If you book your wedding or any event at The Condor's Nest Ranch, you get private use of a ranch-style home and 20 acres of 360 degree views of Temecula and San Diego County that stretches out to the Pacific Ocean. There are so many areas on the ranch that can create perfect and picturesque photos. Have your wedding ceremony next to a statuesque tree on the upper lawn, or have the panoramic view as the backdrop to your wedding. Or if you want that country, rustic feel, there's a big, red barn where your guests are entertained by their array of barnyard animals - horses, pigs, goats, llamas, cows, and chickens.
The Ranch is perfect because you get to customize your wedding the way you want it. You can be as grand or simple with the decorations as you want. Your imagination can go wild here. Just look at their web site for photos of all the details.
The ease about booking The Condor's Nest Ranch is that they provide everything for you. They already have a list of caterers that they work with that you choose from. A bar service, a DJ, a venue coordinator (more on that below), and an officiant that can customize your ceremony anyway that you want. Although you can provide your own officiant, pastor, or reverend. Up to you. Their basic package already provides tables, chairs, settings, linens, and clean up. Along with sound and lighting. The only thing you are responsible for is flowers & decor, and the cake.
The food or caterer we choose was the BBQ option. IT'S DELICIOUS!!! Brides & Grooms are invited tot he ranch at the beginning of the year for a meet & greet of all the vendors. You can try all the food and talk with the reps and walk around the venue. The BBQ, I think is the BEST option for your wedding. It's bbq tri-rip and chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, beans, and salad. It's the best tri-tip I have ever had. And the chicken is fall off the bone juicy! Plus on the day of your wedding, it's a BUFFET...all you can eat! Next to the beauty of the venue, the food is the nest talked about thing about my wedding.
There are different packages for the bar service, but we just got the regular bar service that includes beer, bottom-shelf liquor, and wine. With an open bar, it doesn't matter what kind of alcohol it is.
DJ Jake, whom is the DJ that the venue only allows you to use, sounds a little restricting, but there's a good reason for that. Since the venue is "old" and you might run into electrical or power outs, Jake knows exactly where to go to fix the situation. Like what happened on my wedding. During the father-daughter dance, there was a lot of fun activity going on at the photobooth that the flash kept making that lights and sound go out. Jake knew exactly where to go to fix the situation. If it was another DJ from somewhere, I don't think he'd be able to handle it as fast. But other than that, DJ Jake makes a very good MC. Very professional, and a fun guy for your party. If you are weary on what he will play, like we were, just make him a playlist - email him mp3s or burn him a CD and you're done.
We decided to use The Condor's officiant, Rev. Tony. Use him. Not only is he good looking but he's a really good officiant. He delivers good, and is able to pick up the vibe of the couple and the guests and was able to make our ceremony heart felt and funny. Guests are reminded of how they definitely felt the power and love from our ceremony.
Now this is important. The venue's day-of coordinator is Lisa Doherty. You meet her at the meet & greet and are not in contact with her again until a month before your wedding. Over the phone, you go over details of where the ceremony & reception takes place and where are the little details need to be. Like if yo are going to have cake or cupcakes, is it self serve or passed around. Little details like that. She meets with the vendors and directs them where they need to be. For this reason, you NEED to have a separate day-of wedding coordinator that will be there for YOU and your reception party. I didn't know that. I assumed that she was my coordinator for that day. Long story short, if I did have my own day-of coordinator, I would not have been an hour behind schedule. You MUST MUST MUST have a wedding coordinator. It's SO SO SO IMPORTANT.
Other side notes. The price seems, well, expensive. But keep in mind that you have the venue the entire weekend. Private use. Meaning there will be no stragglers, or wedding crashers. You and 14 other guests can stay at the ranch for 2 nights with full use of the everything inside. It's all you can eat, all you can drink, and clean up all conveniently packaged for you. And its good too.
The venue alone should make your decision. There's so many beautiful areas and details around the place that will make your wedding pictures unique, and special compared to everyone else. read more