Elliston Vineyards wedding venue praise

Elliston Vineyards wedding venue in Sunol, California blew my mind away and here is why!

I’m entering into my 12th wedding season, the first 7 in New York City and the last 5 in the Bay area in California. Let’s just say I’ve seen a lot of wedding venues and not all are created equal.

When I go into a wedding as a photographer there are things I may be looking or hoping for that other may not notice. Such as the colors of the ceiling.  Do you know photographers should always look at the color of the ceiling? The thing is, regardless of what you walk into on a wedding day you need to be ready to make your best images in it. So honestly it doesn’t really matter but when a venue has almost everything a photographer hopes for- well it deserves a shout out!

To start off with Sunol, California is a quaint little town that’s only a short and beautiful drive from the Bay Area. When you enter the grounds you see the historic stone mansion and you feel like you have been transported to another time and place. This is just how you want your guests to feel right? Like your wedding day is part of an adventure!

The mansion itself makes for really pretty getting ready pictures with a vintage charm. The surrounding gardens are stunning and flow into the vineyards and hills with California golden grass. No matter what direction you turn in or your subjects turn in, you cant go wrong. Endless photo opportunities at Elliston Vineyards. Andddd you don’t have to walk forever or get into a golf cart and be taken away for what seems like an eternity when you just want to celebrate! Have I mentioned the light? Crazy pretty Californian sunlight!

The wedding ceremony if you desire can take place with the lush vineyards as the backdrop next to a 100-year-old tree! Need I say more?

The reception room is not connected to the mansion but that’s ok- it was built in great taste.  It’s simple but is pretty enough to be left as is. Or you could personalize it with your own decorations and not be competing with what’s already there.

Now back to those ceilings.  The ceiling in the reception room are light in color! This is every photographer’s dream as it makes for really pretty pictures. Add to that, the wall of tall windows allow very soft natural light.

If you are looking for a place to get married that is beautiful, intimate, unique, elegant, quaint, stunning and filled with golden light, vintage charm and rows of vineyards and golden hills- well this is your place!

Scroll down to take a look at some of the images I pulled from Jackie & Matt’s wedding (click on this link to see more). I chose the pictures that really showed off the parts of Elliston Vineyards that really impressed me as a wedding photographer. And this New York City gal, I tell it like it is! If your getting married in the Bay, head out to Sunol and check out Elliston Vineyards- then give me a call 😉