If you’re thinking about getting married at a Napa Valley wedding venue, well, I envy you. Stunning setting, five-star food, and all the world-class wine you could want!
As a wedding photographer who’s photographed over 100 weddings, I’ve put together a list of the best wedding venues in Napa Valley (plus some in Sonoma and the Bay Area, too).
1. Merryvale Vineyards
Discover the Charm of Merryvale Winery: A Family-Owned Gem for Celebrations and More
Nestled in the heart of the wine country, Merryvale Winery is a family-owned vineyard renowned for its warm hospitality and exceptional wines. With generations of passion and dedication, this winery offers more than just tasting experiences — it’s a perfect destination for your wedding, elopement or proposal!!
A Family Tradition of Excellence
Merryvale Winery has been proudly family-owned, ensuring a personal touch in every aspect of their service. The owners’ commitment to quality and tradition shines through in their meticulously crafted wines and the welcoming atmosphere they create for visitors and event guests alike.
My Personal Experience
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Merryvale Winery on three separate occasions, and each time, I am overwhelmed with joy by the warmth and knowledge of the staff. Their genuine hospitality and deep understanding of wine-making truly enhance the experience, making every visit memorable. As a wedding photographer myself, I highly recommend this location for couples seeking a stunning and hospitable venue for their wedding day. The team’s dedication and the scenic beauty of the estate make it an ideal setting to capture lifelong memories.
Unforgettable Weddings, Elopements, and Proposals
Whether you’re envisioning a grand wedding, intimate elopement, or a romantic proposal, Merryvale Winery provides a stunning setting to celebrate life’s most memorable moments. One of the standout features is their private vineyards, where weddings take place amidst lush grapevines and breathtaking scenery. Imagine exchanging vows surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards, creating a truly magical and picturesque experience for you and your loved ones.
Their dedicated event staff works closely with couples to craft a personalized celebration that reflects your unique love story. The natural beauty of the vineyard setting provides an idyllic backdrop for both small, intimate gatherings and large celebrations.
The Barrel Cask Room: The Perfect Reception Venue
A highlight of Merryvale Winery is their Barrel Cask Room — a charming and elegant space perfect for hosting lavish wedding receptions, dinners, and gatherings. With its warm ambiance, historic charm, and exquisite wine offerings, the Barrel Cask Room creates an unforgettable backdrop for celebrating love and friendship.
Experience the beauty, tradition, and hospitality of Merryvale Winery — where your special occasion becomes a cherished memory.
For a direct link to their website go to https://www.merryvale.com/
2. Culinary Institute of America
This venue is for couples who put epic food front and center—experience meets impeccable service and dramatic settings.
The Culinary Institute of America offers two stunning wedding venues in Napa Valley:
- The CIA at Greystone, St Helena: This landmark main building (and former monastery) dates back to 1888. Boasting cathedral ceilings and hand-cut stone walls, Greystone offers a classic, historic ambiance for the romantic at heart.
- The CIA at Copia, Napa: The modern building and grounds of Copia provide more venue options, from the light-filled atrium to the scenic outdoor amphitheater. Located in the heart of Napa’s vibrant downtown, Copia is a convenient choice for the contemporary couple.
Whichever Napa venue you choose, you and your guests will be in great hands with the experienced on-site team at the Culinary Institute of America. (And just think of the compliments you’ll get on the meal!)
What is CIA
- Style & Atmosphere: Historic grandeur at Greystone (former monastery, cathedral ceilings, stone walls) and contemporary elegance at Copia (modern atrium, amphitheater). Food & Wine+1
- Capacities & Spaces:
- Copia: Ceremony in culinary gardens (up to 200), Atrium (240), amphitheater (240 seated/600 standing). WeddingWire
- Greystone: Vineyard backdrop ceremonies and historic barrel room (up to 350). WeddingWire
- Cuisine & Service: Farm-to-table menus, full in-house support—coordination, decor, equipment—and exceptional reviews focused on culinary excellence. WeddingWire+1 “The food was absolutely top‑notch… guests raved about how stunning the venue was.” WeddingWire.
