The Holly Farm Reviews

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!!

I wish I could give more than 5 stars because giving stars just feels so limiting when reviewing this absolutely magical, incredible, beautiful and inclusive, come as you are, perfect place. My (now) wife and I wanted an inclusive, beautiful but still classy and relaxed place for our wedding. My wife has family on the east coast and me on the west coast so we knew it had to be a place worth having people make the trip out. We also wanted a place where there weren't a ton of restrictions but also a venue who could guide us because we were completely clueless to the wedding planning stuff. The moment we toured the Holly farm with Ryan we knew it was it. Imagine a tropical enchanted garden, meets chic AF wedding vibes and that'll get you close to what you feel when you walk into the grounds. At that point we didn't care what the small details were because the venue was just too perfect in its own right - and you'll know it too when you tour it. The best part though is that the Holly Farm CARES about the small details and they've been doing this for 30+ years - so they know how to do it right. Erin immediately gave us all the recommendations - multiple choices to choose from in vendors but also heavily guided us in the right direction when we asked for help (and needed it lol). Caterer is built in and you will understand why because La crème is the best of the best. Now let's fast forward to the wedding day - the best weekend of our lives and all of our guests could not stop saying the same. The Holly Farm treats you as family and treats your family as family too. The day of planning is immaculate - we didn't stress for one second and everything went off without a hitch. The Holly farm expertly handled all of the details we thought of and even the ones we didn't think of- all of our signs, custom napkins and everything in between were perfectly set out and shown on our day. All of our guests could not stop talking about how magical our weekend was - and people who weren't there and saw our pictures said the same. We wouldn't have changed even a detail of the weekend and we couldn't have had a better one - and we owe so much of that to Erin, Ryan and the entire Holly Farm crew. I could continue writing on but words truly don't do this place justice and I don't think I could properly express how thankful and grateful I am for choosing this incredible, magical, wonderful place for our wedding. It'll have the most special place in our hearts forever and the Holly farm will always feel like family to us for the rest of our lives!

The Holly Farm is a place where you can be free, and actually, feel free. This was one of the reasons my wife and I chose this as our weekend location to host the joining of our families and wedding ceremony. The moment we toured the facility we fell in love, and even more so once we got to meet Erin, Ryan, and the amazing staff that take care of the property. Their love and dedication to this special place are felt in every fern, flower and each corner of their on-location cabanas, truly making this place feel like our home and one we couldn't wait for others to experience. There are many places to host a wedding, but this place made us feel at home and like family. This was what we wanted more than anything. To this day, we are met with attendees expressing rekindled relationships, love, and good memories that were made that weekend. I hope this helps bring a sense of peace and excitement to all those seeking a place where they can also feel free.

I am writing this one week after my wedding because that is how long it has taken me to process how absolutely magical and amazing our wedding here was. It is hard to understand from the photos you see online how truly incredible this place is. From the first moment my now husband and I stepped on to the property and met Erin and Ryan, we knew we had to get married there. The option to be able to stay at your venue for multiple days is seriously like no other place. We felt as though we had been transported to another world for the weekend, it was extremely relaxing. We were able to hold multiple events on the property before the wedding and spend time with each and every guest so that on the day of the wedding, my husband and I were able to spend time together dancing as much as we wanted without having to worry we have said hi to everyone. This made the experience soo amazing and memorable. Erin and Ryan are some of the most special humans on this earth. They are incredible at what they do. You do not need an additional wedding planner when you work with Holly Farm as they help you with every detail starting on day 1. They have so much experience in this business and can make miracles happen. They have many vendors that they work seamlessly with that they recommend (I went with most of their suggestions and each one was absolutely incredible). I felt so relaxed the entire weekend knowing Erin and Ryan would take care of everything. If I got married 100 times over I would do it here every time. There is literally no better place out there to celebrate your love than Holly Farm.

There really isn't anything like The Holly Farm and the people who work there. We got to experience the Holly Farm as guests while we were engaged and immediately recognized just how special the venue was. Even as a guest, it was wildly clear how detailed and thoughtful the staff were in executing a gorgeous, fun, and intimate event. Now having been married there, we can attest that the amount of care, thoughtfulness, and effort Erin, Ryan, Gus, Rosa, and El Guapo put into their guests can not be exaggerated. We were truly able to float through our wedding weekend with ease, joy, and gratitude.

While planning, I found that vendors were thrilled when we told them our venue and it's easy to see why. Beyond the professionalism and efficiency of the staff, every little nook of the venue has something special to offer. Since the space is literally dripping in greenery and orchids, you don't need to do much, if anything at all, to add to it - meaning you can save funds on one-off decor and event needs. The caterer they work with, La Creme Monterey, is truly stellar and knows the space so well that there's no need to play point guard between them and the venue.

Wedding days and weekends are simply intense, and it's such a gift to be able to enjoy your own wedding. The folks at The Holly Farm really make sure to do everything they can to make that happen. We count ourselves amongst the lucky ones to have been able to get married in such a special place.

It's hard to put into words how special of a place The Holly Farm is. My husband and I were married there a couple of weekends ago, and it was pure magic.

Erin, Ryan, Gus & Rosa put so much love into every single little thing that they do there. From the moment we arrived on-site on Thursday morning, they LITERALLY do every single thing for you, you don't have to work a second on your wedding weekend. It's just about relaxing and enjoying times with your loved ones on-site.

