When you love the great outdoors like Ashley and Brooks, having a weekend camp wedding at a ranch is a perfect way to bring together your love of nature, each other, and all your friends and family! The two chose a wedding path that was truly unique to them and also gave them the chance to have both an intimate ceremony, and later— a wild party! Their intimate ceremony was held on a mountaintop in Colorado, with only immediate family present. Then later, they planned a weekend at the Paicines Ranch, which is on the central California coast and is a working and sustainable ranch. The couple invited all their loved ones came to stay (either in the cute lodging on site, or a BYO tent), see the two renew their vows, and celebrate the night away. The groom, Brooks describes their two weddings the best: “we definitely chose a ceremony plan that would feel authentic to both of us. We wanted an intimate, soulful feel, and chose to do it at my family's off-the-grid cabin in Colorado, a place that carries so much meaning for me and my family, and that we will get to return to together for the rest of our lives. We loved the way that we could get everyone to participate in the small group setting, and how it felt like a collaborative, quiet ceremony. In addition to the small soulful ceremony, we also wanted to have a big, inclusive, raucous party… and Paicines Ranch was perfect for that. We loved the unlimited camping and all the lodging available so that everyone who wanted to could stay on site. We loved how the place aligns with our values around connection to nature and protecting the earth. It's also so gorgeous, there was no noise curfew, and it wasn't too far from the airport.”

The style of this beautiful ranch wedding was a touch bohemian, rustic, and lush garden, all in one, perfectly representing this amazing couple!

The spacious lawn is perfect for games and it also was where guests picnicked earlier in the day before the wedding.

The couple created their own unique vow renewal ceremony, inviting friends to do some readings and share a few words, but also asked them to share in their vows by lighting candles at each of their tables. Lastly, Brooks’ mother lead everyone in a song that he used to sing with his family growing up. The warmth and love inside the barn was so strong; it truly felt like a community together, sharing in the couples’ joy!

The couples’ siblings put together silly, zany, and heartfelt musical performance that brought a lot of happy tears, laughter, and group hugs!

Vendors:
Venue: Paicines Ranch
Photography: Sonya Yruel
Planning: Duke and Pearl
Catering: Five Star Catering
Decor: Eventscapes Inc
Band: Take 2 Dance Band
Film Processing: The Find Lab

Check out Brooks and Ashley’s engagement session in the Marin Headlands!

Contact Sonya about photography for your Paicines Ranch wedding.