How To Get Married In Gold Country California
How To Get Married In Gold Country California
You’re engaged? Congrats! Are you thinking of getting married in beautiful Gold Country, California? You’re in the right place! Here at The Vow Gold Country, our goal is to help couples create the wedding they've been dreaming of. The Vow is here to be your wedding resource with trusted vendors who will provide quality work. Keep reading to find out how to get married in Gold Country, California.
The Vow Gold Country
The Vow Gold Country Magazine was born of two local businesswomen in the wedding industry who saw a need for wedding inspiration in our picturesque area. The Vow strives to inspire people to host their special events, large or small, in our beautiful area of the world, the Gold Country in California.
Gold Country stretches from the beautiful granite cliffs of Yosemite to the stunning wine country region of Amador County, the mountain areas of Bear Valley and Sonora Pass, and the foothills and ranches of Jamestown.
The Vow Gold Country features the newest trends in Gold Country weddings and trusted vendors who provide the highest caliber of work. We hope brides gain the knowledge to create their dream wedding on our pages!
You can grab past issues of The Vow Gold Country here, and keep an eye out for our latest issue coming soon!
Let’s get down to it…how do you plan the best day of your life in Gold Country?
Your Gold Country Wedding Planning Guide
We are so glad you’ve chosen Gold Country, California, for one of the most memorable days of your life. As wedding professionals, we know how important every detail of your big day is, and we are here to help. You can check out Your Wedding Timeline for help when you need to start booking your vendors. After choosing your date, first things first, you’ve chosen Gold Country, California, for your wedding.
Choose Your Gold County Wedding Destination
Tuolumne County
You can plan the perfect wedding in Tuolumne County! Here, you have your pick of adventurous and stunning locations in the High Sierras. Choose from destinations like the iconic granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park or a rusticly charming town in Gold Country. You won't find a shortage of Tuolumne County wedding venues as you can opt for a gorgeous 1860s Victorian Hotel, a lovely B&B, or a stunning mountain resort as the backdrop for your I do's. Your forever starts in Tuolumne County.
Calaveras County
Calaveras County is such a special place to get married. Imagine a vast open space, natural beauty, and quaint small towns. Your Gold Country wedding can be set in picturesque vineyards, on the grounds of an Italian villa, among pines, or at a graceful country club. Weddings are magical moments that deserve a beautiful destination that will exceed your expectations, and you’ll find just that in Calaveras County.
Choose Your Gold Country Wedding Venue
Gold Country, California has some truly amazing wedding venues.
Bear Valley
Suppose your wedding vision includes mountains, wildflowers, granite walls, or snowy backdrops. In that case, Bear Valley is the perfect place for a stunning ceremony that marks the beginning of your happily ever after. Experience the grandeur of the Stanislaus National Forest as you say "I do" over 7,700 ft.
Bear Valley provides an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. After your ceremony with stunning views, have the perfect celebration in the village at the Bear Valley Lodge. This Gold Country wedding venue's facilities can accommodate receptions of up to 200 guests. Bear Valley offers several wedding packages that make planning your big day a breeze.
Bear Valley Wedding Packages include:
Multiple outdoor ceremony sites
Your choice of reception venue(s)
Signature Bear Valley hors d’oeuvres
Buffet-style dinner
5 hours of hosted bar
1 hour cocktail hour and 4 hours after dinner
House wine served with dinner
Wedding cake cutting
Selection of dessert options
Accommodations at the Bear Valley Lodge
Or accommodations at the Scenic Glampground
Shuttle services to the wedding ceremony site
Complimentary Bridal Suite
Photography: Jennifer Rapoza
Hurst Ranch
Are you looking for the perfect rustically charming Gold Country wedding venue? Hurst Ranch is a family-run ranch, and they know how vital special moments and big days are. They do everything they can to ensure your wedding day is exactly as you want! Are you looking for a classic wedding? Maybe rustic chic? Or a country wedding? Hurst Ranch has you covered!
