When we first looked for venues in West Marin for our guest count of 150-160, there weren't a ton of options - we were able to fit all 5 tours in a single day. By chance, we had scheduled Straus last. We were so tired from the day, and hadn't quite fallen in love with any of the venues we'd seen, as they didn't quite capture the coastal magic of Point Reyes in the way we'd hoped. But as we drove around the bend on Highway One towards Straus, we could immediately tell that this venue would be different. And a single conversation with Michael and Vivien Straus was all we needed to feel certain that this was where we wanted to get married.

- We loved that the default is that you have the venue for the whole weekend. It was such a great guest experience for everyone to know where all of our events were happening, and we loved being able to host a welcome dinner and goodbye brunch onsite.
- There is such a lovely variety of spaces/areas to use across the venue. The ceremony site up on the hill, the lawn in front of the farm house, the barn (with heated floors!), etc.
- Michael and Vivien are so, so, so kind, warm, responsive, and accommodating. I don't think they ever responded to our emails later than a few hours after we sent them, and they were by far the most flexible venue when it came to all of the creative/unconventional things we wanted to do (see: wedding hot pot)

I could really go on and on. If you are at all on the fence, BOOK THIS VENUE. You will not regret a single penny.

After the initial property tour, our daughter and new son-in-law certainly found the ideal wedding venue for their June wedding weekend—Straus Home Ranch!  During the months leading up to the wedding, we certainly took full advantage of owners Michael and Vivien who were available for additional visits and quick to respond to emails and texts. 

The property offers numerous options for events. We had the Rehearsal Dinner on the beautifully landscaped farmhouse lawn, the Welcome Reception on the barn patio with a fire pit, and The Wedding Ceremony was a walk up past the flower/vegetable garden and blackberry maze to the top of the hill, which offered views of the bay, The Wedding Reception was in the super clean well-appointed barn with fabulous lighting. 

Michael was SO helpful with the set up at each event. It was such a plus having Michael onsite in case anything needed attention or for any emergencies. And besides being hosts with the most (personality, humor, willingness to please), Michael and Vivien have many items onsite, free of charge, that we had access to.  They were open to any of our plans—as long as, Michael quipped, we followed the #1 rule: “Don’t burn down the barn!” 😆

We also took advantage of the lovely farmhouse and cool calf house for on-site accommodations and wedding day bridal hair/makeup session. Other guests stayed at nearby vrbo’s suggested by Michael and Vivien. All in all, it made for a memorable, fun, happy, beautiful weekend. Thank you Straus Home Ranch!
(Oh!  Make sure to check out the ranch’s history including the family’s contributions to environmental preservation—namely the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. And, yum, try their family ice cream!)

We rented Straus Home Ranch for a beautiful weekend of wedding activities. We held a Saturday morning American wedding and picnic, followed by a Saturday afternoon Indian wedding. Michael and Vivien were fantastic to work with! We had many questions along the way, and they were exceptionally responsive with their answers. The venue is stunning and offers so many different sites for activities. We held the American wedding and picnic lunch on the lovely lawn in front of the farmhouse, the Indian wedding on the knoll overlooking spectacular Tomales Bay, the reception/dinner in the gorgeous barn, and dancing outside next to the barn. Michael and Vivien gave us terrific recommendations for a wedding planner; huge shout out to Corina Becznar! They supported us every step of the way, and even went above and beyond to help a wedding guest who got a flat tire on the rental car. We loved working with them and would highly recommend this spectacular venue!

It has taken me a year to write this review. I sat daunted for 12 months, sure I could not possible find the words to capture this purely magical weekend, that was the celebration of our daughters wedding with the love of her life. I going to finally accept this review wont be as perfect as the wedding.

We arrived on Thursday, the immediate family staying on sight, with close cousins across the street in the rental homes. I highly recommend adding this extra night. We had a lovely afternoon and then a small family dinner - perfect start. Rehearsal dinner on the lawn On Friday, Then the most amazing wedding day. Vivien and Michael are absolutely wonderful to work with. Could not be more responsive or helpful. Genuinely good, salt of the earth folks who genuinely care about your event being everything you want it to be. Our wedding coordinator, Katy Oursler, is an 11 out of 10. She is very familiar with the venue and is a total pro. Perfect balance of covering off the details, while always emanating calm and positivity. If you are a fan of West Marin, you can't get better than this. Run dont walk and book your date.

