Gundlach Bundschu winery weddings have a laid-back vibe, probably because it is family-owned and there are no corporate hoops to deal with. In fact, it’s California’s longest, continually owned family winery. I love planning Gundlach Bundschu winery weddings because of the vineyard views, the wine cave entrance when guests arrive, and the fact that it is pretty much a blank slate to design a unique wedding for a couple.

Pro tip: If you want to sound like a local, call it GunBun.

Gundlach Budnschu winery wedding ceremony with wine barrels — Suzanne Karp Photography

Hi, I’m Lindsey Nickel and I’m a Sonoma and Napa wedding planner. Since 2010, I have helped stylish, fun-loving couples (and their dogs) plan destination weddings. Our clients want the ceremony to be outside, the food to be outstanding, and the dance parties to be epic. Gundlach Bundschu Winery is one of my all-time favorite Sonoma wedding venues. It was one of the very first wedding venues that I toured when I moved to wine country in 2014 and I’ve loved it ever since. My catering friend even said I’m the queen of GunBun weddings. That’s a crown I’ll gladly accept.

Outline:

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Weddings

Gundlach Bundschu Winery is a family-owned and operated winery and wedding venue. The dramatic beauty of their 320-acre estate allows for endless possibilities for planning your wedding. There is a huge opportunity to plan a wedding that is unique and personal to your tastes. They have two spaces for weddings (keep reading below for details). All sorts of people have been married at Gundlach Bundschu winery including their family members, employees, and personal friends. Of course, Gundlach Bundschu Winery is also available for your wedding day too!

Gundlach Bundschu Winery is one of my all-time favorite Sonoma and Napa wedding venues, and I don’t say that about every wedding venue. If you want quintessential wine country views with a vineyard backdrop, a jaw-dropping guest arrival through a wine cave and to dine next to a vineyard, look no further. Plus it’s family owned and everyone who works there is super nice and low-key.

Who owns Gundlach Bundschu Winery?

Gundlach Bundschu Winery is one of the last remaining family-owned and operated family wineries in Napa/ Sonoma wine country. For six generations and over 160 years, the Bundschu family has farmed the land. They focus on making small lots of amazing wines from their historic property. It’s very common to see family members giving wine-tasting tours and working around the property.

Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Sonoma or Napa wedding

Gundlach-Bundschu-winery-wedding-dinner-table — Bustle and Twine

Top 4 Things To Know About Planning A Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding

1. There are two Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding sites

Gundlach Bundschu Winery has two sites for weddings: The Overlook and Block 19. Both are right next to the vines and are very different from each other. Like two siblings, they have many things in common and also, unique features.

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Weddings at the Overlook

The Overlook is simply stunning. Guests arrive in the courtyard and walk through the wine cave. For many guests, it’s their first time in a wine cave, and they are very excited and take tons of photos. They pop out the other side of the cave and have sweeping views of the vineyards, not a building in sight. It is a quintessential wine country view.

PRO TIP: Provide electric tea lights to line the path for a dramatic and memorable welcome to your wedding.

The ceremony is on a lovely lawn and two trees make the perfect backdrop to say “I do.” Oftentimes, a florist will decorate an arch or arbor with flowers for extra beauty. Cocktail hour is in the area between the ceremony and the path to dinner and dancing.

Dinner and dancing are down a short path in an area right next to the vineyard. Guests love taking photos in the vineyard. Once it gets dark, there are market lights for the perfect ambiance for your dance party.

It’s a truly one-of-a-kind space and very private. It’s wonderful for small and large weddings. I could go on for pages about how amazing this site is!

Jump down to Michelle and Kevin’s Gundlach Bundschu winery wedding at the Overlook

Gundlach Bundschu Wedding Ceremony Site — Milou and Olin Photography

Block 19 For A Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding

Block 19 is great for a smaller wedding that wants a more intimate experience. It’s ideal for up to 60 people, in my opinion, so that everyone has plenty of space and people don’t feel squished. The ceremony space is on a cozy lawn adjacent to Mary’s house. Dinner and dancing fit nicely in the picnic area at Block 19. If you are looking for a more casual, rustic, and intimate option, Block 19 is a great choice.

Jump down to Chris and Maida’s Gundlach Bundschu wedding at Block 19

Gundlach bundschu winery wedding ceremony site at Block 19 — A Girl With A Camera

2. How much does a Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding cost?

One of the first things people ask when they start planning is “How much does a wedding at Gundlach Bundschu Winery cost?” and “How much does a Sonoma or Napa wedding cost?”

