A Château-Airbnb Micro Wedding in Sonoma

A Poolside Château-Airbnb Ceremony in Sonoma

The ceremony was outdoors by the pool, under a copper arch dressed with flowers. Alex stood at the front, and Sydney came in from the château on her father's arm to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," played live on guitar. Kimberly Thompson officiated for the small circle of family gathered in their chairs.

They walked back out as a married couple to Nat King Cole's "L-O-V-E," and the chairs were folded away to make room for the tables while the two of them slipped off for photos.

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

Family, Friends & the Villa

Family portraits happened on the side of the villa, and then the couple went off for their own photos while the guests settled into a short cocktail hour. Chateau de Ninis sits at the top of a hill over miles of Sonoma vineyards, with a long infinity pool and a stone pavilion built for exactly this kind of evening, and the small group had all of it to themselves.

With only thirteen people on the property, the afternoon stayed unhurried, everyone in one place, no one far from anyone else.

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, served in the pavilion beside the pool, with live music carrying through the meal and a welcome speech from the couple partway through.

As the light went gold 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.