Picking your wedding venue is such an important decision. You need a wedding venue that you love aesthetically, but you also need a venue that fits your wedding day needs! We highly recommend hiring your wedding planner first, as the planner can assist you with finding the perfect venue to match your vision, budget, and guest needs.

As planners in Northern California, we are experts at how to pick the right venue. We help our clients navigate all of the choices and help them select the one that fits their vision! Since we have planned events at most venues in this area, we know exactly what to look for and create layouts for every need.

When it comes to picking your wedding venue in Northern California, you'll want to keep a few things in mind!

How to Pick Your Wedding Venue
When selecting a venue, consider the following questions:

1. Does it accommodate ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing?
You might choose to have your ceremony venue and your reception venue be different, but it's important to understand what each venue can do for you. If you want to do everything at the same venue, be sure to ask if your entire event can be held on site. This includes having space for all of your events, as well as what rental items you might need.

2. Is there a "Plan B" option in case of inclement weather?
If you want an outdoor event, you'll need to make sure you're covered in case of less-than-ideal weather. Check with the venue if you can move the event inside if need be or if you can put a tent on the property! As wedding planners, we make sure that all of our couples have a Plan B for their event.

3. Are there other events going on at the same time on the property?
This is something that may or may not concern you. Some venues hold multiple events on the same day, which often means signs pointing guests to the correct wedding and sharing restrooms. If this concerns you, be sure to pick a venue that only holds one event a day!

4. Do you need accommodations on site for overnight, getting ready, rehearsal dinner, and farewell brunch?
You might decide to do some of these things elsewhere, but it's important to know upfront what your venue can accommodate. It might be easier (and cheaper) to go with a venue where you can do everything you need on-site. It also allows for easier transportation if all of the events can happen on the same property.

5. How is the accessibility for your guests regarding driving or shuttles, parking, ADA accessibility, and ease of walking on site?
In general, you want to make sure your venue is easily accessible to everyone, but this is particularly true if you have guests with disabilities. You'll want to make sure the venue can accommodate those guests. You’ll also want to understand the parking situation, so you can easily schedule any necessary transportation.

6. What are the restrictions regarding alcohol, sound, live music, and vendors not on the preferred list?
These are all things you need to be aware of in order to plan your wedding properly. Check with your potential wedding venue to see if they have any policies in place and see if any of those policies don't work for you. For example, if you have your heart set on a photographer but need to choose from a preferred vendor list, you might need to go elsewhere. Another thing to ask is how late your wedding can go. If you are dreaming of a late-night affair, make sure the venue has late-night hours.

7. Do additional restrooms need to be brought in?
This is an important detail that people tend to forget. You need to make sure you have enough bathrooms for your guests. The last thing you want is a long line to the bathroom!

8. Is there enough space for your projected guest count?
It's crucial that your venue can accommodate the number of people you're thinking of inviting. And it's just as essential to make sure it's not too crowded! If your venue holds 200 guests seated, and you want 200 guests and a lounge, large dance floor, and multiple bars, your venue might not be able to accommodate guests and rentals. That is another reason why you should have your wedding planner help you select your venue. As planners, we can let you know if your layouts and design details and guest count can fit within the space.

9. Is the space open to the public?
If you decide to have your wedding in a place that is open to the public, you might have guests that you didn't invite. Even if this doesn't concern you, it's good to know what the rules are!

10. How is the general ambient noise level on site?
​If there's a lot of noise around, like traffic noise, that might upset your big day. So, be sure to pay attention to the general noise level when you visit. This is particularly important for your ceremony. If you are dreaming of an outdoor ceremony, make sure that it is a quiet space.

Our Favorite Wedding Venues in Northern California​

Hiring your wedding planner before you pick your venue means you have help picking out that perfect location. We love helping our couples pull together their ideal wedding. Reach out to us, and we can help you find that amazing wedding venue in Northern California that's just right for your big day!​

We loved Emily and Alanna so much from the start of our first Zoom meeting together! The couple chose to have a summer wedding at Silverado Resort in Napa. They loved the beautiful spaces, excellent food, and nearby accommodations on site for their out-of-town guests. The day turned out perfect! 