Think of Hurst Ranch as a blank canvas and let your imagination run wild!
Hurst Ranch Wedding Packages include:
3 day venue rental
tables + chairs
AC bridal quarters
restrooms
mini train
wine barrels
hay bales + more!
Photography: Roberto Chavez
Mount Brow
Mount Brow is a beautiful vineyard, venue & vacation retreat. On 82 acres of rolling foothill charm, Mount Brow offers stunning sunrises & sunsets and space for weddings, events, photoshoots, and vacations. Mount Brow offers many options for your “I do’s” with oak trees, rolling hills, serene meadows, majestic mountains, and a year round creek & vineyard that are all picture perfect and ready for your wedding day.
Are you looking to have a barn wedding in a beautiful setting? The large indoor 2,500 sq ft barn offers ample space for up to 200 guests. The breathtaking barn is designed to allow hanging romantic lighting from the exposed beams and a blank canvas that you can make your own. Located within the barn area is a beautifully remodeled bridal suite with a bathroom & kitchenette.
Built to entertain, the main house is 3,300 sq ft and comfortably sleeps 14 with a large gourmet kitchen, pool table, bocce ball court, built-in swimming pool/spa, and more. It’s offered as an AirBnB to guests. Rent all of Mount Brow, and you’ve got your weekend accommodations, wedding prep area, ceremony, and reception site wrapped into one breathtaking location.
Mount Brow’s Wedding Packages include:
3 day Use of Wedding Venue
Friday Setup/Rehearsal (7 am - 7 pm)
Saturday Wedding (7 am - 10 pm)
Sunday Cleanup (7 am - 3 pm)
Outdoor reception (ending no later than 10 pm)
Use of Barn
Use of Ceremony Sites
(18) 8ft rectangle tables
(30) White Plastic Folding Chairs
(18) 8ft wood benches
Bridal Suite & Groom Suite Day Use
MISC Items: Arch, Wine barrels, Bar tops, Water troughs
1 Parking Attendant
Parking (during dry summer months)
Winter dates, guests may have to be shuttled in
Mount Brow Vineyard Staff onsite at all times
Photography Beth Sweitzer
Twain Harte Tree Farm
The Twain Harte Tree Farm is an extraordinary Gold Country wedding venue. This peaceful venue is family-owned and makes for a very ethereal and fairytale wedding setting. Imagine yourself surrounded by towering pines in a secret garden where your partner crosses a beautiful bridge to say their vows. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it?
While Twain Harte Tree Farm does require that the party ends 30 minutes before sunset, there’s no need to worry. This wedding venue is close to Twain Harte and Black Oak Casino. This secret gem is the wedding venue of your dreams if you are looking for a secret garden to say your “I do’s.” Twain Harte Tree Farm allows weddings of up to 100 people.
Twain Harte Tree Farm Wedding Packages Include:
Table and chair rental
Vintage furniture available
Set up ceremony chairs
Placement of reception tables
Bridal suite for the bride and her tribe to get ready
Photography: Fox House Studio
Washington Hotel/Knights Ferry Events
How idyllic would it be to get married by a river? The beautiful Washington Hotel is the place for you if you want a beautiful outdoor space. This stunning space is situated on the Stanislaus River in the 100-person town of historic Knights Ferry.
The charming town of Knights Ferry, California, with its vibrant Spring wildflowers and exciting gold rush history, makes for a truly picturesque wedding location. The Washington Hotel offers beautiful lush lawns, stunning wildflowers (in the right season), and a picturesque riverfront for your epic outdoor ceremony.
We highly recommend the Washington Hotel in Knights Ferry for your wedding venue, especially if you’re getting married in the Spring!
Photography: Storybook Photography (see below)
Next Let’s Talk Wedding Planners/Coordinators
A wedding coordinator assists you on your wedding day and ensures the event goes according to plan. They alleviate stress during both the final planning days and the actual wedding day.
