Introducing: SMR Events
Welcome to SMR Events, home of both Ancient Peaks Barn and the Historic Santa Margarita Ranch Barn! My name is Coral Brooks, and I am the Venue & Experience Coordinator here at Ancient Peaks Winery. Having worked with the company for nearly 4 years now, I moved into this role in September of 2024 to help promote and book weddings, as well as some other events, at both of our venues.
We launched SMR Events at the end of 2024 in hopes of making both of our event venues, that have hosted various events for years, easily accessible to book all in one place! For the sake of this post, we are going to focus on weddings.
Both barns have their own charm and unique qualities that make them suitable for any dream wedding! The Historic Santa Margarita Ranch Barn, built in the late 1700s, has a backdrop of rolling hills and a beautiful garden area for a ceremony or reception. Ancient Peaks Barn, formerly known as Oyster Ridge, is a more modern barn that includes the stunning oaks veranda outdoor area for your ceremony or cocktail hour, as well as 360 views of our vineyard.
Some of the first questions I ask the couples touring the property for weddings are: What time of year do you plan to get married? How many guests are you inviting? What is the overall vibe you are looking to have for your big day?
These questions are important for a few reasons, and I’ll explain why-
Though we are spoiled here on the gorgeous Central Coast of California with essentially *close* to perfect weather, there are some factors that can really change one’s mind on the time of year they want to tie the knot! I always say the best dates to book your wedding are within the same months we deem safe to ship wine here at Ancient Peaks Winery- March, April, May, June, September, October, and early November. Though you may get a little rain in Spring, the weather is warming up during this time, but it’s not scorching. Late Summer and Fall can be warm, but not too hot, and by cutting off the time frame in early November, you avoid very cold temperatures. If you are concerned about it being cold, we have heaters on the inside of both barns, with Ancient Peaks Barn having heaters on the outdoor patio as well, and the Historic Santa Margarita Ranch Barn having a lawn full of brand-new gas firepits.
Knowing how many guests you are hoping to have helps us gage which venue might be a better fit, at least when it comes to capacity! Ancient Peaks Barn holds a maximum of 200 people, while the Historic SMR Barn holds up to 250 guests easily!
Ultimately, though, the look and feel of your dream wedding comes down to the vision you have. Do you want more rustic? More modern? Vineyard views? Rolling hills with cattle roaming? Trains? There are fun and interesting differences between the two that make them both so uniquely special that you just have to come see for yourself!
When I tour couples, I absolutely love showing both venues. So often they see the barn they were originally interested in (and love it), but then they see the other venue and tell me it’s made their decision to choose very difficult, having fallen in love with both! After the tour, I set the couples up with a complimentary tasting back at the tasting room so they can discuss it all while trying our wines and maybe grabbing a bite to eat. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, so our ultimate goal is to help you find your perfect space and have everything laid out for you to make it as simple as possible. Every couple has a different vision, and both barns have good bones with a blank slate to create the picture-perfect day of your dreams!
Our packages list everything that is included and there are no hidden fees. We also offer a list of preferred vendors who know both of our venues very well and are amazing, local businesses to work with. See something in one package that isn’t offered in another? Just ask us and we are happy to include it in whatever package you decide on! We want to make sure it is a day to remember, with the greatest memories cherished with family, friends, and of course… the love of your life!
Check out our Instagram, @SMRV_Events, for more photos of both of our beautiful barns and email hello@smrevents.com to schedule a tour to see the property in person! Let SMR Events show you ALL the possibilities in creating your absolute perfect day!
