Plan a Destination Wedding in California Wine Country

When it comes to theme weddings in northern California’s famed wine country, one region vows to deliver a wedding day all your guests will remember for a lifetime. Lake County, California, caters ideally to the emerging movement toward destination weddings, weddings held at unique locations and often thrown with a certain corresponding theme. Destination weddings are a perfect fit for wine country, where scenic treasures are found off the beaten paths and unconventional is the new normal.
Scenic and majestic Lake County, an up-and-coming theme wedding destination, is one of the better-kept secrets of the wine country region. Roughly two hours north of San Francisco or two hours west of Sacramento, Lake County’s mountain views and charming villas offer hotels, spa resorts, casinos and more to accommodate everyone on your guest list and give your union a unique and memorable twist.

Vintage-themed weddings

For those who prefer elegance and class, vintage weddings offer a stylish tribute to days gone by. One popular Lake County bed & breakfast called the Featherbed Railroad offers a number of vintage wedding themes and invites guests to stay in one of nine customized railroad cabooses. A few popular themes offered include (but are certainly are not limited to) the Roaring 20s and “The Great Gatsby” and the “steampunk” Edwardian era. Vintage automobiles are even available for rental those theme weddings at which no detail is too small.

Rustic and western-themed weddings

Much of Lake County is unspoiled from the time of the “horse and buggy” homesteader and pioneer eras, making it the perfect backdrop for country or western-themed weddings. Whether you prefer a rustic homage or a nouveau “country chic” style, the region offers a western charm that provides the real deal in an actual western setting. Several of Lake County’s wineries, including Cache Creek Winery, offer menus, parties and entertainment that cater specifically to the rustic or western wedding theme.

Beach and pier weddings

For an outdoor, natural wedding, you’d be hard-pressed to find a finer or more beautiful backdrop than the largest natural lake in California. Clear Lake offers several docks and piers suitable for unforgettably scenic weddings, not to mention the option of the bride arriving via boat or yacht instead of simply strolling down the aisle. And don’t forget the possibility of a wedding under the stars; at Clear Lake, that could mean more stars than many of your guests have ever seen before.

Murder mystery wedding party

The “murder mystery” party is very much in vogue, and the theme works well for a one-of-a-kind wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, shower or bachelor/bachelorette party. Typically organized as a dinner theater party, murder mystery parties employ teams of wandering actors that interact with your guests throughout the event for a fun and unconventional reception. Murder mystery parties offer a number of different themes which can dovetail nicely into your Roaring ‘20s, Wild West, Roman Empire or Elizabethan or Renaissance-themed wedding.
All of these ideas and destinations are covered in depth at LakeCountyWedding.com, a boutique resource listing Lake County’s wineries and resorts that host weddings, top local photographers and other professionals, photos of Mount Konocti and Clear Lake’s best outdoor wedding locations and much more. With and astonishing scenic locations and the majesty of the mountains, Lake County is the place to go to ensure that your destination wedding takes the cake.
Photo credit: Laurie Ann Martin Photography