3. Charles Krug Winery
Many people searching for Napa Valley wedding venues don’t realize that only five Napa wineries can legally host weddings. Charles Krug is one of them. This venue offers scale and versatility—from intimate ceremonies to grand celebrations—with historic Napa romance baked in.
Founded in 1861, this legendary estate is an elegant place to tie the knot. With your wedding package, you’ll enjoy use of the guest house as well as three ceremony venues:
- Carriage House: Built in 1881, this architectural gem features a renovated ballroom and dining room, cathedral ceiling, period chandeliers, and arched doorways overlooking the Great Lawn.
- Great Lawn: Surrounded by heritage oak trees and Charles Krug’s own vineyards, the Great Lawn is ideal for al fresco weddings both large and small.
- Redwood Cellar: Recently renovated and featured in Architectural Digest, this 1872 building showcasing the Family Reserve Barrel Room is excellent for an intimate rehearsal dinner or wedding reception.
Along with access to all this, you’ll benefit from state-of-the-art production capabilities, upscale food and drink options, and a team of professionals dedicated to making your day as perfect as possible.
What is Charles Krug
- Style & Atmosphere: A storied Napa Valley estate (founded in 1861) that blends vineyard vistas with historic elegance. One of the few wineries permitted to host weddings. Food & Wine+1Charles Krug
- Venue Options & Capacities:
- Great Lawn: Up to 800 seated, 1,200 reception
- Carriage House: Upstairs (300 seated), Downstairs (150)
- Redwood Cellar: Upstairs (110 seated), Downstairs (120)
- Pricing & Features: Rental from $10,000–$15,000 depending on season; includes rehearsal, catering, commercial kitchen, restrooms, market lighting. Wine discounts and guest house prep space available.
- Photogenic Appeal: A photographer’s dream—historic architecture, golden hour in vineyard light, elegant and timeless.
4. Hotel Villagio
Hotel Villagio (part of The Estate Yountville in Napa Valley) is a boutique-style wedding destination blending contemporary glamour with the lush elegance of wine country.
Combining personalized planning with extra little touches (like a wine tasting reception or hot air balloon tour over Napa Valley), Hotel Villagio is a dynamic venue in beautiful Yountville.
You’ll have no shortage of ceremony options among the 55,899 square feet of event space:
- The Barrel Room: Featuring vintage wrought-iron chandeliers, exposed brick, and modern lighting, this ballroom-style space is stunning for ceremonies and receptions alike.
- The Vineyard: Follow a secluded pathway to this intimate event lawn with quintessential wine country vibes.
- The Grove: With two light-filled rooms, the Cypress Room and the Olive Room, the Grove opens onto the Grove Patio, an ideal spot for outdoor dinners and receptions.
- The Social: Comprising both a tall, Napa-chic farmhouse and a private courtyard with water and fire features, the Social offers almost 6,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
- The Pavilion: Dazzle your guests in this huge ceremony space, complete with classic California terraced gardens and gazebo-style stage areas.
Wherever you say “I do” (and toast your marriage afterward), you’ll get the romantic wedding you’ve been dreaming of at Hotel Villagio.
What is Hotel Villagio
✨ Style & Ambience
- A modern, vibrant counterpart to the serene Vintage House, with a “naughty-meets-nice” spirit—ideal for both chic, formal ceremonies and lively cocktail-style celebrations EventectiveThe Venue Report.
- Set across 22 acres of terraced gardens, fountains, vineyards, and rustic-chic architecture—think stone walkways, arbors, water features, and vine-covered walls The Venue ReportThe Vendry.
Venue Options & Capacities
- The Pavilion – ~9,300 ft² indoor/outdoor space framed by gardens and fountains; seats up to ~420 The Vendry.
- The Social – ~11,000 ft² combining farmhouse-style indoor space with courtyard and lawns; seats ~276, opens fully to outdoor lounges, fireplaces, and water features The Vendry.
- The Barrel Room – ~2,700 ft² historic winery ambiance with high ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers; seats ~180, perfect for intimate receptions or indoor ceremonies The Vendry.
