…Is just as gorgeous as everyone says. Happy Monday!

Photo by Michael Costa.

Location: Gainey Winery

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of touring a brand new estate, Las Montanas, which is avaliable for weddings and vacation rentals.

The property features stuning ocean, mountain and island views and sleeps 6 to 8 guests for overnight stays.

The property has a tiered backyard, so a smaller more intinmate celebration would work best here (under 80). However, there is a large flat lawn just down the driveway that could be used for receptions and ceremonies for up to 150.

This is the lowest tier, the view is amazing!

Some notes:

• all rentals need to be brought in- tables/chairs/etc
• catering kitchen needs to be brought in
• guests need to be shuttled to the property
• additional lighting and power is needed
• there is a getting ready area for the bride and groom
• bathrooms need to be brought in
• music must be off at 10pm

For more information visit Santa Barbara Exclusive Rentals.

Last week I had the chance to visit a brand new vacation rental and wedding estate called Bates Ranch House.

A historic home from the 20′s, the property sits on top of a knoll and has an amazing ocean and mountain views.

At the front of the house, is a large grassy lawn with stunning ocean views. It would make the perfect spot for a wedding ceremony and reception.

At the back of the house is a large lawn with mountain views and would be the perfect spot for cocktail hour.

The back lawn also has a lovely outdoor fireplace which would be the perfect relaxing spot after the party.

Some notes:

• all rentals need to be brought in- tables/chairs/etc
• catering kitchen needs to be brought in
• guests need to be shuttled to the property
• there is power at the site, you may need more depending on what you’re doing
• additional lighting is needed
• there is a getting ready area for the bride and groom
• bathrooms need to be brought in
• music must be off at 10pm

For more information visit Santa Barbara Exclusive Rentals.

Villa Sevillano is a gorgeous private estate avaliable for weddings and vacation rentals. Located in Carpinteria, the property sleeps 14 and can host up to 300 guests for a wedding.

To one side of the property is a pool area with formal garden beyond, this one make a lovely spot for ceremony and cocktail hour.

The most impressive part of this property, is the polo field that makes up the majority of the grounds of the house.

A large reception here is no problem!

In the house, there is a large basement area with pool table and built in bar. This would make a great casual after party spot. There’s also a gourmet kitchen, home theater (and I do mean theater) and music speakers setup in every room.

Some notes:

• there are two garages on either side of the property that catering kitchen could be created in.
• tenting is allowed, but it must use water barrels, not stakes
• candles are allowed in glass
• Music must be off at 10pm.
• additional lighting is a must
• You must bring in  a generator
• Valet parking is required
• A dumpster must be rented for all event garbage.
• No large trucks are allowed on the field, golf carts maybe used to ferry guests.
• A wedding planner is required.

For more information on pricing and availability contact Leia at Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals.

I love me a good barn, and the one at Rancho Dos Pueblos is a favorite. Orginally built in 1917, it features open sides (so you can see the surround ranch) and can seat 250 comfortably.

Ceremonies can take place just accross from the barn at this 300 year sequoia tree. I have a wedding taking place here next year and I cannot wait!

To see photos of a wedding at the barn check out these via Oncewed. You can contact the ranch here.

Some notes:

• All rentals- tables/chairs/linen need to be brought in
• Bathroom units need to be brought in
• A catering kitchen would need to be brought in
• There is some power to the barn, but a generator is required for most weddings
• Parking is available, though a shuttle is recommended.
• Music must be off at 10pm.

Rancho San Julian, located in the Santa Ynez Valley, is a new ranch avaliable for weddings and events. A historic ranch, it belonged to De La Guerra and his descendents still own the property and work the land.

The house is 150 years old and can sleep 2 overnight guests. To one side of the house is a large grape arbor that can be used for the ceremony, reception or cocktail hour (picnic tables can be moved if you like).

On the other side of the house, is a beautiful lawn with large trees. Again, ceremony, cocktail or reception can be held here (there are lots of options and room at the location).

There is also a great old barn on the property that can accommodate about 120 guests.If you’re looking for a ranch with an old California vibe this is definitely the location!

