If you are considering Holly Farm as the venue for your wedding, and you just want the tl;dr, then here are my three most important suggestions for you: 1) You should absolutely go with Holly Farm. 2) You should accept every piece of advice Erin, Ryan, and the rest of the incredible team have for you along the way. 3) You should start getting excited right now about La Creme because their food is out of this world. Picking Holly Farm as our venue was the first choice we made in our wedding planning process, and trust me when I say that it was by far the best one. The pictures speak for themselves, and yes, it's as amazing as it looks (though if you haven't visited, you should take the excuse - it's truly stunning in person), but the real game changer is the team. The Holly Farm fam has been at this for decades, and it SHOWS. They cater to your needs and your vision, whether you want to be super hands on and into the nitty gritty on everything, or whether you want somebody to completely take the reins for you. We were so so appreciative for Erin's help during the planning process; any time we were stuck on something, she had a recommendation ready that was never just "off the shelf". We didn't want to be totally consumed by wedding planning all the time, and even though Erin had a big list of vendors ready to go, we were more than happy to listen every time she said "here's the 2 who I think you guys would love". It's really really telling to me that every single vendor we spoke to - without exception, including the ones we didn't end up choosing - all said some version of the same thing: "oh man I LOVE doing weddings at Holly Farm". Here's what I'll say about the weekend itself - it truly feels like you are staying at a luxury resort where you and your friends are the only guests. The entire staff is so attentive, so friendly, and they take care of all the details and logistics so that your only job really is to just enjoy the weekend and stay relaxed. We cooked a huge friends and family dinner in the Adobe and they cleaned the entire kitchen for us! Anytime we were hanging out in the evenings they rolled the portable heaters up without us asking! They moved our rental equipment around to make cool outdoor spaces for us so that we could get more use out of it than just the wedding itself! And nothing felt so satisfying as passing by Ryan on a path and hearing "hey I just lit your fireplace for you!". Of everything we loved about our wedding, the thing we loved most was getting to have this full weekend experience with our closest friends and family in one place, made truly special by the care the entire Holly Farm team put into making us feel at ease and at home. And one final thing - lest I leave you with the impression that this is only about good vibes - the operations for the wedding itself were incredible. Every vendor knows the team and knows the venue, everything works like clockwork without you having to supervise anything, and Erin, Ryan, and their staff have things so tightly coordinated that we didn't have to stress about logistics at all once the weekend got started. I can't emphasize enough how big a difference that made to us compared to some horror stories we'd heard from other weddings. Here are some final quick hits on other things you might be wondering about - but seriously, pick Holly Farm: - I didn't write an entire review for Tamie and La Creme, because it would be just as long, but they do amazing work. This is straight up excellent food, not excellent "wedding" food. - The rooms and buildings are very cool and very comfortable. - Yes, the Paraiso suite is "open air". Yes, it really does stay warm. Having a roaring fire in there, plus a heated blanket on the bed....A+. - The optional River House for extra space is definitely walkable (~3 mins), but it's nice to have flashlights at night. - Having the flexibility to use the space however you want for the entire weekend is a highly highly underrated perk. We had people hanging out on Thursday and Friday and it was a ton of fun. Highly recommend making plans that utilize the space every day. - We were nervous about the higher cost at first, but asking friends and family who stayed on site to pay for rooms turned out to not be a very big deal, and what we charged them was still way less than area hotels. - The music has to switch from DJ's speakers to house speakers at 9:30pm, but the house speakers can stay on all night if you want. We had just as much fun after the switchover. - No curfew is also a huge perk not to overlook. Erin and Ryan if you're reading this THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN YOU GUYS ARE ROCK STARS!! read more

Holly Farm - Holly Farm team 3 - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel, California

As my husband and I drive up the central coast to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, we thought this was the perfect time to share a little bit about our insanely incredible experience getting married at Holly Farm. Our wedding was an absolute dream come true. The love we had for each other and for our family and friends that traveled from across the country to celebrate with us was reflected in the beauty and spirit of Holly Farm and all of the wonderful folks that work there. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the warmth and charm of the space. It was as if every inch of the venue was designed to make us and our guests feel at home, while still capturing an elevated, magical atmosphere that was simply unforgettable. Everyone at Holly Farm went above and beyond to ensure each detail of our wedding weekend was flawless. Their attention to detail was extraordinary, and it was clear they genuinely cared about making our day perfect. Ryan and Erin were so caring and attentive, and they made us feel like family. They were there for every little detail and made us feel completely at ease. The food, catered by La Creme, was nothing short of five star restaurant quality. We've received countless compliments from our guests about how delicious everything was! This was a big deal, especially coming from our families who are used to extravagant New Jersey weddings with an abundance of food. They all told us it was the best wedding food they'd ever had, which is about the highest praise you can get from a family who knows food! Everything about The Holly Farm was perfect--from the gorgeous, tropical setting that felt like a hidden paradise against the coastal backdrop of Carmel to the impeccable service and food. We couldn't have imagined a more beautiful, heartfelt, and memorable experience, and our friends and family STILL haven't stopped raving about it! Our wedding weekend was made even more special thanks to the onsite haciendas where we, along with some of our close friends, stayed. The houses were cozy yet luxurious, and perfectly appointed with a level of service that truly felt five-star. Each detail was perfect, from the unbelievably comfortable beds to the wood burning fires that were lit by hand each night and the wonderful house staff that made everyone feel at home the moment they arrived. Getting to spend the whole weekend in such an enchanting space made the whole wedding feel so much more special, a truly immersive experience vs a single-day event. We loved discovering the countless nooks and crannies throughout the property where our friends and family could relax, chat, and soak in the surroundings. It created a sense of intimacy and closeness that made the entire experience feel so special. When the weekend was over, we genuinely didn't want to leave. Heck, we may even crash the wedding that's probably getting ready to kick off this weekend! The Holly Farm made every moment magical, and we will forever cherish our time spent there with the people we love most. read more

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Amazing venue. The staff was really friendly. Went for a wedding. Nice private setting