- The Vineyard and The Grove as charming smaller, garden-based options EventectiveThe Venue Report.
- Overall capacity up to ~400 seated / ~700 standing depending on configuration The Venue ReportEventective.
Services & Amenities
- Full-service venue: Onsite catering, wedding planner, bar services, valet & parking, spa access, Wi-Fi, A/V equipment, bridal suite—everything handled by staff The Venue ReportNapa Valley.
- Luxury accommodations: 112 rooms + 22 suites at Hotel Villagio, plus a multi-bedroom villa; amenities include in-room minibars, balconies, oversized tubs, plus pool, spa, fitness center, and wine-tasting coordination U.S. News TravelThe Estate Yountville Resortetraveltrips.com.
- Farm-to-table dining onsite (Chef Michael Chiarello’s restaurants, Bottega, Perry Lang’s BBQ) and walking distance to French Laundry & Bouchon Bakery The Venue ReportThe Estate Yountville Resort.
Experience & Pricing
- A stylish wine-country retreat with relaxed luxury and no pretension. Spacious guestrooms with neutral, elegant décor set the tone U.S. News TravelThe Estate Yountville Resort.
- Pricing for weddings typically runs $500–750 per person (for 50–250 guests) with service fees and tax added (~23% service fee + 7.75% tax) EventectiveThe Venue Report. Curfew around 1 AM The Venue Report.
In Summary
Hotel Villagio offers couples a seamless blend of romantic wine-country charm, sophisticated modern design, and comprehensive service. With beautiful indoor and outdoor venues, luxury rooms for guests, on-site spa & dining, and expert event coordination, it’s well-suited for everything from intimate vow renewals to full-scale destination weddings with hundreds of guests.
5. Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
If your style is more “country” than “golf course,” you’ll likely appreciate the pastoral setting of Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. This venue is great for authentic, food-centric weddings with rustic elegance and thoughtful local flavor.
Conveniently located in downtown St. Helena, this extensive farming and vineyard operation includes four properties ready to welcome up to 300 wedding guests.
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch offers several rustic-chic ceremony locations:
- Apple Meadow
- Walnut Tree
- The Lawn
- The Barn
You can also use any of the other cool event spaces, such as the café, private covered patio, and Potting Shed, to take your wedding to the next level.
Add in the elevated farm-to-table cuisine (which can even be cooked over live fire!), and you’ll see why so many couples choose Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch as their wine country wedding venue.
What is Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
- Style & Atmosphere: A working farm, vineyard, and restaurant offering rustic-chic charm in downtown St. Helena. Food & WineWordPress Wedding BlogLong Meadow Ranch
- Spaces & Capacities:
- Outdoor & garden sites like Lawn, Apple Meadow, Walnut Tree for ceremonies
- Barn and lawn for receptions—live fire cooking outdoors, rustic-meets-elegant dining
- Capacity up to 300 guests
- Food Focus: Farm-to-table meals prepared with ingredients from their own edible garden. Planning support for personalized events.
Bonus: Best Sonoma Wedding Venues
Looking for the best wedding venues in Sonoma? Here are a few top picks in the Sonoma area:
- Viansa Sonoma
- Seven Branches Venue & Inn
- Cornerstone Sonoma
- Vintners Resort Sonoma
- Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Bonus: Best Bay Area Wedding Venues
Is San Francisco more your style? Check out the best Bay Area wedding venues here:
- The Mountain Terrace
- The Lighthouse at Glen Cove Marina
- Rengstorff House
- San Francisco Ferry Building
- Slide Ranch
Looking for a Photographer for Your Napa Valley Wedding Venue?
Now that you’ve found the perfect Napa Valley wedding venue, it’s time to find the perfect Napa Valley wedding photographer!
As a luxury wedding photographer with 15+ years of experience, I adore working with couples getting married in northern California and beyond. Yes, I live in Telluride, Colorado, but I love traveling to wedding destinations — especially in gorgeous Napa Valley.
Contact me today to see if my signature light, airy, and timeless style would be a good fit for your wedding (and to see if I have your date available)!
