The perfect summer day. And the Hemeon house backyard was beautifully decorated with pastel pops of color that contrasted against the lush, manicured hidden garden feel. This was a house that already had so, so many memories, and now would be filled with even more.
Are you looking to get married at Paicines Ranch?
I love weddings at Paicines Ranch. It's a stunning venue. 7600 jaw-dropping acres. Check. Oak studded hillsides, lush rivers, jagged cliffs. Check. A working ranch vibe. Check. Beautiful historic buildings and charming cottages for your guests. Check. A place that will feel like its all yours for the weekend. Check. A gorgeous ceremony law overlooking those hillsides and lush rivers I mentioned. Check. A stunning barn converted for events with an open dance floor, flowing drapery, and mobile bar. Check. The option to get as creative as you want. Check. Getting ready in the same room as Judy Garland did for her wedding. Check. A supportive staff and wonderful event center manger, Mary Rowen, who will make you feel like you are at home here. Check. A feel good for the environment vibe because the ranch supports healthy soil, ecosystems, and leads the way in regenerative agriculture. Check.
Hiking the John Muir Trail in 23 Days
Back in 2010 after a second season working in the Sierra studying birds and a fresh broken heart, I hiked the John Muir Trail with one of my friends, Vona: blog here. Little did I know that nine years later, I’d be hiking the JMT a second time with another one of my best friends... Continue Reading →
Cowboys + Happy Cattle
There’s nothing quite like following Joe Morris and his crew out for a morning moving cattle at Paicines Ranch. Joe Morris uses holistic management to rotationally graze his 100% grass-fed cattle out on the rangeland. I recall my brief chapter in life working with the CE Miller Ranch as a ranch hand and learning the... Continue Reading →
How to Photograph the Milky Way
I grabbed my gear, my husband, and packed a bag to head to the local Mercey Hot Springs. We turned my photo excursion into a romantic getaway under the stars in hot springs! I set up the tripod about ten feet from where we would stand—I use the Road Trip by MeFOTO for its ruggedness and portability. I used my Nikon remote to trigger a 2 second delay before starting the 25 second exposure. Keith and I shined our headlamp and 950 lumen bike light—I'm an avid cyclist—in front of us creating a fun backlight and lit path around us.
Kathryn + James Paicines Ranch Winter Wedding
The first time I met Kathryn & James was when they arrived at Paicines Ranch after they went dirt-biking in the neighboring biker paradise of Hollister Hills. We went out to one of my favorite sunset overlooks to shoot their engagement photos and I got to learn their sweet love story. A year prior at... Continue Reading →
Paicines Ranch Victorian Steampunk Wedding
September 28th came with crisp autumn vibes, copious sunshine, and the beautiful landscapes of San Benito county filled with golden rolling hills and stunning native oaks. The barn had been transformed into a Victorian steampunk masterpiece. The lush, rich maroons perfectly paired with the gears creating a dreamy, steampunk slice of heaven. Sleek elegance intertwined with an industrial theme polished with a tophat of Victorian charm. Every last detail was created by hand by the bride, groom, and loving parents. If you look closely, you'll see every clock and decoration was set to 4:30 to represent the union of these two.
Kate + Robert’s Popping Wedding
On their six year anniversary, Robert took Kate to the a waterfall in Yosemite and popped the question. And right there in one of the most beautiful places in California, she said yes! Kate and Robert's wedding was the perfect California summer day, full of color, sunshine, and happiness. The beautiful Paicines Ranch set the scene with rolling golden hills dotted with native oak trees.
Erin + Josh’s Paicines Ranch Wedding
Erin and Josh knew each other when they were younger, but it wasn't until the re-met later in life and the magic happened. On one of their adventures to Josh's 300-acre Moonshine Ranch, he asked her to marry him. I had met these two lovebirds just after my own wedding at Paicines Ranch last year, and it was clear; they were smitten for each other forever and ever and that the Paicines Ranch was the perfect place for their I-Dos to happen.
Honeymoon in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Your dear author got hitched to her favorite traveling partner. I won’t gush over the details but we got married at the magical Paicines Ranch in California where we both work. What does the party of a lifetime require? It requires a travel excursion afterwards that doesn’t involve too much brain power and travel planning—a honeymoon! To Playa del Carmen, Mexico we went to explore ancient Mayan ruins, scuba dive in cenotes, and frolic with coatis at the Sando Caracol Eco Resort.