Bear Flag Farm

Wow. After reading so many (very true) reviews, how do I put into words my experience so that the next bride would understand... My hubby and I tied the knot at Bear Flag Farm October 11, 2008. We had looked at many venues... MANY. We loved the idea of a wine country wedding, but without the often overpriced and overcrowded feel that wine coutry often offers when it comes to weddings. Bear Flag Farm won us over the minute we stepped out of the car. Not only was it beautiful (it also has an "out in the middle of no where" feel) but it was quiet. That silence, the feeling that our special day was ours alone helped us make our decision before Tina made it to greet us.

My personal advice (do what feels right) is to go with Tina for planning. She knows every little detail about the Farm, and delivers on knowing what is best for the location. There is no better expert on Bear Flag Farm weddings! Her vendors are first class... we went with many of her recommendations, and I must say that she had our taste, over-all objectives and price points well matched with extraordinary vendors.

Tina is a breeze to work with, and very open and honest. There aren't any surprises (hahaha, you'll learn in wedding planning that there are always surprises) with Tina because she lets you know all of the possibilities ahead of time. When last minute things come up, you already know your "plan B" and love it just as much. For us it was wind. Gusty winds had kicked up just a few days before the wedding. I didn't want a tent, I wanted perfection, but Tina insisted that it was a good idea. She was right! Our guests would have been WAY too cold come reception time, and our gorgeous table scapes would have blown away. The "revised" lighting and decor plans to account for the tent were superb. Tina makes sure her brides are happy.

I appreciate people who are direct and honest, and so I'll offer this... Tina is great at what she does because she truly loves it. She doesn't do 3 weddings a weekend (even a month) and therefore she is totally dedicated to you for your special day. Every offer is genuine, every word sincere. You hire Tina to be your wedding planner, and she ends up being a very dear friend.

Most guests refer to our big day as "the wedding of the century" and I agree. However, I think that everyone who weds at Bear Flag Farm feels the same way, and that's the magic. I never imagined getting thank you's from my guests (froms calls, emails and actual thank you CARDS) for having such an amazing wedding.

Make the call, then make the drive... it'll be the last place you "check out". If I could only offer one sentence... I plan on going back for an anniversary bash, that's how great it is!

I dont even know where to start on this review. It could be a novel and it could be a paragraph because our wedding day was something that could never be put into words. Even the guests are still talking about it (a month later) and calling us to gush.

The second my now husband and I walked onto the property we knew we would get married there and we knew it would be perfect. We knew we wanted 2 things...about 175 people and to be married outside in a casual but perfect setting. We got it all...and then some.

Tina is the most amazing person, planner, go-to-girl, damage control expert, stress counselor and working with her was perfect. She completely submersed herself in our vision and went above and beyond in making it ever BETTER than we would have hoped. She consistently added better ideas and built off the templates we gave her. When we had a question she had an answer (or a vendor, or a stylist, or a list of options). She is now much more than a friend and we are hoping to get her and her hubby down to sail with us in the very near future.

With regards to the event, I am still speechless. I know we had some requests that were a bit outside her comfort range (as it is her GORGEOUS property) but everything went PERFECTLY. She even made sure the weather was sunny and not too hot out in the lavender fields!! When we couldnt get up to Napa to discuss linens SHE FLEW TO LA TO MEET WITH US!! She managed the huge band, the gospel choir, the violinist and our friends that were playing the cocktail hour...like it was a breeze. Every single detail was paid attention to. The vendors she works with were all blessings...the florist, the caterer, the music agents, EVEN THE RESTROOM COMPANY!

The setting is like a movie and it is quite unforgettable without all the production pieces of a wedding...so with all the details, it is truly something to behold. The reception was in a sunken lawn surrounded by huge Sycamore trees, the ceremony was held in a lavender field that was in full bloom and the cocktail lawn was held between the lavender field and the reception lawn next to the orchard. The warm winds, the purple parasols and all the amazing music definitely made it the best day of my life.

Tina promised it would be the "best outdoor wedding your friends have ever been to" and she was right. At one point one of the guests was caught talking to a friend and said "SEE?? This is why you never want to elope." Weeks later people are still calling us to tell us that they want to go back and have another party with us there...that we should renew our vows every few years just to have a reunion.

Who knows? Sounds good to me.

All I know for sure is that once you've been to Bear Flag Farm...it will stay with you forever.

It's nearly impossible to describe in words just how perfectly our wedding at Bear Flag Farm turned out. From the very first time we visited the farm and met Tina, we knew this was where we wanted to have our wedding celebration.

The farm itself is an absolute dream. Everywhere you look is something beautiful - the lavender field, the vineyard, the orchard, the gorgeous guest cottage - it's almost too much to take in! The farm sets the stage for the most wonderful intimate outdoor celebration; it's an oasis set in the middle of beautiful Northern California farmland.

Working with Tina was an absolute joy, as well! From day one she completely understood our vision and worked tirelessly to fulfill every expectation (and then some!). She took my every idea and worked to make it even more unique and beautiful. She went so far as to order special "props" she thought would work well with our vision - she made us feel like our day was just as important to her as it was to us.

Friends and family from near and far were overwhelmed by the beauty of the day. We heard over and over again that our wedding was "the most beautiful wedding we've ever been to!" Nothing makes a bride and groom feel more loved than knowing that their guests felt blessed to be part of the celebration.

One of the most special and unique elements of the farm is the ability to incorporate produce directly from the farm into the wedding day menu. Tina's passion for her farm, and wonderful food, is evident and my groom and I, as well as the guests, felt absolutely spoiled to be able to enjoy it!

I truly cannot recommend Bear Flag Farm highly enough. The day was completely perfect and we are so grateful to have had such a wonderful photographer and videographer (also recommended by Tina!) to capture every detail so that we can relive it whenever we choose. Bear Flag Farm will always hold a very special place in our hearts!

