Photography by Choco Studio
About the Venue
Surrounded by ancient apple orchards, bamboo groves, grassy meadows and beautifully landscaped gardens, Dawn Ranch Lodge is just as dreamy as it sounds! In a rustic, forested setting with quick coastal access, this venue is pretty spectacular! Located in the small town of Guerneville, this fifteen acre property is situated right along the Russian River. Dawn Ranch Lodge is nestled among gorgeous towering Redwoods, and a quick 20 mile drive brings you to the bluffs of the Pacific Coast.
Offering a magical tranquility, yet contemporary atmosphere, individual cottages are perfectly fit into the stunning landscape. The long meadow at Dawn Ranch Lodge has been the setting for intimate wedding ceremonies for over a century! The guest ranch features the Agriculture Restaurant & Bar, which focuses on locally sourced organic produce. There is a full service bar offering local beer and wine, as well as speciality cocktails. Also among the lodge’s many amenities is private river access, a pool and wireless internet access amidst the gorgeous, isolated forest surroundings.
Ask the Expert
Mike and Nat of Choco Studio Photography gives us a little insight into this beautiful wedding and venue!
The Dawn Ranch Lodge is truly one of our favorite outdoor venues in Northern California’s wine country. The scenery all around this area is just breathtaking! One of the things we love about Dawn Ranch weddings is that events here really become all-weekend celebrations. Erin and Kris (the bride and groom) hosted a casual BBQ at the same venue on the day prior to the nuptials. It seems that giving people a chance to spend time together is such a great way to get the party started. Guests were able to meet and mingle with everyone staying at the cute cottages on the property.
We learned that Erin will be wearing a GREEN wedding dress (which was a surprise for Kris) and we thought it was quite an original idea. How often do you see a bride in a dress as unique as this? Erin and Kris were also working on many DIY projects.We love it when we see couples infuse weddings with their personality. With a relative carefully selected to conduct their ceremony, they were all set for a wedding done just their way.
I Do Venues wants to recognize the talented team of wedding professionals who helped to make this bride’s dream a reality: Photographer – Choco Studio; Floral – Studio Choo; Catering – Dawn Ranch Lodge; Cake – Miette; DJ- Sean Patterson at DJ St. Patrick
