Sonoma Valley Official Visitors Guide

SAY “I DO” TO
SONOMA VALLEY
A Wine Country wedding has all the elements for a romantic celebration: the
picture-perfect backdrop of vineyards, great food, and iconic wine. If you want
your special day to be something you’ll remember fondly, here are some ways
to plan the perfect day.
CONFIRM VENUE AND DATES
EARLY Most weddings book a year in
advance. Make sure to be clear on your
dates, your timing, and your venue of choice.
Signing a contract is a big financial responsibility,
and you are responsible for all costs.
Get informed about taxes and service surcharges,
and ask for an all-inclusive rate so
that you know the occupancy and tourism
taxes will be included in the final balance of
the bill.
FLEXIBLE DATES CORRE-
SPOND WITH BEST BUDGET
Know from the get-go that Saturdays are always
the most expensive day of the week to
plan a wedding, and especially between the
high season of May through October. While
Saturdays may be the most common day of
the week to hold a wedding and are often
convenient for many out-of-town guests,
they also come at a more premium price. As
one insider notes, “Don’t rule out Fridays
and Sundays and the winter months – these
are the best times to get the best pricing.”
LOOK FOR PLACES TO ENJOY
NATURE Consider picking a venue that
offers a connection to the outdoors. Whether
it’s an outdoor patio for the reception, a
garden for taking pictures, or a vineyard for
the cocktail hour, weave the beauty of Sonoma
into your special day.
DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE Before
calling up to inquire about availability and
pricing, take the tip from the pros and do
a little research on your own. The Sonoma
Valley Visitors Bureau website is a treasure
trove of events, venue information, and fun
things to do.
RESERVE THE RIGHT NUMBER
OF ROOMS The temptation of any bride
or groom is to book a room block with as
many rooms as possible. While a nice service
to your guests, not everyone will want the
same experience for their stay, and the cost of
the room may not fit into their budget. When
you block a set of rooms, you may become
financially liable for those rooms, even if they
don’t sell.
gather your thoughts to
communicate clearly When
planning a wedding, it’s common to want to
reach for the phone, make a quick call, and
ask all the questions you have as they come
up. But do yourself a favor, and organize
your thoughts first. When you streamline
communication through email, you create a
paper trail for you and the hospitality team
at your choice of venue. This helps avoid
miscommunication, ensures you get a timely
response, and signals to the venue that you
are professional about this important business
transaction.
Ready for your happily ever afters? We’ll see you in Sonoma Valley for your big day!
52 SONOMA VALLey