Your Complete Guide to Planning a Stanly Ranch Napa Wedding

As a Napa wedding photographer who has had the privilege of documenting countless love stories throughout wine country, I’m thrilled to share my insider guide to planning your dream wedding at Stanly Ranch. This stunning venue has quickly become one of my favorite places to photograph couples, and for good reason. From the moment you drive down that eucalyptus-lined entrance, you know you’ve discovered something truly special.

Why Stanly Ranch Captures My Heart (And Will Capture Yours)

Nestled among vineyards in southern Napa Valley, Stanly Ranch offers something that many wine country venues simply can’t provide: the perfect blend of rustic elegance and modern luxury. What sets this venue apart is its ability to feel both intimate and grand, depending on your vision. Whether you’re planning an elopement for two or a celebration for three hundred, Stanly Ranch has the versatility to bring your wedding dreams to life.

The first time I photographed a wedding here, I was struck by the golden hour light filtering through the vineyard rows. The way it danced across the Lavender Lawn and illuminated the Glasshouse Barn’s panoramic windows created images that took my breath away. As a photographer, I live for moments like these, and Stanly Ranch delivers them in abundance.

Planning Your Perfect Stanly Ranch Wedding Weekend

One of the greatest advantages of choosing Stanly Ranch is the opportunity to create a full wedding weekend experience for you and your guests. With 135 cottages and suites available, your loved ones can stay right where the celebration happens, eliminating the stress of transportation and allowing everyone to be fully present for your special day.

Start With the Right Venue Space

Stanly Ranch offers eight distinctive event spaces, each with its own character and charm. Let me walk you through my favorites:

The Glasshouse Barn remains the showstopper for larger celebrations. With panoramic windows overlooking the vineyards and rolling hills, this versatile space accommodates up to 450 guests and seamlessly transitions from indoor elegance to outdoor romance with its terrace space. I’ve captured stunning first dances here as the sun sets over the Mayacamas Mountains, and the natural light throughout the day is a photographer’s dream.

The Cutting Garden holds a special place in my heart for outdoor ceremonies. The manicured lawns framed by lush gardens create a naturally beautiful backdrop that needs minimal decoration. I love positioning couples here during golden hour for portraits that feel timeless and romantic.

The Lavender Lawn offers something uniquely sensory to your wedding day. Imagine exchanging vows surrounded by the gentle fragrance of lavender, with vineyard views stretching in every direction. This intimate space seats up to 300 guests and works beautifully for both ceremonies and evening cocktail receptions.

The Garden House brings a touch of French countryside elegance to Napa. With its warm wood tones, large windows, and stunning flower gardens, this space bathes your celebration in natural light while accommodating up to 175 guests.

The Details That Make Stanly Ranch Different

After photographing weddings throughout Napa and Sonoma for over a decade, I’ve learned which details truly matter. Here’s what makes Stanly Ranch stand out:

Late-Night Dancing: Unlike many Napa venues restricted by noise ordinances, Stanly Ranch offers indoor dancing options so your celebration can continue well past 10 PM. As someone who believes the dance floor moments are some of the most joyful to capture, this flexibility is invaluable.

Full Bar Service: Stanly Ranch can serve a full bar with liquor, beer, and wine, unlike many winery venues in the area. This means you can create signature cocktails that reflect your personality as a couple. I’ve seen couples name drinks after their beloved pets, childhood memories, and inside jokes. These personal touches make for wonderful detail photography and conversation starters.

Culinary Excellence: The culinary team at Stanly Ranch approaches your wedding menu with the same care and creativity you’d expect from their acclaimed Bear restaurant. From the tasting to the final plated dinner, expect inspired, elemental cooking that highlights Napa Valley’s finest ingredients. I always photograph the food presentation here because it’s simply stunning.

