Wine Country Weddings

There are so many idyllic locations where you can have your wedding in and around the California Wine Country, but where to begin? To help you on your quest for the perfect place, here are three suggestions that will surely dazzle and delight. Each has been chosen with the size of your party in mind and because of their beautiful and picturesque settings that have everything you need to create the romantic and timeless wedding of your dreams.

B.R. Cohn Offers a Charming and Inviting Setting for an Intimate Wedding

Located between the Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains, the lovely B.R. Cohn Winery offers a variety of choices when it comes to planning an intimate wedding. Begin your photo session by capturing pensive moments before the ceremony by the water fountain. Let the soft light pouring through a window provide a perfect place to pose, and then capture your reflection in the antique mirror as you get ready in the bride’s room.

The settings will, of course, depend on where you choose to stage your ceremony and reception. You can opt for the rustic yet delightfully private setting and panoramic views of Fox Hill, where dappled light plays through the ancient oak tees and gentle breezes rustle though the vines. The Terrace offers sweeping views of the 140-year-old French Picholine olive trees, vineyards and the mountains beyond. The Amphitheatre provides a stage and terraced lawns that are surrounded by a stunning backdrop of rolling vineyards and the Sonoma range. The Olive Grove, with its manicured lawn and trees perfectly draped with white lights, is an elegant and intimate setting that is especially spectacular at dusk and in the evening. Finally, the Poolside Patio is a casual setting that offers landscaped gardens and fruit trees around a pool and classic arbor.

No matter where your ceremony and reception take place, you’ll want to make sure to take a stroll and pose by the delightful urn fountain in the private garden. Here you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous flowers and soft light – perfect for romantic photos. Pose under the magnificent oak trees and capture sweeping panoramic views of the valley and vineyards, and pause for a few moments by the large fountain as your photographer captures this moment for you forever. And you don’t want to miss taking classic vineyard pictures before the reception gets underway – photos that will always bring you back to this time and place

V. Sattui – A Classy and Eloquent Location for a Mid-Size Wedding

Nestled in the gently rolling hills of St Helena, the V. Sattui Winery offers everything you’ve ever dreamt of for your wedding. Its magnificent stone building contrasts perfectly against the blue Napa Valley sky and the rolling hillsides. The Tuscan-style tower is draped with vines and the perfectly manicured gardens and ancient oak trees embrace this magical location, perfect for a mid-size wedding.

Before the ceremony your photographer can capture the moments of delightful anticipation next to the burbling fountain, and in the bride’s chamber as you prepare for your special day. During the ceremony your photographer will be able to capture truly stirring photographs, whether you chose the private stone courtyard or the lush lawn bordered by an array of gorgeous flowers. After the ceremony, assemble your entourage in the gardens and under the magnificent trees for group photos. Line up on the steps leading up from the courtyard and have your photographer capture the joy of having your dearest friends with you.

Above the courtyard there is a gallery that will lend itself to taking delightful and classic images of the two of you. Pose for visually stunning shots under the ornate lamps, in the arched doorways before the rich wooden doors, and on the lawn with the tower and gardens behind you. Head over to the fountain where you can continue with intimate portraiture, then take a stroll through the vineyard for spontaneous and unforgettable wine country images as the sun sets, bathing you and the hills in golden light. During your reception you’ll definitely want to pose for warm and intimate closeups by candlelight in the cellar room with the oak barrels stacked high behind you, as you toast the love of your life and your future together.

Stage a Storybook Grand Wedding at Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery

For a truly grand and elegant wedding, Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery is the perfect location if you’re dreaming of something opulent and spectacular. Captivating Tuscan architecture, soaring vaulted ceilings and dozens of unforgettable settings that exude romance all come together perfectly.

Your session begins as you prepare yourself for the ceremony. Now would also be a good time to get some joyous photos with your bridesmaids and close family. Capture the moment—and the depth of emotion—as you pose for a traditional photo looking out from a window in the bridal room and as you dress for the ceremony. Make sure your photographer also gets the groom and his entourage, perhaps along the arched gallery or in the garden.

After the ceremony, playful photos with the entire wedding party can be taken in the garden and next to the dramatic wooden doors. Intimate settings for classic wedding day portraits can be found all around – the stone arch framing the vineyards and rising mountains is a must. The circular fountain is also a serene location for lovely photos. You’ll definitely want to stroll about the gardens and get some pictures taken under the stately trees and by the vineyards, and just before the reception pause in the gallery as the sunlight turns to gold. Once the party gets under way there will be ample opportunities for candid shots as you celebrate inside the stunning vaulted cellar surrounded by magnificent traditional wine vats – all warmed and illuminated by candlelight and the love you have for each other.