San Diego Outdoor Event Venue

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.

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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.

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.

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!

Upper Lawn

Our Upper Lawn is as versatile space as it is lovely.

This location is most commonly used for ceremonies, framed by the historic home, private gardens, and a beautiful wall of blooming bougainvillea.

Capable of comfortably seating guests in multiple directions, this location works perfectly for any outdoor event. It can easily transform into a lush garden cocktail hour for your guests to enjoy as well.

Just reach out to our fantastic Event Coordination Team for questions about your upcoming ceremony or event!

Spacious Outdoor Cocktail Hour Area

Our Rancho comes equipped with ample space for guests to relax and socialize during the Cocktail Hour.

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Overlooking the Upper Lawn, the patio wraps around our venue, dipping into shaded private patios and circling the Upper Bar.

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It’s the perfect spot for Welcome Tables, Gift, and Guest Book Tables, and Stationary Appetizer Stations for your guests to enjoy while they sip cocktails before moving downstairs for dinner.

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Built-In Bars

Our gorgeous built-in bars are placed in two areas of our reception levels for effortless guest accessibility during your events!

The Upper Patio Bar

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After your ceremony on our upper lawn, this bar area is the first to greet guests and start the party! We’ve seen couples use it as a full bar or self-serve non-alcoholic beverage station.

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Its charm and placement so close to the ceremony make it perfect for setting the tone for the evening and could even be used as a sign-in book space or wedding favor/escort card location. Customize this bar by decorating it with dazzling floral arrangements or engagement and family photos to welcome your guests!

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The Lower Lawn Bar

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This cozy built-in bar tends to be a bit snug for more than one bartender, so we encourage this spot for dessert, beverage stations, or beer and wine service during dinner.

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Located directly outside of the Groom’s Den, it’s the heart of our lower lawn area and acts as subtle divider between the dining and dancing locations.

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Vendor Spotlight | Chasing Light Photo & Video

ABOUT

This husband and wife team offers nearly a decade’s worth of photo and video experience. They openly state that they strive to evolve and learn from each client and their unique take on love. Through their devout attention to details, natural lighting, and genuine connection with their clients, they can transcend common notions of photography and turn anything into art.

“Through every wedding, engagement, and elopement, we learn more about love, commitment, people, art, and how there are so many different ways to be creative.”

Seeing their flawless teamwork in action resonates with many of our own core values in this line of work. We can tell that they understand the importance of embracing each couple’s true nature and how they define love to better coax out the perfect translation of that love into a breathtaking picture.

THE MANIFESTO

“We constantly evolve, educate ourselves and each other. We are two teams, a husband and wife and two best friends, all equally passionate about candid smiles, happy tears, and connecting with people.”

Each package they offer is customized to the individual needs of the client and occasion. They make sure to reach out and offer their years of experience in guiding clients through the planning process of their day and are effortless to coordinate with on our side as well. Responding quickly to emails, we can trust them to be efficient while collaborating on the perfect timeline and respecting our need for details such as the number of other shooters or client’s photo requests. Choosing Chasing Light for your next wedding, engagement, elopement, or family pictures would be a choice to immortalize the happiest moments of your life with all the magic and wonder remembered in the day.

The Bridal Suite

One of the best parts of your wedding day is those few hours right before the ceremony takes place. This is the time for brides to relax with their wedding party, take photos, or do a first look. We’re thrilled to offer our couples this special place to spend these key moments before they tie the knot!

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Our bridal suite is attached to the main house, with all the creature comforts of getting ready at home. Cozy and charming with the vintage adobe floors and vaulted ceilings, this suite is equipped with plenty of fantastic lighting, mirrors, and counter space in the two bathrooms for final touches on makeup or hair.

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Other room accessories include full-length mirrors, hooks to hang dresses, comfortable chairs, and ample lounging space indoors and outside at the private side patio. We allow clients to arrive two hours before their ceremony start time. Brides can chat with their bridesmaids, bring their own choice of food and beverages to snack on, and perfect their wedding ensembles before the big moment!

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Everyone who got ready in our Bridal suite may leave their personal items there during the reception. Everything will be safe and secure, allowing for a worry-free night of partying! We will remove any trash left behind and do a thorough check for any accidentally forgotten items at the end of the evening.