Words can’t fully express our love for Bear Flag Farm and its owner Tina. We live in NYC and first saw the farm on a wedding venue scouting trip to the Bay Area. It was the first place we saw and we loved it. Being pragmatic people, we thought maybe we were just too excited to find a place and proceeded to look at about 20 other venues in Napa and Sonoma Valley. At the end of our trip, it was clear that Bear Flag Farm was the wedding venue for us.

From the beginning, Tina was warm, welcoming, helpful, and supportive. She made us feel so at home that we knew that we had found the perfect spot for our wedding. We returned several times to the Farm over the year leading up to the wedding and were able to see it during a few different seasons. We were amazed at how different it could look at different times of the year, but somehow remain beautiful. From the almond orchard to the citrus trees to the vineyards to the lavender fields, the Farm offers up an amazing variety of outdoor landscapes that are all unique and picturesque. Our wedding photos turned out so well due mainly to the fact that the Farm is so beautiful. There were so many opportunities to take photos with great backdrops that I think our photographer was a bit overwhelmed. It is hard to imagine any wedding not being absolutely beautiful here.

Tina has taken great care to maintain her property and it really shows. The guest cottage in particular was a wonderful treat to have on the wedding day. I was able to get ready with the girls there in the morning and enjoy snacks and drinks and every amenity. Tina even made us delicious scones! The cottage also served as a private oasis for my new husband and I right after the ceremony so that we could catch our breath and spend a little time together. It was a really nice treat to have a few minutes alone before emerging to greet our guests.

Another feature that drew us to the Farm was that it is a working organic farm. We loved the idea of incorporating different items grown right there on the Farm into our wedding. We wound up using Bear Flag melons and tomatoes in some of our dishes and gave our guests small bottles of olive oil that were made from olives grown on the Farm.

Best of all though was Tina’s willingness to make our day the best day possible and to make us happy. The week of the wedding, we had forecasts for rain on our wedding day (completely unseasonable) and Tina really went out of her way to accommodate our needs. She made a lot of great suggestions on how to adjust the floor plan, tent the lawns, and create the vibe we had planned for and make it a great wedding despite rain. She really helped to sooth our worries. Best of all, Tina has very good relationships with the vendors that work her venue frequently, which allowed us to have the best selection of equipment, crews, etc. and to make adjustments on very short notice. We also felt that some of the vendors worked extra hard at our event and that probably had a little something to do with them wanting to please Tina. In the end, we went with a clear-top tent and it was magnificent! It didn’t end up raining, but the visual impact of the tent and the intimate feeling created by it made the event better than we could have imagined.

Our friends and family have told us repeatedly how amazed they were by the beauty and uniqueness of the outdoor setting for our wedding. We could not agree with them more and believe that Bear Flag Farm is the best wedding venue in the area, bar none. Bear Flag will forever hold a special place in our hearts as will Tina. Anyone lucky enough to get married at Bear Flag will undoubtedly have a beautiful wedding day and even more valuable memories.

It only took us one day to decide that Bear Flag Farms in Winters California was the perfect location for our daughter's upcoming wedding. It is a gorgeous organic farm that does about 12 events a year. Tina, the owner, is wedding planner extraordinaire. She may have missed her calling in life owning a farm but now she has the best of both worlds.
Our dilemma was in trying to make the whole wedding an experience for our family and guests, and not just a hotel stay and then a wedding/reception. It was hard to find the right fit for the Bear Flag Farms experience because it is so unique and special. The two closest cities are Davis (college town and no real hotel with that quaint feel) and Napa.
Trying to keep budget in mind, we tried every Napa hotel from Marriott to Embassy Suites to Travel Lodge. Then Tina met with a new "boutique" type hotel in downtown Napa called "AVIA." We have been working with them for the past week and they have been amazing. In just one week, we have a package deal, rooms are booking, they have developed a link for our bridal couples' website and are making the hotel stay a beautiful transition to BBF.
It was really important to the bride and groom that they had time before the wedding to spend with people and we had a "base camp" hotel.
Thanks to Tina, we now have the perfect marriage between the AVIA and Bear Flag Farms.
I'll continue to update as we go through the process. The wedding is next June!

I was never the kind of girl who believed in a perfect wedding. Then I met Tina Reikes and discovered Bear Flag Farm. My husband and I feel blessed to have perfect memories to keep forever of our special and amazing event. When I met Tina, I knew we had found a perfect fit. Tina worked as my coordinator and had an incredible instinct for matching me with vendors who took my anomalous vision and created a dream.

The farm itself is the most special location I have ever seen. We got married in the lavender field. One of the rows surprised us with a late-summer bloom. A touch of color and the scent of lavender on the breeze wafted around us as we said our vows. From there, we were whisked away by Tina and her golf cart to the tastefully designed guest cottage for a private moment. Major and I were grateful to have a quiet moment - it was only one of Tina's many thoughtful ideas that revealed how in tune she is with her clients' needs.

We held our reception on the cottage lawn. Golden sunrays glinted through the rustling trees that framed the reception area. Again, Tina's impeccable taste helped create an event that my father described as "flawless." Several days after the wedding, we started getting phone calls from our guests, who told us it was the best wedding they have ever been to. We're still getting phone calls from people who can't believe what a beautiful and special event they were a part of. But the farm would be nothing without the woman behind it. Tina is the paradigm of good taste and professionalism. It is with deep gratitude that Major and I remember the perfect moment that Tina created for us when we stepped into our future as husband and wife for the first time.

