Vizcaya

I married my first wife here, and years later I live across the street. I’ve also been here for retirement parties and other events. The grounds are always clean and well kept, and the staff are consistently attentive and understanding.

I’ve photographed a handful of weddings at Vizcaya, and I’m always glad when my couples choose it. It’s a classy, beautiful place for a wedding in the heart of Sacramento. The footprint is compact compared with venues outside the city, with overnight accommodations, getting-ready spaces, courtyards for ceremonies of different sizes, and the ballroom all just a few steps apart. That makes it easy for guests and wedding parties to move through the day, and the staff help everything run smoothly. The setting is beautiful too. The mansion and the fountain with its surrounding stairways out front are iconic, while foliage walls screen the courtyards from the city noise just beyond. Be sure to look up at the stained-glass skylight in the ballroom. I know couples won’t be disappointed.

Our wedding on October 19, 2025, should have been one of the happiest days of our lives, but we left deeply disappointed. We expected a full staff team to keep things moving, yet far fewer people showed up and they seemed overwhelmed. We were also charged extra fees we hadn’t expected, despite what we’d agreed on. After all the time, money, and trust we put into the venue, the poor handling was heartbreaking. From the beginning, the service felt disorganized and unprofessional. Manager Raj was rude and dismissive, adding stress to a day that should have been joyful. I wouldn’t want another couple to go through this. A wedding should feel caring, respectful, and joyful, not frustrating and disappointing. One person was very, very nice, a blonde receptionist whose name I wish I remembered.

The bathroom had recently been remodeled, with an epic tub and shower. Some things in the room were dated, like the old carpet, but the penthouse was very reasonably priced during the week. We had a wonderful stay and will definitely come back. Staff were sparse and mostly invisible in the evenings.