The Westin Hotel, Millbrae One Old Bayshore Highway • Millbrae • California 94030

Set on the cusp of a palm-lined drive near the edge of the bay, and just two minutes from the San Francisco airport, The Westin Hotel, Millbrae is surprisingly quiet and peaceful. Even the lobby has a calming influence, designed in warm natural shades and outfitted with modern, comfortable furnishings and lush floral arrangements.

From here it's a short walk to the banquet rooms, and by the time you reach them, you're expecting something sophisticated and tasteful. You won't be disappointed. The Westin Ballroom, where most weddings, large meetings and special events take place, is very lovely. Brides are usually overjoyed with the décor and have been known to exclaim, "Oh, this will match my dress perfectly!" That's because the walls are papered in a neutral champagne-and-taupe print that gives off a subtle gold sheen, and the coffered ceiling is white. One of the most striking features of this ballroom is the lighting. Instead of traditional chandeliers, there are fixtures fashioned from white globes seemingly "scattered" behind a veil of pearl strands. When the lights are dimmed, you feel like you're gazing at clusters of stars, shining through golden clouds. Additional romantic lighting comes from alabaster-and-brass wall sconces. Although the ballroom can be divided into four sections, only one event at a time is scheduled so you can tailor the size of the space to fit your needs.

The expansive foyer area in front of the ballroom is not only refreshing to the eye, it's large enough to be set up with fountains, plants and an hors d'oeuvre buffet and still have plenty of room left over for a crowd to mingle comfortably. And if you have kids at your event, you'll be ever grateful to the Westin—they make a room for childcare available just off the foyer.

Smaller weddings and meetings are held in the Bayshore Ballroom, an intimate space with crystal chandeliers, alabaster wall sconces, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool atrium. The atrium itself is ideal for cocktail parties and more informal receptions. Huge potted ferns and rubber trees, as well as colorful flowers set around the pool, soak up the sunlight from the vaulted skylit "ceiling" and create a tropical ambiance.

Two dozen other rooms are available for functions, and award-winning chefs will create custom, culturally diverse menus. Guests staying overnight sleep well, thanks to the Westin's super-comfy Heavenly Bed and triple-paned windows that create a virtually soundproof environment. There's one more amenity just for weddings: a customized web page for each couple to facilitate reserving guest rooms and providing information to attendees.

The combination of beautiful facilities, excellent food and personal service generates lots of repeat business for the hotel. Their "Letters To The Hotel" binder includes pages of laudatory comments such as, "The Westin is the only place to hold an event in San Mateo County! Period!" and "My daughter's dream of a perfect wedding day came true!" Read them all and you come away with a sense that guests feel quite welcomed here and very well taken care of. It's absolutely clear why they return to the Westin time after time—for many of them it's like coming home.