Our family experienced the most wonderful, magical, and extraordinary wedding weekend at Straus when my son and now daughter-in-law were married there in July 2025. The ceremony site on top of the hill overlooking Tomales Bay was so beautiful and glorious. The lawn cocktail hour in front of the picturesque Straus house, and barn reception in the charming, spacious barn were both phenomenal. Weddings at Straus evoke a casual costal elegance that encourages all guests to be themselves and have fun!! And Michael and Vivien are the nicest, most helpful and responsive hosts. I recommend this venue to anyone thinking of a wedding in the 100-150 person range. It was perfect in every way.

Straus Ranch was the most amazing place to get married. It surpased all of my expectations. The venue is the perfect combination of laidback Northern California coast and understated charm. The views speak for themselves. Michael was instrumental in helping us throughout the wedding day and so accommodating and in general just a wonderful human to have around. I am forever thankful for all the incredible memories, and cannot wait to return and reminisce!

We LOVE Straus! Vivien and Michael are the absolute best. While the venue is very DIY, there are ways to make it easy and affordable and you can have very unlimited access to the venue while planning. we absolutely loved getting married here- it was the best vendor decision we made!

We had the amazingly good fortune to be married at Straus Home Ranch. This is more than a simple wedding venue - the Straus family's legacy of love, care, kindness, and dedication to the land imbues every acre of the ranch and comes across in every interaction with its caretakers Michael and Vivienne Straus. By way of example, all couples previously married at the venue were recently invited back to the site for a reunion party (aptly entitled "LoveFest").

As a wedding venue, we couldn't have asked for more. It has all of the necessary infrastructure (beautiful heated barn, heat lamps, etc.) combined with the rural beauty of West Marin and Tomales Bay. Our rental included the property for the entire weekend, which meant that we could stay and get ready in the charming house on the property all weekend, host a welcome gathering on the front lawn Friday night, get married on the beautiful hill overlooking the bay with reception in the fully restored barn on Saturday, and enjoy brunch with our guests on the back patio on Sunday. Our guests loved it, and so did we.

Overlooking Tomales Bay, atop eucalyptus wreathed hills, Straus Home Ranch is a hidden treasure. While I have a lot to say about the pleasures of working with Michael and Vivien, who are among the most generous, thoughtful, and accommodating hosts a couple could hope for, let’s start with the venue.


The main house and surrounding garden is a beautifully maintained and decorated hundred year old home with three bedrooms, two living rooms, a dining room, a generous kitchen, and two bathrooms. This was the perfect place for our wedding party to stay on site and made a warm, welcoming staging area for makeup, hair, and dressing. The surrounding lawn and garden are beautifully maintained, and sheltered by the trees that surround it, it makes a comfortable area to receive guests, play games, and celebrate no matter the weather.


Its ceremony area is among the most extraordinary little gems in the area. Sheltered by trees, you cannot see the road, but the Bay and the hills beyond feel close. You are hidden away high atop the hill, behind the house, where Vivien and Michael will stage benches and an arch for your use. A small road allows you to drive some of your less mobile guests easily to the top of the hill. The cows grazing in the neighboring fields add to an already picturesque scene.


It was perfect for us.


Logistically, there’s a lot to appreciate about Straus Home Ranch. Parking is generous, allowing thirty cars to comfortably find a space. Rental toilets are already present and Michael keeps a number of heat lamps, blankets, and lawn games on hand. If, like us, you wanted a little privacy for your wedding night, there is even a beautifully decorated studio off of the main house.


Finally, the converted barn is an amazing place to host a party! It was a cold and blustery evening after our wedding, but because of its heated floors, the inside couldn’t have been more comfortable. There was room for dancing, dinner, a bar, a DJ, our caterers working behind curtains, and still there was room to spare.


There are a lot of people in the wedding business that can make what should be one of the happiest moments in your life into a bit of a nightmare, but Vivien and Michael are the real treasure of this place.


If you have the pleasure of working with them, you will find them attentive, kind, and full of good ideas and recommendations with connections to some of the better caterers, florists, and planners in the area. Michael was there the day of the wedding, working in the background to bring heat lamps where they were needed, to make sure the fire pit was all set up for s'mores, and checking in to make sure everything was working perfectly.


My partner and I truly cannot recommend Straus Home Ranch enough.


(Photo Credit: Molly Kate Photography)

Vivian and Michael are absolutely without a doubt some of the most amazing people we have ever met! They went above and beyond to make our day so special, and that it was. Extremely helpful, king, generous and wonderful to work with. The venue is literally a dream come true. It’s a dream house, dream barn, dream set up and a dream location! It seriously doesn’t get better. We had the most amazing two days at the ranch with our family and friends and you can feel the love that has blessed this land from all the magic shared here. We love Straus Home Ranch and Vivian and Michael ❤️❤️❤️