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

Boho-Sweet!

Chris and Brittany brought their romantic boho dreams to our Ranch for their special day, and we couldn’t have been happier to have them!

We were head-over-heels for Brittany’s vintage-inspired croche lace gown!

For a lively group of Bridesmaids, we always recommend a free choice on bodice style.

Now everyone can look and feel their best on your big day!

Chris went with a light gray, almost linen suit, which is perfect for our sunny San Diego Summers!

His troop of Groomsmen sported a slightly darker suit to help Chris stand out.

Florist Lily Benjamin wound a lush garland around our Pepper Tree for the ceremony, and we love to see it all dressed up!

As guests arrived, our Coordination team helped them find the card box and encouraged everyone to sign in before finding their seats.

Full of laughter, tears, and infectious smiles, the ceremony made everyone present feel included.

After a quick ring exchange, it was officially time to seal the deal with The Big Kiss!

The newlyweds made their way back to the Hacienda, guided by one of our feathered friends, who are always ready for their closeup!

Personal Touch Dining served guests tray-passed appetizers to pair with their specialty crafted cocktails after the ceremony.

We loved the look of the engraved charger plates on the Sweetheart Table!

This style of charger is unique, elegant, and a beautifully sweet way to accent their tablescape.

Happy Camper Photo Bus entertained everyone for hours with their multitudes of fun photo props and instant-print photos to take home as a memory of the night’s festivities.

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music brought the happy couple back to the party with the Grand Entrance and First Dance!

Personal Touch Dining then opened the buffet for hungry guests to get their fill of the hearty dishes they provided.

The Tri-Tip is always a crowd favorite of the many fresh dishes made on-site!

A hilarious family heirloom cake topper decorated the Couple’s Cake from Flour Power Custom Cakery.

Personal Touch Dining served slices of cake and added extra sweets for guests to grab and go, perfect for on their way back to the dance floor.

We’re so thankful to Madeline Barr Photography, and the newlyweds, for allowing us to share such a fun and loving day with our readers!

We absolutely loved having Chris and Brittany’s special day here at the Ranch!

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

Thanks to all the wonderful vendors who helped make this day so flawless.

Especially the staff at Personal Touch Dining for their Event Coordination, Catering, and Venue Management!

Vendors

Personal Touch Dining

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music

Lily Benjamin: Florals

Happy Camper Photo Bus

Madeline Barr Photography

Flour Power Custom Cakery

But, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, we thought we’d bring back one of our most festive weddings from last year!

Claudia and Reggie were a DIY decor inspiration.

Their attention to detail left no spot on our Ranch untouched by their heritage. These paper decorations on the ceremony arch were incredible, and the happy couple decorated it themselves!

Each of their tables had adorable miniature pinatas, customized maracas, and hand-planted cacti and succulents as their centerpieces!

We barely recognized our humble Cabana once Claudia’s beautiful paper flowers and Mexican Candy buffet were all displayed!

Are you looking for more pictures of this festive event?

Check out the full gallery on the blog post that we dedicated to them here!

From all of us here at Leo Carrillo Ranch, Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Vintage Elegance Meets Historic Charm

Inspired by our Historic beauty, this couple intertwined their classic “Roaring 20’s” wedding theme with our timeless rustic charm!

Ariana’s stunning feathery layered lace gown perfectly complemented her edgy smokey eye and luscious maroon locks for her Vintage Alternative look.

We love the halo of peacock feathers around her bouquet, so striking and romantic!

Her band of gorgeous Bridesmaids followed the vintage 20’s theme by finding exquisite emerald and sapphire toned flapper dresses to finish off the effect.

The ceremony beneath our majestic Pepper Tree needed only simple decorations along the aisle, and a flowing piece of white cloth to frame the happy couple!

The heartfelt vows, and including their daughter into the ceremony, caused more than a few misty eyes in the crowd.

After the Big Kiss, guests showered the newlyweds in dried flowers and endless love as they came back down the aisle as Husband and Wife.

While the happy couple took formal pictures with family, the rest of the guests moseyed over to the reception area for food, drinks, and lawn games!

The table centerpieces doubled as favors at the end of the night for the guests and were hand made by the Bride and Groom with tall vases, red velvet roses, and ostrich feathers.

Davin Lindwall Photography took these two all over our Ranch to find the perfect pictures, and they look meant for this iconic shot among our bougainvillea.

Rejoining the party with their daughter, they made their way to the center of the dance floor to kick off the rest of the evening with their First Dance!

We’re so thankful these lovebirds chose us to help them celebrate their love!

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

A round of applause for the fantastic team of vendors who helped us keep everything running so smoothly!

