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  • Events
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Farm vs Round Tables: The Skirmish of Style

Posted on May 25, 2021
in Event Tips
by lcr

Gather Round To Hear A Tale…

The paramount decision between farm tables and classic rounds with linens has plagued couples and event designers for time and memorium. Linens offer infinite options to help create the perfect tablescape and overall event look. On the other hand, farm tables can be just as versatile in their look depending on the rest of the decor.

Photos by Vafa Photography

For years, round and rectangular tables were the standard, and the linen industry ruled with an iron fist! 

Not without reason, either. The draw toward tables with linens is that of a clean-cut, classic look, and they happen to come in every shade of your imagination. Through shade, texture and layering, you can make your dream wedding or event come to life. The options and combinations are quite literally endless, so if you know what you want, little can stop you.

The choice of table shape includes more factors than you might guess. Round tables are especially convenient for social gatherings, allowing guests to talk freely without straining necks and voices. No longer are we restricted to a forced conversation only with the person next to us, because everyone faces the same center point! As a result, the centerpieces for circular tables can be tall, glorious works of art or smaller, cute, and more cost-efficient! Round tables are also easily maneuverable in irregular-shaped spaces (which happens to be the case with our reception area here at Leo Carrillo Ranch).

No respectable event allowed tables to go unclothed. It was indecent! Imagine naked tables all over your wedding, bare legs out for the world to see!

Scandalous.

The Rustic look, with all its wood and naked tables, didn’t become a trend until couples started wanting more to their weddings than hotel ballrooms. Couples began to desire less of a “big white wedding” look and sought something more tailored to fit their personalities. These farm tables appeal to those looking for something casual yet high-quality to carry the importance of the occasion.

The rustic look is growing in popularity to this day. Event planners and Pinterest personalities alike are discovering the untapped potential for these wood canvases. In places where outdoor events are available most of the year, they’ve become a standard!

Soon, a new generation didn’t mind these barbaric clothless tables. They were charming, simple, craftsman works of art. They had begun to appreciate the freedom that comes with a good glossy stain and not much else.

While farm tables grew in popularity, the divide between rustic and contemporary also expanded. Couples and wedding planners were tasked with exploring this new event motif while still trying to appeal to an older generation with traditional wedding ideas. The next hurdle became organizing these events with polar opposite visions and expectations battling for dominance. People had to decide: follow the traditional classic look of tables with linens, or embrace the new picturesque look of bare farm tables.

So the feud began…

 

Until someone discovered in a burst of inventive brilliance…

… why not have both?

 

Finally!!

In a stroke of genius, someone combined the two in the ultimate compromise. The final product is called Rustic-Chic (or Boho-Chic depending on the amount of pampas grass in the rest of the decor). The look is well-rounded, regal yet approachable, clean yet quaint. It melds the best of both worlds and can transform the layout of any event.

 

Where will your loyalties lie?

Ask our Event Coordinators to help you decide which style best fits your function when planning your next event at Leo Carrillo Ranch!

Thanks to Vafa Photography for the visual aid to this story!

And huge thanks to Personal Touch Dining for the Coordination and Management of our venue, as well as the phenomenal food quality and selection!

Julie + Adam | Mike Thezier Photography

Posted on July 1, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

 

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.

 

Markie + Ryan | Joseph McCalment Photo + Video

Posted on April 22, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

 

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

 

Devon + Collin | Laurie Ashley Photography

Posted on February 26, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

 

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!

 

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

D: “We wanted to keep it classic and romantic, but also relaxed and true to the gorgeous venue. Collin and his groomsman wore matching navy suits from Banana Republic with blush ties and socks. I was in an all lace blush and form-fitting ivory gown from BHLDN, and my bridesmaids were in flowy Jenny Yoo dresses. My sister, the Maid of Honor, was in a solid blush color, while my two Bridesmaids – my now sister in law and best friend – wore a blush watercolor print, which matched our overall color palette well. My shoes and earrings were rose gold, inspired by my rings.”

 

 

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

 

Did you personalize the day in any way? 

D: “Signature Drink and Party Accessories – We featured our dog, Chi a lot. It was important for us to include him as he is a big part of our lives and family. We had a signature drink named after him and got a beautiful sign made from a vendor on Etsy with a watercolor of his face. We displayed this sign on the bar.”

 

 

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

Invitation Designer – Minted

Men’s Attire – Banana Republic

Veils and headpieces – David’s Bridal

Dress Store – BHLDN

Jewelry – Earrings – Kate Spade Rings – Anton’s Fine Jewelry (Baton Rouge, LA)

Bridesmaid Dresses – Jenny Yoo

Dress Designer – Katie May

 

Becky + Jared | Chasing Light Photo & Video

Posted on February 14, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

 

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.