This answer could honestly take up the rest of this blog post, so I’m going to give a consolidated answer below.

My first answer is “It depends.” I say that because it depends on a few variables like the number of guests, if you are at The Overlook or at Block 19, if you have a DJ or a band, etc. It’s like if someone were to ask you, “How much does a car cost?” You would probably have a few follow-up questions (like how old of a car, what type of car, how many miles, etc.) because the answer to the price depends on many factors.

Very, generally speaking, if you have 120 guests and are getting married at Gundlach Bundschu winery at The Overlook you need a starting point of $100,000 for your budget for your wedding vendors (venue, planner, florist, caterer, DJ/ band, photographer, rentals). This number does not include a wedding dress, rings, honeymoon, etc.

You’re probably thinking, “Can I do it for less than $100,000?” and I would say yes if you are willing to make some concessions. Very confidently, I can tell you that you can’t have a wedding at The Overlook for less than $75,000 if your guest count is more than 100 people. Also, you are not going to get the photographer that you love and have been following on Instagram, no band, and no videographer.

If you are having your wedding at Block 19, you will probably have 40-70 guests, so you will need to order less food, have fewer centerpieces from the florist, and everyone will be drinking less wine compared to a 120-guest event. Also, the site fee for Block 19 is lower.

Gundlach Bundschu winery wedding bride and groom with bouquet — Suzanne Karp Photography

AVERAGE Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding Cost For The Overlook for 120 people

Venue - At the time of writing this post, the site fee is $13,000, before the taxes, service fee, wine, etc.
- $13,000+
Planner - Most planners offer services ranging from Event Management (previously called Day-Of or Month-Of) to Full-service wedding planning with design, prices usually range from $6,000 - $25,000+
- $15,000+
Caterer - Many, many variables go into the catering budget. A good starting point is $175 per person for food, service, and kitchen equipment that the caterer needs. Additional costs are largely based on menu additions, beverage service, and variables such as staffing and length of the event. For 120 people x $175 = $21,000
- $21,000+
Rentals - Depending on if you use what Gundlach Bundschu Winery includes or not, plus what your caterer may or may not include, this number can range greatly, from $4,000 - $25,000+
- $15,000+
Florist - Many florists have minimums, so be sure to ask about that. Florist budget can range from $7,000 - $30,000
- $10,000
DJ
- $4,000+
Photographer
- $7,000+
Videographer
- $6,500+
TOTAL = $91,500
Note - If you want a band, are paying for hair and make-up for the wedding party, have signage, printed menus, transportation, custom dance lessons, etc., those are all additional investments.

If you want to dive deeper into the numbers, check out this post: How Much Does a Sonoma or Napa Wedding Cost?

Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding wines on bar — Suzanne Karp Photography

AVERAGE Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding Cost For Block 19 for 50 people

Venue - At the time of writing this post, the site fee is $9,000, before the taxes, service fee, wine, etc.
- $9,000+

Planner - Most planners offer services ranging from Event Management (previously called Day-Of or Month-Of) to Full-service with design, prices usually range from $6,000 - $20,000+.
- $10,000+
Caterer - Many, many variables go into the catering budget. A good starting point is $175 per person for food, service, and kitchen equipment that the caterer needs. Additional costs are largely based on menu additions, beverage service, and variables such as staffing and length of the event. For 50 people x $175 = $8,750. IMPORTANT - Most caterers have a minimum of at least $10,000.
- $10,000+
Rentals - Depending on if you use what Gundlach Bundschu winery includes or not, plus what your caterer may or may not include, this number can range greatly, from $5,000 - $15,000+
- $10,000
Florist - Many florists have minimums, so be sure to ask about that. Florist budget can range from $5,000 - $30,000
- $5,000+
DJ
- $4,000+
Photographer
- $7,000+
Videographer
- $6,500+
TOTAL = $61,500
Note - If you want a band, are paying for hair and make-up for the wedding party, have signage, etc., those are all additional investments.

How much does a Sonoma or Napa wedding cost?

3. Gundlach Bundschu Winery is very close to Napa and Sonoma

Gundlach Bundschu Winery is conveniently located only 12 miles from downtown Napa and four miles from the Sonoma Plaza. This means that there are more lodging options for your guests. Sonoma Plaza has boutique hotels and cute B and B’s, and Napa has the big brand hotels (Marriott, Hilton, etc). Being so close to Napa and Sonoma, you have lots of options for hotels, welcome events, after-parties, and wine tasting.