Wildflower Events Company
Wildflower Events Company specializes in wedding planning, design, coordination, and decor. Their design and planning packages are designed for couples who need help from start to finish. Beginning with an in-depth design meeting and ending with a full day of coordination that allows you to truly enjoy the process while the Wildflower Events Company handles all the essential details. They will be with you every step of the way!
If you've booked your venue and vendors but are having issues finalizing the day of coordination and design, then you want the Wildflower Events Company Design + Day Of Coordination package. This provides both design services and a detailed timeline for your wedding day. Through the Wildflower process, they will create a gorgeous and cohesive design for your wedding, assist you with booking any design-related vendors, and fully nail your day of vision. On the day of your wedding, they take over all coordination between vendors and guests so you can be fully present and have the best day of your life.
Have you picked your vendors and date but can't quite bring your complete vision and style to life? Wildflower Events Company will assist you in coordinating decor for your special day. Their team will find the perfect look and feel for you and your guests. From custom order decor to custom made pieces, Wildflower Events will advise you on venue layout, decor, centerpieces, floral accents, linens, lighting and much more.
Photography by Storybook Photography (more below)
VOW Wedding Planning Co
This team of wedding consultants is with you from your dress day until your best day! VOW Wedding Planning Co is here to take the stress out of your wedding day. The dream you had as a little girl has finally come true, and the VOW Wedding Planning Co. is here for you every step of the way.
Wedding dress experiences are provided by the Bridal Vault (listed below), and it’s their job to know the top wedding trends.
Who Will Your Gold Country Wedding Photographer Be?
One of the most important vendors at your Gold Country wedding is the photographer who will capture one of the happiest days of your lives. This person will capture the memories and emotions that tell your story!
Storybook Photography
Storybook Photography’s Salisha is here to capture your memories creatively, authentically, and beautifully, preserving your story forever. She has 10+ years of experience as a photographer and has learned how to help you as a couple focus on each other and really stay present in the moment. Salisha loves to capture genuinely candid moments that will feel like you.
Storybook Photography specializes in adventure elopements and provides one-of-a-kind images captured with ease.
Sunshine Photography
Sunshine Photography’s Katie has been a professional photographer for over 6 years and started focusing specifically on weddings and family portraits in 2019. Katie is a passionate romantic who loves weddings and everything surrounding them.
If you want an artistic eye for details, look no further than Sunshine Photography! Katie is also a nature lover and landscape photographer, and she tries to incorporate those qualities into her portraiture.
Now You Will Need Your Wedding Dress/Groom’s Attire
The wedding dress process is the stuff of dreams for brides to be, and we completely understand why. This is the dress that you have been fantasizing about since you were a child, and this entire process is an important one.
Bridal Vault
At the Bridal Vault, they genuinely care about you, your wedding, and your future. The Bridal Vault family is a fantastic group of women who were once little girls with big dreams and became women living their dreams. They want your wedding to be nothing short of perfection.
The Bridal Vault consultants make it their mission to guide brides to find their dream wedding gown. They go above and beyond to help the bride with everything they need, from fabrics and silhouettes to helping you find the perfect veil to go with your dress.
Our one-of-a-kind location gives you a one-of-a-kind experience. The spacious salon is in historic Jamestown, California. They offer a spacious dressing room in the vault and a semi-private viewing area so your family and bride tribe can enjoy seeing you in each gown. You will absolutely love visiting The Bridal Vault!
The Bridal Vault carries Martina Liana, Stella York, Lillian West, and more.
Find tips for How To Travel With A Wedding Dress and Advice For Grooms On Wedding Day Attire.
Your Wedding Florist Is So Important
Wedding florals truly set the tone for your wedding from the bridal bouquet, to the boutonniere, the ceremony space, and the reception area.
Sweet Lilacs
Susan and the team of Sweet Lilacs provide relaxed, airy, casual, and romantic florals for your wedding. Sweet Lilacs loves using texture and sweet fragrance to envelop brides in their bouquets.
