Cheri Darling’s wellness retreat, book, and photography work together to help women reclaim peace and personal agency.
A Quiet Realization That Sparked a Movement
Before Tata Darling welcomed guests, before a single photo was taken, and before Me First, Darling reached readers, there was a moment of internal exhaustion. Cheri Darling, a military spouse, mother, and creative professional, was balancing the needs of everyone else while her own identity quietly eroded. It wasn’t a dramatic collapse, but a series of subtle sacrifices that led her to a crucial realization: she needed to choose herself in order to keep showing up for others. That internal shift set the foundation for a growing body of work that today empowers women to reset their lives through rest, reflection, and self-prioritization.
Creating a Culture of Rest and Reconnection
Cheri’s approach to wellness does not promote indulgence or luxury as the answer. Instead, it focuses on giving women—particularly caregivers, military spouses, and professionals—permission to pause. Her work offers an alternative to the constant demands of high-functioning life: a structured, intentional space to simply exist without expectation. This philosophy is embedded into everything she builds, from wellness retreats to photography to writing.
At the center of her mission is a clear idea: rest should not be earned. It should be integrated. That belief is most clearly expressed through her physical space in Temecula, California.
Tata Darling: A Retreat That Reframes Recovery
Tata Darling is a short-term stay property located in Temecula Wine Country. While it operates as a wellness-focused Airbnb, its deeper function is to offer a setting for emotional and physical recalibration. Guests come for the peaceful surroundings but often leave with a renewed sense of self.
Cheri designed the space specifically for individuals navigating emotional fatigue, including those in military life or caregiving roles. Each aspect of the experience—red light therapy, compression sessions, sound and aromatherapy—is curated for guests to unwind in body and mind.
Unlike commercial wellness resorts, Tata Darling is intentionally intimate. It does not aim to impress. It aims to soothe.
Photography as Personal Witnessing
In addition to her retreat, Cheri operates a photography business that reflects her same values. For her, photography is less about technical perfection and more about creating space for authentic presence. Her portfolio includes weddings, portraits, and events, with an emphasis on helping subjects feel seen rather than staged.
Partnering with local Temecula wineries such as Fazeli Cellars and Altísima Winery, she offers personalized photography experiences for couples and individuals. Each session is shaped by her core approach: connection first, camera second. The goal is not to create images for performance, but photographs that act as emotional reflections.
Cheri’s perspective behind the lens is consistent with her overall mission. Her work seeks to remove pressure and invite self-acceptance, whether through a photo or a peaceful moment on a vineyard hillside.
Me First, Darling: A Practical Framework for Boundaries and Self-Care
Cheri’s book, Me First, Darling, addresses a recurring issue among the women she works with: the persistent belief that prioritizing oneself is selfish. Through practical exercises, journal prompts, and candid reflections, the book helps readers understand that choosing themselves is not a rejection of others. It is a form of self-preservation.
Topics in the book include how to protect energy, reestablish boundaries, and reconnect with joy. Chapters such as “Wellness Is Wealth” and “The Boundaries Chapter” provide strategies for navigating modern life with greater intentionality and self-awareness.
Cheri’s goal with this book is not to offer quick fixes but to provide a starting point. It is designed as a resource for long-term change, especially for women in transitional stages of life or recovery from chronic stress.
Positioning Wellness as a Long-Term Practice
Across all of her platforms—retreat, photography, and writing—Cheri maintains a consistent message: healing is a process that begins with awareness. Her work offers practical environments and emotional frameworks that help people slow down without shame.
In contrast to trend-driven wellness content, Cheri’s model focuses on grounded, sustainable care. Her success is not measured by volume or visibility, but by the impact on individuals who feel more aligned after engaging with her work.
As she continues to expand her services, including group retreat experiences and educational content, Cheri remains focused on creating spaces that serve a deeper purpose. These are not escapes. They are reconnection points.
Choosing Rest as a Responsible Act
Cheri Darling’s work is about more than rest. It is about redefining what it means to be well in a world that demands constant output. By building environments that prioritize restoration and reflection, she helps individuals remember that their worth is not based on productivity. Her message—expressed through Tata Darling, Me First, Darling, and her photography—is clear: taking care of yourself is not a detour. It is the path forward.
Learn More:
Book your stay at Tata Darling
Explore Cheri’s photography services
Learn more about Me First, Darling
Follow Tata Darling on Instagram
Visit Fazeli Cellars Winery
