Holman Ranch is truly one of the most breathtaking wedding venues in Carmel, and it's always a joy to photograph weddings there. With sweeping views of the Carmel Valley, a stunning ceremony space, and endless backdrops for portraits, it's a dream location for any couple looking for a timeless and picturesque setting. Every time I work at Holman Ranch, I'm reminded why it's one of my absolute favorite venues--the golden hills, the vineyards, and that iconic tree at the entrance make for the most incredible sunset portraits. Whether capturing intimate moments under the oak trees or heading up the hill for panoramic views, every wedding here feels like pure magic. I can't recommend Holman Ranch enough for couples who want a venue that is as breathtaking as their love story. read more

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My best friend just held her wedding here over the past weekend! Absolutely gorgeous!!! The views are breathtaking, everybody is so nice, the wine is amazing and it was convenient to park too. She had a wonderful time and was so happy she chose this venue. read more

Beautiful location and a fantastic venue! Amazing views and just a truly special space in the Carmel Valley area. Highly recommend. read more

Holman Ranch - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

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Wow, this venue is positively stunning! Every inch of this property is beautiful. I had the recent pleasure of photographing a wedding here and I was blown away. From the lovely interior rooms for getting ready space, to the ceremony site with the rolling hills, to the stone patio for a cozy and elegant reception, to the hilltop sunset portrait location- it was all a dream! I highly recommend this venue to any couple looking for a naturally beautiful and elegant location. read more

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Holman is a wonderful estate with a wine cave. The Pinot Noirs are wonderful, especially the Calera clone. We had a tour where our large group learned multiple things as the vintner shared answers for all our questions. Set up an appointment to visit, you will not be disappointed. read more

Holman Ranch - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

I first learned about this place while I was looking for a place where my husband and I could spend a few hours on his birthday weekend in January.  I wanted not just a tasting room experience (a bit too boring for us), but something rather educational and inspiring.  I booked a wine tour at their ranch for January 27th,  and it was a wonderful experience.  A person who helped me with my booking over the phone (I can't recall his name,  unfortunately) was super friendly, and our guide Giuseppe (I do hope I remembered his name correctly) was extremely knowledgeable and fun. The property is very well-maintained, the views are breathtaking,  and the wine is spectacular. I'm not a big fan of red wines, yet I enjoyed every single sample I was offered.  We had a blast that day, and we ended up purchasing their membership.  They shipped their wine to our home estate in Colorado, and the shipment was seamless.  Being a member of their wine club,  I now have access to some of their events,  e.g. yoga sessions.  My friend and I attended one of such classes,  and it was lovely. We tasted their Rose,  and brought home 2 bottles; that was one of the best Roses that I had tried not only stateside,  but even in Europe. Despite some misunderstanding that I had with one one their employees,  Meghan,  the management mended the matter and made our visit very special.  Their GM, Ms Kirstie Woods, is a professional who knows their business and how to make the customers happy. read more

Holman Ranch - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

I was the photo booth vendor at a wedding on Labor Day weekend. They have lots of staff on site! From pulling into the ranch, they have a person with a walkie directing you if you are a vendor or guest. They let you drop your stuff off at load in then go down to the parking lot. Everyone has to park at the lower parking lot but they provide golf carts to bring you up. They had two bars close to the dance area. I don't usually eat Indian food but maaaan was the food so delicious!!! After my experience here, I will definitely try more Indian food! read more