 

How did you meet?

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.)

 

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

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!

 

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

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

 

Lily + Ross | Anna Delores Photography

Posted on January 9, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

Springtime Sunshine at the Ranch!

 

Anna Delores Photography shared these pictures from Lily and Ross’ charming Spring Wedding and Reception here at the Ranch last year!

We reached out to the newlyweds and asked for a little inside scoop of what they remembered most about their big day, and if they had any tips for future couples.

 
How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
Lily: “We met via OkCupid in D.C. in October 2011. I was a speech-language pathology grad student at GWU, and Ross was working at the Treasury Department. We hit it off on our first date and have been together ever since! Four and a half years, two cross-country moves, and three Brooklyn apartments later, Ross proposed in Central Park in March 2016. A mutual friend’s grandmother made the ring from an heirloom diamond my grandfather found on a Brooklyn street in the 1950s.”
 

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

Lily: “Our biggest inspiration was the ranch itself. We were and are absolutely in love with the space, and it was important to us that our aesthetic choices serve as complementary touches to the existing structures and gardens.

That said, I had the hardest time making decisions on almost everything wedding-related! It took me months to settle on yellow and white with lots of greenery for our flowers. Luckily, Kristin Osterloh,” of KO Floral Designs, “did an amazing job with the garland and repurposing flowers from the ceremony to re-use at the reception.”

During this time of the year, our feathered tenants are bold, beautiful, and always ready for their glamor shots!

Anna Delores Photography caught this one showing off for the bridal party.

 

The ceremony, accompanied by musician and DJ Nick Weiss, was beautifully heartfelt.

 

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
Lily: “Saying our vows – I didn’t know it would make me so emotional, but I cried the entire time!”

Anna Delores Photography added a special treat to Lily and Ross’ wedding shoot by snapping some priceless polaroids for the happy couple to take home with them that night!

Pictured here is just a sampling of them all, but having an expert take polaroid pictures sure makes a difference in quality!

 

 

How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
Lily: “LOL, this was the hardest part for me! I was SO stressed out about how to decorate the cabana, and I spent hours scouring the blog and LCR’s Pinterest for ideas. Most of our decor was DIY – we bought a bunch of frames from eBay and Goodwill for family photos, and I went to Target for streamers and paper flowers. Kristin probably contributed the most with her gorgeous floral designs, which we used for both the ceremony and reception.”

Kristin, of KO Floral Designs, added a little extra sunshine to everything she touched that day!

We love the delicate white and yellow floral choices she went with, it added so much to the romantic feel of the whole event.

 

After the ceremony, Personal Touch Dining kept guests thoroughly entertained while the love birds took some family pictures.

Between the lawn games, delectable bite-sized appetizers, and craft cocktails, guests of all ages were having a blast!

 

 

We love the way the main dining area turned out!

The crisp white linens are perfect for a fresh Spring day, and our dark wood chairs always create such a pleasant contrast.

 

 

KO Floral Designs provided the floral centerpieces, placing a sweet and simple arrangement on each table for guests to enjoy.

A little bit can go a long way on these round tables!

 

 

How did you both choose your wedding day look?
Lily: “After we got engaged in 2016, I was totally overwhelmed with the multitude of options for my wedding! I had no idea where to start, so I thought, well if I pick a dress first, I can use that as a springboard for everything else (style, theme, color, etc.). I actually ended up buying a dress before we even set a date! But finding my dress really did help inform every other decision I made, including the location and venue.”
“Ross knew he wanted to wear a blue suit, but was having trouble finding the right shade and cut. He initially bought a $500 suit online, which ended up looking terrible because the fit was all wrong. Luckily he found a beautifully cut wool suit at Bonobos about a month before the wedding, which fit perfectly!”

 

Nick Weiss played music for Ross and Lily’s Grand Entrance and First Dance.

We love Lily’s choice of her flowy strapless gown, it fits our Ranch’s motif perfectly, and she looked incredible!

 

 

Personal Touch Dining treated everyone to another fantastic buffet dinner, and we’ll never get tired of their famous Citrus Marinated Tri-Tip, always carved to-order!

 

 

What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

Lily: “Our favorite parts of our wedding were the sweet speeches from our family and friends, our first dance, and getting to spend time with the people we love but don’t get to see often enough. It was really special to have our dear friend read the poem Ross read to me when he proposed (Having a Coke with You, by Frank O’Hara) during our ceremony. Another special moment came from Ross’s aunt, Annie Leibovitz, who took portraits of us before our ceremony, something we will always treasure.”

Flour Power provided the adorable personal cake for the ceremonial Cake Cutting.

KO Floral Designs decorated it, and we can’t get over how cute all the dainty yellow flowers were!

