Napa Valley Wedding Sites - Please help me choose!!

[Emeraldfan]

We decided to have our wedding in Napa/Sonoma next Spring. We have it narrowed down to 2 sites but I can't decide as they are both great in their own ways. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated as I have to make a decision by the end of the weekend.

1) Viansa Winery - Go to "herecomestheguide.com" and type in viansa - Love the views and this feels more comfortable and a place my guests would enjoy more. Views really are amazing and make the space. I like that there is separation between the cocktail area and dinner area and the wine cellar is great as it really makes the guests feel like its a Napa wedding. I would also do couches and lounge chairs where people could relax after dinner. My fiance is leaning towards this space. I would pick it as well but I am just not sure if I really wanted the whole 'Tuscan feel' for my wedding - which is what is maybe holding me back and why I can't decide.

2) Chateau St. Jean - "chateaustjean.com" - Love the space in general. Enter a long tree lined driveway and into a beautiful rose garden for appetizers. Dinner would then be out on the patio/lawn of the house and we would rent a dance floor. It's very formal and has an elegant feel. Most of the reception would be outside so we would have to have it later in the Spring/end of May to avoid rain and cold weather. I was hoping to have a late April/early May date but it's not a deal breaker. I am a little concerned some of my fiance's relatives would feel a litte uncomfortable here as it is more upscale/formal (and some of his relatives are more humble folks). It also doesn't have the views like Viansa does but it is more what I thought I would want for my wedding (and it doesn't have Tuscan feel I am slighty concerned about). It also doesn't feel so much like a winery either, more like a nice estate that happens to be in wine country.

Also, if anyone has personal experience with them any knowledge would be so helpful. Thanks!!

 

[diamondfan]

I think you should do what you want. Both sound great, and I would hope whichever site you pick everyone invited will be fine with the setting. It is a stunning place. Just check dates carefully, not sure of the rainy season and too much later gets stiffling hot. My cousin got married up there and it was brutally hot that weekend.

 

[Emeraldfan]

Diamondfan - Thanks for the reply. I''ve been told the rainy season is over by the end of March but that there may be a slight chance of showers in April. I liked Viansa for this reason as the tent is already set up on the off chance of inclement weather (and it may be a little chilly later in the evening as well).

My dillema is do I choose the "image" in my head that I grew up thinking my wedding would be like and possibly make some of my guests uncomfortable, or do I go with a space I do really like (except for the Tuscan feel) but that my guests would be more comfortable at? For a wedding, is it better to be beautiful and uneasy or pretty and comfortable?

 

[cara]

As a tiebreaker, how bout picking based on wine? My vote for Chateau St. Jean! At least they have some absolutely outstanding chardonnays - the 2003 reserve was a total splurge case we bought to serve at our wedding. (I haven''t done an exhaustive search on the reds.)

I was a bit turned off by Viansa when visiting it because it was so packed and touristy. Not that it couldn''t be lovely for a wedding, but it is big and impressive and over-the-top opulent Napa. And a touch mock-Italy.

Even though Chateau St. Jean is in a pretty pricy little corner of Sonoma, the Sonoma Valley feel appeals to me more. Nice, sometimes really really nice, but also a little friendlier and quieter than Napa.

I wouldn''t worry too much about the relative formality difference between Viansa and Chateau St. Jean - that is splitting hairs! - but do imagine the two parties at each and the Tuscan vs. rose garden estate backdrop.

There are other little things to consider: where do you imagine your guests staying? would your guests be priced out of wine country for lodging or living high or driving to the wedding? is there a timeline difference/price difference/catering difference, etc?

 

[cara]

For weather considerations, check out wunderground.com. Under History and Almanac, there is a button for seasonal weather averages. For May in Napa country, it shows that the average high is in the upper 70s and the average low is near 50. There is very little chance of rain the whole month, and the likelihood is flat over the whole month (so there is no statistical advantage to going later in the month vs. earlier). Record highs in May start in the mid-90s and rise to over 100 in late May, and record rainfall is in the 1-2cm range per day (but with very low likelihood of any rain on any given day or year). Last, the general idea in wine country is that the further from the bay you get (ie. the farther North upvalley) the hotter the noontime temps, as the Bay provides a moderating effect. So Chateau St. Jean is likely to be just slightly hotter than Viansa. But both will cool off significantly in the evening, so I wouldn''t worry about roasting guests too much. It can roast, but its not that likely.

 

[Mara]

i think one of my coworkers told me they got married at chauteau st. jean...she said it was so pretty, like a fairy tale, and how much she absolutely loved the place. they're divorced now i think though.

anyway, that is all i know about that place, can't be of much help.

however, i will add a plug. one of my good friends just got married at Cline Cellars in Sonoma about 3 weeks ago. it was hands down one of the best weddings we have been to. well first off we are good friends with the b/g and we have a bunch of friends with them as well so it was so fun that we knew so many people there. but also i know they did not pay an arm and a leg for the wedding overall, and yet it was so pretty and done so well!! they had minimal decor, got married outside and had the reception outside. cake was cut in this old little original adobe hut/room right next to the reception ceremony. the place they used for food was REALLY GOOD...definitely one of the best wedding foods we have had. same with cake etc. it was all very tasty, the coordination was great, it was a beautiful day, and the grounds were divine as well, lots of natural elements of decor so you don't have to do much yourself. anyway i would definitely check it out if you have not already...!! it was not like a true winery type wedding where you are amongst the grapes and all that, and there weren't any absolutely amazing views, but it felt intimate and beautiful and formal yet not FORMAL. it was about 90 people.

