A lot has changed for photographer Carrie Richards since her wedding day in 2008, including a transition from days spent from shooting weddings in Lake Tahoe to sorting cattle on her family’s 6500-acre Richards Ranch in the Sierra Foothills outside Grass Valley.
Richards Ranch’s primary focus is raising grass-fed and finished cows with humane and ecologically sound practices, resulting in an extremely high quality, healthy, and delicious product that is sourced by fine purveyors and restaurants across California. But in 2020, they’ll also be adding a new activity to the family ranch’s resume: a Sierra foothills wedding venue with some of the most beautiful pastoral views in the state.
The Ranch Wedding Of Your Pinterest Dreams
If a rustic, farm to table dinner feel is what a couple seeks for their special day, Richards Ranch offers it in spades. Carrie Richards’ own wedding was held on the ranch so she’s intimately familiar with all the best features and locations around the ranch. “The property is so large that it really offers various spaces for wedding events of various sizes,” she explains.
Rolling Hills and Romantic Views
Rolling, grassy hills dotted with sprawling oak trees provide quintessential Sierra Nevada foothill views – reflected majestically in the property’s private lake. Horses and, of course, cows, graze lush grasses in the fields just beyond the ranch’s historic farmhouse and barn. The late day sun bathes the entire scene in a warm, welcoming light. While the fields provide a romantic backdrop for a wedding ceremony and dinner, lights draped from the soaring, wood rafters of the barn really bring a reception dance party to life.
Plan A Wedding Weekend At The Ranch
Richards Ranch’s rural setting and enormous size lend a sense of total seclusion to a private wedding weekend affair where guests can spend the night on-site under dark, starry skies. For campers, the property includes RV parking as well as stylish glamping tents that create a picture-perfect scene when dotted along the hillside above the lake. For wedding guests who do not wish to camp, lodging is also available at the nearby Lake Francis Resort and a smattering of local VRBO’s.
A Wedding Venue With A Personal Touch
“We hope to book just a few weddings per year in early Summer and early Fall,” says Richards, adding that the time of year will offer either green rolling hills or the beautiful warm browns characteristic of the Golden State. “The family nature of our business means we can offer a very personalized experience to couples getting married on the ranch.”
Getting There
Richards Ranch is located about an hour and a half from Truckee, outside of Grass Valley, situated between the San Francisco Bay Area and North Lake Tahoe via Interstate 80. Couples interested in 2020 weddings should tour the property in October – November of 2019, before rain limits access around the ranch. To schedule a viewing visit Richards Ranch and contact Carrie Richards via email or (866) 848-4422.