Every little detail the entire weekend was just absolute perfection. The way they pay so much attention to your group when you're on-site is so appreciated... and the best part.. there are NO RULES here. We stayed up dancing with the DJ until almost 2am. It was just so fun to see every person legitimately having a blast! Everyone keeps telling us that was the best wedding they have ever been to.

Rosa & Gus are just the kindest, most hard-working people. Rosa is like a little fairy goddess and somehow secretly cleans the kitchen, makes daily fires in the houses, makes your bed without you hardly noticing she's there. She is just a delight to be around and you can tell how much she loves Erin & Ryan and the Holly Farm property. And Gus (the freaking sweetest) who takes care of the landscape and pretty much everything else on-site is one hard working man! Our friends and family were laughing because all of the gravel is so perfectly raked, when we walked on it minutes later Gus would pop out of the "rain forrest" to rake it perfectly again. They are just the best!

And Erin & Ryan are two of the most genuine, coolest humans on this planet. I want to be friends with them now :) i literally cried leaving here on Sunday because I didn't want it to be over. Mu husband and I keep saying we need to somehow find out way back here.

I could go on and on about this incredibly special place, but bottom line, pay the extra and GET MARRIED HERE. You won't regret it.

Holly Farm and the entire team behind it are absolute magic. My husband and I were all set to get married May 2020 and had to postpone to May 2021 due to COVID. Erin, Tamie at La Creme, and all of the other vendors who work closely with Holly Farm often were a dream to work with when we were forced to delay. Everyone made the postponement as seamless as possible and the May 2021 wedding was well worth the wait. We were the first wedding the Holly Farm held post-COVID shutdowns and the team didn't miss a beat. We had the time of our lives and are so grateful for their kind, calm, and fun energy. The venue itself is stunning and different - a lush jungle oasis hidden in Carmel Valley. All of our guests commented on the uniqueness of the venue. The entire weekend was better than we could have ever imagined.

It's hard to even put into words how amazing The Holly Farm is. From the moment Susan and Gus greeted us through the entire weekend it felt like we were able to completely disconnect from the rest of the world at The Holly Farm. Erin, Ryan and their whole team (that feels more like a family) make you feel so incredibly comfortable and like you don't have a thing to worry about, but enjoy your weekend. All of their recommendations from lawn games, to rehearsal dinner, and every wedding detail were incredible and so perfect! Erin and Ryan do an amazing job of recommending decor and all of the details to make your vision come to life. When you see the venue it is so insanely beautiful with the lush landscape of beautiful plants. The orchids are so striking and you can just see in how well maintained every detail is that it is really a labor of love for their family.

Everyone who attended our wedding has not stopped telling us how amazing it was and that it was the most fun, coolest venue they have ever been to! We LOVE The Holly Farm and are so thankful for Erin, Ryan, and the whole team that made our wedding dreams a reality!

Dear Holly Farms Friends,
This is a very long overdue email but one which absolutely needed to be sent. We are still reeling from the excitement and magical quality of our children's wedding (Lauren Peterson and Lukas Rahlsom) just over a month ago and most of that gorgeous magic came from YOU! When we were looking at venues for their wedding, each place made all sorts of promises in the hopes that we would select their venue for this special day. From experience, we know that many of these promises are either not heartfelt or although made with good intentions, simply never come to fruition. You told us to relax, to enjoy, to let go and allow you to take over all the stresses, anticipated and unexpected, on the day(s).

Was I skeptical? of course I was! I was mother of the bride and that is my job and right in life, but as the days of events began to unfold, I could feel the release of my stress as each question, concern, worry, was met head on and usually before I even had a moment to wonder. You and your staff went way above and beyond in a gracious and thoughtful manner. We were all comfortable, cared for, looked after, and treated with the respect that we could have only dreamed of. There was a lot to manage; the series of events, the food, the accommodation, the weather, the music, hair and makeup, photographers, flowers, but it all, and I mean 'all', went off without a hitch! There was not one single thing I can think of, that I would change. We had FUN! We RELAXED (and anyone who knows me, knows full well that that word is never linked to me and my personality, EVER!), We caught up with friends and family, I danced like no one was watching (thank goodness for that!) and we had the opportunity to soak up beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.

And we are not alone in our sentiments. Literally everyone we spoke with, said it was by far the best wedding they had ever attended. Why? Mostly because of the flow and the relaxed nature of the venue. No one ever felt rushed, hassled, herded, or uncomfortable in any way. The food was spectacular, the venue was beyond words ('paradise' was mentioned with regularity), the ability to just 'be' was what set this wedding apart from all others that we, or our guests, have attended. There was the ability and spaces to talk, without screaming over blaring music. There was time to enjoy dinner and appreciate dinner conversation without the internal battle of 'Ooh, I love this song, but if I get up to dance, will my dinner still be here when I return to my seat? or 'Everyone else is up dancing, but i don't want to dance so should I sit at this dinner table by myself and munch on my overcooked reheated semblance of food'? This may not seem like a major concern, but it is.

The ceremony was gorgeously choreographed in such a way, that there was room for sentimentality, individuality, laughter, joy, love, friendship and gratitude while, at the same time, making our guests feel involved and not just spectators at a sporting event. It was cozy, (like a big hug), it was comfortable and welcoming and the photos reflect the stunning ambiance of the mood and joyfulness of a blessed day.

Our children are thankfully very much in love and your venue served as the perfect introduction into a life filled with love, gratitude, sharing, embracing friends and family, joy, passion and the appreciation of comforting surroundings.