Perhaps the most beautiful setting I've ever been for a wedding..The property sits on 8 acres and offers many locations for small to large groups... In a nutshell it's enchanting, we we're taken aback...The wedding, cocktail hour and locations picked for all three worked so seamlessly... However, in perfect fairness, whoever catered the event, in house catering, or an outside company not aligned with the property, let this all but fairytale wedding almost crash... The food was brought at piece meal, 1 item at a time, and a wait of 15 minutes to get something, anything else brought out..All toll there was 7 food items, but not one with another... This was a shame, and had I been paying for it, would have held back at least half the balance due..I would have also, spoke with the on site individual in charge of catering and told them this is absolutely unexceptionable & I expect you to have your entire staff pick up the pace.. Unfortunately food is always a big part of these functions..So, if your looking to use the property for an event, double, triple check out the catering company, ask questions, get referrals and stay on top of them.. read more

Beautiful, beautiful, and beautiful ! We were in town for our son's wedding and was invited to stay on site. There are four free standing buildings and we stayed in the Hacienda Adobe house. It is the largest with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a huge fully equipped kitchen with all the modern amenities, other than the large center island, there is a separate eating area that can sit up to 30+ guests easily. The owner did a good job of transforming this place into a magical bed & breakfast operation. It has its own staff and landscaping crew handling everything from kitchen and bathroom cleaning, bed making, coffee making, to trail maintenance. There are many orchids and some old growth flowering and fruit trees. The wedding area can sits around 90+ guests and a lot of free standing spaces. For a venue this large, professional photographers and videographers are recommended. It is a once in a lifetime experience. Count your lucky stars if you get to visit or stay on Holly Farm. read more

I wish I could give more than 5 stars because giving stars just feels so limiting when reviewing this absolutely magical, incredible, beautiful and inclusive, come as you are, perfect place. My (now) wife and I wanted an inclusive, beautiful but still classy and relaxed place for our wedding. My wife has family on the east coast and me on the west coast so we knew it had to be a place worth having people make the trip out. We also wanted a place where there weren't a ton of restrictions but also a venue who could guide us because we were completely clueless to the wedding planning stuff. The moment we toured the Holly farm with Ryan we knew it was it. Imagine a tropical enchanted garden, meets chic AF wedding vibes and that'll get you close to what you feel when you walk into the grounds. At that point we didn't care what the small details were because the venue was just too perfect in its own right - and you'll know it too when you tour it. The best part though is that the Holly Farm CARES about the small details and they've been doing this for 30+ years - so they know how to do it right. Erin immediately gave us all the recommendations - multiple choices to choose from in vendors but also heavily guided us in the right direction when we asked for help (and needed it lol). Caterer is built in and you will understand why because La crème is the best of the best. Now let's fast forward to the wedding day - the best weekend of our lives and all of our guests could not stop saying the same. The Holly Farm treats you as family and treats your family as family too. The day of planning is immaculate - we didn't stress for one second and everything went off without a hitch. The Holly farm expertly handled all of the details we thought of and even the ones we didn't think of- all of our signs, custom napkins and everything in between were perfectly set out and shown on our day. All of our guests could not stop talking about how magical our weekend was - and people who weren't there and saw our pictures said the same. We wouldn't have changed even a detail of the weekend and we couldn't have had a better one - and we owe so much of that to Erin, Ryan and the entire Holly Farm crew. I could continue writing on but words truly don't do this place justice and I don't think I could properly express how thankful and grateful I am for choosing this incredible, magical, wonderful place for our wedding. It'll have the most special place in our hearts forever and the Holly farm will always feel like family to us for the rest of our lives! read more

I visited the Holly Farm as a wedding guest. From that perspective, I can say that the wedding venue was magical. There are plenty of nooks and crannies on the property to make it feel intimate. The landscaping is immaculate! All vendors used were top-notch. It was absolutely the best wedding I've ever attended. read more

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This venue is breathtaking! The owners are extremely professional yet personable. If you are looking for a destination wedding or a venue for celebration, the Holly Farm is the perfect choice. *the venue also has bocce ball, an important fact :) read more

If you are even considering getting married at The Holly Farm, you should do it. Everything you could possibly need on your wedding day/weekend will be delivered and then some. We got married at THF almost two months ago and still a day hasn't gone by where we haven't looked at pictures or watched a video from that weekend. Each time with more and more appreciation that, no - this isn't some beautiful wedding we just stumbled upon on the internet, this was OUR wedding. And it was the best weekend of our entire lives, largely thanks to THF. We toured THF last February (highly recommend touring during their off-season Nov - March) and were instantly sold! The minute we arrived at our tour, Ryan met us with a couple of glasses of wine and took the time to get to know who we are as people before beginning our tour. Once he understood what was important to *our* wedding, he gave the entire tour in the eyes of our vision. You will not find another wedding venue that will cater everything (layout, timeline, menu, decor, set up, etc) around YOU and what you are trying to cultivate that weekend. This kind of personalization was exactly what we were hoping for. My husband is Mexican and I am Indian, and we wanted our wedding to represent the joining of our families and cultures in a way that felt unique and exciting, and THF fully helped us execute that vision beautifully (with an abundance of knowledge about both cultures btw)! Throughout our planning I would email Erin with questions about vendors and the weekend layout. Given how busy they are, I would usually hear back from her after a few weeks, but always with an extremely insightful response filled with love. About a month before our wedding she reached out to us asking for every last detail of what we had planned for the weekend, all the vendors we had booked (highly recommend taking a look at their preferred vendors list), what decor we were bringing, everything down to the names of our immediate families and the order of speeches and toasts. I loved this level of detail because Erin & Ryan were 5 steps ahead of us the entire weekend, making each moment happen before our very eyes! Based on previous reviews for Holly Farm, we also decided not to have a wedding planner, and yes, I was nervous about this decision leading up to our big day. But rest assured, on that weekend not only did they do *much* more than coordinate, I actually think having a planner would have slowed us down. The minute we arrived at our venue, Erin took our entire truckload of decorations, personalized knick-knacks, welcome gifts, favors, etc and *memorized* where each piece goes in a matter of minutes. After that point I never needed to check in with her, each thing we brought was set up exactly where we had planned! Every moment of our wedding Ryan was sprinting around the venue pulling each piece together like magic and Erin was coordinating each event seamlessly. On top of all of that, our guests FULLY took advantage of the no curfew rule, had I known the rager we were going to be able to throw at our wedding, that alone would have sold me! We had 2 days with 3 events, each running completely smoothly because of the folks at THF (Erin, Ryan, Gus, Rosa). The morning of our wedding, Erin even came up to check in with me and see how I was feeling. That level of care doesn't come from a regular wedding venue, they made our family and friends feel taken care of to a level that I cannot recommend enough. So if you're still wondering - book The Holly Farm. Have your favorite people stay on site with you and get breakfast and mimosas delivered that morning from La Creme. Trust them to pull off any idea that you might have for your weekend. Stay as many days as you can at the venue. Party all night long and have an absolute blast! *Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the wonderful people at THF, for patiently handling all of our questions before the wedding, executing the weekend perfectly, dealing with all of our last minute seating arrangement updates, letting us throw the party of a lifetime, and giving us a weekend neither us nor our guests will ever forget. read more