Some notes:

• Max guest count is 200.
• There are no restrooms on site and would need to be rented.
• Tables/chairs/linen/china need to be rented.
• Rentals can be delivered Friday and struck on Monday.
• A kitchen would need to be brought in.
• Power and lighting would need to be brought in.
• There is parking on site for vendors, but guests would need to be shuttled.

I recently toured the lovely Condor Ridge Ranch which is located on the Gaviota Coast and is available for weddings.

The ceremony area is a tiered amphitheater with mountain and ocean views.

Immediately adjacent to the ceremony area is a large pond filled with koi.

Some notes:

• Max guest count is 300.
• There are no restrooms on site.
• There is power/lighting.
• There is no kitchen on site.
• Guests must be shuttled to the site.
• All rentals tables/chairs/linen/china/glassware need to be rented.
• Rentals can be delivered on Friday and struck on Monday.
• You may tent in case of inclement weather.
• Candles are allowed in glass.
• Amplified music allowed until 11pm.

I had the pleasure of touring this glamorous new estate, Villa Esperanza, a few weeks ago. High in the hills of Montecito, it features sweeping views of the ocean, islands and Santa Barbara harbor. Receptions and ceremonies can take place on the helicopter pad which is adjacent to the house.

Its also avaliable for overnight accommodations and sleeps up to 8 guests. Can you imagine waking up here on your wedding day?

The whole back of the house slides open and runs into the gorgeous infinity pool. To one side of the house is palapa which would be a great area for after dinner cigars and scotch. For more information visit Santa Barbara Exclusive Rentals!

Some notes:

• The max guest count is 100.
• Music must be off at 10pm.
• Ceremonies can take place on the lawn and then guests could move to the back patio while that area is reset for reception.
• Additional lighting is required for the helicopter pad area.
• All guests would need to be shuttled.
• All rentals, tables, chairs, linen, china/glassware/flatware would need to be rented.
• At minimum a “day of” coordinator needs to be present on wedding day.
• Rentals can be delivered the Friday before and picked up that Sunday.
• There is a separate service entrance and parking for vendors.
• There is a kitchen on site and can be used for weddings, though there is a garage as well that would work for a kitchen if needed.

If you’re interested in the property, contact me to setup a location scout at kelly@kellyoshirodesign.com.

Dos Pueblos Ranch is a beautiful 3000 acre ranch that can host Santa Barbara weddings on its own private beach. For the ceremony, there are two options: one is on the beach itself, and the other is high on the bluffs overlooking the beach.

The jagged cliff side makes a stunning backdrop, and the white beach is the ideal location for a couple looking to get married with their toes in the sand. The bluff location is equally as beautiful, but requires a bit of a walk to get to (a staircase followed by a short uphill walk). For the elderly, renting a golf cart would be ideal.

For receptions there are again two options, each adjacent to one of the ceremony locations. By the beach is a parking lot that could be used for the reception as is or tented (I would recommend a clear tent), and carpeted for a more finished appearance. Alternatively, the bluff reception location has a large grassy field that would be ideal for a daytime event. Once night falls, the bluffs and hillside can be quite dangerous for guests (especially for those who have enjoyed too much wine).

You can contact the ranch here.

Some notes:

• All items need to be brought in, including bathroom/tables/chairs/kitchen/lighting/power.
• Small & large events are welcome.
• Music can go until 10pm.
• Candles in glass are allowed as long as they are set on tables.
• There is guest parking on site.
• Valet is not required but suggested due to length of walk to beach.
• No dressing area for bride available.
• Please call for the site fee.

The house on the Rancho Dos Pueblos has a relaxed elegance and old world charm that is entirely one of a kind. The drive up to the house is something out of an old movie, there is a long circular drive, a large magnolia tree greets guests, and then you proceed down and around the palm tree lined drive. The home itself has lovely chandeliers and a relaxed (not fussy) elegance to it. Truly the jewel of this location is the stunning backyard lawn. Surrounded by a grove of Morton Bay Fig trees (the facility manager believes them to the be oldest in the states) the lawn is just like taking a step back in time.

The front lawn is another option for Santa Barbara weddings, and could be a great place for the ceremony or reception (that magnolia tree would be so gorgeous in photos!)

