Our Ranch is overflowing with unique and gorgeous locations that are perfect for must-have moments!

Tucked away between the Hacienda Courtyard and the Washhouse Patio, where we have our ceremonies, there’s a quiet garden featuring charming original architecture and an array of natural beauty.

Singler Photography

Perfect for photographers to grab multiple angles and quick-action approach shots, this secret location is ideal for the couple who want as much detail of this must-have moment recorded.

Singler Photography

Just through the gate seen in the pictures before, classic desert foliage unique to our Ranch’s rustic vibe frames the front of our stunning Hacienda.

Madeline Barr Photography

Through the front entry to the Hacienda, the courtyard hosts a spectacular stone arch draped in vibrant burgundy bougainvillea.

A perfect spot for those with lots of pinks and warm tones to their overall event motif!

Singler Photography

Crazy for more wild desert beauty? On the way to the historic Caretaker’s Cottage, check out the enormous Blue Agave plants on the right!

These plants create the most stunning boho backdrop for a First Look.

Joe & Kathrina Photography

It’s nearly impossible to miss our lovely restored Stables.

This space has two sides that are shaded and have lots of space for photographers to find those dramatic angles.

Phil Chester Photography

On the Stable’s side closest to the visitor’s Center, this intimate hall is striking and perfect for an artsy couple with a love of bright colors and a right eye for contrast!

(We like to imagine you could almost pass this off as a private villa on the cliffs of Greece.)

Madeline Barr Photography

There are countless locations around the Ranch for your perfect First Look!

No matter where you turn, gorgeous rustic architecture, natural wild desert beauty, and opportunities for must-have moments are all around!

Bohemian Bold!

This resourceful pair combined stunning desert scene photographs, a wild romantic ceremony arch, and minimalist table centerpieces to convey their love of adventure and modern bohemian spirit.

This gorgeous bride thought of every detail, using the accent colors in her bouquet to inspire her fabulous accessories!

Ginny paired her elegant lace bodice wedding gown with fun pale salmon fringe statement earrings and a set of gorgeous burnt orange satin heels.

To add a deep contrast to all the warm color tones, Michael and his groomsmen looked sharp in their navy suits.

In the privacy of the Hacienda’s side garden, the love birds snuck in their First Look.

Guests made sure to drop off gifts, cards, and any other wedding “responsibilities” at the Welcome Table before finding their ceremony seat.

Michael and Ginny fell in love with our Washouse’s rustic charm and chose to use it as the base of their incredible ceremony arch.

Rebecca Eichten Floral Art and Design blew us away with her spectacular array of dried desert flowers!

After the heartfelt vows, everyone cheered for The Big Kiss!

Glowing with excitement, the newlyweds made their way back down the aisle together as Husband and Wife.

We were so impressed by the statement this bar sign makes with its mesmerizing background!

As Singler Photography stole the happy couple and some choice family away for formal pictures, the rest of the guests helped themselves to the bar from Personal Touch Dining.

The theme continued to the seating chart as well!

Guests enjoyed the Pixster Photo Booth, and fresh appetizers made on-site from Personal Touch Dining before finding their tables.

The custom table markers explained the significance of each name to the Bride and Groom.

We love the ingenious use of cement pots to add modern flair to the rustic desert foliage in the centerpieces.

Every place setting showed an incredible amount of heartfelt attention to detail by Michael and Ginny!

It included a custom menu card, a bundle of sage as a wedding favor, and thank-you-note escort cards.

After an incredible dinner from Personal Touch Dining, the guests took to the dance floor with Sound Illusions and rocked the night away!

We’re so happy for this beautiful couple, and are beyond grateful for the chance to be part of their special day!

Thanks to the fantastic team of vendors who helped us make the magic happen!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for the Special Event Coordination, Catering, and Venue Management!

Vendors

Singler Photography

Sound Illusions DJ services

Rebecca Eichten Floral Art and Design

Personal Touch Dining

Pixster Photo Booth

Thanks to Joe & Kathrina Photography, we’ve got some beautiful pictures to share.

After a heartfelt ceremony on our Wash House Patio, guests made their way down to our reception area.

Refreshing craft cocktails and delicious appetizers, made fresh on-site from Personal Touch Dining, circulated the area while everyone enjoyed mingling with their family and friends.

A vintage lounge area, from Sundrop Vintage Rentals, overlooked the patio games.

New lounge areas like this are high quality, comfortable, and perfect for any Instagram-worthy photo opportunities!

