Straus Home Ranch Reviews
Reviews
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![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 02/22/2024Absolutely The Best
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) -
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![Erica]()
Erica Sent on 12/23/2023Wedding venue
The venue was absolutely beautiful. The location is great, Michael & Vivien were so helpful and great to work with. They were so welcoming and personable. -
![Jennie]()
Jennie Sent on 12/21/2023Perfection from beginning to end!
The second we set foot on the property, we KNEW. This is the place. It's stunning and upscale, but also so, so relaxed and unfussy. They have thought through the details, but nothing feels formulaic. So many of the other venues feel like a "wedding factory." Straus feels like a luxe weekend at a family lake house. The owners are flexible, communicative, and kind. They have stellar relationships with all of the local vendors.
We felt our wedding was perfect, but to hear over and over again from our guests, "this is the BEST wedding we've ever been to" was just magic! -
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![Michael]()
Michael Sent on 12/06/2023Wedding of our dreams, enveloped by nature
Straus Home Ranch came onto my radar via Airbnb, as I was searching for a fun place for a group stay. While that Airbnb group trip never happened, I tucked the venue away in the back of my mind when thinking of beautiful and interesting places for a wedding venue.
It was immediately obvious after our first visit that Straus Home Ranch was absolutely the perfect place for us to get married, and we would do whatever it took to make that happen, including waiting out the pandemic until things calmed down and putting a date in the sand many months later. Michael and Vivien were so hospitable, gracious, and immediately made us feel so at ease throughout the whole process, and we are so grateful to them for hosting us at their home.
We hosted a 100 person wedding in August, and could not have been happier celebrating our special day in such a gorgeous location - from our ceremony up at the top of the hill, to dancing the night away at the barn, we thoroughly relished every moment that we had, including staying a few nights before at the newly built Calf House! It felt so special to be surrounded by nature, with the cows in the distance and Tomales Bay across the way; this space is truly magical.
Straus Home Ranch will always hold a special place in our hearts. We look forward to heading up north so that we can enjoy the great outdoors, shuck some oysters, and say hello to our friends for life. -
![Diana]()
Diana Sent on 08/17/2023Wedding without a hitch at dreamy Straus
When my partner and I first stumbled upon Straus Home Ranch, we were immediately struck not just by the natural beauty of this coastal farm but by how warm, welcoming, and hands-on the Straus family is. We knew right away that this venue would provide the perfect ambiance for a day celebrating love. SHR provides multiple events spaces so that the rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner and dancing are spread across distinctly different parts of the farm, which (in my opinion) gave our guests the opportunity to explore and kept our wedding feeling dynamic and flexible. We loved having the cows in the background, the bay behind us as we said our vows, and the warm and cozy barn when the sun went down. Michael and Vivien, the venue’s hosts, were so attentive, friendly, and down-to-earth. I knew that if something went wrong, they’d be there to step in and help fix it. Fortunately, our special day went perfectly. I don’t have a single complaint or regret. This venue is for soulful, authentic people who love nature… and who love to party. Can’t recommend SHR enough! -
![Austin]()
Austin Sent on 08/17/2023An Amazing Venue
When we first stepped onto Straus Home Ranch and met with Michael, it was clear this was a very special place. Michael and Vivien have so much love for their property, and so will you after you spend a weekend on the shores of Tomales Bay. I could talk forever about the wonderful house, the magical barn, and how I teared up after walking down the aisle overlooking the setting sun over the bay. But truly the selling point of this venue is the people, and how helpful Michael was during the whole event. As you go throughout the evening, Michael is the most helpful host, helping with the set up, tear down, and everything in between.
I still remember walking up to the venue at sunset and thinking "this is such a magical place." If you choose to host you wedding here, I'm sure you'll feel that too! -
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![Ceanna]()
Ceanna Sent on 08/10/2023Phenomenal venue in the heart of Tomales Bay
I had the pleasure of acting as an event planner for a couple who got married at Straus Ranch. Not only was the barn gorgeous, the grounds, ceremony location and farm house were all impeccably kept. The entire ambience of this venue created such a warm, mellow and relaxing vibe to the whole wedding weekend. Michael and Viven were hospitible hosts and provide invaluable event support and experience. I love this place and will be back to visit again! -
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![Naomi]()
Naomi Sent on 08/10/2023Magical place to have a wedding!