 

Personal Touch Dining supplied the rest of the sweets for guests, who helped themselves to cupcakes from our dessert bar.

 

 

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
Lily: “Wedding planning is stressful! We decided early on what was most important and where we were willing to splurge versus what we didn’t really care about, so that definitely helped our decision making. Remember that you can pick and choose what to include in your celebration – you don’t have to follow every tradition or do things that are trendy right now if they’re not important to you. For instance, Ross and I never bring home wedding favors, so we didn’t have favors! Think about weddings you’ve attended or been part of – what worked and what didn’t work? What did you like/what did you not like?”
Lily: “I would also advise couples to keep the not-so-fun yet essential logistics in mind! Plan these out first so you have a better sense of what ‘fun stuff’ you can afford – for example, figure out transportation to and from the wedding for you and your guests before you book that photo booth or late night snack! Remember that you can almost always add things at the last minute if you have extra room in your budget, but it’s a lot harder to get back a deposit you’ve already put down or figure out how to cover an expense you didn’t plan for late in the game.”

 

Huge thanks go out to Lily and Ross for choosing us to share in their special day, and for taking the time to answer our questions!

Hopefully, your words of wisdom will help any future couples looking for a starting point in their planning process.

From the Leo Carrillo Ranch Team, we wish these two all the best and can’t wait to see what their bright future has in store!

 

 

Thanks also to the fantastic vendors who helped us create such a magic-filled day!

We can’t do what we love without you all!

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

 

 

Vendors:

Anna Delores Photography

Catering, Coordination, and venue Management: Personal Touch Dining

KO Floral Designs

DJ: Nick Weiss Music

Cake: Flour Power

Invitation Designer: Minted
Men’s Attire: Bonobos
Veils and headpieces: KO Floral Designs
Dress Store: Poppy & Rose Bridal Boutique
Bridesmaid Dresses: Reformation and BHLDN
Dress Designer: WToo by Watters

 

Amy + Sean | Harmony Haft | Historic Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings

Posted on October 10, 2019
in Updates
by lcr

 

 

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

 

 

Claudia + Reggie | True Photography | Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings

Posted on September 24, 2019
in Updates
by lcr

 

Love as Colorfully as You Can!

 

 

This gorgeous artist always knew she wanted her special day to be as bright and lively as possible.

Our humble Ranch, with its soft tans, white, and gentle blues, was the perfect blank canvas!

 

 

Every color of the rainbow represented proudly by Claudia’s bridesmaids glowed through their assorted retro dresses and complimentary shawls.

We can’t think of a better photographer for such a vibrant arrangement than True Photography!

They spent the whole day with the happy couple capturing the essence of their special day.

 

But the fun wasn’t only for the ladies!

Reggie had his groomsmen all decked out in matching vests and ties to their partnering bridesmaids.

 

 

This gorgeous one-of-a-kind arch was assembled and decorated off-site,

then carried down to the ceremony location by loving family and friends eager to help with the day’s preparations!

 

 

During the ceremony, Reggie and Claudia made sure to personalize their vows by symbolically uniting their pasts to their shared future.

A sapling lime tree lovingly sprinkled with soil from each love bird’s childhood home, represented the future growth of Claudia and Reggie’s family and love.

 

 

After the tree-planting ceremony, the happy couple sealed their vows with a kiss, and were pronounced Husband and Wife!

 

Guests were encouraged to enjoy cocktail hour where Personal Touch Dining refreshed thirsty guests with craft cocktails,

and Can Ham Photobooth helped continue the retro flair and entertained with wild props for the best photos!

 

 

This glamorous couple left no detail untouched and personally crafted the centerpiece decor for the dining tables!

Each lantern, succulent pot, mini pinata, and personalized maraca was meant for the guests to take home as favors!

Everything was color coordinated, as you could have guessed, and our fantastic team of coordinators helped arrange everything exactly how they wanted it.

 

 

After the toasts, Personal Touch Dining dished out some amazing authentic Mexican cuisine, complete with every imaginable taco topping!

The floral accents and Claudia’s incredible bouquet were from La Belle Bloom, and we are so impressed with how well everything fit together with their wild decor!

 

Our little cabana never looked so vibrant!

Between the decorations provided by Reggie and Claudia, to the spectacular cake from Flour Power, the motif blended effortlessly.

The happy couple also provided some of their favorite sweets for guests to accompany the cake!

 

 

While these two escaped the party for a romantic photoshoot, DJ Bill Calhoun kept the guests rocking on the dancefloor the rest of the night!

 

We are so excited about this lovely couple, and we know their future will be as bright and full of life as their wedding day.

 

Thanks to all the fantastic vendors who helped make this day flow so effortlessly!