Thank you so much for all that you have given to Lauren and Lukas, us, our newly extended family and friends. The Holly Farms will forever stay in our hearts as the perfect example of how a great wedding can and should be done. The bar has certainly been set to a very high standard, but now we know what can and should be done to get it right (and where we can go for any future weddings we need to host!).

Eternally grateful,
Charlene and Tim Peterson

This venue is TRULY MAGICAL. We had the venue from Thursday to Sunday and it honestly still didn’t feel like enough. Once you step onto the property for your wedding weekend, you are taken care of. We didn’t have to worry about a single thing except celebrating with our loved ones. We hosted many activities and events at the Holly Farm (welcome dinner, game day, rehearsal dinner, ceremony/reception, and brunch) and everything went off without a hitch. Erin, Ryan, their parents, and the Holly Farm staff (Gus and Rosa deserve a special shout out) are incredible. They take everything you bring (pillows, photos, candles, etc.) and display them throughout the venue and then change the locations for the next day. Each event led seamlessly into the next and our guests were constantly in awe of every new location at The Holly Farm.

The Holly Farm has a tailored list of their preferred vendors, which made finding vendors a lot easier. Definitely go with Laughin’ Gal Floral (Amanda is amazing!) and DJ Antonio. With the exception of the caterer, you can also choose vendors not on the list. We chose our own photographer, The Goodness, and loved how the venue worked with our photographers to make sure everything went smoothly.

There will be times when you don’t hear back very quickly and it takes a while to get answers, but that is because their current wedding is their utmost priority, which I didn’t fully appreciate until my wedding weekend arrived. You truly cannot go wrong with this venue. The love and dedication the Moses family puts into this venue shows in every single interaction and their attention to every detail. We felt so taken care of and loved throughout the entire weekend. Once you choose this venue, everything else will fall into place.

I just had my Dream Wedding at The Holly Farm!! From the moment I first walked in, I fell in love with both the breathtakingly beautiful venue and the adorable Moses family!! Everyone kept telling me it was the best wedding venue they have ever been to, and that they didn’t remember stepping off the plane. It is a tropical paradise right here in CA. There is beauty everywhere you look. Erin, Ryan, their parents and the entire Holly Farm staff were so flexible and accommodating, you can’t help but feel relaxed even on one of the most stressful days of your life. If I could do it all over again, I would choose Holly Farm in a heartbeat.

The Most Magical Place Ever
Everything from our first tour to the the planning process to the actual wedding week was perfection. We could not have asked for a more welcoming family and staff. They truly catered to our every need. I was a bit nervous about not hiring a day of coordinator, as all of our friends recommended one but Erin and Ryan Moses went above and beyond what any coordinator could've done for us. Our guests were blown away at how special a place the Holly Farm is...even after spending 4 days on property, we were still discovering new nooks and crannies, each picture perfect.

I was also a bit nervous about not being able to go with my own catering company but La Creme blew us away. Our guests commented that ours was the best wedding food they've ever had. The wait staff was extremely attentive..no one left hungry and no glasses were left empty for too long.

We are already scheming for our next event at the Holly Farm...

The Holly Farm is a hidden treasure amongst the hills of Carmel Valley. Nestled along a winding road it's easy to spot and just as easy to miss, but when you make the turn in magic unfolds before your eyes. The venue is like a secret garden with surprises sprinkled down every path. Tropical plants sprout along walkways, orchids peak out from the shadows and the trees stretch high to the skies. As the sun sets into night thousands of twinkling lights sparkle from branches all over and the place takes on a glow as if millions of small fireflies have suddenly arrived to partake in the festivities. This place is nearly indescribable, even the best photographers only scrape the surface in covering its magical beauty.

The Holly Farm is family owned and is run like a well oiled machine by the Moses Family and their impeccable staff. They are wedding and hospitality experts. From the planning of festivities to your stay, every detail is thoroughly covered and carefully considered. Our wedding here was an absolute dream.

My husband Blake and I got married at the Holly Farm in late May 2017 and needless to say, it will go down in history as the best weekend not only in our lives, but for our family and guests as well. The Moses family (Erin, Ryan, Doyle, and Mary) and all of the support staff could not have made the experience more magical for everyone involved. They knew even our guests by name by the end of the weekend! Their guidance, expertise, support, recommendations (from photographers to catering menus to displays to weekend flow... oh my, the list goes on!) blew us away and made the weekend truly unforgettable. Two of my personal favorite memories - the outstanding brilliance and setup of the scotch bar (this was a true crowd favorite - almost made my dad miss our father daughter dance and also prompted a family friend to claim he saw God after drinking a 34yr old scotch) and secondly my husband who refused to take off his wedding suit until hours after we left the Holly Farm the day after the wedding. NO ONE wanted the weekend to end. No one wanted to say good bye to the Holly Farm. I not only recommend this place for your wedding or your special event. It is an absolute MUST. Thank you team Moses for making 2017 a year we will never forget!

I could write all day about the indescribable experience I just had at the Holly Farm! One of my bridesmaids said it best, "I challenge ANYONE to find a better venue". Everything from the location, to the staff, to the vendors they recommend is absolutely top notch. From the moment you walk on the property, all of your pre-wedding stress is immediately lifted by the incredible staff. I'm not sure I've ever felt a waive of relief like I did when I checked in for our wedding weekend. The day itself was absolutely flawless, but by having the property for an extended period of time, you truly get an experience that you and your guests will always remember. The fun lasted for 5 days straight!! Erin, Ryan, Doyle, Gus, Rosa, Sal, and Gus - you guys are the best! I'd say in the business, but there is no other business like The Holly Farm's. It will always deserve its own category, and it would still win every time! If you are searching for a Northern California venue, do yourself a favor and visit The Holly Farm! You will not regret it!