My daughter got married at Bear Flag Farm in June, 2008 and I was just blown away by the place, the beauty, the taste level, the planning, the privacy, the pure and delicious joy of it all. Not since Provence have I seen lavender fields so magnificient or frgrant fruit trees or a sky that blue and dazzling. But what made it so special was that it was like a hidden treasure - close enough to Napa for everyone to stay at inns and hotels - but far enough from the winery scene to be isolated and magical. Tina Reikes, who is owner/wedding planner combines an incredible taste level (the farm is organic) with amazing connections to all the top vendors to being able to turn on a dime. My daughter's wedding day was unseasonably hot and Tina had made sure there were lovely white diaphanous curtains that blocked the midday sun. We also got lovely white parasols to shade ourselves - Tina thinks of everything. My daughter and son-in-law worked with Tina to get exactly what they wanted - from the colorful organic tomato salad (straight from the farm!) to a signature drink with fruit from the farm.
And I don't think I mentioned that most of the 135 guests came from the East Coast - NY, Boston, Washington - they couldn't believe what an enchanted place they had arrived at. What could be more perfect that being outside in the most beautiful place on the most beautiful day, breathing in the lavender, knowing that everything was taken care of and watching your daughter - in white tulle and train - radiant and beaming. Bear Flag Farm made it so special.

When my daughter and now son-in-law mentioned getting married on a farm, I was a little perturbed. My first visit to the farm and meeting Tina, soon put all my fears aside. A more magical place could not be had. The beauty of the surroundings, the care of the farm, radiates love all around. A perfect place to celebrate love and share it with others.

Tina took are of all the details. Her vendors are professional and honor the traditions and values she has for her organic farm. Tina makes sure that everyone is educated about and is respectful of the amazing environment she has created. Working with local vendors, like getting wildflowers from the farm next door for the rooms for our hotel guests, is just one of the small and delightful ways Tina invites you into her world and home.

Getting ready in the guest cottage with the bridal party early in the morning, was just the beginning of a glorious, elegant and memorable day. From the snacks in the kitchen to the comfort of the cottage, it was a fitting start to allow everyone to relax and enjoy a day of celebration and union ahead.

The wedding was beautiful, the lavender fields stunning, and the fragrance of the plants added added to a wonderful open air experience. Simplicity at its best.

We now have lasting wondrous memories of visual beauty, senses of fragrance, taste and sound, as well as feelings of love, friendship and graciousness. What more could anyone want for a June wedding?

Well Tina, what do I say? You made my day the one I had planned since I started tearing out Martha Stewart Weddings pages, and earmarking all my magazines. When I knew I was getting married I scoured the Nor Cal area for the "perfect" venue. I happened upon the link to Bear Flag, just by typing in Sacramento wedding venue. And as it turned out Tina had just started placing the venue on Google to drum up business. I remember visiting the site on a cloudy April day with my fiancé and parents, and even then, with no leaves on the trees, no lavender in sight, and only our imaginations to work with- this was THE place. My mind started working in overdrive, the wedding planner was chosen, the date fixed, the photographer and band booked.

And the best part was we were the INAUGURAL wedding at Bear Flag, the very FIRST one, EVER! How cool is that? Being the first I didn't get to look at photos of the amazing events held there since, so we created the space from scratch. Using Tina's imagination and experience we were able to have the most beautiful and perfect day ever.
It was the first Saturday in June, a wonderful blend of a hot early evening and cool night to dance under the stars in. I would recommend this venue to anyone. It is that place you are looking for, but don't think exists outside of the Napa Valley. The grounds are amazing, Tina is spectacular, and it is the perfect distance for anyone travelling from Sacramento or even the Bay. I love Bear Flag and it will always hold a place near and dear to our hearts, and I hope we do in theirs.

It was a small wedding (62 people), and it was absolutely perfect. We were thrilled with the gorgeous farm, getting ready in the guest cottage, the decorations, the flowers, the beautiful ceremony in the orchard, the reception, the caterer/food, the music, the service, the bathrooms for heaven's sake - all completely wonderful. Tina, the owner of the farm, helped by pointing us towards excellent vendors, and in some cases we selected our own, such as That Takes the Cake in San Francisco for our delicious cupcakes. The little college town of Davis was an excellent gathering place, fun for walking around and shopping or dining. Many guests stayed at the Palm Court, which was just ideal, and others were pleased with the Aggie Inn and Best Western University. We had an al fresco pre-wedding dinner for around 40 people at Bistro 33, which was lovely, and a post-wedding brunch for around 40 at Putah Creek Inn in Winters, which was amazing. It was hot!! but we were expecting it so were prepared with misters and parasols. The bride and groom were simply thrilled with all three days of celebrations, as were all the guests. We'd all do the whole thing again, exactly the same way, in a heartbeat.

We were lucky enough to have our fall wedding (October 2009) at Bear Flag Farm in Winters, CA. The location is an idyllic farm, with a number of unique and beautiful areas to choose from to have one’s ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. On the day of your wedding the farm is exclusively used for your wedding event, with complete privacy.

From the very beginning, Tina immersed herself in the planning of our wedding. No detail was too small for her time and attention. Her relationships with her preferred vendors make for smooth planning. She was able to attend most of our meetings with vendors and promptly mediated all concerns and questions that we had. She encouraged us to add our own special touches so that our vision for a perfect wedding day could be realized. Tina strives to provide the best quality and design while respecting budgetary guidelines. BFF is known for its organic produce, much of which can be incorporated into the menu, design, or as gifts, depending on the season, of course. We were lucky enough to have delicious fruits incorporated into our menu, picked the day of!

We based our wedding weekend in nearby Sacramento (20 minutes) which, with its international airport, was especially convenient for guests coming from afar. There are a number of upscale hotels and opportunities for entertaining guests. Besides Sacramento, Napa is also nearby and San Francisco is just an hour away. Tina coordinated a shuttle service to provide transportation to and from BFF so that guests could enjoy themselves more.

While moderate winds threatened to disrupt or ceremony, Tina and the vendors had backup plans that were ready to be implemented if necessary. The day was absolutely perfect, with highs in the mid 70s, and a cool, but comfortable evening. One major advantage of working with Tina and her staff was that on the day of the ceremony, we didn’t have to field concerns from a single vendor; all of our attention was focused on the special moments that fly by throughout the day.