Ryan, Erin & staff are AMAZING! The property is beyond breathtaking. I don't have words to describe the magic & memories that we made at Holly Farm. It is something that my family & I will never forget. Ryan & Erin are family to us. They go above & beyond to make your event spectacular. read more

Our daughter got married at Holly Farm this April. It was a 4 day absolutely amazing experience! Erin and Ryan, the owners, and Tamie of LaCreme helped me (the mom/ wedding planner) create a magical experience for 90 of our family and friends..from Tacos on Thursday, to rehearsal dinner barbecue & band for aloha Friday, to a wedding ceremony & reception amidst the gardens and gorgeous jungle of Holly Farm. We are from Hawai'i...and Holly Farm is overflowing with love and aloha from beginning to end...not to mention the fact that we felt like we were home, in Costa Rica, New Zealand, and the east coast all rolled in to 7 lush acres of Carmel Valley!! The experience is beyond any expectations. Create your wedding and sit back, let it unfold! read more

The Holly Farm is a place where you can be free, and actually, feel free. This was one of the reasons my wife and I chose this as our weekend location to host the joining of our families and wedding ceremony. The moment we toured the facility we fell in love, and even more so once we got to meet Erin, Ryan, and the amazing staff that take care of the property. Their love and dedication to this special place are felt in every fern, flower and each corner of their on-location cabanas, truly making this place feel like our home and one we couldn't wait for others to experience. There are many places to host a wedding, but this place made us feel at home and like family. This was what we wanted more than anything. To this day, we are met with attendees expressing rekindled relationships, love, and good memories that were made that weekend. I hope this helps bring a sense of peace and excitement to all those seeking a place where they can also feel free. read more

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It's hard to put into words how special of a place The Holly Farm is. My husband and I were married there a couple of weekends ago, and it was pure magic. Erin, Ryan, Gus & Rosa put so much love into every single little thing that they do there. From the moment we arrived on-site on Thursday morning, they LITERALLY do every single thing for you, you don't have to work a second on your wedding weekend. It's just about relaxing and enjoying times with your loved ones on-site. Every little detail the entire weekend was just absolute perfection. The way they pay so much attention to your group when you're on-site is so appreciated... and the best part.. there are NO RULES here. We stayed up dancing with the DJ until almost 2am. It was just so fun to see every person legitimately having a blast! Everyone keeps telling us that was the best wedding they have ever been to. Rosa & Gus are just the kindest, most hard-working people. Rosa is like a little fairy goddess and somehow secretly cleans the kitchen, makes daily fires in the houses, makes your bed without you hardly noticing she's there. She is just a delight to be around and you can tell how much she loves Erin & Ryan and the Holly Farm property. And Gus (the freaking sweetest) who takes care of the landscape and pretty much everything else on-site is one hard working man! Our friends and family were laughing because all of the gravel is so perfectly raked, when we walked on it minutes later Gus would pop out of the "rain forrest" to rake it perfectly again. They are just the best! And Erin & Ryan are two of the most genuine, coolest humans on this planet. I want to be friends with them now :) i literally cried leaving here on Sunday because I didn't want it to be over. Mu husband and I keep saying we need to somehow find out way back here. I could go on and on about this incredibly special place, but bottom line, pay the extra and GET MARRIED HERE. You won't regret it. read more

Wow, how does one sum up the magical experience, location, and people of the Holly Farm?! If you are looking for a retreat style venue, look no further. You will be pampered and not have a care in the world! Erin and Ryan will make sure your vision and dreams come true and execute to perfection. La Creme, the associated catering company led by Tamie Aceves, creates a culinary-fueled weekend to your exact taste. Our guests mentioned how amazing the food was all weekend long. The incredible employees at Holly Farm are gems and will feel like family by the end of the weekend. And lastly, the venue is one of the most aesthetically pleasing places in California. There are so many different spaces to hold multiple events and everything is transformed depending on your needs. If we could have a wedding every year, we would do it at Holly Farm over and over again. This venue and these people deserve more than 5 stars. Love love love. read more

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What a beautiful secret garden or I should say gardens. Wonderful family to work with. The father planted just about all plants. Weddings or parties would be a party to remember! read more

Wow. What can I say about the magic of the holly farm that hasn't already been said? My wife and I got married here in August 2019, and it was an absolutely outrageously amazing experience only made possible by Erin, Ryan, Rosa, Gus, and the entire holly farm staff. From the moment we set foot on the property the first time to visit, we knew this was the place we wanted to get married, and it did not disappoint. There's just something in the air here, there's not really a better word to describe it than pure magic. The way that the sun streams through the lush garden greenery, the constant, soft trickle of water, the giant oak tree covered in twinkle lights, the hidden, softly lit corners to get lost in at night...this place is truly otherworldly. And everything Erin and Ryan do behind the scenes to make you feel welcome, at ease, and cared for can't be overstated. The second we arrived for our wedding weekend, they simply took care of everything. Signage? Handled. Furniture rentals? Don't even worry about it, already taken care of. Booze delivery? Already came, there's drinks in the hacienda fridge! On top of being ridiculously organized, their kind, warm presences are exactly what you would hope for on your wedding weekend, and what is so rare to find. When you're on property, you really feel like you're the only thing that matters. On top of it all, Rosa, whom you've probably already read about, is somehow everywhere all at once, making sure there's fresh coffee, freshly baked cookies, and a fire in every fireplace. As others have said here, there will be times when communication leading up to the event is a little less frequent than you might hope, but trust that everything is being taken care of. I can't think of a single detail that wasn't managed or that slipped through the cracks, and that was definitely not a result of my own event planning skills. When you're on property for your own wedding weekend feeling like your wedding is the most important thing in the world to them, you'll be grateful they're not furiously typing away, answering emails from other couples, or leading tours with interested parties. Many of our (married!) wedding guests commented that our venue was the most beautiful setting for a wedding they'd ever been in. On our final afternoon at the holly farm, after all our guests had left, my wife and I just sat under the oak tree and soaked in the magic one last time. What an incredible experience. Erin, Ryan, Rosa, Gus - thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Just wow. read more

