I knew Natalie and Ben’s Ojai Valley Inn wedding was going to be such a good one before I even arrived in California.

The entire property has that beautiful California vibe. White architecture, huge trees, mountain views, and so many beautiful outdoor spaces. Natalie and I had known each other for years by this point after meeting at another wedding I was photographing. As horse-girl friends, photographing a wedding weekend that included an actual group trail ride was such a dream!

A Wedding Weekend at Ojai Valley Inn

I first met Natalie through one of my Chicago couples, and we immediately connected over our shared love of horses. We stayed in touch after that, and I photographed her and Ben’s engagement session while they were traveling through Provence. We had so much fun together and the photos were absolutely amazing. So when they asked me to photograph their Ojai Valley Inn wedding, I was SO excited.

See more of Natalie and Ben’s Provence engagement photos.

One of the best parts of planning a wedding at Ojai Valley Inn is that the entire weekend can happen in one place. With the Spanish inspired design and the mountains in the distance, it’s all so beautiful. Natalie and Ben’s rehearsal dinner was held at the world renowned Olivella, their ceremony took place beneath the Wishing Tree, and their reception was held at the Pergola.

What made the weekend feel so special was how relaxed and connected everything was. Natalie and Ben were surrounded by a small group of people who were genuinely excited to celebrate them, and every part of the wedding felt intentional. It was intimate, beautifully planned, but still easy and fun.

A Pre-Wedding Trail Ride in Ojai

The day before the wedding, Natalie organized a group trail ride with Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company.

I came along to photograph the ride, and afterward, the owner let us spend some additional time taking photos with the horses. It was such a fun way to spend the day before the wedding, and so perfectly suited to Natalie. 

Planning an activity like this is also a great way to spend more time with your closest people before the wedding day. It gives everyone an opportunity to be together before the festivities start. 

(And yes, as a fellow horse girl, I loved every second of it.)

Rehearsal Dinner at Olivella

Natalie and Ben hosted their rehearsal dinner at Olivella, a restaurant located on the Ojai Valley Inn property. The dinner was intimate, with views overlooking the surrounding landscape as the sun dipped behind the hills. It was a beautiful way to begin the weekend and have everyone together before the wedding day.

For couples planning a multi-day Ojai Valley Inn wedding, hosting the rehearsal dinner on the property keeps everything simple for guests. Especially if you’re having a destination wedding like this one, or you’re hosting a lot of out-of-town guests! 

Wishing Tree Wedding Ceremony on the Artist Cottage Lawn

Natalie and Ben held their ceremony beneath the Wishing Tree, a beautiful outdoor ceremony spot at Ojai Valley Inn on the Artist Cottage Lawn.

The tree completely defines the space. Its wide branches create a natural focal point around the couple, so the ceremony does not need any sort of large installation to feel intentional. The flower arrangements were complimentary, so that they didn’t outdo anything but added to the natural and intimate feel of the ceremony decor. 

It worked perfectly for their intimate guest list. Everyone felt close to the ceremony, while the scale of the Wishing Tree still made the space feel incredibly special.

See more wedding work with my signature editorial style in my portfolio.

Wedding Portraits Around Ojai Valley Inn

There are so many different spots for wedding photography at Ojai Valley Inn, which I personally love because that means we get to stay on the property and the couple doesn’t need to travel anywhere else for photos. This is the biggest timeline hack that will help your wedding day go smoothly!

Because everything was located nearby and we didn’t need to spend a huge portion of the day moving between portrait locations, Natalie and Ben could spend more time with their guests.

I photographed Natalie and Ben beneath the trees, in front of the buildings, and overlooking the green grounds with the mountains in the distance. Within a relatively small area, we were able to create portraits that felt completely different from one another.

The architecture was one of my favorite parts of the venue. The clean white walls, blue details, terracotta rooflines, and landscaping have such a distinct California look. Natalie’s sleek wedding dress and lace cape were so chic and elegant against the property, especially paired with Ben’s white dinner jacket.

Intimate Wedding Reception at the Orchard Pergola

Natalie and Ben’s reception design at the Orchard Pergola was one of my favorite parts of the entire wedding.

The Pergola is covered in greenery and framed by stone columns, with string lights woven overhead. A single long table ran through the center of the space, creating a really cool intimate dinner vibe.

Ashley of Ojala Floral designed arrangements in soft pinks, peach, green, and white. The flowers stretched down the table between tall glass candles, while pale green napkins added a subtle layer of color. She created something so special and romantic, it really elevated the already beautiful space.

One of my favorite approaches to wedding design, especially at a venue with this much character, is making sure that everything really compliments the existing space. The florals and rentals made the dinner feel elevated, but the greenery of the Pergola was still a major part of the finished look.

As daylight faded, the candles and overhead lights added an extra romantic touch. Dinner felt warm and relaxed, with everyone seated together around one table. The photos from the evening are some of my favorites because you can actually see how much fun everyone was having.

Check out my Instagram to see recent wedding work!

A Dream Wedding Team at Ojai Valley Inn

Shannon from All You Need Is Love Events planned the weekend, and she was incredible to work with! 

