As a Carmel photographer, I love how easy it is to get to other pockets of beautiful California. One of my favorite places for couples that are looking for something bigger than Carmel is a Napa Valley wedding. It has the same quiet charm as Carmel but it is 10x the size. Napa Valley will provide a variety of options for your dream California wedding. With plenty of sunshine and a bright blue sky- wine country is the perfect image of golden California magic! Let’s discover the best fit for your Napa California wedding.

If you aren’t as familiar with California wine country, it is a region in the northern San Francisco Bay Area that’s known for its stellar wines. The area is home to three of the most famous American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), or grape-growing areas, in the country: Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Mendocino. If you are planning a destination wedding, you will fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and drive about an hour and a half. The great thing about wine country is the amount of places to stay! Whether you want a wedding venue that can accommodate overnight stays or if you’re looking for a place to stay near your venue, there are many wonderful options. 

Is going to Napa expensive? It can be, but in Napa Valley, you will feel confident that you are getting what you are paying for. The price is certainly in line with the wine quality and overall experience you can expect at your Napa California wedding.

Solage – Wedding Wellness Experience

At the top of the Napa Valley, you’ll find a warm welcome in Calistoga, with its small-town ambiance. Solage is a fresh and vibrant Napa Valley retreat, perfect for couples who want to have a relaxing experience in addition to a special ceremony day.

From welcome drinks to farewell brunch, their alchemy gives each wedding event special meaning in its own distinctive setting. Thousands of square feet of outdoor and indoor space exude a fresh spin on wine country style.

Inspired by Calistoga’s bubbling natural hot springs, Spa Solage offers a variety of treatments for your special day. For the ultimate experience, indulge in an ultra-private retreat reserved for you and your loved one after spa hours. ‘Starlight at the Bathhouse’ includes a mudslide for two with a romantic rose petal bath, illuminating candle lights, and a beautifully crafted shared dessert. Toast to this romantic evening with a bottle of sparkling wine, chef bites for two, and a spa keepsake to take home.

Solage has indoor and outdoor event spaces of varying size. Solstice, Solage’s largest indoor event space, is a modern-day farmhouse with vaulted ceilings and sliding window walls that can seat up to 260 guests. The resort’s expert event coordination and on-site catering teams will help you design a dream wedding weekend in the vineyards. Your loved ones will surely enjoy their own stay as they marvel at trellis-filled courtyards, lush lawns, private cottages and suites!

Address: 755 Silverado Trail N, Calistoga, CA 94515

Eagle Vines Golf Club – An Outdoor Marvel

I photographed Bo and Katie’s wedding at Eagle Vines Golf Club and knew then it would not be the last time I was here. While I love being a local Carmel wedding photographer, I also appreciate being able to branch out and meet couples where they are. This ceremony had views of rolling hills and the sunset was spectacular. 

The Eagle Vines Pavilion is an elegant 4000 square foot tent.  It has been set on a beautifully stamped, concrete foundation beside a 300 yard trickling waterfall, creating a calming ambiance.  One half of the tent has clear walls that can be removed to enjoy the elevated views of the nearby mountains, vineyard and golf course. All while providing fresh valley air for your guests! The second half of the pavilion provides a rustic elegance to your Napa California wedding with a solid, custom-built wooden wall, eliminating the typical white wall standard tent.  

What makes the design truly magical is the twelve chandeliers and beautiful white, draped fabric covering the ceiling. It provides up to 250 guests with romantic lighting as evening falls and the stars emerge. What is so incredible about Napa Valley Eagle Vines Golf Club is that you can actually see Mt. Tam in the distance! A wedding here is sure to be remembered.

Address: 580 S Kelly Rd, American Canyon, CA 94503

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PS – while this wasn’t the last time I headed to Eagle Vines Golf Club, it also wasn’t the last time I saw Bo and Katie! I had the privilege of photographing their maternity shoot too! It’s truly the greatest joy to be a destination photographer and travel wherever my couple needs me. For Bo and Katie, after their gorgeous Napa Valley golf course wedding, they mixed it up with a Redwood Maternity Session In The Sequoia Forest, it was so darling. 

Carneros Resort and Spa – An Intimate Experience

The Carneros Resort and Spa has a special focus on small weddings, with their max guest capacity set at 18. Strip down your guest list and have a truly intimate experience. Just because a wedding is smaller doesn’t mean it should be any less grand! My amazing couple, Jon and Ariana, shared an Intimate Luxury Wedding in Big Sur and they did not skip on any of the details important to them!

