Weddings at Carmel Valley Ranch

Last November, I had the good fortune of spending two and a half days at the luxurious Carmel Valley Ranch by the coast through a Wedding FAM trip.

This was a venue that I've heard about through the years, and seen photos of, but never had the opportunity to set foot on their 500 acres property.

It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G in every way. When I go on these FAM tours, I don't just soak in all the fun and pampering. I also experience it as a client would....seeing things through the eyes of a bride, groom, and their guests, and observing closely the level of hospitality and service that's present throughout the venue. The team at Carmel Valley Ranch nailed it.

From the moment I stepped into the lobby, I was greeted by name, and whisked through a completely effortless check in process. I love the absence of traditional "front desks" at this property; it just makes the whole check in/out process that much more personable. Zero lines, friendly faces, expedited service. Oh, and cute resident dog just makes it that much welcoming. :)

Let me start with the suite that welcomed me. It was one of their 800 sq ft Ranch Suites, with a separate living room, a spacious deck that overlooks a part of the valley, an expansive bathroom that can fit about 20 people, and a beautiful fireplace inside the bedroom. It was hard to believe that I'd be staying in there by myself, but I sure did make myself at home rather quickly.

The little details count a lot when it comes to hospitality. Inside my suite was a bottle of Figge Pinot Noir, a cheese platter, and a snack basket, all compliments of the fabulous catering team at Carmel Valley Ranch. They knew we were all driving in from different areas and arriving at different times, so they were thoughtful enough to leave those amenities in our suites in case we arrived hungry. Now that's going the extra mile to enhance the overall experience.

We enjoyed a more casual Meet and Greet supper in their restaurant lounge area the first evening. It was wonderful to reconnect with my Wedding Planner friends, and to get acquainted with the Carmel Valley Ranch team. We were a small group this time, which made it that much more intimate and warm.

Day 2 began with a sumptuous breakfast of pastries, fruit, a ginormous and tasty omelet, and hash browns. Luckily, touring a 500 acres property required a lot of walking, so we had quite a bit of exercise following the breakfast. Rachel Schanding, Catering Manger of Carmel Valley Ranch, led the way as we went through various parts of the property that were feasible for weddings and events.

The entire property is extremely lush and picturesque, with sweeping views of the valley and vineyards. One can only imagine the possibilities of a beautiful wedding weekend there. I especially love the old-school tree swings that are spread throughout the resort, in line with their "playfulness" motto at Carmel Valley Ranch.

Their Clubhouse, with its vaulted ceilings, is one of their few indoor sites for events. Adjacent to it is their Valley Lawn, boasting glorious, panoramic views of the valley. There are working plans in place for some slight renovation to this part of the property, and we were lucky enough to see the renderings for them during our site inspection.

GM Dan Korn explaining the renderings to us

As we continued to explore the 500 acres of land, it became more and more apparent to us the vision behind Carmel Valley Ranch.....their encouragement of playtime as a method of kindred revitalization, their farm-to-table approach in their culinary experience, as well as their embracement of all that nature has to offer.

CVR's own Salt House on property

CVR's own organic garden where they grow much of their own produce

CVR's Executive Chef Tim Wood shared his culinary vision with us over delicious hors d'oeurves and wine

CVR's resident gardener speaking to us about the phenomenal organic garden on site

Later in the afternoon, we got to partake in CVR's famous Bee Experience. It began with a wealth of facts on bees and lavenders from their resident Bee Expert, John Russo. We were all in awe at the vast amount of knowledge John had on bees, and the passion that came through his voice as he taught us as much as he could about his favorite flying insect.

It was truly fascinating, and shortly after that, we were suited up and ready to see, touch, and feel the bee hives!

I would highly, highly recommend this activity for anyone who plans a visit to Carmel Valley Ranch. They offer this to adults, and children that are 4 or older. Though it was a bit nerve wrecking for a few of us, we were able to overcome our fears and have a whole new appreciation for bees!

We had a few hours of free time after the Bee Experience. Some of us had spa appointments while others hiked, napped, or simply had out feet up by the fireplace in our suites. It was the perfect way to get us to relax before dinner that evening, where more amazing experiences awaited us...

Dinner that night was held in the Oak Room, where Chef Tim utilized the Adventure Kitchen in there to entertain us a bit beforehand. While sipping wine and tasting caviar, we learned how to make butternut squash soup from Chef Tim himself! We also got great culinary tips on cutting techniques, healthy ingredient options, and more!

