The Journal

Klentner Ranch wedding

It wouldn’t be out of the question to imagine that Hayley and Jesse’s paths were destined to cross; both of their polo-playing fathers stabled horses next to each other in Indio, California over 30 years ago, and polo ultimately brought this young couple together in the very town where they decided to say “I do.”

Hayley was spending the summer in Santa Barbara, working with her dad at the polo club. Despite Hayley’s insistence that she had no interest in dating a polo player, Jesse quickly swept her off her feet. They bonded over Oreos and a horseback ride, and the rest was history — they were inseparable for the rest of the summer! When Hayley had to return to Texas to finish her senior year of college, she flew to California often to visit Jesse (just as her mom had done when dating her dad three decades earlier!).

Hayley returned to California after graduation, and she and Jesse moved in together right away. After six years of traveling adventures and falling more and more in love, Jesse surprised Hayley after a trail ride on the horses; while playing with the foals in the paddock, he got down on one knee and asked his best friend to become his wife.

Jesse and Hayley’s wedding venue, Klentner Ranch, is particularly special because of their relationship with owner Justin Klentner. That first summer when the couple started dating, Jesse joined Justin’s polo team and moved into the barn apartment at the ranch. Their time spent on the ranch over the years made it a wonderfully meaningful location for celebrating their big day!

It helps that one of Jesse’s favorite qualities about Hayley is her determination to accomplish something, no matter how tough it gets. When COVID-19 threatened plans for a June wedding, the couple postponed their 250-guest celebration to October. As the pandemic persisted through the summer and into the fall, Hayley and Jesse decided to scale back the guest list, inviting just 40 of their closest family and friends. It turned out to be a perfect day, despite all the changes to their original plans.

Hayley’s best advice? Don’t get caught up in having the perfect guest list and perfect situation — just do what feels right!

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

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Wedding planner: Hive Events
Venue: Klentner Ranch
Ceremony: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Floral design: The Velvet Florist
Wedding dress: Needle + Thread
Cinematography: B Studios
Catering: Buena Onda
Cocktail hour: Slate Catering
Rentals: Ventura Rental
Music: Jason Sulkin
Cake: Sugar + Bite

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