Real Rancho Weddings | Cassaundra + Matthew

Classic Garden Romance

This incredible couple and their family were such a joy to work with. Everyone came together to make the day as special as possible for Matthew and Cassaundra. We loved celebrating their love here at our Rancho and had an awesome vendor team to help make the magic happen!

Cassaundra and her ladies finished getting ready in our Bridal Suite connected to the main house while Matthew and his troupe relaxed in the Groom’s Den downstairs.

The intimate ceremony was downstairs on the Lower Patio, which is flipped afterwards into the buffet and dancing area!

Beneath our tree and the gorgeous wooden arbor, the love birds recited their vows and sealed the deal with a kiss!

To the cheers of the crowd, they walked back down the aisle as husband and wife! This officially starts the party portion of the night, and everyone was more than ready to celebrate.

It was hard not to notice all the love in the air that day. Matthew and Cassaundra’s family were overjoyed to get together after so long apart.

Thanks to Personal Touch Dining, the Lower Lawn was all set and ready for the night’s festivities! We love the look of long feasting tables in this space.

All of the stunning floral arrangements were made by Matthew’s family! Lush greens were complimented by pops of white and pale pink roses to match the napkins. We were so impressed by these professional-looking arrangements.

With the ceremony over, the flower girl and ring bearer were escorted home to bed. Too many noises and dancing feet can be scary for these tiny wedding helpers!

The newlyweds followed True Photography out into our rolling back hills for some iconic golden hour field shots. This is one of the many favorite photo locations for magic moments here at the Rancho.

Once their frolic in the fields was over, it was time for the Grand Entrance! They rejoined their friends and family just in time to have dinner.

Personal Touch Dining always offers the freshest food for our clients. This buffet with the Citrus Marinated Tri-Tip, carved to order, is like the cherry on top of a perfect meal.

Once everyone had eaten their fill, the buffet disappeared, as if by magic, to open up the dance floor for Sound Illusions the rest of the evening.

There was a small moment between songs where the happy couple was able to sneak away to cut their wedding cake from Flour Power. This beautiful, three-tiered, classic cake was the perfect way to end a day filled with so much love and laughter.

We are so glad that Matthew and Cassaundra’s big day went off without a hitch. they were such a delight to celebrate with, and we can’t wait to see where their bright future together takes them!

Vendor Info

Venue Management, Event Coordination, and Catering: Personal Touch Dining

DJ: Sound Illusions

Florist: Groom’s Family

Photographer: True Photography

Cake: Flour Power

Linen Options to Elevate Your Event!

Upgrade Your Linens

Table linens, napkins, and runners that come standard with our packages can be exchanged for luxury options that will enhance your event's overall look and feel.

Exquisite linens can be the statement piece of a table which will save money later on when wedding venue decorations won't need to go the extra mile to compensate for, essentially, a standard empty table.

Textured tablecloths such as lace overlays, as seen below, allow for that "White Wedding" look with hints of color from the base linen peeking through.

It could be the significant detail that sticks with a guest as they look back on how elegant the evening felt.

Sometimes subtle lace accents are too demure for the type of event you're envisioning.

If you're looking down a more glamorous avenue, but the idea of collecting a dozen sparkly centerpieces is daunting, perhaps some dazzling sequined linens are exactly what you need!

All the glitz and glam are apparent immediately upon entering the room, allowing for simpler decorations, a thrifty trick!

 Farm Tables with their minimalist motif tend to need large sprawling garlands down the center to make the table seem less empty.

Decorative runners could be the economical solution to this issue. With bright pops of color to tie in with the floral arrangements, a fun napkin choice can polish everything off for the perfect constructed tablescape!

Just ask our gifted Coordinators to help introduce you to our endless Linen Upgrade options!

Dinnerware Upgrades!

Bring your place settings up to the same level as the rest of your table decor! Dinnerware, meaning the plates and chargers, is the largest part of a place setting and could dull your table with common plates. Using a combination of decorative china, chic stoneware, and striking chargers, your tables will shine! We’ve collected some of our favorites from previous clients who knew how important the right dinnerware was to their event motif.

