Villa Chanticleer is a iconic wine country property that was built in the early 1900’s atop Fitch Mountain in the charming Northern California city of Healdsburg. This vast property used to be owned by the Haggarty family and is now owned by the city of Healdsburg. The city has turned the part of the grounds into a public park and created a wedding and event center out of the Villa Chanticleer. Many community events, weddings and parties take place at this cherished landmark every year.
Villa Chanticleer offers two different on site rooms that can be used for the getting ready part of your wedding day. Even though one suite is bigger than the other they are still both big enough for you and your bridal party to get ready in before the start of your wedding events. Both getting ready suites have chairs, couches, mirrors and everything else you need for relaxing and getting ready for your ceremony. These rooms are located behind the Villa building and far enough apart from each other that you won’t have to worry about seeing each other before the start of your wedding festivities. I always think it’s a huge plus if you’re able to get ready at your wedding venue, which eliminates problems and stress that can arise on your big day.
The Villa Chanticleer ceremony site is located across the parking lot from the villa in a garden area that is surround by an oak tree forest and one massive redwood tree. The center piece of the garden and your ceremony will be the wooden gazebo that sits at the edge of the grass lawn and the start of the forest. With the mature trees behind the gazebo this creates a stunning backdrop as the late afternoon sunlight shines through the trees and into the garden. The one big bonus to having all those trees is shade, so during the warmer months your guest will be able to enjoy your ceremony without melting away. The large site is able to host up to 250 of your closest friends and family members during your nuptials. The other bonus to hosting your wedding day at the villa is that your able to host your ceremony indoors if the weather doesn’t cooperate on your day. If this happens your ceremony will be hosted in one of the two reception ballrooms inside the Villa Chanticleer.
Your cocktail hour will take place outside on the upper trace of the ceremony garden area. Your guest will be able to enjoy drinks and hors-d’oeuvre, while mingling with each other in this spacious garden setting. You are also able to host your cocktail hour inside the villa’s large bar room and entry area to the building. There’s plenty of space inside for your guest to walk around and grab a drink from the historic bar. At this time your friends and family members are more than welcome to walk around and explore the grounds of villa.
While your guest are enjoying cocktail hour you’ll be finishing up your family photos and bridal party pictures. Once your done with these formalities you’ll be able to walk around the property grounds with your wedding photographer to capture your couples portraits. There are many stunning locations around the Villa Chanticleer for these photographs to take place at. The first of these locations would be the ceremony site. Even though you just got married here it still has a stunning backdrop with equally as good afternoon light. Another popular spot just on the other side of the fence is the famous massive redwood tree that was hit by lighting and now you’re able to pose for some photos inside of it. Just beyond the ceremony area is the hillside that is covered by the oak tree forest and has the most amazing golden sunset light that shines through the trees during the late afternoon. Another location for portraits is the villa itself inside and out of the building. Needless to say there are many spots for your couples portraits to take place at around the grounds at the villa.
Receptions, dinners and dance parties at the Villa Chanticleer take place inside in one of the separate massive ballrooms that are located on ether side of the bar and entry foyer area. These reception rooms are large enough to host up to 250 guest. Both rooms are lined with massive windows, which lets lots of natural light into the space while giving you views of the surrounding hills and forested area. The center piece to main ballroom is the massive stone walled fireplace, which is a perfect backdrop for your event. Just a short walk for your guest and you from the ballroom is the open bar room area for you to enjoy your favorite drink from. When all your wedding reception events are finished for the evening your you’ll be able to dance the night way with your guest inside this spacious ballroom. If some of your guest are not interested in dancing they are more than welcome to mingle by the bar and front lobby area. It’s also quieter out there without the dance music, so that your friends and family can catch up life and have a drink or two together.
Villa Chanticleer is definitely a hidden gem when it comes to wedding venues in the Northern California wine country area and Sonoma County. If you’re thinking about tying the knot in Napa or Sonoma you should put this charming venue on your list of place to see in person. You’ll be happy that you did.
Here’s a list of unique services that Villa Chanticleer offers for weddings and events.
If you are interested in hiring Doug Miranda to photograph your wedding day please fill out the contract form on this website. You can also email me directly at doug@dougmiranda.com or give me a call at 916-422-2256. He looks forward to hearing from you and learning more about your special day.