Emily and Alanna requested a beautiful chuppah installation for their ceremony and provided three family cloth tallits to be hung from the top. The brides were surrounded by gorgeous flowers and garlands, and they looked so beautiful together. It was an amazing and intimate ceremony. At the rehearsal, the Rabbi also had the brides sign the Ketubah with their daughters holding a tallit above them as we all sang. This was a really special moment that we were happy to be a part of. 

We used some lesser-known spaces at the venue. Cocktail hour and dancing were in the brick-laden arbor courtyard, the ceremony was at the vineyard, and dinner was on the mansion lawn. We selected modern lounge furniture to encircle the dance floor and lit up the space with beautiful overhead lighting from Bright and uplights from DJ Matt Brys of Extreme Productions.

A gorgeous cake from Flour & Bloom was featured on the raised outdoor stage behind the brides. Local flowers and garlands from Flourish adorned bannisters and her lanterns glowed as the night progressed. Silverado Resort created an exquisite dessert bar on top of a delicious dinner. The brides danced non-stop and said at the end of the night that whether we knew it or not, we are now friends forever!
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It was such a joy to meet Emily and Alanna and work with them on their summer wedding at Silverado Resort. Their vendors really came together to create a wonderful experience. We always work so hard to bring our couples’ visions to life. We would love to work with you on your big day. Just let us know how we can help!  

Vendors:
Photo | Holly D Photography
Planning, Design, Production & Harp | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue, Catering, Bar & Accommodations | Silverado Resort
DJ & Lighting | Extreme Productions Entertainment
Florals | Flourish
Rentals, Linens & Lighting | Bright Event Rentals
Cake | Flour & Bloom
HMUA | Dreamcatcher Artistry
Signage + Paperie | Shimmer & Stain
Officiant | Rabbi Postrel
Bride Dresses | Essense of Australia & Maggie Sottero from Gesinee's Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses | David's Bridal
Flower Girl Dresses | BHLDN

Hailey and Patrick decided to elope at one of the most beautiful venues in California – Beaulieu Garden. The couple opted for a timeless, classic look, which matched the venue perfectly. We always love working at Beaulieu Gardens! Paula Le Duc's team always does a stellar job with this gorgeous venue, including the most inventive food options. It was lovely to see Hailey and Patrick’s Beaulieu Garden elopement come together so well.

​Maggie and Adam have been together for many years, and their families are friends. Their spring wedding in Woodland was a fairytale wedding. They had so many cute details, and we just loved pulling their vision together.

​​This couple really paid attention to the details. For instance, Maggie wanted custom paperie that really expressed her vision for her spring wedding in Woodland. So, she had paperie made with custom wax seals and handmade letter-pressed paper. She designed it along with us, her mom, and Valley Press Co.

Maggie and Adam also had custom cookies for favors. These included handmade flower-seeded paper, which is such a cute detail! All the Things by Kami did an amazing job with them.

Not to mention, one of our favorite aspects of the wedding was the elegant mobile bar. It is actually a refurbished horse trailer. The mobile bar was such a fun idea, and it fit right in with their elegant backyard wedding.
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This magical blush wedding came out amazing. It’s always wonderful to get to know new couples and learn all about their love story. We want to bring your vision to life and help create the special day you’ve been dreaming of. Reach out to us and let us know what we can do for you!

