After 42 years of marriage, Steve and Linda Blamer are still going strong. The owners of Blame Her Ranch, who began renting their luxury ranch to couples for destination weddings in 2018, know a thing or two about working together successfully and staying married.

Q: How long have you been married, and/or together?

We have been together for over 44 years and married 42 years.

Q: How did you first meet?

Well, we knew each other remotely when we were 17 years old in high school back in Anaheim, CA. But we got reacquainted in 1977 at ASU when Linda transferred from Long Beach State University.

Q: How long after meeting, did you get married?  

2 years.

Q: Describe your wedding day/ceremony and your dress?  

As Linda’s dad always liked to say, “Steve you provide the Church, and I will provide the Country Club where Linda grew up since she was 3 years old.”  The dress: easy.  Saw a picture in a Bridal Magazine, found it at Saks Fifth Avenue.  It was a simple dress made of silk and lace!  Still have it today and still fits.  The wedding was about 200 people, a live band, and a mix of family, friends, and sorority and fraternity sisters and brothers.

Q: If you did your wedding over– knowing what you know now, would you change anything?  

Yes, of course, because weddings have become more than just a one-day celebration.  Knowing what we know now, we would do a destination multi-day event.  Weddings are a time where you can build a whole host of activities around a 3-to-5-day celebration.  We did this for both of our kids at Blame Her Ranch.  In fact, the newest trend is to do an extended stay where the couple has both their wedding and honeymoon at the ranch with selected members and dozens of daily activities.

Q: What have you learned by being lifelong partners?  Are there any tricks, hacks, or wise words that you can share with newlyweds?  

We don’t think there are any tricks or hacks, but our wise words would be around friendship and partnership.  Well before we had our ranch, we were partners in each other’s careers and critical to our success.  With the management of BHR, we discuss everything.  And take an active role in advising couples and the general wedding community through Linda’s monthly articles both online and with the international publication Weddings and Honeymoon.

Q: What is your proudest achievement as a couple?

Without a doubt, the creation and formation of Blame Her Ranch.  It did not start out that way as the ranch was initially built with us in mind.  It turned into a wedding venue by accident because of our daughter’s wedding and people asking if we would rent out our ranch.  At first, we were skeptical of renting out our home to strangers, but we found over the years that weddings are fun and that people truly enjoy being at the ranch which makes us happy!  Without question, our children are our greatest achievement, and they will continue the legacy of BHR as a wedding venue well into the future!

Q: What is your favorite, or one of your favorite, things to do together as a couple?

Early on we had very separate tracks both in terms of hobbies and activities, but without question, all the marketing, public relations, and design/expansion of the ranch are what we do hand in glove.  It is great fun kicking around ideas to enhance the ranch and make the customer experience exceptional.  On a more personal level, we love to eat, travel, and enjoy the grandkids when we are not trying to perfect the perfect margarita.

Q: Do opposites attract?  

Don’t know.  We each enjoy different things for different reasons, but it does not mean we don’t engage in each other’s interests and activities beyond the ranch.