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This property is unbelievably gorgeous!! We fell in love with it immediately, and we knew that nothing else would compare. We ran into a few hiccups initially, but Hunter was able to resolve the confusion and everything went smoothly the day of our wedding. We were grateful to spend some time onsite the day before our wedding to prepare and rehearse, this was really helpful! Set-up on the day of the wedding was scheduled 2 hours before the ceremony, and when I arrived 1.5 hours early, the set-up was already complete, and exactly as we had requested. Holman provides many of the necessary items (chairs, tables, heat lamps, etc) so there was very little that we had to rent in addition. Several Holman employees were ready to assist with all the unloading of additional decorations and supplies, and as a busy bride, this was a HUGE help! Holman staff were available throughout the day, quietly blending into the background until the moment we needed something, and then they would magically appear to save the day, having already anticipated our needs. It was impressive! They even drove us down to the big tree where we took the most amazing photos. I knew we were supposed to receive "an engraved plank" to commemorate our occasion, but when I first spotted it adorning our dessert table, I was so thrilled and delighted! What a wonderful surprise! I had no idea Holman would be giving us such a lovely memento. Our wedding was in February, which can be risky with weather, but the day turned out perfect! The ceremony was sunny (nearly 80 degrees in the afternoon!) but there was plenty of shade to keep our guests comfortable. The afternoon light made every color burst, and then as evening approached, a dramatic fog rolled in over the hills behind the ceremony lawn. It felt like a scene from a movie. This wedding was a dream come true! read more

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Holman Ranch is the only wedding venue we looked at. Once I visited, I had to have it. It was my dream location and the search ended there. I had originally imagined renting a very large estate for my wedding and having a pretty casual ceremony in the backyard with some BBQ and enough indoor space that our closest friends could sleep over after having too much to drink. I started looking online but was having a terrible time finding a property that was big enough to fit my vision. My best friend knew about my search and was doing searches of her own. She came across Holman Ranch's website and said, "I know it's expensive but it looks like exactly what you want!" She was right, on both accounts. I checked out the information but really felt like the cost was too prohibitive. A few months later, though, we were driving down to Ojai for a friend's wedding and decided that since Holman would be more or less on the way, we should check it out. That was it. Deal sealed. I couldn't stop talking about it for the rest of the weekend, even though it still felt unrealistic. It is the most spacious, gorgeous property I could ever imagine for my wedding. The thing I liked most was the natural beauty-- this indeed helped us save on decorating costs in the end. We compromised and sacrificed and pulled our game together to get married at Holman. I had dreamed of having my wedding on a Saturday but having a Sunday wedding helped us save a lot and it turned out perfect anyway. The staff at Holman was very responsive, attentive, caring, and all-around fabulous. We felt very well taken care of from our first visit 15 months before our wedding through to the very day. Even now that the wedding is over, Hunter has been very helpful in tying up some loose ends. I encountered absolutely no problems throughout the entire process and very strongly recommend this magical venue for your special day! read more

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We held our wedding at Holman Ranch in October 2012, and it was the best wedding I've ever been to - and no, I'm not saying that because it was mine :) We knew that we wanted an outdoor venue, but being in California, there were plenty of gorgeous locations to choose from. After finding photos of Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley on line it was venue love at first site, and after seeing Holman Ranch in person, we knew that it was perfect. The combination of stone buildings, quaint carriage house, and beautiful landscaping fit perfectly with the feel we wanted - beautiful, country chic, yet comfy enough to be in a friend's backyard - aka rustic chic. Hunter, Nick and the rest of the staff at Holman did everything to make the planning leading up to, and the day of perfect. If you are questioning whether or not to have your wedding here, he answer is yes. But be warned, they book up fast. We toured it in August of 2011 and they only had 1 weekend available between April and November of the following year, which we snatched up fast. read more

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I was lucky enough to be the florist at a beautiful wedding yesterday at Holman Ranch and it was my first time working there as a vendor. I rarely if ever post reviews about venues, but I was so impressed with the customer service of their staff I had to share. My husband and I work at venues all over California and hands down Holman Ranch has some of the best customer service we've ever experienced as vendors. When vendors are treated well by a wedding venue, it makes the entire experience better for everyone, including the couple, so I wanted to be sure potential clients know what a wonderful experience I had as I'm sure it's even more outstanding for couples and their guests. Not only that, but the venue is absolutely stunning, very easy to access, clean, well maintained and easily navigable for guests during the event. I would highly recommend this venue if you're looking to be wed in the area. Absolutely top notch. read more

I attended my sister in law's wedding here - there is so much more behind the scenes that goes into deciding what is and what isn't a good venue, but purely from a guest perspective, Holman's Ranch was great! A beautiful mountain backdrop for the ceremony, nice architecture for photo ops (along with a gorgeous tree that apparently is very popular for background), and a rustic, shabby chic ranch/barn feel that combines casual and elegance. read more

