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Updated Mar 06, 202514 Stunning Venues for a Napa Valley Wine Country Wedding
Whether you love wine or just love the laid-back elegance of a vineyard, one of these Napa Valley wedding venues should fit the bill.
Whether you're a dedicated oenophile or just love the idea of toasting to "I do" surrounding by grapevines, you'll find the ideal Napa Valley wedding venue. The Napa Valley A.V.A, (American Viticultural Area) was the first in California and still maintains its reputation as the epicenter of America's wine-growing industry. Though it was fairly rustic back in the 1980s, today, Napa Valley is upscale—but it hasn't forgotten its farm-town routes.
Wedding venues in Napa Valley's wine country range from genuine castles to ceremony sites beneath oak trees and reception venues in the middle of acres and acres of grape fields. Downtown Napa is urban, stylish and luxurious, offering plenty of lodging options to accommodate even the largest of weddings. And interior Northern California is easy to reach, with international airports in San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento.
Not every vineyard or tasting room in Napa Valley is licensed to hold weddings, but many are licensed for dinners or non-wedding events. That allows you to host your welcome dinner, ceremony and reception, and any day-after events across a variety of locations, giving your guest a chance to experience the variety—and varietals— available in the Napa area.
Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, California
Sure, a wedding in a cellar may not sound romantic—unless that cellar is a candlelit stone wine cellar at the Meritage Resort and Spa. Ceremonies or family-style receptions with market tables can be held inside the arched-roof wine cave, allowing you to have an indoor and outdoor celebration. You can stay your "I dos" in the cave before moving outdoors for an elegant dinner under the stars or host your vows in the vineyards before wowing everyone with an intimate underground dinner.
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While The Meritage is more than capable of handling small elopements or destination weddings, it's also an ideal Napa Valley wedding venue for large celebrations: between the vineyard ceremony venue and the Meritage Ballroom, the resort can accommodate up to 600 guests. It's one of the largest – and most elegant – wedding venues in the Napa area.
The Culinary Institute of America: Napa or St. Helena, California
Don't want a vineyard for your Napa wedding? No problem: the Culinary Institute of America is a sprawling venue inside a series of stunning buildings. Think stone walls covered in ivy, and indoor reception in a cellar with massive oak barrels lining the walls, or outdoor ceremonies in a grassy amphitheater. As you might imagine, the food is all gourmet, with farm-to-table options and a variety of local wines. And if you're getting married elsewhere, you can also choose to just host your rehearsal dinner here – an ideal option for foodies. There are actually two different culinary institutes of America in the area: the modern venue in Napa, and the more traditionally styled academy in nearby St. Helena.
Auberge du Soleil in Napa, California
If you're planning a formal, elegant Napa wedding, look no further than Auberge du Soleil - the Inn of the Sun. Located in an olive grove, the five-star hotel is Michelin-starred, ensuring the culinary experience during your wedding day is unrivaled. Wedding ceremonies are usually outdoors on one of the terraced lawns looking out on the Napa Valley. The Auberge, as it's called, is well-known for offering some of the best views in Napa Valley, and since they frequently hold weddings, the event team can assist in all aspects of planning. That makes it ideal for destination weddings or guests planning from out of town.
Carneros Resort & Spa in Napa, California
Couples looking for a modern wedding venue in Napa will want to consider the Carneros Resort and Spa, centrally located in Napa. Rather than offering a rustic, earthy setting, Carneos has a contemporary design that mirrors the natural landscape. Most wedding ceremonies are held in the 3,000-square-foot Arbor, with a massive contemporary trellis bookmarked by two sizable palm trees. The celebration can then continue to an elegant ballroom with outdoor space, or to the courtyard, where small weddings can have family-style tables are arranged next to a modern stone fireplace. Of course, your guests can also stay on-site at Carneros Resort and take advantage of the high-end facilities during the day, so it's more of a getaway wedding weekend than just a single event.
Silverado Resort in Napa California
There's nothing quite like a destination wedding in Napa, where your guests travel to the area and spend your entire wedding weekend in one place, bonding and celebrating. Silverado Resort is the ideal place to accomplish just that, with 340 guest rooms so your whole crew can stay on premises. As for event spaces, you'll find both indoor and outdoor options to choose from, including The Grove, an outdoor space perfect for both ceremonies and receptions, the popular Mansion Garden for ceremonies and the Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 280 guests. And don't worry, there's a small vineyard at the resort so you can definitely take those wedding portraits amid the vines.
Fairview Napa in Napa California
Affordability and Napa wedding venues aren't usually found in the same sentence, but with packages starting at just $80 per guest, Fairview Napa is unique to the area. Exchange vows in the garden, followed by a reception in the 3,000 square foot pavilion with a wall of windows and draped ceiling. All told, this venue can host up to 200 guests, and wins raves from couples for the food, atmosphere and team. Says one recent bride: "They made the planning process super easy, and as low stress as possible. Honestly couldn't have asked for a better team of people to work with."
