Flying Cloud
1200 Jacobsen Lane
Petaluma, CA 94954
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Contact: Jeannette Bell
Phone: 707/765-4433
www.flyingcloudfarm.com
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Why We Like This Place
Let’s face it—if you’re planning to get married in Sonoma County, you’ve got a lot of options. Wineries, restaurants and hotels are all vying for your business. So why should you choose to have your wedding at Flying Cloud Farm? Simply because it’s one of the most exciting and unique special event facilities we’ve seen in years! Yes, Flying Cloud farm is a real farm, where they ride, train and show horses, but the event facility is immaculate, without a single horse hair or speck of dust.
Your wedding festivities begin in the garden, with guests seated on the lawn or in the courtyard during the ceremony. You can exchange vows beneath a wedding arch set up in front of a three-tiered fountain, or under an arbor on the other side of the lawn. Enclosing the garden is a pergola-topped fence, where a lush tangle of vines keeps things private.
The garden area is lovely, but it’s the white peaked-roof building behind it that holds the secret of Flying Cloud’s undeniable appeal. Painstakingly modeled after the Palace of Knossos in ancient Crete, this facility defines the phrase “understated elegance.” Thick stucco walls, painted in mottled shades of tan, beige and terracotta; floors of tile and interlocking brick; and simple pre-Classical support columns that are exact replicas of those at Knossos make the building look as if it has occupied this spot for a thousand years.
Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and small dinners are served in the long rectangular Barrel Room, lined with wine barrels and lit by wrought-iron-and-glass candle sconces that augment the recessed ceiling lights. The Tasting Bar invites you to lounge against its sinuous column-topped bar with a glass of champagne, or sit in an animal-print club chair and admire the wooden horse sculpture, lion-headed pedestals and framed rubbings from Knossos, while natural palm-frond ceiling fans generate a cooling breeze. Or wander into the Garden Room, whose focal point is a trompe l’oeil mural of a columned terrace overlooking the sea. Other intriguing elements of this room are a mosaic table, “sea-horse” sculpture, and draped ceiling. Three steps up from the Tasting Bar, the Banquet Room is possibly the most unusual event space of all. Similar in décor to the rest of the facility, it’s decorated with Greek columns and amphoras entwined with real grapevines from the vineyard. During dinner the buffet is hosted here, and afterwards the space is used for dancing and cake cutting. But the room’s most unique feature is this: Raise the blinds that line the windows along one wall, and voila! A large, covered riding arena appears. If desired, owner Jeannette Bell can arrange for an equine exhibition during your event, such as vaulting, with riders performing acrobatics on horseback, or dressage, where top-hatted, tail-coated riders on prancing steeds execute intricate maneuvers to music.
In addition to its handsome appearance, Flying Cloud Farm has one of the most generous wedding scheduling policies we’ve come across. Like many places, they only do one wedding per weekend, but that weekend extends from noon on Friday until noon on Sunday. This not only gives you plenty of time to do everything you want for a glorious celebration, it practically ensures that everyone involved will stay relaxed. Also, a site manager is always on hand to keep things running smoothly and take care of last-minute details. And Flying Cloud Farm is available on a daily basis during the week, making it a super place for business meetings and corporate gatherings. Whether you’re an aficionado of all things equine, or you don’t know a Morgan from an Appaloosa, Flying Cloud Farm will win you over.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
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Max. Seated Indoors: 72 Max. Seated Outdoors: 225 |
Max. Seated Indoors: 140 Max. Seated Outdoors: 200 Max. Standing Indoors: 175 Max. Standing Outdoors: 200 |
Max. Seated: 80 |
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MEETING CAPACITY: The Banquet Room holds 80 seated theater-style or 60 classroom-style.
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Fees & Deposits
For weekend special events, a $1,000 nonrefundable security deposit is required to hold your date. The site fee starts at $3,400, and is payable 1 month before the event. The fee for tables, chairs, silverware, plates and glassware starts at $10/person and is due 2 weeks before the event.
For meetings, the cost runs $500–800/day, and includes use of tables and chairs.
Availability
For special events, year-round, daily, 8am–9pm, including holidays. For weekday meetings, year-round, Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm.
CateringChoose From ListAlcoholBYOLocation UsesCeremoniesWedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners Services/AmenitiesCatering: select from preferred listKitchen Facilities: commercial prep Tables & Chairs: provided up to 225 Linens, Silver, etc.: provided Restrooms: wheelchair accessible Dance Floor: in Banquet Room Bride’s & Groom’s Dressing Area: yes Meeting Equipment: CBA, extra fee Parking: large lot & attendant, complimentary Accommodations: no guestrooms Telephone: house phone Outdoor Night Lighting: yes Outdoor Cooking Facilities: through caterer Cleanup: caterer View: vineyard, Petaluma Valley and hills, garden, fountain Other: site management
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Amplified MusicIndoorsWheelchair AccessWheelchair AccessibleSite ViewsFountain/Water FeatureGarden Garden Patio/Courtyard Hills Valley Vineyards Venue TypeBanquet Hall/Events FacilityConference Center RestrictionsAlcohol: WBC OK, limited hard alcoholSmoking: outside only Music: amplified OK indoors only, outdoors acoustic only Wheelchair Access: yes Insurance: certificate required Other: no rice or birdseed, children must be supervised
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