Romancing the Grape
Planning a wedding in a winery
by Shelley Waugh
W
ineries historic charms make for beautiful wedding venues. When you visit a winery, have a list of questions ready to ask the wedding coordinator. If you are hiring a wedding planner, make sure they know the style and size of your wedding, budget, menu and wine tasting requirements, ceremony site, chairs, reception area (tented or not), accommodations for you and out-of-town guests, rehearsal dinner, map, website address, and Plan B in case of bad weather.
Remember to get all prices quoted in writing and ask what they cover. Ask for wedding references and check them out. Keep a record of all your quotes, expenses and receipts.
Often wineries don’t include inns, but work with reputable professionals to accommodate wedding-related requirements such as clergy, catering, wedding cake, flowers, makeup and hair, music, décor, photography, transportation, and lodging.
List the personal items that you will be bringing to the site, such as your outfits, favors for the tables, and gifts for your wedding party.
Make a note of items and dates that make each location different, so that you can compare all of your requirements and costs.
Then start planning your honeymoon!
Fess Parker’s Inn and Winery, Los Olivos, California
Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa and Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard are located in the heart of the Santa Barbara wine country. The special events coordinator takes couples through the planning process from selecting and reserving the wedding date, to designing the menu, to planning the schedule of events, to the actual event itself. They offer an extensive selection of banquet menus and will also design a custom menu.
Menu pricing is based on hors d’oeuvres and/or two or three course dinner or buffet. Please check their website for updated costs and services. Extensive selections of local wines are available at discounted prices. All wine is based on consumption. Prices and fees are in U.S. funds and subject to change.
The Inn & Spa offers several rooms and sites. For groups of 150 or less, they provide tables, linens, china, silverware, glassware, votive candles for your table setting. They also have a resource list of local vendors for photographers, florists, bakeries, musicians, and other services.
Their location rental fee does not include equipment or food of any kind. Their indoor event facility is The Fireplace Room, a spacious (3,000 square feet) room with tall ceilings and cathedral windows, with flagstone and oak floors and an open-planned, stone fireplace in a French country style. For special tastings/receptions up to 125 or seated dinners up to 50 guests, 6-10pm.
Their outdoor event facilities price list includes ceremony locations of manicured grounds overlooking lush lawn and vineyards. They have a Ceremony only site fee and a fee if the reception and dinner takes place at the Inn.
The Tent Pad Area has a view of the vineyards and is located on an acre of landscaped grounds, the tent pad (11,000 square feet) is situated on a level, granite surface with access to electricity and water. This area can accommodate up to 500 people. The tent is not included in area rental price. Restroom rental is mandatory for this area.
Important details include that set up needs must not interfere with the tasting room procedures. The 10:00pm cut-off time is strictly enforced. Any activity on the grounds past 10:00pm (clean up by 11:00) are billed per hour, prorated. The grounds must be returned to its original state. A winery employee will be on hand during the event.
Parking availability is 265 spaces. A Parking Service is recommended for special events and is mandatory for events with 100 cars or more. If the Winery or Inn provides any parking services-directed or valet, there will be a minimum charge.
The Inn is the only caterer allowed at the winery. Only Fess Parker Wines, and beers of the couple’s choice are allowed. A variety of local wines and a hard alcohol bar are available. The Inn also caters to other wineries and sites.
All facilities are handicapped accessible. Electricity is provided. However, special voltage and outlet requirements for a band or disc jockey are discussed. Amplified music in moderation is permitted until 10:00pm, but may be subject to curtailment if complaints are received. Any event held on the Tent Pad Area must provide portable restroom facilities next to the Tent Pad Area.
The Inn was founded by the late former Hollywood star Fess Parker (1924-2010) known for thousands of fans as Davy Crockett on the TV series.
For more information, please call the Special Events Coordinator at 1.800.841.1104 or visit www.fessparker.com and click on catering/banquets for weddings.htm.(8/10/06SW)
Lindsay and Kevin's wedding at Willow Vineyards. Visit www.traversebiz.com/willow
Getting married in a Michigan winery
Greg Wilson and Colleen Ayotte’s wedding at Ciccone Vineyards and Winery, Suttons Bay, Michigan, www.cicconevineyards.com.
Photography by Rebecca Kinnee, 4 Corners Photography and Video, Kingsley, Michigan. Visit www.4cornersphotoandvideo.com