We attended a wedding here recently and were mighty impressed with this venue. The grounds and mountain background are absolutely stunning! The staff is friendly, from the men that drive the golf carts from parking up to the wedding location, to the wedding planner, bartenders, waiters/waitresses, etc. I especially enjoyed all the separate areas of the property to make this a dream wedding for the bride and groom. A landing in front of the mountain view for the ceremony, a grassy area for cocktails, a winery type enclosed area for a cocktail party or dinner, a covered tent for dancing, a fire pit, etc. Lots of choices! I would suggest the wedding planner be more communicative to the attendees as to the flow of the wedding ceremony to cocktail party to dinner etc. Also the timing between events could have been smoother. Holman Ranch would be an excellent choice for a wedding or event! read more

Located in the DTCV strip of tastings rooms, you'll find Holman Ranch. Like its neighbors, they can seat between 15-20 people at a time and are always happy to share their story. Ask for Peter, he'll chat with you as long as you like. One of the friendliest wine men that I know! The real treat? Getting a private tour of the estate/venue up the hill in Carmel! Not just anyone can come up here, you should contact Holman Ranch and inquire within. Lucky me, I passed the initial screening and was invited to see what's hidden behind those big gates. Perfect wedding venue, complete with overnight accommodations and an outdoor pool! There's also a barn and main house for entertaining guests. Special events book out at least a year in advance, no wonder why. If you join the wine club, you can see the estate for members only parties (and I think get an overnight stay at the ranch?). Plus there's the Cabernet. Anyone can taste but only members can purchase. Nice marketing ploy! One of my CV favorites, give 'em a try. read more

My wife and I got married at Holman Ranch, and it was magical. The weather was perfect, it has so many little areas that almost make it feel like each portion of the wedding (ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, reception) was in it's own unique venue. It's so unassuming when you first enter the property, but the moment you head up the hill on the golf carts to the venue, it's like you've entered a little oasis. Sage and Querloz were amazing day of coordinators that helped ensure everything went seamlessly with our vendors. And the wine that we purchased as part of the venue agreement was delicious. Everyone raved about the Pinot Noir. Thanks Holman Ranch. You made for a wonderful wedding day. read more

Holman is even more beautiful than the pictures and everyone is SO nice and helpful. They were super accommodating about our requested changes to the standard package (we didn't have that many). We barely needed or used additional decor, the grounds were gorgeous exactly the way that they are. We had a small issue with one of the vendors and Holman stepped up 110% to make sure we were taken care of. Everyone had an amazing time and it was really perfect for our needs. read more

We had our wedding here, and it was magical. All of our guests couldn't believe how incredible the venue was, and neither could we. It was perfect in every way. I worked with Hunter Lowder to coordinate leading up to the event mostly through email. Hunter was always extremely responsive and helpful. Great people to work with. The only thing is I wish we were able to have had our event until 11pm, but they make you shut everything off at 10pm. However, we just went to the Running Iron bar which was conveniently down the street. read more

