By Leah Still
California's wine country is one of its many destination wedding spots.
California, with its sandy shores, rocky cliffs, chic cities and rolling hills of vineyards, is a big, endless opportunity for destination weddings. Whether you want beachside, hilltop, sunset or an array of other landscapes, you'll find it somewhere along the California coast.
San Diego
With its nearly year-round sunny weather and mild temperatures, San Diego is ideal for a Southern California beachside destination wedding. The Hotel del Coronado is located on the charming island of Coronado. The venerable hotel has hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Babe Ruth and Humphrey Bogart. The Del, as it's called, is no stranger to weddings, and you can expect your celebration to be elegant and beautiful.
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118
800-468-3533
hoteldel.com
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay, about 30 miles south of San Francisco, is a magnificent stretch of sand and dramatic cliffs. It's a favorite getaway destination for those living in the San Francisco/San Jose area for good reason--it is seriously beautiful. Adding to the landscape is the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where you can have a dream-like destination wedding. Sunset on the Pacific? No problem. It's romance and first-class all the way.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
1 Miramontes Point Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
650-712-7000
ritzcarlton.com
San Francisco
If you're looking for sophistication, perhaps a city wedding is more your style. San Francisco's hills, parks and Victorian architecture give the city a romantic, old-world air. Venues are nearly limitless, but the Legion of Honor is a fabulous art museum located in Lincoln Park, affording views of the ocean, the Golden Gate bridge and the bay from its perch in the northwest corner of the city.
Legion of Honor
100 34th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94121
415-750-3698
famsf.org
Wine Country
Northern's California's wine country is an obvious California choice for a destination wedding, but that doesn't mean it's not still one of the best. And the best of the best is found at Auberge du Soleil (it continually ranks in "Travel + Leisure" and "Conde Nast Traveler" lists of the best hotels in the world). The ultimate in luxurious romance, Auberge is the place for an intimate, European-style celebration.
Auberge du Soleil
180 Rutherford Hill Road
Rutherford, CA 94573
707-963-1211
aubergedusoleil.com
About the Author:
Leah Still has written about travel, fashion and home design since 2003. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, including "SKI" magazine, Southernaccents.com and Gusto.com. She has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and broadens her education with both domestic and international travel.
Photo Credits:
californian vineyard image by Albo from
Fotolia.com