Beautiful Savage Flowers brought vibrant blues and pops of pink into their floral arrangements.

Overall, it had a wild romantic quality that blended seamlessly with the happy couple’s decor!

After cocktail hour, the newlyweds joined the party with their Grand Entrance, soon followed by their First Dance!

Guests enjoyed the heartwarming champagne toasts from the Bride and Groom’s parents, and then the buffet opened.

Personal Touch Dining served up another fantastic buffet dinner.

The guests were thrilled with the savory carved-to-order Tri-Tip and extra spicy Horseradish Cream Sauce!

Nick Weiss Music opened the dancefloor to everyone after dinner, and guests danced off just enough of their dinner to make room for the dessert!

The love birds decided to have a Couple’s Cake for their cake cutting ceremony.

We love the floral decoration on this beautiful cake!

Personal Touch Dining provided a full dessert display on our Dessert Bar for the guests to enjoy.

Between the Brownies, Lemon Squares, Cheese Cake Bites, and Chocolate Chip Cookies, everyone got exactly what they wanted!

We’re so happy for this incredible couple, and wish them all the best in their beautiful future together!

Thanks to all the excellent vendors who helped make this day so unique for Shelby and Emily!

We couldn’t do what we love without all your help.

Extra appreciative of Personal Touch Dining for the Catering, Event Coordination, and Venue Management of all our special events!

Vendors

Joe & Kathrina Photography

Personal Touch Dining

Nick Weiss Music

Beautiful Savage Flowers

Sundrop Vintage Rentals

Primavera en El Rancho

Our favorite time at the Ranch is Spring!

Especially around April, when the peacocks are active and inspire our clients with their beautiful foliage and bright personalities.

Katy and her bridesmaids took their time getting ready in our historic vintage Bridal Suite while waiting for the ceremony to start!

We can’t get enough of the stunning embroidery on Katy’s gown!

Eamonn looked fresh in his Spring-inspired ensemble!

A light suit with a splash of color in a floral pocket square is the way to go for an April wedding.

As guests made their way down the path from the parking lot, enjoying the natural beauty of our Ranch, tray-passed champagne and sparkling water welcomed them into the ceremony area.

The intimate ceremony was for closest friends and family only, but right after, everyone enjoyed delectable appetizers and craft cocktails from Personal Touch Dining!

Below are pictured some of the Mini Beef Sliders with Muenster Cheese and Bacon Jam made on-site.

Our seating chart went with their rustic motif perfectly, and is flexible enough for escort cards or more extensive table arrangements!

We always appreciate when a happy couple wants to customize their tablescape; it allows us to show off our variety of options!

This gold flatware matched the vintage champagne glasses, and a menu-fold napkin has endless possibilities to tuck all kinds of thoughtful treasures for your guests.

These simple, yet gorgeous centerpieces were all from the Bride and Groom!

A tablescape can feel complete with a few hand-potted plants and a chic source of light for after sunset.

After the Grand Entrance, this glowing couple gathered everyone and expressed their sincerest thanks for all the love and support they’ve received.

Soon after, guests found their seats and staff from Personal Touch Dining poured more champagne as guests helped themselves to the buffet.

The rich assortment of food on the buffet, provided by Personal Touch Dining, included their heavenly Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes and tasty Herb Crusted Mahi Mahi with Lemon Chardonnay Sauce and Fresh Herb garnish.

As a final touch, their second protein was their famous Citrus & Oregano Marinated Grilled Tri-Tip, carved to order!

 This pairs best with their fresh Horseradish Cream Sauce, a Tomato and Corn Relish, and decadent Au Jus.

As thoughtful wedding favors, the lovebirds offered guests cozy blankets that matched our royal blue peacocks!

We loved working with this terrific couple, and wish them all the best in their bright future together!

Huge thanks also to our team of incredible vendors who helped us make such a fun day flow flawlessly!

Especially with all of Personal Touch Dining‘s hard work Catering, Coordinating, and Venue Management of the event!

Vendors

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music

Florals: By Client

Rentals: Adore Folklore

Personal Touch Dining

TK Photography

Pixster Photo Booth

From Las Vegas to Leo Carrillo Ranch!

A Love Story

Lynn and Conor were one of our sweetest couples, and we loved their decor inspired by our Boho-Chic beauty!

Lynn even took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions about their special day for us!

How did you meet?