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding Long Dinner Table — Bustle and Twine Photography

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding Ceremony Site with Floral Alter — Suzanne Karp Photography

4. Essential items are included in the Gundlach Bundschu Winery venue price

One of the things that make planning a Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding so low stress for couples is that they include essential items in their site fee, which saves you money by not renting more setup items. Of course, if you prefer to have your wedding planner design something totally custom and unique to your wedding, that is possible too.

Here are a few items that our couples have really appreciated being included at The Overlook and Block 19:

String lights for dinner and dancing for a beautiful ambiance
Luxury trailer bathrooms for guests to use during the event
Parking lot for people who want to drive themselves
Iconic Gundlach Bundschu winery vintage truck (very popular for photos)
Wine barrels
Mary’s House for the wedding party to hang out before the ceremony (this is very popular for brides to put their dresses on)
Wine cave dining room or cottage for the wedding party to hangout before the ceremony
Barn for a rain plan backup - This is a HUGE perk since renting a tent is a large expense.

Inquire about wedding planning services

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding Dinner With Long Table — Bustle and Twine Photography

Michelle and Kevin's Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding at the overlook

Wedding At A Glance:

guest count: 150
month: August
ceremony at the Overlook lawn
dinner and dancing at the Overlook
highlights: live band, cigar bar, taco truck for late-night food

Kevin and Michelle’s summer Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding was filled with perfect weather, gorgeous vineyard views, and a late-night taco truck. Michelle and Kevin wanted to make this day as much about the people attending as themselves which translated to a day filled with fun, an ice cream cart, a cigar bar, and a rockin’ dance floor.

Gundlach Bundschu Wedding Ceremony with Floral Circle Altar — Milou and Olin Photography

The Couple

Kevin and Michelle are from Denver, CO, but absolutely LOVE the Gewurztraminer wine from Gundlach Bundschu, hence why they chose this as the perfect location for their wedding. Since they call Denver home, they are massive Broncos fans and like most Denver natives, love spending time outdoors. This, of course, allows them to have ample opportunities to get their dogs outside and have a blast as their pups are the apple of their eye.

Why They Chose A Gundlach Bundschu Wedding

Gundlach Bundschu Winery was the ultimate backdrop to this magical day because, as I said above, they adore the Gewurztraminer wine. So it was a true no-brainer as to where they would celebrate their wedding. Gundlach Bundschu Winery has a lot to offer, including a 320-acre estate that allowed them to create a unique and very personalized wedding event which is exactly what they wanted. Plus, it has some of the best views around, and everyone loves the Gundlach Bundschu truck for photographs.

Gundlach Bundschu Wedding Planning

Fun fact - One day, when I was at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, I saw an ice cream cart serving ice cream made from their Gewurztraminer (their favorite Gundlach Bundschu wine). I immediately got their card and told Kevin and Michelle about it. It worked out perfectly that the ice cream was available when guests arrived and during cocktail hour. It was a welcomed treat for a warm summer day and so unique to have ice cream made from the wine the guests drank.

Michelle chose blue as the theme for the wedding, which was a lot of fun to design. In the design, we used the blue floral plates from Bright Event Rentals for their dinner, handwritten blue escort cards, and handwritten blue table numbers. The groomsmen wore cobalt blue suits while the bridesmaids wore light blue long dresses. I love using blue for summer weddings, as they just go together.

I am also grateful to Lynne (Michelle’s mom) for finding me on Gundlach Bundschu’s preferred vendors’ list, for helping us with booking vendors, and for putting together extremely cute welcome bags for the guests. Thanks, Lynne!

Gundlach bundschu wedding ceremony with circle arch — Milou and Olin Photography

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding Day

Michelle and Kevin’s Gundlach Bundschu wedding was on a gorgeous August summer day with perfect weather. It was wonderfully hot but not heat wave hot, and when the sun went down the temperature made it perfect for dancing.

They had so many special touches for their wedding, making it unique and truly feel like them. For the late-night snacks, a local Napa taco truck arrived, serving tacos to guests. It was a huge hit! Michelle even got in the taco truck and served tacos.

Once the dancing started, the cigar bar opened. A cigar bar is always a welcome alternative for guests who don’t want to dance.