China Plates

Printed Patterns

These are pretty enough to make your grandmother’s tea set jealous. What better way to share an occasion than serve guests dinnerware that says romance with every bite? These delicate plates are perfect for garden parties, formal outdoor events, Bridal and Baby showers, or even Spring season events like Mother’s Day!

Embossed

For something a little more classic but still traditionally “romantic,” these plates are our favorites! An elegant, white raised pattern covers the border of this upscale dinnerware. Subtle details, like these embossed plates, can draw out a whole sub-level of detail to complete the look of your table. There are tons of style options for this as well, so if you're looking for something fun but not as rustic, our coordinators have got you covered!

Solid Colors

Are white plates too plain? Try some colored or decorated options! With these, launch your event from tame to stunning!

Stoneware

A welcome refresh to white china, Stoneware perfectly compliments a modern minimalistic or chic, rustic tabletop design. Reminiscent of hand-made pottery, Lisbon Stoneware looks amazing on the finest linens or against natural wood-grain tables. Mix and match with Paris Stoneware for a unique look all your own.

Chargers

Chargers add an old-world class to events and, ever mindful of being stuck in the past, choose a style that brings out that same elegance with a dash of modern imagination!

Hammered and polished to a brilliant finish, our gold chargers will bring warmth and luster to your table setting. Studded, plain, ruffled, and brushed, these chargers come in different styles to best fit your overall motif!

Wood

The graceful lines of our Valentin wood chargers add visual appeal to your table with a discernible texture and two different finishes: a grey wash and a natural dark acacia wood.

Woven Wicker

The best part about a rustic-chic motif is the fun of mixing everything together! Grand metallic chargers can be swapped for these adorable woven mats and a classy cute napkin ring for polish! They're versatile, go with nearly every color, and add texture-- an often forgotten detail genre-- to an otherwise flat tabletop. We love these and your guests will too!

Ratan Mats

Round Brown Rattan Charger Plates create a rustic feeling to your tabletop decor. With a woven design and deep brown color, it can be used with any color dinnerware to protect the table from spills and messes while exuding a warm and inviting feeling.

Glass Sunburst

Bring a work of art to your tabletop! This charger’s irregular edge catches the eye and adds an exquisite touch of shimmer to your decor in gold, silver, and chocolate.

Glass With Gold Trim

Glass chargers with a gold band add an understated, fresh look to your table. A delicate glimmering accent along the rim makes this glass charger plate a glamorous enhancement to a plain table.

Let designing your tablescapes be the most enjoyable part of planning your event!

Ask our gifted coordinators what available design options they'd recommend for your unique vision.

Party Favor Inspiration!

Are you seeking that perfect wedding favor?

Gifting your guests a miniature memento of your big day is a timeless tradition, but if you're scrambling for some inspiration, worry no longer! We’ve collected some of our favorite ideas to help guide you in a favor-able direction.

Koozies

Customize a Koozie with the wedding date, and in the future, your friends will think of your special day when they sip on a refreshing beverage.

Meagan B. Photography

Something Hand-Made

Your souvenir options are endless! As long as it uniquely represents your personalities as a couple, let your imagination run wild.

Photo by Chana

Photo Booths

Photo booths are a perfect way to provide instant picture keepsakes, as well as endless entertainment during an event.

Fonyat Photographer

Sweets

A symbolic sweet treat can go a long way. Let your guests take their dessert on the road with this cute Hot Cocoa mix!

Photo By Chana

Spell It Out

Small, straightforward favors are endearing! These hand-made scrabble magnets were crafted by the love birds to help them point out what is important in their relationship.

Linsey Middleton Photography

Tatoos

They don't always have to last forever! Too many weddings and guests have loads of little bobbles bouncing around their house. These temporary tattoos are easy to customize, fun for all ages, and reduce a little of life's clutter.

Rad + In Love Photography

Succulents

Succulents are increasingly popular as favors due to their adorable size, wide range of styles, and easy care instructions. Here, they've been used as a favor and escort card for twice the fun!

