Happy Father’s Day!

Posted on June 19, 2021
in Bridal Party, Holiday
by lcr

“Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song.” —Pam Brown

Francis Ralph Potograpiya

“He never looks for praises.
He’s never one to boast.
He just goes on quietly working
For those he loves the most.
His dreams are seldom spoken.
His wants are very few,
And most of the time his worries
Will go unspoken, too.
He’s there –a firm foundation–
Through all our storms of life,
A sturdy hand to hold onto
In times of stress and strife.
A true friend we can turn to
When times are good or bad.
One of our greatest blessings,
The man that we call Dad.”

 —Silent Strong Dad, by Karen K. Boyer

 

Thanks to all the proud Dads who have graced our historic halls with their endless support and devotion.

Francis Ralph Potograpiya

We hope you feel appreciated by all of us at Leo Carrillo Ranch, and we wish you all a fantastic Father’s Day!

 

 

Tribute To Love! | Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 8, 2021
in Holiday
by lcr

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

“Thou art more lovely and more temperate.”

Ginny + Michael | Singler Photography

“Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,”

Lisa Marie + Dan | Marisa McBride Photography

“And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,”

Abby + Jimmie | Chris Ellis Photography

“And often is his gold complexion dimmed;”

Ariana + Trevor | Davin Lindwall Photography

“And every fair from fair sometime declines,”

Brittany + Chris | Madeline Barr Photography

“By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;”

“But thy eternal summer shall not fade,”

Maddie + Matt | Vee Taylor Photography

“Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,”

Nichole + Josh | Jaicee Morgan Photography

“Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,”

Crystal + Jared | Krissel Rivas Photography

“When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.”

Jessie + Dillon | Gipe Photography

“So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,”

“So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

William Shakespeare, (Sonnet 18) 1564 – 1616

 

To all of our fantastic couples, pictured here and not: We wish that your every day is Valentine’s Day, that your love be eternal, and that life itself breathes with the same feelings you shared with us on your wedding day. We love that you loved with us.

All the best from your always Valentine,

Leo Carrillo Ranch

Managed and Catered by Personal Touch Dining

5 Years of Personal Touch Dining at The Ranch!

Posted on August 12, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

Five Years of Touching Our Hearts!

It’s hard to believe that the talented folks at Personal Touch Dining have been behind the scenes, successfully making the magic happen at all our special events, for five years already!

 

In honor of Leo Carrillo’s generous spirit and love of celebration, Personal Touch Dining has helped us host countless weddings, holiday celebrations, and community events. All the while, they strive to embody the energy that we tirelessly work to keep alive here at the Leo Carrillo Ranch.

With each excited client under their wing, they take care to treat every event like they were hosting their own family. Their Catering, Event Coordination, and Venue Management skills are all above and beyond what is to be expected from a typical catering company. Incredibly talented, and always cheerful, the Personal Touch Dining staff work miracles on our grounds whenever they are here.

We’ve grown so much as a team while working with them, and our Ranch has grown as well! Thanks to their efforts, our beloved Ranch recieves the extra attention needed to maintain this enormous historic park.

 

We love working with them and hope our partnership continues for many years to come!

 

 

 

Check out our original blog post about the beginning of our beautiful partnership by clicking the link below!

Personal Touch Dining at Leo Carrillo Ranch

Glowing Groom Review! | Unique San Diego Event Venues

Posted on July 22, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

 

Our Coordination Team is small but mighty!

 

Planning and coordinating weddings takes a sharp mind and a whole lot of heart.

Kendra and Darcie know our Ranch inside and out, and with years of experience between them, no event challenge is too big.

 

Thanks for taking the time to send in this review, Joe!

Our dynamic duo is thrilled that they were able to make your special day come together.

 

Our Most Picturesque First Look Locations | Unique San Diego Event Venues

Posted on July 15, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

 

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

 

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

 

Singler Photography

 

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

 

Singler Photography

 

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

 

Madeline Barr Photography

 

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

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

 

Singler Photography

 

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

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

 

Joe & Kathrina Photography

 

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

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

 

Phil Chester Photography

 

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

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

 

Madeline Barr Photography

 

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

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

 

 

Our Tribute to “The Glow” | San Diego Event Venue

Posted on July 8, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

We’ve been pretty vocal about how much we live for this defining moment during our weddings here at Leo Carrillo Ranch.

Singler Photography

There’s a certain magic that happens at the end of each ceremony that we wish we could bottle and share with the world.

 

Davin Lindwall Photography

After the happy couple says their vows, a new tension starts to build.

 

Madeline Barr Photography

They have their Big Kiss, everyone cheers, they turn to the crowd…

 

Joseph McCalment Photo & Video

 

And BAM!!

Mike Thezier Photography

 

Striking everyone in the crowd, that indescribable tidal wave of incandescent bliss pours out of the faces of the newlyweds as they walk back down the aisle, hand in hand.

 

David Manning Photographer

It’s one of our favorite parts of our Special Events and keeps us doing what we love most: making your dream event come to life.

 

Madeline Barr Photography

 

So, Reach Out to us!

See what our talented Coordination Team can do to make “The Glow” happen for you!

 

 

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.

 

Ginny + Michael | Singler Photography

Posted on June 24, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

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

Brittany + Chris | Madeline Barr Photography

Posted on June 10, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

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

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