I do love it when a week starts with a wedding, and today’s is an absolute corker! This Retro Ranch wedding from Matthew Morgan Photography has everything – the prettiest champagne colour scheme, a picture perfect ceremony location (with a petal strewn aisle), a stylish reception starring a 1968 retro american airstream, oh and the sweetest floral crown wearing flower girl! So, forget about work for a moment this Monday morning, grab a coffee, put your feet up and prepare to be floored……

Ashley & Joe tied the knot on the 10th of August last year at the fabulous Retro Ranch Temecula, CA; a hidden gem of a venue nestled in oak tree lined mountains. This 10-acre ranch has super stylish hidden touches of all things retro and vintage, which complimented Ashley & Joe’s style and vision for their big day perfectly after their classic romance…..

“We met through a mutual girlfriend that Joe went to high school with and I went to cosmetology school with. We had so much in common and such a great time together. Our relationship started as a genuine friendship and grew from there.

The proposal was perfection. It was the perfect start to the journey of planning a wedding and our big day. Joe planned a trip to Paso Robles, CA for what I thought was my birthday celebration. We ended up at my all time favorite winery, Justin, AND as a surprise to me, we were staying at their quaint B & B. I thought that was enough! But while on a wine tour, we ended up in a beautiful wine library full of dusty bottles of their best, most famous wine, Isosoles. Our tour guide uncorked a bottle and left to get us glasses. Joe then handed me the cork (I collect wine corks in apothecary jars) and written on it was “Will you marry me?” and got down on one knee. I, of course said YES and we headed to an incredible 5 course dinner. It was honestly one of the best, most romantic moments of my life…..aside from our wedding of course!”

The couple were engaged for almost a year before their wedding – so that’s just 11 months of planning. But despite the relatively short time, their day was perfect!

“In one word our wedding was magical. That is a word I heard people using over and over again that night and for me it is the perfect description. It was romantic, candle lit, dripping in white flowers and chandeliers.  We were surrounded by the people that we love most in life, old oak trees, amazing food and our favorite songs.  It was just magic.

If I could turn back the clock there is not a single thing I would change or do differently, nothing at all! I would do it all over again, exactly the same way.”

How cute are these stamped antique wedding cake forks? I am not sure where the Ashley found hers, but Dazzling Dezignz (an Etsy favourite of mine) do these very similar or check out the lovely Elisa’s full wedding collection for alternative stamps.

“There are so many favorite moments, almost too many to choose one from!  If I had to choose one though, I would say when my husband and I got to sit at our sweetheart table alone for a few minutes, toast to each other with champagne and just take in the sight of all of our hard work, planning and vision come to life, full of people there to simply celebrate us and our love.

In fact it was the best bit of advice I was given – to take the time to stop, hold your husbands hand and just soak it all in. It is true what people say, the moment goes by so fast so eat the food, have a drink, dance!”

A big thankyou to the lovely Holly from Simply Sweet Weddings & Events for submitting Ashley & Joe’s gorgeous wedding! And to photographer Matthew for capturing the day so perfectly.

“Matthew is an awesome photographer whose use of natural light and nature is what drew us to him. He is a really cool guy who made us feel really comfortable plus we weren’t stuck taking hours of pictures but got AMAZING shots! Thank you Matt!”

Amy

x

Venue ~ Retro Ranch, Temecula

Photographer ~ Matthew Morgan Photography

Filmographer ~ Parker Seaman

Planner ~ Simply Sweet Weddings & Events

Bride’s Dress ~  Essense of Australia

Bride’s Veil/Headpiece ~ The Wedding Day

Bride’s Shoes ~ Enzo Angiolini

Hair & Makeup ~ Adrienne Farnworth (hair), Michelle Michel (make up)

Groom’s Attire ~ Calvin Klein

Groomsmen ~ Michael Kors

Bridesmaid’s Shoes ~ Lulu Townsend

Bridesmaid’s Accessories ~ Charming Charlie

Wedding Cake ~ Jodee’s Bakery

Flowers ~ Studio Ooh La La

Catering ~ Perfect Parties

Bar ~ Night Owl Productions

Rentals ~ Signature Party Rentals

Linens ~ La Tavola Fine Linen

Custom Runners ~ GBS Linens

Valet/Shuttle ~ The Status Company