Wouldn’t it be nice to have your wedding at St. Regis in Bali? I always wanted a destination wedding but traveling far wouldn’t be feasible for most of our families and friends with kids. My friends and I traveled to Los Angeles last year with 4 babies and we were lucky enough to witness the record high heat wave and the most thorough LAX security check. so in a way I know it is a definite no-no. But can’t fly to Mexico or Thailand doesn’t mean we have to give up this idea altogether! We have many options for sorta weekend getaway destination weddings in Northern California. Napa Valley, Santa Cruz, Halfmoon Bay, just to name a few locations.
As I am seriously in love with Monterey/ Carmel (probably because of the Marine Biology class I took at Cal, which got me very interested in whales and dolphins or watching Olivia with a cup of hot coco at the forest theater in Carmel many years ago was the most romantic moment), it is really a no-brainer choice for us. First, it is only less than 2 hours drive. Yep, no flying required. It is tucked away from the city and it offers the stunning ocean view as well as serene mountain view. For our friends and families, it has tons of attractions, activities and things to do in Monterey Peninsula. I am not sure if I can wake up 7am to get ready for the whale watch the day after our wedding but I am sure Salad will love to visit the Aquarium one more time!
In less than 2 weeks of searching and calling, we nailed down the location – Carmel Valley Ranch. It nestled in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains and its club house has floor-to-ceiling windows which our guests may enjoy the picturesque views and the culinary by Michelin-rated Chef Michel Richard (Citronelle). We had lunch here and it’s delicious. I especially like the white leather chair and the fireplaces in the club house making the room look rustic, cozy yet modern. I can’t even tell you how much we love this place once we walked into the room! We both knew it right then this is it. Janice Twomey, the catering manager, and her assistant Kevin Doscher are also very helpful during our visit. Not only she patiently answers all our questions and sent us the estimate and pictures right after we met, she even helped us call a few photographers and vendors. It’s really thoughtful of her. I really highly recommend this place.
So here it is – my wedding location.
All photos are from Carmel Valley Ranch.