Every aspect of the farm is gorgeous, from the beautiful bridal cottage to the lavender fields and vineyard, it’s is a brides dream for amazing photos and memories. Our guests are still telling us 5 months later that it was the most original, unique and beautiful wedding they have ever seen. We have given multiple wholehearted referrals to engaged couples in the bay area that have seen our photos and are interested in stepping out of a typical ballroom/hotel wedding into a breathtaking venue that promises to be absolutely stunning!

We feel as though we have made a life long friend in Tina, who shared in and truly enjoyed making our wedding dreams come true! Every review that has been written about BFF is absolutely true. If i had it to do all over again, I wouldn't change a thing!

One look at the photos from other Bear Flag Farm weddings, and it's clear that the farm is an amazing location. After our engagement, the first thing my wife and I agreed was that we wanted our wedding to be outdoors and in California. When my wife found out about Bear Flag Farm, we knew it was exactly what we were looking for. The different parts of the property (vineyards, lavender fields, a sycamore grove, an orchard, and numerous lawns) make it easy to custom tailor the farm to fit your vision.

What's not readily apparent when you look at the photos, is that when you decide to have your wedding at Bear Flag Farm, you get the pleasure of working with Tina Reikes. Tina and her husband own the farm and in addition to tending the farm, Tina acts as your personal event planner. She has a deep network of relationships with vendors all around the area. She gets down to business right from the beginning and helps you work out a budget and then, she presents all sorts of ideas for you to get the wedding you want within your budget. She knows the strengths and weaknesses of all the area vendors and she's not afraid to use her relationships to get things done. We had some trouble getting certain vendors to call us back. One call to Tina and the vendor was ready to set a meeting with us. When we wanted to bring our parents up to see the property, we needed to find a nearby hotel that would let us stay with our dogs. Tina not only gave us some recommendations, but she got us a discount rate too.

All of our family and friends were located in Los Angeles. This added an additional complication to both the logistics of planning the wedding and to the wedding itself. Some meetings required us to travel (e.g., tasting with the caterer), but Tina went out of her way to make it as easy for us as possible. On one occasion, she flew down to L.A. and her and my wife spent the day visiting vendors who had offices in both L.A. and the Bay Area.

When it came to the actual wedding day, transporting our 170+ guests from hotels in downtown Napa to Bear Flag Farm (about 40 minutes away) was a snap. Tina had complete control of the chaos of organizing all the vendors, from tents to a 12 piece band, and getting all the guests there and in their seats on time. I was shocked when I arrived at the site on the wedding day to find that Tina knew exactly how many guests were on each of the three shuttle buses we had arranged. No detail was missed.

In short, we had a pretty complicated set up. We had to plan the event from another city and then, we had to plan for the fact that every single attendee, including us, was from out of town. Everything turned out perfectly and the whole experience was better than we could have expected. As I write this, the wedding was almost 9 months ago, and people still tell us it was the best wedding they've ever been to.

I had my wedding at Bear Flag Farm in August of 2007. It was absolutely perfect. The property is breathtaking and is the perfect backdrop for any style of wedding. We had a very laid back event but it still felt incredibly upscale because of the surroundings and attention to detail of the farm. The owner, Tina, is a true friend and a pleasure to work with. She stepped in when I had some problems with my wedding planner and helped me achieve my ideal day. She was very hands on the day of the wedding helping with anything needed.

Anyone who is considering an outdoor wedding should visit Bear Flag Farm. It's a very intimate setting and feels much more authentic and personal than the wineries that churn out 2-3 weddings a weekend. The farm is organic and a lot of their products and produce are used by local catering companies. At my wedding we had lavender, pears, olive oil, and tomatoes all from the farm used in different parts of our menu. Our guests loved it.

One of the biggest selling points of Bear Flag Farm besides its beauty was the guest cottage (I know, silly). There is a HUGE cottage on the property with a hair salon, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, and a lounge. It is available for getting ready the day of the wedding. I had 9 bridesmaids and we had a blast spending the day together in the cottage. We got to see all the vendors set up and the guests arriving. It was nice to not have to stress out about getting to hair appointments and all that because the hair people came to us and we were able to just chill out and listen to music. I think it's really important to be in a relaxed environment before the event begins and this was perfect.

I highly recommend Bear Flag Farm! At least go check it out...

Finally! A forum to tell the world how I feel about Bear Flag Farm!

My wedding reception was held at Bear Flag Farm in October 2006. It was undeniably the most beautiful outdoor venue I have ever seen(Ok, I might be a bit biased, however, please read on). The location is unique and unspoiled...who would think that there is a bit of "wine country" in Winters, California (near Davis)? The property is breathtaking...who wouldn't want beautiful Sycamore trees rustling in the breeze? blooming lavendar that you can actually smell as you walk by? and growing organic fruits and vegetables throughout the property; all with homey, old world, Tuscan style buildings and cottages nestled among the vineyards and greenery? The owner is down to earth, resourceful and incredibly warm...who wouldn't want a best friend helping you with all the details?

Bear Flag Farm is a beautiful canvas that can truly be shaped to whatever your wedding dreams are. My dreams for a fall wedding included an outdoor "wine country-ish" location (with the flexibility of tenting), luxurious linens, fantastic organic food, a Gypsy-Kings style band, beautiful trees that were changing color, with green and white pumpkins and flowers sprinkled on the tables, and most importantly, a calm, fun venue owner that anticipated and met my every need. I am somewhat of an intense person and not ONE time did I stress out before or during this event. In fact, when it was all over, all I wanted to do was hang out for just a little while longer and take it all in (much to the dismay of my new husband)... Bear Flag Farm and Tina Reikes are just that good.

I think the most important thing about Bear Flag Farm are the memories created during the event. There were about 125 people at my reception - with folks coming from as far away as New York and Italy - and even now, a year later, every person who attended our reception says it was the most beautiful place and best wedding they've ever been to. A few guests have even confessed of now having dreams of one day owning a place like Bear Flag Farm. I promise you, there is nothing about Bear Flag Farm that won't meet your wedding dreams; and in fact, you will probably find that you will have something that will go way beyond what you could possibly imagine.