You probably already know this, but the Holman Ranch is one of the absolute best wedding venues in this Carmel Valley area. I coordinated/attended a good friend's wedding last summer (August 2010) and it completely met my very high expectations given its reputation... not an easy feat! GROUNDS The grounds are gorgeous. It's really peaceful and yes, kind of hard to get to/far away, but you get the entire property to yourself, including the required-rental of the housing for the wedding party/family/etc. There's also a tasting room up the street that you check in at and are free to visit during your time there. The housing was super nice, the grounds were well maintained and easy to get around. At night, there isn't a ton of lighting (particularly around the parking lots) so I'd bring a flashlight or two if you're arriving late, but otherwise lovely. The getting-ready rooms were really pretty with lots of windows and natural light, there are a lot of pretty rooms and hallways and courtyards to get a variety of shots, including a living room with a piano if your musicians want to rehearse ahead of time. ONE NOTE: There are a LOT of lavender(?) bushes toward the ceremony area and near where the bridal party stands (and fans out from the center) --- and these plants attract a LOT LOT LOT of bees. If you have anyone in your party that's allergic to bees or super fearful of them, just know this ahead of time. We didn't have any incidents with our event, but just a lot of fears to quell because it was a surprise. I'm sure this is seasonal too, but just an FYI! SERVICE Was exceptional. Whenever we had a question, it was answered. Nick was a gracious host and helped us with a lot of different logistics, like getting the music set up for the grounds/reception, working with Paradise catering, etc. Had a slightly less 100% awesome experience with the Paradise workers/employees, but that's not the fault of Holman at all. It drizzled in the morning (I KNOW RIGHT IN AUGUST!) so we were all a little tense/frantic about the possibility it would continue through the afternoon, but JUST before the ceremony it cleared up and was gorrrrrgeous. The team was really helpful with making sure chairs/surfaces were wiped down and ready for guests, which was considerate given how fickle the weather was. Would be happy to answer any particular questions via message, but basically--if you've seen pictures of Holman Ranch & love it... and it's in your budget, would say don't hesitate! read more

I was in a wedding at Holman Ranch this past weekend and I was blown away. It is SO gorgeous. Everything was perfect and the staff was insanely helpful. It's a little bit o country mixed with a Mediterranean feel, and completely elegant, but still not snooty. My only gripe is that it is a little difficult to find and kind of in the middle of no where, making it difficult for wedding guests to stay nearby. AMAZING, if you have the $$$ and are looking for a Northern California venue, I highly recommend this place. read more

This place was the magical setting for our wedding on April 14th (exactly one month ago!). My husband and I were looking for the perfect place of elegance with enough of a rustic feel to really embody our backgrounds-- I'm from California, he's from Montana. Holman Ranch were perfect for us. Hunter was great in the months leading up to our big day, but things did get a little jumbled when Nick took over-- but things got straightened out soon enough! Everything ran so smoothly and everyone was fantastic on our wedding day. These are wonderful people to have helping you on such a special occasion. It was the perfect place! The views are breathtaking, the buildings are warm and beautiful, and the carriage house is the perfect place to stomp your feet. We couldn't have picked a better place. :) read more

I just had my wedding at Holman Ranch and its just gorgeous! My hubby even says he believes even we don't do deco much, it'll still be a nice wedding, just coz the view was amazing and the site has so many spots that wows people. Well, besides its own beauty, I would also rate the staff at 5 stars, hunter, nick are very prompt responding to our questions and emails. Considering there're so many weddings(they are completely booked for Friday and Saturday for the whole year in Feb!), they never confused or messed us with other couples. They are also very proactively checking in with us at a few points, always there to make our planning easier. The day of the event, their staff is also very organized and helpful, we ran late from the ceremony and still want to take pics at the famous oak tree before reception dinner starts, they immediately have their staff to drive us to the tree. Overall this is the best and very first planning decision we made. The rest follows quite easily. Highly recommend it, though if you want a Sat wedding, have to plan a year ahead or more! We had on a Sunday, which was still ok within 6 months. Yeah, our less than 6 month wedding planning won't be as easy if we didn't find Holman Ranch. read more

How have I not reviewed this? I guess it's been since the renovation.... it's impossible to explain how special our wedding was. It's impossible to explain how lucky we were to have Hunter and family taking care of us. From the sleeping rooms, to the professionalism of the operations... to the EPIC FREAKING ESTATE, VILLA, and VIEW... it's not going to do with just words. I will share a couple links, but you really need to visit. If you are lucky enough to ever go to a wedding there... DO NOT MISS IT. It's a special, beautiful place, and one of the rarest of California and West Coast wedding treasures..... a winery, a barn, a italian villa.... it's just surreal. I cannot believe I hadn't written a review! FOR SHAME! We love you guys... you changed our lives, and can't wait to come back and visit..... FYI - we were in 09/2009, just after the major renovation, and the first to stay in the lodging, so I am sure we paid a different price than it is now. Whatever it is, seriously, it's worth it. If you are from a different part of the country, and it's a destination wedding of sorts... there isn't another spot in the world that will demonstrate to them precisely why you live out west. It's just paradise, plain and simple. The views rival parts of France or Italy, easily. Enjoy... hope it helps you get an idea of the estate, etc. Portraits: https://picasaweb.google.com/118246307859485381903/01Portraits Preparation: https://picasaweb.google.com/118246307859485381903/02Prep Family portraits: https://picasaweb.google.com/118246307859485381903/03Familyportraits Cermony: https://picasaweb.google.com/118246307859485381903/04Ceremony Reception / Food / Dancing / Cake / Party: https://picasaweb.google.com/118246307859485381903/05Reception read more

