Wedding Venues in Carmel

If you are considering Holly Farm as the venue for your wedding, and you just want the tl;dr, then here are my three most important suggestions for you: 1) You should absolutely go with Holly Farm. 2) You should accept every piece of advice Erin, Ryan, and the rest of the incredible team have for you along the way. 3) You should start getting excited right now about La Creme because their food is out of this world. Picking Holly Farm as our venue was the first choice we made in our wedding planning process, and trust me when I say that it was by far the best one. The pictures speak for themselves, and yes, it's as amazing as it looks (though if you haven't visited, you should take the excuse - it's truly stunning in person), but the real game changer is the team. The Holly Farm fam has been at this for decades, and it SHOWS. They cater to your needs and your vision, whether you want to be super hands on and into the nitty gritty on everything, or whether you want somebody to completely take the reins for you. We were so so appreciative for Erin's help during the planning process; any time we were stuck on something, she had a recommendation ready that was never just "off the shelf". We didn't want to be totally consumed by wedding planning all the time, and even though Erin had a big list of vendors ready to go, we were more than happy to listen every time she said "here's the 2 who I think you guys would love". It's really really telling to me that every single vendor we spoke to - without exception, including the ones we didn't end up choosing - all said some version of the same thing: "oh man I LOVE doing weddings at Holly Farm". Here's what I'll say about the weekend itself - it truly feels like you are staying at a luxury resort where you and your friends are the only guests. The entire staff is so attentive, so friendly, and they take care of all the details and logistics so that your only job really is to just enjoy the weekend and stay relaxed. We cooked a huge friends and family dinner in the Adobe and they cleaned the entire kitchen for us! Anytime we were hanging out in the evenings they rolled the portable heaters up without us asking! They moved our rental equipment around to make cool outdoor spaces for us so that we could get more use out of it than just the wedding itself! And nothing felt so satisfying as passing by Ryan on a path and hearing "hey I just lit your fireplace for you!". Of everything we loved about our wedding, the thing we loved most was getting to have this full weekend experience with our closest friends and family in one place, made truly special by the care the entire Holly Farm team put into making us feel at ease and at home. And one final thing - lest I leave you with the impression that this is only about good vibes - the operations for the wedding itself were incredible. Every vendor knows the team and knows the venue, everything works like clockwork without you having to supervise anything, and Erin, Ryan, and their staff have things so tightly coordinated that we didn't have to stress about logistics at all once the weekend got started. I can't emphasize enough how big a difference that made to us compared to some horror stories we'd heard from other weddings. Here are some final quick hits on other things you might be wondering about - but seriously, pick Holly Farm: - I didn't write an entire review for Tamie and La Creme, because it would be just as long, but they do amazing work. This is straight up excellent food, not excellent "wedding" food. - The rooms and buildings are very cool and very comfortable. - Yes, the Paraiso suite is "open air". Yes, it really does stay warm. Having a roaring fire in there, plus a heated blanket on the bed....A+. - The optional River House for extra space is definitely walkable (~3 mins), but it's nice to have flashlights at night. - Having the flexibility to use the space however you want for the entire weekend is a highly highly underrated perk. We had people hanging out on Thursday and Friday and it was a ton of fun. Highly recommend making plans that utilize the space every day. - We were nervous about the higher cost at first, but asking friends and family who stayed on site to pay for rooms turned out to not be a very big deal, and what we charged them was still way less than area hotels. - The music has to switch from DJ's speakers to house speakers at 9:30pm, but the house speakers can stay on all night if you want. We had just as much fun after the switchover. - No curfew is also a huge perk not to overlook. Erin and Ryan if you're reading this THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN YOU GUYS ARE ROCK STARS!!

We had our wedding at CVR at the end of September, and couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful location. Our ceremony on the hilltop platform was beautiful. Harvest landing for the cocktail hour was a great spot as the sun set, and our reception in the lawn was exactly as we’d hoped. The food was very similar to our tasting day, and guests loved it. Thea was great to work with, and the staff all did a wonderful job. We look forward to returning for anniversaries. In all honesty, we weren’t sure at first of the Hyatt brand for a wedding venue, but it doesn’t feel corporate at all.

I credit the Quail Lodge staff with how well my reception went. Everything flowed so seamlessly and all of my guests commented on how amazing my wedding was. The staff were so professional and kind. The venue is also beautiful. The layout is perfect with outdoor patio and indoor seating for dinner. The fact that they have everything you need (lighting, flatware, linens, tables, chairs, etc.) just takes out all sorts of things you would have to think about if you decided to host elsewhere. Lastly, working with Fallon was a dream. She knew exactly my vibe as a bride and was so easy to work with. Both her and the captain/main lead that night were amazing and fantastic. Anyone who asks me, I tell them I had the most amazing wedding.

