PHOTOGRAPH BY MEGAN SOREL
MAGAZINE
Santa B arbara WEDDINGS
SPRING14.weddingsA.indd 145
2014 3/28/14 2:59 PM
WEDDINGS B E L O V E D N U T P I A L S A T T H E B I LT M O R E
A Chance Encounter FOR BRIANA RASINSKI AND DAVID NACHMAN, both
their relationship and the decision to
wed in Santa Barbara was due in large part to fate. The couple met at a Manhattan social club Rasinski opened with her brother. “I was about to head home for the evening until I saw David coming down the stairs,” she recalls. Opting to stay a bit longer was a decision she says “would change the course of my life forever.” After narrowly escaping Hurricane Sandy, the newly engaged New Yorkers sought refuge in Napa Valley. Having spent time in Santa Barbara with her uncle and aunt Craig and Susan McCaw, and together as a couple, the pair knew they wanted a California wedding. Using the opportunity to scout for locations, they scoured Napa to no avail and “opted to postpone our flight home and drove down the coast,” says Rasinski. “Weary from a long day, we made it to Santa Barbara in time to check into the Biltmore. As we walked through the lobby and outside in the warm ocean air, hearing the waves crash, we knew that this was the place for our big day.” Describing her inspiration to wedding planner Alexandra Kolendrianos and floral designer Mindy Rice as “mission revival on the beach,” together with her mother, Rasinski designed an “event that would work in harmony with an idyllic beach backdrop.” Following her walk down the aisle, they exchanged vows, which they wrote themselves, and chose readings for each cousin in a “traditionally structured but unconventionally substantive ceremony” in the Four Season Resort Biltmore’s Mariposa Garden. –A.D.H.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
In lieu of a traditional rehearsal dinner, the couple held a groom’s reception at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum; a mariachi band serenaded guests as they feasted on Mexican eats from Los Arroyos and sipped margaritas; Nachman with the McCaw family: warm and whimsical colors punctuated the decor; delicate place cards by Lazaro Press.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MEGAN SOREL
SPRING14.weddingsA.indd 146
3/28/14 2:59 PM
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
The newlyweds; Santa Ynez floral designer Mindy Rice created the elegant centerpieces textured by lush greenery and citrus accents; members of the wedding party; the bride and groom’s custom-designed rings; a grand exit; guests sipped champagne and Coronitas as they waited for the ceremony to begin; dinner catered by the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore; the bride in Vera Wang.
147
SPRING14.weddingsA.indd 147
3/28/14 2:59 PM
WEDDINGS V O W S I N T H E VA L L E Y
On the Range
spent surfing at a secret spot in California to a proposal by a moonlit campfire on the beach in Yelapa, Mexico, for artisans Bennett Williams and Blakeney Sanford, the elements have served as ready companions and steady landmarks throughout the duration of their relationship. It should come as little surprise then that the soul surfers would choose Sanford’s family ranch in Santa Ynez as the setting for their latesummer nuptials. “This land built me,” says Sanford of the location. “I grew from this dirt, and in these trees and on this place, we were married.” Known for her own large-scale art installations, Blakeney felt at ease designing and building an organic and raw wedding rife with recycled materials. With help from friends, she and Williams created dining tables and seating from reclaimed planks of first-growth wood they had collected, assembled succulent centerpieces sourced from the bride’s garden, and handpolished abalone shells that served as an ode to their deep connection to the ocean. To complete her own ensemble, the bride added braided leather straps and whimsical details with feathers she found on the ranch to her one-of-a-kind Queen Anne’s lace vintage gown. Following a hilltop procession with “a collection of their closest friends,” the couple tied the knot at the center of a Fibonacci spiral the bride’s father had mowed in grass. The merriment continued as guests watched a vivid pink sunset, lounged on Middle Eastern rugs, sipped cocktails from The Hitching Post, and feasted on homemade Mexican eats as well as boar sausage from one of Williams’s hunting trips. Friends camped all weekend on the ranch and gathered for grilled oysters near the Santa Ynez River. “It was a magical experience,” says Sanford, “a true work of art and the best installation we have accomplished.” –A.D.H.
