SONOMA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
MY EXPERIENCE AS A
While I love working in Napa and San Francisco, I'm actually based in Sonoma County. And boy are there some AMAZING locations here for weddings. Unlike Napa, I feel like there's a lot more variety (and a lot more ground covered). From wineries like Viansa, to bespoke restaurant experiences like Barndiva in Healdsburg. And we must not forget the gorgeous Sonoma Coast where you'll find standouts like Timber Cove and Sea Ranch! Sonoma has a LOT to offer. Check out my thoughts below as a true Sonoma wedding photographer!
While it still has some risk of wildfires, Sonoma is a little less at risk than Napa (particularly along the coast), but the summer months can still be very hot. The spring and fall are really ideal, however, spring still has an edge with more florals blooming that time of year.
Areas within the Petaluma-Gap get some cross wind so it can get a bit chilly at night, even in the summers so you'll want to keep that in mind if you're doing fully outdoor celebrations. And anywhere along the coast tends to be a little cooler than the inland counterparts in Sonoma county.
HOW'S THE WEATHER?
IDEAL TIME OF YEAR FOR SONOMA WEDDINGS
THE SONOMA VIBE
It's definitely a different vibe in my experience — a little less formal, more rustic, but still classy and gorgeous! In contrast to Napa, a lot of the venues tend to be less resort-like, so you'll likely need to identify accommodations nearby for guests traveling in for the wedding. But the venues tend to be more intimate as well, feeling more like a private estate.
RUSTIC CHARM, ROLLING HILLS AND INTIMATE SPACES
Sonoma County encompasses quite a large region, which means there's a LOT of wedding venues in the area on hand and they can widely vary in scale. From intimate settings like Barndiva, to sweeping estates like Arista, there's quite a spectrum of beautiful options in Sonoma! Here are a few of my faves as a Sonoma wedding photographer:
SONOMA WEDDING VENUES
Barndiva is a charming restaurant in Healdsburg, California. The food is incredible and the outdoor spaces for the ceremony and dinner reception are pretty accommodating formid-sized weddings.
The indoors space is a rustic barn which is pretty charming! After dinner the party typically moves inside there for dancing.
HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA
BARNDIVA
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Seven Branches Venue & Inn is located just outside of downtown Sonoma and is a wonderful venue. I've been here a couple times and find the setting incredibly efficient and beautiful. The ceremony and dinner are typically held outside with the dancing moving indoors afterwards. It also has several guest rooms available making it a nice all-in-one event space.
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
SEVEN BRANCHES VENUE & INN
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Arista Winery is one of the larger properties I've photographed. The ceremony space is located near the tasting room, with cocktail hour held nearby. The reception area sits atop a hill with some incredible views to the rolling hills covered with vineyards. There's a small pavilion right nearby where the party typically transitions to the dancing. Great wine to boot!
HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA
ARISTA WINERY
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Located just north of Jenner on the coast, the Timber Cove Resort sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific providing some incredible views and photography opportunities. It's a resort spot with lots of guest rooms so it is great for destination weddings. The restaurant makes for a perfect reception space and has top tier kitchen for catering!
TIMBER COVE, CALIFORNIA
TIMBER COVE RESORT
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Ru's farm is located just outside of downtown Healdsburg and is a lovely venue with a lot of tree-covered space and a rustic barn for indoor dancing. The ceremony site sits beneath a gorgeous 100 year old oak tree. There are also a few cottages on site to get ready. I love the feel of this place and can't wait to go back!
HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA
RU'S FARM
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The Madrona Hotel (previously Madrona Manor) is a delightful venue near downtown Healdsburg. It features a victorian mansion and a gorgeous property. Though I haven't been back since they remodeled, consider this a sign that I need to revisit with another wedding here to update this page :)