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If you have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have your special day here, do it. Don't think--just do it. We looked at a number of venues all around the Bay Area, and Holly Farm is simply in its own league. From the moment we hit the parking lot, we knew this place was something else. Let me try my best to explain it... The property--When we walked onto the property for the first time, we knew it was the one within seconds. The place is BEAUTIFUL with a capital B. It's lush beyond imagination and it really looks like you've landed on a tropical island. When you're walking around you almost feel lost (in the best way possible) and with each new area you discover your mind is blown all over again. What's hard describe is how much this gorgeous place is completely transformed once the wedding takes place and it's decorated even more. 10X that feeling when the sun goes down and hundreds of candles are lit around the property. This place is not only so well maintained, but it's built upon love and it really shows. We did the 3-night package and had about 20 people stay with us on the property, and everyone who walked through the gates was either speechless or started tearing up. My now mother-in-law was straight up crying. Literally everyone I talked to told me this was the most beautiful venue they've ever seen (and it really sounded genuine). The people--I would have been sold by the property alone, but then I talked to Erin and Ryan and I was seriously blown away by their warmth and fun-loving spirit. From start to finish they were simply the best. And I can't overstate the importance of having such great people by your side during the early planning, lead up, and day-of. It's something that didn't quite hit me until the whole experience was over, but when looking back I don't know how we would have pulled this whole thing off without them. What I love most about Erin and Ryan is that they are equal parts operational partners and emotional support. I trusted them throughout the whole process because they are truly experts (they host a ton of weddings, after all), but they're not just business--they really care about you and their goal is to make this the most special weekend of your life. They succeeded. The weekend--I was going to give Holly Farm 5 stars before our wedding weekend even started, that's how passionate I was about this place and the people who run it. But once the weekend started, we felt so, so well taken care of. Beyond Erin and Ryan's hospitality, the entire staff was absolutely incredible. Anything you needed they were there for you. Everything not only went smoothly, but it was just so seamless and stress-free, which is crazy to say thinking about how much coordination is involved. From our Friday lawn party through the wedding and ending on the Sunday brunch, we had the time of our lives with the people we love most, and to say it was perfect is just not enough. I was truly sad the weekend we left because I knew we would never be able to recreate a time like that. We'll most definitely be back to visit, however nothing will compare to the magic we felt at the Holly Farm. If you want a weekend like the one I just described, then don't think. Just do it. read more

Why is this the perfect place for a wedding? It's an estate so the bride and groom along with family members or people in the wedding can stay on site. And you rent it out for a week. It's in beautiful and historic Carmel Valley. It's private and the grounds and gardens are gorgeous and have so much character. There's plenty of open space to play volleyball or bocce ball or just relax on the lawn. This place just has so much character and the people who run it are amazing! (Their website doesn't do this place justice. Drop by and see it for yourself) read more

Holly Farm - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel, California

WOW, what can I say. It took a while for me to digest what just took place at the Holly Farm. We had the venue from Thursday until Sunday and it all felt unreal and like a dream. This place is more than a venue, it is a space full of love, thoughtfulness, support, encouragement, and beauty. To have our wedding here, with someone I shared 12 years of my life with...it really is hard to comprehend how I felt. It is the most magical dreamy eclectic place I have ever been. Every time someone asked me where we're getting married, and I said Carmel, they would be like "Ohhh cool, a beach wedding." NAH DUDE, it will be in a jungle. Full of wild tropical poisonous plants. The look they'd give when I said that --priceless. LOL. If you are a plant/flower-lover, you WILL DIE of happiness here. The Moses family, Erin, Ryan, Rosa, Gus, and their staff -- they are the most amazing people on Earth. Behind the most beautiful place were even more beautiful people, I could not be more happy to have shared such an important day with them at their special special place. Advice for future guests of the Holly Farm: Listen to their advice, get the candles, get the pillows, get the lanterns, do the whiskey bar. Get it all. You will not regret it. Your guests will thank you for it. Your guests will come out with 100000 IG-worthy photos. Yes, it is worth it! read more

Holly Farm - Photo: Love + Wolves Co / HMU: Love + Wolves Co / Flowers: Laughin Gal Floral / Venue: Holly Farm - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel, California

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The Holly Farm is a hidden treasure amongst the hills of Carmel Valley. Nestled along a winding road it's easy to spot and just as easy to miss, but when you make the turn in magic unfolds before your eyes. The venue is like a secret garden with surprises sprinkled down every path. Tropical plants sprout along walkways, orchids peak out from the shadows and the trees stretch high to the skies. As the sun sets into night thousands of twinkling lights sparkle from branches all over and the place takes on a glow as if millions of small fireflies have suddenly arrived to partake in the festivities. This place is nearly indescribable, even the best photographers only scrape the surface in covering its magical beauty. The Holly Farm is family owned and is run like a well oiled machine by the Moses Family and their impeccable staff. They are wedding and hospitality experts. From the planning of festivities to your stay, every detail is thoroughly covered and carefully considered. Our wedding here was an absolute dream. read more