True Photography

Something Spicy

Is love the spice to your life? Try sending a personal bottle of love home with your guests!

Vacay Photography

These micro manifestations of the Bride and Groom are fun, small, and meaningful "thank yous" to your guests for supporting your relationship and believing in your future. If you have fun with it, they will too!

Summer 2021 Trendy Wedding Design Concepts

Thanks to COVID vaccine distribution, happy couples from 2020 are crossing their fingers, hoping their wedding dreams will finally come true. This Summer, weddings are bound to shock and awe guests with their bold statements and unique customizations!

Rising Hemlines

Knee-length, “tea-length,” and mini wedding gowns are some of the top keywords for 2021 dress trends. These options are easy to dress up or down, usually cost less than formal floor-length ball-gown shapes, and are super thriftable. Plus, with all the elopements, outdoor weddings, and out-of-the-box wedding locations, these shorter skirts might be better equipped for the varying environments.

Digital Invitations

With nearly everything being virtual now, it’s no surprise that sending event invites via snail mail is a thing of the past. Whether you’re looking at it from an eco-friendly perspective, a time and efficiency angle, or fully embracing the virtual culture, this seems to be the best fit for most couples these days. We plan on digital invitations to become the standard across the board soon.

Intimate Ceremonies

Most couples and their families are still concerned about the pandemic, so big ceremonies and receptions are still on ice. To still honor their wedding date, “Minimonies” and “Micro Weddings” are popping up everywhere. These wedding ceremonies take the spirit of elopement, minus the secrecy, and supplemented by all of the support from afar. These safe, intimate gatherings usually only have immediate family members and a tiny bridal party in tow, keeping the risk of spreading the virus to a minimum.

Justice Photography

The Mountains are Calling

Couples are getting creative at social distancing by diving into the wilderness and gathering together in local, national parks. This fits the two big trends we’ve seen since last year with couples wanting to give their guests a one-of-a-kind experience and the passion for outdoor weddings.

Warm Over White Pallets

Green and white florals have been the go-to color combination for a while now, but we’re sensing a warm breeze blowing through. Couples seem to be gravitating towards rich, Autumnal tones reminiscent of the ’60s and ’70s. We’re excited to see warmer hues like burnt orange, deep burgundy, and vibrant purple making a comeback.

Logan Cole Photography

Summer 2021 Weddings will still feel “different.”

Unfortunately, COVID-19 will still be part of our reality for a while. However, now that wedding venues and coordinators have adapted to the new planning process, we're likely to see fewer delays, as well as safer gatherings. Dr. Anthony Fauci has been quoted saying that he believes the United States can reach “some degree of normality” by “the end of the summer, the beginning of the fall of 2021,” but we’re hopeful that it’ll be sooner!

Glamorous Goblets for Every Occasion!

Color doesn't have to only come from the flower arrangements! Spice up your tablescape by adding pops of color at each seat with these gorgeous goblets. These come in all different styles and shapes as well, so stick with one color or even mix and match hues to encompass the full spectrum of your wedding pallet.

Bar Glassware

Have a signature drink? It wouldn't be an actual Mule without a copper mug! Your guests are sure to remember an eye-catching glass containing a tasty cocktail. Imagine your guests sipping elegantly from Martini Glasses or getting the party started with an authentic Margarita Glass in their hands. Authenticity elevates the look and feel of your event!

Photographer: Holly Ireland Photography, Goblets: Hostess Haven Rentals

Let designing your tablescapes be the most enjoyable part of planning your event!

Ask our gifted Event Coordination Team about what available designs they'd recommend for your unique event among our endless upgrade options.

3 Easy-To-Make Spring-Inspired Cocktails

Sip On That Liquid Sunshine!

It's finally Spring! Here in Carlsbad at our Rancho, we're lucky enough to experience some classically gorgeous, sunny-and-75 days pretty regularly. We're breaking out our sun hats, propping up patio umbrellas, and enjoying the sunshine. The only thing this setting needs now is a refreshing drink!

