Krystina & Ryan’s first trip together was to Mexico, and they believed it would be a full-circle moment to tie the knot there! They were determined to have an August or September wedding, despite it being hurricane season in the regions of Mexico they were considering, such as Punta Mita. Just as they were about to abandon the idea of Mexico, two people suggested the couple explore Valle de Guadalupe. 

“It was described as this little gem driving distance from LA and was the Napa Valley of Mexico,” the couple says. “We decided to drive down to see for ourselves and we fell in love with the area. We should also highlight that we both love wine and actually got engaged in a vineyard. It felt right to get married on a vineyard as well.”

However, one major challenge of this location was accessibility; although it was easy to drive to from LA or San Diego, it posed difficulties for guests coming from elsewhere. Ultimately, they opted for guests to fly into San Diego and arranged shuttle buses to transport them down to Ensenada/Valle de Guadalupe.

When Krystina & Ryan had their initial meeting with Paty, the CEO of Elizabeth Morett Events, Ryan asked her if she would choose any of her weddings to be featured in a magazine, and which location she would select. Without hesitation, Paty responded with Rancho los Retoños. Initially not on their list to tour, they decided to add it. Upon arriving at the vineyard, they immediately knew it was the one. 

“What really confirmed it for us, was that the entire vineyard would be ours for the weekend,” Ryan says. “There was a large house that we stayed in plus ten villas where our immediate family stayed. It made it so easy for us to get ready on our wedding day.”

Ryan and Krystina’s wedding planner, Paty, always made herself available to the couple at all times. They never had to book a meeting to get questions answered, the couple could simply send her a WhatsApp message and receive a quick response. “The open lines of communication brought us ease about planning from afar,” the bride says. “Because Valle de Guadalupe is driving distance from Los Angeles, we were able to make four trips out for planning, food/cake/cocktail/wine tasting, preview of our table decor, etc.”

Being situated in such a stunning location, the couple was adamant about preserving its natural beauty, opting not to overshadow it with extravagant decorations. 

Personalizations by the couple started with the ceremony itself. “We wanted to be married by someone who knew us and could speak to who we were,” Krystina says. “So Ryan’s father actually officiated the wedding and although it was simple, it was a very special touch.”

Paty and her team at Elizabeth Morett Events skillfully accentuated the picturesque winery, with one standout feature being the champagne wall, a delightful surprise from the groom to the bride, fulfilling a long-held desire despite not being part of the original budget. Another unexpected and cherished element thanks to the planners was that each guest recorded a “voicemail” on a telephone during the reception.

Reflecting on the choice to marry away from home, Krystina and Ryan say they don’t think their families and friends would have bonded the same way. “80% of our guests had to take the shuttle from San Diego to Ensenada together,” Ryan says. “By the time we met them at our welcome party, everyone seemed to have already hit it off. Before our actual wedding day, our friends and families became one big family. It was so beautiful to see but even better to experience on our wedding day.”

Vendors: Photographer: Eve Rox Photography; Event Planner: Elizabeth Morett Events; Reception Venue: Rancho Los Retoños; Floral Designer: Saturno Flower Design; Bar: Bitters; Beauty: Blank Beauty; Stationery: Minted; Cake: Palominos Cake and Fernanda Rodriguez; Gown Designer: Essence of Australia; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Grayscale; Bridesmaid Gowns: Revelry; Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux; Men’s Stylist: Justin Madison