When I think about my wedding day, I think of laughter, love, family, and smiles so big it makes your face hurt. When I think about my wedding day, I think about The Holly Farm. The day I had the slightest feeling my Gordon was going to propose, I started looking up venues online. I had only seen a few before I came across The Holly Farm, and as soon as I did I knew that's where I would get married. I wanted to seal the deal sight unseen! The pictures were a dream so I had no doubts it would be absolutely gorgeous in person. however, excitable me realized my Gordon had to approve as well. (I almost forgot he's kinda an important part of our wedding.) As soon as we walked onto the first venue; and last, He was sold. We looked at each other and knew.. The Holly Farm was our venue. At last.. the time was here. We're finally getting married! it sounded a lot like "we get to go to The Holly Farm!" We arrived at the holly farm on Wednesday and were greeted with such love and excitement. Not only were we excited to be there, but they were excited to see us! Ryan, and the staff we're so welcoming and loving that they made us feel like part of the family immediately.. and those are our kinds of people! We kinda wished Ryan didn't work there so he could hang out with us all day and not get in trouble :) The days leading up to the wedding were the most perfect few days of relaxing, playing volleyball, soaking up the sun, drinking cocktails, the occasional daily massages from the amazing Nicole Pritchard, and hanging out with our amazing family and friends. We were lucky to have all of our wedding party stay with us throughout our days there. We've been married for almost 2 months now (9-12-15), and we all are still dreaming of going back. About a week ago my flower girl said to me, "I miss Rosa and her family. They were really sweet." And that they were. Rosa is The Holly Farms housekeeper.. and she really is the sweetest. Rosa's family works on the farm with her, and they are all such amazing people. We felt lucky to have them around us daily. The Morning of our wedding I woke up before the sun to start getting ready. I stayed in my honeymoon suite with my girls.. drinking champagne, and getting ourselves ready. I had not a care in the world of what was going on outside. I knew the Moses family had this. I had previously shared all my visions of this day to Erin, and she nailed it. Like, really nailed it. Everything was a dream. The Holly Farms Caterer, Tamie is just a little ball of love. Her style, and food was impeccable. She was so much fun to work with, and made some hungry people really happy. Needless to say our wedding was a dream. We woke up the next morning, and wanted to do it again. (it was ok though because there was brunch!) At least once a day someone who attended the wedding says "let's do it again." Everyone who attended our magical day was a part of something very special. I truly feel that everyone should experience this amazing dream oasis. The Holly Farm screams LOVE! The Moses family holds a special place in my heart for making such a dream come true venue. I couldn't imagine our day anywhere else. #gordannewedding read more

Holly Farm - one of the many big beautiful trees at the holly farm. perfect for our "first look," but not look. 9-12-15 #gordannewedding - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel, California

BEST WEDDING EVER!!! That's not just how me and my wife feel about our own wedding but also what every one of our 180 guests have been telling us over and over again. From the moment we stepped foot on this property during our first visit we knew it was something special. We were not disappointed. The Moses family is exceptional. Erin manages to keep everything on point and Ryan is a wizard of hospitality...with the facial hair to match! Together they did a fantastic job helping us realize our big picture and make it above & beyond by recommending little touches that we wouldn't have thought about. Local honey from a 14 year old kid who turned a 5th grade science project into a business? Check! Out-of-this-world tacos from Maria & Ernesto at Taquitos Nayrit? Claro que si! A "Blunts & Booze" Bar that actually feels classy? Slam dunk! If only we could've prevented the geezers in attendance from burning through the ganj too quickly ;-) Oh, and we can't forget the delicious wine their dad makes. La Creme, the caterer the venue uses, made DELICIOUS food (check out our review on their page) and made accommodating the various severe allergies some of friends and family suffer from and non-issue. Even our well-seasoned photographers who've shot many very high-end weddings said this was hands down the best food they've ever had at a wedding. Of course what everyone's #1 priority is when looking for their wedding venue is whether it meets what they are looking for aesthetically. Holly Farm is and exceptionally unique and enchanting secret garden of a space. It's like Hawaii and Yucatan ran away together and moved to Sedona. PICTURES DO NOT DO THIS PLACE JUSTICE! Magic is the word for this place and it's a quality that goes well beyond the Holy Farm's external beauty. read more

Awful venue Chopped up areas. Not user friendly at all. Buyers beware Food just ok. We just didn't know where to sit it hang out. No thanks read more

I had the pleasure of filming the wedding at Holly Farm on a beautiful Saturday in May 2021. It was a beautiful wedding and an incredible team. I can't say enough good things about the Holly Farm! I just wanted to send a note to thank your team for all their hard work leading up to and on that day. Ryan and Erin, it was great to meet you both and a pleasure to be a part of the day. Thanks for making my job easy and smooth. Your venue is absolutely stunning, I can't stop showing people photos! Keep up the good work and thanks again. I hope you have an incredibly smooth and successful wedding season. I can't wait to be back at Holly Farm and hope it comes sooner than later! read more

The MOST GORGEOUS venue you've ever seen! The one word that keeps coming to mind when I think of our wedding at the Holly Farm is "magical." If you are looking for a wedding venue that is truly unique and not your average ballroom or country club, the Holly Farm is absolutely the place for you! The Holly Farm is a tropical oasis, full of character, lush greenery, and vibrant flowers. If you book the Holly Farm as your venue, you have the entire property (including three houses on site) all to yourselves! You literally have to see it to believe it; I've never seen a more stunning and enchanting venue! The Holly Farm really comes alive at night - you can see the twinkling lights in the trees and paper lanterns glowing throughout the property. There are so many different nooks at the Holly Farm - one guest described the Holly Farm as "a place for so many activities!" We set up a cigar and whiskey bar (in addition to the regular bars), a candy buffet for the guests as they left the party, oh and we had a late-night nacho station that our guests absolutely devoured! Our guests were literally awestruck by how AMAZING the Holly Farm is! No one wanted to leave! One thing that really drew us to this venue is that you can have all of the wedding-related festivities at the Holly Farm: a welcome BBQ, the rehearsal dinner, and brunch the morning after the wedding! My bridal party had such a wonderful time all staying together at the houses on property too! The party literally doesn't stop here; it is 3 or 4 full days of wedding bliss! The real icing on the cake is the Moses family - Erin, Ryan and everyone else at the Holly Farm are the most incredible people. We wanted to stay forever just to hang out with everyone that worked at the Holly Farm!! Not only did Erin and Ryan take care of everything and flawlessly executed our wedding vision, they are kind, fun, and genuine people. Erin and Ryan (and the other staff) immediately began unloading our Suburban full of wedding decor the moment we arrived. They set up lawn games for our Welcome Party on the Windmill Lawn on Friday, where our guests played bocce ball, cornhole, volleyball and football. Rosa, who is literally a God-send, starts brewing coffee in all of the houses each morning in addition to taking care of anything we could possibly need during our stay. These people are professionals; they think of everything and made us feel so welcome. We feel truly blessed to have been able to have our wedding at the Holly Farm and to work with the Moses family. I wish we could do it all over again because it was the best weekend of my life. You will be SO HAPPY you chose the Holly Farm! Thank you to the Moses Family for making our wedding day so special, our hearts are so full! Love, The Crawfords read more

