Spring is a time to celebrate! With warmer weather and flowers blooming it's a perfect time to move the party from the cold dark days of winter to the beautiful outdoors to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine! Spring is also a great time to host a brunch, celebrate birthdays, bridal and baby showers, Easter celebrations or just enjoy a relaxing get together with friends. Here are some ideas to ensure you have the best spring party on the block!

When it comes to decorations and flowers, choose fun, vibrant colors that really pop and brighten up any space!  

Food is generally the main attraction at any gathering. Unless you are having a formal sit down meal I suggest focusing on small bites and food stations which will encourage movement and make for easy conversation to happen between your guests. Always add fresh fruit and seasonal ingredients to your menu and include both savory and sweet options!

Serve a signature beverage in a fun glass or mason jar.  You'll need a cold refreshing drink to compliment all that yummy food. A mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will please any guest. A Mimosa Bar, Bloody Mary bar or Sangria are always popular! Don't forget to garnish!  Cheers to Spring! 

Decorate your space. From table decor to lighting to beautiful centerpieces.. spring decorations are a great way to get creative and set the tone for any celebration. 

Serve dessert. A little bit of sugar makes everything a bit sweeter! Put effort into the presentation and add some pretty details! 

Consider giving your guests a small thank you gift to show your appreciation. Send them home with some tasty leftovers, a bottle of wine or handwritten card. Everyone loves a parting gift!

However you decide to celebrate, here's to a Happy Spring!

Gatherings for Good provides planning, design and coordination for parties, weddings and a variety of special events. Let us help you plan your next event!

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

Earlier this year, Gatherings for Good partnered with the William Sansum Diabetes Center (WSDC) to produce their 15th Annual Taste of the Vine & Auction fundraiser which was held on August 26, 2017 at QAD in Summerland, CA. Money raised went to support the organization and the work they do in the Santa Barbara community through education, care and treatment to those affected with diabetes.

The event included 36 food, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverage purveyors who offered up small bites and tastings to over 300 guests which included several sponsors including their largest sponsor, Rabobank. Event goers were treated to music by local Santa Barbara DJs Zeke Monarrez and Jerry Rodriguez who were also the event Emcees. 

A VIP reception on the balcony was set up beautifully with lounge furniture provided by the Tent Merchant and Riverbench Winery served glasses of sparkling wine as first guests began to arrive.

The Gatherings for Good team along with the WSDC staff and event committee worked together to create a fun afternoon event that provided people with a wide variety of food and beverage options, live entertainment and impressive auction items to bid on during both the silent and live auctions which included trips to Tuscany, Ireland and Costa Rica! ​

Here is a brief video the WSDC put together with photos and music from Jackson Gilles of some of the day's highlights.

The event raised $127,000 for the diabetes center and generated more exposure in the Santa Barbara community. We were happy to do our part to ensure the event was a success by strategic planning, design concept, vendor sourcing, volunteer coordination and management, overseeing all logistical elements as well as on-site event execution. ​

Weddings are a beautiful occasion where friends and family gather to celebrate the marriage between two people in love. In some cases, wedding guests travel long distances to be able to attend, spending money on flights, hotels, transportation, meals and activities both before and after the wedding takes place. 

The best thing you can do to ensure your guests are well taken care of during the wedding is to give them the best experience possible. One of ways to do this is to make sure you are feeding your guests well. As a Wedding Coordinator, I have witnessed couples make choices regarding their wedding food that are not always in the interest of the guests, but rather food is selected based on what the couple can afford. 

Now, I understand how expensive food can be especially if you are planning a large wedding. But if you want the guests to leave happy and enjoy themselves for 5-8 hours, you really need to be realistic about your food budget and either increase it (and cut back in other areas if necessary), or decrease your headcount. The guests who are traveling to see you get married expect to be fed and it is one of the things they will remember about your wedding day. Food leaves an impression on people, either good or bad.

So, here are 5 tips to make sure your guests are happy and well fed!

1. Feed them a lot!  You must feed your guests and feed them well. Wedding days are long days. From the time you get up in the morning to the last song of the night, you are going non-stop and your guests are too. Parents, grandparents, the wedding party, cousins from out of state, nieces, nephews, nannies, co-workers, ex-boyfriends, your neighbor from across the street.. whoever you have invited to the wedding is going to need to eat to keep up with all the wedding day festivities. You don't need to plan for meals the entire day but by the time the wedding comes around, your guests are probably already hungry so plan to serve food as soon as possible.

In fact, my #1 rule when it comes to food at the wedding: Do not make your guests wait too long to eat after your ceremony.

​Waiting too long to serve food can leave your guests feeling "hangry." If you are having a formal meal after the ceremony, plan a cocktail reception with passed hors d'oeuvres or appetizer stations (or both) if dinner cannot be served right away. If you are taking pictures and have an hour or more in between the ceremony and reception, serving some small bites will keep your guests happy until the main meal arrives. 