We just had one of the best days of our life at Holman Ranch. Our wedding was spectacular and the location of Holman Ranch was one of the keys. The day couldn't have been better. The weather in the valley was perfect. The views are stunning and the grounds are amazing. The rooms were superb and very sweet. It worked out perfectly to walk just a ways to our room. The groom's quarters were amazing and the barn is perfect for dancing. The wine was superb and we've been enjoying our bottle of olive oil since we returned to Portland. I'm very thankful we had our wedding at Holman Ranch. This is the best wedding venue that I've ever been too and we were blessed with a perfect, memorable day. Holman Ranch will forever have a place in my heart. I look forward to popping a bottle of Holman Ranch wine on our anniversary for several years to come. read more

My daughter surprised me with a private tour of the vineyards and caves... it was beautiful! Mitchell, tour guide and wine expert, was extremely friendly and knowledgeable! The whole experience was great! And the wine was devine! read more

I stayed here for a work function, and enjoyed my stay immensely. The property is very well maintained and is tucked away in quaint Carmel Valley. The cabins are well appointed, although the only thing that bothered me was no window covering on the bathroom window. Even though it was obvious no one could see in, for piece of mind, I would have preferred something over the window. Wifi is available on the property. I cannot guarantee that your cell phone will work well, however! Our entire event was catered by Paradise Catering, which I have reviewed before and really makes outstanding food and has excellent service. We enjoyed some of the activities available on the ranch, include clay pigeon shooting and horse back riding. There is even a small gym on the property, but also plenty of great walking and easy hiking. Just walking down to the main road and back up is a great walk! Great views, and so unfortunate that California is in a drought. You really do miss the green mountain sides! read more

And my 300th review goes to Holman Ranch! I celebrated my wedding at Holman Ranch back and September amongst my closest Family and Friends and until this day continue to get compliments on how beautiful the venue was. My partner and I could not have picked a better event vendor than Holman Ranch. Their quality of service was top notch and the venue was beyond beautiful. The staff was extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. Both Hunter and Nick were super responsive and did everything they could to make our day a fairytale come true! If you're looking for a magical place to get married with a gorgeous backdrop with stunning views, and a venue that makes the mouths of your guests drop with surprise and awe, Holman Ranch is your place. They also recently opened a wine bar earlier this year with some amazing wine. Their Chardonnay is delicious and we ordered a couple cases for the wedding to serve. Perfect for warm and sunny Carmel Days. Whether you are celebrating a wedding or attending as a guest, Holman Ranch will amaze you with it's simple beauty and charm! read more

My daughters wedding was held at Holman Ranch on April 14th. The ranch grounds and views are unbeliveable ! Nick and Peter had everything under control and if you had any questions or needed anything it was done before you knew it. We had Michael's catering, and Victoria and her staff did a great job. The different area's at the ranch made the wedding very unique because the party moved from cocktail area, to the dinner at the courtyard area, to dancing at the carriage house, All seperate but near each other. read more

The grounds are absolutely beautiful. It's a private property that gives you a personal experience. Nick, one of the owners gave a complete tour and history of everything they do there. It was hard keeping up with him because it was golden hour and we wanted to take pictures in so many places. From the rooms to the pond and stables, the sites never ended. It's always difficult taking over a historic property as it is a delicate balance between keeping the old world charm while modernizing to keep up with other resorts. Holman Ranch has perfectly blended history with modern comfort. read more

