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

Broody Beauty in Boho-Chic

Tyler and Amber chose to explore all the rich jewel tones for their special day, and we love the full range of colors and dress styles the Bridesmaids chose!

Tyler’s Groomsmen looked dashing in their matching Navy suits and Burgundy ties.

Standing out in the crowd is Tyler with his sharp slate suit and cheeky maroon bowtie!

A Wedding and Event Flower Company blew us away with their floral arrangements all over our Ranch to add a burgundy splash of romance to the focal points of the evening.

The ceremony was out in front of the Hacienda, where their large guest count had no problem seeing the main event right at our front door!

Nick Weiss was back at it with his melodious voice, serenading excited guests and looking right at home here at our Ranch!

Looking radiant and ready to start the rest of her life with the man of her dreams, Amber gazes at Tyler…

…and he can barely contain himself!

Gipe Photography caught this priceless moment of such raw emotion.

(Who’s chopping onions in here?? We’re not crying; you’re crying!)

There was laughter, tears, and in the end, they said their “I Do’s” and walked back down the aisle hand in hand as husband and wife!

A Wedding and Event Flower Company decorated their gorgeous ceremony arch and aisle with whistful, romantic, eye-catching floral arrangements that doubled as decorations at the Sweetheart table later that night!

SD Photo Bus entertained guests during cocktail hour and into the rest of the night with their eclectic assortment of props and costume pieces!

Guests are always charmed by the fun, retro-vintage vibe of this repurposed photo bus.

For each table, Tyler and Amber had a polaroid photo of meaningful places they’ve shared throughout their relationship.

It makes us want to pick up and do some traveling of our own!

The sweetheart table was illuminated by over a dozen candles, warmly casting their glow on the newlyweds and the gorgeous floral arrangements from A Wedding and Event Flower Company.

This talented company also built each table centerpiece to frame the pictures of the happy couple on each table!

Personal Touch Dining dished up a mouth-watering Mexican inspired Taco Bar buffet for dinner!

Carnitas and Pollo Asado Tacos paired with Chilli Verde, Cilantro Lime Rice, Spicy Pinto Beans, and a Spicy Spinach Salad makes for the perfect spread here at the Ranch!

They also provided all the trimmings for the dessert bar/station.

White and Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Cinnamon, and Sugar Crusted Churro Shooters with Chocolate Sauce, Peach, and Apple Pie, Lemon Bars, and some assorted flavors of Donut Holes covered every square inch of the bar top!

DJ Nick Weiss does a lot more than sing and play guitar!

He kept the party going for the rest of the evening as guests were provided glow sticks by the Bride and Groom to help dance the night away!

Gipe Photography caught one last shot of the happy couple as their friends and family sent them off beneath a cloud of bubbles!

Bubble Guns are such a cleverly fun way to take the perfect idea to the next level!

Thanks to all our amazing vendors who helped us make the magic happen yet again!

Vendors:

DJ: Nick Weiss

Florist: A Wedding and Event Flower Company

Photographer: Gipe Photography

Photo Bus: SD Photo Bus

Catering: Personal Touch Dining

Magic in Maroon!

Alexandria Monette Photography shared some of the photos from this incredible day here at our beautiful Ranch.

We’re so excited to show off this fantastic couple and their gorgeous wedding day!

Kyla and Warren were, by far, one of the sweetest couples to grace us with their love.

Their easy-going personalities blended effortlessly with their romantic Boho-Chic motif, and we can’t get enough of the sensational maroon accent color!

Kyla chose an exquisite lace dress paired with a set of cheeky maroon velvet heels!

The simple lines gracefully accentuated her beauty while the softness of the lace added a vintage sweetness to her overall look.

Warren and his groomsmen, in their striking maroon suits, completed their look with amber ties and some sienna dress shoes.

Looking so bold and trendy must be thirsty work!

Where Kyla was delicate with vintage elegance, Warren was bold with retro lines.

Their looks melded together seamlessly for the perfect boho-chic vibe.

Is there anything more romantic than a delicate flower crown?

Wildflower Studios was the floral genius behind all the blossoming masterpieces, big and small, throughout the day.

The ceremony was out on our Washhouse Patio in front of our welcoming pepper tree, where DJ  Nick Weiss welcomed guests with his sweet-sounding guitar.

Wildflower Studios gave our tree a full makeover or the ceremony!

