If you ask most girls if they have Pinterest, most will say "yes." If you ask most girls if they've planned out their wedding, before you've even finished your sentence, I can ensure you their Pinterest app is open and loaded with them eagerly waiting to show you their "dream wedding" board. Over the past year, I've had the privilege of witnessing various venues transform into real life wedding Pinterest boards. Although I've worked at countless venues, there are five I specifically swoon over:
1. San Ysidro Ranch
One word for this venue: Charming.
The stunning, tucked away, San Ysidro Ranch is located in Santa
Barbara. This location is not only a perfect escape from the hustle and
bustle of your busy life, but it also sets the perfect back drop for a
truly magical wedding. Here you'll enjoy quaint, rustic (but totally
chic) cabins for guests to stay in as well as a plethora of gardens,
lemon trees, and cobble stone pathways. For my L.A, peeps, you won't hear a
single honk, siren, and traffic? Forget about it! Look for yourself...
2. Big Sur- Post Ranch Inn
Looking to disconnect from every day life and find your zen in a tree house? Look no further than the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur. Before even arriving at the location, your breath will be taken away. While on the drive up, you'll find yourself with an achy neck from all the head turning you'll be doing—why? For about an hour, you'll be driving up a windy road with the gorgeous ocean on your left and incredible mountain side on your right. Also on the way up, there's hidden cafe's, hotels, outlooks, shops, oh and not to mention the tranquil Pfeiffer Beach. By this time, you're half-way into your disconnected state (because there's no cellphone service) until finally you reach Post Ranch Inn. This Inn is super private and quite exclusive. The Inn itself allows small weddings, but once you see the location, you won't mind narrowing down that lengthy guest list. Not only can you have a smaller wedding here, but you can stay on site, as well as your guests, in their magnificent tree houses. Yes, tree houses. I'll let these pictures do the rest of the talking...
3. Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel
This location is really the best of both worlds: You can have your wedding at the beach, but your feet won't get sandy! This location is spacious, gorgeous, and honestly you can't beat Laguna's weather. Also, if you time your ceremony just right, you can have your magical day featuring a sunset backdrop...I mean, come on, does it get any better than that? Also, after the ceremony you can head down to the sand (if you're over the sandy feet thing) and take some super romantic pictures... I've seen it in real life—trust me, do it.
4. Napa Valley
This is for my wine connoisseurs and Northern California lovers! Creating your ceremony in beautiful wine country is a fantastic idea! Instead of picking a specific place in Napa, I'm leaving it more broad because there's a plethora of vineyards that host weddings. All you need to know is that if you want a more rural, quiet vibe rather than something urban, then I highly suggest having your ceremony in Napa Valley. It's perfect for low-key, chic weddings; you still get the rustic vibe without the splinters. Also, you'll feel like you're in Tuscany, but your wallet won't.
5. Hotel Bel Air
One reason I really love this location is because of the
size. Everything on site is in very close proximity of each other,
making it easy to go from the ceremony, to cocktail hour, to the
reception. Even though its somewhat on the smaller size compared to
other hotels, there is still plenty of areas for amazing pictures! Also,
there is a quaint pond featuring swans next to the ceremony location—talk about elegance! You could never go wrong with the Hotel Bel Air;
it's a classic!
Like I said earlier, I've worked weddings at every location and I approve of all five wholeheartedly. I'm positive at least one of these locations is Pinterest-worthy, as well as wedding worthy...Happy planning!