Bear Flag Farm has been one of my favorite venues to work with as the Editor in Chief of Project Wedding. If I were getting married again, I would definitely consider this beautiful venue!

Wow! Talk about an amazing wedding. People are still telling us that our wedding was the best one they've ever been to. We wanted a wedding that was warm, inviting and intimate, and something that felt like we were in our own space and having our friends and family "over" to celebrate our special day. Bear Flag farm has that gorgeous farm/vineyard/villa in Tuscany kind of feel. We did the wedding ceremony in the heavenly lavender fields, our Vietnamese engagement ceremony next to the villa and our reception in the sunken gardens. No tent, it was wonderful to have those gorgeous sycamore trees around the garden as the backdrop. The sunset was spectacular! It did get a little chilly at night (our wedding was at the very end of the fall season) and Tina (the owner) and Darcy (wedding coordinator) thoughtfully provided "wraps" (pieces of soft fleece) for all the ladies and the party kept on going without a hitch. Tina made us feel like our wedding was as special to her as it was to us. I still remember her bringing in her CD player for me and my bridesmaids to listen to as we were getting ready in that beautiful guest house. Another great thing about BFF was its proximity to Davis. It is such a cute town with everything in walking distance. The weekend of the wedding we kept running into friends and family every where we went. Despite being transplants and everyone flying in from everywhere it really felt like a hometown wedding. We had our rehearsal in a local park and then walked over to the rehearsal dinner. It was just a perfect wedding weekend.

We planned our September 2007 wedding at Bear Flag Farm and our guests are still gushing over what an amazing affair it was - and it truly was amazing. From the hospitality of the owners (Kevin and Tina) to the smell of the lavender fields, it was more than we could have asked for. We had a warm, beautiful day and the wedding was everything I'd always pictured.

From the moment we started working with Tina, every detail was taken care of. As the owner, Tina knows the farm better than anyone and offered incredible advice and suggestions. Once I began talking to her about the vision I had for the day, she was able to help me focus and flawlessly execute.

My husband is from Boston, so we had a large number of our guests coming from the East Coast. Davis was the perfect location to gather everyone for a wedding weekend. Sacramento airport is about a 20 minute drive from downtown - very convenient. Guests found Davis so charming and the leisurely pace of the small town provided the perfect weekend retreat for our guests. Tina helped us decide on hotels and arrange for shuttles to transport guests to and from the farm.

Getting ready on the farm was one of my favorite aspects of the weekend. As some of the other reviews mention, the cottage on site is adorable and has every amenity a bride could ask for. A refrigerator for nibbles and champagne, a hair salon to get ready and a beautiful room for dressing and taking bridal party photos. It was such a fun day in the cottage with my family and bridal party.

When guests arrived on the farm, every detail was taken care of and the farm looked amazing. Stepping on the farm, you are suddenly transported to a little bit of wine country in Davis. We were married in a lavender field that smelled so amazing. Cocktail hour took us to the vineyard lawn and our reception was held in a grassy bowl under the shade of beautiful sycamore trees. Tina and her staff helped manage our vendors and took fantastic care of our guests.

From start to finish, this was the perfect experience. A big thank you to Tina and Kevin for opening up their home to all of us who have been lucky enough to be married there. It's an experience none of us will soon forget.

Words cannot explain how utterly perfect our wedding was at Bear Flag Farm. The farm's beauty, created by Tina and her husband, is like nothing my husband and I had ever experienced before. Tina and her husband have created a magical home in which citrus trees, lavendar and grape vines take you into a whole new world, where all you can feel is happiness, relaxation and love. It is simply the BEST place to get married because of the beauty and love that you naturally feel there.

Yet, the magic doesnt end there. Tina and her husband have a SERIOUSLY amazing network of vendors and contacts - they know the best of the best, from the food, to the photographer, to the makeup/hair artist, to the flowers and design, to unique and creative wedding vendors. Anything is possible at the farm, and everything, when done, is just perfect.

When we showed up on wedding day we were speechless. The beauty that Tina and her team created was beyond what we could have ever imagined. And, it was us - somehow, some way, Tina was able to get to know us so well that she created a wedding that screamed us a couple, when we provided only minimal guidance as to what we were looking for. The design was more beautiful than any wedding I have ever seen in style me pretty (my favorite website). The food was 5 star restaurant quality. And, when the weather went sour the day of the wedding, messing up our big surprise for the guests, Tina found a last minute replacement that was the hit of the wedding. Not to mention, the one possibility that I dreaded, "tenting the reception," turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the whole day - the design of the tent, the lanterns, the candles, it was perfect, magical, beautiful, and so much more. I seriously cant stop here...the center pieces, the freshly picked tomatoes in the salad (picked that day) that guests couldnt stop talking about, the farm fruit mini cobblers that guests couldnt stop devouring, the farm fruit sangria that guests couldnt stop drinking, our unique farm table that was a sweetheart table, my bouquet, the creative photo booth backdrop Tina and her talented florist designed, it was all straight out of a dream. They more than nailed it.

We simple adore Tina, her husband, and her entire team. We will be lifelong friends with them, and lifelong devoters to the farm. In Tina we trusted, always, and she delivered the most spectacular wedding of all time. Sure, we might be biased, but once the photos are up, you can see for yourselves.

Oh, Bear Flag Farm, where do I even begin? For starters, this is such a place as dreams are made of! The farm is 100% gorgeous, and it's a working farm to boot! I stumbled upon Bear Flag Farm as I was looking for a wedding venue that wasn't cookie-cutter and offered a really charming location. I was immediately smitten with the website (seriously, if you haven't looked at the photo galleries on the BFF website you MUST), and then the second I talked to Tine Reikes (the proprietor) I was hooked. Tina is absolutely, 110% professional and she's seriously organized. This wedding was being planned from Texas, so it was really important to me to have someone that I trusted on the other end of things. But, in addition to those great qualities, she has fabulous taste and she is absolutely as sweet and nice as can be! I like to be involved in everything and I'm a bit of a control freak, but I had no problems handing Tina the reigns and letting her be in charge of the wedding! I would work with her again in a second! And, the people that Tina works with are just as lovely as she is, so everything -- from rentals to flowers to catering -- is just very much in sync and beyond expectations. I couldn't believe what I saw when I arrived on our wedding day, it was just gorgeous!!!

