It was just too good not to post to our website. Bravo celebrity and international DJ James “The White Kanye” Kennedy sends us some personal congratulations before our upcoming nuptials. Hoping that we do indeed see him next Tuesday or, more realistically, next Friday when we’re in LA. Thanks to Sarah and Viv for the hookup!
You might have seen the dress code listed on our Friday night welcome event invitation and thought “what the hell is Connecticut Casual?”. It’s actually just a reference to an episode of The Office tv series. I guess jokes aren’t as funny when you have to explain them. For the curious—the reference appears in Garden Party, season 8, episode 4.
For those of you not as obsessed with The Office as we are, the attire you should aim for is as follows:
Men: nice pants, nice shoes, and a button down shirt. A tie is not necessary and you can feel free to roll up your selves.
Women: Steph says “a dress”. So whatever level of dress that would be on par with the above men’s attire should do the trick.
At the end of the day no one is going to be turned away or judged for being under dressed so do what you think makes sense given the above. For example, Pennsylvania Business would be perfectly acceptable. That was another joke, btw.
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
You’re in Healdsburg, now what?!
Drink wine! While Napa may have bigger name recognition, we prefer Sonoma’s big reds and laid back attitude. Healdsburg is at the heart of it all, with the Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley producing some of the best wine in the region. We hope you’ll enjoy exploring the amazing geography and even better wine, some of our favorites are below, note all of these require a car/driver:
Hawkes winery: Home to our favorite cabs, Doug and I are loyal wine club members. They offer tastings at their Healdsburg tasting room as well as reserve tastings out in the vineyard. Appointments recommended.
A Rafanelli: A small, family run vineyard with amazing cab and zin in Dry Creek Valley. Reservations and required but well worth it, with the owner often providing a private tour of the facility.
Gary Farrell: Gary Farrell sources its grapes from Sonoma and Napa producing unique varietals and blends. Reservations are recommended and required on weekends. Fun fact, Doug proclaimed himself a chard guy upon tasting their chardonnay, who knew!
Kamen: With a tasting room in downtown Sonoma as well as private vineyard tastings (by appointment only), Kamen is a great stop on your wine tour. Not only do they produce amazing blends and syrahs, the owner is an accomplished screenwriter, having written the Karate Kid and Taken.
Arista: Popular with a fun atmosphere. I was pretty drunk by then but we bought a bunch so I must have liked it.
Porter Creek: A tiny tasting room belies big tastes, the zin and viognier were some of our favorites!
In addition to the many vineyards and wineries, there are a number of tasting rooms in downtown Healdsburg making it easy to ditch the car and do a wine crawl along the town square. For a thorough listing of walkable wineries in Healdsburg, check out Wine Walk Healdsburg. Some of our favorites include:
Hawley: Great meritage and zin, plus a cool storefront. make this a worthwhile stop.
Williamson: With a sampling of wines and fine foods, their chocolate and cheese pairing is among the highlights of a Healdsburg wine crawl.
When you’re done drinking, it’s time to eat!
Among the many amazing restaurants to choose from in Healdsburg, below are some of our favorites for a quick bite or indulgent dinner.
Brass Rabbit: Opened in 2016 and was a huge hit on our last visit. We recommend the grilled octopus while sitting at the bar to enjoy the views of the open kitchen and wood burning grill.
Barndiva: A gorgeous space with food to match, with french fries shaped like potato chips, you can’t go wrong. Reservations are recommended.
Spoonbar: When your tired of wine (impossible) head to Spoonbar for some of the best cocktails on the left coast. The creative cocktails pair perfectly with a market driven menu. Sit at the bar and enjoy the open-air format into the evening or grab a table.
Campo Fina: A great spot for a hearty italian meal or thin crust pizza, this is a great, more casual option for lunch and dinner.
Great for a casual bite or glass of wine, Oakville Grocery has both prepared food and made to order sandwiches. If you’re planning a long day of wine tasting stop by Oakville Grocery on your way to the vineyards and grab lunch!
Also check out the Dry Creek General store for lunch while out tasting, the sandwiches and salads will line your stomach before your next tasting.
We recommend guests stay in Healdsburg, where all wedding events will be held. Buses to and from wedding events will make pick-ups/drop-offs at Best Western Dry Creek Inn, as well as at the Healdsburg Town Square where many of the higher-end, boutique hotels are. The below lodging options are all within a block of bus drop/off pick up.
Best Western Dry Creek Inn: Think Tony Soprano designs an Italian Villa, this is not your typical Best Western. Buses to and from all wedding events will make pick-ups and drop-offs at the Best Western, making this both easy and accessible. While the wedding block is full, there may still be availability for non-block rates.
Hotel Trio: Opening just weeks before the wedding, this brand new hotel is next door to the Best Western amaking for easy access to wedding transportation, downtown and nearby vineyards. Their standard rate is equivalent to the Best Western block rate so we highly recommend this brand new option!
H2Hotel: An eco-friendly luxury hotel, H2Hotel is on Healdsburg town square and provides guests with free access to bikes. With lots of great restaurants, bars and tasting rooms only steps away, this is a great option for environmentally conscious guests looking to reduce their carbon footprint in luxury.
Healdsburg Modern Cottages: These boutique bungalows are a block away from the town square and offer more space in a luxury setting. With a private pool and expertly decorated surroundings, this is a great alternative to a traditional hotel.
Hotel Healdsburg: Great location, luxury setting, Hotel Healdsburg is for those with refined taste and deep pockets.
AirBnB, VRBO and HomeAway: There are many rooms, guest houses and homes available for short term rental in Healdsburg. However, many private rentals are a bit further from the town square and Best Western, where event transportation will depart/return.
Healdsburg is approximately 80 miles Northeast of San Francisco which is the nearest major airport. In our many trips to Healdsburg, we’ve found the quickest and easiest route is to fly into SFO, rent a car from the airport (where prices are reasonable), and drive to Healdsburg. Note that traffic can get bad leading into the weekend and during rush hour. Alternatively, there is a small airport in Sonoma County (Charles M. Shulz Airport).
If you’re interested in car-pooling or renting a car with other guests, please let us know. We’re happy to connect people so you can take advantage of the HOV lane and share rental cars!
For more information on getting to Healdsburg, check out their chamber of commerce website.
Healdsburg has a walkable downtown, with restaurants, tasting rooms, boutique hotels and galleries lining the town square. The Best Western Dry Creek Inn is approximately one mile from the town square and is an easy 15 minute walk. Uber and Lyft are plentiful and a great option if you’re staying a bit farther out.
Getting to and from wineries and vineyards requires a car and navigating windy two lane roads. If you choose to drive yourself/group for a day of tasting, please taste responsibly and make sure to eat in between tastings! If you want to avoid getting behind the wheel, drivers and tours are a great option. You can plan your own itinerary and hire a driver, or work with a tour company that will plan the itinerary for you. Some options include: