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Weddings

About

Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events is a unique wedding venue in Carlsbad, California. This ranch venue is located on 27 acres of gorgeous land, making it a great place for ceremonies, receptions, and photo opportunities! With a variety of beautiful backdrops, great services, and professional staff, this location is ideal for hosting your wedding or other events.

The Feel of the Ranch
Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events is a historic property built in 1937 by the actor and conservationist Leo Carrillo. There are gorgeous flowers, plants, and even peacocks that roam the ranch. Our Historic Hacienda can accommodate groups of up to 250 people with 2 ceremony locations: In front of the Hacienda and the Pepper Tree Patio. There are endless of backgrounds for beautiful photos. Our Ranch compliments the most verstile color spectrum. so whether you're looking for something chic and neutral, or colorful and fun, it will look flawless!

Leo Carrillo Ranch Offers a Full Service Package, so you don't have to worry about a thing!

1 Hour Rehearsal & 8 hours of use of Venue On the Day of your Event: 2 Hour Pre-Ceremony Use of Wedding Party Dressing Areas, 2 Hour Vendor Setup, 5 Hour Use of Venue for Ceremony and Reception, and 1 Hour Vendor Cleanup

Complimentary On-Site Parking

Day of Venue Wedding Coordinator

We will Organize and Coordinate your Rehearsal, Ceremony, and Timeline and handle all the day of Details.

Professional Event Staff

Event Manager, Culinary & Wait Staff Included

Appetizers & Choice of Menu

Appetizer Table, Choice of Two Entrée Buffet and Two Side Dishes

Complimentary Fine Details....

Round Dining Table, Fruitwood Padded Chairs, White China Dinner Plates, Wicker Chargers, Dessert Plates, Silverware, Water Glasses & Champagne Flutes

Floor Length Linens and Cloth Napkins

Complimentary Cake Cutting, Cake Knife and Server

Champagne & Sparkling Cider for Toast with all Bar Packages

Jenga, Cornhole and so much more!

  • Woman-owned
illustration popular

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$0

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$0

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$0

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

30

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

2

Describe your venue:

Barn
Farm/Ranch
Historic Building
Museum
Park

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Elopements

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Aisle Runners
Altar/Arch
Centerpieces
Chairs
Chair Covers
Decor
Drapery
Furniture
Lighting
Photo booth
Tables
Tents
Tent Accessories

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Chocolate Fountain
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Valet
Wheelchair Access

Reviews of Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Leo Carrillo Ranch is a stunning, historic outdoor venue with lush grounds and many picture-perfect spots. Reviewers praised the responsive, organized in-house team and all-inclusive services that made planning stress-free and the day run smoothly. Guests raved about the food and overall experience, highly recommending the venue.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Leo Carrillo Ranch is a stunning, historic outdoor venue with lush grounds and many picture-perfect spots. Reviewers praised the responsive, organized in-house team and all-inclusive services that made planning stress-free and the day run smoothly. Guests raved about the food and overall experience, highly recommending the venue.

Sabrina
Sabrina Sent on 08/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

10/10 experience!

Our wedding at Leo Carrillo Ranch in June was EVERYTHING we dreamed of! The venue itself is so charming and we absolutely loved the all- outdoor concept for our wedding. The ceremony under the tree seamlessly flowed to the grassy lawn area just a few steps away for the cocktail hour, and then perfectly transitioned to the patio area for dinner/reception. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how much they loved the unique character of the Ranch and how beautiful the grounds are!
Not only is the venue picture-perfect.. the staff and team that come with booking an event here is amazing!!! From the behind-the-scene production to the the actual day of.. we couldn’t say enough good things about how perfect and professional each of them were! We especially were thrilled and impressed with our day-of-coordinator Kylee.. who literally went above and beyond to make sure we were having the best day of our lives! The entire day/night were flawless thanks to her. She kept our timeline on track but was never pushy, delivered us drinks/ food throughout the evening while we were busy mingling/ having fun with our guests, led our photographer to the best picture-taking locations, and even fixed my hair when a couple bobby pins became loose. She truly the MVP! The food was also a huuuge hit… another comment we received from guests throughout the evening! The tri-tip and chicken were cooked to perfection and the salad/sides were extremely delicious!
With all that to say.. I couldn't recommend this venue enough if you want a perfect day with an amazing team that will make the wedding planning process extremely easy! Thanks again for everything Josie, Hannah, Samantha, Kylee, and the rest of the Personal Touch Dining crew!!!
C
Claire Sent on 06/25/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Leo Carrillo Ranch

My husband and I got married in May 2026! We had our wedding reception at Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad. It was the most special day and exceeded our expectations. I am from Carlsbad, but we live out of state. Josie & Hannah worked with us and were amazing! They made the planning process go so smoothly, always kept us up to date, communicated about everything, and made our dreams come true. Monica, our day of coordinator, was fantastic! We knew that we didn’t need to stress about anything. She truly took care of everything! The appetizers, dinner, and dessert were absolutely delicious. The staff were all so professional and attentive. The venue was absolutely stunning! We had so many guests that were from out of town and couldn’t believe the venue. It was decorated perfectly and brought such a welcoming environment. It was exactly what we had hoped for! We highly recommend this wedding venue. Chris and I always say that we wouldn’t change a thing! It was absolutely perfect and thank you to all of the staff/team that made it possible!
Anne
Anne Sent on 05/22/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing time!