The MOST GORGEOUS venue you've ever seen! The one word that keeps coming to mind when I think of our wedding at the Holly Farm is "magical." If you are looking for a wedding venue that is truly unique and not your average ballroom or country club, the Holly Farm is absolutely the place for you! The Holly Farm is a tropical oasis, full of character, lush greenery, and vibrant flowers. If you book the Holly Farm as your venue, you have the entire property (including three houses on site) all to yourselves! You literally have to see it to believe it; I've never seen a more stunning and enchanting venue!

The Holly Farm really comes alive at night - you can see the twinkling lights in the trees and paper lanterns glowing throughout the property. There are so many different nooks at the Holly Farm - one guest described the Holly Farm as "a place for so many activities!" We set up a cigar and whiskey bar (in addition to the regular bars), a candy buffet for the guests as they left the party, oh and we had a late-night nacho station that our guests absolutely devoured! Our guests were literally awestruck by how AMAZING the Holly Farm is! No one wanted to leave!

One thing that really drew us to this venue is that you can have all of the wedding-related festivities at the Holly Farm: a welcome BBQ, the rehearsal dinner, and brunch the morning after the wedding! My bridal party had such a wonderful time all staying together at the houses on property too! The party literally doesn't stop here; it is 3 or 4 full days of wedding bliss! The real icing on the cake is the Moses family - Erin, Ryan and everyone else at the Holly Farm are the most incredible people. We wanted to stay forever! Thank you to the Moses family for such a beautiful and meaningful wedding; we feel so blessed!
Love,
The Crawfords

Amazing Venue and organization, professionals, detail on every step, great people!! I really can't say enough!!

We could not possibly speak more highly of our amazing wedding at The Holly Farm.
When we started looking at venues back in 2015 we wanted something that allowed for our wedding to be an entire weekend of love with ample time to spend with our friends and family. We looked at venues with lodging from Mendocino to Big Sur, but when we saw The Holly Farm we knew in an instant this was our place. The space is incredible, dripping with orchids, gorgeous greenery, fruit trees and flowers. The thoughtful detail the Moses family has put into curating the space is inspiring. The space manages to be impeccably designed and landscaped while simultaneously homey, warm and welcoming. It is clear that The Holly Farm is a real labor of love, and this love touches upon everything they do.
The venue really is a family affair. The Moses family: Doyle, Mary, Erin and Ryan are with you from your first tour of the property, though the entire planning process and of course during your actual wedding weekend. As a bonus, there is no need to hire an outside wedding planner or wedding coordinator at The Holly Farm. The Moses' know their property, wedding planning and production like the back of their own hands.
The Holly Farm doesn't have many rules and requirements. Really, the only requirements are that you use their preferred caterer La Crème, and switch to the slightly less loud sound system at 9pm. The sound system rule is due to a city wide sound ordinance. Don't worry, the sound system you switch to at 9pm is more then loud enough to dance into the night to and we certainly did! Regarding La Crème, we couldn't have asked for a better caterer. Tamie from La Crème has worked with The Holly Farm for years. She and her staff have a deep understanding of the property and work closely with you to create the prefect menu. Her food is fresh and delicious. Her staff are sweet and attentive, and Tamie is a joy to work with.
The Holly Farm is a truly special and one of a kind place.

WHAT. A. MEMORY. Our wedding weekend at The Holly Farm in August 2015 was a dream come true. As soon as we stepped onsite the previous year, we knew immediately we wanted to host our closest family and friends on the property for our wedding. The Moses Family was a true pleasure to work with - they are incredibly passionate and dedicated to making each couple feel like part of the family. The majority of event coordination went through our wedding planner, Michelle Lee at Simply Events, and I was floored with the final execution. To the Moses Family and the Holly Farm crew - We can't thank you enough for the most formidable, extraordinary wedding weekend a couple could ask for!

WHAT. A. MEMORY. Our wedding weekend at The Holly Farm in August 2015 was a dream come true. As soon as we stepped onsite the previous year, we knew immediately we wanted to host our closest family and friends on the property for our wedding. The Moses Family was a true pleasure to work with - they are incredibly passionate and dedicated to making each couple feel like part of the family. The majority of event coordination went through our wedding planner, Michelle Lee at Simply Events, and I was floored with the final execution. To the Moses Family and the Holly Farm crew - We can't thank you enough for the most formidable, extraordinary wedding weekend a couple could ask for!

Getting married is a magical thing. Getting married at the Holly Farm is somewhere beyond magical pushing into a epic ethereal dream. Not only is the entire place an adorable, lush garden of wonders but from the moment you step foot on the property you're just aware that the place is home to so much goodness its impossible not to fall in love with it. I can not say enough nice things about the Moses family. They make everything fun and warm and thoughtful. The entire staff and all their vendors went above and beyond to make our day the most memorable, loving experience. We are eternally grateful to have started our journey together rooted in such a kind, warm hearted place.