I recently helped a friend with her wedding planning (July 2023) at the Straus Home Ranch, and I was blown away by the venue! I have been working in the wedding industry for almost 20 years, and I can handily say that this was one of my best experiences "behind the scenes" with a venue in all of those years. The obvious wonderfulness of the venue is apparent when you see it: it is beautiful and has everything you need for a lovely indoor/outdoor wedding in a farm/barn/nature setting. What you might not see right away is that the people running the venue are the hidden gems: Vivian and Michael are so kind, thoughtful and hardworking. They are responsive and work tirelessly to provide whatever is needed for the event to be a great success. I was as blown away by THEM as I was by their stunning venue, which they have worked so hard to create and maintain. Rest assured that if the spot is right for your wedding, then every other aspect of this venue will be too. -
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![Jenny]()
Jenny Sent on 08/08/2023The best decision of our lives
There are truly no words to describe Straus Home Ranch. When we came upon the wedding wire listing we immediately had a feeling in our stomachs that this could be our wedding venue. The second we stepped foot on the grounds for our tour with Vivien, we both had goosebumps covering our whole bodies. Straus is a slice of heaven that makes you feel right at home. There are wildflowers growing everywhere you look, cows roaming the field above the ranch, twinkle lights in the trees, a beautiful white house that your whole family can stay in, a eucalyptus grove for the ceremony that truly doesn't even need wedding flowers because the backdrop will take your breath away, a HUGE red barn for the best wedding dance party of your lives, and lastly the most INCREDIBLE brother-sister duo (Michael and Vivien) to guide you through the wedding planning process. Michael and Vivien are two of the kindest, warmest, and most charismatic people we have ever met. They have created this beautiful oasis for others and they welcome each couple in with open arms. They are both responsive and highly professional when communicating about logistics. They made us feel heard, taken care of, and completely at ease with each decision for our wedding day. We cannot wait to come back and visit the ranch just to hang out with them!!! THANK YOU MICHAEL AND VIVIEN FOR THE BEST DAY OF OUR LIVES!!! -
![Nathalie]()
Nathalie Sent on 02/13/2023A perfect location and wonderful hosts
Our experience with SHR was phenomenal. We had a wedding planned at SHR in June 2020 and subsequently had to reschedule several times (COVID-19) before ultimately celebrating in June 2022. Vivien and Michael were patient, flexible and incredibly supportive throughout what was otherwise a stressful and frustrating experience. Not only did they allow us to reschedule (several times), but they honored our original agreement instead of increasing the price like many other vendors did. They'd said from the get-go that they wanted to help us put together the perfect wedding, but they really went above and beyond. In the two years of postponement, not only did they honor the price, but they continued to make a remarkable number of improvements to the property that we were able to take advantage of at our final celebration. Which reminds me: while the initial cost for a weekend might seem steep, it includes SO MUCH extra stuff. We saved a decent amount on rentals just by making use of what Vivien and Michael had in storage (ex: benches for the ceremony). They also provide clients with an exhaustive list of local vendors, hotels/AirBnbs and other useful tips.
And in the end, we had the most wonderful wedding celebration thanks to them! The ranch is idyllic, the grounds well-maintained, and there's really nothing that compares to that view of Tomales Bay. We highly recommend this venue for anyone looking to be well taken care of and/or wanting a relaxed and beautiful natural environment for their wedding. -
![Gina]()
Gina Sent on 12/07/2022Unforgettable and perfect wedding venue
We got married at Straus in May 2022 and cannot speak highly enough of Michael, Vivien, and the beautiful property. Vivien and Michael were friendly and welcoming from the beginning when we sent our parents to tour the property and answered our many emailed questions incredibly promptly throughout the entire planning process. On our wedding weekend, Michael truly went above and beyond in helping us get things set up, including making a fire in the firepit on two nights. The venue itself was exactly what we were looking for - we had our rehearsal dinner in the space in front of the house and inside the Shed, then had our ceremony on the hill overlooking the eucalyptus trees and bay, followed by cocktail hour behind the barn, and the reception within the barn (plenty of space for our 150 guests, live band, and dancing). Everything on the venue is incredibly well maintained (including the many small but helpful items that we were able to use at no extra cost such as the arbor arch, seating chart, etc) and Michael and Vivien seem to be constantly making improvements (eg beautiful lights in front of the house, new benches that we were able to use for our ceremony that cut down some of our cost, etc). -
![Danvu]()
Danvu Sent on 12/07/2022The Perfect Wedding at the Most Perfect Venue
Straus Home Ranch was truly the venue of our dreams - the location, atmosphere and amenities were absolutely perfect. We were looking for a wedding venue back in 2020 and when we reached out to Straus Home Ranch, we were welcomed with open arms by both the hosts, Vivien and Michael Straus. When we arrived to tour around their property, Judy and I knew that we needed to have our wedding here. The venue is perfectly situated right off of beautiful Highway 1 by Tomales Bay and the climate is perfect for a wedding throughout the summer season. There were many areas throughout the property that made for a perfect wedding day. The family house [of which Vivien and Michael grew up in :')] is gorgeous and comfortable for guests to stay in through the weekend. The ceremony area on the hilltop overlooks the beautiful and serene bay. The newly restored red barn was magical and was great way to end the night for reception. There are also dairy cows roaming in the field and Marcia the Chicken who's not afraid to steal your food to add to the ambience. Throughout our planning process and several postponements (COVID), Vivien and Michael were always responsive, supportive, and extremely accommodating. During the week of our wedding (of which is always the most stressful), everything ran smoothly and we constantly saw Michael running around behind the scenes to make sure any requests that we had were met and he always did it with a huge smile on his face. We always felt like an extension of their family and we would not hesitate to recommend this venue to other couples that plan on having their wedding here or even staying a few nights. Thank you Vivien and Michael for being such great hosts, and don't forget to try their soft serve- it's amazing! -
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![Milani]()
Milani Sent on 11/27/2022Straus Home Ranch MAGIC!
