Planning a wedding can be daunting, but a Wine Country elopement and honeymoon is simpler, less stressful, and not so hard on the pocketbook. Many busy couples are opting for a small, intimate gathering followed by a relaxing honeymoon. Along the Wine Road you’ll find many options for both an ideal elopement setting and a dream honeymoon.
Elopement in Wine Country
The term elopement used to mean to secretly run off to be married, often without the consent of parents. As the world has changed, so has the use and meaning of the word. Today, an elopement tends to be an intimate wedding gathering attended by just a few close friends and/or family members.
A Wine Country elopement is often between a busy couple who lives far from family and friends, works long hours, has limited time to plan a wedding, and want a simpler ceremony in a beautiful setting. The Wine Road is the perfect location to find multiple options to choose from.
Lodgings and Wineries Offer Elopement Options
Several of the bed and breakfast lodgings, hotels, and wineries offer elopement packages, or rental space for you to customize your dream elopement wedding. On the Wine Road’s website, you can find a list of event rental locations. However, some of the elopement opportunities aren’t listed there.
Even the chimney at the Inn at Occidental is romantic.
The Hope-Merrill House Bed & Breakfast Inn in Geyserville, the Wine Garden Inn in Cloverdale, and the Inn at Occidental in Occidental are three historic bed and breakfast lodgings that offer elopement packages. If you have a favorite winery or lodging, you can always inquire directly if they allow elopement ceremonies on their property.
One Stop Shopping
While researching elopement options, I discovered several that include both an exquisite elopement site and the perfect honeymoon suite in one location. Madrona Manor offers elopement packages that include a two-night stay, a five-course dinner with wine pairings for two in their onsite restaurant, a six-inch wedding cake, flowers, a wedding officiant, an in-room couple’s massage, a gourmet buffet breakfast, and a cocktail at their beautiful historic bar.
The Madrona Manor grounds and gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for an elopement ceremony.
Wilson Artisan Wineries offer multiple options as well. You can select from one of three wineries—Soda Rock, deLorimier, or Pezzi King—and each location has lodging available as well. Along with a beautiful and tranquil setting, their elopement packages offer a two-night stay in a honeymoon suite, a celebratory bottle of wine paired with delicious nibbles, a wedding cake for two, a bouquet and boutonnière, a one-hour in-room couple’s massage, a licensed marriage officiate, and a celebration following the ceremony. Each of the wineries offers a spectacular setting.
Wilson Artisan Wineries offers several picture perfect setting for elopement ceremonies.
Another Wilson Artisan Winery elopement setting.
A blissful wedding couple at Soda Rock Winery.
The Farmhouse Inn in Russian River Valley offers three unique and romantic elopement packages from simple to deluxe. Plus, they have many honeymoon lodging options, including a honeymoon package, and a renowned restaurant onsite. The deluxe and luxury elopement option even come with a wedding coordinator, ideal for the busy couple that needs every detail taken care of so they can just show up and enjoy themselves.
Farmhouse Inn specializes in elopements and small weddings up to 14 people.
Endless Honeymoon Options
An elopement along the Wine Road means you are in the heart of one of the best places on the planet to stay, sip, eat, play, and enjoy a romantic honeymoon. (I might be a tad prejudiced when it comes to Northern Sonoma County.)
One of the recommended rooms for honeymooners at the Farmhouse Inn.
There are about 150 wineries along the Wine Road, all of them offering delicious wines. The hardest part will be deciding which ones to visit. But, the Wine Road offers help with this, too.
Laura Stafford is the Wine Road’s official concierge. Laura is available to help you plan where to stay and what wineries to visit that meet your palate preferences. She also gives you dining suggestions, and if you want, tells you more about some of the recreational activities available in addition to wine tasting. Don’t be daunted by the many options, let Laura help you hone your options to fit your tastes and timetable.
More Honeymoon Research
If you are a researcher and planner, below are some additional links to check out as you plan your honeymoon or stay along the Wine Road.
Wine Road executive director Beth Costa and renowned local wine and food writer and tourism aficionado Marcy Gordon twice a month produce fun and informative podcast that gives you the wine, when and where of Northern Sonoma County.
The Wine Road website offers a plethora of information about spending time along the Wine Road. From wine and food pairings to locating artisan food and non-wine beverages, under the More to Do tab, you’ll find plenty of excellent information and the concierge form to fill out if you want some assistance from Laura.
There are also many other Along the Wine Road blogs to help you plan a honeymoon in Wine Country.
Getting married is a special time in life. If you are looking for a simpler version of getting married and planning a honeymoon, be sure to check out the options along the Wine Road.
Happy Sipping!
#AlongTheWineRoad @TheWineRoad #WineCountryElopements #WineRoadHoneymoons
Happy wedding couple outside of the Madrona Manor.
