Stonetree Estate by Wedgewood Weddings in Novato is the kind of venue that announces itself the moment you step onto the grounds. Perched on the Bay Club golf course with panoramic views of the Coastal Range, this Craftsman-style country estate combines rustic stone and wood architecture with sweeping valley landscapes. Vine-covered walkways lead to the ceremony balcony, an ivy-climbing wall provides an unforgettable backdrop for vows, and the grand ballroom with its cathedral ceiling and full-height windows makes every reception feel cinematic.
Goodtime DJs has performed at Stonetree Estate and understands the specific requirements this premium Marin County venue demands. Here’s your complete guide to making the entertainment match the elegance.
The Grand Ballroom: Acoustics That Reward Good Sound
The heart of any Stonetree reception is the grand ballroom, a space defined by exposed wooden rafters, a striking truss cathedral ceiling, gleaming hardwood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of fairways and towering oaks. French doors open to an arcaded terrace for cocktail hour.
From a DJ perspective, this room is exceptional. The high vaulted ceiling provides natural reverb that makes music sound rich and full without any artificial processing. The hardwood floors reflect just enough sound to keep the dance floor energetic. And the full-height windows, while stunning during daylight, absorb very little sound, which means audio stays balanced throughout the room.
At Goodtime DJs, we position our main speakers at a 45-degree angle from the corners of the dance floor, aimed toward the center of the dining area. This creates a sweet spot where dance-floor volume stays high while seated guests can still hold conversations. The cathedral ceiling height means we can push volume without the harsh reflections that lower-ceilinged rooms create, because the sound goes up and dissipates rather than bouncing directly back.
Ceremony on the Balcony: The Ivy Wall Sound Setup
The ceremony balcony at Stonetree Estate is genuinely one of the most photogenic ceremony sites in the Bay Area. The enchanting ivy-climbing wall and earthy wooden arbor frame the couple beautifully, with bistro lights adding warmth and panoramic mountain views stretching behind the guests.
This is an outdoor space with open sides, which means sound behaves differently than inside the ballroom. At Goodtime DJs, we set up a dedicated ceremony system with compact speakers mounted on low-profile stands positioned at the front of the guest seating. Wireless lavalier microphones go on the officiant, and a handheld mic is available for readers or live musicians. The key here is keeping speaker volume focused and directional. The balcony overlooks the golf course and surrounding estates, and we respect the acoustic environment by projecting sound toward guests rather than outward.
Cocktail Hour on the Terrace
After the ceremony, guests move to the wraparound balcony and outdoor lounge area featuring comfortable seating and fire pits. This cocktail-hour space is stunning at sunset, and the music needs to match the mood without competing with conversation or the crackling fire.
We run a separate speaker zone for cocktail hour, typically a single pair of compact speakers connected wirelessly to our main system, playing curated lounge music, jazz, or acoustic covers at background volume. The fire pit seating area is especially popular, so we position one speaker to gently cover that zone while keeping the bar area independently covered.
Uplighting the Grand Ballroom
Stonetree’s grand ballroom features stone walls, wooden beams, and warm interior tones that respond beautifully to uplighting. We typically recommend 14 to 18 uplights placed along the perimeter, washing color up the stone walls and into the wooden rafters. The combination of warm stone texture and colored LED light creates a dramatic transformation as the sun sets and natural light fades from those floor-to-ceiling windows.
A gobo monogram works exceptionally well on the hardwood dance floor here. The polished wood surface reflects the projection cleanly, and the high ceiling means the beam angle can be steep enough to keep the projection crisp even when guests are dancing over it.
Wedgewood’s All-Inclusive Packages and Your Outside DJ
Stonetree Estate by Wedgewood Weddings offers all-inclusive event packages that can include an in-house DJ. However, many couples prefer to bring their own entertainment vendor for a more personalized experience. Goodtime DJs works seamlessly alongside Wedgewood’s coordination team. We respect their timeline structure, communicate directly with their on-site coordinator, and integrate smoothly with their catering and bar service flow.
As an outside DJ vendor at a Wedgewood property, we handle our own setup, breakdown, and equipment, while Wedgewood’s team handles everything else. It’s a partnership that works well because both sides are experienced professionals focused on the same goal: an unforgettable wedding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Goodtime DJs work with Wedgewood Weddings’ coordinator at Stonetree?
Yes. We communicate directly with the on-site Wedgewood coordinator to align timelines, coordinate announcements, and ensure seamless transitions between ceremony, cocktails, dinner, and dancing.
What makes the grand ballroom at Stonetree special for sound?
The cathedral ceiling with exposed wooden rafters creates natural reverb that makes music sound full and warm. Combined with hardwood floors and full-height windows, the room rewards a well-calibrated sound system with rich, balanced audio.
Can Goodtime DJs set up both ceremony and reception sound at Stonetree?
Absolutely. Our wedding packages include dedicated ceremony sound on the balcony, cocktail-hour music on the terrace, and full reception DJ and MC services in the grand ballroom.
Planning your wedding at Stonetree Estate? Contact Goodtime DJs for a free quote. We deliver sound that matches the elegance.