We've gathered a few of our favorites for the season. Think sour citrus drinks to keep you cool as warmth spreads on the air, bubbly drinks to match your higher spirits, and bright colors, like the landscape waking up around you. After the comfort of winter cocktails and before the unabashed party spirit of summer cocktails, these springtime signature drinks are perfect for sipping on the patio and enjoying the sun!

1. The Secret Garden

You can’t have a Spring signature drink list without something pink and bubbly to start it off. This seasonal twist on the classic French 75 is best for sipping on Easter, Mother’s Day, or any Sunday Brunch!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. The Botanist Gin

.75 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

.75 oz. Elderflower Liqueur

1.5 oz. Sparkling Rosé

Directions:

Combine The Botanist Gin, fresh lemon juice, and Elderflower Liqueur in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain into a flute glass. Top with sparkling rosé. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Courtesy of The Botanist Gin

2. The Green Cup

Bright green is the first color we think of for Spring. This easy-to-mix cocktail is garnished with fresh basil and cucumber to bring out the vibrant green to fit the bill. Light and refreshing, this cocktail can carry you through the summer months as well!

Ingredients:

2 parts SVEDKA Vodka

¾ part fresh lime juice

¾ part simple syrup

Cucumber slices and basil

Directions:

Muddle cucumber and basil in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled Martini glass, and garnish lavishly with cucumber and basil.

Courtesy of SVEDKA

3. Taste of the Tropics

After a long day of Spring Cleaning, the last thing you’ll want to do is mix a bunch of complicated ingredients to quench your thirst. Try this ready-to-drink pre-mixed margarita from Jose Cuervo to shake off the cleaning dust and relax those stressed muscles!

Ingredients:

4 oz. Jose Cuervo Orange

Pineapple Margarita

Directions:

Garnish with lime slice, orange zest, and pineapple wedge.

Courtesy of Jose Cuervo

Inspiration For A Valentine's Day At Home

Homey Date Night, Done Right

We love celebrating love!! With the outside world still a little hectic, we foresee many couples keeping their Valentine’s Day dates close to home this year. To help make the holiday still feel special, we collected a little inspiration on decorations, food, and flowers for you!

Bring Out The Kid At Heart

Reach wayyy back to a time when arts and crafts were a socially acceptable way to decorate, and get ready to whip out those safety scissors! This year decorate your home with home-made hearts and paper valentines. We love the idea of making this a pre-holiday date night idea for you and your significant other, or even a Galentine’s night. Check out your local craft store and see what options they have for Valentine’s Day, even if it’s just finding a ream of multi red-hued papers. Cut out hearts to string together or fold each piece of paper into an abstract shape to tape to the wall in a fun heart-shaped collage. Devoting a night to some quality time reveling in artsy nostalgia is sure to warm a few hearts.

Andrea David Photography

A Romantic Dinner For Two

We saw so many people hone their cooking skills during quarantine last year. Personally, we’re still not quite at Master Chef level. When we saw the article titled “24 Romantic Dinners Literally Anyone With an Hour and a Brain Can Make” by Elizabeth Stark and Annabel Iwegbue from Cosmopolitan, we felt a little more confident in ourselves. The recipes they’ve collected encompass multiple cultures, tastes, and dietary restrictions. Save the article and pick a recipe to wow your Valentine’s Day date with your cooking abilities!

Andrea David Photography

Dessert with a Surprising Kick!

Is it just us, or do chocolate-covered strawberries seem played out? Try some “Shots Through the Heart” instead! These deconstructed Strawberry Margaritas are a fun twist on an old favorite and perfect for those in the crowd who might have a darker sense of humor towards this holiday. We got this idea from Personal Touch Dining, and with it being fairly easy to make at home, we felt we had to share it with our readers. We found some adorable heart-shaped pipettes on Amazon that were under $10 and looked perfect for the job. After mixing up our favorite classic margarita, we filled each pipette with our marg and gently skewered each strawberry halfway through into the hollow center. When you’re ready to eat dessert, squeeze the pipette so the liquid fills the hollow center of the strawberry, and enjoy!