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

Vendors

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music

Flower You Beautiful

Davin Lindwall Photography

Personal Touch Dining

Spring is our Peacock season, here at the Ranch, so there were plenty prowling around hoping for the chance with Joseph McCalment Photo + Video for a mini photoshoot!

We’ll never get tired of the magic that happens during ceremonies held beneath our stately Pepper Tree.

The heartfelt vows and the Big Kiss got everyone in the crowd cheering for the newlyweds!

Walking back down the aisle, showing off that “I Do” Glow, Markie and Ryan got a chance to bask in the love and support from their family and friends.

To start the party, Personal Touch Dining fed peckish guests while encouraging them to try their craft cocktails.

Their home-made seating chart went perfect with our rustic vibe!

The love birds decorated the tables themselves, choosing to think ahead and make each table number a memento for future anniversaries!

The Bride and Groom offered this sweet treat Candy Station, open all evening, for their guests to make to-go bags as a party favor!

Once all guests were seated, the happy couple rejoined the party with their Grand Entrance and First Dance!

Soon after, Personal Touch Dining began their dinner service with yet another fantastic hearty buffet.

Their fresh In-Season Veggitables, savory Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes, and Herb Parmesan Crusted Chicken with a Garlic Cream Sauce are all favorites in any crowd.

As the final touch to their buffet, their mouth-watering Citrus & Oregano Marinated Tri-Tip is carved-to-order for the juiciest cuts.

Everyone gathered in our Cabana for the official Cake-Cutting, hoping for a chance to see a mischievous bit of cake end up on someone’s face.

Instead of cake for the guests, Personal Touch Dining arranged a delightful dessert bar for everyone to try donut holes, brownies, cannolis, and more!

The rest of the evening was in the trustworthy hands of Sound Prodigy, who kept the dancefloor full and guests happy for the rest of the party.

We are so honored to have been part of the memories these two will share for the rest of their lives, and we wish them nothing but the best in their future together!

We couldn’t do what we love without the incredible team of vendors who make it all possible.

Thanks to everyone who was there that day helping make the magic happen!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for their constant professionalism and dedication to excellence in Catering, Event Coordination, and Venue Management.

Vendors

Personal Touch Dining

Sound Prodigy: Photo Bus and DJ services

Evermore Floral Co.: Bouquets and Boutonnieres

Centerpieces: Bride and Groom!

Joseph McCalment Photo + Video

Taco-‘Bout Some Sweet Lovin’!

Dillon and Natalie brought their closest friends and family to party the night away here at our Ranch!

After a heartfelt ceremony at our beneath our lofty Pepper Tree, the festivities started right away during cocktail hour.

Personal Touch Dining kept guests guessing what delectable treats would be coming out of the kitchen all evening!

For appetizers, their friendly staff tray-passed Mini Beef Sliders with Bacon and Creamy Blue Cheese, sweet and savory Chicken and Waffel Bites, and Mini Margherita Flatbread Pizzas all made fresh on-site.

The Taco Bar Buffet is incredibly popular with our clients and their guests for dinner, thanks to the hearty side dishes, authentic, fresh ingredients, and a rainbow of topping choices!

That evening steaming pans of Cilantro Lime Rice, authentic Black Beans, a crunchy Mexican Cesar Salad, and House-Made Tortilla Chips and Salsa paired well with the three taco options: Carne Asada, Carnitas, and Polla Asada.

Every guest, no matter their age or food preferences, will find something to love about that menu!

These happy Groomsmen pause for a quick picture, eager to get back to their table to feast!

Marisa McBride Photography caught this shot of our reception area right after the golden hour.

Our Market Lights create the perfect ambiance for guests to dine by. No extra lighting needed!

After dinner, Parent Dances with the happy couple warmed up the dancefloor for the guests, who were ready to show off their best moves.

Our complimentary Lawn Games, such as Corn Hole and Giant Jenga, are always left out for guests to enjoy all night!

The newlyweds cut their Couple’s Cake while Personal Touch Dining made sure the home-made Donut Stands stayed well-stocked!

These talented DIY love birds discovered that polished rustic copper wire, molded into the shape of a dowel, created the perfect donut stand.

Sound Prodigy knows how to keep people out of their seats and on the dance floor!

This group rocked our Ranch the rest of the night, putting in the work to make up for all those extra donuts.

We adored having Natalie and Dillon here at the Ranch, and wish them all the best in their bright future together!

Thanks to the super-star team of vendors who helped us with such a fun night!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for all their hard work, Coordinating, Catering, and Managing our Venue for our special events!

Vendors

Personal Touch Dining

Sound Prodigy

Marisa McBride Photography

Florals by the Bride!

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

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