When I think about my wedding day, I think of laughter, love, family, and smiles so big it makes your face hurt. When I think about my wedding day, I think about The Holly Farm. When I think about my wedding day, I think of laughter, love, family, and smiles so big it makes your face hurt. When I think about my wedding day, I think about The Holly Farm. Whenever we talked about how excited we were about our wedding it sounded a lot like "we get to go to The Holly Farm!" We arrived at the holly farm on Wednesday and were greeted with such love and excitement. Not only were we excited to be there, but they were excited to see us! Ryan, and the staff we're so welcoming and loving that they made us feel like part of the family immediately.. and those are our kinds of people! We kinda wished Ryan didn't work there so he could hang out with us all day and not get in trouble :)The days leading up to the wedding were the most perfect few days of relaxing, playing volleyball, soaking up the sun, drinking cocktails, the occasional daily massages from the amazing Nicole Pritchard. The Morning of our wedding I woke up before the sun to start getting ready. I stayed in my honeymoon suite with my girls.. drinking champagne, and getting ourselves ready. I had not a care in the world of what was going on outside. I knew the Moses family had this. I had previously shared all my visions of this day to Erin, and she nailed it. Like, really nailed it. Everything was a dream. The Holly Farms Caterer, Tamie is just a little ball of love. Our wedding was a dream. Everyone who attended our magical day was a part of something very special. I truly feel that everyone should experience this amazing dream oasis. The Holly Farm screams LOVE! The Moses family hold a special place in my heart for making such a dream come true venue. I couldn't imagine our day anywhere else.

I had so much more amazing words about this dream venue. Please see my Yelp review!
-Anne Marie Chester

I have so many good things to say about our experience at The Holly Farm. The Moses family was warm and helpful throughout the wedding planning process and the wedding weekend. Every time I came by I was welcomed with a warm hug and often a glass of wonderful wine. We arrived Thursday and were pampered from the moment we drove in and parked until we were leaving Sunday afternoon.

The rooms were kept up beautifully and the grounds are amazing. Everything was decorated and restaged just right for the whole weekend. I absolutely loved the ceremony site on Friday and the intimate dinner in the Carriage House that followed. Saturday was amazing and so much fun. Sunday led to games in the field and a relaxed ending to the weekend. I never worried about a thing because Erin, Ryan, Doyle, Mary and their staff had every detail under complete control.

I just wish I could stay at the Holly again soon...I miss it and as I live locally I drive by frequently and want to do it all over again. I've talked with several friends who have said the same thing!

I highly recommend this The Holly Farm for a VERY special wedding experience.
Thank you!

No words can come close to describing our experience of getting married at The Holly Farm. My husband and I were intent on getting married somewhere in the Carmel/Big Sur/Monterey area. We visited a few different wedding venues and nothing seemed quite special enough. THEN we went to The Holly Farm. From the first moment we stepped foot onto the Windmill Lawn, we knew this was our place. Honestly, we were probably hooked just after being greeted by Ryan with a huge smile and a big hug.

The thing about The Holly Farm that you won't get to understand unless you have your wedding there or are lucky enough to be invited to a wedding there is that the most special element is that you feel like you have become a part of the Moses family. The Holly Farm is a family business and that shows in every single detail, moment, and smile. As a bride, I can't emphasize enough how Erin and Ryan made all of my stresses and fears absolutely disappear from the moment we arrived on Thursday morning. They took our (literal) truckloads of wedding "stuff" (I'm talking everything from our luggage to signs, vases, cases of wine, cake topper, guest book, framed photos, place cards, escort cards, decorative pillows, on and on and ON) and organized every single detail in a way much more beautiful than I could have imagined.

If you've seen photos, you already know that the grounds are GORGEOUS. In person, the entire site is so much more than a photo could capture. All of our guests are still gushing that they felt like they were in a tropical paradise across the globe. Every twist and turn of the venue reveals countless new details and quirky gems probably placed by Doyle long ago. All day, their fabulous grounds staff (Gus, Rosa, Gus Jr.) are working on the houses and the gardens, raking the pathways, making sure that every single detail is constantly in a state of perfection.

The Moses family is so friendly; they were a pleasure to work with. The level of service at the Holly Farm was top-notch. I truly felt like I could relax during my wedding weekend and the show would go on!

Perfection! That is the best way to describe our wedding at The Holly Farm. The venue is beautiful, the staff is superb and they truly made this experience better than I could have ever imagined.

Erin and Ryan worked with us from Day 1 to make this our dream wedding. They were there to answer any questions, troubleshoot problems and come up with ideas when we lacked them. I've never met a pair of individuals so truly fulfilled by what they do as Erin and Ryan. Their energy and passion is what makes everything work.

From the moment we arrived on site everything was taken care of. The staff there was incredible. They not only turn Holly Farm into the magical place it is, but they were so accommodating and helpful no matter what we needed. After being there for a few days they felt like family and we were so lucky to share the weekend with them.

All of the vendors that were suggested or we were required to use were great. Loved the amazing food prepared by La Creme. The flowers provided by Laughin' Gal were beautiful and created just to our liking. Zephyr's of course made sure the party went all night by handling everything anyone needed at the bar. What an incredible team everyone had.

I can't thank the Moses family, venue staff and the vendors enough for making this the PERFECT wedding. Truly, I was constantly impressed by everything that was done. I've had so many people reach out since the wedding to tell us what an amazing time they had and that would not have been possible without everyone involved in putting this weekend on! If you are considering getting married in the Monterey or Carmel area, want a fun weekend wedding and to have your guests walk away talking about your wedding for weeks then there is absolutely no other choice but the Holly Farm. It really is that simple.

The MOST magical and special location for a wedding on the Monterey Peninsula!! This family owned and operated facility is surrounded by lush gardens and beautifully landscaped acreage in stunning Carmel Valley. The professional staff are amazing, operating with incredible attention to detail in all aspects of your special occasion at the Holly Farm. Your host Doyle Moses, and his lovely family, make everyone feel welcome and ensure fun will be had by all who visit. Hands down, a must see, for anyone considering a Wedding in Monterey County. You will be amazed at the beauty and magic that surround you at the Holly Farm.

