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After a successful visit to Idyllwild to scope out wedding sites, it was time to head home...

The Creek House - Idyllwild

The Creek House is the third location that we liked.  It is an old Chart House Restaurant located in the northern end of Idyllwild, so it's pretty quiet and the creek is flowing.   When you walk in there is a bar area to the right and the dining area to the left.  In front is the glass windows looking out on the deck.  From the deck you can walk down the stairs to the ceremony area which is right on the creek.  

The deck is very nice and can be used for the meal, dancing/music, hors d'oeuvres, ceremony, etc.  Since it is a restaurant, you don't have to worry about tables/chairs/catering/umbrellas, etc.  They will give good prices on wine and allow you to bring in your own beer, without a fee (they also might be interested in taking on Tom's brew - they only have one micro brew that they sell).  If you reserve the whole restaurant, then there is no facility fee.  You would then use all three areas (inside, deck, outside) and be able to cover issues in the event of inclement  or hot weather.  I think otherwise the facility fee was around $2,000 but she's really negotiable.  Meals ranged from $17 to $40 and they would create a menu based on your preferences.  They can also do an outdoor barbecue. She also said she could do heavy hors d'oeuvres instead of a sit-down dinner.  

The ceremony area is on the creek, you can see the platform and structure.  After the ceremony, the band sets up on the platform and the area is used for dancing and eating.  While the change is happening you can have guests come up to the deck for hors d'oeuvres.  They are considering putting in some type of "floor" either stone, deck, etc.  So it might look different next year.

This is the view from the road looking at the back of the restaurant, across the creek. 

 Right across the street is a lodge, Creekstone Inn, that your wedding party could stay in.  Look at the website (9 rooms, 3 with 2 beds), nice view from back.  You might be able to do rehearsal dinner on deck (or have rehearsal in afternoon and do lunch on deck).  Lots of parking around. 

The woman that owns this lodge also owns the Silver Pines Lodge in the photo below, a few miles away.

I really liked that Lorraine, the manager of the Creek House was very flexible and would work with you on menu planning, set up, etc.  They had everything available and prices were very reasonable.  Even if you paid a $2,000 facility fee, at $40 a meal, you can still be way under budget.  And, have options if the weather does not cooperate.  

Inside the Rainbow Inn

Main common area is actually the owners' living space.  He charges $400 to rent out for the weekend.  It's very comfy and nice and would be a nice respite for some during the event, should they need to get in from the heat, storm, noise, whatever.  It is dark in that manly kind of environment, it's not the camera, I used my flash.  

Kitchen area is nice for prep with large refrigerator.  They will cater the event as well.  

This is the indoor area and the attached deck where you can have the buffet and part of the eating area or dancing or whatever.  The inside room is air conditioned so that is nice and it opens to the back deck (photos below).  The inside holds about 70 or so for eating with tables, I think.  So, if you used deck, outdoor and indoor eating areas, you can do your cake, announcements, etc. off the deck which spans the two.  Or whatever other creative set-up you can devise due to numbers, weather, etc.  Some people use the deck for the band and dancing.  

These are the rooms.  It sleeps 13 total with roll-a-ways.   The first room is the largest.  They all had their own baths.

As a nice extra, there is a common area on the 2nd floor and deck for guests of the inn.  They serve you breakfast there and there is a full kitchen to prepare your own meals.  We could do a rehearsal dinner right out on the deck.  The place was very comfortable both inside and out and very well maintained.  This was Chris's favorite.  

Rainbow Inn - Idyllwild

This is the entrance to the Rainbow Inn.  Notice the Bear!

Chris is on a mission to find Marissa and Tom the very BEST wedding location!  The entrance to Rainbow Inn after greeting the bear.

The back of the Inn is the location for the wedding.  These photos were taken from the covered deck which comes off the rear of the Inn.  The stage in the center with the structure is the place they hold the ceremony, with seating around below on the dirt.  You could do your seating with the tables they would then eat on, so there is no need to move chairs around.  Or mix and match the two.  The structure is movable, so this also could be your dance floor.  

To the right is a small paved area and structure upon which you can put the bar or the band.  

Chris also likes this location for the ceremony.  It is behind the stage overlooking the creek (same creek you saw at Quiet Creek Inn, it runs throughout the town - Strawberry Creek)

This is a view of the back of the Inn.