San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara

Being that I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, I have known of this quaint, magical establishment since I was a little girl. The San Ysidro Ranch. It is nestled into the Montecito foothills, and provides serenity and tranquility like no other hotel. They have been around since 1893 and have 41 cottages and suites. All uniquely designed and furnished by the owners Ty Warner and his wife as they travelled around the world collecting decor for the rooms.

Past marriages include Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier, while honeymooners such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin more recently shared some quiet time there. But the most famous honeymooners of all would have to be Jackie and John F. Kennedy. The best cottage overlooking the pacific ocean has to be the Kennedy Cottage (named after them of course!).

Small cottages and bungalows adorn the property...fresh herbs are used by the chef at the Stonehouse and Plow & Angel restaurants on site. There is a wine cellar room for small reception dinners or the Adobe or Colman Cottage. Outdoor ceremonies can take place on the lawn in the garden or on the patio of selected cottages.

For more information about having your wedding, rehearsal dinner or honeymoon at the San Ysidro Ranch you can contact Willow Fish at 805-565-1701.

This place is exquisite and a must see if you're ever in the area!

{ locations }

I'm starting a new section on locations...since this seems to be one of the most important things with planning your wedding! I've decided to hightlight and feature a new location every few weeks.

The two major questions you face when you initally get engaged are... "When is the wedding and where will it be?”

The first decision is “when will your wedding be?” While it is easy to rush into the planning of this event, I always remind newly engaged couples to enjoy this special time in their lives. When trying to decide when to have your wedding, here are a few things to consider:
:: Allow you, your fiancé and your family enough time to adequately plan your wedding.
:: Consider the weather conditions in the various locations during the particular time of year that you want to hold your wedding.
:: Be sensitive to holidays for your guests.
:: Make sure your desired location is available on the days you have selected.

The second decision, and probably the toughest decision is “where will your wedding be?”
This decision is the foundation for which your wedding will be built upon. The location sets the vibe, the feel and creates the excitement for which the wedding party and guests look forward too. The location will establish the basis for which you choose your colors, your wedding dress, the groom’s attire, your flowers and the overall feel and ambiance of your wedding.

When it comes to deciding the location of your ceremony and reception I always recommend considering the following:
:: Budget – Understanding your budget early on in the process will help you eliminate wasted time searching for a location. Most wedding locations will provide you with a cost estimate and proposal to help in the decision making process.
:: Sand & Beach or Snow & Mountains? - Having been a part of many weddings, each location presents its own obstacles. A few things to consider: accessibility for guests, weather conditions, travel delays and guests attire.
:: Reception Restrictions – Two things to keep in mind: Many reception locations will restrict you from having music played past a certain time and some restrict hard alcohol from being served. So, if it is important to be able to celebrate late into the night while enjoying your apple martini, make sure to ask about any restrictions.

So with that...let's learn about some fun and unique locations for your wedding in Southern California!

Wedding Chicks Launch Party

What a spectacular event!! The creative, awe inspiring, savvy Wedding Chicks hosted their launch party for their wedding inspirational blog last night at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course. Thank you Amy + Jocey for hosting a beautiful event and bringing so many of us in the industry together! Your work is amazing and I'm so proud of the both of you for launching such a perfect site for us all to learn and gather ideas from!

Jennifer Schuemann with It's Your Wedding Day had a huge part in making the event happen - so much detail and beauty went into everything (nice to finally meet you too!). Great music and Entertainment by Vox DJs, florals by Elegant by Design, donuts (yes, I said donuts) by The Fry Girl Inc. who was preparing them fresh on the spot! Amy & Jocey looked gorgeous with their make-up done by Carina at Flawless Faces...who was a pleasure to talk with. The ice sculpture from Carving Ice of the wedding chicks was spot on, amazing!!! Did I tell you I enjoyed the best vanilla cupcake ever?! Thanks to It's all about the Cake!

Here are few photos that Kerrie Underhill of Platinum Weddings by Kerrie took and was so kind enough to share with me to post on my blog! Thank you and nice to finally meet you Kerrie!







(from left) Kerrie Underhill of Platinum Weddings by Kerrie, Heather Moreau of Vallentyne Photography, Jocey of Wedding Chicks and JoceyBella Invites, and myself!

{ lis + kim }

I loved this wedding because the couple was sooooo much fun! Truly a silly, laid back, awesome couple. Not too mention super in love with each other. Hearing about their journey of finding each other during the ceremony was my favorite part...the personal vows were the best I've ever heard! It was so wonderful to be a part of everything, so thank you Lis & Kim! The wonderful photos are from Suzi at Q Weddings and there was great entertainment by DJ Ian Gotler at Red Shoe Productions. Walter & Spencer did a great job with all the beautiful florals and working with the greenery and natural beauty that Ojai Valley Inn & Spa already has to offer.












My favorite of Kim!