Northern California will easily make you fall in love (if you haven’t already) – from its gorgeous golden coastline to its diverse landscapes – it’s a place that’s unforgettable.
It’s also the perfect place to get married!
And, since Northern California is already known as Wine Country what better way to say “I do” than at a beautiful Northern California winery surrounded by mountains or a beautiful landscape with vineyard views?
As a Wedding and Elopement photographer who is also an avid traveler, there’s something so dreamy and romantic about Northern California.
In this blog post, you’re going to find suggestions for winery wedding venues in Northern California, different times of the year to have your wedding and what they entail, and answers to your Northern California wedding venue questions!
Winery Wedding Venues in Northern California
The great news about choosing a wedding venue in Northern California is that there are so many options to choose from depending on where you want to be and also based on what you’re looking for. There are many, many more places I could add to this list but this is a great starting point for some incredible options.
Mettler Family Vineyards is surrounded by lush vineyards and exudes timeless charm with its landscape, sparkling pond, manicured lawn, and more. This is a family-owned vineyard and is known for its scenic views that come with a personalized touch. Your guests can sip on the wine from the venue while admiring the sun-dappled rows of grapevines and the peaceful, serene environment.
Tre Posti is located in the heart of Napa Valley and this location has so much to offer! The venue offers views of its gorgeous landscaped ground, majestic mountains, a forest, and its vineyard – just to name a few. This location sets the stage for an extraordinary celebration and is surrounded by the best of what Napa Valley can offer you on your special day.
Want a winery wedding venue that is rustic-chic? Incorporates historical details? Has panoramic views? Then look no further than Trione Vineyards and Winery. This venue has beautiful landscaped lawns, and rustic elegance, and is surrounded by sweeping views of Alexander Valley.
If your dream wedding venue is to be surrounded by rolling hills, a babbling creek, and a barn that has rustic charm but is beautifully restored you should definitely look at Red Barn Ranch. Red Barn Ranch is family-owned, is a 100-acre property, and offers weekend-long rentals just to name a few of its amazing features.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Northern California
Each season in Northern California has its own unique charm and things that you should consider for the time of year you’re planning to get married.
Spring in Northern California
Spring in Northern California is typically considered to be from March to May and if you want to have weather that is comfortable and temperate this is a great time of year to consider. However, be aware that occasional rain showers are possible.
What wines pair best with a spring wedding?
When you think about the word spring some other words that come to mind might be “refreshing”, “light”, “floral” etc. so you’ll definitely want to choose wines to match.
Some of my suggestions are –
- Sauvignon Blanc – for a light, crisp flavor that is also refreshing
- Rose – for a bright, refreshing flavor and ideal for guests who don’t want a white wine
- Chardonnay – to have a versatile white wine
Fall in Northern California
Who doesn’t want to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage of Northern California and the harvest season? If you want to get married in the fall in Northern California it happens from September – November. The weather at this time of year can range anywhere from mild to warm and will allow you to fully enjoy and experience the vineyard that you’ve chosen as your venue.
What wines pair best with a fall wedding?
Opposite of spring wine pairings which were all white wine suggestions my suggestions for this time of year are to pair your wedding with tasty red wines such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, or even Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winter in Northern California
Winter runs from December through February and the weather at this time of the year will be cool and wet with occasional frost in some areas. If you’re thinking you want an indoor wedding with a winery venue as a backdrop this could be a time of year to consider. You’ll definitely want to be dressed for this weather as it can get quite chilly.
What wines pair best with a winter wedding?
Winter weddings, like fall weddings, are great to pair with a tasty red wine such as Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, or Merlot.
Summer in Northern California
Summer is truly a wonderful time for a vineyard wedding! Summer runs from June to August and is filled with warm, long sunny days. Just try to avoid the peak heat of the day and other than that I’m confident you’ll love having a wedding in the summer in Northern California.
What wines pair best with a summer wedding?
You can’t go wrong with a Chenin Blanc or Zinfandel as two of your choices for wine pairings for your summer wedding!