The Napa River Inn in Napa, California
You don't have to drive out to the vines to have a stunning Napa Valley wedding. If you'd rather stay near the convenience of Napa's elegant downtown area, you may like the Napa River Inn, housed in the Historic Napa Mill. Your guests won't have to worry about transportation all weekend as they can walk to the venue, as well as to restaurants and tasting rooms downtown.
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It's ideal for couples interested in a riverfront wedding, complete with elegant industrial touches and no shortage of dining options. Since the Inn works with nearby vendors, you can have your cocktail hour catered by the rustic Napa General Store and have a wedding cake – or full wedding dessert bar – whipped up by nearby Sweetie Pies bakery. If you love the idea of getting married in Napa but don't want to travel far, The Napa River Inn is a winning choice.
The Estate Yountville in Yountville, California
Just north of Napa in Yountville is The Estate Yountville, an all-in-one venue that has everything you need on-site for a stress-free wedding weekend. That doesn't, however, mean that it's all about cookie-cutter weddings. The venue has a variety of different locations and amenities to ensure your wedding is personalized to you. Your wedding party can stay in a vintage villa or celebrate the night before in the elegant bar and game room.
Couples will want to take photos under the ivy-covered walkways – unless, of course, you'd prefer the resort to arrange a hot-air balloon. Your ceremony can be in a private clearing in the house vineyards, under an open-air pavilion or one of half a dozen other spaces. There aren't too many limits to the type of wedding you can have at the Estate, making it ideal for couples dreaming big when it comes to their special day.
V. Sattui Winery in Sonoma, California
For a classic Napa Valley wine country wedding, complete with rolling hills covered in grapes, shady oak trees and a cobblestone dance floor, choose V. Sattui Winery. About 25 minutes north of Napa, V. Sattui can host weddings in the courtyard outside it's European-inspired two-story tasting room, or out in the vineyards – and yes, your guests can be treated to a glass of estate wine as they take the gentle stroll to the ceremony site. Sonoma tends to be a little more laid-back than Napa, but because they're so close, it's easy to host events in both towns over the course of a weekend.
Receptions are indoors in the wine cellar or al fresco on one of several terraces. If you're looking for a Napa-area wedding venue that perfectly blends rustic charm with low-key elegance, custom cuisine and a variety of postcard-worthy backdrops, you'll love V. Sattui – especially since you can offer a quirky olive-oil tasting to guests to accompany their wine tasting during cocktail hour.
The Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch in St. Helena, California
Just a quick drive north of Napa Valley is St. Helena, an equally appealing wine town with more of a relaxed, country vibe. And if that's the tone you're trying to set for your big day, take a look at The Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. It's a rustic, outdoor venue with a heavy focus on farm-to-table food and sustainable cuisine. Most wine country weddings here are held outdoors, with five reception sites and five ceremony sites to choose from. The Ranch can accommodate weddings of up t0 300 guests and help arrange wine tasting tours through nearby town like Calistoga or Sonoma before or after the big day.
The Ranch at Lake Sonoma in Healdsburg, California
Before you sacrifice your lakeside wedding dreams to host a wine country wedding, look at The Ranch at Lake Sonoma – a venue where you can have both. Receptions are in the venue's vintage barn (or outdoors, if you have more than 150 guests) and wedding ceremonies are outdoors on a cliff overlooking the lake. It's one of the most unique venues in wine country, and while outdoorsy guests can camp on-site, there are plenty of more posh wedding venues in the nearby town of Healdsburg.
Suisan Valley Inn at Monroe Ranch in Fairfield, California
Couples dreaming of a wine country wedding with a touch of farm wedding thrown in will love the Suisun Valley Inn at Monroe Ranch. Most celebrations are held outdoors overlooking the vines and a complete outdoor kitchen makes it easy for your caterers to prepare fresh food on site. This is one of the wedding venues in wine country that allows you to erect tents, making it a great choice for couples who want to have a backup plan in case of inclement weather (though it's almost always sunny in California's wine country.) Because the Suisan Valley AVA isn't part of the Napa Valley AVA, prices here tend to be a bit more affordable, even though the wine is just as amazing.
The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa in Sonoma, California
If your vision of the perfect wine country wedding includes Italy-inspired elements like a stone barrel house, ivy-covered walls and rows of narrow cypresses trees, you'll love the wedding venues at The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa. Wine tastings are on offer for guests each night, and your wedding reception can be catered by Michael Mina, famous celebrity chef and owner of the hotel's highly rated on-site restaurant. While you don't have to use the resort's on-site wedding coordinator, past couples have raved about how helpful she was for wedding planning, especially for couples holding a destination wedding.
Hans Fahden Vineyards in Calistoga, California
Romantic couples hoping to host an intimate California vineyard wedding in wine country will want to take a look at Hans Fahden Vineyards in Calistoga. The venue has no shortage of beautiful places for wedding photos, including a private pond, wooded walking trails, dirt roads winding under gnarled and twisting oak trees, and even a New England-style covered bridge. but what lands Hans Fahden on this list is the reception site: a candlelit underground wine cave. It's a literal cave, with stone walls and arched ceilings that make it one of the most romantic locations in wine country. The winery offers wedding packages with local preferred vendors, so it can be a somewhat budget-friendly location if you keep the guest list on the small side.