FROM THEIR FIRST DATE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
The happy couple; found feathers add a finishing touch to her dress; the bride with Williams’s daughter, Reina; handbranded handkerchief napkins and abalone shells adorn the reclaimed-wood tables.
P H OTO G R A P H S BY CO R E Y SA N D E R S
148
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.weddingsA.indd 148
3/28/14 3:00 PM
“We explored the hilltops, sat under the oaks, and picked just the perfect spot to gather and celebrate our love and marriage.�
SPRING14.weddingsA.indd 149
3/28/14 7:56 PM
WEDDINGS S A N TA B A R B A R A P R E S I D I O
Old World Union FOR BUSINESS OWNER, globe-trotter, designer, and blogger Caroline Diani, her engagement and ensuing wedding to actor, writer, and photographer Jeffrey Doornbos is markedly evocative of the very golden era of American Euro film that prized elegance and gave rise to her own style icon, Grace Kelly. Akin to a scene from Roman Holiday, the British expat met her prince charming on the steps of Hendry’s Beach as he was passing through Santa Barbara on a motorcycle trip. “The rest is history,” says Diani. Designing their nuptials with help from like-minded event planner Kimberly Curtis of Toast, both Diani and Doornbos’s shared tastes in art, architecture, and fashion proved invaluable in the planning process. “Once we articulated the general idea [of the design], we opened ourselves up to all the details we could think of,” says Diani. Though her eponymous Santa Barbara boutique hints at her penchant for a restrained urban-chic aesthetic, her golden-hued, Italian-inspired wedding speaks to the couple’s equally valued proclivity for time-honored tradition, European elegance, and class. For their ceremony at Santa Barbara’s El Presidio Chapel and reception in their backyard, details inspired by a Dolce & Gabbana aesthetic led to a feminine lace and gold palette that accentuated the historical architecture and blush tones of the Presidio and their backyard’s majestic mountain views. Guided by the axiom “Beauty always shows when you don’t mess with timeless and classic,” her lace Monique Lhuillier gown and lily of the valley bouquet—along with her late father’s prayer book and mother’s rosary—provided a source of comfort while she walked down the aisle. While neither the bride nor the groom is Italian, community and family has “always coexisted very naturally for each of us,” says Diani. Borrowing a page from the traditional weddings depicted in their favorite movie, The Godfather, the couple was “committed to making the day not just about us getting married, but about creating an extended family together.” –A.D.H.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : Flowers by Kimberly Curtis of Toast; Caroline Diani; Jeffrey Doornbos; the Toast-designed reception at the couple’s home; Chanel pumps finished the bride’s elegant Monique Lhuillier ensemble. OPPOSITE : Taking their vows in the Presidio.
P H OTO G R A P H S BY S H A N N O N J AY N E 150
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.weddingsA.indd 150
3/28/14 3:00 PM
SPRING14.weddingsA.indd 151
3/28/14 3:00 PM
WEDDINGS
RIVIERA ROYAL Whether the belle of your Biltmore ball or the grand dame of a sunken garden party, choose from a variety of bridal looks for your unforgettable Santa Barbara wedding
Dress, $8,700, Monique Lhuillier.
Courthouse CLASSIC Dress, $1,700, and coat, $2,600, Monique Lhuillier.
Boho LUXE Montecito GLAM
Ring, $8,250, Bryant & Sons; Diptyque perfume, $145, Space NK Apothecary.
Perfume, $265, Strange Invisible; ring, $3,885, Daniel Gibbings.
Nancy Gonzales clutch, $2,420, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Jo Malone London perfume, $145, Saks Fifth Avenue; ring, price upon request, Silverhorn Silverhorn. Giuseppe Zanotti heels, $1,875, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Zuhair Murad Couture dress, price upon request, Saks Fifth Avenue. 152
S A N TA B A R B A R A
Christian Louboutin heels, $845, Saks Fifth Avenue. SPRING 2013
Golden Era VINTAGE
Modern MOD
RUSTIC Valley
Jenny Packham dress, $5,783, Saks Fifth Avenue. Earrings, price upon request, Kai Linz; Nightcap dress, $385, Hawthorn.
nt e e y.