Additional Questions Answered about Getting Married in Northern California
There are a lot of questions that come up when it’s time to start wedding planning and preparation – that’s why I’ve included this quick Q&A section to help answer some of the most popular questions I’ve gotten as a wedding photographer and to help you out a bit more!
What airports are nearby for your guests to use?
There are a lot of airport options to choose from depending on the exact location of your venue and how far your guests will have to travel to arrive at the destination. The most popular airports for their size and convenience are San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, and Sacramento International Airport.
What are California Marriage License requirements?
First, something to know about California is that there are actually two different types of marriage licenses – a public marriage license or a confidential marriage license. You’ll need to figure out which one you want.
A marriage license fee varies based on what county is issuing it and can range from around $60-$110 and there is no waiting period to get married in California.
To get married in California you need to obtain a marriage license from the County Clerk’s office before your marriage ceremony. You’ll need to bring a valid government photo identification, like a driver’s license, and both you and your partner must be present together when applying for the license. For more information on everything you need to know about applying for a marriage license go here.
Should you have a wedding planner?
For your Northern California wedding, I suggest also considering hiring a wedding planner for your special day. As someone who has been in the wedding industry for a while one thing I always want for the bride and groom is to just be able to enjoy your special day and not be trying to put out a million little fires throughout the wedding – that’s why having a wedding planner is great. A wedding planner will help you with your day-of coordination, guest management, and they will handle any unexpected issues or emergencies discreetly and efficiently for you!
Which Northern California wineries have the best views?
With many things to consider such as your budget, location, and personal preferences there are many different answers to this question but some places you can look at depending on where you want your wedding in Northern California include:
Napa Valley – check out Beringer Vineyards or V. Sattui Winery as potential options.
Sonoma County – check out Buena Vista Winery or Ram’s Gate Winery.
Santa Cruz Mountains – take a look at Ridge Vineyards.
What vendors can make your wedding day easier?
I get this question a lot so I want to give you a quick list you can reference. Vendors can make so much of a difference at your wedding and truly make it feel like you have significantly less to worry about.
Consider hiring a decorator, a wedding coordinator/planner, a band, and an on-site HMUA if you want your wedding day to feel truly easy and a lot less stressful.
What style of photos is great for a winery wedding?
This is another question I get a lot and my first response is that it depends mainly on your own personal preferences but think about if you want documentary photos vs. posed. What’s more important to you? Or do you want a mix of both?
If you want both you’re going to want to hire a wedding photographer who can give you both – don’t just go with someone who offers traditional wedding photos and hope they’ll also give you documentary photos. Documentary photos are a different skill set. I would suggest for your winery wedding having a mix of both posed and documentary-style photos.
Timeline to consider for your wedding depending on the season
Let’s talk about timelines you can use for spring, summer and fall weddings taking into consideration the average time the sun will set and a potential timeline you can use so that you can get the best photos on your wedding day at your chosen winery!
Spring Wedding
- Start at 3:00 pm
- 4:00 pm cocktail hour begins
- 4:30 wedding photos – this is a great time around an hour before sunset and with optimal lighting for your pictures
- 7:00 pm – take sunset photos
- 8:00 pm – dance and reception
Fall Wedding
- Start at 2:00 pm
- 3:00 pm cocktail hour begins
- 3:30 wedding photos
- 5:00 pm – take your sunset photos
- 6:00 pm – dance and reception
Summer Wedding
- Start at 4:00 pm
- 5:00 pm cocktail hour begins
- 5:30 wedding photos
- 8:00 pm – take your sunset photos
- 9:00 pm – dance and reception
Final Thoughts: Northern California Wedding Venues: Winery Edition
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about winery wedding venues in Northern California!
If there are any additional questions you have that you didn’t see answered in this blog post you can always send me a message below!
And…
If you are still in search of a photographer to team up with for your wedding, I’d be so honored to learn more about you and your partner’s love story. You deserve a photographer who captures your day in a one-of-a-kind way and truly takes the time to understand your quirks and unique dynamics. You can click here to contact me!
