Northern California Wedding Reception and Service Ideas.
Venues are numerous: you can be married beneath the redwoods in Humboldt County or at the seashore in Bodega Bay. Wineries abound in the areas between Healdsburg and Novato, and many of them have the perfect facilities for the ceremony and reception as well as beautiful, inn-like settings for honeymooners and guests who want to stay over to enjoy perfect California weather. In Santa Rosa, the Luther Burbank gardens are ideal for lovers of flowers, and you'll find small farms in the local towns that raise everything from Gravenstein apples to lavender, to alpacas, llamas or little goats.
Some private estates, such as the Jack London house, are open to visitors much of the year, providing wedding guests with fun day trips that combine outdoor activity with history and always, the fine dining that characterized the California lifestyle. Sedate guests can take wine-tasting tours while more active folks can explore the coast, try body surfing, visit a horse ranch for trail riding or hike the foothills of the oak-dotted Sierras. Antiquing is a popular pastime in towns like Vallejo, Novato and Petaluma, where you can also find terrific examples of Victorian architecture.
If you're marrying in the Sacramento area, you may find what you're looking for in the Delta, where flat water shimmers and fields are planted with rice. The funky, fun shopping areas of Rocklin and Roseville are great places to look for vintage bridal gowns and tuxes, and traveling north on I-5 will bring you to Redding, where hot days, cool evenings and clear mountain air make for great river swimming and camping as well as a lively nightlife in the town. Travel east, and you'll find yourself in Lake Tahoe—a leading honeymoon destination and a gorgeous place to swim and water ski.
Northern California is a great place to settle down after the wedding, too. Nor Cal has educational opportunities ranging from the best community college system in the country (Santa Rosa Junior College is one award-winning branch) to culinary school and world-class professional education. Inland, Rohnert Park and Cotati host Sonoma State University, a small but beautiful campus located under the redwoods. On the coast, you'll find Humboldt State University in Arcata, near Eureka, five driving hours north of San Francisco. And for alternative or lifelong education, there are hundreds of seminars, workshops and credential courses in everything you can imagine. You can take courses in pottery, weaving, baking or flower arranging. You can find naturalists to lead your hikes and teach you about local flora and fauna, or visit one of many shops where artisans demonstrate their work. And, because you're on the coast, opportunities are endless for people who want to learn about sailing, surfing, boating, fishing or diving.
Northern California wedding receptions and ceremonies can be as expensive as any bride's dream or beautiful and casual creative events ranging from to suit even a modest budget. Elope to a quiet country Sebastopol area inn or visit Petaluma for a lively downtown atmosphere complete with great, international music and terrific fresh cuisine. Locally owned farms and restaurants make renting space simple, and many people have found the public parks that dot the entire Northern California region to be the perfect places to commit matrimony. Whisper your vows on the top of a golden hill in the evening sunshine, or go coastal on the long trails that follow the line of surf. Whatever the state of your union, you'll find Norcal the ideal spot for love and celebration.
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