The rolling hills of Napa practically exude romance. So, it’s no surprise that hundreds of couples flock there to tie the knot every year! As destination wedding planners, we’re especially partial to tented weddings in the Valley. Celebrating outdoors lets you enjoy the region’s mild climate and picturesque vistas for every minute of your special day. Are you envisioning a tented wedding in Napa? Join us for a guide to tented weddings and a tour of our favorite central California venues.
Should You Plan a Tented Wedding?
The #1 thing to know about planning a tented wedding is that it is like building a venue from scratch. You need to consider every facet of the space and its surroundings. For example, is the ground already flat, or do you need to build a floor? Will your tent be adjacent to a building with restrooms and power, or will it be in the middle of a field? If the latter, you’ll need to rent restrooms and generators and transport them onsite.
While these logistical considerations can seem overwhelming, our team has ample experience planning tented weddings and will guide you through the process.
One massive perk of this kind of wedding is the ability to create the exact square footage you need. The tent doesn’t have to be any larger than you need, nor do you have to worry about exceeding capacity like at a traditional venue. We can construct a space to suit your exact specifications and needs.
Moreover, a tent is a neutral space without any pre-existing décor. In other words, it’s ideal for bringing your unique vision to life! In a ballroom, you need to work around at least some of the furnishings and the pre-existing color scheme. But in a tent, you have the freedom to follow your design heart wherever it takes you.
You can also plan for ceiling décor for a space that wows. Picture swaths of greenery, hanging flowers, lanterns, a disco ball—you name it! While we can sometimes make these things work in a ballroom, at the end of the day, we need to adhere to whatever regulations are already in place. Consider these four questions if you’re having trouble deciding between a tent or a ballroom for your wedding.
It’s Napa—Shouldn’t We Just Get Married at a Winery?
Wineries are tricky since you can only serve wine. While this may appeal to some of your guests, others who don’t care for wine may feel overlooked. We recommend hosting your rehearsal dinner at one of Napa’s outstanding wineries and choosing a separate property or resort for your wedding.
Best Venues for a Tented Wedding Near Napa
Central California boasts a stunning selection of venues. Here are a few of our favorites for a tented wedding in Napa and the surrounding areas:
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection
Tucked into the heart of Napa Valley, Solage features stunning vineyard and mountain views, an onsite spa, and inspired modern architecture. The onsite event staff and culinary teams work with each couple to create a personalized experience (our kind of people!).
While Solage feels like a secluded retreat, you’ll find all the amenities necessary to throw a tented event, including onsite power. We love the Solstice Event Lawn for ceremonies, where couples can exchange their vows against the backdrop of the setting sun over the Palisades Mountains.
Montage Healdsburg
Montage is a five-star resort and one of the most popular wedding venues near Napa, where the natural beauty of central California meets refined elegance. Located about an hour outside of Napa in nearby Sonoma County, the resort’s surroundings are exceptionally picturesque: rolling hills, oak trees, and a 13-acre vineyard.
You have your pick of ceremony venues at Montage, including the Vista Lawn, with panoramic views of the Mayacamas Mountain Range and a cozy outdoor hearth. The Grove is an intimate space connecting to the Grand Ballroom. But we’re partial to the Oak Lawn, where you can say “I do” in front of 250 guests standing on the gorgeous and modern Oak Terrace. It’s also the perfect place to take in a romantic sunset.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
The five-star Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley sits on a winery property surrounded by vineyards, forests, and mountains. It’s our top venue pick for outdoor lovers since you’re close to the best hiking trails in the valley.
Whatever backdrop you envision for your outdoor ceremony and tented reception, you’ll find it at the Four Seasons. The valley floor is home to 1,500 square-foot Vineyard Lawn with views of the Cabernet vineyard and the Palisades. Meanwhile, the equally spacious Lakeside Lawn overlooks the lake and its bubbling fountains, with the Mayacamas Mountains visible in the distance.
Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection
Stanly Ranch perches on a hilltop surrounded by 712 acres of vineyards and farmland. It offers immersive agricultural and wellness experiences, including a 100-year-old winery, a world-class spa, and a farm-to-table restaurant. The venue also boasts stunning modern architecture, private terraces with fire pits, daybeds, and space for outdoor dining.
The Glasshouse Barn is the most spacious event venue at Stanly Ranch, with a lofted ceiling and natural light pouring in through floor-to-ceiling retractable window panels. The Cutting Garden is another highlight, with a manicured lawn and lush flower gardens that set the stage for a romantic outdoor ceremony. Also worthy of mention? The intimate and thoughtfully designed Bell Suite. It’s perfect for pre-wedding preparations with your bridal party and freshening up between events.
Alila Ventana Big Sur
We know what you’re thinking—Big Sur? While it may be a five-hour drive from Napa, we still had to include it! Arriving at the Ventana feels like stepping into another world. Tucked into NorCal’s iconic coastline, the resort overlooks serene redwood forests in one direction and the mist-cloaked, brilliantly blue Pacific Ocean in the other.
The Redwood Cathedral is a favored outdoor ceremony space for up to 100 guests, surrounded by towering redwoods. We also love the Ocean Meadow Lawn, a ceremony space for up to 175 guests that overlooks the forest and the sea. It would also be the perfect spot to shelter underneath a tent for dinner and dancing!
No matter what venue you choose for your tented wedding in Napa, our team is here to ensure you have everything you need to celebrate stress-free. We’ll listen to your vision and bring it to life with our unparalleled execution, always keeping you in the loop with reliable communication. Are you ready to experience what JLE is all about? Reach out to us!
Montage Healdsburg is in Sonoma County, not Napa County. It’s about a 1-hour drive to any Napa Valley winery. Sonoma County is very different and the Montage is closest to Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and Russian River Valley.