Lynn was on her first girl’s trip to Las Vegas. Conor and his MLS buddies were there for an off-season good time. The two groups met over bottle service and were inseparable all weekend.

Lynn- “Both of us also happened to be living in San Diego, which is where we started dating and fell in love coming up on eight years ago! We basically found love in the club in Sin City!”

We can’t get enough of these Satin Champagne Bridesmaids dresses!

They’re perfect for complimenting the warm undertones of our Hacienda.

Tell us about the proposal!

Lynn- “Conor proposed in the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. He got both families together to be there for the big moment. We were walking through the gardens, Conor got awkward at one point and was holding onto my shoulder for an uncomfortably long time. I asked him if he wanted to keep going, and he then got down on one knee. I kind of blacked out from there and have no idea what he said, but he eventually handed me the box, and I think I asked him if he was supposed to put the ring on my finger? Then everyone in the gardens (which was A LOT of strangers) started cheering. It was perfectly awkward, and so us. He then threw a little surprise celebration when they got back to our house with some of their closest friends and family.”

Tell us about your wedding.

Lynn- “Conor’s uncle was our officiant, and it made for the most beautifully emotional ceremony. We both wrote our own vows, which was a highlight for both of us.”

Lynn- “Another favorite little detail is the customization of Conor’s wedding suit. Conor’s father passed years ago and was not able to be with us in-person on our wedding day. With the help of his mom and a fabulous suit designer, I was able to have a love note Conor’s father had written stitched onto the inside of this suit jacket along with his signature.”

How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

Lynn- “We had a very sweet and talented florist, Wildflower Design Studio, who made all my ceremony, table setting, cabana plants, and wedding cake décor come true! She was basically responsible for [all] the beauty! We really wanted to keep a minimal look, so we brought lots of candles and not much else. As far as what we DIY-ed, we created the seating chart (do not recommend – formatting all the names, which was 185 for us, is soul-crushing and WILL make you cry), the place cards, signs, and the photos of family wedding photos in the dessert area.”

Personal Touch Dining prepared all the event’s food on-site, including these delicious sliders during cocktail hour!

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

Lynn- “I had a vision for Conor’s suit, and we found an amazing company in LA to design it. I wanted a terracotta, clay suit for him, and he slayed in it. For myself, I wanted enough glam that still let me feel like myself in a dress that gave me heart eyes. It was simple, comfortable, and felt like an actual dress versus a gown. Funny story, my strap broke halfway through the reception, and Kendra came to my rescue and sewed that baby back together while I was still in the dress!”

What was the inspiration behind your day? 

Lynn- “Our inspiration for the wedding was a minimalistic yet romantic feel, with neutral tones. The venue was so gorgeous – we didn’t really feel the need to fill the space with much more. We wanted to showcase its beauty! Our goal for the wedding was for everyone to have full bellies and to overly indulge in the open bar and get their boogie on the dance floor!”

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

Lynn- “Sharing our vows with each other and looking into a sea of adoring eyes during the ceremony still floods us with emotion. Our best man, maid of honor, and parents also gave some award-worthy speeches that made us laugh, cry, and all the feels in-between.”

After another spectacular dinner from Personal Touch Dining, the newlyweds cut their cake!

The feathers as a cake topper decoration were so unique and fun!

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

Lynn- “Make it your own. Make it simple. Make it fun and playful. It’s going to be the best day of your life – as cliché as that sounds! We didn’t know we could even feel so many emotions until our wedding day. LCR (especially Kendra!!), made the process so easy and enjoyable for us. Choose your vendors as soon as you can and then spend the rest of the engagement enjoying each other.”

Lynn- “On the big day, pick a few moments where you come back to the present (so much emotion and adrenaline can otherwise make it feel like a whirlwind) and really try to look around at all the people who came there to celebrate and love you and absorb all the sweet emotions. For myself, I picked walking down the aisle with my father, exchanging of vows, and also during the reception while everyone was seated for dinner.”

Lynn- “We were thrilled we chose LCR. They made all our dreams come true, and all our guests still tell us it’s the best wedding and venue they’ve ever been to!”

We are touched by all the love coming from this gorgeous couple, and we wish them all the best in their bright future ahead!

Thanks to all the fantastic vendors who helped us put together another magical event!

We can’t do what we love without your dedication and excellence.

Special Thanks to Personal Touch Dining, who juggles all our Special Events Catering, Coordination, AND Venue Management!