My husband and I were married on September 17, 2011 under a beautiful tent in the Orangerie at Bear Flag Farm. Everything, down to the tiniest detail, was just wonderful. From the enormous bower of flowers we were married under, to the little bouquets of oranges and fresh herbs that were tied to the chairs, to the ceremony musicians that Tina arranged for us, exceeded my expectations. And then the reception was just amazing! I was told over and over again that we'd picked the "perfect" location for a wedding and that people had never been to such a fantastic wedding before. And the food, SWOON, oh my gosh, it's so amazingly good! For starters, the menu is very personal and we selected everything from a huge, long, list of options that was put together just for us based on what we like. From the passed hors d'oeuvres to the stations to the specialty cocktail to the dessert tables to the to-go bags for the guests: delicious!!!! And the best part is that so much of what is served is actually grown on the farm. We had an amazing panzanella salad with heirloom tomatoes grown right where we were married. And our guests took home olive oil favors with olive oil pressed from the trees on the property. How cool is that?! The evening was beautiful with good friends, good food, and good wine -- and that's what we really wanted at our wedding. My husband and I have both said that the only thing we wish we could change was to have a wedding week instead of a wedding weekend!

Bear Flag Farm is truly such a wonderful experience as a farm and as a wedding venue. When you roll through the gates you realize that, even though you might not think it's possible, it's actually PRETTIER than the pictures! There aren't many weddings held there throughout the year, so Tina really gives each wedding a lot of time and consideration. Thus, you end up with all of these lovely details, each one better than the next.

This one's for the guys, you know those terrified yet excited, take control yet out of control men soon to be somehow involved with the loving yet somewhat stressful process of matrimony. They call us grooms! Let me introduce you to Tina and Bear Flag Farm.
My wife and I live a short distance from BFF and ride our bikes along the winding riparian and orchard studded road that passes close by Bear flags lavender fields 3-4 times a week. It remains our favorite ride for the serenity, the beauty and the strong sense of productive farming that's the heart of Yolo County. We always thought , what a perfect place to be married. Then we met Tina.
Our introductory visit in her casual, country office at BFF began with sharing concepts, wishes, likes and dislikes then led us through her team concept, reviewing her players and the entire preparation process. She made suggestions based on our vision of what our wedding would be then told us to reflect on all we had learned, contact her with questions and in a few weeks reconvene to nail down specifics. My wife left, eyes dilated and excited. I left relaxed and assured we were in the gracious hands of a pro. Tina actually asked for my input and took time to calm my concerns. Her experience no doubt led to an understanding that tightly wound, stressed out grooms are a difficult group to involve.
Her overall mantra remained, relax, have fun, and enjoy each step along the way, She 'd watch our backs and handle the hard stuff. As confidence grew, so did the enjoyment. The scheduling, organization, selection of team members, coordination and timing were impeccable. The team became friends and by wedding time, part of the family.
Our middle aged, second time around wedding attended by experienced and discerning guests, flowed without a flaw. Under the shade of an "Out of Africa" tent our friends and family sat shaded, laughing and crying and wondering what was next, photos for us and wine for the rest until time to toast and sit down to country elegance. White linens and Bear Flag flowers and herbs covered candle lit tables beneath small twinkling lights, large shining stars, and embracing Sycamore branches.
The band absolutely rocked for hours. Tunes that kept everyone and I mean everyone on the dance floor for hours. Throughout the afternoon and evening Tina and her staff were there to check in for requests and needs. We felt very attended and cared for from beginning to end.
Our friends have called it the event of the decade... and beyond. The class, the cozy comfort, the phenomenal ceremony,setting,dinner, and music made it truly a night to remember forever. And for us grooms , isn't that what it's all about?

My dream came true at Bear Flag Farm. I wanted to get married there for years and it came true this summer. The farm is beyond beautiful, and pictures dont even come close to display its beauty. The staff at Bear Flag Farm are great. They were one top of everything the day of the wedding. Tina, the owner and coordinator of the Farm, is fit for the job! She knows how to orchestrate and prepare the bride and the event to be just perfect months and months before the day. I had an all inclusive wedding package that was perfect for my busy schedule of Nursing School. Tina took care of so much and made it very special. My guests have told me over and over again that this was the best venue they have ever been to, Quote: "Its so Beautiful and breath taking, What a spectacular choice." I cant say enough about the farm. Their olive oil is delicious, their wine is tasty, the farm to the table approach is so unique, and the setting is perfect.

I used Grace Lee, the Farms Caterer, for our food and it was amazing. The serving staff were courteous and my guests got their food served in a special way. Our DJ, Adam, set the mood for the entire evening with great music custom to us as a couple. Our ceremony was filled with beautiful strings music from "The Dolanc String Quartet."
Our photos were captured by Ann Hamilton- such a down to earth and talented photographer. She captured the perfect moments for our special day. And her side kick assistant was very talented as well. And my Guests got to have fun in the photobooth from "PhotoWorks Interactive."

I wouldnt change a thing about our wedding day- Thanks to Tina and all her staff.

Where to begin to add to glowing remarks about Bear Flag Farm? In the search for the perfect wedding venue, I told my now husband, "wherever it is, it has to be magical". Enter Bear Flag Farm and Tina Reikes, who my mom came to affectionately refer to as "your fairy godmother". We first visited the farm in the middle of January on rainy day. Nothing was in bloom and sky was gray, but spending an hour with Tina in her cozy cottage with a cup of tea looking through past wedding albums and getting to know her, it was clear to both of us that we had indeed found our magical place to get married and the woman who would bring it all to life.

