Jessica and James's Wedding

Hi Everyone,

We are very happy as our 2010 wedding season comes to an end. We would like to share with you a few of the photos and details from Jessica and James’s wedding. Jessica’s mom, Pam, acted as the planner of the entire weekend wedding. The event was beautiful! The ceremony was held at the Garden Stage with musicians playing on one of the terraces followed by an outdoor reception. The bride and groom took advantage of our gorgeous nature views and took beautiful pictures by the Garden Stage, the Orchards and the Amazon Fountain. Here is what Pam had to say after the event was over:
“We had a wonderful time, everything was absolutely perfect. The Weekend Wedding went super well and everyone loved the place. Thanks so much for everything.”-Pam Wertz (Mother of the Bride) 10/26/10

*We wish all of our 2010 couples all the best, and thank them for allowing us to be a part of the most important day of their lives.*

Special thanks to Paul with Photography by Paul for the wonderful pictures he sent us.

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary Eric and Marie!

We would like to congratulate Eric and Marie on their 1^st Wedding Anniversary! They are the couple that won our free wedding contest last year and were the first couple to hold their wedding at Hidden Valley. We have a lot to celebrate because Eric and Marie just gave us the great news of the baby boy they had! His name is Noah and is just 2 months old. We received his picture and he is an adorable baby and looks just like his mommy. We are very happy to know that their love is getting stronger and we are sure that little Noah is making this 1^st anniversary that more special. We wish them many more anniversaries like this one, full of love, family and great news!

Three More Days and Counting...

Find out which lucky couple wins our dream wedding giveaway this Saturday, May 30th, at the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa.

Only 8,650 Miles to Love - Couple #27

8,650 miles is the combined distance that it took Micheli to leave her hometown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Richard his Baltimore, Maryland, upbringing, before cupid united these two at a Valentine's Day party in Los Angeles.


Cupid was quite literally a grown man wearing red, furry wings and a giant diaper, and his arrow was not initially striking at this Chinatown affair. The "Lock and Key" party proved to be a dud. Failing to find a spark with their counterparts wearing their matching key or lock, Micheli grew quickly frustrated and accosted the cherubic party host. He promised to find her a match.

Fortunately for Richard, he knew the man playing Cupid and he just so happened to be talking to him when Micheli walked by. Cupid grabbed her arm and exclaimed, "I have the perfect guy for you." Then he swung her around to face Richard.

It didn't take long before these two acted on what they knew from that very first moment, - that they are perfect for each other and that it was time to get hitched! As Richard says, "Winning the "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" contest would be the perfect way to bring our far-flung friends and family together."

A Horse and Carriage Ride for the Bride

Always and Forever Carriage Company will be providing our lucky bride with a horse drawn ride into our outdoor ceremony site on September 12th, 2009.
Need we type more????

Find out which lucky couple wins this wonderful prize at our Bridal Faire on Saturday, May 30th, from 12-4pm at the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa.
We can't wait!

Couple #26 - Love In the Time of Childhood

Melissa and her military man met for the very first time when she was just 7-years old. He was her step-dad's nephew and, although his family moved around the country quite a bit, his and Melissa's mutual interest in one another was ignited with every encounter. However, it was not until the age of fifteen, when they were dance partners in her stepsister's "quinceanera," that these two children became close. With his family's move back to Miami, the young lovebirds not only become close, but they also became inseparable.

After years of moving, dating others, and the typical turbulences that accompany most adolescent years, these two were finally united here in San Diego, at Camp Pendleton. On September 12th, 2006, they married. There was no horse and carriage, or other memorable morsels to remember their commitment ceremony by. Rather, six-months later, Melissa was pregnant and her husband was shipped off for two back-to-back deployments. Finally, last summer, he returned and the happy family has been living together as a single unit since. Melissa is now hoping to win the wedding that she has always dreamed of. Good luck to couple #26!!

It Is Almost Time...

to announce the winners of our coveted dream wedding giveaway!

We are hoping that you are well rested after the long weekend and ready for our
Intimate Bridal Faire & Open House, up at the Hidden Valley, this Saturday,
May 30th, from 12-4pm. We have crafted an afternoon of activities, ideas, and fun, for planning your perfect nuptial day.

Stay tuned for more information leading up to this exciting event. I will also be posting more formal driving directions before then.

A Hint of Contemporary Sophistication

A Touch d'Elegance will be providing all of the decor for our September 12th nuptials. From linens and chair covers to centerpieces and candleabras, A Touch d'Elegance brings a sophisticated flair and an inspired atmosphere to any event.

