We were married in the Barn at Chaumette in October 2013. The Barn is the perfect rustic dream, creating an atmosphere like none other that I have experienced at a wedding. Our ceremony was on the lawn right outside the barn, with rolling hills... and the winery as our backdrop. We used Dan Hoerle’s wonderful guitar skills as our background music for the ceremony and cocktail hour. It just made the experience that much better—thank you to Chaumette staff for the recommendation. The barn is set apart from the rest of the winery, providing privacy and amazing views. The natural beauty of the winery, and the barn venue create an ambiance that feels outside of the Midwest.
The food at Chaumette is perfection, a quality you don't normally see at weddings that service hundreds of guests. Dinner at our rehearsal in the barrel room was delicious and intimate. Surrounded by wine barrels and candles, we dined on Chaumette chicken and homemade bread. Our pork at the wedding was such a unique pick, the menu was really a masterpiece. Chef Adam is a hidden gem, if you haven’t eaten at the grapevine grill yet, get there immediately. The night of our reception our guests kept complimenting the amazing food! This is purely preference, but we also had Rhythm of the Night as our band for the evening, and the live music really added to the rustic outdoor experience.
My only complaint throughout the process was the turn over of the staff. I hope that this was a rare experience, and that they have finally settled in, because they have such a good thing going now. I was very nervous when our first wedding planner left, but Jackie Johnson swooped in, and really made our experience fantastic. The spa also had a lot of turnover, which was nerve racking, but when Katherine came into the picture, I immediately felt better. Katherine at the Spa is a dream. She fixed every worry, and was so pleasant to work with. Our hair and makeup experience was very relaxing, and enjoyable. They set aside a private room for all of us to get ready in, as we enjoyed snacks and mimosa’s. It started to rain before our first look, so we also used the spa porch for our first pictures together, still gorgeous, because at Chaumette you can’t find an unappealing view even if you tried.
We did get our own wedding planner involved when the turnover began, which I would highly recommend if you can make it happen, just for your own peace of mind. It was convenient when I didn’t know what questions to ask, or how to make sure that certain details were executed. Chaumette worked very well with our planner, and together they really created the most beautiful and memorable day.
Jackie Johnson is also VERY good at her job--you wouldn't expect her to take on as many roles as she does as the owner of the winery--making sure that all of your wishes come true. A wearer of many hats, she is a truly talented individual, very classy lady, and was a pleasure to work with.
We love Chaumette, it is a winery that we frequent because of their beautiful views, amazing quality of food, and delicious wine. We are so thrilled that we were able to share our love of this beautiful winery with all of our wedding guests, and that we have such wonderful memories from our absolutely perfect day.
If you are looking for a rustic winery wedding, you’ve found it, and your guests surely be impressed!