From the moment I met Michael and Vivien I knew that Straus would be the place for our wedding. The warmth and genuine kindness they exude is matched perfectly by the extreme magic of the venue they steward so beautifully. This is a pace for the feeling of real magic and abundant love to pour out and over onto everyone involved. Our wedding was a truly life changing experience here. I haven't spoken to one guest who didn't say is was the most wonderful wedding they had ever attended. That's having to do with every little detail that Michael and Vivien put in to making this place so magical. It's the hillsides and the eucalyptus, the ocean, the red barn, the big white house, but it's also the incredible love and goodness that is invested in this place year after year. I could cry just thinking about going back...tears of joy. I'm endlessly grateful we found this place. A piece of my heart is definitely here forever. -
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![Jimmy]()
Jimmy Sent on 11/25/2022Incredible and no regrets
Had friends and family fly in from across the world. Everyone was blown away by the peaceful, rustic, and authentic feel given off by Michael and Vivien's Straus Home Ranch.
The venue was beautiful. Their on-site home housed the wedding party. Nearby Airbnb, VRBO, and Bed/Breakfasts accommodated our closest friends and family. A friendly chicken ran between peoples' legs as we mingled on the lawn during cocktail hour.
What you're getting here is a priceless experience and memories you'll take with you for the rest of your life. We're often reminded by friends and family of how beautiful and fun our wedding was months after our venue, and Straus Home Ranch made this all possible. No regrets! -
![Victoria]()
Victoria Sent on 11/19/2022Dream Wedding at Straus Home Ranch
Everything about SHR was perfect! Michael and Vivien are a dream to work with. It was the first and only venue we toured because we knew instantly we had to get married here! Being able to stay onsite at the farmhouse was beyond convenient and so much fun for us and our bridal party. The location is breathtaking. The farmhouse, the barn, the fields, the bay views - just stunning. I feel really at peace there - so good for the soul. I highly recommend SHR, you definitely will not be disappointed! -
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![Sharaine]()
Sharaine Sent on 11/14/2022Magical Venue & Perfect Hosts
To achieve ultimate wedded bliss, you need the help of incredibly capable and kind people. With hearts as big as their smiles, Michael and Vivien Straus are those people. Not only for us but in support of every vendor and their process in the months leading to our multi-day event. Their warmth, flexibility, and lightning-fast response times made planning a breeze and our actual wedding weekend nothing short of magical. The breathtakingly gorgeous setting of Tomales Bay, combined with the rustic elegance of the exquisitely well-appointed 160-year-old farmhouse and barn, created the perfect backdrop for every moment that will forever be etched in our memories. There are not enough superlatives to describe the overall experience. We are honored to be a thread in the tapestry of the glorious historic Straus Home Ranch. (Photo credit: Alena Evteeva Photography) -
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![Jana]()
Jana Sent on 10/12/2022One amazing diverse venue!
I am a photographer that just recently shot at this venue. From a photographers perspective it has so much variety to shoot from the bay to the trees to the house the the meadows. We loved how everything was all so close too! The owner is also just the sweetest and so welcoming to all. We cannot wait to shoot back here again! -
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![M VDH]()
M Vdh Sent on 02/11/2022Absolutely incredible - location and service!
We had the absolute best experience at Straus Home Ranch. Michael and Vivien treated us like family from the very beginning and made sure everything was exactly how we envisioned it. Michael and Vivien took all of the stress away and were so responsive - literally replying to my emails within minutes. They even set us up with our photographer and put together a list of places to stay off property! Although the ranch's beauty speaks for itself, I could not recommend SHR more. We couldn't imagine having our wedding anywhere else or sharing with anyone else. -
![James]()
James Sent on 11/21/2021The ultimate Northern California wedding venue
Choosing Straus as our wedding venue was the single best decision we made in our wedding planning process. Straus Home Ranch is located on a gorgeous section of the coastline--many of our guests who were traveling from out-of-state were amazed to find such a pristine, rural setting just an hour from San Francisco. Beyond the location, the Straus Ranch and home are a magical place to celebrate all of your wedding festivities. From the picture-perfect eucalyptus grove for our ceremony to the historic home, Straus has a tremendous sense of place that will add meaning to every aspect of your wedding weekend. It is the opposite of a "cookie-cutter" venue and brings tremendous texture to your wedding aesthetic. Put as simply as possible, the place has good vibes.