 

[Emeraldfan]

Cara - that''s so funny about picking based on wine as I also definitely like St. Jean''s better. Definitely something to consider. That weather site is great!! Thanks for passing that along as now we could possibly do St. Jean in early May.

I am really only concerned about 15 people of our 100 guests that may feel uncomfortable there. It''s not that they don''t have the money (in fact some are quite wealthy) but they live much more simple midwestern lives and I don''t want to seem pretentious in front of my fiance''s family. We are going to have a few days of activities like wine tastings, hot air balloon tours, etc. so we were going to suggest most people stay closer to Napa where we will be doing all those activities. The church I wanted to get married in is in Yountville so we would rent a party bus/vehicle to take everyone to and from the wedding as it is about 20 miles from the church.

Mara - St. Jean is really a fairy tale and I am leaning more towards there. Glad to know your friends wedding was lovely although I hope we don''t suffer the same fate. I heard Cline was nice as well. We didn''t get a chance to visit and I don''t think we''ll get a chance to get up there again before we have to make a decision. Some other places we looked at were Auberge, Nicholson Ranch, Gloria Ferrer, St. Francis, BV Gardens (lovely but too big for 100 guests) and Trentadue (we probably would have picked this place if not for it being so far up the Valley). We narrowed it Viansa and St. Jean because they offered the most of what we wanted and close enough to Napa where we will be doing our other activities. I just hope now I make the right decision.

 

[Jaders731]

EmeraldFan..

Its too bad you cant wait a week, as I am going to a wedding reception at Viansa next week.. I could totally get some pictures for you..

Sorry, I cant offer any opinions or help at this point, but next week... I''ll definitely have some!

 

[Emeraldfan]

Jaders - if you could take pictures that would be great!! We told them we would decide by this weekend as one of the places is giving us a slight discount on the site fee and they want an answer fairly quickly. At this point I am leaning more towards St. Jean but your pictures just might change my mind if I can see how the space actually looks all decorated.

 

[Jaders731]

You got it...

but I just want you to know the wedding is on the 6th.. so I could have them uploaded by the 7th!

Thats all i can do.. but I am sooo willing to do it.. and help you make your choice!!

 

[Jaders731]

Emerald Fan...

I just had a second to upload some pics from the wedding at Viansa Winery... I cant say enough how I think you should choose Viansa for your wedding site.. it was BEAUTIFUL.. as you will see.. so without further ado.. here you go!!!

This is the entrance...

 

[Jaders731]

Entrance to the Winery building... where all your guests would enter from!

 

[Jaders731]

This is what your guests will see when they enter the building.. they will then proceed up a staircase to where the cocktail reception would be (if you choose to have one)

 

[Jaders731]

View from the cocktail reception.. just so you know, at this wedding.. there was a choice of 4 types of beer, the winery white, red and champagne...

 

[Jaders731]

cocktail reception...

 

[Jaders731]

Last one..
Inside the tent... there was a seated buffet dinner... the food was fantastic... and there was a live band.. not sure what the winery offers as options.. but this particular reception was lovely.. food was good.. drink was good.. band was good.. cake was YUMMY!! (not sure if that was provided by a different bakery other than the winery caterer...)

 

[Emeraldfan]

Jaders - Thanks so much for taking and uploading those pictures!!! It does look beautiful. I was leaning toward St. Jean but knowing that you had a great time at Viansa makes me think it might be better there - I am so undecided. My father and brother are flying out from the east coast on Wed. so I am hoping to have them take a quick look this week as well. I really need to make up my mind!!

The food was good? I was concerned that we have to use their caterer and aren''t able to shop around. How were the appetizers? Was it really windy when you were having appetizers?

Also, I just found out the date we would get the discount on Viansa is my counsin''s birthday. She''s fine with our wedding on her b-day but my mother thinks that will take some of the magic away from it being MY day. Does it matter?

 

[Jaders731]

EmeraldFan,

You are quite welcome... when I told my friends I was taking pictures for you.. they said to tell you.. forget the pictures.. just agree to use this winery.. LOL.. we were all just taken aback by the beauty of the place it was just gorgeous.

The food was good.. in my opinion....the roasted chicken was divine... and the halibut and veggies were yummy... the cake was raspberry and chocolate on one tier and white and white on the other tier.. mmm.. my fave. I dont know that I would be too concerned with not being able to shop around a caterer... my wedding was that way.. only able to use one caterer and it worked out just fine.. in fact.. I found it to be easier.. as that was a lot of work that I didnt have to go through.
The appetizers were tasty too...the pear and apple streudel was sooo good!!!!
No wind to speak of... at least not that I can remember! It truly was a gorgeous day.. and considering the day before.. the high was 101... the day of this wedding... it was like 80 something.. so MUCH more tolerable.. but you were thinking early spring... so I dont think it will be much of a problem...

I dont think having your wedding on your cousins bday will take away from your day at all.. and a discount is a discount.. always a plus in my book!!!

Good luck, and let me know what you decide... and if you have any more questions... you know where to find me!

 

[appletini]

They are both gorgeous and you will have a fabulous wedding either way. My best friend just got married at Auberge du Soleil in May but Chateau St. Jean was the runner-up location. The reasons why we liked Auberge more was 1)location: Napa Valley was just more user friendly with a lot more options for hotel, eating, logistics, etc and 2) Auberge provided the food so finding a caterer was one less thing for her to worry about since she was planning it long distance 3) She could stay onsite.