Tucked away off Highway 246 and minutes from Solvang and Buellton, CA is a gorgeous sprawling family owned event space that is a total hidden gem and a must see for anyone wanting a private outdoor wedding in the heart of wine country along the beautiful central coast of California. We recently had the pleasure of coordinating Cris and Allison's wedding at La Arboleda and the pictures speak for themselves. This venue has something for everyone. 

Shannon and Cameron got exactly what they wanted for their wedding day... a beautiful beach ceremony followed by a fun and intimate evening celebrating with close family and friends. These two love birds were all smiles on their big day despite some cool and overcast weather conditions. None of that mattered though because the love and excitement beaming from their adorable faces was enough to warm everyone's hearts from beginning to end.

​From their ear to ear smiles to their fashionable sneakers to their sincere and genuine vows proclaiming their love for one another, to an amazing buffet dinner and homemade cookies for dessert (made by the groom's mother), ending with some serious dance moves to music by the one and only DJ Freddy Sparxx, it could not have been a more perfect day! 

We love how the bride and groom incorporated personal touches into their decor including a photo of their beloved cat (who was no able to attend), personalized hot sauce favors, homemade cookies and brownies, and some stylish personal accessories which added a bit of flair to their tropical beachy theme that was seen throughout their wedding. The fun and upbeat atmosphere complimented both the bride and groom's sunny personalities perfectly.  

My team and I were thrilled to be part of their journey and their beautiful wedding day and see it all come together seamlessly. ​

We don't know what is more beautiful - this gorgeous venue or this stunning couple! One thing is for sure. We were thrilled and honored to be part of Danielle and Andrew's amazing wedding at the breathtaking Slay Estate & Vineyard right here in my little town of Lompoc, CA. This Tuscan style private estate and winery was the perfect destination for this glamorous couple to say "I Do" in front of family and friends who traveled from near and far, taking in the sights and beauty of the California Central Coast.

If you are searching for a wedding venue this one should definitely be on your list of places to see. Please contact us or visit https://www.slayestateandvineyard.com/ for more details. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make this incredible day possible.
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Wedding Coordination: Gatherings for Good
Venue: Slay Estate & Vineyard
Catering/Staffing: David Slay, Slay Estate & Vineyard
Rentals: Bright Event Rentals
Music - Ceremony: Kevin Fox, Pianist
Music - Reception: Complete Weddings & Events
​Flowers: Bella Florist
Photography: DA Photoz
Videography: Ashley Watson Videography
Signage: The Blue Farmhouse
Cake: 1914 Bakery
Hair & Makeup: Fairytale Hair & Makeup
Transportation: Jump on the School Bus

Chris and Julia were a charming and delightful couple to work with so it was no surprise that their destination wedding was the same. This family oriented couple wanted to celebrate with a close group of family and friends, many of who flew across the country to be by their side. The intimate ceremony and heartfelt vows filled the Mural Room of the Santa Barbara Courthouse with pure love and joy felt by all.

After the couple said "I Do" guests gathered outside for photos and later were whisked away by the city's iconic red trolleys leading them to the ever popular French Bistro, Stella Mares where they enjoyed cocktails on the patio followed by a fabulous dinner in a very intimate and romantic setting. Singer and Guitarist Matt Commerce kept everyone entertained with many soulful and catchy tunes through the evening's festivies.

Thank you to the amazing team of event professionals who helped create this unforgettable day!

Planning & Coordination: Gatherings for Good
Ceremony Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse
Reception Venue: Stella Mares Bistro
​Flowers: Ella & Louie
Photography: Head and Heart Photography
Music: Matt Commerce Guitar
Cake: Crushcakes
Bride's Hair and Makeup: Chateau Belle
Bride's Transportation: Santa Barbara Rides
Guest Transportation: Santa Barbara Trolley

We were so excited to work with Lisa and Jeff on their wedding day and as you can see in these photos, it was absolutely stunning! The bride and groom chose a traditional and timeless color palette that suited their taste and the venue perfectly. The men wore dark suits which were the perfect contrast to the light dusty blue bridesmaid gowns. The soft white and pink flower arrangements by The Twisted Twig complimented their attire and tied everything together. Can you say classic romance?

The starry eyed couple's decor included string lighting, gold star lanterns hanging from the trees and a festive sparkler send off.  You could say the love this couple has for each other is defintely out of this world! The guests were treated to a fabulous dinner at the Riviera Mansion and danced the night away with music from local DJ Scott Topper Productions.

We were so thrilled to be part of this love story. Thank you to the amazing team who helped make this magical day possible.

We were so happy for Gisselle and Danny when their wedding day arrived! They had their share of ups and downs and there were definitely stressful times during the wedding planning process. A few months before they said " I Do," they went through an unexpected venue change for their reception which ended up being a blessing in disguise! Even though it wasn't how they imagined their wedding day in the beginning, everything worked out exactly how they wanted in the end!