The house can be rented for the weekend and can sleep from 8 to 10 people. So you could have your rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch at the the house– truly the ideal location for a Santa Barbara destination wedding! The rooms are furnished in a relaxed and elegant style as featured in the rest of the house, and there’s a lovely room for the bride to get ready in.

The elegant dining room.

The master bedroom and getting ready area for the bride.

One of the guest bedrooms with a very nice view! You can contact the ranch here.

Some notes:

• A kitchen would need to be rented.
• Guests would need to be shuttled from the guest parking area.
• Power for the DJ & lighting will need to be brought in.
• Bathrooms must be brought in to accommodate for the older plumbing in the house.
• All rentals including tables/chairs will need to be brought in.
• Valet is recommended, but not required.
• Music can go until 12am.
• Site capacity is 300.

Last week, I had the pleasure of touring a brand new estate for weddings and events in Santa Barbara. The Abbey Estate, a large classical style mansion, features sweeping views of the ocean, islands, and mountains.

The property features immaculate landscaping that surrounds several large grassy areas where receptions or ceremonies can be held.

The ceremony area features spectacular views of the ocean and mountains.

Synthetic turf is used in place of grass, guaranteeing a green lawn all year long.

Some notes:

• Amplified music must be off at 10:00pm.
• The maximum guest count is 200.
• All guests need to be shuttled to the property.
• There is a getting-ready suite for the bride.
• A catering kitchen, all rentals (tables/chairs/linen/china)  need to be brought in.
• Additional lighting is also required.
• There is power, but you may need to bring in a generator depending on your needs.
• Bathroom trailers need to be rented.
• Trash must be removed by the caterer.
• Rentals can be delivered the day before the event, but must be removed the Sunday after.

For more information for pricing and availability please email me at: kelly@kellyoshiroevents.com.

Located just off the 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley, St Francis ranch is now available for weddings and private events. The ranch is over 800 acres and features stunning views of the Santa Ynez Valley and Lake Cachuma.

This ranch is the home to zebras and long horn cattle. How cool would it be to do your bridal portraits with the zebras?

There is a lower and upper areas that can be used for the reception site (above is the road that leads into the ranch). The upper one is one top of a hill and has stunning views. Guests would need to be shuttled to this location and everything would need to be brought in for infrastructure (power/water/lighting/rentals/bathrooms/etc). There is a high knoll that could be used for ceremonies and has a view of Lake Cachuma. Given its odd size, I would recommend a standing only ceremony up here. Just down the knoll is the area for cocktail/reception. There is also a historic home from the 1880s with a cactus garden adjacent to the reception area.

The lower location features a large lake and tons of privacy. If you’re looking for a historic California feel, this ranch has that in spades.

Some notes:

• On-site ranch parking for guests is available upon arrival.
• Shuttles to the various sites on the property are required.
• Kitchen, rentals, power, lighting & bathrooms would all need to be brought in.
• A slight grade in the upper reception may necessitate building a flat platform for dining.
• Heels for the ladies are not recommended (it is a ranch after all).

If you’re interested in the property, contact me to setup a location scout at kelly@kellyoshirodesign.com.

Hey everyone, go check out my guest post on top 7 Santa Barbara Wedding Locations over on Para Ti Novia.

Today I’d like to welcome a guest post by Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals. They provide a great alternative to having family and friends stay at hotel, and offer over 20 luxury options for vacation rentals:

It can be difficult to find accommodations for all the out-of-town friends and family who will be coming to town exclusively for the big event. Hotels can be pricey and impersonal, and vacation rental locations can be inconvenient with guests spread all over town. We know that it can be an imposition to ask your wedding guests to stay at a Santa Barbara hotel that can cost upwards of $300 a night. Santa Barbara vacation homes can offer your friends and family all the comforts of home plus hotel amenities like in-room spa treatments and concierge services.

Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals features properties in lovely central locations, with the option of renting multiple homes in close proximity to each other. The Villas at Anacapa is another property that offers an outstanding option for wedding parties. With three 3 bedroom Villas and two 2 bedroom Penthouses, the entire bridal party can be comfortably accommodated in one convenient downtown location.

This past spring we had the pleasure of hosting Julie Posner and her family at our Montecito Casas, two 3 bedroom homes located in the heart of the beachside area of Montecito. The 2,100 square foot homes that Posner rented for her sister’s Santa Barbara wedding turned out to be the perfect solution for her out-of-town guests, who enjoyed the great location just one block from the beach by the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel.