Florist: Wildflower Design Studio (Now Closed)

Photographer: Phil Chester

Invitation Designer: minted

Men’s Attire: Knot Standard for the groom’s suit (style advisor Gage Minton)

Veils: Mia Bella Bridal

Dress Store: BHLDN

Jewelry: bracelet gifted from parents

Bridesmaid Dresses: Missguided

Catering, Coordination, and Venue Management: Personal Touch Dining

Soundtrack of Love

We loved working with this fun-loving couple and honestly enjoyed every minute of their gorgeous Wedding and Reception here at Our Ranch!

We reached out to the newlyweds, asking a few questions about their big day, and they gave us a list of all their favorite memories. 

Getting ready in the bridal suite, Hillary was a vintage vision in white, thanks to the help of her bridesmaids.

H: “I knew Jacob would look amazing in a navy suit, and when we found “the one,” we knew we had to go with it!

Friar Tux suited up the rest of the groomsmen in the same sharp-looking navy suits to match Jacob.

We love the contrast of the red in the boutonnieres!

Chasing Light Fotography knows how to capture all the priceless moments of the night perfectly!

After a private photoshoot at sunset with Chasing Light Photo and Film the Bride and Groom joined the rest of their party with a Grand Entrance!

Sound Illusions worked closely with the happy couple on the night’s music selection, and the First Dance fit these two perfectly!

After another incredible buffet dinner, the love birds revealed their sweet tooth!

A separate full Churro Dessert Station accompanied the Dessert Bar, which was all supplied by Personal Touch Dining.

We’re so honored to be a part of this special day for these two!

We wish them all the best in their bright future together.

Vendors:

Can Ham Photo Booth

Chasing Light Photo and Film

Florals – The Love Sparrows

DJ – Sound Illusions

Catering/Coordination – Personal Touch Dining

Men’s Attire – Friar Tux

Dress Store – The Bustle

Bridesmaid Dresses – (each girl picked her own)

Dress Designer – Stella York

Golden Days of Summer

Devon and Collin had vibrant florals and lots of gold accents to bring out all the warmth of their love to their Wedding and Reception here at our Ranch.

We asked them to share some of their thoughts about their big day, and the answers are so sweet!

The lovebirds got ready in our Bridal Suite and Groom’s Room, and we loved how perfectly their rustic-chic motif went with all the abundant natural beauty.

How did you meet?

Devon: “Collin and I met our Freshman year in 2010 at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. We were both student-athletes – he played football, and I played golf. We were friends for a few years and then started dating in 2013.”

We loved this picture taken by Laurie Ashley Photography. She had so many unique angles we’d never seen to achieve the perfect shot.

Tell us about your proposal!

Devon: “Collin and I still live in Chicago close to Wrigley Field. The area around the field was recently renovated with nice restaurants and a new hotel – Hotel Zachary. When we walked into the lobby of the hotel, Collin proceeded to walk past the bar and straight to the elevators that went up to the guest floors. He said there was a “second bar” on a higher floor, but when we got out on a higher floor, it was clearly just guest rooms. We went into one of the hotel rooms overlooking Wrigley Field, the door to the room was propped open with a “Model Suite” sign on the door, he said to check it out. Once inside the room, we turned the corner there was an arch of market lights and flowers on the floor with balloons in the shape of the word “Love” in the background. He got down on one knee, and I said: ‘Of Course!’ After the proposal, my best friend popped out of hiding and took pictures of us. We ended up staying the night in the beautiful hotel. It was a wonderful night, and I was definitely surprised!”

Laurie Ashley Photography also captured this special moment below.

The happy couple went without a first look, opting to share a private moment before the ceremony just out of sight from each other beneath one of our many romantic arches.

D: “We had a ‘first touch’ before the ceremony. We didn’t see each other, but on a corner of the building, Collin stood on one side, and I stood on the other, and we held hands moments before walking down the aisle. We didn’t say much, but after the months of planning and the craziness of getting hair and makeup done all morning, worrying that everything was going to fall in place, that moment was calming and reassuring that the day was going to be perfect.”

Studio Fleurish decked our pepper tree with a dreamy garland of roses in luscious shades of pink for the ceremony.

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? 

D: “We loved that tree and wanted that to be the star of the show. We put a garland around the tree and kept the aisle simple with two floral arrangements at the last two guest chairs at the start of the aisle.”

Heartfelt touches like this are always so special to us.

D: “Collin’s dad passed away his senior year of high school. It was important to us to honor his memory, so we brought Collin’s favorite pair of his dad’s cowboy boots to the wedding and put them on a seat for the ceremony with Collin’s Dad’s name on a reserved sign.”