We would never think of having such a fun contrasting combination of the delicate peonies and dried palms.

Alexandria Monette had quite the task of appeasing our feathered camera-fiend while still capturing the wedding vows.

It looks like we need to brush up on their wedding etiquette!

After the big kiss, everyone was encouraged to enjoy cocktail hour while the Bride and Groom finished taking pictures.

Personal Touch Dining provided the bar and food service during cocktail hour, and our favorite appetizers are hands down the Brie Puff-Pastries with Apricot Sauce and Blueberries.

A perfect marriage of sweet and savory, we could’ve eaten an entire platter to ourselves!

Personal Touch Dining doesn’t just stop their fantastic service at food and beverage!

They also provided all the linens and tableware, setting each piece to make Kyla and Warren’s dream tablescape come to life.

The love birds chose to use these artsy amber goblets and mismatched antique china plates to continue their unique vision.

The minimalist flower vases are adorable and add just the right amount of brass accent tones to these gorgeous farm tables.

We love having The Photo Bus here at the Ranch!

Their vintage bus is the perfect compliment to almost any motif, from retro to rustic, and guests always have a blast!

Cocktail hour was full of great music, fun photo booths, and amazing food, but the night had just begun!

Just before dinner service began, the happy couple took a moment to themselves during their heartwarming first dance as husband and wife.

Personal Touch Dining served the season favorite: the Strawberry Spinach Salad!

This crowd-pleaser is like taking a bite out of summer with its creamy goat cheese, fresh slivered almonds, and sweet strawberries.

They also served their signature Garlic Whipped Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Seasonal Veggie Medley, and their delicious Herb Encrusted Mahi-Mahi with a Lemon Chardonnay Sauce.

Now and again we have a couple who can’t decide on which type of cake to order for their big day, so they get two!

Both incredible cakes, made by Flour Power Cakery, were personalized to fit each personality flawlessly.

A classic scraped tiered cake for Kyla in peach and strawberry was complimented by Warren’s expertly decorated “Family Name” sign cake in chocolate.

Nick Weiss kept the dancefloor jumping for the rest of the evening and even played a special song for the happy couple who wanted a private moment before their grand exit.

Alexandria Monette captured this special moment, and you can feel all the love just by looking at them!

Surrounded by their cheering friends and family, Warren and Kyla had their grand exit out from the front of our historic Hacienda.

We’re deeply honored that these two chose our beloved Ranch to start their greatest adventure!

Their love for each other will light their long and beautiful future together, and we’re so happy for them!

Thanks to all our excellent vendors who help us make the magic happen!

Special thanks as always to Personal Touch Dining for the Coordination and Catering of all our special events!

Vendors:

Alexandria Monette: Photography

Nick Weiss: DJ

Wildflower Studios: Florist

The Photo Bus: Photo Booth

Personal Touch Dining: Catering

Flour Power Cakery: Tiered and Groom’s Cake

All In The Details, Darling!

Amy and Sean had some of the most thoughtful personal details planned out for their big day here at our beloved Ranch!

For example, don’t miss Amy’s dress with the tiny bits of antique lace intermixed in the layers of her skirt.

Their custom-built ring box, plucked from a fairy forest floor, enchanted us!

One of our favorite little details were the wine bottles meant for messages instead of a sign-in book!

Each of the six bottles had custom-printed labels for a specific occasion in the future.

When those events came around, the love birds would uncork the bottles and read the well-wishes from their family and friends.

So thoughtful and unique!

Down the ceremony aisle, vibrant floral arrangements from Snowberry Studios framed the scene for the main event!

This bridal party had a couple of quirky details as well.

Amy had a Bridesman, and Sean had a Groomswoman!

What’s a flower girl without a flower crown?

This tiny wreath-decked angel stole the hearts of every guest!

After the heartfelt ceremony, guests were encouraged to enjoy the cocktail hour hosted by Personal Touch Dining.

This gorgeous rustic-chic seating chart perfectly displays the luxurious and romantic motif the happy couple sought!

Don’t think we missed the gold flatware and glass chargers.

We love it when couples take the extra time to think about their tablescape!!

To go with their rustic-chic look, Amy and Sean brought in The Photobus to keep guests busy with pictures and wild props throughout the night.

DJ Nick Weiss transitioned effortlessly from singing and playing guitar for the ceremony to rocking the main dance floor.