When it comes to hors d'oeuvres, have at least 4 different options for guests to choose from - something with meat, something vegetarian, something hot and something cold.  Give guests a good mix to choose from and order enough so each person can have at least 2 pieces of each type of food to nibble on.

2. A Better Buffet.  Buffets... (sigh).  Many guests will cringe when you mention you are having a buffet at your wedding because in general, it means they will have to wait longer to get their food. Let's be real. Nobody wants to wait in line for their food at a wedding. People want to sit down and immediately eat something, otherwise they will end up getting impatient and cranky. I've seen it happen. They will sit at their table anxiously waiting for their turn while people around them get up to go through the line. No table wants to go last. I've even seen guests walk out in the middle of dinner because the buffet was taking too long. Don't do that to your guests people.

That being said, If you must have a buffet you can make things easier by asking your caterer or wedding venue to create two buffet lines. Having two buffet lines going at the same time will speed up the dinner service giving your guests the opportunity to get their food much faster. This is particularly helpful for large weddings with over 100 guests.

3. Have a kid friendly menu. If you are planning to have children at your wedding be sure to have a few kid friendly options on the menu for children who will need a meal. Determine how many children will be attending the wedding and give them 2 or 3 options to choose from such as chicken strips, cheeseburger and fries and pizza. If there are very small children or babies attending the wedding, parents should plan to bring snacks for them if they are not old enough for their own meal. Nobody wants a hungry, cranky child having a melt down in the middle of the reception. Their parents (and your guests) will thank you.

4. Have dessert.  Not everyone is a fan of traditional weddings, I get it. Now days there are so many options when it comes to desserts for weddings. You no longer have to have a wedding cake (although, it is still nice for pictures). You can choose to have a dessert buffet with lots of "mini" desserts which are both cute and tasty! You can also serve homemade pies, fresh baked doughnuts, mini cupcakes, cake pops, ice cream sundaes, a cookie bar.. the list is endless. The point is, people want dessert - sugar is not the enemy. It keeps people happy and energized for dancing and in a good mood in general. And serving coffee and/or tea with dessert ... bonus!

Have late night snacks. If you're one of those couples who wants to throw an all night party ('till the break of dawn), for goodness sake have some late night snack food! Think about it.. dinner at 7pm followed by dessert and then dancing for 2-3 hours.. your guests will be getting hungry by 10 or 11pm. If you're planning to party until midnight or later plan to take the party to a bar where you can get late night food served until 2am, hire a food truck to serve up some delicious meals on wheels or order in a few pizzas. Either way you go you can't go wrong. 

The bottom line is to keep guests happy, it's better to have more food than not enough.

For more wedding tips, click here!

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!

Melanie and Tetlo are a fun-loving couple with a unique style all their own! Their wedding day was a celebration of food, family and fun which you can clearly see in these photos by Chelsea Elizabeth Photography who captured it all so perfectly! Melanie and Tetlo chose to have their wedding at Imagine Park at Alpha Resource Center, a private outdoor space which complimented their love and appreciation for natural beauty and rustic elements. The bride's DIY flower arrangements in mix and match vases, along with potted plants and succulents used as centerpieces gave just the right amount of color and style to enhance the already beautiful landscape. 

The intimate ceremony was set in front of the greenhouse which is flanked by an abundance of lush green trees and plants. The decor was minimal in order to preserve the venue's rustic, earthy appeal. Guests were greeted with glasses of champagne as they waited for the bride and groom to arrive. During the ceremony the couple performed a traditional planting ceremony to symbolize how they will nurture each other and the love they share in the years to come. 

After the ceremony the couple along with members of their families joined together to perform a traditional Botswana wedding dance as they made their way into the reception. Their VERY grand entrance was followed by the couple's first dance together as husband and wife. 

Once it was time for dinner guests feasted on a delicious BBQ buffet from Simply Marvelous BBQ followed by as assortment of desserts including a traditional wedding cake, homemade pies and a variety of fresh baked donuts. DJ Kacy Wilson kept the party going late into the night with a fun mix of dance tunes suited perfectly for this family affair!

Thank you to all the talented wedding and event professionals who made this day so special!

Venue:  Imagine Park at Alpha Resource Center
Coordinator:  Gatherings for Good
Catering:  Simply Marvelous BBQ
Rentals: Amigo Party Rentals
​Vintage Rentals: Otis + Pearl 
Photographer: Chelsea Elizabeth Photography
Hair/Makeup:  La Rouge 
Flowers: DIY
​Cake: Enjoy Cupcakes
Donuts: Spudnuts
Pies: Simply Marvelous BBQ
DJ: Kacy Wilson 
​Lighting: SPARK Creative Events

Nikki and Ben were married on a beautiful fall day in October in Santa Barbara, CA. The couple wanted their wedding day to reflect their minimalistic style while also being environmentally conscious, choosing eco-friendly options for their wedding decor as well as reusable and recyclable materials. The clean, uncomplicated design reflected both their personalities while suited perfectly for the venue's natural, rustic appeal. The private, serene setting surrounded by lush greenery and fruit trees was an ideal choice for their friends and family to gather and celebrate the happy couple!

