tree ceremony – Page 2 – Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings

Lynn + Conor | Phil Chester Photography

Posted on March 18, 2020

in Updates

by lcr

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

Hillary + Jacob | Chasing Light Photo and Film

Posted on March 4, 2020

in Updates

by lcr

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.

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

Hillary: “The moment we arrived at the Ranch, we knew it was special. It was the first of four venues we toured, and nothing else compared. I envisioned simple, elegant decor with pops of reds, pinks, and oranges. The Ranch is so gorgeous. I really didn’t think it needed too many additional touches to highlight how pretty the venue is.”

Getting ready in the bridal suite, Hillary was a vintage vision in white, thanks to the help of her bridesmaids.

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

H: “I didn’t necessarily have a specific vision I just knew what I didn’t want… the gals at The Bustle in Del Mar were so helpful! After a long day of trying on what felt like a million dresses at a few other bridal salons, I described my preferences to the attendant. She pulled a few dresses and made adjustments based on my feedback. When I put on THE dress, she added the veil, and I started crying… something I certainly didn’t expect!”

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!

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

H: “Definitely our ‘First Look’ and of course, saying ‘I Do’!

How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.

H: “Jacob and I both attended the University of San Diego but didn’t actually meet until our junior year while we were both stranded at LAX waiting to depart for our semester abroad in Madrid. He officially popped the question six years later at Sunset Cliffs on a sunny December day. He had a wonderful afternoon planned with lunch and a sunset gondola ride on Coronado.”

Chasing Light Fotography knows how to capture all the priceless moments of the night perfectly!

How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

H: “We kept it simple. Allyson from The Love Sparrows hit the nail on the head with our floral!”

Did you personalize the day in any way?

H: “I’ve always been obsessed with photo booths, and the Can Ham Photo Booth fits perfectly with the vibe at LCR.”

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.

What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

H: “We were super excited to get the party started and really looked forward to our music selection – we selected all of the songs for our cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. We got lots of compliments from our guests, which was awesome since we did take a lot of time putting the music selection together. Also, we were engaged for almost two years – we held out for our date, 9/21, because of Earth, Wind, and Fire. We closed out the party with ‘September’!”

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

H: “Using vendors who have previously worked at your venue is so helpful! Our DJ (Sound Illusions), photographer/videographer (Chasing Light), and photobooth (Can Ham Photo Booth) vendors were all familiar with LCR, which I think was a crucial part of having the day run as seamlessly as it did.”

“Also, the folks at Personal Touch Dining know what they’re doing – from the day of coordination to the food, our big day was perfect!”

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.

Thanks to all the marvelous vendors for helping us bring everything together for this beautiful couple.

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

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

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

Kathleen + Derrick | Kami Olavarria Photography

Posted on February 19, 2020

in Updates

by lcr

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!

Jamul Flowers came in and properly dressed our majestic Pepper Tree on our Wash House Patio for Derrick and Kathleen special day!

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.”

How did you meet?

K: “Derrick and I met at Outback Steakhouse, where he trained me one night to be a server.”

“It only took us about a week of working together to realize we liked each other and started to date shortly thereafter.”

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.”

Did you have a specific theme, style, or color palette?

K: “Our color palette started out one way but started to morph into something completely different as everything came together.”

“It ended up being based on the bridesmaid dresses that were a really pretty deep periwinkle color along with gray and green to compliment the space.”

Did you personalize the day in any way?

K: “…We had a caricature artist come and draw our guests; it was so fun to see everyone comparing themselves to their drawings.”

Caricatures By Dave did a fantastic job treating each guest to a personal portrait, and the whole idea is such a novel way to get your guests to remember your event!

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!

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

K: “Derrick and I both decided to go for a wedding look that we were comfortable with. I kept my makeup very light and natural.”

“I chose a suit for Derrick that would really accentuate his pretty blue eyes.”

How did you decorate? Was any part of the decor DIY?

“Going along with the natural space, we decided to decorate mostly with flowers and greenery along with simple little things. We didn’t want to add too much, given the space is beautiful on its own.”