They ended the night with a “sparkler” send-off. Sonoma wedding venues in wine country don’t allow sparklers due to the fire dangers, but there are tons of ways to still have a grand exit. Michelle found light-up pom poms online and they were the perfect prop for guests to hold and send off the newlyweds at the end of the event.

From Their Wedding Planner

This wedding was really a joy to work on because Michelle and Kevin had the perfect blend of laid-back and classic as a vision for their wedding day. From the stunning flowers with eucalyptus garlands to the circle arbor for the ceremony, every design choice was perfection.

Gundlach Bundschu provided the perfect backdrop for the welcoming winery vibes they wanted. Of course, the outdoor ceremony and reception allowed everyone to take full advantage of this gorgeous summer day (and night).

“Lindsey was the only reason we were able to plan our perfect weekend for 150 guests from Denver, CO. We both work a lot but had the vision for our wedding clear. Lindsey understood our vibe and made the vision not only reality, but spectacularly more than what we could have even envisioned our weekend to be. She assisted with our welcome event, which we still have people talking about, and our wedding day which people can’t stop talking about either! I would recommend her 1,000 times on here if I could! Whether she likes it or not, she is family to us. :) Her professionalism and attention to detail were truly a rare and special thing to experience. For both our amazingly fun welcome event and the gorgeous wedding, we only had to take two trips out and planned everything else over the phone. Both trips were planned expertly by her so we could make decisions and not worry about it back home in Denver. Beyond our vision her suggestions for additional surprises for our guests were perfection and so helpful. We laughed countless times about our ideas just imagining the looks on our guests faces. Our venue choice of Gundlach Bundschu was special to us and it also called for a long list of vendors to make it happen. Her advice throughout the entire process and over our wedding weekend was priceless. I am beyond in debt to her for creating a unique and unforgettable weekend for every single person that attended. It was very important to us that our guests put intention behind the weekend to reconnect with those that they love and to find some true “Michelle and Kevin” style reprieve. We spent our Sunday catching up with guests at a farewell brunch and learned that Lindsey achieved that with flying colors...so much fun was had and so many important connections bonded tightly again. We have had SO many people say these very words to us: ‘That was by far the best wedding I have ever been to. Class all the way.” My heart is full of love, admiration and appreciation beyond words.”

— Michelle, bride

“Lindsey at Lovely Day Events is exceptional! Our daughter was planning a destination wedding in Sonoma and hiring Lindsey was one of the best decisions we made to begin the process. Lindsey has the experience and attention to detail that was so important throughout and she has a very well respected group of vendors on her preferred vendor list. She was very easy to work with, is very personable and was dedicated to planning both the wedding day/reception and welcome event and coordinated both events with very talented vendors. Lindsey is very organized, efficient and offered a very detailed timeline as well as monthly check in’s through calls and kept us all up to date with emails, which was most helpful in keeping things running smoothly as the planning progressed. The weekend was a very special time for the guests and for us all and an absolute memorable one which far exceeded what we had envisioned! We felt that Lindsey was a part of our family in preparing for the wedding and highly recommend her and the staff at Lovely Day Events.”

— Lynne, mother of the bride

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Groomsmen in front of cave — Milou and Olin Photography

Gundlach Bundschu Wedding dinner Table Decor — Milou and Olin Photography

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding bride and groom send off — Milou and Olin Photography

The Best Sonoma and Napa wedding venues

Chris and Maida's Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding at Block 19

Wedding At A Glance:

guest count: 54
month: July 4th weekend
ceremony at Mary’s House lawn
dinner and dancing at Block 19
highlights: adorable dog cake topper that looked like their dog, custom New York Times crossword puzzle guestbook, epic dance party

The rolling green vineyard was the perfect backdrop for this summer wedding filled with so many personal details. Chris and Maida hosted a fun-filled and thoughtful Gundlach Bundschu wedding at Block 19. They wanted to create a wedding that was welcoming and friendly, where everyone would be able to meet each other, interact freely, and have an amazing time.

The Couple

Chris and Maida live in Chicago though they met when they were both living in San Francisco. Maida was getting ready to move back to Chicago and was closing up her dating apps when a message from Chris caught her eye. For their first date, they met for beers and board games, and on their second date, they went to a tiki bar, so you can tell that they love to have fun.

