Chic Fall Wedding at the Stunning Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley
A whimsical, romantic ranch escape from Hollywood with nods to old world Italy and Mexico. Francesca and Matt were on a mission to find a venue where their nearest and dearest could stay on property. The couple met in college at the University of Southern California, and the majority of their wedding party have been friends for years, but now live around the world. They wanted their wedding to feel both like an idyllic getaway and a lively reunion. They also hoped to pay homage to their Italian and Mexican heritages. It’s difficult not to fall completely in love with a venue like Holman Ranch - with its beautiful ceremony space with sweeping views of the St. Lucia Highlands, to the gorgeous and inviting guest rooms, to the exceptional wines they serve. Holman Ranch was once a retreat for Hollywood stars like Charlie Chaplin, Marlon Brando, and Clark Gable. Francesca works in casting for films and television shows and was instantly captivated by the rich Hollywood history of the stunning estate. Francesca and Matt knew the exquisite property was exactly what they were searching for. Working with Palette Events Company to make their vision come to life was an absolute dream. The wedding weekend kicked off with an al fresco dinner at Holman Ranch under the arbor covered in vines. The Mexican cuisine served by Paradise Catering was an ode to Matthew’s heritage. The wedding party then shuttled down to Forge in the Forest in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a Clint Eastwood hang out spot, for the welcome party. The bride stunned in her embroidered mini Zimmerman dress and the groom looked suave in his Suit Supply garb.
Francesca did not cry when she tried on the Reem Acra Austrian Gown at Loho Bride, but her first words were “This is so cool. I look so cool!” She had never seen anything like it before. It felt modern and old world all at once. The regal puff sleeves gave the dress the wow factor and drama Francesca was looking for. The short slip permitted a subtle glimpse of her legs through the fabric making the dress both alluring yet modest. Her cathedral veil from Galia Lahav was “Something Borrowed” from her older sister, topped off with a Jennifer Behr tiara and her mother’s Lisa T Fine Jewelry chandelier earrings.
Cooking and good food is at the very heart of Francesca and Matt’s relationship. They were both raised in large families that celebrated big Sunday night dinners. As adults, Francesca and Matt love hosting dinner parties in their backyard in Los Angeles, and they wanted their wedding to feel like an extension of one of those intimate bashes. They know that great food brings people together. They worked with Paradise Catering to feature items highlighting both of their cultural backgrounds - like the Italian sausage tamales that were passed hors d'oeuvres on their wedding day. The rehearsal dinner featured Mexican food: a Fiesta salad with jicama, black olives, cherry tomatoes, Cabo fish tacos, tacos de carnitas, grilled chicken breast with chile verde sauce, and a delectable corn soufflé. The dinner concluded with churros paired with Kahlua chocolate sauce. The wedding day dinner was served family style, mirroring Francesca’s family dinners growing up. Each table started with rustic bread paired with tie dye butter and a caprese salad. The main course included penne pasta with pesto sauce and shaved parmesan, boneless braised beef short rib with a cherry pinot glaze, and seared salmon fillets with a vibrant garden chimichurri sauce. The couple worked with Twist of Lime to create cocktails that matched their personalities and their guests tastes. They knew a spicy margarita with a special chile syrup (dubbed Feisty Frankie after Francesca) would be a hit. The True Gentleman (an old fashioned) was also popular amongst guests. The incomparable Holman Ranch pinot noirs and chardonnay were also poured for guests.
Matt and Francesca worked with Courtney from Palette Events Company to plot out their vision for the wedding day. Courtney helped them figure out details that were unique yet dreamy and classic. They hung chandeliers in the tree behind the head table. They mixed vibrant fall colors and black details to create ethereal table scapes. As another fun salute to Hollywood, they framed photos of celebrities throughout history easting pasta and placed them at each table. Busy Bee's Floral Design captured the moody, natural, blissful, and unique aesthetic Francesca and Matt were hoping for. The florals also perfectly blended with the natural beauty of the Holman Ranch property, while adding a romantic essence.
Matthew and Francesca decided to forgo the traditional cake route. While they had a small cutting cake, the chocolate chip and pistachio cannolis from Carmel Bakery and tiramisu cups were the perfect finishing touch to their Italian dinner.
The groom and his family walked down the aisle to the orchestral version of “Unchained Melody” from the movie Ghost. The groomsmen walked down “For The Love of a Princess” from Braveheart, and the bridesmaids walked down to “Mia & Sebastian’s Theme” from La La Land. Her parents and the bride entered during an orchestral version of the Lana del Rey song “Video Games.” One of their best friends from college officiated their ceremony, sharing memories of when the couple first met. Going with the movie theme, a groomsman read a monologue by Robin Williams from the 1997 Academy Award nominated film Good Will Hunting. After locking lips to “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer, Golden Bell Music led guests in a parade from the ceremony to cocktail hour. Golden Bell is a DJ/band hybrid group that kept guests entertained with their playful and original style all night long. Who doesn’t love a saxophone and drum? One of the bride and groom’s dear friends is a ballerina who helped them choreograph a waltz to “Perfect Symphony” by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli. After dinner, the bride and groom reentered the reception in the barn adorned in cowboy get ups to the tune of Friends in Low Places. The bride changed into a Staud dress, glittering cowboy boots and a Kemo Sabe hat branded with their wedding date and initials. The groom took off his jacket and added a Prada bolo tie, cowboy hat, and cowboy boots.
Another one of Matthew and Francesca’s goals was to give their guests a unique experience. Carmel is an artist community, and they felt hiring Rosaura of Pigment And Parchment to paint watercolor guest portraits was a one-of-a-kind experience. Rosaura also hand painted their dinner menus, a map detailing their wedding weekend & meaningful locations in their relationship, and an engagement photo of the couple that they used for playing cards they included in gift bags for guests.
