Brides searching for a five-star, hacienda-style setting for their wedding will rejoice to hear that after a 10-month closure and extensive $30 million renovations, Rancho Santa Fe’s luxury resort Rancho Valencia reopened its doors this past October. Located 25 miles north of downtown San Diego, the picturesque Relais & Châteaux property (the only in southern California) underwent a complete transformation in all 49 guest casitas (think custom-made furniture, high-beamed ceilings, deep soaking tubs, and a private patio with fireplace and whirlpool) and added two new dining options, namely the coastal-ranch-influenced restaurant Veladora, which blends locally grown produce with seafood, poultry and house-made pastas. In addition to fine dining, brides and their bridal parties will love indulging in the newly expanded spa and fitness programs. Get your downward dog on in the impressive 1,000-square-foot Serenity Yoga Pavilion or unwind with one of the new spa services, such as the decadent signature Sixth Sense Ritual, which will have you melting from head to toe.
Rancho Valencia also offers a wealth of ceremony and reception sites. From the newly designed 1,900-square-foot ballroom to the private Sunrise Patio or the expansive croquet lawn. But the biggest reveal is the outstanding Hacienda, a unique 5,000-square-foot, three-bedroom villa that underwent a $1 million renovation and is now home to a modern new kitchen, steam showers, plush living spaces and a private backyard with a pool. Ideal for as many as 180 guests, the cottage-style space even has its own private garden—perfect for saying “I do.” And with the resort’s director of romance at your beck and call, every detail is handled, from the gorgeous flowers to top-notch cuisine.