When you have your wedding at Bear Flag, you are getting much more than a venue. You are getting a place that has so much heart and soul and that quality is in every detail of your wedding day. Even before we had signed a contract, Tina wanted to know everything about us, our tastes, our interests, who we are as a couple. She extracted a vision that I couldn't put into words and on our wedding day, it was a delight to hear so many of my closest friends and family say, "this is so YOU" What more could you hope for than a wedding celebration so personal and reflective of who you are and what you value. Throughout the months of planning and particularly in the weeks leading up to the wedding, we were both impressed and touched by Tina's incredible professionalism, her genuine kindness and effort to make our day everything we dreamed it to be. Even a rain scare the week of the wedding that threatened our original plan did not ruffle Tina, she had a Plan B in place before I could go even log on to weather.com and start to panic. She is calm, resourceful, and has impeccable taste. All of our vendors were recommendations Tina helped us with and all were a joy to work with. On the day of the wedding I couldn't have been more relaxed and present, knowing that Tina and her team had an eye on every detail. My husband organized a bike ride with his groomsmen and close friends the morning of the wedding to take advantage of the beautiful setting and great bike loops in Davis. Tina insisted they swing by BFF to say hi and take a photo. It was the start to the perfect day and a great photo of the guys that Jay will treasure.

And about that wedding day...it was a dream come true. A fairy tale by many guest's notes we received in the days that followed. Saying our vows on the perfectly manicured lawn in the Lavender Field, a cocktail reception on the shaded terrace, the reception under a beautiful tent aglow with hanging lights and candles. Everywhere I looked I saw something that made me beam with happiness, the flowers, the food, the smiles on our guest's faces. We had the time of our lives and it is a day that we will never forget. We are so happy that this very special place and this truly amazing woman, are now a part of our story... where we said "I do", danced our first dance and celebrated our marriage with our closest friends and family. Simply put, it was magic.

My husband and I live in Denver, Colorado and we got married at Bear Flag Farm on September 10, 2010. When I started the wedding planning process, my heart was set on a Napa Valley wine country wedding, however with many hours of research, I found the wineries I wanted to get married at did not host weddings, and the wineries that did host weddings were not exactly what I was looking for. During the process I was also getting frustrated with properties not being responsive as well as receiving scripted responses that seemed to sound like "you are bride #54 out of #72 and this is the paperwork you need to fill out and this is the deposit you need to put down etc. etc." I was so disenchanted by the whole process during what is supposed to be such a magical experience, that I was close to giving up on a traditional wedding and eloping with my husband.

I told myself I would give surrounding Napa Valley areas a few more hours of research and that is when I found Bear Flag Farm. Just by her website I could tell the owner behind this property had style, class, personality and individuality - how refreshing! I sent in my request for information via her site late on a Friday evening and received a response from her first thing Saturday morning - unbelievable! When I talked to Tina (owner)for the first time, I was relieved to hear that she does not partake in the "assembly line of brides” strategy for her venue and she actually only does a handful of weddings a year and never more than one a week - Perfect! She told me every wedding of hers is very different based on the couple and that it is important to her to get to know both of us so she can tailor the day to our preferences. I made a quick trip to Winters, met Tina, felt like we bonded instantly and the farm was everything I hoped it would be. Best of all, I was still able to base my guests in Napa and since Tina grows Syrah grapes, my wine country wedding was still going to happen - but now with lavender fields, citrus orchards, olive trees, an organic garden that our guests would be dining from and of course, her precious honey bees in the background that became the theme of our wedding.

Since we live in Colorado and would be planning a destination wedding, it was extremely important that I could trust our wedding planner as well as find a package deal that did not have me pouring over every detail. Tina over delivered in every area and offers an incredible package that made the process extremely easy.

Our wedding day mirrors the rest of Bear Flag Farm’s reviews. The day was perfect, extremely organized, every detail was well thought out, the farm looked like a dream and we received many comments from our guests that it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to. As a bride, my favorite part was Tina’s extra special touches that made the day just as much of a surprise for me as it was for our guests. The highlights of our wedding include getting married with the smell of lavender in the air, a ferris wheel that Tina talked us into that became the hit of our wedding, incredible food prepared by Grace Lee that came from Tina’s farm, stunning décor and lighting, an amazing band (Hip Service) and of course Tina and Leslie’s (Tina’s assistant) constant attention to ensure the day went perfectly. Our wedding was an absolute dream and I am excited for all future brides who decide to get married there!

Bear Flag Farm is a magical place where stunning weddings are created by fabulous people! Picking Bear Flag Farm was the best decision we ever made in our wedding planning process. I fell in love with the place the moment I visited the website, which is filled w/ gorgeous pictures that so accurately portray the feel and beauty of the farm. Tina (owner of the farm & wedding planner extraordinare) is amazing to work with, and the suggested vendors she has for food/photo/cake/music/etc are similarly wonderful. In our first few meetings, Tina was able to take all our ideas and create an overall theme/feel to the wedding that perfectly reflected what we wanted. I am from the bay area, but living in NY with my fiance, so our meetings with Tina were very spread out, but it didn't matter because Tina was great about communication via phone and email. Every detail was addressed, even those I didn't think of (and I'm a pretty detail-oriented person!)
The farm itself is so meticuously maintained, respected, and well-loved by its owners who place a huge amount of importance on the field to table concept. It's not just a selling point gimmick, but something that continously comes through...the produce from the farm is used as much as possible in the wedding menu, even in the floral arrangements if fitting! I loved that our guests were able not only to enjoy the surroundings of the farm but also able to taste the bounty that the farm produces. You can even use their olive oil and wine. There are so many places of beauty on the farm itself, from the lavender fields to the orchards to the vineyards..it creates endless opportunities for ceremony locations & photo ops.
Your wedding day will always run smoothly in Tina's capable hands. She surrounds herself with a staff of competent and caring people who make sure that your special day is flawless...and if there are any issues that come up, you'll never know about them because Tina makes sure that the bride and groom get to experience every moment of their wedding (rather than spending time worrying about the details of the day). Our wedding day was perfect from start to finish...I didn't want it to end! I would recommend Bear Flag Farm in a heartbeat to anyone looking for a gorgeous outdoor wedding location.