Emily

5.0 out of 5 rating

5.0

One thing I really love about this venue is how much the location and building design speak for themselves. Many other venues have your reception in a large room that really is just a conference space. The ballroom at the Hyatt is beautiful with two huge fireplaces and a stunning view. You really don't need to worry too much about decor in a venue this gorgeous. The ceremony deck and its view are absolutely breathtaking. The bridal suite fit my bridal party of 8 and the makeup team perfectly. The only big issue with the venue is the amount of stairs. There is really no way to fully avoid stairs to the ceremony site and the rooms since the hotel was built in the early 1900s. They do have golf carts available for guest use but if you have folks in wheelchairs attending your wedding they may have some difficulty navigating the space. Our guests really enjoyed the food at the venue. We had the Argentinian skirt steak as one of our appetizers and multiple guests came up to me during the wedding to tell us that it was one of the best things they had eaten in a while. Others also really enjoyed the ahi poke appetizer. We truly had the most perfect wedding possible and it was largely in part to the two Emilys at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands Inn. They are absolute rockstars and I would 100% work with them again if I could.

Jessica

5.0 out of 5 rating

5.0

We got married on 9/26/25 at Wedgewood Carmel, with our ceremony on the beach and our reception in the Merienda Room — and it was truly the most perfect day! Everything ran so smoothly, and we had an absolute blast celebrating with our family and friends. We used all of Wedgewood’s vendors except for the officiant (we had a family member marry us) and went outside the package for our florist, which was worth the splurge. The venue itself is breathtaking, both the beach and reception spaces are naturally beautiful, so it didn’t need much beyond florals and greenery to highlight the setting. I dropped off a box of my décor on rehearsal day, and the team executed everything flawlessly. It looked like a dream! The Wedgewood team was incredible throughout the entire planning process and wedding day. Any time we had a question or concern, they were quick to help and reassure us. At one point, I was nervous about being over the guest count for our room, and they immediately called to ease my worries and offer solutions. Even when we had an unexpected issue with our dog on the wedding day, they stepped right in and helped handle it. Truly, they have your back for anything you might need. I also recommend leaning on their team for décor guidance — they’re so knowledgeable and will help you figure out what’s actually worth including. The food was delicious (we chose the buffet), and we had so many guests tell us how much they loved it. For music, we gave the DJ our Spotify playlists to capture our vibe, and he absolutely nailed it. We’ve had countless guests tell us this was the most fun and best wedding they’ve ever attended, which says it all. I have zero regrets choosing Wedgewood Carmel and would relive this day a hundred times over if I could.

Meghan

5.0 out of 5 rating

5.0

If you are looking to host the most incredible wedding experience, you will want to choose Folktale Winery! From the breathtaking vineyard views to the impeccable service, this venue will. exceed all of your expectations. The setting is absolutely magical – the rolling hills of the vineyard provided a stunning backdrop for both our ceremony and reception. You cannot ask for a more picturesque location. The winery's architecture and outdoor spaces are beautifully designed, making for perfect photo opportunities at every turn. The staff at Folktale Winery were professional, attentive, and so kind. They make the entire collaborative planning process smooth and stress-free. Myself along with my couples feel completely supported every step of the way. The food and wine were top-notch, your guests are sure to rave about the delicious menu and the fantastic wine pairings. The tasting experience is also something to look forward to! If you're looking for a wedding venue that offers beauty, elegance, and exceptional service, I wholeheartedly recommend Folktale Winery!

This is a GREAT place! In searching for hotels for our guests, I was stuck because Carmel, CA is a place of B&B's (which traditionally have one bed per room..some exceptions). With families coming down, I needed a place that had two queen beds per room for parents with small children. Voila - the answer is the Carmel Mission Inn. Only a couple miles from downtown Carmel, it has everything: heated pool (they swam in late December); hot tub (used); full workout room (used); bar and restaurant (used daily) and very nice rooms with balconies. We had stayed here in 2002 when owned by another company and when I finally found the new name and called, I learned that everything had been updated. My contact at the hotel was Elizabeth Steen, their Sales & Catering Coordinator, and Elizabeth was just the nicest person - had to meet her when we arrived and thank her. I often called her to ask about this or that. She always had such a nice way of helping me. The bride and groom had a suite at this hotel and it was huge and beautiful! Living room/dining room/bedroom and bath. The suite would have been a great place for parents as well to host anyone staying at the hotel. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. Great location - 2 very upscale shopping areas within walking distance on either side...yet nothing seems crowded...lots of open spaces to enjoy the great scenery Carmel has to offer.

Rio Grill was one of the few places we could find to accommodate an entirely plant-based and custom menu for a rehearsal dinner. Let’s just say the Chef pulled it all off superbly. The majority of our guests were not vegan and they were raving about the smoked Impossible meat dish the Chef designed. The salad was also incredible. The Chef served a delicious vegan desert, consisting of a sorbet with fresh berries. A truly amazing experience, in an intimate private room setting, all for a reasonable price. Thank you Rio Grill!