My Top 5 Northern California Winery Wedding Venues For an Elevated Wedding

Any day spent at a winery wedding venue is pretty much my favorite kinda day as a Napa Valley wedding photographer. Elevated, personal, and totally lived-in is a recipe I’ll take ANY time, and winery wedding venues always deliver!! 

If you’re one of my girlies stuck in a Google rabbit hole trying to find the best Wine Country wedding venues… I see you. Don’t worry, though, because these 5 California winery wedding venues?? They’re gonna be RIGHT up your alley if you’re dreaming of a day that feels luxurious and chic, but also super laid-back and authentic. 

Why I’m SO Obsessed With Winery Wedding Venues

Okay, when I see a winery wedding venue pop up on an inquiry form, I already know it’s gonna be a good day. 

Winery wedding venues ALWAYS have that European dinner party feeling where everyone is hanging out, laughing, drinking a lil too much wine, and having a hella good time. It feels like weddings in Napa Valley somehow always have the perfect weather, the perfect sunset, and the best vibes?? Like, it feels made up. 

Seriously though, wineries always make weddings feel super intimate and personal even if there are 300 guests there. You get to float around, wine glass in hand, visiting all of your favorite people, then end the night in your cutesy mini reception dress feeling like, “Wow, I can’t believe that all just happened!!” 

How Winery Weddings Look (And Feel) in Your Gallery

If you had a moodboard for your wedding gallery and words like nostalgic, cinematic, artsy, luxury, honest, and romantic were all over it… We’re gonna get along really well. That’s essentially what my portfolio is full of!! And winery wedding venues? They DEFINITELY help. 

Rolling lawns that get the perfect golden hour sun and European-inspired architecture make for portraits that probably look like everything you see all over your Pinterest feed. Truly. Between you two running through the vineyards for those cinematic candid shots and then getting editorial, direct flash shots during your champagne tower, my Napa Valley photographer heart can’t even take it!!

Aside from being freakin’ BEAUTIFUL, winery wedding venues also just allow couples to relax in ways that not every venue does. The hospitality, the seamless flow, the way guests settle in, and the open-air atmosphere that feels like a movie??? It’s all kind of a dream come true. And that kind of energy SHOWS in your gallery. When you’re fully present in the moment, I get those cute AF candids like you and your lover cracking up at your sweetheart table, you clinking wine with your BFF, and you going crazyyyy to your fave Beyoncé songs, margarita in hand, on the dance floor. 

These 5 California winery wedding venues bring all of that and sooo much more!! 

5 Winery Wedding Venues in Northern California You’ll LOVE

Lamoure Vineyards

Lamoure Vineyards invented charm. It’s a vineyard in Elk Grove, near Sacramento, and it has a quaint, intimate vibe that makes you feel like you’re the only people around for milesss.  It’s designed for full weekend experiences, so they really thought of everything here. That wine-tasting welcome party? It’s all yours!! 

Weddings at Lamoure always feel SO personal. Every spot at the venue is super cozy, so guests feel automatically at ease when they walk in. And that vibe lasts the whole weekend. There’s no wondering where to go next or any awkward pauses throughout the day, just a flow that feels completely effortless. Love that for you (and your people)!! 

I have to say… Lamoure shows off on camera. It has insane natural light, STUNNING gardens, and venue spaces with beautiful architecture that work together to make guiding you into editorial portraits so fun!!

If you’re the kind of couple who wants a whole wedding weekend filled with wine, easygoing vibes, and understated luxury… This is the one for you. See my whole planning guide for weddings here with TONS of details, or just get an overview here!!:

Max guest capacity: 250

On-site accommodations: Yes

All-inclusive packages: Yes

Indoor and outdoor options: Yes

Merryvale

In Saint Helena, you’ll find one of my absolute FAVORITE California winery wedding venues, Merryvale. It’s another Wine Country vineyard soaked with good sun, good wine, and the most incredible vibes!! 

Merryvale is so luxe and so inviting all at the same time. You can have a really gorgeous design here, but it also works if you keep it simple and just embrace the mountain and vineyard views. It feels lush, expansive, and so full of life that it keeps energy buzzing allll day long!! 

Photos from Merryvale weddings always feel fun. Tons of people laughing, LOTS of dance floor chaos (in a good way), and the kind of connection that you just can’t fake!! And the rolling hills?? They definitely don’t hurt for couples’ portraits. If you read about me, you’ll see that this is the kind of energy I THRIVE in as a Napa Valley wedding photographer!! 

If you’re one of my chic brides who wants a wedding that’s equal parts aesthetically pleasing and lively, Merryvale def needs to be on your list. Here’s what to know about it!!: 

Max guest capacity: 120 seated

On-site accommodations: No 

All-inclusive packages: Yes

Indoor and outdoor options: Yes

Scribner Bend Vineyards

Scribner Bend Vineyards is THE spot for romantic Wine Country weddings. If you want secret garden vibes… You won’t want to skip Scribner Bend. 

This is a winery wedding venue that makes days feel SO sweet. Every wedding I’ve captured here has the same rom-com energy filled with stolen kisses, loving glances, and the cutest little giggles!! It’s one of those settings that really lets you lean into it and makes you and all your guests feel so happy. 