Nick Weiss welcomed guests to the ceremony site and heralded Devon down the aisle with his talented guitar skills.

D: “Collin’s stepdad, John, performed the ceremony. One of Collin’s Mom and Stepdad’s wedding gifts to us was a large leather bible, with our names engraved on the front, that he used during the ceremony. That was a special gift we will enjoy for the rest of our lives.”

You’ve got to love the look on Collin’s face!

This glow keeps spreading, onto Devon, and even we can’t help but smile!

After the ceremony, Personal Touch Dining started the party by serving up the newlywed’s signature drink, and some incredible bite-sized appetizers.

To have and to hold, to keep the beers cold, custom koozies are always a hit for the perfect wedding favor!

D: “The Koozies we handed out at the bar included a hunting-related phrase, ‘The Hunt Is Over.’ Collin grew up hunting in LA and still does in Chicago. It is a large part of his identity, and we thought this phrase fit the bill. We also included antlers in our decor that are representative of our style and Collin’s hunting.”

Finding their seats for dinner was easy for guests on this rustic seating chart, thanks to the available escort cards.

The floor looked dressed and ready for dinner!

We love the classic white linens against our dark wood dining chairs.

D: “We wanted our wedding to be relaxed, but traditional, colorful, and just a good time for our friends and family. Growing up in CA, I always dreamed of an outdoor wedding with market lights and CA vegetation. Most of our friends and family traveled from other states, so we ultimately wanted to give them a true CA feel, and Leo Carrillo Ranch was the perfect venue for our vision.”

Studio Fleurish took charge of the gorgeous floral arrangements on each table for the simple, yet elegant, centerpieces.

D: “After the first meeting with our wonderful florist, Studio Fleurish, Nadine used the three words: ‘Classic Romantic Elegance’ and I think those were three buzzwords I kept in mind throughout the planning process. Color Palette: Bright Pink, Blush, Ivory, Yellow – Large florals with bright greenery – with Navy and Gold accents.”

Personal Touch Dining helped set tables and brought Devon and Collin’s tablescape vision to life.

We’re always up for unique napkin folds, and this was the first time we’d had a couple ask for this arrangement!

D: “We created the table numbers on Minted – One side was the table number surrounded by a gold border, and the other side was a photo of Collin and me with a thank you note to our guests. We brought in gold chargers for the table settings to add more pops of gold. The menus at each seat matched our wedding invitations and had a gold floral design on them.”

After a charming Grand Entrance and First Dance, Personal Touch Dining treated us to another fantastic dining experience!

D: “When the DJ announced us as Mr. and Mrs. walking into the reception and all of our guests were standing and smiling and clapping for us, that was a pretty surreal moment. The love and happiness we felt was really great.”

The SD Photo Bus always adds a fun twist to a classic photo booth.

Guests love all the wild props and instant photos to take home!

D: “We had ‘heads on a stick’ signs made of his face that people used on the dance floor and in the Photo Bus. Some of our favorite photographs from the wedding included these signs of our dog’s face – Collin and I took a series in the front of the photo bus with us holding the signs over our faces. I have these framed!”

Personal Touch Dining helped supplement the dessert bar so the happy couple could keep their cake and still satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

The shelves behind the dessert bar in the Cabana are great for displaying favorite photos!

D: “We had a hashtag sign made for the wedding – #alwaysandforEllis. We also included a lot of pictures from our engagement sessions in Chicago and San Diego. We got mismatched wood and gold frames to feature these photographs in the cabana area. I also framed a floral heart print I gave my Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids for the cabana area.”

Finally, the last song ended, and our incredible coordination team helped all the guests line up for the Grand Exit out in front of the Hacienda!

What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

D: “Seeing how 13 months of planning turned out – it was more than we could have imagined between our vision, the visions of our vendors, and Personal Touch Dining. It was surreal looking out from the bridal suite to see the guest tables and the Photo Bus being set up.”

“More specifically: FLOWERS!!! And Grand Exit (Our friends and family held up foam glow sticks, and running through that sea of people and colors was a great way to end the night.)”

We loved having these two celebrate the beginning of their forever here at the Ranch!

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

D: “Collin traveled during the week, so we had wedding planning ‘check-in’ meetings on Sunday evenings. It was nice to have that designated time to sit down together and talk/update each other for just an hour or two every week. If something came up during the workweek, I would just set it aside for the weekend – made the week a little less stressful knowing that whatever came up would be addressed on Sunday.”

