Wedding Wednesday: The Venue

After getting over the initial excitement of the engagement (who am I kidding? I'm still crazy excited!), our first step was to figure out where this wedding would take place. I knew I wanted to get married in Marin County, California, where I grew up, and Jeff was happy to go along. Picking the venue is a huge decision and determines so many aspects of the wedding - the decor, the size, the schedule, your guests' travel and accommodations. I had done some research and explored our options, but I couldn't wait to see the venues in person. I wanted an outdoor reception with lots of greenery and natural elements that was close enough to San Francisco that guests could enjoy all of the amazing Bay Area. The search was on!

We visited three sites, and as soon as we walked into the third, I knew it was the one. Nestled in a little redwood forest, under a canopy of twinkling lights and white lanterns, Deer Park Villa is the essence of Marin's beauty and the perfect place for our wedding. The only downside? The same space would be used for the ceremony and reception, and I was hoping for unique areas for each part of the day. After searching through city parks, gardens, and every gazebo in town, we happened upon an amazing option for our ceremony and picked the Stewart Chapel at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Perched on top of a hill overlooking Mt. Tam and the tree filled valley, the chapel is the ideal romantic setting to say "I do."

The Stewart Chapel

The Redwood Grove

Both of these venues are more than I could have dreamed of and we're so excited to keep planning the big day! We're getting married in October, when the weather in Marin is at its best, so fingers are crossed for blue skies and warm temperatures. The next big decisions will take place when we head down to California next month for our tastings. My mouth is watering already...