That being said, the photos I get here are always ADORABLE. So many cute candid moments, big smiles on everyone’s faces… It pulls at my heartstrings!!

If you’re the kind of couple whose main priority for the day is to feel good, enjoy every moment, and spend the day smiling, Scribner Bend is perfect for you!! See every little detail and a real wedding I captured there, plus here’s everything to know about this California winery wedding venue: 

Max guest capacity: 225

On-site accommodations: No

All-inclusive packages: Yes

Indoor and outdoor options: Just outdoor, but there’s a covered tent in case of bad weather

Nella Terra Cellars

Estate weddings are right up there with vineyard weddings, so when you mix those two vineyard styles together… You get something REALLY insane, like Nella Terra Cellars. 

Weddings at Nella Terra Cellars feel effortlessly classy every time I’m there, and I think it comes from the wholeee experience. Of course, the whole venue is gorgeous (with estate views and vineyard views- how could it NOT be?), but it also just makes you feel like you’re in a European resort. There are different seating areas for guests to settle, which makes everything feel expansive but still close-knit. And as far as design for weddings here… You can get SO creative and SO luxe. Love that!! 

If you’re dreaming of a wedding gallery that looks like you hopped off a plane in Italy, ran through vineyards at golden hour, and spent the night spinning under string lights on an estate’s courtyard, that’s exactly the energy Nella Terra Cellars brings. 

So, for destination-style weddings right here in Wine Country that feel a little more elevated, but still SO personal, this one’s for you. I’ve gotchu with all the details!!: 

Max guest capacity: 300

On-site accommodations: No

All-inclusive packages: Yes

Indoor and outdoor options: No, just outdoor

Cline Family Cellars

Last on my list of dreamy winery wedding venues is Cline Family Cellars, and it really has the best of Wine Country. 

Weddings at Cline Family Cellars feel charming and intimate even when you hit the max guest capacity, because you’re tucked away in the most gorgeous, lush area that feels like a world away from anything else. Since you can stay in the guest house here, wedding weekends here WORK. A wine tasting on Friday evening, then the wedding on Saturday?? So chic!! 

Speaking of the guest house, the Spanish-style architecture is basically my dream come true as a Napa Valley wedding photographer, not to mention the trees all around that add SO Much dimension to your gallery. Anywhere that lets me play with light and shadows for that film-inspired effect gets an A+ in my book!! 

This is another California winery wedding venue that’s great for that destination wedding feel that spans alllll weekend long and really focuses on connection. If that’s your jam, here’s what to know!!: 

Max guest capacity: 600

On-site accommodations: Yes

All-inclusive packages: Only for elopements

Indoor and outdoor options: Outdoor only

How to Choose Your Wedding Venue

The easy part is finding a bajillion dream winery wedding venues. The hard part?? Actually choosing one to get married at. You know I’ve gotchu!! These are the things I always tell my couples to think about when they’re trying to choose: 

Consider How You Want Your Wedding to Feel

Even though these are all winery wedding venues, they each have their own totally unique personalities. And that’s one of the things I love most about them!! 

What matters is choosing the one that’ll hold your day the best. If you want something that feels intimate, lived-in, and totally personal, something like Cline Family Cellars fits that energy well. 

Think About Your Wedding Design

One thing that I really love about winery wedding venues is that you can design it in SO many different ways. Understated and simple, bold and colorful, luxury and trendy… It’s totally up to you!! 

So, think about the colors you want around you and the level of design work you want to put in, and think about what kind of atmosphere fits that best. For example, if you want garden party vibes, somewhere like Scribner Bend or Lamoure is probably gonna fit that the best!! 

Common Questions I Get About California Winery Wedding Venues 

What are the best regions in California for vineyard weddings? 

Wine Country/Napa Valley does vineyard weddings like nowhere else in the country!! There are so many GORGEOUS vineyards and wineries around, and weddings always feel sooo laid-back. Although I might be biased as a Napa Valley wedding photographer, I love it here SO much!! 

Which California winery venues have all-inclusive wedding packages? 

If an all-inclusive package is important to you so that wedding planning doesn’t make you wanna scream, cry, and throw up… I get it. Lamoure Vineyards, Merryvale, Scribner Bend, and Nella Terra all have all-inclusive packages that give you treatment like the queen you are!! 

What are the best California winery wedding venues with scenic views? 

For wide-open, scenic views, Nella Terra Cellars and Merryvale are gonna be your gals. The mountain views over the vineyards?? I’ll seriously never be over them!! And don’t even get me started on how that looks for golden hour pics. 

What are the best small intimate winery wedding venues in California? 

Cline Family Cellars is THE winery wedding venue for a smaller wedding. Since you already feel so close and cozied up with your people, something about an intimate, intentional wedding just feels right here!! 

How much does a luxury California winery wedding cost? 

Every venue’s pricing will be TOTALLY different and will fully depend on your package, your guest count, and your design. I recommend reaching out to each venue directly to get the most accurate, up-to-date pricing!! 

Grace Thao | Napa Valley Wedding Photographer

My photography style is all about making you feel exactly how you felt on your wedding day: a little nostalgic, a little emotional, and a whole lotta fun!! That’s why, as a Napa Valley wedding photographer, I’m here to help you pick out a setting that gives you peace to feel ALL of those things. 

Inquire about booking me here, and let’s chat about your vision together!!