I had a fairy tale wedding at The Holly Farm! Not only are the grounds stunningly gorgeous - think tropical oasis with meandering pathways and private little nooks to hang out in (and a bocce ball court!) - but you also get to stay on site in charming guesthouses! Erin made the planning process effortless and fun for me by recommending, and coordinating with, top notch vendors. Erin executed every last detail with such elegance and panache that my wedding day was like a dream. There is no better place to get married than The Holly Farm!

It would be impossible to improve upon our Holly Farm experience. We have received a crazy amount of positive feedback from friends, family, etc.--multiple people have said it was their favorite wedding of all time. I would love to think we had something to do with that, but really credit goes to the Holly Farm. Without belaboring the details, if the Holly Farm is still available for any weekend you could make work, book it now. Other than the decision to get engaged, that was easily the best choice I made in 2012.

i can't say enough good things about the holly farm and the moses family in general. top notch all the way around, and memories to last a lifetime. a truly magical place and experience and i couldn't imagine our special day anywhere else.

THANK YOU! and we can't wait to host our next memorable function here in the years to come.

I cannot say enough good things about the Holly Farm, the Moses family, & the staff. They are the most genuine, cool, organized group of people I have ever met. Without them, I am sure that my wedding experience would not have been even close to as perfect as it was. Erin was so on top of the planning process, and after meeting her I completely trusted everything that came out of her mouth. Her taste is impeccable!! Ryan is the nicest, most laid back guy to have around during the wedding. He makes you feel like there is not a worry in the world. And then Doyle and Mary-well they created the place from nothing and it is the most magical place in the world, and they are sweet as can be. Gus and Rosa-you were awesome and helpful in every way! People said I was crazy when I booked the Holly Farm site unseen, but I just had a feeling. It turned out my feeling was dead on.

Staying at the Holly Farm, I would explain as 'adult wedding camp'. All of our bridal party got to know one another SO well, and that was one of my favorite parts about the weekend. They all stayed together in the beautiful houses and absolutely loved it-a type of experience you could never get in a hotel. All of the boyfriends/husbands were all buddies by day 2 and none of them knew one another going into the weekend. They would all just play bocce ball, have drinks and hang out while the girls got ready.

I cannot think of a single thing I would change about the weekend, and not one thing went wrong (that I noticed). It was a very unique experience and I agree with Brooke below when she says that the Holly Farm is the best kept secret in the wedding industry. It was perfect from start to finish. The Holly Farm and the Moses family will always have a very special place in our hearts!

The Holly Farm was a stunningly beautiful place to get married. The entire Moses family made us feel welcome and took care of every detail from the moment we arrived. I was able to be a guest at my own wedding and had the most amazing, stress-free day of my life! Thank you, Holly Farm!!!

Erin and the whole family at Holly Farm could not have been more accommodating, gracious, generous and just plain great at their jobs!

We chose the venue based on its location and beautiful layout but what we got in addition was a brilliant wedding team who made every step of the way as easy as pie! Open to all our crazy ideas as well as making our process a breeze (we planned it from Dubai) we only wish everyone had a place to call wedding-home this perfect.

The Moses family are gifted with a talent known as 'the ability to listen' and I mean really listen. Every detail was remembered, each email double checked and our vision perfectly recognized.

With 130 guests from all the corners of the world we had more than a few guests blown away by the venue and more so by the brilliant execution of the day. It was honestly wonderful to know that everything was just going to be perfect and stress free!

The Holly Farm is the best place ever to have your wedding. The Moses family goes way above and beyond to make your day go smoothly and bring your vision to life. They are responsive throughout the process and so helpful. The team of vendors they can recommend are all amazing. We loved every minute at the venue and have heard again and again from our guests how "epic" the wedding was. It's a beautiful place and you truyl could not be in better hands to make your big day a success.

It's been over a year and the memory of our wedding weekend is still fresh in our minds. The entire Moses family and staff were absolutely wonderful and we honestly felt like we had the perfect wedding. The grounds are magical and guests had an amazing time exploring and dancing into the night. It's worth the money for a special occasion you'll never forget. :) I recommend going in person if you're on the hunt to have the tour and see for yourself. 10 stars!

When we set out to find our wedding venue we had a very specific set of requirements:

=> Represent California so that our overseas guests could get a taste of amazing area that we live in.
=> Option to hand select the wine for our wedding without any restrictions by the venue.
=> Place where our friends could celebrate with us for more than a few hours.
=> Party and music friendly with minimal restrictions or rules that would limit our ability to throw our party.

It was clear from the moment that we stepped onto the grounds with Erin that this was the place that we wanted to have our wedding. We had a few more venues to examine, but felt like we were just looking at other places as a matter of completing our due diligence all of the while focussed on Holly Farms.

Not only did Holly Farms tick all of the boxes, but it also went above and beyond anything we could have ever expected. When we checked in with our friends and family, all of the stress associated with the whole event was immediately removed and it felt like we were checking into a hotel with the most impeccable service. Erin and her staff made everything seem so easy and really played an integral role in ensuring that we were able to actually enjoy our wedding and celebrate with our friends the entire time we were at the Holly Farms.

We had the time of our lives and our friends and family still talk about our wedding and how amazing the venue and the staff were. We would and do recommend this venue to anyone who has recently gotten engaged and is looking for a place to celebrate on their wedding WEEKEND with their friends and family.

