music can be a live band, a DJ, or even a silent disco after hours. The space is your canvas, ready to take on your style.

Our role is simple: we provide the setting, the tables, and the chairs, and you make it your own. Couples tell us again and again that this flexibility is one of the greatest reliefs they feel when planning their wedding here.

A Full Weekend to Celebrate Together

One of the reasons couples choose American River Resort is because it’s not just a wedding day. Instead, it’s a full wedding weekend in Northern California. Your venue is exclusively yours from Friday afternoon through Sunday at noon. This gives you the time and space to settle in, decorate, celebrate, and unwind at your own pace.

On Friday, you can arrive with your wedding party and family. You can also take your time with setup and relax by the South Fork of the American River. Saturday begins with a slow morning in nature. It continues with an onsite ceremony and a reception that flow seamlessly into the night.

On Sunday, you can share coffee with your guests and take down decorations without rushing. You can also enjoy one last morning together by the river. As a result, the slower pace lets you savor your wedding weekend instead of rushing through a single evening. Brides often tell us that having two nights and three days at American River Resort gave them time to truly experience their wedding, connect with loved ones, and create memories that felt unhurried and complete.

Stay Together, Celebrate Together

Our lodging options make it simple for your guests to gather, celebrate, and stay in one place. With everything just steps from the South Fork of the American River, your wedding becomes more than an event. It also feels like a retreat.

Cozy cabins give families, bridal parties, and loved ones modern comfort with nature right outside the door. For guests who want rustic charm with a touch of comfort, our canvas glamping tents provide an adventurous yet cozy stay. RV sites welcome those who prefer to travel with their own setup. These spaces offer convenience and easy access. For guests who love the outdoors, riverside camping lets them pitch a tent by the water and fall asleep to the steady sound of the river.

This variety means your friends and family can choose the style of lodging that suits them best while staying close to the celebration. No late-night driving and no scattered hotels. Instead, you’ll have one community gathered together for your full wedding weekend.

An Iconic Riverside Ceremony Setting

Every couple is drawn to the river for its natural beauty and meaning. At our River’s Edge venue, your ceremony takes place right beside the rushing water. The steady sound of the rapid fills the air and creates a powerful setting for your vows. Guests hear and feel its energy not only during the ceremony but also throughout the entire weekend.

Across the way, Dutch Creek flows into the American River, wrapping around Mount Murphy before joining the current. Mount Murphy changes with each season. Golden in summer and fall, bright green in winter, and glowing orange in spring with poppies.

This landscape is more than a setting. It becomes part of your celebration. The roar of the rapid, Dutch Creek flowing into the American River from the base of Mount Murphy, and the mountains that frame the valley surround every moment. Throughout the weekend, the river and mountains weave into the rhythm of your gathering. Guests feel it in the mornings with coffee, during sunset toasts, and in late-night talks by the fire. It is not just scenery. It is a living presence, unforgettable and enduring, woven into your story long after the weekend ends.

Coloma: Where Gold Country Meets Wine Country

The resort is located in Coloma, California, the birthplace of the Gold Rush and home to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. It was here in 1848 that gold was first discovered. That moment shaped the story of California and left behind a legacy of charm and character that endures today.

Coloma is also a vibrant river community along the South Fork of the American River. It is beloved for rafting, kayaking, and riverside gatherings. Just 45 minutes from Sacramento and less than two hours from the Bay Area, it offers rare convenience while still feeling worlds away.

Guests can stroll through Gold Country, visit the El Dorado Wine Region, or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the river valley. History, adventure, and culture come together to create the perfect backdrop for a Northern California wedding weekend. It will be as memorable for your guests as it is for you.

Coloma Weather Through the Seasons

Coloma experiences four distinct seasons, each bringing its own charm to a wedding.

In spring, the valley comes alive with wildflowers and fresh greenery. Mild temperatures make it one of the most comfortable times of year for outdoor celebrations.

Summer is warm and golden. It is perfect for long evenings by the river and for daytime activities like rafting, swimming, and hiking.

Fall brings crisp air, vibrant foliage, and cooler nights. The season creates a romantic atmosphere that photographs beautifully and adds depth to every celebration.

Winter in Coloma is quiet and peaceful. Cool days and cozy evenings by the fire make it an inviting season for smaller, more intimate weddings.

What’s Included with Your Venue Reservation

Reserving a wedding venue at American River Resort means having a setting where your entire weekend comes together with ease.

Tables and chairs are included and ready for your use. Your venue is exclusively yours from Friday at 3pm through Sunday at noon. This gives you the freedom to set up, celebrate, and enjoy the time without rushing. In addition, your ceremony space is blocked off to create a private setting during your vows.

On-site restrooms, showers, and modern amenities are available for comfort and convenience. Parking is included for you and your guests. Resort staff are also available throughout your stay to provide support whenever you need it.

There are no hidden fees and no required add-ons. Instead, you’ll have just the essentials to bring your vision to life.

More Than a Wedding Day

Your wedding here isn’t measured in hours. It’s an entire weekend surrounded by family, friends, and the beauty of the American River. The pace is slower, the laughter lasts longer, and the memories stay with you well beyond Sunday.

Plan Your Tour

The best way to know if American River Resort is the right venue for your wedding is to experience it in person. We offer tours seven days a week and would love to walk the grounds with you, answer your questions, and help you picture your celebration here along the South Fork of the American River.

Call 530-622-6700 or click the link below and take the first step toward planning your Northern California wedding weekend.