Amanda and Tom's Wedding!

You might wonder why someone would want to have their wedding at Hidden Valley. Well, Amanda and Tom's Wedding Weekend would be the answer! Their celebration was a special day of refreshing fun over Labor Day weekend. From Thursday to Monday, their family and friends enjoyed time spent together creating new memories to cherish. They chose a team of fantastic and creative vendors to make their day a smashing success. A bright color scheme, rustic details, and an array of yummy treats unfolded
 into a perfect wedding in the country.

Amanda and Tom took advantage of a very talented, professional team of vendors to create a unified decor with tons of details. Bright blue, orange, and yellow brought light to the ceremony and reception. Little details like old books, vintage china, and cowboy boots added rustic charm.

To spice up the party, Amanda and Tom invited their friends to play acoustic instruments for the first dance. The group was all smiles as they joined together to make carefree music. Delicious food and yummy pies by Carriage Trade Catering topped off the delightful experience!

Congratulations Amanda and Tom! Your Wedding Day was a smash and we were so pleased to be a part of it! We wish you all the best in your future together. We know it will be long and happy.

Another big thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who made this day possible:
- Photography: Heidi-O-Photography
- Catering: Carriage Trade Catering
- Music: Three Blind Mice
- Planning: Sarah Allen
- Transportation: Wess Transportation (760) 741-9953

Andrea and Daniel's Wedding

The adventure of love continues at Hidden Valley with Andrea and Daniel's Wedding. This super sweet pair epitomized the rustic, carefree feel of the gorgeous property. From vintage decorations to comfortable shoes, their wedding was a wonderful balance of fancy and fun. Inspired by Hidden Valley's atmosphere, Daniel and Andrea incorporated natural elements like wood, twine, and burlap into their decor for extra pizazz. The result was a good-humored and tasteful weekend that we will remember for a long time.

The ceremony itself was conducted at the Wedding Circle, in the midst of the enchanting oak grove. Andrea and Daniel selected a coral and grey color palette for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, which carried throughout the ceremony's decor.

The reception drew from the same color palette, but also emphasized the rustic, vintage atmosphere of Hidden Valley. Twine wrapped bottles and champagne glasses were perfectly complimented by wooden boxes filled with vintage clothespin souvenirs. Chalkboard elements unified the centerpieces and displays. The couple even honored the natural San Diego fauna by including succulents in their arrangements!  Of course, everything was tied together with the theme of Love.

But what really made the wedding unique was all the clowning around... literally! Andrea and Daniel brought costume pieces for all of their guests. Kids and adults alike jumped into the fun! Daniel even delivered a show-stopping performance worthy of any circus. It was the perfect way to add carefree laughter to a beautifully planned celebration.

Congratulations, Andrea and Daniel! We couldn't have been more pleased to work with a sweet couple like you. We wish you many more years of laughter and love together.

Thank you to all of the following entrepreneurs who worked very hard to make this wedding a success:

• Thomas Lewis: Wedding Planning
• Affordable Affairs: Catering
• DJ Harmz (aka Carlos): DJ
• San Diego Linens: Linens and Rentals
• Trang Huynh with Dessert Cup: Baking
• Denise Conrad Photography: Photography
• Shutterbooth: Photobooth Rental

Mulberry season!

Summer fun is in full bloom at Hidden Valley Retreat! Our daughter and her friend were able to come up to the property this weekend. They took advantage of the warm weather and went swimming in the fountain. But most deliciously of all, they picked some home-grown mulberries!

The mulberry tree is one of the oldest at our property. It was planted many years ago by the previous owner, Dr. Bernard Jensen. These days, its boughs hang heavy with ripe, juicy fruit. If you have never had a mulberry, they are the most delicious, sweet, tart, purple berries you could pop in your mouth!

Check out the fun!

sticky fingers!

mulberries taste great with whipped cream!

Tan Torres Family Reunion

Our new friends, the Tan Torres Family, had a fabulous time at Hidden Valley Retreat! Our large property was perfect to accommodate their family reunion this summer. Hidden Valley is also wonderfully private, so the Tan Torreses were able to create a personal atmosphere that was uniquely suited to their group getaway.

Our beautiful outdoor spaces are perfect for guests of all ages. The kids are free to explore and discover the different plants and terrains, while the adults appreciate the fantastic views, sunsets, and our Jacuzzi! The Tan Torres kids, in particular, made great use of the pool; swimming and splashing throughout the family's three day stay. Their constant, bubbling laughter and big smiles were a true testament to the great time they had the whole trip.

Thanks so much to the Tan Torres family for a fun and relaxing week. We hope you enjoyed it as much as us. From the pictures, it looks like you did!

New parking improvements!

 We have had a lot of improvements at the property lately and today is no different! With all the retreats, the reunions and especially the weddings we have coming up this summer, we wanted to make sure Hidden Valley would be the best it could be for our guests. Since parking is an issue that comes up often, we have decided to create more parking onsite! We are always working hard to accommodate our guests' needs, so we have decided to expand our parking capacity and give our guests easier access to the lower parts of the property.

  We already have parking at the top of the property for the wedding party. Our intention is to create ample and convenient parking for the daytime guests. That is why we chose to place the parking area just past the Main Gate. This will make it convenient to your guests coming to your ceremony and reception.

 Today we rented a bobcat from our friends at Valley Center to clear the brush and other debris for our new parking area. Diego, one of our onsite landscapers, did the initial clearing and organizing in order to give way for the bobcat. He even created  a new rock wall nearby! Once he had finished preparing the area, we had our wonderful caretaker, Alex, take the bobcat for a spin. He thoroughly enjoyed clearing and uprooting stumps all morning!

Alex having fun in the bobcat!

Take a look at the work in progress...

Jen and Mack's Wedding

 

    When it comes to planning a wedding, inspiration is everywhere. From Pinterest to wedding blogs, there are creative ideas to suit every couple for their big day. One of our recent couples, Jen and Mack, found several elements to fit their Midsummer Night's Dream inspired wedding. With a little help from family members and friends, they were able to create a romantic, inviting atmosphere for their nuptials at Hidden Valley. 

    Armed with lace and vibrantly colored floral arrangements, they truly made the property their own. Yards of cream colored fabric were hung on the wedding stage, summoning an image reminiscent of a Shakespearean sonnet. Richly colored roses in every shade adorned the stage and added a midsummer's eve element to the location of their vows.  

   After the ceremony, guests were guided to a gorgeous, white tent complete with draped fabric and lanterns covered in flowers. After the sun went down, this beautifully constructed area echoed an ethereal quality with dimly lit twinkle lights lining the perimeter. Details became more romantic and the space more intimate as they celebrated with their loved ones.  

  

                                            

    

Congratulations to Jen and Mack!