Making gay news in Calistoga: Advocate says Solage the place to honeymoon

This blurb came from The Advocate online, in an article titled "The Honeymoon Phase" about great getaways to compliment your same-sex marriage. Calistoga gets the shout out this time. Thanks, Rick, for the heads up:

NAPA VALLEY -- EPICUREAN PARADISE
Calistoga, Calif.’s Solage is Napa Valley’s latest hot spot. With the largest champagne list in the area, the hotel’s restaurant, Solbar, is an ideal place for newlyweds to toast their nuptials. The simple but stylish 89-room resort feels relaxed and sexy, with young guests biking to the pool in bikinis, meandering to the spa in robes, or nibbling on fruit and toast poolside.

The free bike rentals make exploring the town -- prized for its healing spa waters -- a breeze. Don’t forget a visit to Copia, the nearby educational center devoted to winemaking and the culinary and visual arts (www.copia.org), where you can check out a myriad of herb, fruit, and vegetable gardens or the revolving cultural exhibits on food lore and history. [From, The Advocate, September 23, 2008]

I'm not sure about how they're recommending bikes for Calistoga and a trip to Copia in the same breath--that's a 28.5 mile bike ride! I'm sure some of us gays could handle it, but it's not exactly "breezy" as claimed. ;) Stick to bikes in town and tour the valley in a rental (or heck, go big and get a limo!).

I've also heard that Lavender Hill Spa is amazing, although I have yet to experience a treatment there. What other great honeymoon spots do you recommend in the Napa Valley?

Planning Napa Valley same-sex weddings--and on a budget

photo bypjryan3

I am proud to announce that this post marks The Valley's Other Fruit's first(!) guest post, co-authored by Charles Kimball, a local officiant and concierge (see below for his information). This post is in response to a reqeust for information on how to plan a same-sex marriage in Napa and on a budget....Please share your feedback, let us know what you think about this post and also any other ideas for future topics, other guest writers, etc.

Now that same-sex marriages are just as legal (and perhaps we'll find out more successful?) as hetero, one-man-one-woman marriages there isn't too much information about Napa wedding planning that is specific to same-sex couples. We aim to please, however, so here is our

Top 10 Things to Keep in Mind when Planning a Napa Valley Same-Sex Wedding (& on a budget)

1) Run to the county clerks office Mon thru Friday 8am to 4pm. Both grooms and both brides must be present with valid id. No blood test....No witnesses needed, For more info go to.. http://www.co.napa.ca.us/GOV/Departments/DeptPage.asp?DID=28000&LID=620

2) Any resident of any state can come to Napa Valley and be married.

3) Find a (queer-friendly) officiant or minister or priest to help you with your vows and setting up a great celebration. You'll probably want to meet them as they set the tone for the ceremony. (The author of this post is available to officiate, his info is below.)

4) Remember that weddings are not welcomed at most wineries in Napa Valley. That is where the officiant or concierge comes in. They can help you select a great time and place for your celebration.

5) Look around at state parks and recreation areas that you can bring your friends and family to. Create your own place and time.

6) Rent a house for a few days and have the wedding there. (Search Google, Vacation Rentals By Owner or Purple Roofs for some great locations)

7) Take a balloon ride. Take a hike into a vineyard and have a small private moment with just you, your bride or groom and your family and friends. (You don't need to tell the zoning department everything you're up to!)

8) Make your wedding fun...ask your friends to help you out. Have a pot luck. Ask your best friend if you can get married in their beautiful back yard.

9) Check out NapaWeddingSource.com for some great ideas on local music makers and local businesses that cater to the GLBT travel and wedding market.

10) Remember another option could be the beach...(and the fog). Nevermind, stick with a beautiful Napa wedding!

Celebrate your life together! Celebrate equality in our beautiful valley (and for not too expensive)!

For more (or more personalized) information, tips and help planning your Napa Valley wedding, feel free to contact Charles at www.GayNapaGetaways.com.



Additional photos by TedRheingold and davemc500hats

Self-planning wedding planner

This morning I am imagining the Chronicle's staff waking up tired and hungover from the slew of same-sex weddings and celebrations they covered last night (or maybe I'm the only one that's a bit groggy). Well, somehow they got enough energy to keep on writing, and now that the "big rush" has (relatively) calmed down, they are talking about wedding planning for same-sex marriages--something that we gays haven't really had to(sorry...legally been allowed to) worry about yet (at least for our own weddings, right?). Our friend over at Bay Area Bites, Michael Procopio, had some amusing words on the "dilemma" of wedding planning for same-sex marriages (I don't think I've ever read the actual words on his blog, but I get the feeling Mr. Procopio is also family)...

What on earth does one feed a banquet hall full of homosexuals?...Have you ever baked a birthday cake for a gay man’s birthday party, only to find thirty or so other gay men moaning about carbohydrates, telling you that while the dessert you’ve just put your heart and soul into looks great, they’ll just have to pass on it, while patting their stomach? Well, I have, and what I have since learned is this: Guzzling vodka = good carbs, eating a tiny sliver of polenta cake= It-will-make-me-fat-and-then-no-one-will-love me-or-think-I’m-hot bad.

No, cake is out of the question. Perhaps a wedding protein shake would be more fitting. Of course, there’s the problem of slicing.

How does one approach a gay reception? For one couple I know, I imagine there would be a chilled Ketel One fountain splashing about. Would others prefer a Teddy Bear Picnic motif? I think the traditional menus might need a going over. Instead of fish or chicken, the invitations should request a preference for either no-carb or sauce on the side.

And what on earth do you feed a roomful of lesbians? There is only so much quinoa to be had in any given season, you know.

So any gay-wedding planning tips to pass on? Most romantic/gay-friendly spot in the Valley? Best gay-friendly caterer? Photographer? Wow, we better get our act together and start making recommendations.