After having a horrible time finding a venue within our price range in Central California, we came upon the Santa Margarita Ranch. After telling Destini (the ranch manager-also a dream) that the ranch was way out of our budget (listed around $1...0,000), she told me that they offer off-season pricing and that their leniency in the vendors and catering that we use allows for us to make a lot of wiggle room to make it work. I am SO THANKFUL for her persistence. We brought in and set up everything ourselves (except the rented tent heaters).
The ranch and the staff are beyond perfect. We were married January 10th, 2015 and were blessed with nearly 70 degree weather (praise God!). I do recommend the forced-air "tent" heaters in the barn if the night time looks a little chilly just because there are a few openings and the barn isnt completely closed off from outside. We used 4 from Got You Covr'd Rentals for 140 people and it was more than enough. Everyone was comfortable throughout the night, and when the dancing started, it even got too warm for a few people.
The ranch provides and sets up all tables and chairs (up to about 300 I believe), and the twinkle lights in the garden area and barn are always up. The venue is so rustic, unique and beautiful that you do not need much decorating.
We were married under the Oak tree and did petals down the aisle and hung some lace ribbon down off the twinkle lights at the entrance to the aisle. A wine-barrel gift table (the ranch provides up to five of these) and a sign or two and that was that. It was STUNNING. Our friends and family are still mesmerized by the venue.
We hung up long white sheer curtains at the barn entrance, some lace embroidery hoops between and decorated the essentials (tables, dessert and coffee tables, bar, guest book, etc.) and thats all it needed.
When I toured the ranch, another wedding (very extravagent with crystals and chandeliers etc) was being set up-and that's the beauty of this venue. It is a blank canvas. You can have a more boho/rustic feel like mine, or a froofroo Disney princess wedding like theirs. You will fall nothing short of amazing with your wedding at Santa Margarita Ranch!
Here is the video of ours:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEuQmw9ghVo