We can't say enough wonderful things about Holly Farm - Erin and Ryan and their family - who know how to put on the best wedding ever. Not only is the actual place magical, but Erin and Ryan are full fledged wedding planners - through the process and day of... They said YES to all of our fun, wacky ideas and made them come to life - it was incredible. We couldn't have asked for more from our wedding venue and we encourage anyone who wants to get married in a magical setting, work with wonderful people and have many, many fond memories of their nuptials to get married at Holly Farm. read more

I am writing this one week after my wedding because that is how long it has taken me to process how absolutely magical and amazing our wedding here was. It is hard to understand from the photos you see online how truly incredible this place is. From the first moment my now husband and I stepped on to the property and met Erin and Ryan, we knew we had to get married there. The ability to be able to stay at your venue for multiple days is seriously like no other place. We felt as though we had been transported to another world for the weekend, it was extremely relaxing. We were able to hold multiple events on the property before the wedding and spend time with each and every guest so that on the day of the wedding, my husband and I were able to spend time together dancing as much as we wanted without having to worry we have said hi to everyone. This made the experience soo special. Erin and Ryan are some of the most special humans on this earth. They are incredible at what they do. You do not need an additional wedding planner when you work with Holly Farm as they help you with every detail starting on day 1. They have so much experience in this business and can make miracles happen. They have many vendors that they work seamlessly with that they recommend (I went with most of their suggestions and each one was absolutely incredible). I felt so relaxed the entire weekend knowing Erin and Ryan would take care of everything. If I got married 100 times over I would do it here every time. There is literally no better place out there to celebrate your love than Holly Farm. read more

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It's hard to even put into words how amazing The Holly Farm is. From the moment Susan and Gus greeted us through the entire weekend it felt like we were able to completely disconnect from the rest of the world at The Holly Farm. Erin, Ryan and their whole team (that feels more like a family) make you feel so incredibly comfortable and like you don't have a thing to worry about, but enjoy your weekend. All of their recommendations from lawn games, to rehearsal dinner and every wedding detail were incredible and so perfect! We loved all of our preferred vendors that we chose from a list they provided, laughin gal floral (Amanda), DJ Antonio, and food from Tamie and her team at La Crem was unbelievable. Our photographer Eric James was incredible. We honestly wouldn't change a thing about the weekend and all of it was made by The Holly Farm! Everyone who attended the wedding has not stopped telling us how amazing it was and that it was the most fun coolest venue they have ever been to! We LOVE The Holly Farm and are so thankful for Erin, Ryan, and the whole team that made our wedding dreams a reality! read more

This venue is TRULY MAGICAL. We had the venue from Thursday to Sunday and it honestly still didn't feel like enough. Once you step onto the property for your wedding weekend, you are taken care of. We didn't have to worry about a single thing except celebrating with our loved ones. We hosted many activities and events at the Holly Farm (welcome dinner, game day, rehearsal dinner, ceremony/reception, and brunch) and everything went off without a hitch. Erin, Ryan, their parents, and the Holly Farm staff (Gus and Rosa deserve a special shout out) are incredible. They take everything you bring (pillows, photos, candles, etc.) and display them throughout the venue and then change the locations for the next day. Each event led seamlessly into the next and our guests were constantly in awe of every new location at The Holly Farm. The Holly Farm has a tailored list of their preferred vendors, which made finding vendors a lot easier. Definitely go with Laughin' Gal Floral (Amanda is amazing!) and DJ Antonio. With the exception of the caterer, you can also choose vendors not on the list. We chose our own photographer, The Goodness, and loved how the venue worked with our photographers to make sure everything went smoothly. There will be times when you don't hear back very quickly and it takes a while to get answers, but that is because their current wedding is their utmost priority, which I didn't fully appreciate until my wedding weekend arrived. You truly cannot go wrong with this venue. The love and dedication the Moses family puts into this venue shows in every single interaction and their attention to every detail. We felt so taken care of and loved throughout the entire weekend. Once you choose this venue, everything else will fall into place. read more

We were married at Holly Farm a few weeks ago, and it was perfect. The best word to describe the place is "magical". Firstly, there's room to sleep 20 or so people. That meant that our parents and our wedding party could stay with us all weekend long. They only do one wedding per weekend, so the place is yours. The beer and wine were there for the taking, and we got to hang out and actually spend time with our closest friends and family. I can't emphasize enough how important that is. The grounds are really special. Lots of winding paths and nooks perfect for hanging out or making out. Bocce ball and volleyball are available all the time. The nights were a little chilly for us, but the days were sunny and perfect. The temperature is much warmer than at the coast, even though it's only a few miles inland. Gus and Rosa made sure everything was taken care of. Erin knows her shit and is super friendly and helpful. They hit all the details. For instance, when my bride and I sat down to eat, they put a little heater behind her to keep her warm, since her wedding dress wasn't built for evening chills. It's the kind of thing we would have never have thought of, but it just happened. The service is literally perfect. It's expensive, but they treat their employees like family, and the cost covers lodging for 20. Plus, you buy alcohol at amazing rates from their guy who delivers it. We had bottles of liquor for $18 or so, bottles of wine for $12 a bottle and kegs of beer for $180 or so. With the amount that we drank, we saved a lot compared to what we would have if we went somewhere else that added restauraunt-esque margins. We also charged our wedding party $50 per person per night, which no one minded at all and helped subsidize the price. The grounds and people make for a perfect spot. The only downsides are that there isn't much cheap lodging real close by (no hotel in the area would give us a group rate on a holiday weekend), the DJ/band has to drastically lower the sound at 9pm and the caterer they have an exclusive agreement wasn't the greatest. And if you're wedding is of the stuffy, ice sculpture variety, it might not be fancy enough for you. But those are minor quibbles. Every wedding I've been to I rarely see the bride and groom, just a few minutes here and there. At Holly Farm, the wedding couple can spend tons of time with people, all weekend long. Nothing is more important than the time you spend with folks. The grounds are a delight to be in, you feel like you're living in a tropical paradise. Great service, amazing grounds, friendly people, unbeatable place. I highly recommend it. read more