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

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

Breanna + Daniel | True Photography

Posted on February 8, 2020

in Updates

by lcr

**We asked these newlyweds a couple of questions to help us navi-gate this post.**

They had so many beautiful details to share, we figured, “Why try to force it?“

So, we pass the mic to the love birds, Daniel and Breanna, as they reminisce about their wedding here at the Ranch!

**(What could goron?)**

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

Breanna: “Daniel knew he wanted a lighter colored tuxedo to stand out from the crowd while also fitting the outdoor, afternoon setting. He found a grey tuxedo he liked at Men’s Wearhouse and looked no further.”

Daniel: “Before she knew anything about what kind of dress she wanted, Breanna knew she wanted to wear white boots to the wedding. The dress was a surprise find from Anthropologie[…] Not expecting to find anything, she stumbled upon the perfect dress—comfortable, simple, elegant, and the last one was in her size!”

How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?

Both: “We mostly left the decor in the hands of Adina (we used Simply Adina Floral Design for all our flowers) to decorate the space with flowers and other plants. She did an amazing job carrying out our visions for the day, and it was a beautiful surprise on the wedding day to see what she had done. We also bought a few decorative signs from Michael’s and Hobby Lobby and bought chalkboards to write rules for the board games on.”

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

B: “Daniel’s most anticipated moment was seeing [Breanna] for the first time as [I] walked down the aisle. Of course, he hadn’t seen the dress before, only heard from everyone else that it was absolutely beautiful and perfect.”

D: “It probably seems silly, but I was nervous about having no participation in such an important part of the wedding. When I finally saw her coming down the aisle, with curled hair, light makeup, and an incredible dress with a floral pattern, she was beautiful far beyond my expectations. Obviously, I had nothing to be nervous about in the first place.”

Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment, etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

D: “Probably our biggest personal touch was in the music. We’re huge nerds for the Legend of Zelda video games, so we selected beautiful orchestral arrangements of two pieces from the Zelda series for our biggest moments. Breanna walked down the aisle to a piece called ‘Zelda’s Lullaby,’ and the music for our first dance, ‘Gerudo Valley,’ is also from that series. We took a couple of private ballroom dancing lessons, and our instructor choreographed an exciting Paso Doble full of passion. The music perfectly fit the occasion and provided a fun Easter egg for the few who recognized it. Those moments—the ceremony and the first dance—were absolutely our favorite parts of the wedding.”

D: “The ceremony was personalized in a couple of ways as well. Since Breanna is really close to her brothers, they stood on her side as bridesmen.”

B: “Daniel’s brother was also the officiant for the ceremony.”

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

B: “I’d say Leo Carrillo Ranch itself inspired several aspects of our wedding. While we didn’t adhere too closely to any specific theme or traditions, we embraced the outdoor, southwest desert setting and Spanish cultural influence of the ranch. For example, we felt dressy casual attire was best for an outdoor, summer afternoon wedding. Many of the flower arrangements were accented with succulents and blue thistles (our color palette was dusty blue and sage green, not too different from the ranch itself). Our first dance was a Paso Doble, and the accompanying music, ‘Gerudo Valley,’ has Spanish influences and was even written to represent a desert region.”

D: “Breanna’s most anticipated moment was the first dance. We’d worked hard on practicing it, and it was exciting and thrilling to be doing something so complex and elaborate. It felt like an encapsulation of who we were—it was the kind of fun adventure and new experience that we like to do with each other, and the music meant so much to us.”

How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.

Together: “We met in our freshman year of high school at San Dieguito Academy. We shared many classes together throughout high school, and our friendship grew slowly but steadily. By the end of high school, we were best friends and finally started dating after graduation, with only a few months of summer remaining before we left for college, Breanna to UC Davis, and Daniel to the University of Chicago. We persevered through four years of long-distance and precious but infrequent visits, before moving to Boulder together for Daniel to begin graduate work in physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.”