The Holly Farm was the most magical place in the world to get married. The owners so kind, generous, and organized, the event staff caring and incredibly accommodating, while also being fantastic at what they do. The entire experience was everything one could ever wish for when getting married!

The family team at the Holly Farm made my wedding truly amazing and an experience I will never forget. The property is beautiful and I fell in love with it the first time I visited. It is apparent that it is well cared for and that everyone who works on it takes pride in what they do. But that is not even the best part. The service that is provided leading up to and on your day is impeccable. They are organized, personable, creative and their experience is invaluable. I consider myself lucky to have found this gem for my wedding and I would hands down recommend the Holly Farm to my closest friends and family (along with anyone else). Worth every penny.

The Holly Farm is an amazing venue! We had a spectacular weekend celebration with family and friends over 3 days. Even though a wedding requires an insane amount of planning, the minute we stepped onto the property of the Holly Farm, we felt the stress lifted. The Moses family managed every detail of the weekend so we could enjoy ourselves.
As soon as you open the wooden gate you enter a lush wonderland of orchids, tropical plants and outdoor rooms. We have had so many people tell us it was the most beautiful wedding they have ever been to. We couldn't agree more.

My experience at the Holly Farm was amazing from start to finish. We knew upon first visit that we HAD to get married there, so much so that we waited until the next year because they book up fast! The Moses' are the sweetest people you will meet and they are soooo helpful! They know the best of the best in terms of vendors and they make choosing them so easy - it gave me time to really enjoy the day and not stress. The venue is enchanting and it really did feel like a fairytale. Thank you Erin, Ryan, Doyle and Mary. You truly are the best in the business.

Besides the birth of my daughter, The Holly Farm provided me, my family and friends with the best memories to last a lifeme. Today, those who attended our wedding still share their personal highlights and enjoyment during our stay. This investment was the best I have made yet, for my family and friends will still be talking and sharing about our wedding for years to come.

Holly Farm is outstanding in all the above areas. You also need to list and rate the sense of humor of all staff. All 140 guests who attended loved the Farm, the staff, the professional--but not uptight--qualities of all involved. So many of our family guests thanked us frequently for "providing" such a fun, relaxed and perfectly managed event. We were not the "providers". The staff and venue were.

The groom's parents

My wife and I booked the Holly Farm, site unseen, based on photos, website reviews and word of mouth from a friend who done her wedding there. All of the glowing reviews and amazing photos did not do the Holly Farm justice. It is simply awesome. As amazing the venue is, the family that run the Holly Farm are really what set it apart from all the rest. Erin and Ryan have a way of instantly becoming your friend rather than wedding contractors. On top of servicing your every need, they actually seem to care that you have a stress-free event. I cannot say enough about their service and the unique quality of the venue. If there is an opening, book it. Now!

I've never grown so attached to a place or the people in such a short period of time. The Holly Farm is a dream come true and completely unforgettable. Not just for the Bride and Groom, but for anyone who is graced with the experience. The Moses family and their staff are beyond amazing and make you feel like you're in heaven, taking all your worries away and treating you like family. They know exactly what they are doing and they do it extremely well. A HUGE part of why this place is so special is that they LOVE what they do and it is undeniably apparent in everything from the care they put into every delicate detail and the beautiful lush grounds to their genuinely pleasant generosity. There aren't enough ways to show or words to express our appreciation for sharing this magical place with us to create memories to last beyond a lifetime with our family and friends.

(So glad they went with a different caterer option for future brides)

I could not have picked a more beautiful place to be married than the Holly Farm. Everyone was taken aback by how beautiful and unique it is, and I got rave reviews from the guests who said it was the best wedding and wedding site they have been to. The Holly Farm made my wedding a true vacation and I could not imagine having had it anywhere else.

Erin and everyone at the Holly Farm were absolutely spectacular from the first moment we visited the venue. They went above and beyond to help us with every detail of our wedding and we couldn't imagine a more perfect day. The property is beautiful and very well-maintained, it was like getting married in paradise!

When we toured Holly Farm my fiancee described it as a "donkey kong videogame". There were lush plants, greenery, fruit trees and vines, and flowers everywhere, with alcoves and passageways all over the place. Getting married there was a complete dream. Erin and Ryan, the owners, and their team make you feel incredibly taken care of at every point of the weekend. Also having a retreat style wedding and trapping 20 of our closest friends on site with us was so much fun!

The 4-day event Erin, Ryan and their team curated for our daughter and son-in-law’s wedding was absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!! beyond our wildest dreams. Everything was truly fabulous, from the Family Dinner we held on Thursday to the lodging onsite to the Rehearsal Dinner on Friday to the Sunday brunch on the Windmill Lawn. But the wedding itself on Saturday was the most phenomenal, magical, memorable event we could ever imagine. This was one of the very top highlights of our lives and we couldn't be happier! A huge THANK YOU to The Holly Farm for EVERYTHING and to the incredible staff for continually transforming each area of the gorgeous property into a unique, mind-blowing, perfect mini-venue that impressed all of our guests and imprinted in our minds and hearts forever. Erin is truly amazing....she held our hands throughout the entire wedding planning process, was super responsive and uber-helpful for a year, and created the most memorable, phenomenal weekend of our lives! It was such a pleasure working with her and I can't thank her enough for making the wedding so perfect in every way!!!