Magical? Fairytale Land? Far Far Away? All of the above and more. This place is a joke. Seriously. It's like, not even real how awesome this place is. A friend was fortunate enough to get married here and had her 'Reception Weekend' here. My wife and I stayed for 3 nights with a large group of friends - wish we could have stayed longer. The entire grounds make you feel like you're in some kind of fairytale wonderland. The folks that run the place and their staff are so accommodating that I can't even think of an adverb to put in front of 'accommodating' that would do them justice. One gripe would be the food one night was not really top-notch. Served a bit cold and lacking flavor - it pains me to be critical of anything at this place though. The other two or three meals we ate while staying on the grounds were great. Hopefully I'll be able to visit again. I'm going to spend the next few years trying to convince another my other friends to get married here as well... read more

Really disappointed. I found this farm through a photographer's site as I was looking for a photographer for my wedding. Tried to contact them through email after checking out their site. However, they never got back to me (email was sent 2 weeks ago). Update: The owner has sent me a message with an apology after I posted my review here on Yelp. She was not sure what happened to the email I sent (Email address was correct, which I just checked from my Outbox). My suggestion is to update the contact page with a contact form to avoid having email sent to the spam folder... Honestly, all the other venues I researched either has all the information on their site or got back to me within a day, which is very important to a time sensitive matter. read more

We could not possibly speak more highly of our amazing wedding at The Holly Farm. When we started looking at venues back in 2015 we wanted something that allowed for our wedding to be an entire weekend of love with ample time to spend with our friends and family. We looked at venues with lodging from Mendocino to Big Sur, but when we saw The Holly Farm we knew in an instant this was our place. The space is incredible, dripping with orchids, gorgeous greenery, fruit trees and flowers. The thoughtful detail the Moses family has put into curating the space is inspiring. The space manages to be impeccably designed and landscaped while simultaneously homey, warm and welcoming. It is clear that The Holly Farm is a real labor of love, and this love touches upon everything they do. The venue really is a family affair. The Moses family: Doyle, Mary, Erin and Ryan are with you from your first tour of the property, though the entire planning process and of course during your actual wedding weekend. As a bonus, there is no need to hire an outside wedding planner or wedding coordinator at The Holly Farm. The Moses' know their property, wedding planning and production like the back of their own hands. The Holly Farm doesn't have many rules and requirements. Really, the only requirements are that you use their preferred caterer La Crème, and switch to the slightly less loud sound system at 9pm. The sound system rule is due to a city wide sound ordinance. Don't worry, the sound system you switch to at 9pm is more then loud enough to dance into the night to and we certainly did! Regarding La Crème, we couldn't have asked for a better caterer. Tamie from La Crème has worked with The Holly Farm for years. She and her staff have a deep understanding of the property and work closely with you to create the prefect menu. Her food is fresh and delicious. Her staff are sweet and attentive, and Tamie is a joy to work with. The Holly Farm is an outdoor wedding venue, and the beautiful property is set up for wedding parties to really take advantage of all the amazing outdoor space. Unfortunately as we were closely watching the weather report leading up to our wedding on 5/7/16 it was not looking like the weather was going to cooperate. They say rain on a wedding is good luck right? The week of our wedding the weather report kept bouncing around from 10% to 60% chance of showers for our entire weekend. Needless to say, we were a little upset and stressed that this was the hand we were being dealt for our special weekend. The Wednesday before our wedding we chatted with Erin from The Holly Farm and Tamie from La Crème catering, and came up with a plan for the weather. These ladies have it together. They calmed us down, went over our tenting options and assured us that come what may our wedding would be incredible (spoiler - it was!). When we arrived to The Holly Farm on Thursday we were greeted like family by Erin and Ryan. We were introduced to the incredible staff that blew our minds all weekend with their impeccable service and warmth. Rosa, Gus and Gus Jr. and the whole team were just fantastic. On Friday morning we chatted with Erin about the forecast and made the choice to reserve the tent for Saturday. Erin went to bat for us, reserving a beautiful tent for an incredible deal. Thank you Erin!!!! It did end up raining during our rehearsal, but Tamie, Erin and Ryan acted fast and moved our dinner to a covered area of the property where we enjoyed a crazy fun karaoke party, delicious tacos and lots of margaritas. Before the dinner Doyle and Mary Moses went though every detail of our wedding ceremony and ensured everyone had a great time and was ready for the wedding the next day. Saturday came and the weather looked like it was going to hold. We spent the morning getting ready while the amazing vendors - Amanda from Laughing Gal Flowers, Tamie from La Crème catering and the whole staff made sure the property looked like they tented the dinner every weekend. As a side note, in The Holly Farms 20+ years of existence they have tented 6 weddings, we were lucky number 7! We got married in a magical ceremony surrounded by everyone we love under a gorgeous tree dripping with lanterns and flowers. The reception that followed will not soon be forgotten followed by a beautiful (and necessary) Sunday farewell brunch. I could go on for pages about every amazing detail, but you will have to take my word for it that The Holly Farm, their amazing staff and vendors gave us a once in a lifetime weekend. The Holly Farm is a truly special and one of a kind place. We still can't believe we found a wedding venue that so perfectly reflected our love. We feel so blessed that we kicked off our life together in this extraordinary space. Thank you to everyone at the Holly Farm for the best weekend of our lives. Truly, anyone is lucky to be married here. We love you and can't wait to come back and see you all again soon!! read more