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

 

 

Carly + Albert | Swan Photography | Southern California Event Venues

Posted on July 9, 2019
in Updates
by lcr

South African Ranch Recreation!

Albert and Carly were a wonderful couple who brought an impressive number of their guests all the way from South Africa!

Carly and her Bridesmaids finished getting ready in our welcoming little bridal suite…
…and then went exploring with Swan Photography, a destination wedding photography husband and wife team, to find some priceless photo-op. spots!
All of the gorgeous floral arrangements were from the talented Flowr Box Designs and we love those bright pops of fuschia and peach!
The Groomsmen also got ready separately here at our Ranch and the photographers coordinated to make sure the Bride and Groom couldn’t sneak any peeks of each other before the ceremony!
These guys kept us all in stitches and the whole day was bursting with love and laughter.
The Ceremony was serenaded by the melodious Nick Weiss, one of our favorite DJs here at the Ranch, and he couldn’t have looked more at home!

Gotta make sure we included “The Glow” or “We Did It” shot!

This thoughtful and fun customized sign from Carly and Albert had some very important translations to make sure there were no language barriers during the rest of the festivities!
Here we see more of Flowr Box’s magic down at the reception site!
The dining area had a simple layout and a clean and soft tablescape with lots of cornflower blue and white.
Carly looks stunning poised in front of our beautiful bougainvillea.
After an adorable and lively first dance, Albert and Carly got to sit and enjoy dinner!
Personal Touch Dining served the happy couple’s choice of Mediterranean Chicken and Marinated Grilled Tri-Tip with Wild Rice Pilaf and Fresh In-Season Veggies.
After dinner, everyone joined the love birds on the dance floor!
A quick break from dancing allowed the cake, from Flour Power, to be cut and churros freshly fried on-site, by Personal Touch Dining, to be available instead of cake for the rest of the guests.
We just wanted to thank Carly and Albert for choosing to spend their special day with us here at the Ranch!
We loved working with them and their family and wish them all the best in the years to come.
Special thanks to all of our wonderful vendors mentioned above as well!
The night couldn’t have gone so smoothly without you all.
Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining who Manages, Caters, and Coordinates all our Events!

Amy + Mike | Kami Olavarria Photo | Leo Carrillo Ranch

Posted on July 1, 2019
in Updates
by lcr

 

Where Polish Meets Peach!

 

Amy and Mike had a gorgeous bohemian ceremony and reception here at the Ranch and we loved their deep peach and soft charcoal color theme.

Michelle McClure coordinated and everything looked flawless!

 

Blue Bell Floral was the artist responsible for these gorgeous floral creations.

There were so many interesting and complimentary flowers they used; every time we looked at a bouquet we saw something fun and new!

The Bridal Party looked fantastic in their Marine Dress Blues, black suits, and platinum gowns.

Our Visitor Center Barn cast the perfect backdrop to fit everybody in the shot.

The ceremony at the Pepper Tree in the Wash House Patio enchanted us with the charming yet simple decor.

The Persian rugs and wicker baskets naturally complimented our red stones and dark wooden chairs.

Kami Olavarria Photo absolutely rocked it capturing all the amazing moments throughout the night.

Just look at this “We Did It” glow!

Personal Touch Dining provided appetizers and bar service during cocktail hour while guests enjoyed the perfect weather, mingled, and played some of our lawn games.

This Custom Seating Chart was the perfect mix of clean lines and whimsical flowers and matched the rest of the decor seamlessly!

White, Charcoal and Peachy Terracotta made for a fresh yet rustic feel and the triple-long center table created a fun focal point to the main dining area.

The Grand Entrance had a special Marine tradition: The Arch of Swords, ( AKA Spanking the Spouse according to Military Wedding Traditions), where the Bride and Groom entered the reception area through a tunnel of swords. At the end of the tunnel, they’re stopped and encouraged to kiss which allows them to pass the final guards. As they move past, the last Marine gives the civilian spouse a light tap on the behind and says “Welcome to the Marines!”

This lighthearted and sweet tradition was a treat for all as we watched Amy get accepted into the Marine Family.

Flour Power baked a delicious traditional three-tiered wedding cake, enough to feed all the delighted guests.

Another exciting Marine Wedding Tradition was the Sword Cake Cutting!

Everyone gathered to watch as Mike and Amy expertly sliced out a piece to share.

Pixster helped entertain the party with their user-friendly photobooth packed full of props!

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music was fabulous to work with as always and kept the fiesta flowing all night!

The dancefloor was THE place to be after dinner and the guests had a blast.

 

Just wanted to thank Amy and Mike for choosing to include us in their special day!

We had so much fun with you!

Round of applause to all the awesome vendors mentioned who helped us out and made everything so perfect.

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

 

 

 

 

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