Leo Carillo Ranch Wedding | Carlsbad Outdoor Wedding Venue
Leo Carillo Ranch is a venue where I enjoy working. It is in Carlsbad, which makes it very close to home, outdoors, and spacious, and it offers plenty of locations for great portraits. So, I was very excited about Rheanne and Daniel's wedding at Leo Carillo Ranch.
Leo Carillo Ranch weddings are very popular, and aside from Ranch tours and many other activities, it's been offering weddings for decades. I've been lucky to be part of many Leo Carillo Ranch weddings before, and it's always a place where I feel like I get some interesting shots. Aside from weddings, I’ve used Leo Carillo Ranch for engagement sessions and family sessions. It’s an all-around great place for photography.
It was a sunny day, and I met with Rheanne early at Leo Carillo Ranch to start the photos of her preparations. She had all her close friends with her and was very excited about the day ahead. We did some robe photos with the girls, and she got into her wedding dress.
Many couples opt for a first look on the wedding day. That way, we can get some bridal party photos, family portraits, and couples photos before the guests start arriving. However, Rheanne and Daniel opted not to have a first look. Instead, we did bridal party photos separately, still being very productive before the start of the celebration.
When I did the pre-wedding consultation with Daniel and Rheanne, we spoke about the pros and cons of doing a first look. Since they decided against a first look, Rheanne and Daniel left a lot of time after their Leo Carillo Ranch ceremony for the bridal party and family photos and, of course, for some bride and groom romantic portraits around the property. Speaking with the clients and making sure you have plenty of time for the critical photos is something I always make sure to do before the wedding day. I take a photojournalistic approach to weddings, but I do want to have a set plan for the part where we have total control of things.
The couple had their ceremony at the courtyard of Leo Carillo Ranch, under the Willow tree, where most wedding ceremonies occur. Their families and friends were present, and everyone was excited to see the couple tie the knot. It was a beautiful ceremony, officiated by one of their close friends, which made things more memorable.
After the ceremony finished, we jumped into some family photos and bridal party portraits. Everyone was present and helpful, so it went quickly. The couple and I were ready to walk around Leo Carillo's Ranch property for some portraits.
We started at the courtyard, one of my favorite spots at Leo Carillo. Rheanne and Daniel knew what they were doing and needed little direction. We then moved up to the higher part of the property, but not without getting a few photos in front of Leo Carillo Ranch's main house. While we were doing that, a few Peackoks showed up, and I couldn't pass on the opportunity to include them in the portrait session.
We kept moving up the property and stopping at my favorite spots at Leo Carillo Ranch. I have a lot of experience working at this Carlsbad wedding venue, and I certainly know all the good locations to explore. Daniel and Rehanne wanted to do plenty of portraits, so they kindly left plenty of time for it. It was a great session, with perfect afternoon lighting, and I couldn't be happier with the results.
The guests were seated, and it was time to bring back the couple to their party. They had a grand entrance, and everyone was excited to see them for the first time after the Leo Carillo Ranch wedding ceremony. It was a young crowd, very excited, and I could tell right away that the party would be fun.
The couple went straight into some formalities. The first dance was followed by the parent's dance and toasts. It was finally time for open dancing, and Rheanne and Daniel's friends were ready.
The dancing kept going for many hours, and everyone was having a lot of fun. Rheanne and Daniel were visibly happy, and it seemed like they had exactly the Leo Carillo Ranch wedding they had envisioned.
After the last song, the guests moved up to the grand exit. Everyone formed a tunnel and blew bubbles while the couple passed by and said goodbye to everyone.
I wish Rehanne and Daniel luck in their wedding and lives!
About Leo Carillo Ranch:
Leo Carillo Ranch is a historic park located in Carlsbad, CA. It's a 27-acre ranch that is a very unique setting for weddings. It's an outdoor venue, with several options for ceremony and reception sites. Leo Carillo Ranch can have weddings for up to 300 guests, but it's also a good location for smaller, more intimate celebrations.
Leo Carillo Ranch is managed by Personal Touching Dining, one of the best catering companies in San Diego. They not only serve amazing food but also help organize the event, making it seamless for the bride and groom. That means the couples can do less customization of their wedding but it saves them a lot of time.
There is plenty of parking available at Leo Carillo Ranch, but it's quite a long walk to the wedding ceremony site. So, if you or anyone going with you have mobility issues make sure to request a golf cart. The staff will help bring anyone down to the wedding area.
Even though Leo Carillo Ranch offers different ceremony area options, most take place under the Willow Tree. It's a great ceremony area, at a very welcoming part of the ranch. It's also a good location for family photos, depending on the lighting.
Leo Carillo Ranch offers a variety of locations for bride and groom portraits and bridal party photos. The courtyard outside of the bridal suite is one of my favorites, especially in the afternoon light. I also enjoy the front of the main house, with typical vegetation, the blue-door barn, and the pathway between the house and the barn. One of the nice things about Leo Carillo Ranch is that you can find different locations without going too far.
The reception site is one of my favorite things about Leo Carillo Ranch weddings. It's an outdoor reception, at a very charming area in the lower part of the lot. The hanging lights create a romantic and timeless atmosphere, allowing the guests to roam around and enjoy historic adobe structures, and different landscapes.
Leo Carillo Ranch is the perfect location if you're looking for an outdoor, charming, and specious venue in San Diego north coastal cities. It's an honor for me to have been part of so many Leo Carillo Ranch weddings over the years, and it's a place I hope to come back to document many weddings in the future.
