Welcome Drinks

Wedding Day

Decompression

Our Wedding

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Nature We picked this venue because it reflects our love of the outdoors and offers space for guests to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature comfortably. There are 5+ miles of hiking trails on the property, an outdoor kitchen and bath house for campers, and a swimming pond about a mile up from where the camping area will be. Note: You'll be walking on dirt trails or grass between the ceremony and reception. Summer Weather It will likely be a hot summer weekend with daytime temperatures in the high 80s-90s, and evening temperatures dropping into the 50s. We'll provide parasols, hand fans, and all the buildings onsite will have AC if you need a break from the heat during the day.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR THE CEREMONY?

Festive cocktail attire in a shade of green. The ceremony and reception will be outdoors, so we suggest optimizing for the heat. It's still Mendocino County though, so make sure to bring layers for when the temperature drops in the evening. Moreover, this nature-forward venue will require comfortable shoes - we recommend flats, wedges, booties, or block heels. There's a 10 minute hike on a dirt trail between the ceremony location and the reception area. See photo below. If you're unable to do the hike, just let us know ahead of time. We're happy to provide a ride for you!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY FESTIVE (GREEN) COCKTAIL ATTIRE?

Festive: bright colors with florals, prints, and flair... have fun with it! Green: We request that guests dress in a shade of green, or find ways to incorporate green into their attire: green dress shirts, pocket squares, ties, shawls or wraps, shoes, accessories, etc. Cocktail: "a small step above semi-formal, though not as formal as black-tie optional or black-tie." For more details, check out <a href="https://www.brides.com/story/wedding-dress-code-explained " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.brides.com/story/wedding-dress-code-explained </a> Still not sure what any of this looks like? Check out this Pinterest board! <a href="https://pin.it/2MQuIYS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://pin.it/2MQuIYS</a>

WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE FOR THE CEREMONY?

If you're staying offsite, we recommend arriving by 3pm to give yourself time to park, get oriented, and walk to the ceremony area. Note to the Filipino Fam: The ceremony will start promptly at 3:30pm. Not kidding.

Is there an after party?

Yes... We encourage you to camp onsite if you'd like to party late into the evening with us.

CAN I BRING MY KIDS?

We love your little ones, but we'd like to make this event a mostly adult affair. Children 12 years or older of family members are welcome.

CAN I HAVE A PLUS ONE?

Unfortunately, we are only able to accommodate guests named or counted in the save the dates &amp; invitations. Thank you for understanding.

CAN I BRING MY FUR BABY?

Unfortunately, the venue does not allow pets on the property unless they're involved in the ceremony.

IS THERE PARKING ONSITE?

Yes, and we highly recommend carpooling as much as possible. We anticipate that we'll reach the maximum capacity for the parking lot onsite. If you're in need of a ride from the Bay Area, we can help coordinate carpools as we get closer to the date.

CAN I CAMP ONSITE WITH YOU?

Yes! Our venue allows camping for up to 50 people. We encourage you to stay onsite so you can enjoy the trails and views, spend more time with us, and relax all weekend. You're welcome to bring your own tent, camper, van, or small RV. There's a lovely (clean, well-lit) bath house with showers, restrooms, sinks, and mirrors in the camping area. If you’re interested in camping with us, you can view more details in the Accommodations tab and fill out the form to officially reserve a camping spot. If we've reached out to you about alternative onsite accommodations, please message Amy for booking and payment details.

WHAT IF CAMPING ISN'T MY THING?

No worries. There's a few options for hotels and AirBnBs in the area. We just suggest that you book as soon as you know you'll be joining us as rooms may be scarce in the summertime around Boonville and Ukiah. Check out our Accommodations tab for a list of nearby hotels, their pricing, and approximate distance from the venue. We also have a room block at the Hampton Inn in Ukiah. Let them know you're with the "Blanchard-Abito Wedding."

WHAT'S DECOMPRESSION ABOUT?

We suspect we'll want to ease into Sunday, so we'll be taking it slow. After breakfast burritos in the barn, we'll mosey over to the swimming pond to swap stories from the night before, take a dip, and enjoy some beverages from our cooler backpacks. If you're able to stick around, we'd love for you to join us. Bring your swimsuits and something to drink! (and fun floaties if you've got them)

Wedding Party

Q + A

The address for Bell Valley Retreat is12378 Boonville Road, Boonville, CA, 95415 If you're coming from the Bay Area, you can get to Bell Valley Retreat via US-101 and/or I-80 within 2-2.5 hours. If you're coming from out of town, we suggest flying into San Francisco (SFO) or Oakland (OAK) airport and driving 2-2.5 hours to Bell Valley Retreat. The nearest airport is Santa Rosa (STS), ~1 hour from Bell Valley Retreat, but there are a limited number of cities that offer flights here. This airport is a great option if you're flying in from Los Angeles, Orange County, Burbank, Phoenix, Dallas, Palm Springs, Portland, Seattle, or San Diego. The best way to get from the airport to Bell Valley is by car, and we strongly recommend renting one if you fly in. Once you've made the drive up to Anderson Valley, there's a ton for you to explore, and you’ll need a car to do so. It's probably easiest and most economical to rent at the airport.

