NORTH OF SANTA Barbara, in the heart of Central California’s Santa Ynez Valley, the Alisal Ranch and Guest Resort is the perfect place for bridal couples who appreciate just the right mix of outdoor adventure and rustic elegance.

A full-service resort and working cattle ranch, the 10,000-acre retreat—voted one of the “50 best dude ranches in the West” by Sunset magazine—offers horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking adventures through vast plains and canyons, passed twisting oak and soaring sycamore. In fact, “alisal” means “grove of sycamores” in the language of the Chumash, the Native American tribe that once inhabited the region.

More than 100 horses and 2,000 cattle leisurely graze the resort’s pastures. And a five-minute drive away, the property’s 100-acre, spring-fed Alisal Lake brims with bass and bluegill for catch-and-release fishing. Guests can explore the lake by boat or kayak, catching glimpses of the resident Bald Eagles.

Back at the ranch, couples can sign up for a game of tennis, croquet, bocci ball or volleyball or head to the nearby 18-hole, par 72 Ranch or River Course to tee off. What’s more, Alisal guest are within biking distance of numerous world-renowned wineries.

When it comes to weddings, the resort is reserved exclusively for bridal parties that book the entire property for their event. Vows may be exchanged on a lush hillside, in the shade of a sycamore grove or on a wood deck overlooking the lake. Following the “I dos,” lakeside receptions are as popular as celebrations in one of the resort’s indoor venues, where high-beam ceilings, large windows and grand stone hearths create the perfect Western ambience.

The same California ranch–style decor permeates the 73 cottage studios, which are connected to the restaurant, pool area as well as the spa and fitness center through lush lawns and meandering stone paths. In fact, the spa is the newest addition to the 65-year-old resort. After a day in the great outdoors, couples can retreat here to restore mind and body with one of the spa’s signature therapies, ensuring they’ll feel rested and ready for next day’s adventures.