WOW, what can I say. It took a while for me to digest what just took place at the Holly Farm. We had the venue from Thursday until Sunday and it all felt unreal and like a dream. This place is more than a venue, it is a space full of love, thoughtfulness, support, encouragement, and beauty. To have our wedding here, with someone I shared 12 years of my life with...it really is hard to comprehend how I felt. It is the most magical dreamy eclectic place I have ever been. Every time someone asked me where we're getting married, and I said Carmel, they would be like "Ohhh cool, a beach wedding." NAH DUDE, it will be in a jungle. Full of wild tropical poisonous plants. The look they'd give when I said that --priceless. LOL. If you are a plant/flower-lover, you WILL DIE of happiness here. The Moses family, Erin, Ryan, Rosa, Gus, and their staff -- they are the most amazing people on Earth. Behind the most beautiful place were even more beautiful people, I could not be more happy to have shared such an important day with them at their special special place.

Advice for future guests of the Holly Farm: Listen to their advice, get the candles, get the pillows, get the lanterns, do the whiskey bar. Get it all. You will not regret it. Your guests will thank you for it. Your guests will come out with 100000 IG-worthy photos. Yes, it is worth it!

We can't say enough wonderful things about Holly Farm - Erin and Ryan and their family - who know how to put on the best wedding ever. Not only is the actual place magical, but Erin and Ryan are full fledged wedding planners - through the process and day of... They said YES to all of our fun, wacky ideas and made them come to life - it was incredible.

We couldn't have asked for more from our wedding venue and we encourage anyone who wants to get married in a magical setting, work with wonderful people and have many, many fond memories of their nuptials to get married at Holly Farm.

Holly Farm is hands-down the best wedding venue I've ever experienced. We had been hoping for a venue that would allow some flexibility in terms of seeing our guests for a longer time period, and it was perfect for that--unlike other venues where you have to try to see everyone in a brief eight hour period, Holly Farm allows you at least three full days to have people come and visit. Every one of my guests commented about how beautiful and special it was. It's green and lush with orchids and other flowers everywhere you turn. There are lawn games and plenty of little outdoor "rooms" with lounge chairs begging you to take a nap in the sun.
Yes, the price is a little more than you would pay at a more traditional venue, but it includes multiple nights with housing for up to 22 people. We were able to save some money on a more formal rehearsal dinner by having friends and family help do it at the Holly Farm-- with apps, dinner, dessert and drinks for 40 people it was only $500, much less than it would have cost at any restaurant, and everyone loved being able to explore the grounds. The whole Moses family and the staff on-site (Rosa, Gus, Gus Jr) are wonderful. Everyone genuinely loves their job and it shows. They only work with vendors that are truly excellent and I was thrilled they took some of the decision making away from me, especially with how fantastic everything turned out. Highly recommend!

The Moses family and staff are true professionals that are so accomodating to make the event truly perfect. Don't believe there is any other place like it!

Gorgeous venue! Paradise near home. The Moses family was incredibly warm and made us feel like family. They made sure that everything went as planned. Couldn't have asked for a better place to get married and nicer people to help us.

It was a wonderful location for my daughter's wedding. aside from the beauty, staff was excellent and accommodating.

If you can afford the Holly Farm, get married here.
If you cannot afford the Holly Farm, cut everything else and get married here.

The Holly Farm was amazing, like getting married in Neverland. The staff are INCREDIBLE, the venue is gorgeous, and the flexibility will change your wedding from a night of dinner and dancing into a weekend getaway with your most important people.

Because of the Holly Farm we were truly able to relax and enjoy ourselves. Best. Venue. Ever.

Absolutely gorgeous site; it will absolutely be the wedding of your dreams. Just know that it is very expensive, and you will be required to use certain vendors that are also VERY expensive, and do not necessarily guarantee the same quality the Holly Farm does. And don't bother submitting any concerns, because The Holly Farm will stand by its vendors to a fault, with no regard for the customer

Fantastic place to have a wedding. The Holly Farm makes planning easy by providing accommodations, food, entertainment, hair & makeup, and more. The beautiful setting is yours for a whole week; you don't have to rush in and out but can relax and enjoy your wedding experience.

It took me a while to work up the courage to leave this review since it's their first less-than-5-star review. I took several months to reflect back on the experience before writing the review.
Let me start off by saying we had such an incredible wedding weekend, everything was flawless in execution of the actual event. The staff there is wonderful. The venue itself is beyond stunning, and our guests are still raving about it, saying it's the best wedding they've ever been to.
The docked star mostly comes from the earlier planning stages. Everyone knows that an important factor in business is management of expectations. This is where the Holly Farm fell short. They really push hard the idea of all costs being known up front, but I did not get a true estimate of the cost until appx 1 month before the wedding, despite asking for this for many months before. They also include "wedding planning" as a service in their contract. However, not once did Erin contact me to discuss wedding planning. I was never asked, "so what are your visions for your wedding? What is your budget? Any special details you have in mind?" or anything along these lines. Yes, if you ask specific questions they will usually be answered. But it was hard even knowing what questions to ask! Tamie (from La Creme) was a godsend in this case, she ended up helping a lot. Yes, you're given a list of overpriced vendors that everyone seems to use, but what if you want vendors that aren't on that list? No help there. Erin is excellent in her role as a day-of coordinator of vendors, but she certainly did not serve as a wedding planner. I wish I had known this because it created a lot of stress--if I had just had my expectations set correctly, I would have just hired an outside planner!
So would I recommend the Holly Farm? Yes, despite the cost (3 days was $31,700, just for the venue). It's a unique, stunning venue. La Creme catering is fabulous. The final product was a wedding to remember.