This is the most beautiful venue every! The day could not have been better.
L
Lauren Sent on 05/16/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Authentic, Romantic, and Great Service!

When searching for a venue, I had two requirements - (1) something outdoors, (2) that didn't solely exist to be a wedding venue and Leo Carrillo could not have been more perfect. The grounds and gardens were stunning and created a perfectly relaxed and romantic setting. And the pueblo architecture felt very Southern California! Personal Touch was also a fantastic company to work with, our coordinators were incredible and made the day run smoothly! We couldn't recommend this venue enough!!
Katie
Katie Sent on 05/05/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Best Venue Ever!

We had the best experience with Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings. Their staff went above and beyond to be helpful in the coordination process and were so attentive and responsive. Their day of the wedding our event ran so smoothly and it was just the perfect day!
L
Liam Sent on 11/13/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic venue, service, and price

Couldn’t recommend this venue more. Good price, beautiful venue and area, and amazing people to work with!

Pros:
- base price is reasonable, and there’s plenty you can add on if you want to really splurge (but you don’t have to, their base offerings are great!)
- venue itself is absolutely gorgeous. Our ceremony on the pepper tree patio was picturesque and intimate. Then the cocktail hour + dancing area was beautiful under the twinkling lights at night
- we had our guests (180 of them) stay in Carlsbad Village (SpringHill suites, specifically) and they were blown away by the town. There’s so much to do there, and so much walkability. We had a ton of out of town guests, and most didn’t even rent a car since everything was so close.
- staff: the Personal Touch Dining folks were incredible. They responded to all of our questions within minutes, and we felt like we were in good hands the entire time. Josie in particular was fantastic to work with!

Cons:
- only con I can think of is that at Leo Carrillo, the DJ is limited to playing music beyond a certain volume. It was quieter than I would have liked. We played a bunch of sing along songs so that we could basically BECOME the music… and that helped. But I wish they would have let us bump the dance floor music more. Still though, I wouldn’t worry too much. I have been to a lot of weddings and our dance floor vibes were pretty top notch regardless!
Brianna
Brianna Sent on 10/29/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible experience at Leo Carrillo Ranch!

We had our wedding at Leo Carrillo Historic Park, and it was truly the most magical experience! The venue itself is absolutely breathtaking - such a unique and charming setting that made our celebration feel both elegant and full of character. With our décor in place, everything came together beautifully. From the adorable seating vignette to the stunning bar setup, every detail was picture-perfect.

We also want to give a special shoutout to Derek and Hannah, our day-to-day contacts throughout planning. They were incredible to work with. Both were so helpful, organized, and genuinely kind. They went above and beyond to make sure every detail was covered, turning what could’ve been a stressful process into something smooth, fun, and completely stress-free. Our day of coordinator, Kylee, was also simply amazing. Her calm, organized, and supportive presence made the entire day flow effortlessly and allowed us to be fully present and enjoy every moment.

The bartenders and servers were equally wonderful! Friendly, attentive, and helped create such a warm, joyful atmosphere for all our guests. And the food was phenomenal. We did the taco bar and everyone is still raving about it!

From our very first conversation through the big day, the entire team was an absolute dream to work with. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a more memorable day. We’re endlessly grateful for the care and heart that went into every detail. We truly wish we could relive it all over again!
S
Sent on 10/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent service

We chose to host our wedding ceremony and reception at Leo Carrillo Ranch in August 2025. It was a wonderful venue! Such beautiful greenery, and it despite being in the middle of Carlsbad really felt personal and intimate for our 80+ guests. The history behind the ranch is special and honored our Mexican-American roots.
We really enjoyed working with the folks at Personal Touch dining- they were always prompt to respond and were flexible and patient. Our day-of coordinator Kylee was also excellent; sunny disposition, calm demeanor, and really made us feel that we were in capable hands.
The food at the initial tasting event was fine overall, but was much, much better at our event.
Overall, our event went smoothly, and was a truly perfect day. We were very pleased with LCR and Personal Touch. Would recommend to all brides/grooms!
Ali
Ali Sent on 09/29/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The BEST day!

We had the BEST day at Leo Carrillo! Josie, Hannah, and Jessica made the whole process amazing. Josie and Hannah were so helpful throughout the entire process, answering any questions we had. On the day of the event, Jessica was so kind and helped the event run so smoothly. We got so many compliments on the venue, especially the open concept. The bar staff and wait staff were also amazing. We could not have asked for a more perfect day, and can not recommend Leo Carrillo enough!
Carly
Carly Sent on 08/01/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Gorgeous Venue, Seamless Planning

We got married at Leo Carrillo Ranch and had the best experience! The venue is absolutely beautiful. So many of our guests (even locals!) had never been and were blown away. The team made everything super easy, especially compared to what a lot of my friends have gone through with their weddings.

They have an awesome list of vendors for things like photos, florals, and music, which made planning way less stressful. Everything else is handled in-house, and our day-of coordinator, Kylee, was amazing. The whole day ran so smoothly, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a gorgeous, low-stress wedding venue!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

91
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2026 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner

Map

Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events frequently asked questions

Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
The space offered by Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events for wedding events is known for:
  • Barn
  • Farm/Ranch
  • Historic Building
  • Museum
  • Park
Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Elopements
Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Aisle Runners
  • Altar/Arch
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Chair Covers
  • Decor
  • Drapery
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Photo booth
  • Tables
  • Tents
  • Tent Accessories
Leo Carrillo Ranch Weddings & Special Events is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
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