There’s something very romantic about the idea of a Wine Country wedding. Vino has always been associated with special occasions and celebration, and the pastoral beauty of Wine Country — whether you’re in Sonoma or Carmel — makes for a fabulous backdrop for wedding pictures. If you’re dreaming of having your nuptials among the grape vines, here are a few great places to tie the knot:
With its majestic setting amid mountains filled with vineyards, olive trees and fragrant lavender, Carmel’s Bernardus Lodge is like stepping into the Provençal countryside. Imagine a ceremony at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort underneath a cupola surrounded by flowers. Bridal parties can spend the day before the big event luxuriating at the Four-Star spa with an olive oil wrap or a centering tuning fork massage treatment called Tune in to U.
For the bride and groom who want to wed in a sustainable setting, few hotels have the eco-chic cachet of Four-Star Bardessono Hotel and Spa. The LEED Platinum-certified hotel set in tony Yountville in Napa Valley offers sustainable cuisine and idyllic wedding sites, such as the hotel’s kitchen garden. And of course, hosting nuptials at a hotel makes it easy for everyone to safely celebrate and then turn in afterward.
Meadowood Napa Valley
There are oodles of hotels around Napa that host wedding ceremonies, but if you really want to impress your foodie guests, Four-Star Meadowood will do the trick. Acclaimed chef Christopher Kostow creates cuisine that’s familiar and exquisite all at once. And the setting amid mature trees, flowering bushes and grassy expanses makes Meadowood an especially scenic place to tie the knot.
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyard
It wouldn’t be a wedding celebration without some bubbly, and corks are popping constantly at Gloria Ferrer. The family behind the Spanish cava brand Freixenet founded the sparkling wine house in Sonoma, and it’s one of the few wineries that can host weddings for up to 120 guests year-round. The winery features beautiful vistas of Sonoma’s rolling green hills, a vine-covered arbor that’s perfect for ceremonies, and a grand hall that’s a picturesque place to celebrate your big day with a candlelit dinner.
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse
Head north to the Mendocino Coast and you’ll find gorgeous redwoods, stellar pinot noirs with a Burgundian flair and gorgeous coastal settings. This historic lighthouse dates back to 1909, and it’s situated near charming Craftsman-style cottages and bluffs that, together, make a stunning spot for weddings with up to 150 guests. Or, for a more intimate ceremony, exchange vows with up to 30 guests inside the light station.
Photos courtesy of Gloria Ferrer Caves And Vineyards. Meadowood Napa Valley, Bernardus Lodge and Bardessono Hotel And Spa
