NorCal special: my favorite wedding venues

Thomas Fogarty Winery, Woodside

Thomas Fogarty Winery is the one wedding venue where I have worked by far the most over the last 15 years, and with good reason! Perched high up on a ridge, it’s elegant, it offers everything needed for a wedding, the venue staff is super helpful AND the views are incredible – on clear days from the Bay Bridge to the North to all of Silicon Valley to San Jose in the South. Sunsets – and even the fog rolling in – are sheer beauty.

Photo credit: Todd Rafalovich
Photo credit: Danny Dong

I am certainly one of Fogarty’s biggest fans! And so I would like to share with you how all this came about – there is backstory to it!

The founder of Thomas Fogarty Winery is actually a famous physician, Dr. Thomas Fogarty Sr., who worked at Stanford University and who made an invention in 1961 that has literally saved countless lives around the world ever since: the Fogarty catheter. This device allows to remove fresh blood clots from arteries without surgery, and it has become a staple of cardiologists everywhere.

Charmed by the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Dr. Fogarty built his family home up on Skyline Boulevard and began acquiring the surrounding land.

Photo credit: Megan Reeves

By 1977, he had accumulated over 300 acres of land, and in 1978, he planted his first vineyard – with that, Thomas Fogarty Winery was officially founded! Practicing organic and sustainable farming, the winery is now producing mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – and they are fantastic!

Photo credit: Megan Reeves

With the construction of the architecturally stunning open Pavilion, where the majority of festive dinners are now hosted …

Photo credit: Megan Reeves

… the winery developed into an elegant event space with a capacity of 200 guests, indoor/outdoor options and beautiful ceremony lawn.

Photo credit: Danny Dong
Photo credit: Frank J. Lee
Photo credit: Danny Dong
Photo credit: Danny Dong
Photo credit: Danny Dong

And we all can absolutely not wait to be back there soon, celebrating love and the beauty of the gorgeous setting. You need not take my word for it: watch this video of one of my weddings at Thomas Fogarty Winery!

Intrigued? Contact me at [email protected]  for your free consultation.

A Day Like No Other – wedding coordination and design

“When only the best will do…”