Grace Gates and Ryan Dobosh make it official in wine country
Words by CAROLINE CAGNEY
Photography by ALI BECK
Grace Gates, wearing Carolina Herrera, and Ryan Dobosh say “I do” at Refugio Ranch in Los Olivos.
The happy couple.
The newlyweds take a stroll.
Grace Gates knew Ryan Dobosh was the one the moment they kissed: “It was electric,” says Grace, who met Ryan in 2015 when they were both on the opening team of Austin, Texas, restaurant Emmer & Rye. That evening, the two went to a karaoke bar where Ryan sang Prince’s “Purple Rain.” “I sat in the back of the bar with my hands over my face in awe of his confidence,” recalls Grace, a Los Angeles native. Four years later, while the couple was visiting her family in Carpinteria, Ryan popped the question at sunset.
Grace wore a Kamperett hair bow.
From left: The bride wore cowboy boots. Bouquet by Jenn Sanchez.
“We are so inspired by the food and wine in this region, so I wanted dinner to be a focal point”
Grace Gates
Soon after moving to the Santa Ynez Valley in March 2021 to work with Companion Hospitality, where Ryan is general manager of Michelin-star restaurant Bell’s in Los Alamos and Grace is general manager of sister restaurant Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos, they began planning their fete. “We are so inspired by the food and wine in this region, so I wanted dinner to be a focal point,” says Grace, who decided on Refugio Ranch for the venue and compiled a menu that consisted of their favorite meals from several local spots. Set at a long communal table by a pond, their 100 guests dined family style on robust salads, cheesy arancini and calamari from Valley Piggery, wood-fired pizzas from Bettina and Pacific Gold Reserve oysters from a raw bar set up by Bar Le Côte’s chef Brad Mathews.
Array Creative Design created a charming alfresco reception.
Bettina Pizzeria and Valley Piggery catered the alfresco affair, while Simply Cocktails served up craft libations.
Chef Brad Mathews of Bar Le Côte set up a raw bar featuring a selection from Morro Bay Oyster Company.
Also carefully considered was the bucolic setting: “It was all about highlighting the natural beauty of that space and making sure that everything felt like it was meant to be there,” says Grace, who enlisted Jenn Sanchez to create a sea of bright-yellow wildflowers, including foraged wild mustard and locally sourced Solidago, which formed the aisle for Grace to walk down before exchanging vows under an oak tree. The affair continued with a first dance to “Purple Rain” (of course) and an afterparty that went well into the morning, followed by a magical honeymoon in Hawaii.
Makeup and Hair: Blushing Beauty
Event Production: Array Creative Design
Flowers: Jenn Sanchez
Stationery: The Vintage Inkwell
Rentals: Table Method; Bright Event Rentals; Folklore; Catalog Atelier
Lodging: Skyview Los Alamos
Cocktails: Simply Cocktails
Catering: Bettina Pizzeria; Valley Piggery
Dessert: Via Gelateria
Feature image: The tablescape highlights organic-looking floral arrangements by Jenn Sanchez.
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of C Weddings.
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