Santa Clarita Wedding Photography
So in the last two weeks in all this record heat, I have found another gem of a location for a wedding. Grace Hills Ranch is located about 5 miles south of Castaic Lake and maybe 10 minutes north of 6 Flags Magic Mountain. It is just off the 5 freeway north of Valencia.
This is a smaller event location for around 100 guests with no more than 50 parking spots just on the other side of the dirt road from the venue. Keep this in mind during the rainy season, as this might be difficult if the lot was wet.
On the day I was there for this couple's wedding, it was nearly 100 degrees. The residence area was kept comfortable for the wedding party prior to the wedding. There are a huge number of windows and it made for a beautiful setting for the couple and for their photos. Guests enjoyed a slight breeze in the canyon and water misters to help keep the temperature down outside. The barn area was kept cool with a very large AC unit that is amplified by a fan.
As a ceremony location, it was a bit awkward since there is no real entrance to the area where you might expect a bride to come from. This leaves you with the option I witnessed where the bride came down a flight of stairs towards the audience from the front and the groom came from the right side to meet her. Take a look at the photos (take the link below) so you better understand. Overall it is a unique way to do it, but honestly no other way that I saw. It did make for a grand reveal for the bride.
There is huge acreage on the property but you will likely just be in the main area of the barn, the ceremony location and the residence. It is big enough and it has lovely grape vines, recently planted, on the lower areas of the ceremony location as well as the barn entrance. The barn is adorned with two huge remote controlled roll up glass doors. It is a site to see for sure. You should have no problem with sound issues with the DJ. Some venues like this back up into other properties and you get neighbors yelling at you. Grace Hills Ranch did not have this problem.
Inside the barn there is room for a lot of tables and dessert area as well as a space for presents to be left. There was an inside room that might be used to service food, but this wedding was catered by Stonefire Grill who were on the outside of the barn. There is only one bathroom for the barn site. I would consider you rent one of those nice mobile bathrooms if they allow it. There seemed to be a constant line for the single bathroom available for the guests.
There is ample space for you and your guests to enjoy your wedding day at this venue.
This area served as the cocktail area as well as the dance floor. If you had a smaller guest list the dance floor could be done inside the barn but it would have to be under 50 guests. This event was approximately 75 guests.
As you can see, that is a pretty good sized wedding guest group. This photo is taken from where the ceremony deck is located just above the reception area. The parking area is just on the other side of the barn there.
As an affordable wedding photographer in Santa Clarita and Los Angeles, I can tell you this is one location to consider if you are on a budget and don't want to go overboard.
Overall, this is a gem of a location.
30801 Sloan Canyon Road
Castaic, CA
818-469-1816
July 29, 2023