“Having all but committed to each other long ago, Daniel proposed in June 2018. Breanna had gone home to visit her parents while Daniel stayed in Boulder, secretly preparing the engagement. He decorated the coffee table with tealight candles arranged in a heart and the dinner table with new napkins, a new tablecloth, apple pie from a local bakery, and a bouquet of flowers. Best of all, he adopted a fluffy orange and white cat; how could Breanna say no to that? The plan was to have a friend prepare a special Spiegel-family salmon recipe while Daniel picked Breanna up from the airport, but at the eleventh hour, the plan was ruined: Breanna’s flight had been canceled, and she would be coming back the next morning. With the new cat, Daniel knew he had no choice but to propose as soon as Breanna got home. As a ruse, he told her he had to work, and she would have to bus home. When Breanna got there, she was greeted to the aforementioned decorations and a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom, where Daniel awaited with cat and ring. Of course, Breanna said yes and with perfect timing, for not a minute later did the tealight candles set off the fire alarm! Daniel made omelets for brunch and salmon for dinner. In the end, it was a proposal neither of us will ever forget.”

TL: DR

They met in high school and survived a long-distance relationship for four years through college, across the country from each other before finally reuniting in CO. Daniel’s first try at proposing, (like any true romantic, with all the flowers, candles, and a new cat for good measure) failed, because planes. Second attempt the next morning: success! But he set off the fire alarm.

Unforgettable.

Throughout this eventful day-wedding, vendors were executing moves behind the scenes in a symphony of flawless movements thanks to our fabulous Coordination Team.

True Photography was capturing priceless shots of perfect candid moments, while DJ Mike Hogan was a master MC and dance-floor wizard!

Personal Touch Dining served up amazing meals, and no guest left unsatisfied.

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

D: “I think it’s important to plan the wedding in a way that feels special and right to the couple. Don’t be afraid to deviate from tradition when you have a better idea!”

One Last Tip!

B: “At the wedding, ask a few guests to take at least a couple of pictures! It was fantastic to have True Photography taking such amazing photos of our event, and I’m so glad that we didn’t have to worry about capturing the moments and could just enjoy the day. However, afterward, it was hard to wait so long for the photos to be edited and finalized, so we’re glad that a few friends took photos by themselves. Those casual photos from friends helped tide us over until we got the full set of professional photos from the day.”

When we initially asked this happy couple to answer some quick questions, we never expected this kind of response!

They said they felt “honored to be the subject of [our] blog,” but we are the ones genuinely privileged to be part of your big day.

We’re so glad this magical day was everything they dreamed it could be, and we wish these two all the best in their bright future together!

Thanks to all the incredible vendors who helped us, but especially Personal Touch Dining for the Catering, Coordination, and Venue Management of our beloved Ranch.

Details:

Invitation Designer – Minted.com

Men’s Attire – Daniel wore a grey Vera Wang Tuxedo with a blue tie and cufflinks, all from Men’s Wearhouse. The Groomsmen wore a very similar grey Joseph Abboud tuxedo. Groomsmen ties, tie clips, and cufflinks were groomsmen gifts from TealsPrairie on Etsy.

Dress Store – Anthropologie

Jewelry – Rings from Cronin Jewelers (in Boulder, CO) and Breanna wore earrings from her mother.

Bridesmaid Dresses – David’s Bridal and Nordstrom

Dress Designer – BHLDN

Vendors:

True Photography

Personal Touch Dining

Mike Hogan (DJ)

Simply Adina Floral Design

Stephanie + Roarke | Walter Wilson Studios

Posted on February 6, 2020

in Updates

by lcr

Live and Love Colorfully!

Roarke and Stephanie brought all the colors of their love to our Ranch for their wedding and reception.

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

Stephanie: “We were inspired by the peacocks + cactus at the ranch paired with the Romantic touch of the hacienda and bougainvillea.”

Adore Folklore provided the fun rugs that went down the ceremony aisle, further incorporating the southwestern vibe of our beautiful patio area into their motif.

How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception?

