Rustic Winter Wedding at Holman Ranch
For those of us here on the east coast, it's easy to forget that there is another version of winter out there, one that doesn't keep you housebound for months. This charming rustic wedding proves just how fantastic winter celebrations can be at an amazing California ranch, filled with personal touches and sunny skies. Mirelle Carmichael captured it all right here.
From The Bride... Shaun and I went to the same University (of Oregon) and did not know each other, but luckily have a few friends in common. Five years after graduating from college, I moved to San Francisco where Shaun also lived and we were introduced and saw each other occasionally at football games or at our friend's Matt & Amy’s house.
Then, we both became single, and long story short, hit it off!
After 2+ years of dating, Shaun proposed on a 10 day trip to Spain in San Sebastian. He had a ring pop and a photo of a diamond so it took me a few seconds to put it together... then I said yes and the wedding planning fun began.
Holman Ranch was a dream come true. We looked at sites in Sonoma and San Francisco as well and our goal was to enjoy the process and planning. The biggest part of that - as I learned in my career as a human resources professional - is the team you are working with. I wanted uber competent, energetic, and flexible people on my team so that we could plan a wonderful day, learn, and have fun in the process. My photographer, Mirelle Carmichael, was a perfect fit in terms of photography style, and is uniquely talented at connecting with people from behind the camera. It was also important that my vendors respected our budget boundaries. We simply were not a couple who was willing to spend 10K on flowers and I didn’t want continuous pressure to go over budget. My florist, Courtney Saynor at the Floral Loft in San Francisco, worked miracles for a small budget and advised me expertly where to spend versus save. She was an absolute artist even though my budget was small.
When I met the team at Holman, I knew they were the best fit (so flexible, and utterly professional), and the stunning views, and vintage charm didn’t hurt either! They also offered a day rate for winter weddings (typically couples have to rent the entire property), and some of my other vendors offered off-season discounts as well.
We did not necessarily have a defined style, but we wanted the day to be intimate and personal. Throughout the process, though, it became clear that we loved the classic, vintage touches that you can see from our attire and from the flower choices. I loved the idea of blushes and grays with a pop of sapphire blue. I wore an oyster pink dress with an ivory Chantilly lace overlay, and Shaun wore a gray morning jacket (both vintage styles that complemented the 1930s ranch). The colors also really melded so beautifully with the stone at Holman and the natural hues in the fields that we walked through.
There were so many moments that I continue to think about. Getting ready with the ladies and having my esthetician for the last 10 years, Tiffany, do all of our makeup. The ceremony was so wonderful and warm. We had an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter and it all went beautifully.
I also loved walking out of the ceremony with my husband and going straight to a private courtyard to share appetizers and a glass of wine!
Then, we both became single, and long story short, hit it off!
After 2+ years of dating, Shaun proposed on a 10 day trip to Spain in San Sebastian. He had a ring pop and a photo of a diamond so it took me a few seconds to put it together... then I said yes and the wedding planning fun began.
Holman Ranch was a dream come true. We looked at sites in Sonoma and San Francisco as well and our goal was to enjoy the process and planning. The biggest part of that - as I learned in my career as a human resources professional - is the team you are working with. I wanted uber competent, energetic, and flexible people on my team so that we could plan a wonderful day, learn, and have fun in the process. My photographer, Mirelle Carmichael, was a perfect fit in terms of photography style, and is uniquely talented at connecting with people from behind the camera. It was also important that my vendors respected our budget boundaries. We simply were not a couple who was willing to spend 10K on flowers and I didn’t want continuous pressure to go over budget. My florist, Courtney Saynor at the Floral Loft in San Francisco, worked miracles for a small budget and advised me expertly where to spend versus save. She was an absolute artist even though my budget was small.
When I met the team at Holman, I knew they were the best fit (so flexible, and utterly professional), and the stunning views, and vintage charm didn’t hurt either! They also offered a day rate for winter weddings (typically couples have to rent the entire property), and some of my other vendors offered off-season discounts as well.
We did not necessarily have a defined style, but we wanted the day to be intimate and personal. Throughout the process, though, it became clear that we loved the classic, vintage touches that you can see from our attire and from the flower choices. I loved the idea of blushes and grays with a pop of sapphire blue. I wore an oyster pink dress with an ivory Chantilly lace overlay, and Shaun wore a gray morning jacket (both vintage styles that complemented the 1930s ranch). The colors also really melded so beautifully with the stone at Holman and the natural hues in the fields that we walked through.
There were so many moments that I continue to think about. Getting ready with the ladies and having my esthetician for the last 10 years, Tiffany, do all of our makeup. The ceremony was so wonderful and warm. We had an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter and it all went beautifully.
I also loved walking out of the ceremony with my husband and going straight to a private courtyard to share appetizers and a glass of wine!