Got Wedding Cake?

The French Gourmet has kindly donated the wedding cake for our lucky "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" contest winners' September 12th nuptials. The 30-year old catering company makes its wedding cakes from scratch. The French Gourment is attuned to the bride and groom's needs and desires, and only uses fresh, natural ingredients. The end result is a delectable taste, and a stylish center piece for any wedding reception.

Thank You, The French Gourmet!

Couple #25 - A bartender, a hostess, and two dogs later...

Megan and Armand met over six years ago while working at a Marie Callendar's. He was a bartender, she was a hostess, and the sparks flew. Since that time, these two have enjoyed spending time with each other as well as with their two dogs, Ginger and Stinky Pete. They are outdoor enthusiasts who love camping, skiing, and traveling. Although they are 100% ready to spend the rest of their lives together, their engagement has now stretched on for two-and-a-half years. This young couple feels torn between being financially responsible and having an enjoyable celebration for their family and friends. Winning this dream wedding contest would relieve a lot of the financial burden as well as stress associated with planning a wedding.

Couple #24 Finding Love on the World Wide Web

Jacque had posted a personal ad on myspace, - she was looking for a sweet and romantic man. Troy responded and though he had been married before he had never been in love. This time around, he says that Jacque makes him want to be a better man. She adores his doting affection and his chivalrous actions, while he loves the way they laugh and always have fun together. "We can have fun in any situation," he says. "We can walk to the grocery store at 11pm and laugh the whole way there and back."

These two lovebirds have been inseparable since last Halloween and, this year, Troy proposed. "He gets down on bended knee, and proposes everyday," Jacque writes. Jacque and Troy both believe that they deserve this fairy tale wedding because "we are what legends are made of, - our love will never fade or break."

Couple #23 - A Shining Example of the Strength of Vows and Commitment

Latisha and Scott's love story has been a serious lesson in perseverance. After seven years of marriage, Latisha grew tired of being rejected by Scott's family as well as Scott's refusal to stand up for both her and their children. So, she left him, - just like that. However, it must have been the wake up call that Scott needed because, eleven months later, he came back around. Only, this time, he was there physically as well as spiritually and emotionally. The break-up was exactly what he needed to realize that he had been failing at the most important aspects of marriage, - he had not been a partner or a friend throughout all those early years together.
Latisha, on the other hand, was not sure if she wanted to reconcile, but she was always a person who believed in second chances. So, this couple of old started attending marriage counseling sessions and, little by little, Latisha's passion started making a come back. Love was reborn, anew.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck again. This time in the form of cervical cancer but Scott was there, every step of the way. He proved, once and for all, that he is Latisha's life long rock. These two have weathered the serious storms that all marriages can bring with them. Yet, they never had the pleasure of celebrating their big day with a special wedding ceremony. Now, Latisha thinks its time.

Couple #22 - Six Beautiful, Strong Years

For these two, love came early. It was in high school where their relationship blossomed. He remembers that very first day. What she was wearing, and how he thought, "This is going to be a good year." In Algebra class, they would fight for the teacher's attention, meanwhile she would secretly stare at him in a daze.

It has been six years since these first fateful days. "Six beautiful, and strong years," Andrea says. Now, it has been over a year since he first proposed and the idea of financing a wedding just doesn't seem plausible. "Still," she says, "every time I look at him, whether he knows it or not, I get those butterflies. The feeling tends to take over my whole body, and I can't help but to smile."

Find out whether or not these young lovebirds receive the gift of a lifetime, - a dream wedding that will leave both of their heart's smiling for eternity.

Couple #21 - Love On a Rainy Day

Rain's month could not have been any worse. She got laid off and was struggling to find new work, her roommate moved out, and then her beloved Chihuahua ran out the front door and underneath the wheels of a speeding motorist. Her life was quickly becoming a bad country song gone worse. Fortunately Justin, a skinny rocker dude with tattoos and long black hair, walked out his sister's front door and into Rain's life.

Justin was her neighbor's brother and, after an evening spent outside talking for hours, he reminded Rain of "how beautiful life can be and how full of promise a new day is." Now, the happy couple lives together with Squid, a Chihuahua who they rescued and have nursed back to health. Meanwhile, Rain has landed her dream job and her and Justin can still talk for hours. As she says, "it may sound corny, but he is my best friend."