Bear Flag Farm is the perfect wedding venue! Not only is the farm absolutely and naturally beautiful with its lavender fields, vineyard and fruit orchards, Tina (the owner) and her team are delightful to work with. Tina is consistently responsive and ready to assist with anything you might need. She works with excellent, top quality vendors and is able to help steer you toward the best bands, caterers, florist, etc. based on your preferences and wedding style. Our wedding was sort of a sophisticated french country style affair as my husband and his family are French. Everything was customized to include English and French translations. My husband is also a chef so he loved the idea of using the produce from the Farm in the meal. Our caterer, Grace Lee, was fantastic! She incorporated so many elements from the Farm and even created an amuse bouche with korean water kimchee as a little nod to my Korean family members. The wedding was in August, so we had an open, billowy tent to shade the ceremony on the vineyard lawn and parasols available for guests who desired additional sun protection. As the sun set, we migrated over to the cocktail area for awhile, then to dinner on the cottage lawn (a lovely sunken in area surrounded by mature trees and rose gardens). Our guests raved about the wedding! We've had several guests tell us (multiple times) that it was the best wedding they've ever attended - we thought of everything (and, by "we," they meant Tina and Leslie). Our guests were transported on shuttle buses to and from the Farm which was super easy and alleviated any concerns about getting lost or driving after the festivities. I'm still getting calls about the "amazing food" and "beautiful location." My husband and I had so much fun at the wedding due, in large part, to the fact that we knew we were in good hands and didn't have to worry about a thing. All in all, you can't go wrong with Tina and Bear Flag Farm. Rest assured, it will exceed expectations!!

My husband and I can't say enough fantastic things about where we had our wedding! We got married May 28th, 2006. First, Tina (the owner) and her husband were very accommodating and easy to work with. We felt that she was always looking out for our best interest, from recommending local catering companies to offering the use of parasols they had on-site. Second, the grounds at Bear Flag Farm are spectacular. They are secluded so you feel like its a true private wedding, not in the middle of a hotel with lots of people watching. And there are a choice of places to have your ceremony versus your reception; lavendar field? sunken garden? pop up a tent next to the vineyard? It's completely up to your imagination! For a couple trying to have a wedding that reflects your own flare and character, the Bear Flag Farm will help you develop it. Third, the small town of Davis near the farm is quaint and wonderful. It was great to house our wedding party. We had a guest list around 150 people and our close friends and family took over one of the local hotels so the time prior to and after the wedding were spent surrounded by our guests. Also, Sacramento is close by for more luxurious places to stay and things to do.
If we did it over again, we would still choose Bear Flag Farm. It was one of the best choices that we made for our wedding!

I was lucky enough to have my wedding at Bear Flag Farm in August, and I'm so happy with how the whole day unfolded. Going into the wedding planning process, I felt overwhelmed and confused. Finding the perfect venue was proving to be a very frustrating experience until I stumbled upon BFF. It had everything we were looking for--beautiful gardens, orchards, fields, and, most importantly, a totally private feel. Having exclusive use of the property was very special to us; our guests appreciated it as well and felt very welcome! Many have commented that it felt like they were on a vacation. We've received rave reviews from so many people--the food, music, and flowers were all wonderful.

Tina was great to work with, and I'm so glad I followed her vendor recommendations. I chose a package, which I definitely recommend because it takes some of the decision-making off your plate. If you put your trust in her I promise you won't be disappointed!

We were married at Bear Flag Farms this summer. I had an idea in mind of what I wanted, something like a Midsummer's Nights Dream and a fancy outdoor dinner party, and Tina and the BFF team made it happen. We live in New York, so having the BFF team take care of all of the design aspects made it a breeze. I had some ideas about the aesthetics and the color palette, and they truly realized it into my perfect wedding! We are still getting calls from friends and family that tell us it was the most beautiful wedding.

We went with the package that included food, music, design and some other things. Even though the vendors were chosen by the farm, we had complete access to them to discuss the details of our day. Each vendor took time to meet with us individually on our very limited schedules to make sure we had exactly what we wanted. It was wonderful.

Because we planned from a distance, we communicated primarily through email. Tina is extremely accessible and responds quickly. If you are a long distance bride like I was, this is a great option! You will want to be sure that you are very organized in communicating what you want, and they will deliver for you. Although I think you could be completely hands off if you wanted! Get married here. It is incredibly beautiful and a wonderful venue. My only wish is that we had more time on the farm - it went so fast!

We would use the following words to describe the Team at Bear Flag Farm: thoughtful, attentive, organized and FUN!Bear Flag Farm is an amazing place. It is an idyllic outdoor venue with a collection of unique spaces that create a inspiring whole. The Farm worked well for us because it allowed our wedding to take place in natural setting, while not sacrificing any comfort or luxury for our guests. The ability to incorporate food from the farm and surrounding area made this experience very genuine. The most important part of Bear Flag Farm is the people. Their execution of the event was superb. The most important part to us was that they took the time to get to know us and our family. We are blessed to count the people at Bear Flag Farms as our friends.We would recommend this venue to any of our friends!

dear tina,

words can't fully express our gratitude for all you did to make our wedding so unforgettable. thank you for your kindness, guidance & wisdom.

"Thank you for taking my daughter's vision for her wedding day and creating absolute perfection. It was an experience we will always remember with great joy."

"I'm still getting phone calls and emails from people saying it was the most amazing wedding they had been to! Thank you for everything!"

This is a fabulous venue that will give you and your guest privacy and an unbelievable backdrop. Whatever your taste is, a formal affair to a casual party, Bear Flag Farm is a unique choice. It's large enough to hold a ceremony and the dinner party. One of my favorite outdoor locations in California!!!