Stephanie: “I made a few DIY signs and put our pictures and a lot of items from our house around.”

This First Look was so sweet!

How did you two meet?

Stephanie: “We met in college at UCI. He was in a frat, and I was in a sorority. We were on a frat bus to lake Havasu, and he introduced me to fireball whiskey.”

Tiny Victories was responsible for the incredible florals placed all over the Ranch.

They helped knit together all the different parts of decor that brought vivacity to the event, and we were so taken by Stephanie’s stunning bouquet!

Personal Touch Dining greeted guests to the ceremony area with Cucumber Watermelon Mojitos!

Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?

Stephanie: “During our ceremony, we literally ‘tied the knot’ by incorporating the Celtic tradition of handfasting.”

“Each of our parents placed a ribbon that represented parts of a strong marriage, and we tied a knot with them. His family is Irish.”

“We also took a fireball shot during the ceremony to remember how we first met. It was a fun surprise no one knew was coming.”

Did you have a specific theme, style, or color palette?

Stephanie: “The theme was kind of romantic boho with wildflowers and a mix of patterns likes the dresses and the aisle rugs.”

“Once I found my fun bridesmaids dresses, the colors all came from there! I didn’t want a set color palette, just a variety of fun and vibrant colors.”

Nick Weiss not only sang and played guitar during the ceremony, but he transitioned effortlessly into the cocktail hour, where he continued singing and playing in the background until the grand entrance!

Personal Touch Dining served appetizers and provided the bar service, with more of those delicious mojitos, as guests enjoyed the casual atmosphere.

Tiny Victories brought so much excitement to the tabletops!

Stephanie: “The flowers made everything come together!!! I loved the flowers so much.”

Just look at the small forest of flowers adorning the sweetheart table!

Tiny Victories is a true master of their craft.

Adore Folklore finished off the rest of the tablescape with their amber goblets, chargers, plates, and festive napkins.

The sweetheart table had an exclusive table setting, while the family and head tables had less extravagant similar versions.

How did you both choose your wedding day look?

Roarke knew he wanted a blue suit, and I knew I wanted a dress that was a little less traditional!

Personal Touch Dining served another bountiful buffet with their fresh Mahi Mahi and addicting Mashed Potatoes!

We love the look of this long feasting style head table where the Bride and Groom sit like royalty in the middle of their friends and family.

Did you personalize the day in any way?

Stephanie: “We did a bridal party dance after dinner to the tequila song.”

What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

Stephanie: “I loved incorporating the fireball shot into the ceremony; it was very us.”

“Our first dance to I’ve got you babe was one of my fav memories bc we had a little routine and nailed it! It was fun to learn together.”

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

Stephanie: “Make it as you as possible!”

We wish these two all the best in their bright future together!

Thanks to all the vendors who helped us make the magic happen, we couldn’t do what we love without you all!

Details:

Invitation Designer- ETSY

Men’s Attire- SuitSupply

Veils and headpieces- ETSY

Dress Store- Grace Loves Lace

Jewelry- Grace Loves Lace

Bridesmaid Dresses- AMAZON

Dress Designer- Grace Loves Lace

Vendors:

Photo Booth: Can Ham

Photographer: Walter Wilson Studios

Florist: Tiny Victories

DJ: Nick Weiss

Catering: Personal Touch Dining

Cake: Flour Power

Rentals: Adore Folklore

Madison + Greg | Laurie Ashley Photography

Posted on December 19, 2019

in Updates

by lcr

Love Among The Desert Beauty

Laurie Ashley Photography shared these incredible pictures with us of Madison and Greg’s magical day here at the Ranch!

With all the shades of dusty rose, sage, and gold accents in their decor, Madison and Greg’s romantic southwestern sunset motif caught our eye.

Madison and her stunning Bridesmaids were girl gang goals helping each other get ready for the events to come!

Greg and his Groomsmen sported some floral printed ties to add a little levity to their sharp navy blue suits.

The look on Greg’s face right before the First Look makes us think these two know how to have fun.