Sweet Lilacs love the combination of peonies, ranunculus, peonies, open garden roses, berries, mixed foliage, and, of course, lilacs. Susan and her team are passionate about providing the best work in floral art design for every event. Sweet Lilacs has strong attention to quality, detail, texture, color, space, balance, and unity.
Susan has been part of thousands of weddings and has been a florist for over 13 years. She loves a challenge!
Of course, You Need To Feed Your Guests
Your wedding is likely to be one of the most important days of your life. You have spent countless hours deciding on the venue, the dress and suit, the photographer, and the flowers, so you should be equally as thorough when choosing the caterer. A delicious meal, in addition to celebrating your love, is also a major draw for many wedding guests.
Lila and Sage
At Lila and Sage, the goal is to provide excellence in everything they do to ensure that your day is stress-free, your event is beautiful, the service is phenomenal, and your menu is creative and delicious!
Lila and Sage provide full-service event production for large and small events (like your wedding), from food, drink, rental services, event coordination, and aesthetics. They strive to ensure that your event is as special and unique as you are as a couple.
They offer tastings for weddings of over 100 people after you have reserved your date.
Photography: Nichols Photographers
Entertainment Can Really Make Or Break Your Reception
The importance of a wedding DJ or entertainer is something you should not overlook when you are planning your wedding. A DJ can really provide an amazing experience for you and your guests. This is also something that can help you enjoy your wedding day more by limiting unnecessary stress.
Sounds and Entertainment
DJ Jordan Clayton of Sounds and Entertainment believes selecting the right DJ is one of the best investments for your event. Your DJ doesn’t just have a playlist; sit back and enjoy the night. They INTERACT with your guests throughout your entire wedding. DJ Jordan wants to be an integral part of making your day memorable. He wants your guests to remember your wedding celebration.
What Does Sounds and Entertainment specialize in?
Specializes in music
Keeps things moving
Gets people dancing
Helps with all the little details to make your event AMAZING!
You Will Need Wedding Rentals - And We’ve Got You Covered
Standard Event Rentals
Standard Event Rentals is passionate about events and bringing your vision to life. Since 1984, their family-owned and operated company has collaborated with clients to create events ranging from high-end weddings to smaller affairs. They set high standards and offer an extensive selection of exemplary products and phenomenal service.
Standard Event Rentals has locations in San Francisco/Bay Area and Central Valley/Sacramento, and they service clients throughout all of Northern California, anywhere from the South Bay to beautiful Wine Country.
Standard Event Rentals offers:
An Extensive Selection
They see the big picture right down to the finest details, offering a variety of tent styles to the intricate designs on their dinnerware. They know the importance of the first and last impression and have a fantastic selection of products to make each event its own unique experience.
Exemplary Products
Their products are in a class all by themselves, which allows Standard Event Rentals to bring your vision to life no matter the occasion.
Phenomenal Service
Standard Event Rentals is a very customer-focused and service-oriented rental company. They are happy when you’re happy, so they always bring their A-game.
Sweet Little Lilacs
As a subsidiary of Sweet Lilacs (listed above in florist), Sweet Little Lilacs offers limited rentals including:
Little Red is a beautiful 1961 Shasta Siesta Trailer used for a photo backdrop, lounge area, or even a cozy bridal getaway.
Creative boards for table seating charts or guest favors. Let’s chat about ideas!
Hanging wood chandeliers
Rental of handmade pottery vases
Rental of handmade table numbers
Sweet Little Lilacs is perfect if you are looking to elope in Gold Country!
Little Sipper Mobile Bar
You can tap into a good time anywhere with Little Sipper Mobile Bar! Little Sipper Mobile Bar is a 1964 Little Dipper trailer that has been renovated into a custom mobile bar perfect for your wedding. The vintage trailer is designed to service any event needing ice-cold drinks. As an added bonus, Little Sipper runs off of its own power source and can be towed to any location.