Catering: Personal Touch Dining Photo: Andrea David Photography

Don’t Forget The Flowers!

A lot can be said through some mini blooms and single-bud vases. Decorate your dining table at home using these and a sprinkle of votive candles for the perfect romantic ambiance! Mini bloom flowers like the ones below are easy to find and come in pretty sizable bunches; pair them with a few single roses or peonies for a tasteful arrangement. Start by placing one rose or another flower of your choice in a few vases for the center of your table. Trim the stems of your mini flowers as close to the petals as possible so that they lay flat. Place any number of these directly onto the tabletop around the vases and finish off the look with a few candles. Your table at home will transform into a sweet and dreamy location for your Valentine’s Day date, and you won’t break the bank buying massive bundles of roses!

Renata Amazonas Photography

We hope you have a safe and healthy Valentine’s Day from all of us here at The Old Rancho!

Boozy Holiday Brunch Cocktails

Make Your Holiday Brunch Even More Jolly!

This holiday season, we're thankful only to be catching Cabin Fever if all goes well. Here in Carlsbad, California, it looks like we'll be confined to our homes for the holiday, but on a lighter note, that means no need for a designated driver! We figured we could take our time crafting a couple of cocktails while we unwrap gifts this year. By the time you try each of our boozy holiday brunch drinks, being stuck inside for the holidays will never have looked so good.

Typically, the drinks we offer at our events through Personal Touch Dining are Spring or Summer themed since our event season ends mid-November. We get rave reviews over their Grapefruit Mojito, and they even offer "Logo Cocktails" now! These are the newest way to send a message while delighting your impressed guests! Imagine each of these holiday drinks with your signature logo on top for the perfect viral social media post. Make your friends Grinchy-green with envy over your immaculate custom cocktail presentation this season!

If you're like us, we're looking to take the nostalgia of a perfect Rancho Christmas and mix in a little extra fun. The joy of Christmas morning is something we’ll never forget, and now that we’re a little older, celebrating with an adult beverage sounds incredible. We’ve collected our favorite recipes for every kind of Christmas brunch beverage we could think of, but if we left one out, let us know!

Christmas Coffee

Sleepy Christmas mornings need coffee, no buts about it. So, get ready for our special recipe because this is not your typical holiday Starbucks run. We figured a peppermint mocha might be played out since we’ve all been slurping these down since November 6th this year in hopes that they’d raise our post-election, quarantine-warn spirits. Instead, we went for a chocolate caramel brulee feel that’s like drinking a strong hug!

INGREDIENTS

• 4 ounces strong coffee

• 1 1/2 ounces amaretto liqueur

• 1 1/2 ounces coffee liqueur

• 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps

• 1 ounce creme de cocoa

• fresh whipped cream

• grated chocolate, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine strong coffee and liqueurs in a glass. Stir to combine and top with fresh whipped cream. Garnish with grated chocolate.

Serve warm or over ice.

Christmas Morning Mimosa

Brunch and mimosas go together like Santa and the color red! This super easy recipe adds depth of flavor to your everyday mimosa as well as a bit of holiday color to your cheeks!

INGREDIENTS

• 4 ounces of champagne

• 2 ounces of orange juice

• 1/2 ounce Amaretto

• 1/2 ounce grenadine

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pour the orange juice and Amaretto into a wide-mouthed champagne glass. Add champagne to top it off.

Slowly pour in the grenadine until it settles to the bottom of the glass, and serve!

The Grinchy Mary

Ok, we’re pretty obsessed with how light and easy to drink this is! This drink requires a bit more prep than the others we listed, but it’s undeniably worth it. Tomatillos have a slightly more acidic, slightly less sweet flavor than ripe and unripe tomatoes. Overall, the flavor is more vegetal and bright, and the interior texture is denser and less watery. The Grinchy Mary ends up being easier to drink than a traditional bloody, and with some fun bright red garnish, it’ll be a work of art!