Everyone in attendance was lucky enough to witness another one of Leo Carrillo Ranch’s spectacular sunsets, with an extra twist!

The clouds parted and revealed a double rainbow, which made for some one-in-a-lifetime pictures snagged by Harmony Haft Photography.

We’re so excited for these two and their bright future ahead of them!

Honored that they chose to celebrate with us, we wish them all the best.

Thanks to all the vendors who helped this event run so smooth!

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

List of Vendors:

Harmony Haft Photography

Snowberry Studios: Florist

Nick Weiss: DJ

Personal Touch Dining: Catering, Coordination, Venue Management

The Photobus: Photo Booth

Wine-reds added a russet touch to our rustic ranch.

Our signature sunsets seemed to be on the mind when Kevin and Kaleigh chose their color pallet.

The varying shades of reds, oranges, and bright yellows all warmly blend together while making the blue of Kevin’s suit seem to glow!

ABM Wedding Photography was able to capture some amazing detail shots like the one above and this one of the rings

which we are just obsessed with!

Kaleigh looked absolutely radiant in her gown and made our Ranch seem to sit-up and shake the dust off as she walked by!

They also had some cleverly unique decorations for our reflecting pool which we’re always excited to see get some love.

These home-made floating frames peacefully drifted with the wind and showed off the happy couple’s engagement pictures!

The ceremony was in our Wash House patio with the ever-wonderful Bethel Nathan from Ceremonies by Bethel.

Kaleigh and Kevin decided to have a few floral decorations down the aisle,

but kept it beautiful and simple,

allowing our Ranch’s natural beauty to shine through.

The dining area was framed in Farm Tables and we can’t get enough of all the dark wood to off-set our light and natural tones.

While admiring the floral arrangements, you might assume a professional came through and delivered each piece,

but it was actually Kaleigh’s Grandmother who decorated!

Thanks to her help with those final touches, the floor looked exquisite.

Guests were each given a custom-made wine glasses as a wedding favor to use throughout the night.

Personal Touch Dining added Crispy Bacon Crumbles to their already delicious Chicken and Waffel Bites at the request of the happy couple.

The result was an explosion of sweet and salty flavors that had the guests ravenous for more!

As the sun began to set, Personal Touch Dining served dinner.

Kevin and  Kaleigh chose their Citrus + Oregano Marinated Tri-Tip and Mahi Mahi with a Lemon Chardonnay Sauce

to go with Oven Roasted Potatoes, Fresh Vegetables, and a Spring Greens Salad.

For dessert, everyone was excited to see cookies, lemon squares, cake shooters, cake-pops, blondies, and fresh churros!

A little bit of each sweet is a sure recipe to a hungry guest’s heart.

Thanks again to Kevin and Kaleigh for choosing us to be part of their special day!

We loved celebrating your love!

Thanks also go to ABM Wedding Photography for the stunning wedding shots

and to Personal Touch Dining for the Catering, Coordination, and Management of our Ranch!

Amanda and Andrew were unbelievably fun to work with.

They kept us smiling throughout the entire planning process and made sure to

remind everyone that their wedding was a celebration!

Enjoy yourselves!

We can’t thank them enough for choosing us to spend their special day with them.

Photo by BE Studios

They had a wonderful sense of humor which also showed in all of their friends and family.

Their Bridal Party was energetic, positive, and always up for a great time.

Personal Touch Dining provided a full Mexican Style buffet with Mexican Cesar Salad, a Carnitas and Grilled Fish Taco Bar, Chilli Verde, Spanish Rice, and Black Beans.

The tables were set simply with yellow and burgundy accents which were complemented by our dark wood chairs and crisp white table linens.

To add the couple’s own bit of personality, each table was numbered by a different Disney Ride Post Card!

The guests had to use their “Fast Pass” escort cards to find their seats.

Such a fun personal touch by the Bride and Groom!

Andrew and Amanda brought one of our favorite vendors to the party as well!

Pixster came with their photo booth and hilarious props and entertained guests all night long.

Personal Touch Dining also provided a sweet treat to end the night.

S’mores!

Everyone custom roasted their mallows and paired their graham crackers with either a classic Hershey’s chocolate or Reese’s peanut butter cup.

We loved working with these two and hope that their sense of adventure and fun continues throughout their marriage!

Thanks to BE Studios for giving us all these amazing pictures

and again to Personal Touch Dining for the food

as well as Management and Coordination!