Little Sipper Mobile Bar comes equipped with 4 tap handles that can easily be customized with any beverage, including:
Beer
Wine
Seltzer
Mixers
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Sparkling Water
With plenty of packages, you will love how your guests react when they see Little Sipper Mobile Bar at your wedding!
The Powder Room Luxury Restrooms
The Powder Room Luxury Restrooms provides luxury restroom trailers to pamper your guests. Their trailers offer water-flowing sinks, hands-free flushing toilets, and modern and stylish interiors. The luxury interiors provide heat or air conditioning to make sure your guests are comfortable no matter what time of year you get married.
The Powder Room Luxury Restrooms offers several different styles and trailers, including:
The Majestic - two-door, six-station luxury restroom
The Ritz - four-door, five-station luxury trailer has four private rooms
The VIP - ADA accessible bathroom and two more bathrooms for a total of 3 separate rooms to accommodate your guests
The Chic - two station luxury trailer is perfect for a smaller gathering
The Parlour - boasts comfortable seating, refinished floors, and countertops, as well as a refrigerator and warm water sink
The Powder Room Trailers are sure to impress your guests.
The Best Wedding Cakes And Sweets
Simply Delish
Simply Delish wedding cakes and cupcakes that are baked fresh (and never frozen). These desserts are carefully handcrafted, emphasizing the best combination of flavors and sophisticated presentation. Vonnie has over 40 years of baking experience. She knows that using natural ingredients such as sweet butter, cream, fresh strawberries, pineapple, raspberries, lemons, bananas, and pure Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans in her cakes and cupcakes creates the most delicious flavors. She takes great pride in creating cakes and cupcakes that are a step above the rest!
Have a vision for your wedding cake? A theme? An off-the-wall idea? Make sure to bring your ideas or pictures of the cakes you're interested into Simply Delish, and they will work to bring your vision to life.
Simply Delish wants to make your event as special as you are as a couple! Every cake is made from scratch, with a filling of your choice. The cost of cakes depends on the cake's style, design, and size.
We’ve Got You Covered With Hair And Makeup
Braided Blonde Locks
Alyssa of Braided Blonde Locks has been a Bridal Hair and Makeup artist for the past 15 years. She loves to create a timeless, naturally organic look to help you feel your best and most authentic for your wedding day. From formal weddings to intimate elopement adventures, Alyssa creates the hair and makeup of your dream bridal looks.
Braided Blonde Locks embraces your natural beauty to help you feel like the best version of your true self.
Bronzed Deer
Are you looking for the perfect bridal glow? Your #1 choice for custom bridal spray tans has got to be Bronzed Deer. If you want to invest in your glow, this is the place for you. With plenty of packages to help you look and feel your best on your big day, Bronzed Deer has you covered with all things glowing and bronzed.
Big Wedding Not Your Thing? We’ve Got Gold Country Elopements Covered Too!
Range Of Light Wed
The ladies at Range of Light Wed are seasoned wedding professionals who want to support you in your journey to do something a bit different. Their biggest goal is to give you a meaningful experience that feels just the way you want it to.
Range Of Light Wed are Sierra Nevada locals who think nature makes the best venue to say I do! Their elopement packages make planning your intentional day super easy and seamless, so these ladies joined forces to offer you the essentials all at once.
Each Range Of Light Wed package includes elopement planning (including timeline), hair & makeup, photography, florals, officiant, cake, and elegant picnic reception for up to 15 people.
Range Of Light Wed is dedicated to Leave No Trace principles.
Storybook Photography
We’ve mentioned Salisha of Storybook Photography above, but she also needs to be mentioned as an epic elopement photographer. If you are feeling a bit lost when it comes to crafting your dream elopement, Salisha has your back. She will capture every magical moment of your big day and be your trusty guide through the wilderness of any national park or scenic spot you choose for your adventure elopement.
We hope that The Vow Gold Country has inspired you to join us in beautiful Gold Country, California, for one of the most important days of your life! Welcome! We can’t wait to help you plan the perfect wedding or elopement.