(Not a vodka fan? Trade it out for some Blanco tequila and rim the glass with Tajin to transform it into the Grinchy Maria!)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved

• 3 tomatillos, chopped and husked (1½ cups)

• ½ green apple, chopped

• 1 jalapeño, stemmed and chopped

• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

• 1 sprig each parsley and cilantro

• 1 small clove garlic

• 1 teaspoon each salt and Worcestershire

• ½ teaspoon green hot sauce

• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

• ⅛ teaspoon celery seed

• 4 ounces vodka or Blanco tequila

TO SERVE:

• Garnish with your choice of green and red veggies (such as lime wedges, red cherry tomatoes, miniature pickles, red peppers, spicy pickled green beans, and celery sticks!)

• Horseradish

• Hot sauce

• Salt (or Tajin for extra color and spice, especially if you have it with tequila!)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add all ingredients, except vodka, to a blender and blend until smooth, scraping down the blender's sides as needed.

Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve; * discard solids.

Fill two glasses with ice and pour 2 ounces of vodka into each glass. Divide tomato mixture between glasses and stir to combine—season with additional lime juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and salt to desired taste.

We love the idea of a topping bar for guests to dress their own Grinchy Marys to their taste!

***Does that seem like too much work for your Christmas Morning?***

(Try making the bloody mix the night before and chilling it overnight in the fridge! Or, better yet, get it premade. Check out The Dirty Mary (Farm-to-Table Bloody Mary Mix) from Food52.com! It’s 32 ounces of deliciousness, and they take care of combining all of the ingredients so that you can relax!)

We hope you enjoy these holiday breakfast cocktails!

All we ask is that you enjoy these drinks responsibly, and please remember to share the love, not our germs, this holiday season!

Our Top 8 Favorite Appetizers

There’s An “App” For Every Crowd!

Our favorite Event Caterer, Personal Touch Dining, has a wide variety of appetizers for our clients to pick from. They’ve made it their mission to offer delicious options to accommodate all your needs depending on your personal tastes or dietary restrictions. From sweet and savory to fresh and light, they’ve got it all! We’ve collected some of our personal favorites to help show the spectrum of bite-sized morsels you could have at your future event!

Bring Out The Beef!

#1: Barbeque Brisket Sliders Topped with Rainbow Slaw

What says “Party!” Better than bite-sized burgers?

Warm, savory, and sandwiched between two toasted pretzel buns, your crew will go crazy the minute they smell these BBQ Brisket Sliders coming their way.

A “Best Selling” appetizer would have to be this funky Asian-American fusion: The Philly Cheese-Steak Egg Rolls!

Dip-able and downright sinful, these savory eggrolls are hearty hand-stuffed meaty morsels. Packed full of melty cheese and bell peppers along with the steak, these rolls are sure to wow your guests!

#2: Philly Cheese-Steak Egg Rolls with Creamy Cheese Dipping Sauce

Check Out This Chicken!

#3: Chicken And Waffle Skewers with Maple Syrup and Topped with Crunchy Bacon Bits

A little sweet, a little salty, a lot of delicious!

A twist on a time-tested classic, these Chicken and Waffle Skewers are a full breakfast on one bite! Perfect for any occasion, your guests will love the look and taste of this familiar favorite.

Looking for something a little more high-end?

Try their Chicken Cordon Bleu Croquettes! Sophisticated, elegant, and oh so flavorful, impress your guests with these appetizers fit for a king.

#4: Chicken Cordon Bleu Croquettes Topped with a Bleu Cheese Mousse

Fantastic Fish Appetizers!

#5: Ahi Poke Tacos Mixed in a light Ponzu Sauce, Dressed with Wasabi Cream, and Sprinkled with Sesame Seeds

Fresh and Fun!

Another terrific cultural food fusion, the Ahi Poke Taco gets rave reviews from guests. The most frequent comment we receive is, “I don’t usually like fish, but these were great!” Crunchy, fresh, familiar, yet new, these are a must-have at your next event.

