I am so excited to share with you the showcase of this BRAND NEW venue in Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, for three main reasons! It’s not only because it was our VERY FIRST gathering since COVID, and because I missed hanging out with wedding + event pros, listening to live music, and sharing with the worlds all that the Santa Barbara area has to offer engaged couples for their wedding weekend or destination wedding……but because this showcase exemplifies the first-class service I appreciate and love about our community, in every sense of the expression….

First of all, let’s talk about the owners of Foxen Canyon Ranch, siblings Diana and Steve. They are absolutely lovely! When Diana reached out to me in October, I was visiting family in Dallas, and ended up extending my stay from a few weeks to a three-month stint…..and Diana was so patient with me with my requests to postpone our visit until I was back in the area and available for a tour…..

THEN, on the day of the visit, they both greeted me with such enthusiasm and genuine caring I could not help but score them a 10 out of 10 on the #FeliciFied scale…they hit it out of the park with not only a lovely tour of the property, that was impressive (see my second point below) but also with a classy platter of charcuterie and delicious wine sips to accompany an authentic conversation where we got to know each other, talk shop and start a beautiful new-found friendship.

Diana and Steve’s caring extended into the showcase day by both of them being available and proactive to ensure that the day went smoothly. Talk about the hosts with the most…..our installation day went so smoothly and the collaboration was fun and enjoyable.

Secondly, the uniqueness and smart layout of the venue. Diana and Steve used their own talents and family visionaries to create the elegant and sophisticated barn on their family's working cattle ranch, and have done a fantastic job in creating an intimate event space with the white barn, special design touches, string lighting, fire pits, open gardens and expansive lawns which are surrounded by century old oaks.

I wasn’t the only one impressed with all the added values to the modern barn wedding location. Attendees which included other venues, local hotels, wedding planners, caterers, and creme-de-la-creme wedding business owners were also dazzled by the features, well-thought-out details, and creative add-ons enhancing the location.

Lastly, enlisting the amazingly talented Brooke Baker of White Sage Wedding and Events was like watching a genius orchestrate their opus. The beauty of working alongside wedding planners is that I get to see just how they work, and I am unapologetically giving Brooke RAVE #FeliciFied reviews for her creation of the event. From vision to execution, Brooke leads with integrity and is outcome-driven. She brought in and introduced attendees (and myself) to new and talented wedding pros to execute the event and impress guests. I mean who would not want (post-COVID smart food-service style) individual charcuterie in a cone by Slate Catering Co. accompanied by fun signature drinks created by the out-of-the-ordinary, The Cocktail Concierge (and I don’t even like gin…but I enjoyed my cocktail that afternoon). For those who have a sweet tooth, DELICIOUS gelato (and I’m Italian, I’m telling you I know my gelato) in a cone by Sanders & Sons Gelato was the talk of the afternoon….trust me, if you’re a fanatic of Nutella like I am, the chocolate and hazelnut combo is outrageous!

The design and style that Brooke had envisioned created such a unique vibe from what the venue has seen and hosted for other wedding events. The flirty and fun floral donated by Florabunance were designed by Jenny Mann Floral Design and complimented the garden-like floral linens and rich lounge nook from Bright Event Rentals.

The afternoon was enjoyable not only because we all got to meet and mingle and enjoy the serenity of the venue, but also because of the angelic voice of Natalie Gelman while strumming her guitar floated in the background.

Finally, the not sexiest but essential parts of most events, the restrooms from Luxury Loos (yes, they are luxury and sure to wow your guests) and transportation by Jump On The School Bus ensured that all guests were both comfortable and safe while traveling to and from the venue.

Thank you to all the wedding pros + vendors who helped create a fantastic kickoff to exciting new vendor showcases, networking events, and community comfort.

Photography Courtesy of: Lauren Michelle Photography

HUGE THANK YOU TO THE EVENT SPONSORS:
for making this fun event possible:
Venue - Foxen Canyon Ranch - @foxencanyonranch (Diana Merhman + Steve Hayer)
White Sage Wedding and Events - @whitesageevents (Brooke Baker)
Lauren Michelle Photography @laurenmichelle.photography
Jump On The School Bus @jumpontheschoolbus
Sanders & Sons - @sanders_and_sons_gelato
Jenny Mann Floral Design - @jennymannfloral
The Cocktail Concierge - @cocktailconcierge
Bright Event Rentals - @brighteventrentals
Slate Catering Co. - @slatecatering
Natalie Gelman - @nataliegelman​
Flowers - @florabundanceinc
Luxury Loos - @luxury_loos

FOLLOW US: @SANTABARBARAWEDDING