Fairview Crystal Springs 6650 Golf Course Drive, Golden Gate National Recreation Area • Burlingame • CA 94010

One of the most picturesque wedding sites in the Bay Area has something very few people ever have the privilege of seeing: a bird's-eye view of the protected land around Crystal Springs Reservoir. Access to this jewel of a lake and the heavily wooded semi-wilderness that encircles it is limited to forest rangers and city officials.

But if you wed outdoors at Fairview Crystal Springs, you are among the rare outsiders who get to enjoy this breathtaking vista—and with it comes much more than simple bragging rights. The ceremony site, a sprawling meadow at the southern end of the Crystal Springs Golf Course, has a gazebo that stands on a grassy knoll overlooking the reservoir. The view from here is sensational, with glistening waters below and tree-covered ridges behind it. In the distance, high hills slope toward the bay. There are no houses in sight, and deer often graze nearby. The backdrop is so spectacular that the gazebo needs little adornment. There's plenty of room for a limo to drop off the bride, and if she wants to add a little more pizzazz to the moment, she can even arrive in a horse-drawn carriage. A smooth earthen aisle cuts through a beautifully tended lawn to the gazebo, where the couple exchanges vows.

The reception takes place up a tree- and greens-lined road at the banquet center, set at the edge of gentle terraces that drop off toward the reservoir. Guests arrive via a red-carpeted terrace that captures a sweeping panorama down to the fairways. Best of all is spotting the deer that placidly graze the course.

The primary dining spot is the Vista Room, which was renovated in Winter 2018. Its entire west wall is windows, and glass doors open to the adjoining Vista Deck, a large glassed-in area shaded by a canopy that makes a sublime setting for an outdoor cocktail hour. Whether you're celebrating inside or out, the expansive view takes in the woods to the west and the neighboring hills and the golf course's gorgeous landscape to the north.

Fairview Crystal Springs offers a range of all-inclusive packages that put the venue with a million-dollar view within reach of the average couple. Plus the flexible packages make planning your event here a breeze, since you can customize the options to suit both your budget and your vision.

The elements for a fabulous day are here in splendid array: the gazebo in its unforgettable surroundings; a personable, attentive staff; good food; fresh, sea-kissed air (the ocean is only a few ridges away); and nature's intense blues and greens. Lastly, nearby Highway 280 makes Crystal Springs easily accessible from San Francisco, the Peninsula, and the South Bay. Now, that's a list that should satisfy anyone.