Timeless Elegance Meets Rustic Charm!

Among his squad of groomsmen, the stylish surprise of Adam’s white jacket and black bow tie made him stand out as the prominent star of his show!

We love the fun mix of blues in Julie’s Bridesmaid’s dresses; the effect gives depth and personality to her side of the bridal party!

As their guests arrived, everyone stopped at the Welcome Table to drop off cards, gifts, and grab a quick refreshment before finding their ceremony seat.

As a cute activity for the guests, instead of a sign-in book, Julie and Adam asked for well-wishes or advice to be slipped into wine bottles for them to read years later!

Everyone waited excitedly for the ceremony on our patio, while they listened to Nick Weiss Music artfully sing and play his guitar.

Our Pepper Tree had a miniature makeover for the big day, thanks to KO Floral Designs, with a stunning garland of eucalyptus and pops of bright corals, pinks, and peach blooms.

The last to leave the Hacienda, the Bride and her Father get to share a private moment before they make their trip down the aisle.

What a spectacular backdrop this scene makes for The Big Kiss!

You can’t help but catch the excitement coming from The Glow off of these two!

As soon as the ceremony finished, guests moved to the reception area where Personal Touch Dining served craft cocktails and fresh appetizers made on-site!

KO Floral Designs and Ivory + Stone Event Co. worked together to make sure each dining table had the perfect tablescape.

Finally, after some romantic sunset pictures, the love birds made their way back to the party with their Grand Entrance.

The First Dance as Husband and Wife is such a heartwarming moment for the newlyweds to have, especially surrounded by their family and friends!

For dinner, Personal Touch Dining offered guests a delicious and well-balanced buffet full of Julie and Adam’s favorite dishes, all made fresh on-site!

A champagne toast after dinner brought laughter and happy tears right before opening the dance floor for the rest of the evening.

KO Floral Designs decorated the adorable Couple’s Cake and Dessert Bar shelves for the cake cutting later in the night.

Personal Touch Dining made sure to gather a wide variety of sweet treats for guests to grab on their way back to the dance floor!

Nick Weiss Music kept the dance floor rocking the rest of the night, much to the delight of the groovy guests!

We are so proud to be part of this beautiful couple’s love story!

Thanks to Ivory + Stone Event Co., Mike Thezier Photography,  and the rest of the incredible vendors for working with us to make this day so special!

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

Vendors

Mike Thezier Photography

Ryan Films SD Videography

KO Floral Designs

Nick Weiss Music

Personal Touch Dining

Ivory + Stone Event Co.

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

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

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

We all want

That Sunday Kind of Love

Emily and Rose were an absolutely gorgeous couple and we were so honored they chose to spend their special day with us here at the Ranch!

The floral arrangements were all the masterful work of Bloom Babes,

the colors perfectly complimented their Turquoise and Ivory color scheme.

The Two Brides got ready separately in our bridal party areas in preparation for the First Look!

Then True Photography took the lovely ladies out exploring around the grounds for some excellent photo oppurtunities.

We love how well True Photography always captures priceless candid moments like this one!

The ceremony was in front of our grand pepper tree and The Brides walked each other

down the aisle to the cheers of their family and friends.

After the ceremony, down at the reception area, The Photo Bus was ready and waiting to entertain guests during cocktail hour.

These two loved to laugh and their joy spread throughout the night, lifting up the spirits of everyone present.

Personal Touch Dining provided Rose and Emily’s choice of a full Taco Bar and Buffet!

Guests were able to customize their taco toppings and serve themselves heaping helpings of sides like the Cilantro-Lime Rice, an Enchilada Bake, and a Spicy Spinach Salad.

Flour Power treated the Brides to a delicious Raspberry Champagne Cake Topper

while Personal Touch Dining stuck with the Spanish theme and served guests fresh Churros!

These deep-fried delights were doused in cinnamon sugar and paired with lots of fun sauce options to drizzle on top.

Thanks again to Emily and Rose for wanting to spend your big day with us!

We loved celebrating your love and wish you two all the best!

We also appreciate all the hard work of our vendors mentioned above, we couldn’t have done it without you all.

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for Managing, Coordinating, and Catering our events!