How to Elope to Napa Valley
Ultimate Guide on How to Elope to Napa Valley
(complete with Venues and Pricing Info)
If you’re looking for a small wedding with arguably the best backdrop in Northern CA, read below on how to elope to Napa Valley for the ultimate wedding planning guide! In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about eloping in Napa Valley. I’ll talk about the different locations to elope, the cost of eloping in Napa Valley, and what you need to do to make it happen. Planning an elopement can be a lot simpler than planning a traditional wedding – and it’s definitely more affordable! If you’re ready to say “I do” in wine country, keep reading for all the details.
Why Elope to Napa Valley
Napa Valley is one of the most popular elopement destinations in California – and for good reason! With its stunning vineyards, romantic wineries, and picturesque landscapes, Napa Valley is a dream come true for couples who want to get away from it all. If you’re thinking about eloping here, there are a few things you should know. First of all, you’ll need to obtain a marriage license from the county clerk’s office. The cost for this is $35, and you’ll need to bring two forms of identification. Once you have your license, you can plan your elopement in Napa Valley virtually anywhere! There are no residency requirements or waiting periods in California, so you can get married on the spot.
Best Times to Elope in Napa Valley
Elopement Packages in Napa Valley
While my specialty is in photography, I do have numerous contacts to help plan your elopement in Napa Valley, whether you are needing a planner, florist, videographer, or musicians, for example. Photo packages start at 4 hours for $3200 or 2 hours for $1800.
Cost of Eloping in Napa Valley
The cost of eloping in Napa Valley will depend on a few factors, like how many people are in your wedding party and what kind of vendors you need. For example, if you’re planning a small ceremony with just your immediate family, you probably won’t need to rent a grand venue fit for several hundreds. However, if you’re inviting guests and having a larger celebration, those costs can add up quickly. On average, eloping in Napa Valley will cost between $3000 and $10,000. This includes the marriage license fee, the cost of renting a venue (if necessary), and any other expenses like flowers, photography, or catering.
If you’re ready to start planning your elopement in Napa Valley, I’ve got all the information you need! Just CONTACT ME to get started!
Locations for Your Elopement in Napa Valley
With so many wineries and vineyards to choose from, choosing the right venue to elope in Napa can be a pretty difficult choice! Regardless of where you decide, you know that the surrounding area that is Napa Valley will offer a serene and beautiful backdrop for the day.
Below are some of my personal favorites, but if you want a more thorough list of locations, take a look at these Napa Valley wedding venues.
Harvest Inn (St. Helena)
Rental Fee: contact venue
Capacity : 120 guests
Having a Harvest Inn wedding is one of the more popular locations for an elopement in Napa Valley because they allow a handful of options to choose from. They offer a few lawn and terrace options that all offer differing views of the scenic vineyards and rolling hills in the background.
Check out my Harvest Inn wedding walkthrough for more details.
MacArthur Place (Sonoma)
Rental Fee: starting at $5500 for up to 10 guests
Capacity : 2 – 100 guests
Having a MacArthur Place elopement is one of the more popular locations for an elopement in Napa Valley because they offer several locations to host your smaller wedding up to 24 guests, including a private garden and adjacent private dining room for dinner.
Check out my MacArthur Place wedding guide for more details.
Cornerstone Sonoma (Sonoma)
Rental Fee: you can contact the venue
Cornerstone Sonoma is unique in that there are two wedding venues at one location here, one in the Gardens that it is more famous for, and another one in the back that is a Barn and perfect for your Napa Valley elopement. They try not to overlap, so the Barn has more availability in the mornings compared to the Gardens.
Check out this Cornerstone Sonoma elopement for ideas
Inn on Randolph (Napa)
Inquire for more details
This 19th century estate serves as a boutique luxury inn fitting for an intimate Napa elopement. Perfect for a small ceremony, you will exchange vows in front of a cute little gazebo amidst a romantic garden. Host a sit-down dinner in the courtyard or indoors. This is a great setting for couples who want to spend a lot of time celebrating with a small group of friends and family.
Indian Springs Resort (Calistoga)
Rental Fee: you can contact the venue
Capacity: Maximum 95
If you are not restricted to just eloping in Napa, this Calistoga wedding venue is one of the most beautiful wedding venues in the entire Napa Valley. It’s a historic resort with lovely gardens, ponds, and greenery, among other things. If that’s not all, this site contains four natural geysers! The main highlight of this location is an Olympic mineral pool first built in 1910, to treat yourself before your celebration!
Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford)
Small wedding (30 guests and under): $3,500 – $5,100
Food & Bev Min: $3,500 – $5,000
This Michelin awarded restaurant/wedding venue offers a couple of options for those eloping in Napa. La Pagode is an Asian-inspired pavilion surrounded by olive trees, vineyards, and a sculpture garden featuring over a hundred works. Meanwhile, the venue’s Terrace location provides a perfect Napa elopement backdrop with amazing views of Napa Valley.
The Estate Yountville (Yountville)
Inquire for details
For those looking for a true Wine Country experience, look no further than this luxury Napa wedding venue. This is one of the larger wedding venues in Napa with a total of six event spaces. The favorite is clearly the vineyard; however, a hidden gem is the barrel room with high ceiling, wrought iron décor, brick walls, and wooden rafters.
Napa Valley Wine Train (Napa)
Ceremony packages: $1,500 – $2,500
Reception package: starts at $315 / person
This is perhaps the most unique places to get married in Napa Valley since it is an actual train that can take your guests on a tour of the Napa Valley for between three and six hours depending upon the package. The linear layout of the train provides a multitude of options for mingling with guests and enjoying the scenery.
Interested in discussing your Napa wedding? Please fill out the form below
415 756 9335
ianchinphotography@gmail.com