Dior Couture dress, price upon request, Saks Fifth Avenue; earrings, price upon request, Martin Katz.
Chanel perfume, $88, Nordstrom; Sergio Rossi booties, $1,790, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Perfume, $220, BYREDO.
Boots, $450, Romp; Olo perfume, $45, Jenni Kayne; ring, $12,780, Cathy Waterman.
. Ring, $3,100, Truong & Co.
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 153
153
3/28/14 4:03 PM
WEDDINGS
FACE VALUE
“This spring, we’ve been accentuating the eyes using carefully placed lashes and flirty liner.”
Beauty experts share their tips & tricks for creating this year’s trends
—Leah Washuta, Unveiled Makeup & Hair, 805-452-5449, unveiledmakeup.com
THE BEES KNEES Channel sun-drenched summers courtesy of Chantecaille’s Save the Bees color collection ($83, available at Space NK Apothecary, 805-969-5566, us.spacenk.com). With the paraben-free cheek and eye palette and Pretty Brilliant glosses ($33) in soft shades, either let your natural beauty glow, or borrow from the spring runway and add a dramatic swipe of the Le Stylo liquid liner ($34) to your upper lashline. –A.D .H.
“Natural and romantic is always fashion forward, but natural does not necessarily mean nude. Use sheer berry colors, pinks, or warm roses to perfectly complement your skin tone.” —Christina Burns, 617-285-8772.
Resurrect your summer glow at Santa Barbara’s primping parlor, Honeys. In addition to custom airbrush tanning (from $45), the posh downtown location offers an array of specialty services, including lash perming ($35), eco-friendly sugaring hair removal (from $20), and brow shaping ($22). Why not make a day of it and take over the salon with your bridesmaids for a private sugaring or tanning party complete with complimentary bubbly?
“The ‘natural dramatic’ is a soughtafter look both on and off the runway. Be bold by adding a spicy cayenne or pinky coral on your lips.” —Ashley Kelly, LunaBella Makeup & Hair, 805-450-7049, lunabellaartists.com.
TIPS For a Friday night rehearsal dinner and Saturday wedding, plan accordingly and wax and tan on Thursday. Wanting to reshape and/ or grow out your brows? Book a “brow rehab” consultation three months prior to your big day.
“You can never go wrong with glowing skin. Some of the best products to achieve this look are Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint foundation ($53), By Terry Cellularose Blush Glacé ($58), and Sisley-Paris Golden Dry Oil ($90).”
HONEYS AIRBRUSH TANNING AND WAXING 209 W. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-8300, ilovehoneys.com.
—Tomiko Taft, 805-708-2422, tomikotaft.com.
154
SPRING 2013
P H OTO G R A P H S : TO M I KO TA F T, PAT R I C K M OY E R
SWEET HONEY
m
g
e
y.
I F I T F E E L S R I G H T,
it is.
YOUR PREWEDDING BEAUTY ROUTINE requires fastidious attention
to detail. After all, a beauty plan gone awry can have devastating consequences. Enter Montecito’s secret weapon, Jeannette Baer. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology in her Aesthetics Montecito office, 805-565-8480, fourseasons.com/ santabarbara—situated in the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore—the University of Southern California Medical School graduate effectively smooths away the lines and freshens the faces of local women of all ages. Here, Baer shares a custom itinerary for brides to “refine and rejuvenate with results-driven procedures and treatments.”
