8 Summertime Wedding Events to Host at Stonepine Estate in Carmel Valley
With clear skies and comfortable temperatures day and night, Carmel Valley’s perfect summers are best enjoyed al fresco. That’s especially true at Stonepine Estate, a European-inspired wedding venue which stretches across over 400 rolling acres dotted with lush oaks, sycamores, pines, and olive trees. Here, you will find everything you need to seize every hour of daylight, including sprawling landscapes and natural features that deliver la dolce vita vibes — right in the heart of Monterey Peninsula.
Looking to make the most of the season and celebrate your nuptials with pre- and post-wedding events? From an equestrian-themed after-party and a spa retreat with your best friends to an afternoon tea fit for royalty, we can bring any celebration to life here at Stonepine Estate — thanks to our versatile spaces and venues. Think: sprawling gardens, a glass-walled greenhouse pavilion, opulent dining rooms, and even a shimmering pool. If you need a little inspiration, ahead, you will find a few ideas for throwing a warm-weather-season wedding party your guests won’t want to miss.
1. Sun-Soaked Pool and Pickleball Party
Nothing spells summer quite like a pool party — except maybe a pool party followed by a high-energy game of pickleball. Stonepine offers everything you need for playful competition and California-style recreation ahead of your special day. In between thwacking balls on our two adjacent courts, your guests can play lawn games, sip cocktails al fresco, or take a dip in our turquoise-blue swimming pool inspired by Renaissance architecture.
2. Bridesmaids Spa Retreat
There’s no better way to destress before your big day than to spend the lead-up to your wedding luxuriating in deeply relaxing spa experiences with your closest few. Nearby Pebble Beach Spa offers a menu of treatments ranging from customized facials and coffee body scrubs to the signature Pebble Massage using warm sculpted stones. Refuge is a unique outdoor spa known for its thermal cycle, a revitalizing journey from the cedar sauna, with a Himalayan salt wall, to a stimulating cold plunge, and back again.
3. Golf Get-Together
Gather your wedding party ahead of the festivities and tee off on Stonepine’s four-hole executive golf course in the shadow of the stunning Santa Lucia mountain range. (For non-golfers in the group, we’ve also got a croquet field.) Then head back to Chateau Noel for cocktail hour on the loggia, followed by dinner served on the Paddock House lawn and more playtime in our game room, complete with billiards, bar, chess, and more.
4. Garden-Inspired Luncheon
Stonepine is known for its landscaping, including the 12 formal, terraced gardens that surround the chateau, scattered with whimsical statues, sculpted hedges, and inviting benches set beneath canopies of blooms. Bring your wedding party to the estate a day or two ahead of the wedding for an inspiring stroll through the grounds, a gardening workshop with a local expert, and lunch in the summer sun.
5. Wellness Activations
Celebrate your upcoming nuptials with a day or weekend of soothing activities, including a morning meditation class, a sound bath, and a yoga class. In the evening, lounge by the pool and sip a handcrafted mocktail with your nearest and dearest. Best of all, you don’t have to step off the estate for any of these activities — simply sink into the beautiful environs, bask in the sunshine, and let your wedding team take care of everything.
6. Multi-Course Rehearsal Dinner
Before the big day arrives, it’s always a good idea to get your guests acquainted with one another — and a rehearsal dinner serves that exact purpose. Gather your friends and family the night before your big day for a more intimate, low-pressure run-through of your reception dinner. At Stonepine Estate, we can put together an exquisitely staged, multi-course al fresco dinner on one of our immaculately manicured lush lawns. After dessert and drinks, retire to your luxuriously appointed suite to catch some much-needed sleep.
7. Equestrian-Themed After-Party
Horses have been a part of Stonepine Estate’s history for decades; our grounds are home to Double H Ranch, a full-service boarding and riding center, where we’ve had the honor of hosting some of the country’s most celebrated champions. Lean into our property’s equestrian heritage by extending your wedding-day festivities beyond the reception and hosting a rustic-chic after-party at our Blacksmith Bar — a Western-themed venue dressed up with horse stirrups and saddles.
8. Farewell Morning Tea
Rather than the typical morning brunch, thank your guests with a traditional English tea — complete with scones, jam, clotted cream, and all the fixings — in one of the inviting spaces in and around Chateau Noel, the French-inspired villa at the center of Stonepine Estate. There are so many special spots to choose from — like the main living room, featuring a 7-foot-tall, 18th-century fireplace made of French limestone; the dining room, paneled in handcarved cherrywood; or our award-winning rose garden.
Let’s start crafting your summertime event at Stonepine Estate! Our experts will help you choose the perfect environment, menus, and activities. Contact us to get started.