A Château-Airbnb Micro Wedding in Sonoma

A Poolside Château-Airbnb Ceremony in Sonoma

Alex waited out on the curved stone terrace, his back to the house, while Sydney stepped out through the tall doorway behind him, a beat before he turned. When he did, they came together against the villa's pale stone front, the arched windows and iron balconies rising above and the Sonoma hills falling away on either side.

The ceremony itself was outdoors by the pool, under a copper arch dressed with flowers. Sydney came in from the château on her father's arm to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," played live on guitar, and Kimberly Thompson officiated for the small circle of family in their chairs. They walked back out married to Nat King Cole's "L-O-V-E," and the chairs were folded away for the tables while they slipped off for photos with Brian Lima.

“Sydney came in from the château on her father's arm to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," played live on guitar.”

Family, Friends, and the Villa

Portraits ran through the property — the family groupings first, then Sydney and Alex on their own. There is one of her alone in a stone corridor, gown pooling on an old patterned rug, her bouquet of blush roses, white lilies, and greenery held low, and another of the couple out on the terrace with the whole valley behind. Chateau de Ninis sits at the top of a hill above miles of Sonoma vineyards, with a long infinity pool and a stone pavilion built for exactly this kind of evening.

With only thirteen people on the property, the afternoon never had to hurry — everyone stayed in one place, the guests easing into a short cocktail hour while the couple wrapped their portraits.

Dinner in the Pavilion

Sydney and Alex were welcomed back in and went straight into their first dance to Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight," then cut the cake before dinner. Chef Andre Villahermoso cooked for the group, plated and served in the pavilion beside the pool — there is a photo of Alex mid-laugh at the table, a blush boutonniere on his lapel, low arrangements of pale roses running down the wood beside the wine glasses, the herringbone-tiled fireplace behind him.

Live music carried through the meal, and the couple gave a short welcome speech partway in. As the light went long over the vineyards, they stepped out for sunset photos, and the evening ran on until the last guests left the property and the house went quiet again.