Summer Has Arrived!

Our blog activity has been quiet, of late, because we have been recuperating from the mad rush and flurry of activity that preceeded the May 30th Bridal Fair and Open House. Since that successful day, spring headed out the door, and summer was ushered in. Typical of the low-lying coastal regions of San Diego, May Gray and June Gloom have been dampening the spirits of many unsuspecting tourists. Fortunately, what all of this precipitation and humidity means is that the surrounding hills and magnificent fields of San Diego County have yet to turn from emerald green to velvety brown. Up at the Hidden Valley, the dense clouds of marine layer tend to break earlier in the morning, and a warm sun marches across the sky for a majority of the day.

Since the spring, we have continued to make upgrades to our property and its facilities. We are also eagerly awaiting the September nuptials of Eric and Marie, our lovely contest winners from Montana. However, the Hidden Valley is a popular venue that is fully-booked for the remainder of these summer days. Our guests include the Gay and Lesbian Task Force to family reunions and small weddings. Only two weeks ago, the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa welcomed the Healing Gardens of Orange County, an Ayurvedic, natural health and healing organization that presented a Panchakarma Retreat. During their stay, guests were encouraged to relax and unwind amidst our nature spa's peace and tranquility with sunrise yoga, natural foods, personalized therapies, live music chanting, meditation, and more.

We look forward to hosting more of these events, as well as yours. If there is anything that we can do for you, then please let us know. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you up at the Hidden Valley, - a treasure trove that is waiting to be discovered by you!

Bridal Fair Follow Up, continued...

Last Saturday's Bridal Fair was a smashing success!
A HUGE Thank You to all of our participating sponsors and wedding contestants for helping to make the afternoon memorable, and fun, for all involved.
Clickery Photography, of Oceanside, was on-hand to capture the laughter-filled moments. Please, enjoy the Bridal Fair via photographs in the posts that follow.
And, stay tuned for more to be posted soon.

The Winners of Our Dream Wedding Giveaway...

Eric and Marie of Billings, Montana



Congratulations to our Lucky Couple!

We look forward to hosting your wedding nuptials at the Hidden Valley.

The Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa Bridal Fair and Open House in Photographs!

The outdoor ceremony site for our
September 12th, 2009, dream wedding giveaway.

Our handcrafted pergola was designed using only

organic, raw materials by our very own caretaker and artesian,

Ron Henson.

Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa Bridal Fair and Open House in Photos!

Who Wants to Win a Wedding????
"We Do!!!!"

A Bridal Fair Follow-Up: The Lovely May Day Was A Smashing Success

Steps leading up to the Main House

Last Saturday's Bridal Fair and Open House at the Hidden Valley proved to be a fun and exciting afternoon, - for all involved. Although the skies were gray and drizzly around both the city proper and low lying outskirts of San Diego, there were patches of blue sky to be found up the winding mountain roads east of Escondido.

On this day, the Hidden Valley was an oasis of casual cool and comfortable clouds. Over the course of these past few months, the Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa has seen some major upgrades. An outdoor stage, made of solely organic materials, was built and erected. Land was leveled, terraces were seeded and watered, and a green aisle leading from a dirt road up to the altar was laid. All in preparation of this day's festivities.

Our participating vendors, including Hair and Makeup Artistry by Melanie, Always and Forever Carriage Company, STS Invitations, So Belle, Music As You Like It, and Reverend Pat Borsum, all rolled in early to set up their booths within the Event Center gallery. The wedding contestants and Bridal Fair guests were next to follow.

Ariana and Matt

The small assembled crowd was the perfect size for really diving into the events of the day. In the Event Center Forum, Party Hats Entertainment had set up a decorating station while Elliot Lawrence serenaded us all with his lovely acoustic, cocktail jazz. At one point, the gallery was empty and the forum was full, - of vendors, contestants, and guests alike, all clamoring to create an award-winning hat and bowtie ensemble.

Carolyn and Mike

An hour later, wedding contestants were cajoled into parading around the Event Center gallery while showing off their Party Hat creations. Although Nathaniel really knew how to strike a pose, and Carolyn and Mike two-stepped around the wood floor, it was Zeolah and Alex who won the 10-person Party in a Hat Box gift for their silly stroll, which included Zeolah talking on her cell phone and Alex dipping Zoi in a final pose. Tonya with Indulge Catering pulled up just in the nick of time, and we all headed down to the outdoor stage and ceremony site next.

The Grooms

There, the brides were corralled and the grooms were posted to their positions of waiting at the altar. The brides were spun around in tight, little circles for ten seconds and then they were off! They made a mad dash for the altar. Along the way, they stopped at different stations (where they had to put on: gloves; a large, white crinolin skirt; a garter; and chocolate flavored lipgloss). Then, they rushed up to their respective grooms and laid a kiss on his lips. The first bride and groom to be photographed won this "Rush to the Altar" race. Yet again, Zeolah and Alex took home the prize, - an engagement photo shoot with Kellerman photography.

Zeolah rushes to the altar

Finally, the moment we had all been waiting for was upon us. With so many wonderful couples to choose from, including Ariana and Matt, Jennifer and Jason, Micheli and Richard, Marie and Eric, Rosella and Rudy, Chelsea and Nathaniel, and Zeolah and Alex, we were certainly hard-pressed to choose only one couple to win our "Who Wants to Win a Wedding?" contest.

In the end, we chose Marie and Eric of Billings, Montana, to receive our
September 12th, 2009 dream wedding. Eric's story of persistence in the face of loss inspired us. And, we hoped that his and Marie's non-local residence would provide opportunities for our participating vendors. We are really looking forward to hosting their wedding nuptials at our hillside paradise.
Chelsea and Nathaniel

We also chose Chelsea and Nathaniel, a local Valley Center couple, as our runners-up. They received a 50% Gift Certificate to be applied to their wedding weekend at the Hidden Valley. For their participation and willingness to entertain, all of our attending wedding contestants received a $1,000.00 gift certificate to be applied towards their wedding weekend at the Hidden Valley.

Rosella and Rudy

Jenny and Jason

Micheli and Richard