Dedicated Support: Abby and her team will work with you on venue-specific details. You’ll want to pair this with a wedding planner who can handle the broader coordination of your day, ensuring every element comes together seamlessly. We have so many amazing vendor partners we can recommend.

https://auberge.com/stanly-ranch/events

My Top Tips for Your Stanly Ranch Wedding

Embrace the Natural Beauty

One of my favorite things about photographing at Stanly Ranch is that the venue itself provides so much natural beauty. The vineyards, the architecture, and the landscape shine. Simple, elegant florals and thoughtful lighting will complement the space far better than anything overly elaborate.

Plan for Golden Hour

The light at Stanly Ranch during golden hour is absolutely magical, it’s one of my favorite Napa views. We will work together to create space in your timeline for couples portraits as the sun sets. These will be some of your most treasured images. I typically recommend scheduling this 20 minutes prior to actual sunset.

Consider a Resort Buyout

For truly intimate celebrations or destination weddings where most guests are traveling, consider a resort buyout. Having exclusive access to Stanly Ranch creates a private, luxurious experience where your entire wedding weekend feels like one continuous celebration.

Make It a Weekend Experience

Stanly Ranch is more than just a ceremony and reception venue. It’s a destination. Encourage your guests to arrive early and stay late. The Halehouse Spa offers couples massages, the pools provide relaxation, and the on-site dining at Bear means you can host rehearsal dinners or farewell brunches without leaving the property. Located just six miles from downtown Napa, it’s also perfectly positioned for wine tasting excursions or evening adventures.

https://www.visitnapavalley.com

Bring Your Vision to the Tasting

Your menu tasting is an opportunity to create something uniquely yours. The culinary team is incredibly accommodating with dietary restrictions and special requests. Don’t be shy about sharing your vision or asking for customizations. The most memorable weddings I’ve photographed have been those where the couple’s personality shines through every detail, including the food.

What to Expect: Investment and Planning

Let’s talk honestly about what a Stanly Ranch wedding involves. This is a luxury venue with pricing to match the exceptional experience. Venue fees range from $33,000 to $47,000 depending on your chosen date, with peak season (May through October) commanding higher rates.

While this represents a significant investment, what you’re receiving is a complete experience: world-class cuisine, dedicated event management, stunning accommodations for your guests, and a venue that requires minimal additional decoration because of its inherent beauty.

Capturing Your Stanly Ranch Story

As your Napa wedding photographer, my role goes beyond simply taking beautiful pictures. I’m here to help your day flow seamlessly, to anticipate the moments that matter most, and to preserve the feeling of your celebration for generations to come.

At Stanly Ranch, I’ve learned the best vantage points for ceremonies at each venue space, where the light falls most beautifully throughout the day, and how to make the most of every corner of this spectacular property. From the intimate getting-ready moments in the Bell Suite to the final sparkler send-off under the stars, I’ll be there to document it all.

I’m also here to help in unexpected ways. Just like I hopped behind the bar washing dishes at Trentadue or lit candles and managed music at Auburn James, I’m fully invested in making your day perfect. Your joy is my priority, and if that means pitching in behind the scenes, I’m honored to do it.

Your Stanly Ranch Wedding Awaits

Planning a wedding at Stanly Ranch means choosing a venue that honors both tradition and innovation, that offers modern luxury without sacrificing wine country authenticity, and that provides a canvas for your unique love story.

Every wedding I photograph here reminds me why I fell in love with this work in the first place. There’s something about watching two people commit to forever, surrounded by vineyard views and the people who love them most, that never gets old. It’s a privilege to witness these moments and an even greater privilege to preserve them.

If you’re considering Stanly Ranch for your Napa wedding, I’d love to chat about your vision and how we can work together to create something truly unforgettable. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement on the Lavender Lawn or a grand celebration in the Glasshouse Barn, let’s ensure your wedding day is documented with the care, creativity, and heart it deserves.

Your love story is unique. Your wedding photography should be too.

See more of our work https://aliciaparksphotography.com/

XOXO,

Alicia Parks Photography