How to Plan a Vineyard Wedding That Feels Uniquely Yours

Micro Wedding

A vineyard wedding is one of the most popular choices for couples in the U.S., offering scenic backdrops and elegant indoor-outdoor spaces. At Willow Creek Winery in Cape May, NJ, couples can host ceremonies and receptions across a 50-acre vineyard with stunning pastoral views and rolling landscapes. The venue provides flexible spaces, estate-grown wines, and professional event planning support to ensure a seamless experience.

To plan a vineyard wedding that feels uniquely yours, start by choosing a venue that matches your guest count and offers both indoor and outdoor spaces. Enhance the celebration with wine-centered experiences, personalized décor, and thoughtful upgrades. Prioritize guest comfort with smooth transitions between ceremony, cocktails, and reception, while incorporating local charm to make the day memorable.

Elopement Destination

Why Couples Love Vineyard Weddings

A vineyard wedding is a celebration set among grapevines, often combining rustic scenery with refined dining and wine experiences. Vineyard venues are among the most-searched wedding locations in the United States. Willow Creek Winery offers multiple ceremony options, including the Estate Lawn Ceremony overlooking the vineyard and the Winemaker’s Patio Ceremony near its brick patio and Winemaker’s Hall.

How to Choose the Right Vineyard Venue in NJ

When selecting a vineyard wedding venue in New Jersey, capacity, location, and amenities are key. Willow Creek Winery accommodates 75–350 guests and is conveniently located just minutes from downtown Cape May. The Tasting Room features a post-and-beam ceiling, a sweeping stone fireplace, and seating for up to 300 guests. Its large brick patio and terrace create an indoor-outdoor flow ideal for receptions.

What Are the Benefits of a Vineyard Wedding?

The main benefits of a vineyard wedding include unique scenery, built-in photo backdrops, and opportunities for wine-centered guest experiences. Willow Creek Winery can also arrange private, table-side tastings with wine educators and curated pairings of estate-grown wines as an optional enhancement for couples who’d like to add a unique experience for their guests. Guests can also enjoy the Vineyard Bar and outdoor fire pit, creating memorable experiences beyond the ceremony and dinner.

How to Personalize a Vineyard Wedding in Cape May

Personalization makes a vineyard wedding feel uniquely yours. At Willow Creek Winery, event enhancements such as upgraded seating, extended event time, champagne toasts, and additional menu selections are available for larger weddings, while intimate gatherings benefit from thoughtfully designed set packages. The venue also offers on-site bridal dressing rooms, six rental cottages, and access to its sister property, The Southern Mansion, for overnight stays.

How to Plan Around Guest Comfort and Flow

Guest comfort depends on aligning your guest list with the venue’s spaces. Willow Creek Winery’s professional team helps design smooth transitions from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception. Guests can flow directly from the Winemaker’s Patio Ceremony into cocktails on the Porch, or from the Estate Lawn Ceremony into a seated dinner inside the Tasting Room. On-site parking, photo access across the vineyard, and vendor coordination simplify logistics.

Conclusion

Planning a vineyard wedding involves choosing the right venue, aligning guest count with space, and adding personal touches that highlight local charm. Willow Creek Winery in Cape May, NJ, offers expansive vineyard views, elegant indoor and outdoor spaces, and wine-centered experiences to create a wedding that feels both refined and personal.

FAQs

What is the best season for a vineyard wedding in New Jersey? 
Spring and fall are most popular, with blossoms or colorful foliage adding natural beauty. Summer provides long daylight hours for photos and outdoor receptions.

Can guests stay on-site at Willow Creek Winery? 
Yes. Six vineyard cottages are available, along with nearby accommodations at The Southern Mansion in downtown Cape May.

Does Willow Creek Winery provide wine tastings during weddings? 
Yes. Couples can arrange private, table-side tastings with wine educators and pairings of estate-grown wines.

What upgrades are available for events? 
Upgrades include extended time, champagne toast setups, additional menu selections, upgraded seating, and fire pit use.

Willow Creek Winery Wins Big at the 2025 Libation Awards

Willow Creek Winery Wins Big at the 2025 Libation Awards

We’re raising a glass to some exciting news—Willow Creek Winery has been honored with three medals at the Libation Award’s 2025 National Small Producer Wine Invitational! 

Our Award-Winning Wines
🥈 Malvasia Bianca (Silver Medal)
Fermented in stainless steel with skin contact, this expressive white bursts with aromas of tropical fruit and white flowers. On the palate, flavors of ripe mango, pear, and pineapple create a lush yet refreshing sip.

🥈 Bacchus (Silver Medal)
An estate-grown red crafted from Cabernet Franc blended with Merlot and Petit Verdot. Light-bodied and complex, Bacchus layers notes of blackberry, cherry, vanilla, dark chocolate, and licorice for a beautifully nuanced wine.

🥉 Pink Chick (Bronze Medal)
Our 2024 rosé Pinot Noir, fermented in stainless steel with skin contact, is as elegant as it is playful. With aromas of cherry blossom and hibiscus, and flavors of strawberry and melon finishing crisp and dry, it’s summer in a glass with a sophisticated twist.

Taste the Winners

Celebrate with us by visiting the winery to enjoy a glass or bottle of these medal-winning wines. Even better—take some home! When you purchase a case (12 bottles), you’ll receive a special discount, and you can mix and match to include all three award winners.

Raise a toast with us at Willow Creek Winery, and taste firsthand why these wines are earning national recognition.

Local Summer at Willow Creek: Sangria Sundays & Bottle & Board Mondays Are Back

September in Cape May is a sweet spot—warm days, cool nights, and the perfect chance to soak in local summer. At Willow Creek Winery, we’re celebrating the season with the return of two of our favorite specials, designed to pair perfectly with long, lingering afternoons in the vineyard.

Sangria Sundays 🍷🍓

Every Sunday in September, enjoy 20% off our signature sangria—by the glass, growler, or grolsch. Fresh, fruity, and refreshing, it’s the perfect sip for those golden-hour sunsets on the farm. Whether you’re winding down from the beach or starting your evening with friends, Sangria Sunday sets the tone for a perfect Cape May night.

Bottle & Board Mondays 🍾🧀

Ease into the week with a deal made for sharing. On Mondays, get $10 off when you order a bottle of wine with a Wilde Cock Combo board. Think artisan cheeses, meats, and accompaniments, all perfectly matched with your choice of Willow Creek wine. It’s a little taste of indulgence to start your week off right.

A Note for Guests

Both specials are dine-in only and best enjoyed in the relaxed, scenic setting of the winery. Reservations are always encouraged—especially in September, when locals know it’s the best time to experience Cape May.

Make your plans, gather your crew, and join us at Willow Creek Winery this September. Local summer never tasted so good.

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