1. Real Weddings

A Rustic, Romantic Ranch Wedding at Red Tail Ranch in Ojai, California

When Tracy Lindquist (37) wed her longtime partner, Michael Ontiveros (37 and in computer design), in an intimate ceremony at Red Tail Ranch in Ojai,

When Tracy Lindquist (37) wed her longtime partner, Michael Ontiveros (37 and in computer design), in an intimate ceremony at Red Tail Ranch in Ojai, California, she drew from her experience as an event planner. “I knew I wanted the wedding to be a romantic, vintage-inspired ranch wedding full of natural and organic elements,” Tracy says. She and Michael made efforts to include family and artful, romantic, handmade details whenever possible. The couple’s daughters served as bridesmaids and carried bountiful bouquets made of garden roses, succulents, ranunculus, eucalyptus and black-center anemones. After exchanging rings and vows under a custom-made birch-wood wedding arch wrapped with eucalyptus and topped with a floral garland, Tracy and Michael served dinner to their 80 guests steps from the ceremony site on the private property, which was also designed to spotlight the setting's natural beauty. Long wooden feasting tables overlooked the scenic Ojai Valley and were set with vintage china and colored glassware. Market lights strung overhead lent a warm, dreamy light as the sun went down. An assortment of lightweight wraps kept guests warm—and the dancing going—long after sunset. “Keeping [the wedding] outdoors with close friends and family was exactly what we envisioned,” Tracy says. "We definitely took our sweet time getting to the altar, but it was worth the wait. The day could not have been any more perfect.” —Carolyn Meers

Tracy and Michael's invitation suite featured vintage details, such as vintage-style stamps and delicate calligraphy. For an elegant touch, each RSVP envelope was lined in golden leaf.
Tracy's bountiful bouquet was a loose gathering of garden roses, succulents, eucalyptus, peonies and eye-catching black-center anemones. The flowers perfectly complemented the intimate ceremony and the outdoor reception in Ojai, California.
Tracy and Michael's four daughters served as bridesmaids, each wearing a full-length blush strapless gown in varying styles. Their large, naturalistic bouquets were made with garden roses, succulents, ranunculus, eucalyptus and black-center anemones.
Each boutonniere centered on a petite succulent sprig backed with a eucalyptus leaf.
Tracy and Michael's outdoor ceremony at Red Tail Ranch in Ojai, California, overlooked miles of rolling hills. Burlap-bagged olive trees lined the aisle leading to the wedding arch, which was handcrafted from birch-wood branches and topped with a floral garlands. Throw blankets softened the look of the handmade wooden benches.
As guests took their seats, they were encouraged to take a pale pink ribbon wands and wave them as the newlyweds walked up the aisle.
Tracy and Michael exchanged vows under a handcrafted birch-wood arch at Red Tail Ranch in Ojai, California. Two of the arch's four legs were wrapped with eucalyptus, and the front was topped with a white and blush pink floral garland.
Keeping with the refined rustic theme, small-stemmed glass bowl vases sat atop stands made with a lacy bronze motif at the entrance to the outdoor ceremony.
Blush pink garden roses, succulents, eucalyptus and ranunculus overflowed from small-stem glass-bowl vases, which sat on stands at the entrance of the aisle.
Tracy and Michael's guests watched the couple wed from their wooden benches covered with soft throw blankets. “The backdrop for the ceremony was stunning by itself,” Tracy says. "The vast valley behind the ceremony site was endless and the beautiful landscaping just made it more dreamy."
Tracy and Michael's daughters served as bridesmaids at the ceremony. Each wore a full-length blush gown with varying fits and necklines. "I let the girls pick their soft blush dresses in their favorite fabric and cut," Tracy says. "I knew each had her own taste, and I wanted that to show."
After the ceremony, guests took in the Ojai Valley scenery from vintage benches and set their cocktails on succulent-topped coffee tables.
Complementing the rustic ranch setting, vintage labeled canisters with bright pink peonies and succulents were placed around the postceremony lounge areas and reception.
At the reception, guests located their seating assignments on a tall wood-framed mirror. "One of my favorite details was the seating chart on an oversize mirror," Tracy says. The chart was made by the event's planner, Katie Seefeldt of Wedding Kate.
This outdoor reception was designed to highlight the natural beauty of the setting in Ojai, California. Guests sat at long wooden tables under market lights.
Fitting for a warm day spent surrounded by nature, Tracy and Michael (and their guests) sipped on pints of draft beer. Signature cocktails were also available.
Long wooden feasting tables were set with vintage china in various rose patterns and soft-colored glassware. "I loved that the place setting is something I could have seen in my family's heirloom chest and that it resembled my favorite things about other weddings I've designed," says Tracy, who works as an event planner. "Each place setting was marked with a miniature paper flag attached to a golden citrus. The shimmer caught the light just right and glowed as the sun began to set."
A simple two-tier rough-frosted cake reflected the wedding's naturalistic, relaxed themes. Other treats such as brownies and cupcakes were set upon the vintage lace-covered dessert table.
As the sun set and the temperature dropped, guests grabbed cozy rolled wraps stored in canvas-lined baskets.