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If ever there was a special place to celebrate a wedding, Holman Ranch is the place. From the ceremony overlooking the mountains, to the dinner inside the courtyard, to dancing in the barn, it offers charm and elegance. If it's possible, staying on the property during this event makes it even more special. The staff at Holman do an excellent job of providing and catering to your every need. Don't miss an opportunity to make a wonderful memory at this property. read more

Holman Ranch - Sun peaking through at dusk - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Carmel Valley, California

We just had our wedding at Holman Ranch a few weekends ago, and it was the best decision that we ever made! The venue itself is stunning, has a ton of different spaces for events, is so picturesque at every corner, and ultimately will really wow your guests! We absolutely loved working with the Holman staff, and we worked most closely with Peter to plan all the details of our wedding day. He was so incredibly detail-oriented, experienced, and professional that our wedding day would not have moved as smoothly had it not been for him! He made sure to clarify all the details that would come up even if we hadn't thought about them beforehand, and he always took the time to talk to us on the phone and answer any of the millions of questions that we had. He gave the most amazing and insightful advice, and we are so extremely grateful for all of his help! On the day of the wedding, the staff that helped with directing our guests, shuttling them from the parking lot, and setting up all the chairs, tables, and umbrellas were phenomenal! They truly have an amazing team of people who want to help couples have a memorable wedding day, and we can not thank them enough for everything they have done for us! They helped us to add on lawn games and a photo booth, and all of our guests told us how fun and amazing of a time they had at Holman. So many people said that it was the best wedding they had ever been to, especially because the venue was so incredibly unique and stunning. We absolutely recommend Holman Ranch as a wedding venue and the staff who work there are truly phenomenal!!! read more

Holman Ranch is an absolutely GORGEOUS venue- the perfect spot for our wedding. Being residents of Monterey we had our hearts set on getting married on the water but after touring Holman Ranch we changed our minds immediately. The view of the Carmel Valley was nothing short of spectacular. The facility itself is beautiful with many fun rooms, nooks, trails, and tons history. All of our friends are still talking about it- best wedding ever! Please do yourself a favor- before committing to any venue for your wedding or special event call Hunter and take a tour of Holman Ranch. I know you'll fall in love with it just as we did. read more

I just had an amazing wedding at Holman Ranch and what can I say that hasn't been said? Obviously the staff is fabulous and the venue is spectacular. My wife and I planned our entire wedding and all the related events site unseen from Wisconsin. If you are looking at Holman Ranch from a distance and hesitating because you are worried about the logistics of a destination wedding I promise Nick and the Holman staff will make everything easy for you. Every step, every phase exceeded our expectations. If it fits your budget, book it! My wife and I booked and planned our August wedding in 6 months at the Holman Ranch. Yes, every summer weekend is booked a year in advance but since all of our guests were coming from Wisconsin or another state we held our ceremony on a Wednesday. Most mid weeks are wide open so we turned our wedding into a Monday-Thursday celebration at the Ranch. Most of our guests stayed in the ten rooms available on the Ranch property which made for a memorable week with various themed activities each day. The Ranch is the perfect setting for a multi-day family gathering. We ended up with 30 family members staying with us at the ranch but I think it could easily accommodate 10 families of 4. So, I agree with the other 5 star reviews but also would put a plug in for Holman Ranch being a great destination wedding spot. You can feel confident that every part of your wedding from the venue, service, catering, cake and anything else you can dream up will be absolutely top notch. read more