The couple's ceremony was at Santa Barbara City College Maxwell Overlook high above the Santa Barbara Harbor with a picturesque backdrop of palm trees and sailboats. This sunny September day could not have been more perfect for this adorable couple who were surrounded by friends, family and spectacular ocean and mountain views. 

The reception was held at Saint Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church which was decorated with beautiful flowers, shells and ocean insipired decor. Guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the outdoor patio. Once everyone came inside for the main event, the bride and groom were treated to a surprise flamenco dance performance followed by dinner, heartfelt speeches, a stunning cake and dessert display and lots more dancing through the night!

This beautiful wedding took place on a warm Saturday in August in downtown Santa Barbara. The picturesque mountain and ocean views from the roof of the MOXI Museum was the perfect backdrop for this unforgettable day. An amazing time was had by all! Special thanks to everyone involved, see list of event pros at the end of this post. Enjoy these lovely photos from Ryanne Bee Photography who captured their day, and their love perfectly!

Curtis and Jill's wedding gave us all the feels! From their pretty in pink bridesmaids dresses and floral arrangements to their adorable first look photos and heartfelt prayer circle surrounded by loved ones to the stunning decor and dessert display created by the bride's beautiful and talented mother.  We couldn't have been happier for these two and to have been part of such a wonderful moment in their lives!

Thank you to the team of wedding professionals who worked together to make this day unforgettable for the Bride and Groom:
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Planning & Coordination: Gatherings for Good
Ceremony Venue: Santa Barbara Courthouse
Reception Venue: The Narrative Loft
Ceremony Rentals: Just 4 Fun Party Rentals
Catering/Rentals/Bar/Event Staffing:  Tamara's Catering
​Ceremony & Reception DJ:  AMS Entertainment
Flowers: Emma Rose Floral
Photography:  Elise Nicole Photography
Cake:  The Bride's Mother
Bride's Hair & Makeup: Carlyle Salon 

Today is our anniversary! I usually write blogs about other people's weddings and today I realized I never wrote a blog about my own wedding so here it is! My husband and I were married on October 10, 2015. As a bride, I can say that my wedding day was everything I wanted it to be. Beautiful, elegant, fun, romantic and memorable. It was all of those things from the location, the decor, the fashion, the food, the entertainment and of course the people who came to celebrate with us. 

Our wedding was not without challenges. As the wedding day was getting closer, I remember being so frustrated and tired that at one point I threatened to cancel everything, It was so overwhelming at times that I didn't think I could it it anymore. 

I was doing most of the planning and design on my own as my husband was away for work quite a bit during that time. Every day I spent hours online looking at photos on Pinterest, collecting ideas and buying decorations from Amazon and Etsy and making countless trips to the local Michael's store trying to piece everything together down to the very last detail. ​​What started out being fun and exciting ended up feeling more like a heavy burden to carry and I just wanted it to be over already!  ​

I decided early on that I wasn't going to discuss any of the details about the wedding with family or friends for two reasons. 1. I didn't want to hear everyone's opinions and have to explain any of my decisions and 2. I wanted everyone who came to the wedding to be surprised when they walked in not knowing what to expect. I had an image in my mind of our guests walking into the room and saying "wow, this is amazing!" Or "wow, this is so beautiful!"

I am not saying to ignore your guests needs and only think about yourself. I am simply saying don't let other people's opinions get in the way of having the wedding you always wanted. I tried very hard to be accommodating to our guests and to make them feel welcome. I tried to make sure they were taken care of while still planning the wedding the way I wanted to from the design, the colors, the attire, the food choices, the hotel accommodations and their overall experience, especially those who came from out of town (or out of the country in our case).

Ok, back to our wedding!  We chose the beautiful and historic Santa Barbara Club located in downtown Santa Barbara. My husband and I both knew this was the right venue for us after we went to see it. It had the look and feel we wanted, it was just the right size for our guest count which was around 100 people, it had both indoor and outdoor space, it was private and exclusive just to our wedding guests. 

We chose to have our wedding ceremony outside on the lawn with a reception inside the main dining room. We chose classic and timeless colors which included navy blue, white, gold, silver and a hint of blush pink. The bridesmaids wore a navy blue dresses with lace detail and the groomsmen wore light grey suits with matching bow ties. The same colors were represented throughout the wedding in our decor and wedding details from the color of our table linens, napkins, flowers, and even the smallest details of our wedding favors. 

Since my husband is from England I wanted to incorporate some British inspired details into the wedding without it feeling like a "British" theme wedding. We decided to have the groomsmen and father of the groom who are also from England wear British flag suspenders and socks which was a simple and fun detail that complemented the grey suits very well.  