To learn more about booking a Santa Barbara vacation rental for your destination wedding, please visit our website: www.sbluxuryrentals.com.

Hey everyone, this post was originally shared on Project Wedding’s blog, One Lovely Day, but I thought some of you might not have seen it. Enjoy!

My name is Kelly Oshiro and I’m an event designer and wedding planner based in Santa Barbara. Some of my favorite locations to work in are “off premise” locations. Off premise locations are basically the antithesis of a hotel—there’s no catering on site, and depending on the location there may be no power/water/bathrooms either.

I always stress to anyone who chooses this type of location that they strongly consider getting a wedding planner, not just because it’s my business, but because these locations requires event production skills that nobody has innately. The thing to understand most about these types of locations is that they are very labor intensive and therefore can get quite pricey very quickly. However, they also tend to be the most beautiful with estates/ranches/farms falling into this category.

With that in mind, here are some of the questions you should ask when looking at these type of locations and a general range of the costs involved to getting your fantasy location ready for your wedding.

1. Is there power on site?

If there isn’t you will need to bring in a generator and lights. Depending on what you’re doing and where you live, I would say generators rent for around $1,000 -$1,500. Lighting is variable since it entirely depends on how complicated,, and therefore labor intensive, you want it to be.

2. Are there bathrooms?

If not, very nice VIP portapotty’s can be rented that has hand washing sinks inside the unit and bear no resemblance to their music festival cousins. A single standalone unit runs about $250 or so. These types of units generally have water/lights already inside the unit, so they can be placed anywhere. There’s also the trailer type of bathroom. These have stalls in it the unit and look an ordinary bathroom. These require water and power to make them work. Also, don’t forget to light the way to the bathrooms!

3. Are there tables/chairs/linens/china?

This is where most off-premise locations vary a bit. Some do provide tables and chairs, other provide nothing. If they do have some items, ask for an itemized list so you can figure out what else you’ll need to rent. If they provide chairs, make sure to take a look at them, they may be too big or unattractive for your taste. In which case, these would need to be rented. The cost depends greatly on your guest count and if you want upgraded chairs/linens/glassware etc. I would say get a quote from a good local rental company to help account for this cost.

4. Is there a kitchen on site?

Again, off-premise locations will vary as to what they have. Some will have a full kitchen ready to use, others may only have a warming kitchen, while others nothing at all. In the case that nothing is there, generally a kitchen tent, 10’ x 20’ will need to be brought in, along with ovens, tables, and so on. Your caterer will handle exactly what they need and they will also handle the general rental order as well (assuming you don’t have a wedding planner). The cost for bringing in a kitchen ranges from $1,000-$2,500 depending on what type of meal you’re serving (plated versus buffet, for instance).

5. When can rentals be delivered?

Ideally, you want everything delivered the Friday before, and picked up on the following Monday, Timed day of deliveries and pick ups will result in extra costs. Also, it’s much easier to handle the installation 24 hours before the wedding than 5 hours before. Stuff breaks, accidents happened, and all those little problems that pop up during production are no big deal when you have the time to deal with them.

6. How does trash need to be disposed of?

Some locations have a dumpster on site, others will ask you to take it off site at the end of the event. Some caterers will remove the trash for you and others won’t. If not, call your local trash company and arrange for a dumpster to be delivered. The cost is nominal, usually a few hundred dollars.

7. Is there parking on site?

Again, these locations vary a bit. Some will have parking only for vendors, others will require valet, but overall most of these sites have no parking at all. In this scenario, guests will need to be shuttled from their hotels or from a central meeting point. This can be come logistically complicated, so I always recommend doing hotel blocks at a couple of hotels at different price points so you’ll have a good idea where your guests are staying. An invitation insert, wedding website, and a welcome bag with the transportation information also helps this go smoothly. Transportation generally costs about $800 per bus (seating 40~) so budget accordingly.

Hopefully these questions will help you pick the perfect site for your wedding and help you budget accordingly!

Images: 1. Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals 2. Kelly Oshiro Events 3, 4, 5. Harper Smith Photography 6. Town & Country Schematic