Staying young at heart keeps love alive, and he looks like a kid at Christmas!

The big moment arrived, and a couple of cherub-cheeked angels heralded Madison before she came down the aisle.

Right before they turn the corner to head down the aisle, we always tell our Brides to pause in our perfectly framed archway to take in the moment.

We love ceremonies beneath our grand Pepper Tree.

Guests are protected from the afternoon sun, and it provides such a romantic backdrop.

Laurie Ashley Photography captured a shot of the big kiss!

Being a team full of hopeless romantics, we’ll never get tired of this stuff.

For our followers who are as sappy as we are, here’s what makes it all worth it: The “I Do” Glow!

It’s impossible to look at these two and not smile along with them.

Sound Prodigy always brings the awesome tunes, but they take entertainment to the next level by also providing this radical vintage VW Photo Bus as well!

Speaking of radical, did you catch that glimpse of Madison’s custom jean jacket??

We’re loving this look and can’t get enough of the tiny detailed flowers beneath her new name!

Personal Touch Dining served appetizers and cocktails while guests mingled and enjoyed lawn games after the ceremony.

Everyone who snagged a tasty beverage was encouraged to dress it up with a fun koozie favor!

Guests seated, the official Grand Entrance and First Dance began, kicking off the start of the party!

Do we see some flirty red dancing shoes peeking out from under Madison’s dress?

Personal Touch Dining always blows us away with their fantastic food, but they’ve set a new highest standard this time with their Rustic Chicken.

Their Grilled Chicken is topped with heaping amounts of Cheddar and Jack Cheese, Crispy Bacon, Savory Bell Peppers, and Sliced Scallions, and it’s a mouth-watering entree to end a hearty buffet!

These little cake toppers perfectly tied into their homemade cactus centerpieces on each dining table.

A little perk about these? They’re a Salt, and Pepper Shaker set!

They can be used daily, instead of hidden on a shelf, to remind Greg and Madison of their special day here at our Ranch.

Personal Touch Dining pulled out all the best desserts for their dessert bar!

Guests nibbled on assorted Donut Holes, Raspberry Crumble Bars, Fudge Brownie Bars, Lemon Bars, Mini assorted Cupcakes in Chocolate, Vanilla, and Red Velvet.

Plus Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, and Sugar Cookies.

For the rest of the evening, guests played lawn games, posed inside the photo bus, and rocked out to the expert DJing skills from Sound Prodigy!

We’re so excited about the future in store for these two!

We wish them all the best and are so thankful that we got to be part of such a perfect day!

We can’t do all this without the help of our fantastic vendors!

Thanks to all of you for your hard work!

Vendors:

Coord.: Jacki Fucinari

DJ and Photobus: Sound Prodigy

Photo: Laurie Ashley Photography

Catering: Personal Touch Dining

Laura + Jason | Pauline Conway Photography

Posted on November 28, 2019

in Updates

by lcr

Modern Love Meets Old Spanish Flair

These love birds welcomed guests to the ceremony area and encouraged everyone to take a vial of dried flowers to use at the end of the nuptials!

With the celebratory sound of Mariachi Real de San Diego, the big moment had arrived!

Jason was the first down the aisle, and his excitement is contagious.

As Laura came through the arch, a collective gasp was audible from the crowd.

She looked stunning in her sleek modern wedding gown.

The cowl back and delicate buttons lead down to an elegant train, and we’re in love with the whole ensemble.

The Pepper Tree makes the perfect backdrop if a happy couple wants to have their big moment supported by the natural beauty of its rugged, majestic timber.

Of course, we had to include a shot of the “I Do” Glow!

Personal Touch Dining escorted guests towards drinks and appetizers down in the main reception area.

They had the dining tables all set and ready, decorated with succulents, eucalyptus, slate blue napkins, and even some Cactus cookie favors on each plate from the Bride and Groom!

Chic Flowers collaborated with Jason and Laura o better understand their desired look for their table arrangements, and we are in love with these sweetly romantic flower clouds they whipped up!