They are a wonderful match for each other, with Maida being bubbly and extroverted while Chris is more soft-spoken and cautious. You know opposites are said to attract, and this couple is a perfect example of that. They both love board games (the first date proves that) and crossword puzzles, so they knew they wanted their guest book to be a New York Times Crossword. They contracted an NYT Crossword writer who designed a crossword puzzle about them for their guests to fill in when they arrived. It is details like this that really make a wedding properly unique to the couple.

Gundlach Bundschu winery wedding guestbook sign NYT crossword puzzle — A Girl and A Camera Photography

Gundlach Bundshu winery wedding guestbook crossword — A Girl and A Camera Photography

Why They Chose Gundlach Bundschu Block 19 For Their Wedding

They chose Sonoma wine country for their wedding because they love to spend time there. They only looked at two Sonoma wedding venues but knew right away that they wanted a Gundlach Bundschu wedding at Block 19.

They were not looking for a super fancy wedding but wanted a design that let the venue space shine. They had 54 guests, and everyone became fast friends thanks to one long table for dinner and dancing under the stars with the vineyard right behind them. It was a truly magical time and it fits the couple to a tee.

Gundlach Bundschu winery wedding block 19 dinner — A Girl and A Camera Photography

Wedding Planning For a Gundlach Bundshu Wedding at Block 19

Chris and Maida found me because I did a wedding for their neighbors in Chicago who also got married at Gundlach Bundschu. They also saw me on Gundlach Bundschu’s wedding preferred vendors list, so it seemed serendipitous that I was their wedding planner. We had a video call together before they booked and I immediately liked them and wanted to work with them. The bonus is that anyone with a dog I’m excited about, plus they were both so kind and thoughtful from our very first meeting.

When we met in the first video call, they said they wanted a wedding planner to point out things they needed to be aware of, someone who is super organized but chill and gets stuff done, and responsive with email. I knew at that moment that we were going to work incredibly well together.

Gundlach Bundschu wedding ceremony at Mary's House — A Girl and A Camera Photography

Gundlach Bundschu Winery Wedding Block 19

Block 19 is a smaller space for Gundlach Bundschu weddings and it’s perfect for couples looking for a low-key, intimate, budget-friendly option for a Sonoma or Napa wedding. A huge perk is that dancing is right next to the vineyard, which is very hard to find in wine country.

Gundlach Bundschu winery wedding first dance — A Girl and A Camera Photography

Chris and Maida said I do at a wedding ceremony on the lawn next to the historic Mary’s house. Cocktail hour was in front of the bar and guests enjoyed a family-style dinner at one long table with a sweetheart table in the middle for the newlyweds. Next up was a fun-filled dance party with breathtaking vineyard views as a backdrop.

Gundlach Bundschu winery wedding ceremony — A Girl and A Camera Photography

Gundlach Bundschu wedding head table bride and groom kissing — A Girl and A Camera Photography

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention their dog, Barclay. He didn’t attend the wedding in person, however, Chris and Maida had a cake topper made on Etsy to look like Barclay so he could still have a presence. I love when couples come up with sweet and meaningful ideas such as this, especially when it comes to pets.

Note From Their Sonoma Wedding Planner

Chris and Maida love to do the New York Times crossword puzzle. I honestly can’t remember whose idea it was for a crossword puzzle guestbook, but I knew I wanted to find them a New York Times crossword writer. It was so cool to see people fill out the giant crossword puzzle that was their guestbook. It was a really fun personal touch that I’m sure their guests will remember.

I truly liked working with Chris and Maida. They enjoyed planning, were organized, and also knew how to not overthink things. All that translated into a thoughtful, relaxed, and fun wedding day for them and their guests. I adore keeping up with them and Barclay on Instagram stories.

Gundlach Bundschu Winery wedding bride and groom on road — A Girl and A Camera Photography

“The best wedding planner for people who “don’t need a wedding planner” (spoiler alert, you do) When my husband and I met and lived in the Bay Area but recently moved to Chicago, so when we picked our wine country venue that required a planner, we had a little anxiety about finding someone who was going to help us execute our vision from afar, while caring as much about the things that were important to us (which included staying on budget). Lindsey came highly recommended by friends of ours and after our first chat with her we knew she was the right fit! Lindsey’s knowledge and relationships with other wine country vendors are invaluable, she made recommendations that fit our needs and priorities and honestly the result was a perfect day where we could just focus on each other, our family and our guests, truly the best day ever. We both agree that we might have to have a vow renewal just to have the opportunity to work with her again.”

— Maida, bride