Carneros micro weddings include a stunning ceremony location, officiant, bridal bouquet and boutonniére. You may also enjoy a solo guitarist for one hour, sparkling wine for a post-ceremony sparkling toast and a selection of mini dessert bites or savory hors d’oeuvres. They have promoted a complimentary night in a garden cottage so make sure you inquire about it! When you host your micro wedding at Carneros Resort and Spa, the resort’s romantic cottages and thoughtful amenities are yours to use, along with the splendor of Napa Valley.

Carneros also offers large scale weddings if that is your desire. Those details can be found here. If you are wondering, “is it expensive to get married in Napa?” I find that hosting your wedding at a large resort provides more leniency. Between base packages and add on amenities, you can design a wedding to accommodate your budget. 

Address: 4048 Sonoma Hwy, Napa, CA 94559

Stanly Ranch – Rustic Meets Modern

Can you get married in a Napa winery? Absolutely! For your vineyard  Napa California wedding, Stanly Ranch is a versatile venue with a lofty, modern and warm space. It’s divisible with both indoor and outdoor terrace space to flex depending on a couple’s wishes and needs.

The Glasshouse Barn is the largest of their event spaces. It features panoramic windows that overlook the vineyards and rolling hills of Stanly Ranch. This modern barn offers both indoor and outdoor space. For couples dreaming of the barn wedding charm but with an elevated twist, this is the perfect space for you! Welcome your guests to cocktail hour on the Glasshouse Terrace and then guide them inside the barn. It will be an unforgettable evening of signature cocktails and all night dancing.

Another reception option at Stanly Ranch is The Garden House, reminiscent of France. This event space boasts massive windows overlooking flower gardens and tons of natural light. The house features a large, romantic fireplace that is perfect for photos with you and your love. I can already picture this space covered in flowers for a delectable garden party wedding!

Address: 200 Stanly Crossroad, Napa, California 94559

Four Seasons Napa Valley – Make a Statement

If you are ready to plan a wedding larger than life, Four Seasons should be a consideration. For your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception and other wedding events – Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley offers indoor and outdoor wedding venues rich with wine country character. They can help you creatively combine several venues for an event that suits your celebration style and personal tastes. My personal favorite venue space at Four Seasons Napa is the Calistoga Ballroom with a vaulted ceiling and a wall of windows. It’s farmhouse-chic style, capturing the essence of Napa Valley. Most impressive is that the glass barn doors slide open to a beautiful garden overlooking the lake. Great wine, beautiful garden, and a lake view?? Timeless.

Address: 400 Silverado Trail N, Calistoga, CA 94515

Sonoma Wedding Venues are an Alternative to Napa California Wedding Venues

If you’re not finding exactly what you want in Napa, expand your search in California wine country to include Sonoma! Sonoma often gets overlooked, but it actually is bigger than Napa. I captured a Surprise Proposal in Sonoma and was so in love with all the wineries. The exact venue for the proposal, Scribe Winery, is not open as a wedding venue but it gives a peek into the beauty of Sonoma!

Gundlach Bundschu Winery – Most Unique 

This family-owned winery and organically farmed vineyard is in the heart of Sonoma. Six generations of the Bundschu family and friends have celebrated life on Rhinefarm with creativity and high spirits. Today, the historic beauty of our 320-acre property allows for endless possibilities when planning your Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding.

With vineyard views, Sonoma vibes, and various venue choices, Gundlach Bundschu invites you to experience the bucolic charm of their historic property.  From springtime weddings with a backdrop of yellow mustard fields to autumn celebrations surrounded by colorful foliage, weddings are hosted year round. 

This venue is especially unique as it has a wine cave for guests! From the tasting room, you pass through heavy wooden doors to access the tunnel. From there, you can exit to the other side and find yourself overlooking the vineyards and an enormous lake. Carved into a gentle hillside, the 430-foot-long, 10,000-square-foot cave holds 1,800 barrels of wine at Gundlach Bundschu Winery! The cave dining room can seat up to 25 people for an intimate dining experience. The outdoor wedding venues can accommodate up to 150 people. I also love that they are very vocal with their support of LGBTQ+ weddings!

Address: 2000 Denmark St, Sonoma, CA 95476

Let’s Connect to Plan Your Napa California Wedding

By choosing a Napa Valley elopement, you’ll find numerous activities post wedding. In addition to the wine tours, you may also enjoy bike tours, hiking, kayaking and romantic hot air balloon rides. Come for your wedding and stay for a honeymoon. There are stunning locations all over California and beyond- I’m always willing to travel! I’d love to be your destination photographer for Napa and wherever else your love story takes you! Contact me here.