​Vendors:
Photo | Weddings by Scott & Dana
Planning, Design & Production | Tan Weddings & Events
Catering | Acoustic Events
Florals | Full Belly Florals
DJ | Function 45
Video | Phillip Alan Films
Dessert | Sugar Bits
Bar | Belle Aventure | Mendocino Outland
Signage | Shimmer & Stain
Paperie | Valley Press Co.
Specialty Rentals | Blossom Farm Vintage Rentals
Rentals & Lighting | Standard Event Rentals
Linens | La Tavola Fine Linen
HMUA | Taryn Passifione Makeup | Emily Scott Hair
Officiant | Bill Beermann
Custom Cookies | All The Things by Kami
Restrooms | Lulu's Luxurious Restrooms
Venue | Private Woodland Estate
Bridesmaid Dresses | Jenny Yoo
Suits | The Black Tux
Gown | Martin Thornburg by Mon Cheri at Miosa Bride

Shradha and Ivan wanted to honor Shradha’s Indian heritage and Ivan’s Mexican heritage in their celebration, and we loved working with them to make this vision a reality! The couple was conscientious about their family and friends, who they knew wanted a safe, fun outdoor celebration as event restrictions began to relax. They decided to keep the guest count lower than they originally planned and focus on a meaningful ceremony with Indian rituals, stunning florals, and custom desserts for their guests. Their intimate wedding at The Maples in Woodland was an amazing day!

​The Maples in Woodland is a gorgeous estate that is perfect for weddings. The classic 1930’s ranch house has been fully renovated and has a bridal suite, groom’s suite, and a full commercial kitchen. The land is perfectly maintained and sits on 55 acres. Couples can choose from a few different options for their ceremony, so they can really customize their event!

​Cindy and John are such a sweet couple! We love how much they care about and appreciate each other. John loves that Cindy is never too tired to tackle new challenges, and he is always inspired by her grit and how much she cares for him. Meanwhile, Cindy loves that John challenges her to try new hobbies, pushes her to be her best, and is always so considerate. Their wedding at Monte Verde Inn turned out so beautiful, with so many personal touches.

Cindy wore two gowns. The first was a stunning ball gown by Monique Lhuillier. It had a lace bodice with beading and tiers of tulle with a horsehair trim for volume. Her horsehair trim veil completed her perfect wedding day look! Cindy's bouquet was a work of art too! It featured lush peonies, roses, ranunculus, and a touch of blue with Delphinium.
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The couple chose to do a first look, which is something we love! It really lets the couples have some time alone before the wedding day starts. Your wedding goes by so fast, and this really lets you two have a minute together! After their first look, they read each other a letter and personal vows, which was such a sweet moment for them.

They chose Monte Verde Inn, which is a beautiful boutique estate in Foresthill. Couples get the complete venue for themselves, and guests can really walk around and enjoy the beautiful grounds. The couple's goals were to have a gorgeous woodsy-garden setting where their families and friends could mingle and enjoy time together. Our team developed their design based on the couple's palette and elegant style, which included custom paperie and signage.

Flowers were a large focus of the design, and the couple wanted the venue to feel like guests stepped into a private garden. When designing, we made sure to create floral focal points throughout the day. The ceremony was a main feature, and the arch was draped in fabric and lush flowers. Large displays were placed on wine barrels and moved to the reception after the ceremony. At the reception, the focal point was the sweetheart table. It featured a greenery garland and a large center piece.
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John and Cindy picked a spring color palette of soft blue and blush, which was beautiful for their spring wedding. The blue was tied in throughout the wedding, from her bridesmaid in a dusty blue gown, to her bouquet, to the reception flowers and paper.
We loved working with John and Cindy on their Monte Verde Inn wedding, and their design turned out to be gorgeous. We really take the time to get to know our couples and create a design for them based on their preferences. We’d love to help you make your wedding dreams a reality. Reach out to us, so we can start planning! 

Vendors
Photography | Liz Zimbelman Photography
Planning, Design, Production, Signage, Harp & Officiant | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue, Catering, Cake & Bar | Monte Verde Inn
Florals | Ambience Floral
DJ | SJ's Disc Jockey
Videography | Phillip Alan Films
Cake | Divine Desserts by Aguirre
Rentals & Linens | Celebrations! Party Event Rentals
HMUA | Joyce Zhou Designs
Transportation | Neumann Enterprises
Dress | Monique Lhuillier

Caitlin is originally from Australia, and Christian is from Virginia. Their wedding had been postponed, so they eventually decided on an elopement at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, which is an incredible venue. Their families from Australia and Virginia were able to be a part of the celebration via livestream, including leading toasts for the couple! Their elopement turned out to be so elegant, and it was great that they were still able to include their families! It was a day of gorgeous details and love. 

