River Highlands Ranch and Vineyards

Wedding Day

THANK YOU 

Thank you for attending our wedding on 5.25.2025. We are so appreciative of your love and support on our day. Please navigate to the photo section to view our favorite wedding photos!

Our Wedding

We met on Tinder (cue the dramatic gasp!) in July 2019. After a few weeks of chatting on the phone, we had our first date in August. Our dates were such a success that we started seeing each other every chance we got—you could say we were inseparable!

Before we met, Jesse had already committed to attending a military school in Texas, which meant the first few months of our relationship were long-distance. It wasn’t easy, but we made it work by spending countless hours on FaceTime and talking on the phone late into the night.

When Jesse returned from Texas, we planned to travel to Japan, but the pandemic began, and we spent much of our time indoors. Many nights were filled with late-night walks around the neighborhood, movie marathons, and plenty of wine. I eventually completed nursing school, Jesse started his career as a firefighter, and in May 2020, we moved in together.

Over the next couple of years, we traveled, celebrated our accomplishments, and grew deeper in love with each passing day.

In January 2023, the long-anticipated (and for some, dreaded) deployment Jesse had enlisted for became a reality, as he was sent with his squadron to the Middle East. Every day, I feel immense gratitude for Jesse's sacrifice and bravery in serving our country. It was a challenging time that tested our relationship, demanding strength, love, and unwavering positivity. Despite the difficulties, I am endlessly thankful that Jesse returned home safely.

After the deployment, we dedicated our time to being together as much as possible, reigniting our love after being apart for so long and celebrating his safe return with our friends and family until...

Our Story

Photos

Cody Berry

Elizabeth Elander (Libby)

Jarrod Roberts

Tawnya Gerber

Adam Hill

Laura Somers

JJ Phoenix

Katherine Royat

Clay Bagwell

Briana Royat

Jorge Wilson

Shelby Kingsley 

Jerry Villavicencio

Scarlett Elander

Landon Royat

Wedding Party

Q + A

HOTELS

Our venue is located near Grass Valley and Nevada City, California, both charming towns offering plenty of accommodation options. These are just a 20–30 minute drive from the venue. There are also a variety of Airbnbs and VRBOs. Other options include staying in other nearby cities including Sacramento or Auburn, which are approximately 1 hour away.

Best Western Gold Country Inn

Gold Miners Inn Grass Valley, Ascend Hotel Collection

Grass Valley Courtyard Suites

Holbrooke Hotel

The National Exchange Hotel

Broad Street Inn

AIRPORTS

The nearest major airport is Sacramento International Airport (SMF), located approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Grass Valley by car. If Sacramento International Airport (SMF) isn’t convenient, the next closest option is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), located approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Grass Valley by car.

Sacramento International Airport

Reno-Tahoe International Airport

DIRECTIONS TO THE VENUE

The venue is off the beaten path, so here are driving directions directly from the venue website. The address is 8600 Big Oak Valley Road, Smartsville, California 95946. Directions from Grass Valley, CATake CA- 20 WEST out of Grass Valley (towards Marysville ~12.5 miles)Turn LEFT on Hamilton Smartsville Rd. LANDMARK Dollar General Store (&amp; continue for ~9 miles)Turn LEFT on Chuck Yeager Rd. (&amp; continue ~1/2 a mile)Turn LEFT onto Big Oak Valley Rd.&nbsp;The 2nd gate on your right is 8600 Big Oak Valley Rd. Directions from Sacramento Airport (~45 minutes)From I-5 S take CA-99 NStay right to continue on CA-70 NTake exit 18B towards Erle Rd.At the end of the exit, turn Left onto Linhurst Ave, then at the first light turn RIGHT onto Erle Rd.Turn LEFT onto Goldfields ParkwayTurn RIGHT onto North Bele RoadTurn LEFT at the first cross street onto Griffith Ave.Turn RIGHT at first cross street onto Hamilton Smartsville Road (take this road for ~13 miles, passing the Beale Air Force Base)Turn RIGHT onto Chuck Yeager Road (if you get to Hwy 20, you’ve gone too far!)Turn LEFT onto Big Oak Valley RoadThe 2nd gate on your right is 8600 Big Oak Valley Rd.

Please Note:We are not able to provide shuttle services to the venue. We would recommend that you arrange your own transportation in advance to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey. Tips for Getting to the Venue:Car Rentals: Easily available at Sacramento or Reno-Tahoe International Airport.Rideshare Services: Uber and Lyft operate in the area but may have limited availability, so we recommend scheduling ahead.Carpooling: Consider coordinating with friends or family to share rides. Thank you for your understanding—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Travel

Stroll along Mill Street, a pedestrian-friendly area lined with beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the 1850s. Enjoy boutique shopping, art galleries, and wine-tasting rooms.

Historic Downtown Grass Valley 

Explore California's most productive gold mine, where you can tour historic buildings and learn about the Gold Rush era.

Empire Mine State Historic Park

Sample regional wines and craft beer at various tasting rooms and breweries in Grass Valley and Nevada City

Local Wineries and Breweries

Hike scenic trails like the Buttermilk Bend Trail, offering stunning river views, and explore historic bridges.

Erica & Jesse

Erica & Jesse

Things to Do

Historic Downtown Grass Valley

Empire Mine State Historic Park

Local Wineries and Breweries

South Yuba River State Park