PICTURE PERFECT
START NOW Permanent laser hair removal ($500/
hour) will be a time-saver come your wedding weekend and honeymoon. With a necessary minimum of five to six treatments for optimal results and a five-week recovery between each, it’s advisable to begin the process sooner than later. TWO TO THREE MONTHS BEFORE A few cake tastings past your ideal weight? The HCG diet ($700 for initial phase, $400 thereafter) is a bride’s best friend, yielding an average loss of onehalf to one pound per day. With a 23 to 43-day supervised program consisting of a personalized meal plan, regular hormone injections, and a three-week maintenance period after the initial phase of the diet, it is best to begin HCG at least eight weeks before your big day. TWO MONTHS BEFORE Erase age spots and
sun damage with noninvasive Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatments (from $50). One to two treatments will leave your skin even toned and glowing. Allow at least 10 days between each treatment for recovery and ideal results. ONE MONTH BEFORE Rather than rely on
retouching to look picture perfect in your wedding photos, take matters into your own hands and begin Botox and ReJuveDerm injections now (from $11/unit). Starting a month before the wedding will allow time for things to settle and appear more natural. THE WEEK OF Give your skin a more youthful
glow with a Skin Tyte treatment (from $350). Utilizing lasers to stimulate collagen production and dermal retraction, it can be performed as late as the day before you say “I do.” THE MORNING OF Avoid the dehydrating effects of caffeine and put a little pep in your step with a vitamin B shot ($25). –A.D .H.
Bring this ad in for a F R E E G I F T W I T H P U R C H A S E
SUMMERLAND LOS OLIVOS
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 155
2350 L i l l i e A v e
|
2477 A l a m o P i n t a d o A v e
805.770.2847
|
|
805.686.4545
# Wa x i n g P o e t i c S u m m e r l a n d
|
# Wa x i n g P o e t i c L o s O l i vo s
3/28/14 4:03 PM
WEDDINGS PAPERIE
Love & Letters
SET THE TONE of your wedding early on by way of decidedly personal
and purposeful stationery. Whether you envision a traditional soiree, a rustic shindig, or an intimate south-of-the border destination wedding, find solace and inspiration via Santa Barbara’s ingenious paper designers. For Heidi Jimenez of Zenadia Design, 805-757-7693, zenadiadesign .com, working with fabrics such as cotton paper, velvet, suede, and leather lends her invitations a distinct texture unrivaled by traditional cardstock. • Perhaps drawing inspiration from her Honey Paper, 805325-9320, honey-paper.com, storefront’s natural Santa Ynez surroundings, UC Los Angeles design grad Michelle Castle brings the outside in with highly refined die cutting and wood printing on Fabriano Medioevalis deckled edge paper and wood veneer. • Harking back to the elegance, warmth, and beauty of vintage practices such as letterpress, the craftsmanship of Lazaro Press & Design, 805-861-8409, lazaropress.com, coalesces a variety of traditional and new techniques, including highly detailed laser cutting, to yield eye-catching, intricate designs. • “Not one to follow trends,” Leslie Lewis Sigler of Lilly and Louise, 805-687-9414, lillyandlouise.com, “works one-on-one with clients” without a pre-fab look book to “create truly custom designs unique to each couple’s story.” Ever the artist, she has used everything from watercolor painting to stitching and thread to satisfy brides’ varied visions. –A.D.H.
A CUT ABOVE
HONEY PAPER
ZENADIA DESIGN
AN ARTIST BY TRADE and owner of
Fanciful Event Designs, Noel Solomon loves paper. With a passion for craftsmanship, she scrupulously handcuts and sculpts 100 percent cotton French paper into awe-inspiring, oversize floral art (from $15). Drawing inspiration from the “steady yet ever-evolving brilliance of our mountainous coastline, people, and energy,” and articulating high-level sophistication and ingenuity as her trademarks, she allows each piece’s personalized brilliance to “make someone stop for a moment, wonder, and pause to appreciate a form of art you don’t see everyday,” she says. Wow your guests with Fanciful centerpieces, chair backings, canopies, window displays, or favors. Better yet, collaborate with Solomon to create a custom design of any size. –A.D.H. FANCIFUL DESIGNS 949-294-9685, fancifulshop.com. Available at LILY, 1131 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-695-0625.
