Megan and Doug's Rehearsal Dinner Welcome Party

We love creating experiences that run the entire length of the weekend.  When given the opportunity to plan the welcome party, rehearsal dinner or a unique local event, such as a private wine tasting and jam session for our couple and their guests we relish in the chance to show them the fun side of our client’s personality, show them a good time, show them an experience that allows them to enjoy the location that they are in or try something they have never done before.  

We usually plan for guests to fly in, unpack and rest up before the weekend of events.  We like to welcome them with unique welcome bags or depending on the couple sometimes it’s a make your own drink kit or sometimes it’s a pool day survival kit, but there is always an itinerary of events.   

We recently had the chance to show out of town wedding guests our clients favorite local Santa Ynez Valley vineyard.  They boarded the chartered coaches and took in the California coastline.  They arrived at the vineyard and enjoyed a private tasting where the winery staff guided all of the guests through the full tasting experience.   They learned about the flavor profiles, the soil and what makes Santa Ynez such a wonderful place to grow grapes.  They sipped, swirled, laughed and enjoyed.  They got to know each other’s extended family and friends casually and without the pressure and formality of a sit down meal keeping them in their seats.  They snacked on cheese and charcuterie boards and gourmet sandwiches.  The played lawn games and took in the sunshine with a glass of their favorite wine in hand.  Music played in the background and soon took center stage as guest began an impromptu sing along.  It is moments like this that we live for.  That starts the event weekend off on the right foot and it allows everyone to build new friendships and relationships that only continue to grow over the course of the event weekend.  

Following the wine tasting guests returned to the resort quickly changed then were whisked off to the San Ysidro Ranch to enjoy the sunset.  Greeted by their famous blood orange margaritas and passed appetizers.  Guests were encouraged to stroll the gardens and take in the sights, smells and views that the San Ysidro Ranch has to offer.  The mingled near the lily pond and posed for group photos before being invited down to the wine cellar terrace where they dined alfresco at tables filled with potted herbs and tall taper candles in vintage brass holders.  They found their place setting by locating their name, which had been hand written by a local calligrapher on a seed packet.  The evening was filled with toasts and tons of love.

We feel the happiest when our guests have tried something new, met a friend that they wouldn’t have otherwise made if they had only attended the wedding ceremony and reception and when we get to show them why the couple choose the place they are hosting their wedding in.  We become the ambassadors of the weekend and we can’t wait to research and share the best parts of the venue with you and your guests whether in Santa Barbara or a destination far away from home.