Had our wedding at Holman Ranch July 2019 and I couldnt have been happier. Where do I begin? - Staff: starting from the first outreach, Holman was very responsive and everyone I talked to was friendly and quick to respond. I emailed them many times with one-off questions and heard back within a few hours. The day of the wedding, they did so much behind the scenes to make the day flawless and you didn't even notice them there. Every staff member was Warm, accommodating, and detail-oriented - The rooms: We did the weekend package and had the wedding party and immediate family stay at the venue. The rooms were recently rennovated and looked great, fully stocked with essentials, clean, and comfortable. We stayed in the main suite which was like a mini townhouse with a gorgeous deck. It was so nice, I wish we had more time to enjoy it. We had our dog with us during the weekend too and she very much enjoyed it! - Venue: perfect size and so picturesque in July. Our wedding was 170 guests and it was the right size where people could wander but never be too far from the main event. We did the reception in the rose patio. kids loved the lawn games and we had a kids table for dinner there too. Parents said their kids had so much fun! The venue could accommodate ADA guests too. Real bathrooms throughout the venue, not porta-potties! - Vendors: Holman worked well with our vendors even if they weren't on the preferred list. Here's who we used for the main items: Photographers: Carlie Statsky (highly recommend her and her husband) MUAH: Blush Monterey Bartenders: Pour Girl Catering: Paradise Catering (highly recommend, 5 star food and service and pricing) Planning: Engaged & Inspired (they helped me find a florist too) DJ: Belmont Ent Strings: Monterey Strings I would say the only difficult things we encountered are that because Holman is secluded, we had to do the hotel blocks in Monterey and book shuttles. I also wish our wedding could have gone past 10pm, we didn't want the day to end! However, we didn't book an after party because logistically it was too difficult to transport guests to another venue. Overall, if you can afford the weekend package, I highly recommend it. My husband and I joke that we wish we could have attended our own wedding. Go with Holman, you won't regret it! read more

What is not to love about Holman Ranch? I helped plan and coordinated a wedding at this beautiful venue. The awards and special mentions from the wedding and special event industry publications, bloggers and wedding professional resources are well deserved. Their website gives you a taste of what they have to offer, but once you drive thru the Carmel Valley, go thru the wooden gate, pass the lake and stables, then climb the hill to the adorable cottages with a porch surrounded by well-kept flowers and shrubbery, you STILL haven't seen nothing yet! Park and walk thru another large, heavy wooden gate and you'll find yourself entering the Main Plaza. To your right stands the Carriage House where dancing took place. It was lit perfectly and has a large chandelier, and three restrooms. That's helpful when you have 150 guests. To your left, thru another pair of heavy wooden doors and an arch is the Rose Patio where dinner took place. To the left you'll find a game room with a bar, flat-screen television, pool table, jukebox and fireplace, plus the kitchen around the corner. To your right is the beautiful chapel and the bridal room with a large conference table; perfect for an off-site business meeting after a round of golf nearby. Pass the bridal room and you'll walk by a peaceful courtyard equipped with greenery, fountains and benches. Continue on your path and you'll find yourself on the Stone Terrace, then the beautiful ceremony area looking over the Carmel Valley. Make your way back to the Main Plaza and there's an arbor and little fountain, and fire pits close by. There is also a pool and gym. The entire property is gorgeous and all the guest agreed. The sales staff is amazing to work with. They are very busy but they're a team that works well together. They're helpful, accommodating and can be flexible. The on-site staff for set-up worked quickly and were incredibly friendly as the sun's rays beated down on us. The take down crew were also friendly and even offered to help bring in boxes and take-down. A couple of tips: It gets pretty cold in the evening so do not turn down the offer of heaters. Paradise Catering is on their preferred vendor list and knows the venue well. Plus their food is delicious. Review to come. Shout out to Nick, Hunter, Emily, Kyle, Josephine, Juan, Haydon and many more. Whatever I needed and in the time frame I needed it was granted and with a smile. Thank you! - especially for enduring a Coordinator like me. =) If you have an event here, you will not be disappointed. I hope to work with Holman again. read more

There isn't enough that can be said about how BEAUTIFUL Holman Ranch is. So, I won't even reiterate what's already been said here. A few notable things about our experience in planning our 2013 Holman Wedding: 1) We planned from 3,000 miles away. Which proved challenging for my detail oriented self. Nick never hesitated to answer a one-line email, send me photos of property details (cocktail tables ... at night and during the day. I know, I know.) or answer whatever inane question came up. 2) In the same vein, they never scoffed at my ... three tours of the property ... to be sure that I understood the layout + could thus make better informed decisions for our guests. 3) Holman Ranch wines are wonderful. The vines are on property - which means that you have the opportunity to offer your guests a *taste* of Holman Ranch. You should definitely ask about what they can offer you for wine tasting as a cocktail hour activity. Our guests loved it. I owe Nick and Hunter and the whole Holman staff my sincerest thanks. You were such a significant part of one of the best days of our lives. Thank you, a million times, thank you. read more