Travel

Guests have the option of camping onsite with us or booking a room offsite. If you'd like to camp onsite in your own tent, camper, or RV, please reserve your spot through <a href="https://forms.gle/Fdxi9993XrTFAkH1A" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this form</a>. If we've reached out to you about alternative onsite accommodations, do not fill out the form. Please message Amy for booking and payment details.

Onsite

A big reason we chose Bell Valley as our venue was its capacity to offer our guests the option to camp! BYOT (bring your own tent - or borrow one of ours) camping will be available for approximately 50 guests. Additionally, if you'd like to camp in your van, camper, or small RV, there are a limited number of flat places to park and plug into on the property. There's an outdoor kitchen with potable water, a grill, and a fridge in the camping area if you'd like to bring your own snacks for Saturday breakfast and lunch. Alternatively, there are great food options in the town of Boonville (check out the "Things to Do" tab) just 10 min away. Let us know if you need to borrow any camping items, especially if you're flying in. To officially reserve a campsite:Please fill out <a href="https://forms.gle/2vZGQfS6noMbMHQt7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this form</a> Cost: $20 per tent or van per night // $40 for the whole weekend ﻿

Bathrooms

If you're interested in camping, but are a little concerned about the prospect of embracing nature in all its forms, read on! Bell Valley has a Bath House which contains 3 large showers with hot water, several accessible bathrooms, two large sink and mirror areas, plenty of electrical outlets, and even a washer/dryer. There's also a large, air-conditioned yurt near the Bath House where we'll provide a privacy screen and mirror so you can get party-ready comfortably.

Offsite

Boonville, CA

Boonville Hotel | <a href="http://www.boonvillehotel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.boonvillehotel.com/</a> 10 min from Bell Valley RetreatThe Boonville Hotel offers 17 unique and comfortable rooms. Prices vary from $255 to $525 per night with breakfast included. There is a two-night minimum. The hotel has a lovely farm-to-table restaurant (more details in the "Things to Do" section). Indian Creek Inn | <a href="http://www.indiancreekinn.biz/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.indiancreekinn.biz/</a>15 min from Bell Valley RetreatIndian Creek Inn has beautiful views over winding vineyards and rolling hills. This might be a great option for families or groups of friends that want private rooms and bathrooms with shared common areas. The rooms range in price from $260 (standard for 2 people) to $310 (suite for 4 people) per night. There are 15 rooms clustered in 5 hubs, each hub offering its own shared common room with kitchen, dining, and relaxation spaces. There is a two-night minimum. The Inn is actually located in the small town of Philo, CA, which is a 6 min drive from Boonville. Anderson Valley Inn | <a href="http://avinn.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://avinn.com/</a>15 min from Bell Valley RetreatAnderson Valley Inn provides its guests with some of the most budget-friendly accommodations in Anderson Valley. Rooms have a two-night minimum and begin at $155 for a standard room with a queen bed, and top off at $198 for a suite with a queen and a single bed. Philo Apple Farm | <a href="https://www.philoapplefarm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.philoapplefarm.com/</a>20 min from Bell Valley RetreatPhilo Apple Farm is a great option for a group of friends or a family interested in a secluded stay in quaint wooden cottages surrounded by apple trees. There are four options for housing at the Farm, all of which include light breakfast (with jams made from the fruit on the property), which run for $375 a night with a two-night minimum. Fun fact, the founders of the French Laundry own the Farm, and the New York Times wrote a nice <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/magazine/01food-t-000.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">piece</a> about them. Various AirBnBs in the area are great for medium to large groups looking for accommodations near the property.

