Nature showcases Santa Barbara’s wine country at its finest in the late afternoon hour to dusk. Everything is bathed in a golden hue. The typical afternoon valley wind calms down just in time for couples saying, “I do”, and a gentle breeze starts flowing. The age-old oaks look down on lovers making their lifetime promise, while family and friends surround them for an evening of celebration under the stars with incredible food and wine.
These are just some of the reasons weddings in the Santa Ynez Valley will always be a favorite of ours. That, and wine country just goes so well with a fresh, locally-inspired menu that celebrates this region.
“Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things toward you.” – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi | Stacy and Chris’ wedding was filled with happiness – and gorgeous, abundant blooms raining joy and happiness on a very special day and couple. Of course, good, plentiful food is said to create much happiness, too. Never let it not be said that food also draws all good things to you! And that’s why we do what we do.
Our wedding story today starts out with three separate stages- all setting the scene for a celebration of love and triumph that lasted three days in Santa Barbara’s beautiful wine country, the Santa Ynez Valley.
Rose and Jason had a gorgeous private estate wedding with lots of special touches. One of our favorites was that rather than a guest book, they had guests put a message in a bottle and write the year anniversary that they, the newlyweds, should open the special message. Their family-style served dinner went perfectly with the Santa Barbara summer evening and surroundings (check out the Mediterranean Potato accompaniment below) and was topped off with delicious wedding cake from Christine Dahl Pastries. 
There is something about an old-fashioned church wedding that gets us every time. Jennifer and Tyler wed at the gorgeous Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Montecito and then , after some photos at iconic locations around Santa Barbara, chose to celebrate at one of Santa Barbara’s wedding location gems: The Santa Barbara Historical Museum. The vibrant floral arrangements tempered with the calming ocean-blue table setting touches and custom taco stations for their wedding menu brought all the summer splendor of Santa Barbara to their dining experience for their guests. And we were delighted to be a part of such a lovely celebration! 
Truly one of the most elegant private estates in Santa Barbara, Villa Verano is a photographer’s dream. Picture-perfect backdrops are everywhere. And when the couple is as beautiful as Morgan and Anthony, the wedding looks like it was a photoshoot from a leading national wedding magazine. But this was no photoshoot- this was very real. We had so much fun designing their menu and love that this couple offered their guests incredible variety – and abundance. Everything featured was local, fresh and many items prepared on site to ensure off-the-charts freshness. Check out their wonderful Family Style Menu and the photos below!
There are many ways to do the annual “company picnic”. In fact, it doesn’t have to be a picnic at all. For convenience and economy, a summer celebration for employees can even take place right on the work site. Not sure where or how? Allow us to come take a look and present some possibilities.
Sunstone Winery’s owners invested heavily in an authentic French aesthetic experience when you visit their location. After studying the architecture (and wine) so prominent in Provence, France, they literally brought home a piece of France to Santa Barbara’s own wine country (literally – as in: had building pieces shipped over) . As is true with the life in Provence, everything is about the outdoors: good, abundant fresh food, delicious farmer’s markets and evening soirées under the stars with special touches and good company. That is exactly how Tran and Dinh’s wine country wedding experience unfolded and we loved every sumptuous detail (check out the Farmer’s Market station below in our menu highlights), including the vintage French band – oo la la! 
Santa Barbara offers many ocean-view and ocean side wedding locations that we absolutely love. For those who love the sea, having a wedding celebration at the renowned Ty Warner Sea Center offers couples incredible views of Santa Barbara coastline, the harbor and more, as well as a unique guest experience where they can enjoy sea life live interaction and education as they stroll the museum. It’s the best of all worlds for true sea-lovers who also want a gorgeous Santa Barbara vista and something truly memorable for their guests.
In the heart of Santa Barbara towards the upper east side are several of Santa Barbara’s most renowned and picturesque parks. And nestled right next to these parks is the beautiful Unitarian Society church, welcoming all and being a central part of our community for many years. Their location is prime for out-of-town wedding guests who can enjoy accommodations very close (some within walking distance). It also offers a gorgeous backdrop for a church wedding and convenient reception right in the adjacent courtyard- all boasting Spanish style architecture consistent with Santa Barbara. Wedding Planner Percy Sales does many weddings at the Unitarian Society, and we will let the beautiful photos speak for themselves as to the summer magic for Christyn and Tahsin’s Santa Barbara wedding day.