Bear Flag Farm

bear Flag Farm is truly a magical place where priceless memories are made. I cannot put into words how grateful I am that Tina, her husband and their 2 dogs were willing to open their home to us. Throughout the entire process Tina was accommodating, professional and a true joy to work with. Even when it came down to potential rain for the first time during a wedding at the farm, Tina kept her cool, pulled strings and did whatever it took to make sure that our wedding met our expectations.

Bear Flag Farm is a beautiful setting that offers a variety of wedding layouts, making each wedding that is held their truly unique. If you're looking for cookie cutter I suggest you look else where. Tina meticulously maintains her grounds so while it is a working farm it has the character and charm of the elegant French countryside.

When I think back on my wedding the first thought I have and the one that warms my heart the most is of Bear Flag Farm. I feel any bride is lucky to be married here. Also, Tina is one of best and most customer service oriented vendors I worked with throughout my entire wedding.

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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!!!