Decadent Delightful

We jokingly call this one the appetizer for the “Rich and Famous.” It’s rich because of the creamy Mac ‘n Cheese bite exploding with cheese, topped with the bright, flavorful aioli and succulent lobster piece. It’s famous because everybody asks us about it!

#6: Lobster Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bites Topped with Garlic Chive Aioli and Fresh Lobster

Enticing Vegetarian Bites

#7: Pear and Gorgonzola Flat Bread Pizza with Caramelized Onions and a Balsamic Glaze

Pizza with Pears?!

Yup. We can’t get enough of this savory creation. There’s a huge depth of flavor between the Gorgonzola and Balsamic Glaze balanced out by the juicy pears. It’s one appetizer that’ll make the harshest critics of Pineapple on pizza rethink their stance a bit.

Mouth-watering Mediterranean Morsels

We love stuffed mushroom caps! These fun guys are fit to burst with flavor from the creamy risotto, literally. (We actually advise our guests to pop the whole thing in your mouth when you eat them.) All the flavor and juice from the tender mushroom cap surprises hungry guests when they try to go for a dainty bite.

#8: Creamy Risotto Stuffed Mushroom Caps with Spinach, Artichoke, and Sundried Tomatoes

They also offer vegan and gluten-free options for even more incredible appetizers!

Whether you're having a corporate event, holiday party, or celebration, Personal Touch Dining has the perfect bite-sized appetizer for your special occasion. We're sure each one will excite and delight your hungry guests.

Reach out and ask about their full menu today!

Real Rancho Weddings | Samantha + Collin

Let’s TACO-bout Love!

Collin and Samantha’s magical day here at our Rancho was all about the “Three F’s”: Family, Friends, and FUN! From Taco Bars to donut bars, this was the party of the year. Thanks to the collaboration with Sassy Little Bee Event Coordination and the incredible photos from Renata Amazonas Photography, we can show the world how special this wedding was!

Samantha and her entourage of bridesmaids and family members finished putting on the final details to their wedding-day ensembles in our Bridal Suite. The room’s energy was bubbly and sparkling with excitement, perfect to match the abundance of champagne that they brought!

Before too many guests arrived, Renata Amazonas gathered the love birds in our Welcome Courtyard for the First Look. This courtyard is perfect for an intimate moment like this. The wedding day, while fun, can get pretty hectic! First Looks give the happy couple a minute to themselves before the party starts.

Once enough guests arrived, Sassy Little Bee Coordination guided everyone to their seats and lined-up the Bridal Party for the ceremony! This enthusiastic flower girl nearly stole the show but was the perfect way to proceed Samantha down the aisle.

We love the way ceremonies turn out in our Upper Garden! The secluded area is lush with natural beauty, and our sunny Carlsbad weather means you can let the garden do all the work creating a romantic atmosphere.

After exchanging vows and “I Do’s,” we love watching glowing couples come back down the aisle. It’s hard not to burst with happiness when your clients look like this!

Guests were encouraged to make their way downstairs to the reception area for cocktail hour with RG Bar Services while the bridal party celebrated outside of our Bridal Suite.

Renata Amazonas made sure to capture the love birds in some of our favorite photo spots around our Rancho, including this historic seating area in our Welcome Courtyard.

Adore Folklore and Farm Tables & More came together to create this incredible secret garden retreat on our Lower Lawn. This space is intimate yet spacious enough to fit your guests for a cozy and warm environment surrounded by stunning natural beauty.

Mexico City Cuisine set up a delicious Mexican Buffet with a Taco Bar and steaming sides on our built-in bar! Guests raved about the wide selection of topping choices for their tacos, and many came back for seconds.

After dinner, HVK Entertainment helped lead toasts and the special dances, such as the First Dance and Mother and Father Dances, before opening up the dancefloor to everyone for the rest of the night!

VG’s Bakery brought a mouth-watering spread of sugar-glazed dreams for dessert. Donuts of every flavor, shape, and size accompanied the delicious wedding cake! Guests helped themselves to the donuts as they danced and enjoyed the remainder of the evening.

We were so honored to be a part of this beautiful celebration of love!