She was organized, thoughtful about the timeline, and completely on top of everything happening throughout the weekend. Multi-day celebrations have a lot of moving parts, especially when they include activities like a trail ride, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception in different areas of a large property. Shannon made it all feel easy.

Ashley from Ojala Floral was, as mentioned earlier, amazing. The ceremony flowers felt completely connected to the landscape, while the reception design brought the perfect touch of romance to the Orchard Pergola. 

The planner and florist clearly understood how to design for Ojai Valley Inn rather than simply bringing in details that could have been used anywhere. That made the final result feel really specific to Natalie and Ben’s wedding, and their style overall.

Tips for Planning an Ojai Valley Inn Wedding

Use More Than One Space

Ojai Valley Inn has several settings that can be used across a wedding weekend. Hosting the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception in different areas gives guests a fuller experience of the property. Natalie and Ben’s weekend flowed from Olivella to the Wishing Tree and then to the Pergola. It’s really nice to be able to make use of all of Ojai Valley Inn’s gorgeous spots. 

Build Extra Time Into Your Portrait Schedule

Although there are plenty of portrait locations close together, it’s still helpful to leave room in the timeline to explore.

The light and scenery can look very different depending on where you are on the property. A little flexibility gives your photographer time to use the mountain views, architecture, and shaded areas without making portraits feel rushed.

And of course, scheduling some portraits right before sunset will give you those magical California golden hour photos.

Let the Venue Influence the Design

Ojai Valley Inn already has a strong design. You don’t need to cover every surface or build elaborate installations for the wedding to feel absolutely beautiful.

The most successful details from Natalie and Ben’s celebration complemented the property: low florals beneath the Wishing Tree, a long dinner table in the Pergola, and colors pulled from the surrounding landscape.

Plan Something Personal Outside the Wedding Day

A destination wedding weekend gives you time to plan an activity that reflects who you are as a couple.

For Natalie, that was a trail ride. For another couple, it could be a welcome dinner, pool afternoon, golf outing, or relaxed morning with family. These events give you more time with your guests and often become some of the most memorable parts of the weekend.

My wedding photography is artistic and timeless, with an editorial edge. Read more about my approach!

Ojai Valley Inn Wedding FAQs

Is Ojai Valley Inn a good venue for an intimate wedding?

Yes. Natalie and Ben’s celebration showed how well the property works for a smaller guest list. Spaces like the Wishing Tree on the Artist Cottage Lawn and the Orchard Pergola feel special and are stunning, but guests can still remain close to the couple throughout the ceremony and dinner.

Where can you hold a wedding ceremony at Ojai Valley Inn?

Natalie and Ben held their outdoor ceremony beneath the Wishing Tree on the Artist Cottage Lawn. The large tree created a natural backdrop, while low floral arrangements helped define the ceremony area without blocking the setting. Other spots for ceremonies would be the Hacienda Courtyard and the Farmhouse Lawn.

Where can you host a wedding reception at Ojai Valley Inn?

The Orchard Pergola is a really nice spot for something more intimate. The vine-covered structure worked beautifully for Natalie and Ben’s intimate dinner, with one long table placed beneath the greenery and string lights. They also have other spaces for larger weddings such as The Farmhouse, the Orchard Event Lawn, and the Anacapa Ballroom. 

Can you host a rehearsal dinner at Ojai Valley Inn?

Yes! Natalie and Ben held their rehearsal dinner at Olivella on the property. The restaurant provided a more intimate setting for the dinner, with views of the hills around Ojai at sunset. Another great option at Ojai is the gorgeous villa, Casa Elar.

Do you need to leave Ojai Valley Inn for wedding portraits?

You do not need to leave the property to create a varied wedding gallery. Ojai Valley Inn has gorgeous mountain views, open lawns, large trees, landscaped paths, and distinctive California architecture, all within the resort.

How much photography time should you plan for an Ojai Valley Inn wedding?

Your exact timeline will depend on whether you’re planning a first look and how many family photos you want. It’s helpful to leave enough time to walk between portrait locations without rushing. Keeping the ceremony, reception, and portraits on the property can also reduce travel time and allow you to spend more of the day with your guests. 

For all of these reasons, it’s super helpful to consider a wedding photographer who’s already photographed at the venue, as they’ll be able to help you create a custom timeline with the layout of the venue in mind. 

Planning Your Own Ojai Wedding?

Natalie and Ben’s wedding was such a beautiful start to my wedding season. I got to photograph one of the sweetest couples, work with an incredible team, and spend the weekend with a group that made everything feel easy and fun.

I’ll also be returning to Ojai Valley Inn for another wedding next spring, and I’m already so excited to photograph at this venue again.

If you’re planning an Ojai Valley Inn wedding or another destination celebration in California, I would love to hear what you’re putting together. Reach out to chat and see if we’re a great fit!

Vendor Credits

Wedding Planner: Shannon, All You Need is Love Events // Venue: Ojai Valley Inn // Wedding Photography: Loren Weddings // Rehearsal Dinner: Olivella at Ojai Valley Inn // Styling: Something White Styling // Hair and Makeup: Cheek to Cheek Artistry // Florals: Ashley, Ojala Floral // Rentals: Theoni Collection // Entertainment: Jason Sulkin Music // Trail Ride: Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company