A small red telephone booth and a few personal photos were placed on the bar to complement our ongoing British theme. I also found some really cute toothpicks with the British flag on them which we used for our assortment of mini desserts. The British flag custom cocktail napkins from Zazzle were perfect for the wait staff to pass out during cocktail hour and to display on the bar.

Aside from the decor and beautiful design of the wedding details, what people are still talking about years later is the food and how much fun the wedding was. That was something that was very important to both my husband and I. We really wanted our guests to have a great time and be well fed and we accomplished both! The chef did an amazing job from our appetizers to our entrees to the dessert station. It was beyond what we expected and surpassed our expectations by far! 

These cute meal choice stickers from Etsy were placed on each guests's escort card and worked great. They let the wait staff know what entree to serve them as we had choices of beef, chicken or a vegetarian dish. 

For entertainment, local DJ Danny Vasquez of Elite Disc Jockeys got everyone dancing and helped us keep everything on schedule as our Emcee. He did an amazing job playing music and kept the party going late into the night. 

Our photo booth was a huge hit and was busy all night long. There was never a dull moment and always something fun to do! What I loved most about the wedding was all the people who came together to celebrate with us from places near and far.  ​

The question many people have asked me is, "did you have a wedding Coordinator?"  The answer: YES!  Of course I did! There is no way I was going to do everything myself on my wedding day or have my friends or family do anything except come to the wedding and have fun. I hired Alegria By Design for Wedding Day Coordination only. Armando is amazing and I have known him for many years. I trusted him to take care of all the wedding day details and he did help me with questions during the planning stages along the way. It was great having his support and guidance throughout the process and to lean on when things started to get overwhelming. 

Was our wedding perfect? No. But I wasn't planning for perfection. We set out to have a fun day full of love and laughter and we ended up having the time of our lives! Yes there are things I would change if I could do it again (a future blog post). But overall I couldn't have asked for a better wedding or a better group of people to share it with. We loved every moment!

Marriages are not perfect and you shouldn't expect your wedding to be either. Plan for the unexpected. Accept the challenges and face them head on. Enjoy every moment, even the hard ones. The wedding day goes by so fast and if you aren't careful, you will miss it. ​

THANK YOU to all the OUTSTANDING wedding professionals I had the pleasure of working with and who made our day absolutely beautiful! 

Wedding Day Coordination: Alegria By Design
Wedding Venue: Santa Barbara Club
Rentals: Party Pleasers
​Ceremony Music: Monica Cremona
DJ: Elite Disc Jockeys
Photo Booth: 805 Party Pix
Flowers: Ella and Louie
Photography: James & Jess 
Cake: Your Cake Baker
Transportation: SB Trolley
Vintage Car: Santa Barbara Tours a la Carte
Bride's Hair: MiSalon
Bride's Makeup: Spa Escape
Men's Attire: Mission Tuxedos
Accommodations: Fess Parker Double Tree Hotel

If I had to sum up Taylor and Ryan's wedding day I would have to say that is was definitely not boring! This wedding had A LOT going on including a very brief (yet scary) microburst storm that sent tourists scattering from beaches, umbrellas flying in the air, street lights that lost power and fallen tree branches and debris in the roadways causing major traffic in downtown Santa Barbara. 

Thankfully the storm was brief and the sun came out shortly after. As a Wedding Coordinator it is my job to be prepared for anything! I was fully prepared to move the ceremony indoors if necessary. Luckily we did not have to do that and we were able to still have the ceremony at the beautiful Winslow Maxwell Overlook at Santa Barbara City College overlooking the breathtaking Santa Barbara Harbor with endless ocean and mountain views.

Nothing was going to take away from Taylor and Ryan's day, not even a little rain in the forecast! This young and vibrant couple were able to celebrate their love among family and friends who got to see Santa Barbara in style courtesy of Santa Barbara Trolley. Once they arrived at the ceremony site, guests enjoyed the view and music from a mariachi trio who set the tone for a beautiful and joyous occasion!

Once the bridal party arrived and guests were seated, the ceremony was quickly underway. The officiants who happen to be close friends with the bride and groom got everyone laughing and kept guests fully entertained with the couple of honor taking part in the fun themselves! 

After the ceremony, the fun continued at the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center where guests enjoyed a delicious dinner served from LA based food truck, Shrimp vs. Chef. Dessert came in the form of refreshing Hawaiian shave ice in a variety of flavors from ParadICE Shave Ice and Welcome Coffee Cart kept everyone fueled with caffeine and dancing all night serving up coffee to order. 

The most entertaining part of the night (and gets my vote for most creative grand entrance of 2017) was when the entire bridal party entered the reception to their wrestler alter ego and was announced by the bride's uncle, in his best wrestling announcer voice! The bride and groom, who are huge wrestling fans, came up with the idea and even got their parents involved!

This wedding was full of surprises. All jokes aside, I am so happy for these two and was thrilled to be part of their special day! 

Thank you to the following vendors!