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I love photographing beautiful wedding ceremonies in Napa Valley. Napa Valley is not only a local wedding spot but a location for many destination weddings. The beautiful venues and scenery in Napa bring couples from all over to celebrate their weddings. There are so many beautiful wedding venues in Napa Valley that all offer a little something different. Some venues offer gorgeous mountain views that are vast and grand. Other venues offer intimate spots for dinner in a vineyard or a garden wedding. Even weddings that happen at the same venues all look so different depending on their vendor team and the time of year. Napa Valley is beautiful year round, making it a dream destination. Northern California is also home to fresh local produce and beautiful florals. The options for making your wedding weekend special are truly endless. 

The perk of hosting your wedding celebration at a Napa winery is that you’re able to serve your guests incredible, local wine. Many properties even grow some of their own produce which is a really fun and special touch to include for your wedding dinner. Because these growing temperatures are so ideal, nearly year round, floral ingredients and the foliage on properties are so fresh. And often times, the grounds on the venue are prepared to be beautiful year round with seasonal ingredients. 

The Key to a Venue is a Planner

Whether you are recently engaged or in the midst of planning your wedding on your own, I recommend hiring a seasoned wedding planner to help guide you! There are so many incredible, talented, and super creative wedding planners that service Napa Valley and they know the venues and the possibilities. The Napa Valley wedding planners have lasting relationships with venues making the working relationship so easy and seamless.

Planners are so much more than just “planning” but really make planning a wedding a joyful experience. I look at hiring a wedding planner like hiring an architect or an interior designer: hiring a professional unlocks so many resources that we just do not have access to on our own. Wedding planners have lasting relationships with reliable, talented, and honest vendors and they are so skilled at making the day and every day leading up to your wedding day so easy. 

Make The Venue Special

It’s beautiful to hear all of the stories about why couples choose their wedding venue and destination. For some, they took their first trip together to Napa to visit their favorite wineries. For other couples, they grew up in Napa and their venue is basically in their backyard! Make sure to express these emotions to your planner so you can find the venue that matches you the best!

Top Wedding Venues for Napa Valley

My very top choice for a wedding ceremony in Napa is a private family estate. I love the customizability and the personal connection involved with a private estate. Since not everyone has access to a private estate in Napa, I have complied some wedding venues.

After doing research on venues in Napa Valley and knowing the preferences of wedding planners after being in the industry, I’ve compiled a list. These are just my current favorites, but there are many more than just the ones on this list.

Fioli Gardens

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Filoli is a beautiful, historic property. There is gorgeous architecture and wonderful options for indoor and outdoor spaces for the various events of the day. The ceremony site at Filoli Gardens has a beautiful backdrop that is perfect for a floral install and incorporates the architecture. 

Beaulieu Gardens

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Beaulieu is a Paula LeDuc property which means you will not only experience the most beautiful grounds during your wedding ceremony, but your food will be the highest quality, in season, best tasting food. Beaulieu is such a beautiful options for a wedding ceremony if you’re leaning towards a European, garden style. Between the Rose Garden, the Culinary garden, the vineyard, and the park, you will feel like you’re strolling England. There are so many beautiful spots for all of your wedding day and wedding weekend events.

Meadowood Napa Valley

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Meadowood is a gorgeous option for a wedding ceremony in Napa Valley. Meadowood is very east coast meets west coast. If you’re planning on having a full wedding weekend with guests arriving early, Meadowood is a perfect option as it offers so many activities on site. Your guests and wedding party can golf, play tennis or croquet, and there is wonderful hiking. The driving range is the perfect blank canvas for a beautiful tented cocktail hour and reception and the east coast architecture is the perfect background for bridal party and family portraits.

Black Swan Lake

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At Black Swan Lake, you will have the beautiful lake as the backdrop for your wedding ceremony. It’s so romantic and elegant. There are lush trees all over the property which is perfect for portraits every where you turn.

French Laundry

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The French Laundry is a unique and intimate spot for a wedding ceremony. You and your guests will be treated with the most delicious, fine French cuisine and gorgeous al fresco dining. 

Calistoga Ranch

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Calistoga Ranch is nestled in the mountains and has the coziest feel. The lodging and the views are so unique and will provide a true experience for you and your guests. There are so many beautiful spots around the property that make it perfect for a wedding. You can enjoy the outdoor, mountain air during the day and have a fun celebration in the wine cellar in the evening. 

It’s not a secret that Napa Valley is one of the best destinations for a wedding ceremony. With near perfect weather year round and so many activities, you can provide such a fun and luxurious experience for your family, bridal party, and wedding guests with a weekend full of wedding activities. If you’re wanting to get a little bit of everything in, you could choose different venues for your welcome dinner, rehearsal dinner, wedding day, and farewell brunch. You can plan activities for your guests that will have them talking about your wedding weekend for years to come. Napa is the perfect place for hiking, swimming, biking, and of course, the food and wine!