Sherwood Country Club 320 West Stafford Road • Thousand Oaks • California 91361

Your name has to be "on the list" to gain entrance to the gated, ultra-exclusive Lake Sherwood neighborhood. We felt privileged to be admitted, but the geese that waddled across our path seemed to take their VIP status for granted. This lush, luxe enclave tucked against the Santa Monica Mountains is indeed nature-friendly, even while impressive celebrity-owned mansions line its serene lanes.

Sherwood owes its name to the 1922 film, Robin Hood, when the picturesque, oak-covered grounds where the club would later be built, doubled as Sherwood Forest. With such a cinematic pedigree, it’s not surprising that Sherwood Country Club itself, opened in 1989, is often featured in movies, too, including (appropriately) the hit comedy, Bridesmaids. In real life, the club is also a sought-after wedding location.

A grand circular drive leads to the Clubhouse, a stunning example of classic Georgian architecture. The immaculate bricked façade and stately white-columned portico create a pronounced sense of occasion, a feeling that increases inside the elegant lobby: Tastefully curated antiques and paintings lining the walls are perfectly complemented by a herringbone-patterned wood floor and a coved ceiling awash in trompe l’oeil clouds.

The ambiance is even more heavenly outside on the Canopy Terrace, a favorite ceremony spot with a romance all its own: A semi-circular, cream-colored colonnade forms a rotunda, topped with a pergola and overhead canopy that provides year-round shade. Star jasmine perfumes the perimeter, and chandeliers, garlands, or draping can easily be added. Guests gaze out on a panorama of green fairways, rolling hillsides and blue horizon, all of which makes an enchanting backdrop for wedding vows.

While the wedding party strolls to the members-only rose garden for photos in front of a cascading waterfall, friends and family enjoy the cocktail hour on the sun-splashed brick Garden Patio adjacent to the terrace. For guests who prefer to mingle inside, French doors open into the Conservatory, a refined hideaway outfitted with a baby grand piano, fireplace and plush furnishings.

Outdoor receptions are staged on the Croquet Lawn, an expanse of crisply trimmed grass below the patio, edged with manicured hedgerows and twinkle-lit trees. The space adapts well to tents, lounge furniture, string lights and whatever other décor you fancy, but whether it’s decorated or left au naturel, guests are treated to a rosy-pink sunset above the hills and after-dinner dancing under glittering stars.

Yet once you get a look at Sherwood’s pretty-as-a-picture ballroom, you might decide to host the party indoors instead. Not your typical square banquet space, this ballroom has a curved wall of windows that frame the club’s lovely views. Dazzling beaded crystal chandeliers, suspended from the coffered ceiling, cast an ethereal glow over your reception. At the room’s far end, a separate lounge area is just the place to add a cappuccino bar. Consider heightening the magic with the club’s customizable lighting packages or other event enhancements. From wedding-cake spotlights to signature cocktails, the accomplished event managers will help you sort through all the options—including Sherwood’s enticing menus.

Every inch of Sherwood Country Club is meticulously maintained, and weddings here receive the same careful attention to detail. Even your most selective guests will be impressed, and all you and your new spouse have to do is enjoy being the center of attention.