Interview with the Founder of Ella's Cocktails - A Luxury Cocktail Catering Service
Weddings and events are more fun with unique craft drinks and expert bartenders, and that’s exactly what you’ll get when you work with Ella’s Cocktails in Santa Barbara. The company, founded by Billy Valdez and his wife Tatyana Costa-Uyematsu, is family-owned, operated, and even named after the pair’s daughter. The Ella’s Cocktails’ team is all about creating memories and providing services that make your event feel special and one-of-a-kind.
SBWS spoke to Billy Valdez in order to dig deeper into what services Ella’s Cocktails offers specifically for weddings, the top advice the team has for couples planning their big day, and more info around what bar services are currently trending. Read on to find out what the company’s founder and CEO had to say!
Q - What is your favorite location to work? What is the style that makes this location special for couples?
A - Our favorite location to work in Santa Barbara is the Montecito/Hope Ranch area. We love catering events here because it’s close to the beach and consistently sun-soaked, especially in the warmer months. Montecito & Hope Ranch has a tight-knit community of friendly locals and world travelers, couples from all over the world come here to tie the knot. Not to mention, we’re only a few miles from the beach!
Q - What is your #1 top piece of advice you give to couples before they hire you?
A - Have fun! We love to ask our couples to give us their favorite flowers, flavors, colors, etc. so we can custom tailor drinks to their liking. For example, if the bride loves peaches and the color yellow, then our signature White Peach Sangria will definitely be on the cocktail menu. Billy is an expert mixologist and can turn your imagination into reality… Nothing is too far-fetched.
Q - What is trending with your couples?
A - His & Her’s/Her’s & Her’s/His & His special drinks are trending with our couples right now. In addition to our specialty cocktail menu, full bar, and wine/beer/champagne options, it’s so fun to have the bride’s and groom’s favorite cocktails featured on the big day.
Q - What are 2 things you wish couples would do for every wedding?
A - We wish every couple would end their night with something we like to call “last glass, last dance.” When the celebration is ending we love it when the couple will cheers, just them two, to their love and enjoy one last dance. We can make you your favorite drinks for this last glass, it may be a glass of wine, champagne, etc., but we feel it is so special to have one last private moment celebrating your love at your wedding.
Q - To date, what wedding have you done that has made the top of your favorite list, and why?
A - At the top of our favorite list sits a May Montecito Wedding, where we had a full bar, beer & wine, champagne, and 6 specialty cocktails available. In addition to a wide variety of libations we even had watermelon water and cucumber water, because staying hydrated should be fun too (especially with all the dancing you’ll be doing)! We had the pleasure of serving some of our crowd-favorites: Thai Basil Cucumber Margarita with a Himalayan salt rim, Kiwi Martini, Lavender Blackberry Gin Elixir, White Peach Sangria, etc., all sourced locally and fresh of course.
Photographer Credit: Mary Jane Cole and Amaya Hull