“During the planning process, to see how everything was coming together, I made a single page planning board/collage and would update that when I started purchasing items for the day to see everything come together, and all the colors. It was a fun activity, and got our families that much more excited for the big day and us.”

Can’t get enough of these two?

Us either!

Check out their wedding website for more details under the “Our Story” section. – Knot Wedding Website – Devon Brown and Collin Ellis

Thanks to all the phenomenal vendors who helped us pull all these pieces together!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for all our Special Event Catering, Coordination, and Venue Management!

Vendors:

Nick Weiss Music

Studio Fleurish

Laurie Ashley Photography

The SD Photo Bus

Personal Touch Dining

Fun Custom Detailed Wedding!

So much genuine care and creativity went into the planning process of Derrick and Kathleen’s Wedding here at our Ranch.

We loved helping these love birds put everything together to create such a fun-filled event!

Nick Weiss was back at it again, entertaining guests and displaying his incredible skills and his melodious voice for guests’ entertainment.

When guests first arrived for the ceremony, greeting them was this little DIY sign made by the Bride and Groom!

Right before the ceremony began, Kami Olavarria Photography caught this precious moment where the flower girls were giving Derrick a little pep-talk.

We asked Kathleen to share some thoughts about her wedding with us, and she was so sweet to answer us!

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day?

Kathleen: “Given that Leo Carrillo was such a gorgeous outdoor venue, we just wanted to play off of that and have a really natural, simple wedding.”

Tell us about the proposal!

K: “Derrick proposed to me after three years together on a hike of the Torrey Pines Reserve, with both of our sisters and best friends.”

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day? 

K: “The most special moment for us was our first look. It was the perfect time for us to really just experience the roller coaster of emotions between just the two of us.”

“It’s the one part of that day where you get to slow down and really take in everything together.”

Along with the caricatures, guests enjoyed playing our complimentary lawn games like Giant Jenga, and Corn Hole.

During cocktail hour, Personal Touch Dining kept guests well fed and encouraged keeping a cold beverage always on hand!

Guests helped themselves to the hearty buffet from Personal Touch Dining.

The newlyweds made their way around to each table during dinner, making sure no guests left without a quick kiss and hug!

Kathleen commented, “I would also have to say make sure you really take time and let your guests know how much it means to have them there; they really appreciate it.”

The happy couple had personalized Tic-Tacs made as another fun wedding favor for their guests!

Flour Power baked up the cutest personal Couple’s Cake for the ceremonial Cake-Cutting while pre-cut slices floated around the floor for guests to help themselves from another cake.

Nick Weiss kept the dance floor rocking the rest of the evening, and the guests danced away into the night!

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day? 

K: “My advice to others, which sounds so cliché, but it really is the best advice is just to enjoy the day. You spend months planning and making sure everything is perfect for it just to pass in a blink of an eye.”

“It’s the best day, and you just wish that you could do it over again.”

We’re so happy these two enjoyed their special day, we loved celebrating with them!

Huge thanks to all the vendors who were part of this night, we sincerely appreciate all your hard work and commitment to your crafts!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for the Catering, Coordination, and Venue Management of all our Special Events here at the Ranch.

Vendors:

Kami Olavarria Photography

Personal Touch Dining

Flour Power

Jamul Flowers

Nick Weiss

Caricatures By Dave

Valentine’s Day Feature!

We saw the pictures from Chasing Light Photography of Becky and Jared’s wedding here at the Ranch and knew what we wanted to use for our red-letter Valentine’s Day post.

Framing the window in our Bridal Suite, the bridal bouquets from Flowers by Mae Mae welcomed Becky and her bridesmaids with their vivid coral and lush burgundy blooms.

Becky was super sweet and answered a few questions for us about her experience planning!

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

B: “For my wedding day look, I was going for a romantic vintage feel.”

Flowers by Mae Mae also decorated the ceremony space, and we’re in love with this bright burgundy tree decoration!

The flowers continued down each side of the aisle to thoroughly drench the patio in that vibrant color of love.

B: “We met through a dating website in 2015!”

Tell us about the proposal.

B: “Jared proposed to me at a family gathering at my parents’ house. He had both of our families involved, and it was very special!”

Nick Weiss is a mind-blowingly talented DJ.