When my husband and I started planning our wedding, we didn't have a lot of requirements, but there were a lot of "nice-to-haves" on our list. Since I'm from the East Coast but we live in California, we knew a lot of our guests would be traveling a long way. So, we wanted to have the ceremony and reception at the same site so that people didn't have to worry as much about logistics. We also wanted to make the trip out worthwhile for them--so, we were hoping for a venue that would show visitors some of what Northern California has to offer. Holman Ranch was everything we could have asked for in a venue. Aside from being gorgeous and having a layout that made the flow from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception incredibly smooth, they took care of a lot of logistics that made our lives so much easier. The tables and chairs, plus their set-up, was included in our venue costs, and they even took care of shuttling guests from the parking lot all the way up to the actual wedding site. In addition, we had our choice of any insured vendor for everything from catering to floral design. We also loved that there was an area for food preparation so our reception meal could be served hot and fresh after being cooked on site. However, it was the little details that really made our big day amazing. Holman arranged a tasting of wines from their vineyards for our cocktail hour to give our guests a taste of the area (literally). We also served their olive oil with bread as part of our crudite selection. Furthermore, they not only allowed fire pits--they provided them! This was perfect for my husband and I since we always felt a fall or winter wedding would be more romantic and pictured guests keeping warm around a fire. And, the service we received all day was excellent. When I arrived on site, Kim checked with me that the glasses for the wine tasting should have been delivered along with our other rentals (they hadn't been). When I confirmed that they were supposed to have been, she took care of everything--I never heard about the problem afterward and by the time the cocktail hour rolled around, the glasses were ready! Booking Holman Ranch was a splurge for us, but it was worth the money. Our guests couldn't stop raving about how amazing our venue was and asking how we'd found it. One of them mentioned our wedding was "the most beautiful wedding [he'd] ever seen" (commenting on the mountain backdrop where we said our vows) and another one friend posted an album with a caption that if he ever got married, he would want to do it at Holman. When the guys take as much notice of the venue as the girls do, you know you've chosen a great spot! Based on our experience, I'd recommend Holman Ranch to anyone who wants a magical wedding. Hunter and Kim are so well-organized and responsive to requests and the property is beautiful in any season. If you are considering an off-season event, you should know that we got married December 3rd and had sun, clear skies and perfect 65 degree weather! After visiting the venue yourselves, you'll probably book it on the spot, but if not, I hope this recommendation sways you. My husband and I have nothing but love for Holman Ranch and look forward to future wine tasting visits in the years to come! read more

I got married here in September. It was beautiful. Everything seemed perfect. We rented the whole place on Sunday night as well and our close family and friends stayed and swam in the pool, had farm-style meals out on the lawns and another dance party in the barn. If you can afford this place it's amazing. Be aware that you or your wedding planner have to provide pretty much everything except for ice. On the day of the wedding Holman ranch staff had everything perfect, although they weren't much help leading up to the wedding. We used paradise catering and they were excellent AND seemed to know the ranch really well and helped a lot with planning in general. If you can swing it, this place is amazing. read more

Oh such sweet memories! This is where we got married in 2010! We needed to look no further after our first tour of Holman Ranch! This property wows you around every turn and twist and is the quintessential Carmel Valley location to get married! If you are able to go up and see this place and they have a date available for you TAKE IT- the memories and the beauty that surround you during your wedding will live on forever!! read more

The most personable and genuine people. I must say it is always nice going back even to the tasting room. Brings back such happy memories of our wedding. Nick is awesome! Not only did he make our wedding great, he goes out of his way every time to make you feel like family. read more

I'm a professional wedding photographer so I've seen a lot of venues. I recently covered a event here and it was one of the most gorgeous wedding venues I've seen! Beautiful grounds, accommodating staff, and super private. I can't wait to come back and shoot a wedding here next time! www.ashleypaige.photoshelter.com read more