Meet our Team
This charming restored ranch is the family home of husband and wife team, Julie and Rusty Areias in the county they both were born and raised. Their love of the land comes from their grandparents. Julie’s grandparents were tomato and grape farmers and Rusty’s family was in the dairy business. In fact, Rusty’s grandparents used to buy eggs at the Bird Ranch when he was a child.
​
All good stories begin with a love story. And so it is with The Bird Ranch—the lovechild of Julie and Rusty when they purchased the property in 1997.
​
The ranch was in disrepair when they purchased and everyone said it was a teardown, but they saw the vision of what it could be once again. Over many years, they restored the ranch to its original state. Julie and Rusty loved the history of the ranch, and the vintage style, ultimately enjoying sharing their love with other people…in a place they call home—in the heart of Central California.
​
Julie is a cancer survivor and loves making “clean” plant based cleaning prouducts to use around the ranch. She has been an event coordinator for over 30 years and runs the venue. They both love architecture, collecting antiques, and cooking great meals with friends and family!
​
Before I even officially opened The Bird Ranch at San Luis Creek in spring of 2023, I was fortunate to meet a group of core talented small business women owners through my mentor Rhonda Lowe with UC MERCED SBDC (https://rhondaloweconsulting.com/). These talented women helped guide me with their advice and have supported me on my journey. I am immensely proud of these experts in their fields, who are always there to support couples, and guests in every way they can. They truly go the extra mile to make each special event a special day! Please click on their links to visit what they have to offer or get in contact with them for their special event or wedding day.
​
In addition to our core team we have many other wonderful vendors from various sectors of the event industry, including bakers, musicians, caterers, and much, much more on our preferred vendor list that we are happy to share with you!
Julie Sandino-Areias
Born and raised in the County, Julie has a passion for creating warm and unforgettable experiences, With 35 years in the event planning industry, Julie ensures that every detail is meticulously attended to. Julie is known for her warm personality and hospitality, and she wants everyone to feel at home and relaxed on the ranch. She is dedicated to making every couple's special day truly extraordinary.
Julie is passionate about creating micro weddings and elopements to save you time and money with our all-inclusive collections. Want to say the word wedding 5-6 times for your section). I was working towards opening up the Wedding Venue when COVID-19 hit. I was appalled when I read in the Wedding Report that the average cost in California for 25 to 50 guests wedding runs between $26,000 and $32,000. I thought how can people afford a wedding? I listened to the market and what brides said they couldn’t afford a big wedding. Small weddings allow couples to enjoy their wedding in a more intimate setting, with less stress on their wedding day, and more time to spend with their guests on their wedding day, and yet make it an extremely personal and memorable event without breaking the bank. Julie is a proud member of Elopement Pro which is a community of leading wedding pros who love small weddings.
Rusty Areias
Meet Rusty Areias, an integral part of The Bird Ranch at San Luis Creek in Gustine, CA. With a rich background in ranch management, while growing up on the dairy next to The Bird Ranch, Rusty has a deep love for the land where his grandparents walked. Rusty brings invaluable expertise and dedication to our team.
Together with his wife, Julie Sandino-Areias, Rusty is committed to creating a welcoming and serene environment for all our guests, making every visit to the ranch a memorable experience.
Markus Rico and Mellow
Meet Markus Rico, our Ranch Manager. The man with a welcoming smile and a willingness to help. Whether it's setting up tables for a quinceañera or arranging the wedding arch for a wedding, Markus is there, ready to assist and ensure everything goes smoothly for your special event. Markus made our handmade farm tables for your special events and weddings.
Lori Cole
Lead Inhouse wedding Planner/Coordinator expert & venue manager. Lori has a love for wedding planning. Her love of creating fresh and unique designs with a touch of the tried-and-true for each and every client has fueled my 37 year love of weddings and events. She love to help the DIY bride create her vision, as well as assist the clients who just want to show up as the bride and groom, and leave as the Mr. and Mrs. “I am confident that I can handle any obstacle, ranging from the smallest of annoyances, such as a difficult relative, to the largest of tasks, like the joining of religious and cultural traditions in a wedding ceremony, which has enabled me to be successful as a wedding designer, planner, and coordinator.” Whether your wedding is 500+ or a small wedding, Lori’s expertise will make sure your day is flawless. Lori is an amazing florist as well!
​
Bernadette Pimentel
Bernie's Mixology Mobile Bartending service is dedicated to providing you with your event your way. Whether you are having a birthday party, wedding, corporate retreat, Bernie’s makes classy look easy as she creates cocktails and pair beverages to your event menu. Bernie provides a customizable bar service EXCEPT for the exception of providing alcohol. She will amaze you and your guests with her unique drink recipes and elegant style. She does it all; from spirits, wines, blends, cordials, crafts, and cocktails. Bernie is safety certified.
​
Ruth Esquivel - Photographer
Meet Ruth Esquivel, a mother of five and a talented local photographer. Ruth was the first-person Julie met and the first photographer to take pictures at The Bird Ranch at San Luis Creek. With an exceptional eye for detail and a passion for capturing life's most beautiful moments in nature, Ruth’s dedication to her craft and her ability to capture the essence of each unique celebration make her an invaluable part of our core team. Trust Ruth Esquivel to preserve your special memories whether it is your milestone birthday party or your elopement wedding with elegance and artistry. Ruth has her own studio in Dos Palos, CA.
​
Carolyn Welch Photography
17 years of experience helping couples get the most out of their wedding photography. Welch is a women owned photography business and strives to give you the very best at all times and that you walk away feeling like you just had the best experience and that you have fallen in love with your photos. They are there when you need us and at any given moment from the day you meet with us until the day we deliver your photos and beyond we can be helpful, offer friendly advice, or be a helping hand. We are fun, relaxed, and maybe a little quirky.
​
​