Imagine booking your wedding venue while it is still under major construction. The only visual you have is that of the eloquent words of the venue’s owner describing the transformation that is to come. Based on the beautiful picture painted in your mind, you just know that the end result will be magical. This is a scenario that sounds like it only works out perfectly in movies, but kid you not, several local brides have planned their weddings in this exact situation, fully confident that the new Rancho Cielito Lindo would be the backdrop to the most memorable day of their lives.

In November 2017, Rancho Cielito Lindo owner, Tito Villarreal, embarked upon the transformation of the ranch. While plenty of wedding parties enjoyed the original outdoor space immensely, Villarreal saw a need to up the ante. With weather conditions being unpredictable at times, and a host of brides wanting an indoor space to prepare for their big day, he decided it was time to create a multifunctional indoor/outdoor space that would meet the needs of every kind of bride and their guests. Tito's dreams have come to fruition.

Rich with massive stone and cedar adornments, Rancho Cielito Lindo welcomes guests to its 5,500 square foot estate with open arms and warm faces of everyone on staff. Rancho

Cielito Lindo is a family owned and operated establishment, and they certainly want all of their guests to feel like family when hosting their event. When planning your big day here, every element in the planning process is turn-key. The venue provides a wedding coordinator who will help the bride with ceremony details, reception decorations, dining choices, and all of the other small details that make a wedding day unforgettable. There are multiple packages that Rancho Cielito Lindo offers that combine the indoor and outdoor spaces and even the new chapel for the ceremony (at no additional cost). However, they understand that not every bride will fit exactly into the pre-set packages. Therefore, everything can be customized. When you book a wedding here, some key elements are included. For example, the intimate fire pit where guests can gather and enjoy each other’s company, plus the chairs and tables with all of the linens for up to 500 people, are just a few of the components that make weddings here spectacular. For couples that are interested in unique upgrades, Rancho Cielito Lindo can provide just about anything you want. For a few of their past weddings, they were able to upgrade the tables and seating arrangements to create a farmhouse feel, complete with whiskey barrels.

By: Kirby Tello photos by Padre AV Films

Then, there are all of the small elements that can become tedious! Booking a DJ, floral arrangements, deciding on your wedding cake; even these details can be managed by the Rancho Cielito Lindo team.

For the most important part (to your guests at least) catering Mexican cuisine runs in the Villarreal family. While they can provide all of the traditional Mexican dishes, they find that their chicken fried steak and chicken fried chicken are crowd favorites. The catering team is also willing to provide consultations and tastings for items “off the menu” if there are certain dishes that are must-haves for the bride and groom.

When families want to enjoy the property overnight, the ranch has lodging accommodations for the bride and groom, as well as several hotel-style cabins for guests. All of the furnishings are very fresh and modern but still, have that rustic ranch style. A total of 24 guests can lodge overnight in the various cabins on the ranch property.

All in all, Villarreal says that the property is about 90% complete. The venue had its first open house this past January to show off all of the new additions. They are open for private walk-throughs for couples considering their venue for their big day. Rancho Cielito Lindo already has 22 weddings booked for 2019; so, if you imagine yourself getting hitched on this beautiful property, make sure to contact them soon!

For more information, visit www.rcltexas.com or call (361) 318-8486.

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