Ready to tie the knot but don’t want to spend a year planning a grand, expensive wedding? Car rental site Sixt recently released a list of the top 50 places to elope in the U.S., and the town of Sonoma ranked supreme.
The Sixt article cited a national survey that found 62% of engaged couples are considering an elopement. To narrow down the search for those wanting to get hitched quick, Sixt based its selection on average cost and number of planners, officiants, photographers and videographers.
Located in the heart of Wine Country, Sonoma leads the pack when it comes to the “most popular and accommodating place to elope,” according to Sixt. The article noted the area’s 80-plus venues, hundreds of wedding planning professionals and gorgeous scenery as the prime reasons to elope in Sonoma.
According to Forbes, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. in 2024 is $33,000. Sixt noted eloping in Sonoma would cost about a third of that figure, stating “the average spend is about $11,693 in this area for a wedding of 50 people.”
Napa came in at No. 5 on Sixt’s list, noted for “Napa Valley’s picturesque setting” amid lush, vibrant vineyards. Two locations in Colorado and a city in Massachusetts rounded out the top five of the list of 50 best elopement destinations.
The Venue
So where should you spend your wedding in the historic town of Sonoma? Wedding magazine The Knot highlights Sonoma venues such as The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, Cornerstone Sonoma and Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, among others. Beltane Ranch in nearby Glen Ellen also makes for a charming farm wedding.
The Lodge at Sonoma Resort is a two-time Best of Weddings pick in The Knot. Wed under the resort’s 400-year-old Heritage Oak or inside the late 1800s-era Stone Building for a charming, intimate celebration. 1325 Broadway at Leveroni & Napa roads, Sonoma, 707-935-6600, thelodgeatsonoma.com
Cornerstone Sonoma is in The Knot’s Best of Weddings Hall of Fame, featuring its Lilly Pond Lawn for lovely outdoor ceremonies, the Garden Barn and Patio for a reception of dancing and cocktails, and its Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Folktable for an elegant dining experience. 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-933-3010, cornerstonesonoma.com
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa features a number of indoor and outdoor wedding venues as well as an onsite seasonal banquet menu. The Inn also has a “We Can’t Wait” wedding package that’s ideal for elopements — complete with an intimate ceremony (up to 10 guests) on the Creekside Lawn as well as a professional wedding coordinator, officiant, guitar or harp accompaniment, sparkling wine sabering and toast, take-away wedding cake and other optional enhancements. Add on a romantic outdoor dinner from the onsite Santé restaurant. 100 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-939-2411, fairmont.com/sonoma
The Caterer
If you prefer the catering route as opposed to venue restaurants, Sally Tomatoes Catering & Events was voted as the county’s Best Caterer in The Press Democrat’s readers’ choice awards for 2024. The Rohnert Park-based caterer features a full-service catering menu as well as five events spaces, from a 1-acre redwood grove to a cozy fireside lounge. Each venue can be outfitted with special lighting, audio and video screens.
Runners-up on the readers’ choice list included Windsor’s Sonoma County Catering Co., Mazza Catering and Vineyard Corridor Event Professionals. Other local caterers include Preferred Sonoma Caterers, Park Avenue Catering and Goodness Gracious Catering.
The Wedding Photo
For beautiful wedding photos, the Sixt article highlights the scenic vistas at North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park, which is actually located on Sonoma Mountain Road in Santa Rosa.
For a picturesque wedding photo backdrop a little closer to your Sonoma venue, check out Sonoma Valley Regional Park in Glen Ellen. The park features flower-studded rolling hills, the big blue Suttonfield Lake and views of the Mayacamas from Cougar Trail.
Find more inspiration for your upcoming nuptials in the gallery above or on our list of favorite Sonoma County wedding venues. And the most Instagram-worthy spots in the county also make for great wedding portraits.