156
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 156
SPRING 2013
3/28/14 4:21 PM
Coast 2 Coast Collection Featuring Bernardaud, Christofle, Hermes, Juliska, Kim Seybert, Lalique, Match, St. Louis, Vietri, Waterford and Wedgwood Unique Vintage Jewelry & Gifts ~ Bridal Registry Services Available La Arcada Courtyard ~ 1114 State Street, Suite 10 ~ Santa Barbara, CA 93101 ~ 805.845.7888 Monday~Saturday: 10am-6pm & Sunday: Noon-5pm www.C2Ccollection.com Ad template.indd 1
2/25/14 9:36 AM
WEDDINGS
Le Chic Chateau
LEFT TO RIGHT : Vase, $180, Tiffany & Co.; Coyuchi embroidered sham, $160, striped throw, $160, and striped sham, $92, Upstairs at Pierre Lafond; Urban Oasis dinnerware, from $27, Porch.
Register with flair and fill your pied-Ă -terre with a collection of classic, continental, and artisanal heirlooms
LEFT: Shooters, $105/ set of six, Maison K. BELOW: Pillows, $110 each, and throw, $375, Yves Delorme.
Mariposa platter, $280, Coast 2 Coast Collection.
Cheese boards, from $48, and three-tier stand, $155, Hudson Grace. 158
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 158
SPRING 2013
3/28/14 4:20 PM
DANIEL GIBBINGS
Engagement & Wedding
Exceptional engagement and wedding rings crafted in Santa Barbara Customized design for any budget with flexible payment options Visit our store to select the perfect setting for the stone of your choice
1143 COAST VILLAGE ROAD, MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA TEL 877.565.1284 TUESDAY - SATURDAY 11 - 6
danielgibbingsjewelry.com
Ad template.indd 1
3/11/14 9:55 AM
WEDDINGS
G
one are the days of a single, gargantuan tower of icing and sponge cake. Rather, “choose something that makes sense thematically and works with your event parameters,” says celebrated Santa Barbara event designer Merryl Brown, 805-453-5729, merrylbrownevents.com. “There is no right or wrong when it comes to what you choose to serve.”
ELI ZABETH COLLIN G
“Infuse your wedding with color, texture, and—of course—memorable tastes” with a Viennese table, suggests Dawn Peters of Decadence Fine Cakes and Confections, 805-6862860, decadenceweddingcakes .com. Follow suit with a traditional French-style buffet bedecked with “profiteroles, macarons, fruit tarts,
first piece of wedding cake.” However, “sharing a piece of delicious pie or any one of their favorite desserts” would certainly be just as special, says Colling. Try her chocolate ganache and cookie crust pie. Amber Vander Vliet, owner of Enjoy Cupcakes, 805-451-0284,
enjoycupcakes.com, advises expanding your wedding dessert horizons beyond the confines of cake for practicality’s sake. In the interest of your guests and your pocketbook, select multiple flavors of cupcakes E N J OY CU PCA K ES
Let Them Eat Cake…or not
SANTA BARBARA’S PREMIUM CONFECTIONERIES SHARE THEIR SUGARY SOLUTIONS and petit cakes,” she says. Not one for formality? “Choose an American table with luxe chocolate bars, oldfashioned candies, and cookies.” A bit of a traditionalist at heart, Martha Stewart food editor and pastry chef Elizabeth Colling, 310-2705272, elizabethcolling.com, cites her favorite part of a wedding as “when the bride and groom feed each other the
and other mini desserts to “eliminate cake cutting fees and allow your guests to partake without having to wait to be served.” For Jessica Foster Confections, 805-637-6985, jessicafosterconfections .com, nothing is off limits. “If you really want to think out of the box, go for more interactive concepts like a DIY s’mores fire pit, hot cocoa bar, or a churros station,” says Foster. Want to impress your Southern in-laws? “Simply opt for a small tiered display of truffles and a personal cake.” Though Lynette La Mere, executive chef and owner of Pure Joy Catering, 805-963-5766, purejoycatering.com, loves a beautiful wedding cake, even she admits, “when our couples want to really wow their guests, we suggest a custom dessert station.” –A.D.H.