(Throughout the night, he played guitar and sang during the pre-ceremony, ceremony, cocktail hour, and then finally switched over to traditional DJ techniques for the rest of the evening.)

Becky looked so dreamy and beautiful, walking down the aisle!

While Becky stole our breath, Chasing Light Photography caught Jared in the throws of the moment.

It’s love like this that makes these two perfect for a Valentine’s Day shout-out.

What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding? 

B: “Exchanging vows in front of our favorite people, our first dance as husband and wife.”

The Big Kiss!!

The bridal party had such a fresh take on a classic look here at the Ranch!

(We’re so used to seeing groomsmen in sharp black suits, and bridesmaids in light colors, that we were pleasantly surprised by this group switching it up and looking so good!)

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day?

B: “Romantic, simple, and a little boho was my inspiration for the day.”

The main floor looked perfect thanks to the hard-working staff at Personal Touch Dining who set all the tables and carried each chair down from the ceremony site!

How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

B: “We wanted to incorporate as many personal items to the reception. I made my Grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies as wedding favors…”

(Who can resist homemade cookies?!)

“We had coasters made of our two corgis…”

(We love little personal touches like this for guests to take home! We know those cookies didn’t last past the end of the night.)

“…and we had a ton of photos of our parents and grandparents at the dessert bar.”

(This area of the Cabana is a favorite for couples who want to display memories of the two families coming together, loved ones who are with them in spirit, or pictures of their relationship history.)

B: “I’d say sharing our special day with all of the amazing people in our lives was pretty spectacular!”

Personal Touch Dining staff brought Becky and Jared appetizers to their Sweetheart Table, just in case they missed any during cocktail hour.

The talented Coordination Team also plated-up the love birds’ dinner, so they could finally sit and relax for the first time that night.

Personal Touch Dining also provided extra desserts for guests to help themselves to off of our dessert bar!

Flour Power baked up an adorable, and delicious, FunFetti-style Couple’s Cake for the ceremonial cake cutting.

Nick Weiss kept the dance floor rocking the rest of the evening as guests danced the night away!

B: “Don’t sweat the small stuff, the day goes by so fast, so try to take it in.”

“Enjoy every minute of it.”

We’re so honored we could be part of this amazing couple’s special day!

Thanks, Becky and Jared, for choosing our Ranch! Thanks also to Chasing Light Photography for sharing these incredible photos.

All the vendors who worked with us this day are fantastic, and we are always so appreciative of their hard work!

Finally, a special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for the Catering, Event Coordination, and Venue Management of all the Special Events at our Ranch!

Vendors:

Personal Touch Dining

Nick Weiss

Flowers by Mae Mae

Chasing Light Photography

Flour Power

We asked these newlyweds a couple of questions to help us navi-gate this post.

They had so many beautiful details to share, we figured, “Why try to force it?“

So, we pass the mic to the love birds, Daniel and Breanna, as they reminisce about their wedding here at the Ranch!

(What could goron?)

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

 

Breanna: “Daniel knew he wanted a lighter colored tuxedo to stand out from the crowd while also fitting the outdoor, afternoon setting. He found a grey tuxedo he liked at Men’s Wearhouse and looked no further.”

Daniel: “Before she knew anything about what kind of dress she wanted, Breanna knew she wanted to wear white boots to the wedding. The dress was a surprise find from Anthropologie[…] Not expecting to find anything, she stumbled upon the perfect dress—comfortable, simple, elegant, and the last one was in her size!”

How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

 

Both: “We mostly left the decor in the hands of Adina (we used Simply Adina Floral Design for all our flowers) to decorate the space with flowers and other plants. She did an amazing job carrying out our visions for the day, and it was a beautiful surprise on the wedding day to see what she had done. We also bought a few decorative signs from Michael’s and Hobby Lobby and bought chalkboards to write rules for the board games on.”

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

 

B: “Daniel’s most anticipated moment was seeing [Breanna] for the first time as [I] walked down the aisle. Of course, he hadn’t seen the dress before, only heard from everyone else that it was absolutely beautiful and perfect.”

D: “It probably seems silly, but I was nervous about having no participation in such an important part of the wedding. When I finally saw her coming down the aisle, with curled hair, light makeup, and an incredible dress with a floral pattern, she was beautiful far beyond my expectations. Obviously, I had nothing to be nervous about in the first place.”

Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment, etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

D: “Probably our biggest personal touch was in the music. We’re huge nerds for the Legend of Zelda video games, so we selected beautiful orchestral arrangements of two pieces from the Zelda series for our biggest moments. Breanna walked down the aisle to a piece called ‘Zelda’s Lullaby,’ and the music for our first dance, ‘Gerudo Valley,’ is also from that series. We took a couple of private ballroom dancing lessons, and our instructor choreographed an exciting Paso Doble full of passion. The music perfectly fit the occasion and provided a fun Easter egg for the few who recognized it. Those moments—the ceremony and the first dance—were absolutely our favorite parts of the wedding.”

D: “The ceremony was personalized in a couple of ways as well. Since Breanna is really close to her brothers, they stood on her side as bridesmen.”

B: “Daniel’s brother was also the officiant for the ceremony.”

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day?

B: “I’d say Leo Carrillo Ranch itself inspired several aspects of our wedding. While we didn’t adhere too closely to any specific theme or traditions, we embraced the outdoor, southwest desert setting and Spanish cultural influence of the ranch. For example, we felt dressy casual attire was best for an outdoor, summer afternoon wedding. Many of the flower arrangements were accented with succulents and blue thistles (our color palette was dusty blue and sage green, not too different from the ranch itself). Our first dance was a Paso Doble, and the accompanying music, ‘Gerudo Valley,’ has Spanish influences and was even written to represent a desert region.”

D: “Breanna’s most anticipated moment was the first dance. We’d worked hard on practicing it, and it was exciting and thrilling to be doing something so complex and elaborate. It felt like an encapsulation of who we were—it was the kind of fun adventure and new experience that we like to do with each other, and the music meant so much to us.”

How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.

“Having all but committed to each other long ago, Daniel proposed in June 2018. Breanna had gone home to visit her parents while Daniel stayed in Boulder, secretly preparing the engagement. He decorated the coffee table with tealight candles arranged in a heart and the dinner table with new napkins, a new tablecloth, apple pie from a local bakery, and a bouquet of flowers. Best of all, he adopted a fluffy orange and white cat; how could Breanna say no to that? The plan was to have a friend prepare a special Spiegel-family salmon recipe while Daniel picked Breanna up from the airport, but at the eleventh hour, the plan was ruined: Breanna’s flight had been canceled, and she would be coming back the next morning. With the new cat, Daniel knew he had no choice but to propose as soon as Breanna got home. As a ruse, he told her he had to work, and she would have to bus home. When Breanna got there, she was greeted to the aforementioned decorations and a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom, where Daniel awaited with cat and ring. Of course, Breanna said yes and with perfect timing, for not a minute later did the tealight candles set off the fire alarm! Daniel made omelets for brunch and salmon for dinner. In the end, it was a proposal neither of us will ever forget.”

TL: DR

They met in high school and survived a long-distance relationship for four years through college, across the country from each other before finally reuniting in CO. Daniel’s first try at proposing, (like any true romantic, with all the flowers, candles, and a new cat for good measure) failed, because planes. Second attempt the next morning: success! But he set off the fire alarm.

 

Unforgettable.

 

Throughout this eventful day-wedding, vendors were executing moves behind the scenes in a symphony of flawless movements thanks to our fabulous Coordination Team.

 

True Photography was capturing priceless shots of perfect candid moments, while DJ Mike Hogan was a master MC and dance-floor wizard!

Personal Touch Dining served up amazing meals, and no guest left unsatisfied.

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

 

D: “I think it’s important to plan the wedding in a way that feels special and right to the couple. Don’t be afraid to deviate from tradition when you have a better idea!”

One Last Tip!

 

B: “At the wedding, ask a few guests to take at least a couple of pictures! It was fantastic to have True Photography taking such amazing photos of our event, and I’m so glad that we didn’t have to worry about capturing the moments and could just enjoy the day. However, afterward, it was hard to wait so long for the photos to be edited and finalized, so we’re glad that a few friends took photos by themselves. Those casual photos from friends helped tide us over until we got the full set of professional photos from the day.”

When we initially asked this happy couple to answer some quick questions, we never expected this kind of response!

They said they felt “honored to be the subject of [our] blog,” but we are the ones genuinely privileged to be part of your big day.

We’re so glad this magical day was everything they dreamed it could be, and we wish these two all the best in their bright future together!

 

Thanks to all the incredible vendors who helped us, but especially Personal Touch Dining for the Catering, Coordination, and Venue Management of our beloved Ranch.

True Photography

Personal Touch Dining

Mike Hogan (DJ)

Simply Adina Floral Design