Straus Home Ranch

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!

My wife and I recently got married at Straus Home Ranch and it was magic. Michael and Vivien are so helpful, flexible, and supportive. The location is unbelievable and the housing is perfect. We'll be going back as often as we can to relive that special, special weekend.

Straus Home Ranch came onto our 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. They are both such kind people, the type of folks you want to befriend immediately upon meeting them. 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! 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. Thank you Michael and Vivien for helping make our dream wedding a reality!

It was my dream to bring people together at the Straus Home Ranch since I had fallen in love with all the lush greenery surrounding the home, its view of Tomales Bay, and the historic charm of the house itself. My collaborator and I chose the Ranch as our destination for the weekend retreat we'd designed for professional women to recharge their creativity. We couldn't have imagined a more ideal location for this kind of personal renewal and communal gathering. It truly felt like an escape into nature, away from the noise and grind of the city. The renovations Michael and Vivien have made to the property are looking lovely and the glimpses of their family history throughout add such a beautiful, human touch. The two of them are wonderful as well and are so personable and easy to coordinate with.

A magical venue with wonderful staff to support it. I had the honor of shooting a wedding here and it's truly a photographer's dream venue. Everything from the majestic barn, grand landscapes and trees, textured interiors, and warm lighting contributes to a fantastic backdrop for capturing memories.