Ukiah, CA

The Hampton Inn Ukiah | <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ukhcahx-hampton-ukiah/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a> *Room Block Available20 min from Bell Valley RetreatThe Hampton Inn offers nice rooms and a complimentary breakfast. There is also an outdoor hot tub and swimming pool. We've secured a room block and a slight discount with rooms for $199 per night. If booking online, the group code is CBW. Use this code on the reservation search screen under special rates.&nbsp;We've been told that it's easier to call the hotel directly and select “0” or stay on the line beyond the phone tree option to get the hotel front desk directly to make your reservation. Let them know you're with the "Blanchard-Abito Wedding." Holiday Inn Express &amp; Suites Ukiah | <a href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/ukiah/ukiuh/hoteldetail" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>25 min from Bell Valley RetreatThe Holiday Inn Express offers free parking, an outdoor pool, and a complimentary buffet breakfast. Rooms are $189 per night. If you would prefer something a little less expensive, you can also find some budget hotels with rooms under $100 in Ukiah.

Accommodations

Onsite 

Hiking, Trail Running, Swimming

There are 5+ miles of well-maintained private trails on the land. Whether you're staying onsite or offsite, we encourage you to explore this beautiful space and all that this 600-acre venue has to offer. Though we have a plan to lead folks on a hike (about 1 mile) to the swimming pond on Sunday, you're more than welcome to check it out anytime during the weekend.

Eating & Drinking

Within 10 minutes of Bell Valley Retreat: If you're looking for breakfast or your morning coffee, <a href="https://www.boonvillegeneralstore.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Boonville General Store</a> and <a href="https://www.mosswoodmarketcafe.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mosswood Market Cafe &amp; Bakery</a> have you covered. Make sure to stop by <a href="http://www.sweetpaysanne.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paysanne</a> for some ice cream and other sweet treats too! For a special meal, <a href="https://www.boonvillehotel.com/eat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Restaurant at The Boonville Hotel</a> offers "an authentic farm to table experience... highlighting seasonal produce, herbs, and edible flowers, some of which are grown in the restaurant’s garden." They do family-style prix fixe dinners from Thursday through Monday, and are famous for their Paella Sundays. <a href="https://www.exploretock.com/theboonvillehotelandrestaurant" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reservations</a> required. The <a href="https://avbc.com/visit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Anderson Valley Brewing Company</a> is well known for its beer and FREE 18-hole disc golf course (8am-6pm). Pick up some sandwiches in Boonville and head over to this dog &amp; family-friendly "beer park." They're open Thursday through Monday 12pm-6pm (7pm on Fridays). <a href="https://www.pennyroyalfarm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pennyroyal Farm</a>'s cheese and wine shop is open Thursday through Monday (10am-5pm); they also do farm tours at 10:30 am. Every goat, sheep, and cheese has a name! The guided farm tour includes a cheese tasting experience and wine flight. Reservations required for tastings and farm tours. Check out this <a href="https://avinn.com/activities/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Activities page</a> from Anderson Valley Inn for more things to do (wine tasting, shopping, art galleries, botanical gardens...)

Hiking in the Redwoods

<a href="https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/438/files/HendyWoodsSP_020812.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hendy Woods State Park</a>&nbsp;protects two groves of towering redwoods where some of the trees are more than 300 feet tall and 1,000 years old! There are <a href="http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Hendy/Hendy.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">five miles of trails </a>in the park itself, which are fairly level.&nbsp;The park is just 20 minutes from Bell Valley. To reach the park, drive 8 miles NW of Boonville on Highway 128, then turn left on Philo-Greenwood Road, and, in 0.5 miles, turn left at the Hendy Woods State Park sign. The ranger station is just another 0.2mi down the road.

Hiking & Hot Springs

<a href="http://www.vichysprings.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vichy Springs Resort and Inn</a> is about 10 minutes from the Holiday Inn in Ukiah and 25 minutes from Bell Valley. You can get 2-hour and 3-hour Day Use passes Monday through Friday to access the Vichy Mineral Baths, olympic size swimming pool, hot pool, and 700 acres of walking and hiking trails. The hiking trails on the property take you to a waterfall and beyond.

Things to Do

We met in 2014 while working for a small startup in San Francisco... He was a product manager and she was a designer. He planned hiking trips and formed a yoga club at work in an attempt to get close... but she was pretty oblivious. Thankfully he finally asked her out on a date (twice, because she didn't realize he was asking her out the first time around). Chris is the outdoorsy, mountain-climbing, backpacking guy with a quick wit and a dark sense of humor; a classic extrovert. Amy is the creative, nature-loving, color-obsessed, designer girl and a classic introvert. Together we love to be outside anywhere there's swaths of blue or green (or golden brown if you think of Sonoma county in the summertime), we've found a new love in gardening, and we really love a good party—especially in the desert.&nbsp; We've spent the last 8 years traveling, wearing silly costumes, and learning and growing together— and covid lockdowns taught us that we can stand being around each other all the time. So come join us while we share our feelings under a big oak tree and dance the night away under the stars. We can't wait to give you a big hug!

Amy & Chris

Amy & Chris

Photos