Carmel Wedding| Elegant Garden Wedding at Chateau St. Jean & Carmel Mission

Carmel has a way of setting the tone for a wedding day. Even on a fog-softened morning, the gardens at Chateau St. Jean felt warm and inviting — tables set beneath the oaks, the scent of lavender drifting in from the edges of the vineyard. The mood was calm, elegant, and very Carmel.

Before guests arrived at the reception, everyone gathered at Carmel Mission, where the ceremony unfolded quietly and beautifully inside the historic stone walls. Liz looked striking in her straight-cut lace gown, the long veil catching the light in a way that made every turn feel like a moment worth pausing for.

At Chateau St. Jean, guests were welcomed with glasses of chilled rosé in the midday heat. Later, they slipped into the barrel room for appetizers and a break from the sun — the cool, earthy scent of wine barrels offering its own kind of comfort.

The details throughout the day reflected an understated, clean palette:

• Pure white roses that echoed the lace in Liz’s dress

• Moss-lined place cards arranged like a little garden tableau

• Textural green bouquets for the bridesmaids — simple and striking all at once

• White monogrammed linens that added a personal, timeless touch

One of my favorite scenes: the bride’s gown hanging in a patch of lavender at Quail Lodge earlier that afternoon. The quiet of that moment contrasted so sweetly with the sound of bagpipes later in the day, calling guests toward the evening celebration in the garden.

There was a softness to this wedding that fit Carmel perfectly — a mix of coastal stillness, classic California wine country warmth, and the feeling of old friends gathering in a place that loves beauty without needing to announce it.

Wedding Team• Ceremony: Carmel Mission Church• Reception: Chateau St. Jean• Photography: Holman Photography