Megan + Allan at Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley

7/3/2017

Megan and Allan hail from Arizona, with some family from Maryland. They wanted a destination wedding that spoke of the sophistication and ruggedness of California. They found it at Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. The heritage of the estate goes back a hundred years to when the Spanish Crown bestowed the land to the Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo. Secularization of the land lead to ownership by ranch owners, until part of the thousands of acres was acquired by a San Francisco businessman who saw the potential of a sprawling residence. He hired an architect who envisioned a classic Spanish hacienda, building structures with Carmel stone, hand-hewn oak, and Mexican terra cotta roofing. Today, its current owners have kept its strong history alive as a working vineyard, olive grove, and ranch, while creating a setting that caters to family gatherings and events.

I was happy to officiate for the wedding event of Megan and Allan. The setting was perfect for an intimate gathering with cottages for family, a ceremony site with sprawling views of the valley, a barn for dancing, and a stone wall-enclosed courtyard for a reception. A mobile wood-fired pizza oven was on site for guests to enjoy the smoky flavors of California life.

As bold as the heritage of Holman Ranch, Megan recited her vows "impromptu." She did not want to prepare anything ahead of time since she wanted her words to reflect her feeling in that moment as she stood in front of the man she loved. It was indeed a beautiful moment at Holman Ranch.