6 Bay Area locations as original as your dress.
1. Cornerstone Sonoma (pictured above)
Location: 23570 Arnold Dr., Sonoma
Vibe: Alice’s Wine Country wonderland
Perks: Andy Cao and Xavier Perrot’s Red Lantern, a sculpture of steel and ruby crystal droplets, “floats” in a reflecting pond.
The Drift: The nine-acre garden’s whimsical sculptures make strong statements that need no additional flair from an expensive florist. Money in the bank.
Location: 1550 17th St., San Francisco
Vibe:Sanford and Son’s private vault
Perks: Antique birdcages, vintage signage, and old Chesterfield sofas, all at your disposal
The Drift: The counterpoint to Big Daddy’s 10,500-square-foot industrial-chic warehouse just happens to be its charming time-worn inventory. Can you say, twofer?
Location: 1601 Wood St., Oakland
Vibe:Boardwalk Empire meets Rent
Perks: Romantic Beaux-Arts architecture, soaring 40-foot ceilings, tall arched windows
The Drift: A backdrop for Mumford & Sons music videos and Rent’s iconic “Tango Maureen” scene, this former train station makes your big day
a part of entertainment history.
Photo courtesy of Clane Gessel
Location: 2 S. Market St., San Jose
Vibe: A Jay Gatsby event on Wall Street
Perks: Walls and staircases made entirely of glass, and purportedly the largest outdoor patio in San Jose.
The Drift: As the modern counterpart to the 1924 San Jose landmark, the Corinthian Grand Ballroom, this shiny new venue makes its mark as the city’s very own crystal palace.
Location: 717 Battery St., San Francisco
Vibe: Techies chewing on cigars, drinking Champagne, and talking shop
Perks: Floor-to-ceiling windows, state-of-the-art media technology, Hermès blankets, and jaw-dropping views of the twinkling Bay Bridge and iconic Transamerica Pyramid
The Drift: A Battery membership certainly has its privileges (think guided art excursions and hobnobbing at the über-private Musto Bar), but even if you’re not a card-carrying member of this exclusive social club, you can still say your I Do’s in the modernist penthouse.
6. Winery Ruins at Jack London State Historic Park
Location: 2400 London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen
Vibe:Outlander comes to Wine Country
Perks: Note to literature buffs—Jack London lived here.
The Drift: From its 2,000-year-old redwood tree to the romantically crumbly stone ruins (the remains from a 19th century winery), this venue makes you feel as though you’re exchanging vows in the Scottish highlands. Just add fog.
This article was published in 7x7's 2015 Wedding issue.