Thanks, Colling and Samantha, for choosing our Rancho for such a special day, and we wish you both all the best in your bright future together!

Huge thanks also go to Sassy Little Bee Event Coordination for putting together such a fun day with a fantastic team of vendors!

We couldn’t do what we love without the hard work from everyone!

Vendors

Coordination: Sassy Little Bee

Photography: Renata Amazonas

Videography: Blue Tiger Films

Musicians: The Electric Mud

Catering: Mexico City Cuisine

Bartending: RG Bar Services

Tables: Farm Tables & More

Rentals: Adore Folklore

DJ: HVK Entertainment

Florals: Intentional Blooms

Cake: VG’s Bakery

Our Top 5 First Look Locations!

Enjoy the Magic of Your First Look in Our 5 Favorite Must-Have-Moment Locations!

The idea of a "First Look" comes highly recommended by wedding professionals, but it's still debated among couples. The time-honored--yet undoubtedly superstitious--practice of not seeing your significant other until the actual wedding ceremony pervades this magical day. Many couples insist on waiting, while others opt for a First Look hoping to ease wedding-day nerves--or to make sure they enjoy cocktail hour with their guests.

Our Rancho weddings come with tons of obvious perks, but every corner of the grounds itself is an opportunity for that priceless shot! The original architecture enchants with its rustic charm, and the surrounding landscapes offer endless artful photo opportunities. With over 20 acres of land, our couples take advantage of every inch that we offer.

If you end up going for the big pre-ceremony reveal a First Look provides, our experts selected 5 of their favorite spots around our Old Rancho that are perfect for this special moment!

Justice Photography

1. The Welcome Courtyard

One of our most iconic areas, known for the coexistence of wild natural beauty and gorgeous historic style. This otherworldly combination of plants and Spanish tiles create the most stunning boho backdrop for a First Look.

Justice Photography

2. The Upper Patio

Our experts are serious in stating that a first look does not spoil the ceremony. We think that you'll be overwhelmed with emotion no matter what, so if you want to see your partner, don't skip it. Why not have two magical moments on your special day?

Chuy Photos

The symmetrical aesthetic of this location, just inside the Welcome Patio, creates the most satisfying eye-candy pictures!

Justice Photography

This shaded space offers lots of elbow room for photographers to find those dramatic angles.

Renata Amazonas Photography

3. The Lower Patio Steps

This multifaceted space is capable of every romantic's deep-rooted desire to have a bride glide down the steps towards her future husband. We can't get enough of the potential this secluded spot offers.

In general, private moments for a Bride and Groom are far and few between. A First Look is an excellent decision for couples who want to spend some quiet time together before the ceremony. It gives the love birds a moment before the day officially starts to connect and take a deep breath.

Privacy is a privilege on your big day. It's a whirlwind once guests arrive, and having a first look gives you and your partner a few moments together before all of your family and friends surround you.

4. The Old Barn

Don't forget that timing is critical! If you're having a winter ceremony, First Look photos are essential if you want portraits taken with natural light. The sun will be down between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., so this it's your chance for pictures in the sun.

Fonyat Wedding Photography

Our Old Barn THRIVES during golden hour. Photographers eat up the contrasts of weathered wood and polished wedding attire.

Chuy Photos

The Old Barn shines at every angle too! The ancient wood reclaimed by nature is perfect for the couple looking to make a statement with their First Look pictures.

Justice Photography

As our second-most iconic location, the Old Barn offers the most versatility of any other landmark on our grounds. Explore around to each side for four completely different stunning backdrops.

Chuy Photos

5. Explore the Exterior Grounds

There's just something otherworldly about an open field. The right photographer can transform a sparse meadow of sticks into a landscape of wonder. The Exterior Grounds are a blank canvas for the imaginative couple seeking romance, magic, and a little bit of classic rustic charm.

Chuy Photos

There are countless locations around the Rancho 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!

The First Look is definitely a "Must-Have-Moment," so ask our team of talented coordinators exactly where your First Look should be at The Old Rancho!