The Photo Bus looked right at home in its usual spot among the lush desert foliage.

Guests had a ball taking pictures inside with the variety of unique props and accessories for the perfect picture.

Our historic mantle inspired Jason and Laura with its rustic charm.

They created a mural of moss and succulents to decorate it, and we love the way it turned out!

After the Grand Entrance, everyone in attendance could feel the love these two shared during their First Dance as husband and wife.

Inspired by the ambiance of our rustic Spanish Ranch, these two decided to go with Personal Touch Dining‘s Taco Bar Buffet!

Guests feasted on Carne Asada and Pollo Asada Tacos with Black Beans and Corn.

There was also delicious Enchilada Bake, Cilantro Lime Rice, a Spicy Spinach Salad, and a separate station devoted solely to Chips and Guac!

Sticking to the theme of the night, Flour Power decorated the couple’s personal wedding cake with the most adorable cactus themed cake topper!

Personal Touch Dining provided the rest of the desserts for the guests at our Dessert Bar.

Brownie Bars, Lemon Bars, Carrot Cake Bites, Cheesecake Bites, Chocolate, and Red Velvet Cupcakes, and a whole Apple Pie framed the tiny cake and filled the entire Cabana bar front!

To keep the party going, we always trust Bill Calhoun Mobile Music to rock the dance floor, and guests danced the rest of the night away!

We loved working with this loving couple, their love was so genuine, and we know their future will be bright!

We’re so glad we could help create their perfect day.

As always, we so appreciate all of the excellent vendors who help us do what we love!

Special thanks to Personal Touch Dining for their extra help Catering, Coordinating, and Managing our venue for all our special events!

Vendors:

Personal Touch Dining

Flour Power

Bill Calhoun Mobile Music

Chic Flowers

The Photo Bus

Mariachi Real de San Diego

Jessica + Mike | Studio 7 Photography

Posted on November 26, 2019

in Updates

by lcr

Family First, and Love Always

Jessica and her bridesmaids had a ball in our Bridal Suite putting on the final touches before the ceremony.

Laughter was ringing off the historic vaulted ceilings and could be heard all the way do to the reception area!

Instead of a First Look with her soon-to-be-husband, Jessica arranged the special surprise for her Father!

There were no dry eyes in a thirty-foot radius as she tapped his shoulder, and he got to see his daughter as a Bride.

In the Groom’s Room, Mike helped their son, Maverick, clean up for the big event!

Just like his son, Mike looked so sharp in a navy blue suit!

Lining up for the ceremony, Studio 7 Photography caught the ringbearer contemplating the depth of his responsibility.

Reunited at last, the love birds were overjoyed to finally tie the knot!

This patio is highly flexible, feeling like the perfect size for these smaller ceremonies as well as the big ones!

We’re in love with this fresh new angle the photographer used.

With the heartfelt vows finished, Mike and Jessica said their “I Do’s” and it was official: they were pronounced husband and wife!

Snowberry Studio was the mastermind behind Jessica’s stunning bohemian inspired white bouquet.

With plenty of space to entertain, cocktail hour was down at our main reception area where guests could eat, drink, and explore the grounds.

Personal Touch Dining provided all the place-settings and helped set up each table with their keen eye for details.

Snowberry Studio had a field day–pun intended– setting up the centerpieces with fresh wildflowers and loads of fragrant eucalyptus just like the kinds that grow naturally here at the Ranch!

We love this eclectic assortment of delicate vases too.

Each guest received a personal-sized bottle of hot sauce as their wedding favor, along with a sweet message from the grateful Bride and Groom.

Inside our quaint Cabana, every flat surface held a photo or memorable decoration from a family member of the Bride and Groom.

Such sweet sentiments and happy memories fit perfectly displayed in this space.

After some family photos with Studio 7, the newlyweds were ready to rejoin the party with a Grand Entrance.

We love this perspective from behind Mike and Jessica. It reminds us that these two have chosen to weather whatever the future decides to throw at them, together.