About this vendor
Based in Paicines, CA, Bar SZ Ranch is a charming destination for weddings, engagements, and other joyous occasions.
Started in 2014 by Tim and Michelle Borland and their three kids, the Bar SZ Ranch is a true family business and wedding venue with a mission to help others “forge their legacy.” Set on 2200 acres in its own valley with iconic California oak trees and golden hills; views of the surrounding mountains and Pinnacles National Park; and painted, sunlit skies photographers and couples swoon over, this working ranch offers a unique, destination-wedding experience.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Backyard
- Barn
- Farm & Ranch
- Trees
Venue Service Offerings
- Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
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Reviews
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you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.04 reviews
We held our wedding at Bar SZ ranch in June 2019. It was beautiful and exactly what we were looking for in a venue. Bar SZ allowed us to 1) host our families on-site for the weeken...
d, 2) spread out our wedding activities, and 3) do what we wanted. And Tim and his family and staff were extremely helpful throughout!
The ranch has three airbnb style houses that are well appointed and spacious. We had our families stay in the houses for our wedding weekend, and it was very special to hang out with them in the houses and the common areas before the hectic wedding reception. We had friends stay in the glamping tents, and they found the beds very comfortable (though the chickens encouraged them to wake up in the morning). A few friends brought their own tents and camped, and took advantage of the camping showers to clean up for the party. With these folks were on-site, the nights by the campfire were really fun.
Our wedding activities were spread across the ranch. We held a Sangeet on Friday night on the slab, the ceremony on Saturday at the Eucalyptus grove, cocktail hour at the bar (along with general hanging out there throughout the weekend), and the reception on the grassy lawn. This helped each moment feel distinct. Thankfully, the friends and family on-site helped us move tables and setup decor. While all of this setup was our responsibility, Tim couldn't help but help us - he made the whole process easier.
The ranch also let us do what we wanted for our wedding weekend. We brought in the food we wanted. We could chose where to hold each event. We were also offered horseback riding and skeet shooting activities for us and our guests. Neither activity were things that we, as the couple, were familiar with before, but it was such a cool way to make some special memories with our friends and family. The horseback riding was cooler than any other riding experiences we had had before - you could actually guide the horse, as opposed to just sitting there and letting the horse follow the horse in front of it. Skeet shooting was the first time many of us touched a gun, and it was safe and fun. And the scenery was beautiful.
Tim, his entire family, and the ranch staff, were extremely welcoming and helpful throughout the weekend. They helped set things up and kept everything smooth through the weekend. They were even kind enough to accept deliveries from Amazon in the weeks before the wedding, which wound up being a lifesaver. We couldn't have chosen a better venue, especially with Tim and his team to make the weekend a success.
We are excited to return to the ranch, hopefully soon!
My husband and I got married at Bar SZ Ranch this past October and let me tell you it was amazing! We could not have picked a better place to get married at. Tim and Michelle along...
with their family and workers really make you feel welcomed and part of the family. They go above and beyond to help make your day special. All of our guests were amazed with this place! It has stunning views and so many cute animals that were even featured in some of our wedding photos. It was also great to be there for 3 days and not feel so rushed to set things up and take things down. You will not go wrong in having your wedding day here.
I think it's safe to say this is the single best wedding venue in California.
Consider the reasons:
- It's gorgeous. It's just you and nature, with 660 acres of golden hills, w...
hich make for an epic backdrop during your wedding. The structures on the ranch add to the rustic feel. And the Art House makes for beautiful photos, too, with solid wood design and amazing views over the valley. And then there is that old oak tree on the hill that has overseen so many couples get married, including us. It is magical.
- It's remote. That means you can party all night and no one will care. But it's not that hard to get to: It's just 2.5 hours south of San Francisco. The closest town is 40 minutes north, along a winding road. Your cellphone won't get service, which is perfect. (There's still WiFi in the houses if you really need it.)
- The Borland family and ranch staff. Tim, Michelle, James, Rebekah, the ranch staff, and TIm and Michelle's children work so hard to make your wedding dream come to reality -- while just being the nicest, warmest people in the process. We can't thank you all enough for allowing us to celebrate our special day on your magnificent property. And thank you all so much for being so welcoming and warm. They are truly wonderful people!
- It's good value. Renting the ranch for your wedding typically means you get the entire property for the whole weekend, including beds for up to 35 people. Then there's ample space for other guests to camp. While you do have to rent bathrooms, etc., for campers, you can recoup some costs by charging guests small housing fees. And otherwise there is plenty of infrastructure there.
- Most importantly, you have freedom. We ultimately chose the ranch because they allowed us to create the wedding we wanted: a party in the middle of a field that lasted until 5 a.m. So many other venues we considered had countless rules about where we could go, what vendors we had to use, when we could be there, etc. Bar SZ Ranch has very little of that. The ranch is your canvas from when you arrive on Friday to when you leave on Sunday, enabling you to create your very own wedding weekend.
We are so thankful we chose Bar SZ Ranch and highly recommend it for any other couple looking to create a memorable, laid back wedding.
Jack & Sonia
Bar SZ Ranch is a wonderful place. As someone who did not hire a wedding coordinator, and who also has little experience planning large events, I did not know exactly what to expec...
t but my standards were set high to begin with (especially for someone who grew up in famous Napa Valley, who sees glamorous weddings regularly). Let's just say, Bar SZ Ranch blew all my expectations out of the water.
The entire staff was extremely helpful in providing any services we could dream of to help pull off our weekend without issue. Everyone was not only willing to help plan and coordinate, but were genuinely excited to be a part of our big day even though we were the last of a long line of weddings held at the ranch this past year (2016).
From day trips throughout the year to see the new improvements and changes happening on the ranch, to impromptu trips to and from skeet shooting and horseback riding events the day of, Bar SZ Ranch had well open communication with us as well as with one another. They were never afraid to clarify information if they needed to, and would always check in after a certain amount of time to see if there were any updates for them to work with or adjust.
The list of how amazing the ranch and the people on it are can go on forever. What I want to help readers understand is that this wasn't just a wedding, but an entire experience you and your guests can enjoy and cherish for life - even if no one is getting married! We are already planning to rent a single house for a weekend stay just for fun. But honestly, between the views, the people, the activities available, the hospitable mentality, and the overall happy vibes, this is a magical place to visit or host an event. We are still having our friends (many of whom work for catering companies within the Napa Valley, who work spectacular weddings every weekend), tell us that ours was by far the best wedding they have ever seen or attended. That was not just the amount of hard work we put in - it was the ranch itself.
Lastly, as both a Gay and Interracial couple with guests off all types, we found that everyone felt not only welcomed by the Ranch hands/staff, but were treated as if they were family. This is by far what means most to us. These are good people who will do everything they can to help you enjoy what they have to offer. These 5 stars aren't even enough to convey how wonderful this place is.
Contact
1989 Old Hernandez Road, Paicines, CA