Our 5 course dinner that evening began with a day boat sea scallops amuse with sweet corn pudding and black truffle. Next, we had an oven roasted heirloom beet salad with olive oil croutons. The third course was a butternut squash ravioli with a frisee apple salad. Our entree was a cooked-to-perfection natural filet of beef with black truffle root vegetable puree and a fall vegetable gratin. Dessert was an organic Santa Cruz apple crisp with house-made lavender ice cream that was to die for. Each course was paired with lovely wine from local wineries to the area, including Figge Winery.

Needless to say, I was falling into a food coma after the last course, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the s'mores stations that were set up on the terrace outside, where the fire pits kept us warm and content for the rest of that wonderful evening.

Just when we thought the team at CVR couldn't pull any more stops out to make this perfect day even more perfect, we were greeted with these lovely baskets of goodies when we went back to our suites that night...

Such thoughtful gestures are really indicative of the level of hospitality at a resort. Carmel Valley Ranch is one of those places that truly goes the extra mile for any guest that steps foot on their property. They truly want every part of your experience to be memorable in the most thoughtful ways!

I slept incredibly well on both nights, with the fireplace set to turn off after I fell asleep.

On my last day there, I had a massage appointment at their Spa Aiyana. Like the absence of a conventional "hotel front desk", the spa greeting process was different as well. I was instructed to wait in their gift shop, and was greeted by one of their spa attendants who personally walked me over to the spa. Once we stepped foot inside, she gave me a tour, and then left me to change into their super comfy robe and slippers. After I stepped outside the changing room, another spa attendant was waiting to greet me with a warm neck wrap which felt soooooo ridiculously good at that moment. I then snacked on dried apricots and warm tea while waiting for my masseuse to get me in the waiting room.

The massage itself was very nice, and in lieu of the water glass that your masseuse usually holds in his/her hand afterwards, I was greeted with a red velvet cupcake! :) Little surprises like that are very delightful indeed.

I seriously didn't want to leave, but alas, my family (and about 200 emails) were waiting for me back home. I'm eager and excited for the possibilities to work at this beautiful property in 2013, and urge all couples looking for a lush, scenic, and charming wedding venue to check them out!

Thank you so much to Dan, Brian, Colleen, Rachel, Chef Tim, and the rest of the fun and fabulous team at Carmel Valley Ranch for this unforgettable experience! Also, special thanks to Mike Steelman for the awesome photos (the ones above that have his watermark)!

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

Two years ago, I attended a pre-opening party for The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe at San Francisco's Jardinere, where we got to preview the blueprints for this luxury resort. There was much hype and excitement over the development of this property, and the remarkable amenities it promised to offer. We all eagerly waited in anticipation for its unveiling.

Last week, I was amongst a handful of Wedding Planners to be invited to their FAM tour. FAM is short for "familiarization", and is an opportunity for us to experience the resort to its fullest potential, to establish relationships with the catering team there, and to understand the logistics of planning an event in the spaces that they offer.

The 3 day FAM tour was scheduled to began on Sunday, but since I had a wedding in Half Moon Bay that day, I was not able to join the first day of activities, which included tours of the Village at Northstar and the town of Truckee, and a "Rehearsal Dinner" at Manzanita restaurant--the resort's premier restaurant headed by Traci Des Jardins.

My husband accompanied me on this trip, mainly because he didn't want me driving by myself in the middle of the night, especially knowing how tired I am after a wedding. He drove the entire 4.5 hours and I slept for 4 of those hours! We arrived to the resort in the middle of the night, shortly after 3:00am, where we became mesmerized by this striking view:

Photo taken from Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

"We've been expecting you Ms. Lau!" the enthusiastic staff at the resort said as they greeted us at every step of the way from valet to the front desk. I was half asleep at that point, but was genuinely impressed already by the friendliness and professionalism of the staff there, even at 3am!

We were escorted to our room on the Club Level, and though I immediately wanted to collapse on the inviting King-size bed in front of me, I took a minute to take in all the beautiful details of the room, including the thoughtful Welcome Bag that was given to us by the Catering team.

I got about 4 hours of sleep on that amazing bed before I had to pull myself together for the second day of activities. It was wonderful to see my fellow colleagues, many of whom I consider close friends in the wedding industry. Ofcourse, it was equally as delightful to make new friends as well, which is one of my favorite part of these FAM trips! We started the morning off with breakfast in their Club Lounge Hospitality Suite, which was our temporary "home-base" for this FAM tour. Then, we were given umbrellas for the resort tour, since it was raining outside. I couldn't stop admiring the surrounding pine trees that seemed to stretch for eternities. Back in April when I attended a FAM tour at Pebble Beach, I was convinced that being surrounded by the ocean was the most beautiful and breathtaking feeling of all. To my surprise though, I realized through this Lake Tahoe FAM trip that I love the serenity of being wrapped around by the mountains and trees just as much! There is something so peaceful and tranquil about the stillness of the mountains, and I suppose it is for this very reason that writers claim to be most inspired when they are able to hide and write uninterrupted in the mountains.

