Hilltop pool at the Carneros Inn
Harvest season always makes us think of the Napa Valley—the heat of summer is winding down and there’s a definite edge to the night air. It’s a beautiful time of year for a wedding here, particularly at a place where you’re literally surrounded by the valley’s bounty. At the Carneros Inn, you’re so close to the vineyards, you can pretty much pluck grapes from your chaise lounge.
Many weddings here are the kind of pull-out-all-the-stops celebrations that Napa is so good at, where the parasols are color-coordinated with the bridesmaids dresses, the cake is a year in the planning and every course of the reception feast is paired with a breathtaking wine. But if you had something a more modest in mind—say, the two of you and 16 lucky guests—the Carneros may be right for you, too.
Accommodating a maximum of 18 people, the resort’s simplest wedding plan wraps up an hour’s use of their apple orchard for the ceremony, the services of an officiant, flowers for you and your intended, a photographer and a guitarist, plus bubbly and nibbles either savory (house-smoked salmon, saffron risotto) or sweet (mini cupcakes, cheesecake bites) for everyone. The total cost is $5,000 during the week; $6,000 on Fridays and Sundays (Saturday isn’t an option). It’s short and sweet, and many couples decide to follow it with dinner at Farm, the hotel’s fanciest restaurant, where the uni comes from Mendocino, the kampachi from Hawaii, and the duck breast from Pelaluma. If you’re looking for a more downhome place to celebrate, Carneros’s Boon Fly Cafe is a “contemporary roadhouse” serving up chicken and waffles. And if you want total privacy, they’ll cater a reception meal in one of their cottages or private homes.
Here’s what $5,000 can buy. A “starter” Chanel bag. A first-class ticket from New York to London. Or an unforgettable wedding in a Napa Valley meadow. Talk about a no brainer.
The Carneros Inn
