I have had the pleasure of photographing two weddings at horsetail ranch. It truly has everything to offer for a splendid outdoor wedding. In each direction are sweeping views of rolling hills and horse pastures. A beautiful blue pond sits below the guest house and makes the perfect back drop for your wedding ceremony. Jump into a canoe and take pictures you’ve only dreamt of. The guest house has a wonderfully well thought out kitchen, chic decor, and is warm and inviting and the perfect place to get ready. The light inside is amazing for your wedding photos and the landscape is all you could want for a remarkable and memorable wedding day your family and friends will never forget. I highly recommend!

Every time I work at Horse Tail Ranch it is always a wonderful experience, from the venue team, to the beautiful grounds, an all around awesome place to celebrate one of life's most beautiful events!

My fiance and I wanted the venue to be our wedding. We didn't want over-the-top decor, or ornate art and tapestries. We wanted the location to speak for itself. We selected HorseTail ranch for that very reason, and it delivered in every regard. The property is an incredible representation of the central California coast. When you are there, you know exactly where in the world this glorious piece of land rests. The views are stunning, the house itself gorgeous and so well maintained it's hard to imagine everything is not brand new. When it comes to hosting our wedding, the owner was amazing to work with, the onsite staff more helpful than we ever could have hoped for, and (again) the sights, sounds, and ambiance of the entire place is what made our wedding so special. We could not imagine our perfect day being held anywhere else.

This was a beautiful venue. The house was beautiful and well decorated. The landscaping was amazing. It was an amazing experience. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone who’s looking for a private venue but still close to amenities.

From the moment she said yes, we knew that we wanted an intimate, fun, outdoor wedding where we could have our best friends and family relax together for a weekend. We didn’t want to be limited to the standard 4-10 PM window (or midnight if you’re lucky!). That’s how we found Horsetail Ranch and that’s why we drove down to see it. We’d never set out to find the most beautiful wedding venue in California, but when we got to the property it took our breath away. The house, the cabin, the hills, the oaks, the views, the hawks overhead. So classically California, rustic but modern, quiet and peaceful but very alive. We had more venues we had to see that weekend but we looked half-heartedly; we knew the other places didn’t stand a chance.

Once we picked a date and signed our contract, the owner Kena helpfully laid out all of the services we’d need to arrange (porta potties, insurance, day-of planner, etc) with recommendations and was really responsive and understanding as she helped with all of our many questions and concerns all the way up to the day of the wedding. Though she has some preferred providers, we weren’t boxed in and were able to choose the vendors we wanted and go DIY where we could. She was also really generous with site visits as our plans got more concrete, and flexible in accommodating our ideas.

Brian, the caretaker who lives on the property with his family, was a real pleasure to work with. He loves the land and the houses and he takes great joy in sharing it with guests. Any time we had an idea or a problem to solve, he knew immediately how to make it work and seemed to genuinely enjoy being involved in putting together a memorable ceremony and reception. We had a barbecue for our guests on the evening before the wedding and I will never forget Brian driving back and forth between the Cabin and his house as he thought of fun new games for us to play with.

The main house is stunning. It has a huge, two-story main room with a well-stocked large kitchen, dining room, and living room. There are also five bedrooms, three with their own bathrooms, so your guests will have plenty of privacy when it’s time to get away from the party. The Cabin is less private but sleeps quite a few and is a really cool space to stash your groomsmen. It has unique views and a great covered area for hanging out. We had our night-before-the-wedding barbecue there because it’s a great space in its own right and also kept the ceremony/reception area at the Villa a surprise.

Our goal was always to have a wedding our guests would remember as relaxing and fun. Horsetail Ranch was the perfect place for that. Our friends and family got to know each other over a long weekend; we played lawn games and barbecued; we stayed up late after the dancing was over, laughing in the hot tub under the stars. The look on our guests’ faces as one after another they told us they’d never been to a more beautiful venue was just a nice bonus.

From the beggining to the end of our experience with Horsetail Ranch it was all amazing. Kena the owner, was very responsive and went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed for our special day. The house and “Cabin” were perfect for our group. Brian the caretaker is on site and helped us in anyway he could and even built us a the wood arch we got married under! I give them 10 stars!! We look forward to going back and staying again with friends. Thank you Kena!

We found HorseTail Ranch when looking for a venue for a small wedding with a few close friends in the vicinity of our favorite wine region, Paso Robles. It fit the bill perfectly - not only was the size well-suited, they were amenable to weddings and even had a lake/pond with a small dock that was the perfect setting for the ceremony, which we held and literally said "I do" just as the sun set over the hills.The dock was a short walk to the main house where we had an outdoor reception and then inside for group dinner. As these things go, the small party expanded a bit but luckily HorseTail Ranch also had an adjoining property which was able to accommodate the additional guests. In total, we had 21 people (not everyone stayed on the property but most did). The house was well-appointed and had a large kitchen that supported everyone. Laundry, parking, etc. was all ample. We rented some golf carts to shuttle people between the main house and the extra place (we had some older people in the party). Kena recommended a wedding planner and she was able to help arrange catering, officiant, equipment rental, and all the other nagging details. We even arranged wedding day activities on the ranch: horseback riding for those who didn't want to go on a wine-tasting tour, which was also a wonderful option since HorseTail Ranch is close to some really wonderful wineries (all were within 15 minutes). We felt as if we had a private place with beautiful scenery from the top of the hill but we weren't totally isolated - on Friday night before the event we had a pizza party as people trickled in - a 25 minute drive to Atascadero did the trick and we ate outside around the fire pit (we also rented heat lamps because it was winter). Kena, the owner, was helpful as we worked through the logistics and the caretaker, Brian, was helpful on our arrival and checked in on us periodically. If ever we need another venue for a group, HorseTail will be at the top of the list!

HorseTail Ranch was truly an incredible experience! We went with a very large group and the property and rooms felt even bigger than we had hoped. I highly recommend this location for anything! It was the perfect space for our birthday party celebration, but I would love to go back for a relaxing weekend up north.

Our wedding at Horsetail Ranch was truly magical. The venue was the exact style, private and romantic setting that we were hoping for. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful the back drop and view was from the house. The sunset during the ceremony made it even more special. We were very close to wineries and getting into town was just a short drive. The staff allowed us to modify things for the ceremony and reception very easily which made the day go smoothly and stress free. The main house itself had plenty of room for everyone to get ready. The open floor plan, great kitchen and pantry area allowed for an even easier experience.

Overall, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect venue to provide the warmth that you want when making your vows and surrounded by your loved ones. Kena was so helpful in making the planning and the day such an unforgettable one.

We stayed in The Cabin for the weekend and we loved it! Kena was really responsive to emails and the booking was easy. Brian showed us the place and he was an all around great guy and very helpful. The Cabin had everything we needed for a romantic getaway. The sunsets were spectacular and we gazed at the stars as we enjoyed our favorite wine from a nearby winery.
We look forward to returning as soon as we can and hopefully having a special event there some time soon. ;)