The good vibes don't end with the scenery--Michael and Vivien were the single best communicators and business partners we had in our entire wedding process. 2021 was a fairly difficult year for wedding planning, with pandemics and wildfires galore, and Michael and Vivien were direct, kind, and collaborative at every twist and turn of our planning process. They had a sophisticated, COVID-cautious approach that struck the perfect balance of prioritizing safety, while working with us to put in safeguards to host a responsible event. One of the best memories of our wedding was getting married under a chuppah that we built with Michael at Straus just a few weeks before (and it's still at Straus if you want to get married under it too after reading this review!). At the end of the day, you're going to expend a lot of money and stress planning your wedding, so you might as well be doing that with people that you consider friends, which Michael and Vivien are for us :)
If you're lucky enough to get married at Straus, here's a few practical tips: (1) extend your weekend stay by at least 1 extra night (and 2 if you can swing it!)--your friends and family will be thrilled to have a multi-day festival at the ranch (including a late departure the day after your wedding so you can have a leisurely day-after and soak it all in); (2) seek Michael and Vivien's input on recommended vendors--they are a wealth of knowledge and have seen amazing weddings at their place and are happy to share recs; (3) book up as much of the nearby lodging as soon as possible (e.g. Nick's Cove, gorgeous Airbnbs across the street)--the more friends and family that can be nearby for the whole weekend, the bettter; (4) definitely add the Straus soft-serve ice cream to your dessert menu; and (5) have Michael give you a tour of the ranch and share his family's history--any lover of West Marin's natural beauty will have deep gratitude for the Straus family and their enduring legacy to protect one of the -
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![Kari]()
Kari Sent on 10/16/2021Couldn't have asked for more
We were so fortunate to have found Straus Home Ranch for our small pandemic wedding. The venue is absolutely beautiful and charming - every bit about it is well cared for and kept up. The big bonus is having Viven and Michael look after you! The are incredible managers and also genuine people that you can trust to take care of your special day with your family and friends! -
![Maddie]()
Maddie Sent on 09/22/2021Better than we could have imagined!
We got married at Straus in October 2019 and it was the best choice we could have made. The venue itself is incredibly beautiful, with tons of character and charm and plenty of opportunity to make it your own. Michael and Vivian went above and beyond to ensure our day was special and went off without a hitch. If you are thinking of booking Straus for your special day or other event, don't hesitate, just do it!! -
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![Will]()
Will Sent on 09/21/2021Amazing memories at Straus Ranch
The Straus Home Ranch was such an incredible venue for our special day. Instantly upon arriving we knew this would we where we would get married – the beautiful barn, the towering eucalyptus trees, and the glittering blue of Tomales Bay all created the perfect backdrop. We had our ceremony up on their hill behind the farmhouse with cocktail hour on the lawn. Each space has its own character which created so many amazing views and photographs to cherish forever.
The barn itself fit our 150 person wedding well and the outdoor area with fire pit was a great place to grab some fresh air and look at the stars while taking breaks from dancing!
While the venue is absolutely breathtaking, it was Michael and Vivien who were truly the cherry on top. They were communicative and helped make sure that every question, concern and change was taken care of. They are both incredibly kind and welcoming people, and we are still in touch to this day. They are truly invested in making sure that you have an amazing celebration.
10/10 will recommend Straus Home Ranch to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion.
Photo Credit to Manali Sibthorpe -
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![Izchel]()
Izchel Sent on 09/16/2021Amazing venue!!!
We had a small, beautiful wedding earlier this year at Straus Home Ranch. It was intimate, original, and surrounded by the wonderful natural landscape (including three glorious black hens). Michael and his family are incredibly accommodating and friendly. They made our time there very special. From the artisan cheeses, to kayaking to the endless views of the Bay. This place has it all. We couldn't have asked for a better place to observe our love with family and friends. I highly recommend renting the home overnight to stay there with your closest loved ones. The Straus home has an incredibly homey feeling and we had the most wonderful time cooking family dinners on the nights leading up to the wedding, we also had a wonderful night by the bomb fire with s'mores, wine and a beautiful view of the stars. I cannot recommend this venue enough. It is magical and beautiful, you and your guests will love it, whether you are having an intimate wedding or a big wedding, this is the place to have it. -
Stst Sent on 11/06/2024
A Piece of Our Hearts
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. -
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Stephanie Sent on 12/28/2023
Best wedding experience ever!
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 ❤️❤️❤️ -
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