The "Who Wants to Win a Wedding Contest" and an Intimate Bridal Faire

The "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" contest is winding down. In the posts that follow, you will find the profiles of twenty couples who have entered our dream wedding giveaway. From San Diego to Los Angeles, from Montana to Arizona, and from Rhode Island to Massachusetts, their love stories are diverse and filled with tales of hope, loss, perseverance, and redemption. Thus, we are going to need your help in deciding which couple to award a 70-person wedding to on September 12th, 2009.

We will be announcing the winners of our contest at a Bridal Faire, held at the Hidden Valley on Saturday, May 30th, from noon - 4pm. So, let us know your thoughts before then. Find the love story that speaks the most to you and tell us why you think this couple should win our contest by clicking on the 'Comments' link at the end of the posting. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you at the Hidden Valley on May 30th. Good luck to all our couples. Read on!!!

Couple #20 - A Match Made in a Massage Parlor Heaven

Jenny and Jason are both massage therapists who met while co-working at a spa. At that time, Jenny was married and Jason was torturing himself by chasing other women. After three years of watching Jason cycle through romances, Jenny became a divorcee. During one fateful night at work, these two wandering souls shared a conversation that seemed to cover eveything all at once. As Jenny says, "I felt more connected to him than I had to another person in years." Jenny marked her return to the dating scene, after a 10-year hiatus, by calling Jason up and asking him out, but he turned her down! Apparently, he had band practice that night and, he was so discombobulated from the offer, he forgot to ask for a raincheck. Kicking himself over a lost opportunity, Jason emailed Jenny a few days later and asked her out this time. Upon receiving his email, Jenny became giddy like a teenager. She jumped up and down around her apartment. These two soulmates, who fit together like jig-saw puzzle pieces, have been together ever since.
Unfortunately, the collapse of the economy took with it a nest egg that was intended to be used for their wedding nuptials. The setback took the wind right out of this couple and they have been floundering for ways to create the wedding they envision since. They're keeping their fingers crossed that the Hidden Valley's "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" contest will be the answer they've been seeking.
Good luck to Jason and Jenny our "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" couple #20!

Hear the Lion ROar

Eagle Lion Video has donated their services to our "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" contest. On September 12th, Bob Wright will be on hand to film the wedding ceremony and reception. He is also providing the lucky bride and groom with three (3) fully-edited DVD copies. A huge "Thank you!" to Bob Wright and Eagle Lion Video!

So Belle? So Delicious, and Thoughtful too.

So Belle Chocolates & Favors For All Occasions has generously donated their exquisite chocolate favors to our "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" contest winners. One lucky bride and groom will sure leave an everlasting impression on their September 12th guests with So Belle's distinct edible creations.
Thanks, So Belle!

Couple #19 - Ignoring the Crowd, and Listening to the Heart

Kirsten was a cheerleader and Alexander was just a silly boy that all the girls on the squad would look at and say, "Ewww...look at the geek!" Even though Kirsten pretended to agree with the viewpoints of her peers, she secretly harbored a longing to squeeze, hug, and kiss, Alex. All it took was one little love note, slipped to Alex during class, and this young couple has been working through the ebb and flow of life together ever since. Although the past five years have been wrought with emotional trauma, as well as the tension and stress that racial and religious divides can create, Kirsten and Alex have found in each other the strength to cope, relate, and push forward. They are now studying for degrees, in Human Services for her and Forensic Computers for him. Winning this contest would provide for the best day of their lives, - the day when Kirsten and Alex's hands are united in marriage. As Kirsten says, "I want to be the first one he wakes up to, and the one who, when he says me naked on the toilet he doesn't run and scream for his life."

Couple #18 - Pepe le Peu's Persistence Finally Pays Off

Finally, after two years of nagging her to go out on a date with him, Eric got Marie to relent. The friends of two years only dated for a little while before they broke up due to vast differences in their personal lives. Eric was heart broken. He was so love sick that crying became habitual and hunger never seemed to set in. Nonetheless, he made a personal resolve, - he would take every step neccessary to recapture the love of his life. And, he did! The happy couple have been inseperable since last August. On Valentine's Day, Eric proposed and Marie said "yes." In regards to their love story, Eric says "ours is a testament to a spirit who refuses to be told that something cannot be done." He also writes, "winning this contest would be the most incredible conclusion to this extraordinary courtship. My reward is to have the love of my life in marriage, and winning this would only add to this majestic covenant."

Good luck to couple #18!