“After getting engaged in late 2020, my husband and I found ourselves at Cuyama Buckhorn during a trip to New Cuyama. New Cuyama was already a special place for us and after spending the afternoon at the recently renovated Buckhorn (it had also been under new ownership for just a year or two), we just knew it felt right. We reached out to the team and after a bit of back and forth, we ended up working with them to plan our special day. As it turned out, we were actually their very first wedding! Some may have seen this as a red flag, but we saw it as an opportunity and I’m so glad we did.
Just a little background info – there are about 21 rooms at the Buckhorn and very few other places to stay in the area so this venue is really meant for intimate gatherings/smaller weddings. We had a total of 53 guests and a few stayed at the nearby Cuyama Oaks Ranch (glamping in yurts). When it came down to it, the entire Buckhorn team was incredibly flexible and accommodating. From the food to the deserts, they did it all and pretty much had everything we needed on site. The only outside vendors we hired were a DJ and a photographer! This being said, we already loved the Western-style aesthetic of the Buckhorn, so our vision was pretty much already intact and we didn’t need much outside decor or anything. We went for a summer camp kind of vibe and booked the entire hotel for the weekend so it really felt like a magical escape for all our friends and family. We worked with Executive Chef Daniel Horn to design our menu, Beverage Director Brandon on our custom cocktail menu, the in-house graphic designer Kiana on our wedding collateral and former Events Manager, Savannah Fox on everything in between.
They truly catered to our every need throughout the process, but what really makes this team stand out is how they kept our vision alive and the weekend feeling magical despite some unfortunate weather. On the day of our wedding, it SNOWED early in the morning, hailed, and then rained. Our original plan was to have our ceremony and dinner outdoors and the venue was well-equipped with tons of heating lamps, fire pits, etc. so we figured dinner outside would be fine. Everything was set and then it began raining right before the ceremony. The General Manager literally carried a pool umbrella over my dad and I as we walked to the aisle. Talk about above and beyond!!! Magically, it stopped raining just in time for the ceremony to remain outside, but it was pretty cold so the entire Buckhorn team rallied together to breakdown the already set dinner outdoors and transition it inside. They managed to move the dinner in a matter of about 15 minutes and it looked just as beautiful inside as it did outside. I should also mention that if you’re coming from a city like Los Angeles or Santa Barbara, this venue was much more affordable and accommodating than any others I looked into. They handled all of the details so well and included things most other venues would not have. From the amazing food to the aesthetic, to the wonderful, wonderful staff, I could not recommend this venue more. If you have your wedding here, you are guaranteed to have the most incredible memories and photographs. The Buckhorn is truly an experience and the owners and staff are some of the friendliest, most amazing people in hospitality I have ever met. If you want a small, spirited, BEAUTIFUL wedding with desert valley vibes, this is the place for you.”