The park-like setting is located at Alpha Resource Center in Santa Barbara, CA.  Imagine Park appeals to many couples who want the experience of an outdoor wedding with rustic, natural elements. Proceeds from the cost of renting this space help ensure the Alpha Resource Center can continue the work they do to support children and adults with developmental disabilities in the Santa Barbara community. 

Ceremony music was beautifully performed by local Guitarist Grey Bear Erickson. ​

Guests enjoyed a festive Mexican buffet provided by Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant followed by decadent chocolate truffles by Twenty-Four Blackbirds. 

Thank you to the following team of wedding and event professionals:

Venue:  Imagine Park at Alpha Resource Center
Coordinator:  Gatherings for Good
Officiant:  Ceremonies by Nanette
Catering:  Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant
Rentals: The Tent Merchant
Event Staffing: Top Shelf
Photographer: Willhouse Creative
Flowers: DIY
​Dessert: Twenty Four Blackbirds
Music:  Bear Erickson

I knew the moment I met Blair and Andrew that they were a very special couple - young, happy, in love and excited to plan their big day! It was obvious that this was going to be a fun and memorable wedding and I was very honored to be part of their journey to being husband and wife. 

The couple chose to have their destination wedding the beautiful Shoreline Park overlooking the ocean and not too far from the Pier where their reception would take place at the Santa Barbara Sea Center. As they and most of their guests were coming from out of town they wanted to make sure their guests had the full Santa Barbara experience and planned the wedding around the idea of having a fun, unique and interactive celebration that everyone would remember. 

The bride and groom's first look took place on the steps below Shoreline Park. Photographer Anya Kernes captured the happy couple perfectly as they walked together hand and in hand on the beach sharing a romantic moment before heading down the aisle!

The stunning scenery at Shoreline Park made for the perfect photo backdrop. The bridal party's grey and teal attire and fall-like color palette of the bouquets were the perfect compliment to the outdoor setting of the park's green landscape. The clear blue sky blended perfectly with the blue ocean below. Guests and passersby marvelled at the beauty of the day and the absolute pefection of this romantic union. 

After the ceremony guests were picked up by local transporation company Jump on the School Bus ​and taken to the Santa Barbara Sea Center where they were dropped off on the historic Santa Barbara Pier. Once there, they were greeted with tasty appetizers and beverages from Island View Catering and music from the Los Angeles based band West Coast Edition. Guests were treated to an interactive experience getting up close and personal to Santa Barbara's marine life while enjoying spectacular ocean and mountain views!

After cocktail hour, the bride, groom and their guests enjoyed a delicious buffet and danced under the stars late into the night! 

Congratulations to the happy couple!  Thank you to the following wedding pros who helped make this day so special!

Ceremony Venue:  Shoreline Park
Reception Venue:  Santa Barbara Sea Center
Coordinator:  Gatherings for Good
Catering: Island View Catering
Rentals: The Tent Merchant
Photographer:  Anya Kernes Photography
Flowers: DIY
Makeup: Elena Adorno
Transportation:  Jump on the School Bus
​Dessert:  Edoughable
Reception Music:  West Coast Edition

​Katherine and Matt are Santa Barbara natives. Although they no longer live in Santa Barbara they chose to come back to celebrate their big day with friends and family in a beautiful park setting in a city that is close to their heart. The couple chose to have their wedding in September which is always a popular time of year as the fall months are known to be sunny and warm!

The ceremony location they chose was the beautiful and historic Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens in the heart of downtown. The picturesque landscape makes for a perfect setting for such an occasion with lush green lawns and an abundance of hearty trees, plants and blooming flowers. The park is centrally located to many of Santa Barbara's hotels, restaurants and infamous landmarks as well as a short distance to the beach - great for out of town guests who want to do some exploring!

Katherine and Matt's color choice of baby blue, soft peach, ivory and a delicate shade of purple, popped against the green backdrop of the park. The gorgeous floral arrangements from The Twisted Twig and scattered flower petals down the aisle gave it a fresh look, setting the tone for a romantic and happy day!

After the ceremony, the wedding party and guests traveled to the Santa Barbara Hyatt Centric Hotel for a reception where they enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres followed by a delicious dinner set inside the El Cabrillo Ballroom which offers scenic ocean views of Santa Barbara's East Beach. The room was full and lively late into the evening with guests enjoying plenty of music and dancing courtesy of the amazing DJ Crash!

It truly was a magical day for these two lovebirds! Here are some of their gorgeous portraits from Qi Wong Photography!

Congratulations to the happy couple!  Thank you to the following wedding pros who helped make this day so special!

Ceremony Venue:  Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
Reception Venue:  Hyatt Centric Hotel
Coordinator:  Gatherings for Good
Photographer:  Qi Wong Photography
Florist:  The Twisted Twig
Officiant: Barbara Rose Sherman
Cake: Your Cake Baker 
Hair/Makeup: Jackie Romero
Transportation:  D&D Limo
DJ: DJ Crash

To start planning your Santa Barbara destination wedding, contact us today!