Mandi and Ben's Wedding!

For Mandi and Hidden Valley, it was love at first sight! From her very first tour, Mandi saw the property for all of its beauty and possibilities, and she knew that it would be the perfect place to marry her other love at first sight: Ben. From the very beginning, we knew that Mandi and Ben were going to be a really fun couple to work with. Their family was very involved in the planning. A big group of extended family came to tour the property as they prepared. Brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents all helped to build the detailed elements of the event. Mandi came to Hidden Valley with a clear vision for her wedding, and that vision carried through into a collection of amazing details. With the help of their family, this dynamic couple created a wedding that was well planned and very well executed. We want to share some of their special details with you! 

One of their incredible details appeared right in the men's clothing. Ben took advantage of his wedding day to gather his groomsmen and subtly reveal their super-identities. He made his wedding attire exceptional by equipping each of his groomsmen with awesome cuff-links to reflect their inner heroes. 

This family is handy bunch! They used their creativity and skills to hand-make many of the elements of their wedding. For example, they created a photobooth for their reception. It was assembled in true vintage rustic style, with cute frames and delicate vintage fabric. Mandi and Ben completed the set with masks, hats, and mustaches for dressing up. Their photobooth was a smash hit with the wedding guests! Local Escondido photography company, Dapper Images, did a fantastic job capturing these and all the other amazing shots of the big day!

Many of our couples choose to have a special lovebird's table for their reception. Mandi and Ben chose to place their table on the Wedding Stage. The display was thoughtfully constructed with numerous details including mismatched chairs, vintage picture frames, graceful florals, elegant china, and a celebratory bottle of champagne. Word has it that grandma hand-made the vintage-style chairs! The beautiful florals were constructed by our extraordinary friend Kelly Fiorito with Petals and Lace. 

We were impressed and inspired by Mandi and Ben's signage. The signs used an array of materials, textures, and hand writings to create the rustic, vintage flair that we love at Hidden Valley. The superstar family even built the entire wooden Bar booth themselves! They've inspired us to create our own new signs for the property (keep your eyes peeled for a blog when they're ready!).

As the evening progressed, the entertainment continued. We were especially impressed by the tender moments Dapper Images managed to capture between Mandy, Ben, and their parents during the dancing portion of the evening. It is clear to us that their family shares a lot of love.

Many congratulations to Mandi and Ben! We have nothing but warm wishes to send to you as you begin this new journey. We hope your happiness only continues to grow.

Thanks to the vendors who made this special day possible:

• Photography: Dapper Images
• Florals: Petals and Lace
• DJ: DJ React (949) 842-8465
• Caterer: Out Of This World BBQ
• Bar: GYD Bartenders
• Transportation: Wess Transportation (760) 741-9953

Janai and Nathan's Wedding

Janai and Nathan had a beautiful wedding at Hidden Valley this past September! Janai is the proud owner of an elegant horse named Beauty. From our first meeting, Janai made it clear that one of her priorities was to include her beloved, hoofed friend in her special day. We were happy to be able to work with her to make that dream come true. The result was a magnificent, entrance! Jaws dropped as Janai rode through the Orchard Gate to the Wedding Circle where Nathan was waiting for her to say their vows.

As you can see from the photos, Janai was plenty enthusiastic about dressing Beauty up for the big day! From coiffed hair to painted nails, Beauty was the image of fine grooming. What a pretty girl! She truly lives up to her name.

Beyond Beauty's magnificence, Janai and Nathan's wedding continued to be a marvelous success. We are always pleased to welcome guests that fully embrace the family reunion aspect of the Wedding Weekends offered at Hidden Valley, and Janai and Nathan's party certainly did! The entire weekend was a special celebration of love and lighthearted fun. The warmth of this group was just inspiring!

Janai and Nathan, we were honored to welcome you and your family to Hidden Valley Retreat. We wish you all the best in your bright future together. And don't forget to keep in touch!

Lynn and Carlos's Wedding

What a pleasure to be a part of a business that centers around so much love, happiness, and beauty! Another magnificent ceremony recently took place at Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa. Lynn and Carlos tied the knot! We were thrilled to witness the behind-the-scenes action, as well as the day-of splendor. Their wedding was a fairy tale come true.

The magic of this wedding became apparent even before the ceremony began. Carlos looked very handsome, while Lynn made a Cinderella-esque transformation into a beautiful bride. Her dark curls and ruffled dress were dreamlike. Monique Feil did an extraordinary job capturing it all in her stunning shots. We look forward to working with her again very soon.

The ceremony was held in the enchanting forest surrounding the Wedding Circle. Tiny orbs of sunlight floated above the couple like fairies as they said their vows. Our beautiful garden setting made for a truly magical atmosphere.

The rest of the day was equally as enamoring. Lynn and Carlos chose fantasy inspired elements to decorate their space. From small logs used to hold seating placement cards, to pure-white sugar eggs and tiny rustic bird houses, the scene was sprinkled with whimsy. Striking a mix of sweetness and elegance, Lynn and Carlos hosted a warm, fun, and intimate party for their guests to enjoy. They even managed to steal a few moments alone in the beautiful setting.

Lynn and Carlos, it was an honor to be a part of your wedding weekend. We wish you endless luck, prosperity, and magic for the future. Your love is a true fairy tale in an ordinary world. Congratulations!

A big thank you to everyone who made this enchanting event possible:

• Keith Alber: Catering
• Deejay Franco: DJ
• Monique Feil: Photography

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