Fall is a quiet, yet marvelous time of the year at the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe, but imagine arriving to this scenery in their winter months...

Photo taken from Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

Simply astounding, right? The snow brings magic to this already magnificent property, and with its convenient ski-in, ski-out access to the Northstar lifts, you'd better be booking way ahead of time to get a room here between the last week of December through early April. 

Photo taken from the Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

I was told that most people who choose to wed in Lake Tahoe holds a sentimental tie to this gorgeous area. Many have wonderful memories of good times spent in their parents' summer home by the lake, or they enjoy the nostalgia of fireplace coziness under a snow-filled sky. No matter the reason though, the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe has an amazingly talented, professional, and top-notch team to help you host your event in the most memorable ways possible. With 8 different sites, both indoor and outdoor, on their own property, there is certainly no shortage of options available for all kinds of events, big or small. I love that their two ballrooms both have terraces wrapped around their adjacent foyers, allowing a lovely indoor/outdoor flow. They also have floor to ceiling windows that offer an unimaginable view of the Sierra Nevada! 

Wedding Ceremony at The Meadows | Photo taken from Ritz Carlton Highlands website

Wedding Ceremony in The Woods | Photo taken from Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

Reception at Fireside Terrace | Photo taken from Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

Wedding Reception in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom | Photo taken from Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

One of my favorite part of the resort is what they call the Living Room, where you are surrounded by sweeping views of the Martis Valley, with lots of cozy sitting areas. At the center of it is a 55' tall granite fireplace, resembling a "tree trunk". The wooden ceiling beams were designed to mimic branches coming out of this "tree trunk." 

Photo taken from the Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

Photo taken from the Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

The cozy fire pit, looking into the Living Room | Photo taken from Ritz-Carlton Highlands website

It is especially interesting for me when we get to see the "back of the house" on these FAM tours, as it is very helpful for me to understand their operations for our event logistics in the future. We were completely blown away when the Executive Chef met with us in the kitchen, and showed us first hand their state of the art equipments. They use an Italian conveyor belt for their "plate-up", which significantly increases the efficiency of food service for events. In just 4 short minutes, they are able to serve 80 guests! This may not mean much for those of you who are not in the event industry, but efficiency in the plate-up process can really enhanced the culinary experience for guests! 

Our site tour concluded with a light lunch back at the Club Lounge, before we dispersed for our individual spa treatments. FAM tours almost always includes a spa treatment for us, because experiencing the spa is a very important part of any luxury resort! The spa at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe did not disappoint, and is truly a "forest sanctuary." I chose a full mani/pedi instead of a massage this time, and their level of care and comfort was superior. At the conclusion of our treatments, we were offered champagne and a delicious assortment of cake pops, because they are just that thoughtful and hospitable at every step of the way.


In between our spa treatments, the hotel arranged some optional activities in the Club Lounge for our leisure--The Making of a Wedding Cake 101, Wine & Cheese Pairing, and Mixologists demonstrating some cool new cocktail recipes. I was only able to attend the wedding cake class, which was a whole lot of fun! The pastry chef walked us through step-by-step in how he creates his masterpieces. It is quite a labor intensive process, and extremely detail-oriented, for those of you who wonder why wedding cakes cost so much.

That evening, we enjoyed some lovely conversations over a scrumptious dinner, followed by an exquisite dessert presentation filled with some of my favorite sweet bites! 

An artist painting the lively decor during the cocktail hour

As if there would be any possibility that we weren't full enough, we went back to our rooms to this special plate by our bedside....

On the last day of this FAM trip, we started off with a divine brunch in front of a striking view of the pine trees and mountains. Lots of laughs and fun conversations over our omelets and croissants.

Then, a shuttle bus was arranged to whisk us away towards the glittering blue lake, where we got a private tour of the magnificent historical site, Thunderbird Lodge, also known as the "Castle in the Sky". It is indeed, a stunning property prominently situated on the lakeside; the kind of secluded property that makes your jaw drop when you arrive. It makes for an extraordinary and unique site for any special event, though they only accept 8-10 weddings a year, in order to protect and preserve its historic grounds. They have a wonderful partnership with the Ritz-Carlton, where the hotel can provide catering for the weddings and special events held at Thunderbird Lodge, allowing them to maintain a very high level of excellence. 

We had the pleasure of lunching on their waterfront patio after the tour, where we enjoyed the scenic view of the lake in front of us. It was the perfect way to end our FAM tour! 


A sincere thank you to Andrea, Clodagh, and their phenomenal team at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, for their hospitality and care in making our FAM trip a truly memorable and five star experience. I would absolutely love to have the opportunity to plan an event up there!