Weddingbee boards

Hey everyone! 

Is there anyone in the Sonoma/Napa area getting married at Vine Hill House in Sebastopol? It is a private estate at O'Connell Vineyards, and the owners, Dan and Jan O'Connell, seem AMAZING. Their prices are reasonable and the venue (lawn overlooking vineyards? YES!) is absolutely gorgeous.

My fiance and I went to see Vine Hill House recently and we're pretty sure we're going to book it for our wedding next summer. Just wondering if anyone else has been/will be married there??

Thanks!

I have been looking for a great location for next fall and ahve recently stumbled upon Vine Hill House as well. It sounds AMAXING! Have you looked into it farther? I am going out next week and have a meeting with Dan. I can't wait to see it in person. I would love to hear anything you find out as well! GOOD luck and Congrats!!!

@DD79: Yes! I booked it as my venue. I've been out there three times now, and it is just beautiful. Many people who live in Sonoma County know it because it is such a popular wedding venue. They are affordable (for this area!), and you get much more than you pay for, in my opinion, because of Dan--he is amazing! He has done hundreds (or thousands) of weddings, and really knows vendors, details, has great suggestions, and will coordinate everything so the day goes perfectly smoothly. I know my wedding is still a year away, but I can already tell it's going to be great!

@ck_stella16:

That is SOOOO great to hear! Did you check out any other venues? I am sooo exctied to get out there and check things out. I know that it is going to be here before I know it but I also am really looking forward to the next year!!! ;-) I am glad to hear that Dan is as asmazing as I have read. Thanks for the info. Its nice to find someone else who is planning something like this at the same place! Especially since I am doing it from BALTIMORE!!! I must be crazy ;-P

Amazing! I absolutely can't wait to get married at Vine Hill House!!! I would love to conitue hearing about what you decided about vendors and such. I did 3 tasting with cateres while I was out there. 1 was with al la heart.. weird experience, 2 was with Prefetted sonoma which is not on Dan's list and 3 was with Park Avenue. Park Avenue is one of his favorites and seemed like it would be amazing but I REALLY loved Amber from Preferred Sonoma so now I am kind of having an internal stuggle. Her review are as amazing as my tasting were with her but she has never been to vine hill so I am little nervous about aht part.

@DD79: Hey! We also had a tasting with 3 caterers. One was A la Heart, their food was good (just tasted apps), and Deb really seemed to have some good ideas. Another was with Trends, she's worked at Vine Hill a TON, and the food was good but not amazing. We also tasted with Feast, who we ended up booking. Their food is amazing, delicious and rich-tasting but also light and fresh at the same time. They really worked with us on budget and pricing and we feel like we're getting a great deal from them. I have never heard of Preferred Sonoma, but really, it's all about who you feel comfortable with and who you want to trust on your big day. Even if she's never worked at Vine Hill, I'm sure she's a professional and will make things run smoothly! 

We decided to do a dessert bar rather than one big cake, and my fiance's favorite dessert is chocolate mousse pie, so we're having pies done by Mom's Apple Pie, it's in Sebastopol only like a mile from Vine Hill, so if you're considering pie, they're great...

Let's see...we're going through a wholesaler for flowers because I'm pretty good with florals and plan to do the bouquets and centerpieces a day or two in advance, with help from my mom and aunts. So I don't have too many recommendations for florals, but I do know Dragonfly in Healdsburg is amazing, I've seen their work. 

I researched most of the photographer's on Dan's list and ended up booking Marc Blondin, I also LOVED a photojournalist who's not on his list, named Mike Greener. He's based out of Davis but travels all over the bay area. I ultimately went with Marc Blondin because he has a huge range of styles, and I really felt comfortable when I met with him.

What are your decor ideas/colors? My main colors are a dark marine blue contrasted by a berry/fuschia, and everything else will be soft neutrals like light peaches/beiges/pinks/yellows. I've gotten tons of great ideas just stalking the pictures of previous Vine Hill brides!