The Holly Farm has to be the best kept secret in the California wedding industry. I was married there in May this year, and it was the most amazing experience I could have asked for. Nobody had heard of this place before our wedding, but I already have friends considering getting married there themselves! The entire Moses family, Erin, Ryan, Mary, and Doyle, are the kindest, most welcoming people you'll ever meet, and after getting married here, I feel like a part of their wonderful family. They have wedding planning down to a fine art, and your day is sure to go smoothly under their guidance. They come with a built in caterer, La Crème, which is another amazing wedding vendor, and they have suggestions for just about all other vendors you'll ever need. Other than our photographer, officiant, and string quartet, we used only vendors they recommended, making planning the wedding incredibly easy. One of the most important parts to us about getting married at the Holly Farm was that the weekend was truly ours - we had the place from Thursday night to Sunday morning, and we were the only ones getting married there all week, as is their standard. There is housing on site for about 20-25 people, which made it easy for our entire wedding party and guests to stay onsite and make a whole 3 day event out of it. We didn't have to go anywhere all weekend, everything we wanted - ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, brunch - were all in one spot, which cuts down considerably on the planning. The grounds are stunning, lush and green with multiple beautiful areas that make the wedding feel unique - this place is about as far from cookie cutter as it comes. My mom kept referring to it as a "fairy tale wedding," and it truly was. If you're considering Carmel/Carmel Valley for a wedding venue, I urge you to check this place out. My husband and I originally stopped by without really considering this place, but upon our first tour, we knew instantly it was the place for us, and all of our guests were blown away as well. Many guests told us it was the best wedding they had ever been to, and it was the Holly Farm that made that possible. Thanks again, Moses family, for making our dream wedding come true, and for making us feel like part of the family! A special shout out to Gus and Rosa for putting up with our rowdy wedding party all weekend with a smile :) read more

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It's hard to be original in my Yelp review of The Holly Farm, because all of the great adjectives have already been taken. It is truly a magical experience. I've had only a handful of life experiences that have been as awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping as our wedding at The Holly Farm, and our wedding weekend is at the top of that list. It was seriously the best weekend of my and my husband's life. Not only are are the grounds gorgeous and The Holly Farm staff kind and warm, but they are so helpful! My now husband and I arrived with a car full of Halloween decorations (ours was a Halloween wedding), family photos, and other random decor, and provided only vague direction to The Holly Farm staff. The staff rolled with it and made more gorgeous table settings and tree decorations and bar decorations then I ever could've imagined. As one example, we carved some jack-o-lanterns on Friday, and they were adorable. Without direction, The Holly Farm staff put candles inside of them and moved them around the venue to where the parties were at (e.g., the dinner buffet bar, the drinks bar, the table with our family photos, etc.). That made me so happy! The Moses family is really creative, and Doyle Moses is a true visionary. I've heard that when they first bought the property the only foliage originally there that's still there now is the giant oak tree under which we got married. Now it's a Hawaiian-esque tropical garden with beautiful touches everywhere (in the gardens, on trees, above fireplaces, etc.). They added so many great touches to our wedding that we were mistakenly given credit for, that made our wedding extra special (I won't divulge what these are, though, to keep them surprises for future newlyweds). I only feel bad for all our of friends and family that will get married after us, because there's no way they can top our wedding. (This was said repeatedly by many of our guests, so it's not just the bride being biased here.) I'm just glad all of our favorite people were able to experience it with us. read more

This is a breathtaking six acre estate with a garden hacienda set in Carmel Valley. It's absolutely stunning and the pictures do not do it justice. It captures the laid-back, yet sophisticated nature of Carmel Valley and is the most beautiful venue to host a wedding. You can book The Holly Farm for nearly a week which makes a lot of sense if you are hosting out-of-town guests. The grounds are intimate and beautiful, creating a whimsical wedding. My friend Loreto and her husband, Dennis, got married here. By far one of the most beautiful weddings I've been to! read more

The Most Magical Place Ever Everything from our first tour to the the planning process to the actual wedding week was perfection. We could not have asked for a more welcoming family and staff. They truly catered to our every need. I was a bit nervous about not hiring a day of coordinator, as all of our friends recommended one but Erin and Ryan Moses went above and beyond what any coordinator could've done for us. Our guests were blown away at how special a place the Holly Farm is...even after spending 4 days on property, we were still discovering new nooks and crannies, each picture perfect. I was also a bit nervous about not being able to go with my own catering company but La Creme blew us away. Our guests commented that ours was the best wedding food they've ever had. The wait staff was extremely attentive..no one left hungry and no glasses were left empty for too long. We are already scheming for our next event at the Holly Farm... read more

I was married at the Holly Farm last weekend, and it was above and beyond my expectations. We stayed at the Holly Farm on from Thursday thru Sunday afternoon, and we had the most fabulous time. All our friends and family enjoyed the bocce ball, volleyball, ping pong etc, plus the gardens are breathtaking. It made the weekend not just a wedding weekend but a vacation for all our our out of town guests. Gus and Rosa were so helpful and sweet. The Moses family is amazing and they saw to it that our day went perfectly. I cannot wait to go back to the Holly Farm! Maybe for our 20th anniversary : ) Thanks again to Erin, Mary, Doyle, Gus and Rosa!! read more

My son and daughter in law were married there the first weekend the Holly Farm opened this year. Every detail was thought of by the Moses Family in the preparations and execution of events throughout the weekende. They, the groundskeeper and housekeeping staff take such pride in what they have to offer the people who come through. They were so hospitable that we really felt like we belonged there. They invited people to add their personal touches around the property and it really makes a difference. Have fun with it. The Moses Family is right there on the spot when you need something, but in no way do you feel they are intrusive. They are event production experts as well as being artists in what they have created there. The Hacienda, Honeymoon Suite and the other "casita" were inviting and perfect for the wedding party. The caterer was great as well. Service and food managed perfectly. The property at night is magical. You just can't believe how beautiful it all is. Everyone had such fun day and night with the bocce ball court, games on the lawn, ping pong, just enjoying the time together. I have nothing but the highest marks for the Holly Farm and the Moses Family. Book early and enjoy the preparations because it will really show when your guests arrive. read more

Perfection. Definitely the most beautiful venue I've ever been to and the wedding weekend was amazing! The staff is incredible. Wonderful! read more