For generations, it has been customary to offer wedding guests alcohol and decadent foods. However, some modern couples are now adding cannabis to the mix– offerings can range from having products and accessories available to a staffed bar managing all consumption. So while guests are catching up on the etiquette of mixing weed and weddings, couples are seeking venues that can host compliant cannabis weddings.
Liv Vasquez, owner of Livviesmalls Events, is a chef and event planner specializing in infusing cannabis into both. She provided GreenState with more information about successfully hosting large-scale cannabis events in a public venue.
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“Wedding and event planning with the addition of cannabis takes a lot of factors and takes looking at your event from multiple legality standpoints and service standpoints while making the entire process seem seamless and easy for your clients and their guests,” she explained. “I consistently have to think outside of the box and be someone with a great reputation, so when I come to the owners of these unique venues and tell them my plan, they are excited to work with me instead of hesitant to work with me.”
Planning any event isn’t easy; integrating cannabis only adds more challenges. But for couples who love cannabis– those challenges are worth it on their special day. To make it easier, we compiled this short list of venues that welcome cannabis weddings.
Arizona
The Clarendon Hotel & Spa
This location doesn’t explicitly host weddings, but they are cannabis-friendly and offer a lounge and an elevated event series. GreenState reached out to Clarendon in an email, and the Director of Sales & Catering, Jennifer Baker, responded, “The Clarendon Hotel and Spa does not have a designated area for weddings, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be creative and do weddings on property. If people like our unique way of doing this, it is an offering.” As someone who has attended a party at The Clarendon, the roof offers a beautiful view, and the team may be able to accommodate small parties in the cannabis consumption lounge.
California
Bowman Cellars
This family-owned Northern California winery is nestled in the Russian River Valley. Co-owner Alexander Bowman grew up making Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel with his father and is now known for these wines, among others. Couples can book private events at the winery, which features an intimate dining area and patio– indoor and outdoor seating options are available. The venue features a large commercial kitchen and an Airstream trailer that transforms into a bar. We sent an inquiry to Bowman regarding cannabis-friendly events but are yet to receive a response. Their website does explicitly state they are cannabis-friendly.
Harmony Chapel
Harmony Chapel is an eco-conscious event venue located on the central California coast. The former dairy farm features a 100-year-old chapel, surrounding gardens, and quirky decor against a red brick courtyard. Harmony can accommodate up to 100 guests, and couples can request the Harmony ice cream truck for slow-churned scoops at the reception. The Wedding Chicks blog shared a cannabis wedding thrown at Harmony Chapel and gleaned how the event stayed in line with the law. The venue created a cannabis lounge to ensure compliance—no one under 21 could access cannabis products.
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Colorado
Pine Cone Avenue Social
The scenery is dreamy at this Longmont, Colorado event venue and botanical farm focused on sustainability. Events thrown here center in the rotunda surrounded by 300 perennials, shrubs, flowers, and trees. Guests can appreciate the mountain views or check out the iron gazebo, sunflower fields, solar greenhouse, and historic train car. Owner Jennifer Gray pays attention to detail. Once a couple books the space, she plans every bit of decor based on their vision—no two events thrown at Pine Cone Avenue Social are the same. Cannabis weddings held there in the past had full cannabis bar service. This is an ideal venue for a small to midsize event– they can accommodate up to 50 guests.
Oregon
The Potlandia Experience
If the venue doesn’t allow on-site consumption, a mobile cannabis lounge might be the answer. The Potlandia Experience rents out its cannabis bus lounge. The bus can be safely parked at the venue, offering a space for guests and the wedding party to smoke, dab, or safely dose out their edibles.
Washington
The laws in Washington state dictate that cannabis must be consumed in private. Under this regulation, any events thrown on private property may include cannabis consumption. Luckily Washington is home to beautiful mountain ranges and an assortment of islands on the West Coast. Those on the East Coast enjoy desert getaways and riverview resorts– there are luxury cabins and homesteads across each of these natural wonders.
This goes for every state, by the way. The easiest way to legally incorporate cannabis into a private event is to host it in a private residence. Take it from Liv: “All of the venues that I have used previously have been a residence in unique locations like a rooftop succulent garden in the middle of downtown Los Angeles and a greenhouse that counted as a private residence on a winery in Oregon wine country. Unfortunately, because these people opened up basically part of their home to me to host these events, elopements, weddings and more I can’t recommend one of these venues specifically but I can give this advice. Stay flexible, and you might have to pivot a few times in the planning stage.”
Cannabis weddings are becoming normalized, but many wedding venues have yet to catch up. For couples planning their big day, these venues are a great place to start– but it’s important to note that hosting infused nuptials on private property is the simplest way to serve cannabis at a wedding.