Recently in Weddings Category

By: Harvest Inn in St. Helena, CA
Photo Credit: Patricia Mark Photography

Now is the time to turn a dream of a romantic, al fresco wedding deep in Napa Valley's wine country  into a reality - before the summer is booked up.  Most couples think of having a wedding ceremony at a winery; unfortunately, many Napa Valley wineries are not permitted to serve as a wedding venue. However, don't despair brides, you can still have your fairy tale wine country wedding with beautiful views of the vineyards as the setting.

Harvest Inn, located in the charming town of St. Helena, hosts dozens of weddings annually. Named one of the 'Most romantic date destinations in America' by Redbook magazine, Harvest Inn's eight acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and vineyards offer a setting unmatched anywhere else in Napa Valley. This gorgeous setting is just steps away from where the happy couple exchanges "I do's".

The perfect place to turn that first date into a lasting commitment is the Vineyard Terrace - a favorite for ceremonies - that creates a stunning setting overlooking the Leonardini Vineyards with views of the Mayacamas Mountains beyond. Afterward, guests can sip cocktails and play croquet and badminton on the Manor House Lawn, while the same Vineyard Terrace is transformed for an elegant dinner. The morning following the big day, newlyweds can wake up to a complimentary wine country breakfast and unwind with spa treatments in a private cabana by the vineyards. Surrounded by redwoods and grape vines, the Inn has a secluded feel, yet guests can still walk to St. Helena's  pleasant Main Street, home to several fine dining restaurants and boutiques.

Romantic Restaurants

Tri-Valley's most romantic restaurants offer romantic atmosphere,  delicious food and wine for your engagement.  Be sure to call ahead to make arrangements for your proposal.  These restaurants can offer a special menu or dessert and the best seat in the house and make sure to your proposal is perfect.

The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards: This place is just special.  The award winning restaurant features American dishes, influenced by Italian, French and California cuisine paired with Wente Vineyards wine.  The dining rooms are warm and inviting and the location amongst Livermore Valley Wine Country can't be beat.

by Courtney Cochran

Last month we brought you some of our top picks for wedding spots and services in Napa Valley. And given that our Wine County beat has as much to do with Sonoma as it does that region's fair neighbor, we thought it only appropriate to canvass them as well too, for sweet locales and insider tips every bride-to-be planning a wine country wedding ought to know.  Because when it comes to keeping nuptials-inclined couples informed, we absolutely do take our job seriously. 



Best Elopement Package
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, Forestville
Sometimes a quickie wedding is just what the doctor ordered - and at critically acclaimed Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, low-drama romance is always on the menu. In collaboration with Russian River's Iron Horse Vineyards, the luxe Inn offers an all-in package that includes a photographer, the services of a non-denominational minister, a meal with Master Sommelier-selected wine pairings, couples massages and three nights' lodging. In all, it's an easy alternative to the traditional wedding - with wine country flair.

Best Situated Wine Country Wedding Spot
MacArthur Place, Sonoma
Located just off the plaza in historic downtown Sonoma, elegantly appointed MacArthur Place is just a stone's throw from San Francisco (45 minutes) as well as nearby Napa (15 minutes).  And with 35 individually styled guest rooms on-site, your guests can stay right there with you or in any one of dozens of nearby hotels - most of which are walking distance to downtown's vibrant restaurants, tasting rooms and shops. PS: Don't miss the spot's dynamic sculpture garden and award-winning spa.
 

by Courtney Cochran

Anyone who's seen the sun slip coolly beneath the horizon while its last remaining rays bathe nearby Sonoma Mountain in their quicksilver glow knows first-hand the beauty of Sonoma Valley. Situated just north of the historic town of the same name, the valley beckons would-be wedding parties with its moderate climate, verdant pastures and vineyards, olive and oak groves and decidedly dialed-back pace of life. With its winning location, easy access, amenities and ambiance, could this pastoral paradise be wine country's newest wedding wunderkind?

Sonoma Weddings Spotlight:

Viansa Winery & Vineyards:
Enabling Innovation In "I Do"
Couples who book Viansa Winery & Vineyards for their nuptials snag much more than just a spectacular site on a hill overlooking Sonoma Valley: they also gain access to extensive, all-inclusive planning assistance and the perks of getting hitched on a full-service property.

These details are happily matched by a myriad of lovely festivity sites set against the backdrop of a stunning Tuscan-style villa at Viansa. Awash in Mediterranean ambiance, the winery - founded, natch, by folks of Italian heritage - brings together the best in Sonoma-style hospitality with phenomenal flexibility. Indeed, Special Event Coordinator Laura Johnson Fraize seems equally excited about the winery's extensive nuptials experience (they host some 75-100 a year), and the innovative ways couples have made the site their own over the years.

By Courtney Cochran

A wedding in wine country promises everything you've always wanted: Romantic photo ops among the vines, world-class food and wine, and access to some of the best hospitality perks you'll find anywhere (reception in a wine cave, anyone?). 

But as every time-pressed bride-to-be also knows, sorting through the thousands of potential wine country wedding locations, packages and service providers is a task that's likely to dampen even the most sturdy bridal spirits.

Fortunately, we appealed to one of Northern California's foremost experts on wedding planning, Jan Brenner of Here Comes The Guide to share her insights on some of the best-kept secrets in wine country weddings. So read on for the inside scoop on the topic - because we wouldn't have anything dampen your anticipation of such a singularly special day!