It's no secret that planning a wedding can be a difficult and time-consuming experience. When my husband and I decided to marry, all we knew for sure was that we wanted our wedding to take place beside a river. That's one of the reasons we decided to have our wedding in the Coloma-Lotus Valley. Who knew with that one decision we'd be making our wedding preparations one hundred percent easier? We found so many potential wedding sites, unique accommodations for our out-of-town guests, and, of course, tons of recreational activities for everyone to enjoy before and after the big day.

We held our wedding and reception at Camp Lotus, a lovely campground beside the South Fork American River. Bill and Robin Center, owners of Camp Lotus, were incredibly helpful. We had everything we needed and we saved hundreds of dollars over what we would have paid for any other destination wedding location.

I was a little worried about finding a rehearsal dinner restaurant that could accommodate our entire wedding party plus a myriad of out-of-town guests. But the folks at the Sierra Nevada House were unfazed by our numbers—they have a large, private dining area, so we were all seated in the same room. Many of our guests had also booked lodging at the Sierra Nevada House, making it easier for them to attend the dinner celebration.

On our wedding night we stayed at the Coloma Country Inn, awaking to a relaxing breakfast out on our own veranda.

The day after our wedding, guests who didn't have to rush home took whitewater rafting trips, went on hikes, and explored Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Not only was our wedding all my husband and I wanted it to be, but it was a whole lot of fun for all who attended.

(For more information on planning a wedding in the Coloma-Lotus area, see our Weddings Page.)