​First, the couple had their portraits taken at a nearby winery that really showed off the natural beauty of Sonoma! There is so much natural beauty here in Sonoma. Caitlin wore a classic mermaid bridal gown by Lazaro, which featured an organza ruffle skirt and sheer Chantilly lace bodice. It was traditional with a fun twist, and she looked amazing!
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It rained unexpectedly that day, but then it cleared up right before the ceremony. Caitlin and Christina shared a first dance immediately following the ceremony to John Denver’s “Annie’s Song” on harp. It was so romantic! After that was the sabrage, or sabering,  where the sparkling wine was opened using a special saber. It was such a fun moment!

For Caitlin and Christian’s wedding, they chose one of our elopement packages that we have with Fairmont, which couples love. It makes the planning process much easier! We provide the planning, officiant, harp, florals, and the cake! We do it all, and make sure everything is executed flawlessly. This special package includes up to ten guests, but it also includes the option to come back in the first half of 2022 and get money off the reception site. This is such a great option for couples who want to have an amazing elopement now and celebrate their marriage with all of their loved ones later!
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Working with Caitlin and Christian on their elopement at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn was such a joy. We loved working with them and helping them with those beautiful details. We would love to help you have the same wonderful experience that Caitlin and Christian had. Reach out to us today and learn how we can bring your vision for your wedding to life!

Vendors:
Photography | Richard Wood Photographics
Planning, Production, Harp & Officiant | Tan Weddings & Events
Venue, Catering & Accommodations | Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
Live-Streaming | Phillip Alan Films
Tech Assistance | Encore Global
Florals | Bloom & Vine
Cake | Let Them Eat Cake
HMUA | Jenn V Beauty
Dress | Lazaro from The Bridal Collection, Style
Suit | State & Liberty

Soriya and Kelli are from Texas along with all of their guests. They envisioned a destination wedding in Sonoma, and they ended up changing their date twice and then their venue due to the pandemic. Ultimately, they had a Spring Park Winters wedding, and this gorgeous venue ended up being the perfect spot for their celebration!

A wedding day at Park Winters is unlike any other wedding experience. Magical grounds, caring staff, delightful food, and so much more. Wedding guests have the best experience, and couples are always happy after a day at Park Winters! 

We were thrilled when we met Victoria and her sweet mother and learned about their wedding vision. They valued hiring local vendors who know the venue well. Fresh from the farm florals, elegantly-detailed cake, and a goddess hair piece all came together to create a modern, joyful, chic energy for their family and friends. Every details was truly lovely, and full of love, all at once.

Victoria and Wes met at UC Davis and loved coming back to Yolo County for their wedding day. Because their group was smaller, they were not sure if people would dance. Well -- dance, they did (and then some)!

​Congratulations to this amazing couple. It was such a pleasure to bring their Park Winters dream day to life.

Looking for a magical mountain wedding venue? Look no further than Highlands Ranch Resort in Mill Creek near magnificent Mt. Lassen in Northern California. Delicious food, expansive views, chic cabins, terrific weather, pristine pine-scented air, and close to a plethora of adventurous opportunities for guests, the venue has it all.

Our team partnered with the incredible Real Weddings Magazine and a talented group of vendors to create the ultimate styled shoot. Paperie details and signage included woodsy notions. The florals were created from the ground up, inspired by the local wildflowers in the meadows. Vintage + modern rentals added a chic vibe to the affair. Even the desserts included a nod to the local flora and fauna.

Our models are a real couple who recently got married themselves! They had a blast trying on different attire, jewelry, accessories, hair & makeup. Some of us stayed the night and explored the incredible area, from swimming at Lake Almanor, to hiking around the Lassen National Park.

For many reasons, this venue is by far one of our favorites! We can't wait to visit again, whether just to stop by for a fabulous meal, or to plan another event.

Click here to see the feature in Real Weddings Magazine!