142
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 160
PHOTOGRAPHS: MERRYL BROWN, ELIZABETH MESSINA
M E R RY L B R OW N
SPRING 2013
3/28/14 6:45 PM
SHINDIGSB.COM
Ad template.indd 1
WEDDINGS
EVENTS
PARTIES
805.450.5808
3/11/14 1:02 PM
WEDDINGS
SPRING The Marquee 805-560-0100, marqueesb.com.
Scott Sampila Mint, available year round, and cucumber, available April through August. MIXOLOGIST
FARMERS MARKET FINDS
All About Eve
Muddle fresh mint and cucumber with fresh lime juice and simple syrup. Add Crop cucumber vodka and shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a cucumber wedge.
SUMMER Sama Sama 805-965-4566, samasamakitchen.com. MIXOLOGIST Greg Brechbiel FARMERS MARKET FINDS Pluots, available June through September.
Pluot Negroni
Muddle pluot with fresh-squeezed lemon juice in a mixing glass. Add New Amsterdam gin, Contrato Vermouth Bianco, and Calisaya Amaro, and shake with ice. Strain into a coupe glass, add a splash of soda water, and garnish with a lemon.
FALL The Hungry Cat 805-884-4701,
thehungrycat.com. MIXOLOGIST Julia Muehl Apples from the Santa Ynez and Goleta valleys, available August through December.
FARMERS MARKET FINDS
With Santa Barbara’s Mediterranean climate and proximityy to coastal farms, every season offers a multitude of fresh, organic produce. We asked our city’s most creative mixologists for their favorite signature cocktail recipes infused with local harvest offerings to distinguish your wedding any time of the year. CELEBRATORY SIPS Decadent wedding desserts complement the sparkling Beau Joie Champagne ($80, available at The Liquor & Wine Grotto, 805-969-5936, montecitovino.com), made from the finest grapes of Epernay, France.
162
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 162
War of the Roses
Combine rose petal-infused bourbon, fresh lemon juice, fresh apple juice, and cinnamon syrup in mixing glass with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass.
WINTER The Lark 805-284-0370, thelarksb.com.
Ryan Stowers Blood oranges, available November through May.
MIXOLOGIST
FARMERS MARKET FINDS
Scarlett Arrow
(pictured) Combine cognac, fresh blood orange juice, simple syrup, and orange bitters in a champagne glass. Top with prosecco and garnish with a candied blood orange twist.
PHOTOGRAPH: STEVEN HONG
SPIRITS OF LOVE
SPRING 2013
3/28/14 4:23 PM
Ad template.indd 1
1/20/14 11:58 AM
WEDDINGS
Patek Phillip watch, $45,400, Bryant & Sons; exfoliant, $40, Aesop; David Yurman ring, $795, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Sport coat, $4,595, trousers, $595, shirt, $595, bow tie, $155, and slippers, $650, Ralph Lauren.
HAUTE & HANDSOME Channel your inner Humphrey Bogart with timeless pieces in smoldering navy and warm amber tones
ABOVE : tie, $190, Gucci South Coast Plaza; cufflinks, price upon request, TIffany & Co.; belt, $860, Hermes; BELOW: Kiehl’s cologne, $42.50, Saks Fifth Avenue.
King Baby bracelet, $210, Saks Fifth Avenue; Viajero bag, $1,300, Kendall Conrad; cufflinks, $975, Daniel Gibbings; Acqua di Parma razor and stand, $670, Nordstrom; loafer, $640, Gucci South Coast Plaza.
Jacket, $4,020, pants, $1,240, shirt, $615, tie, $240, and moccasins, $1,350, Tom Ford.
164
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 164
SPRING 2013
3/31/14 2:34 PM
HOUSE BLEND
Brought together by love, a new moon marks a fresh beginning as two families become one
The Zacharias family.
WHILE WE SWOON over all the imperative details of a meticulously executed wedding and reception, we may, albeit unknowingly, glaze past the most paramount of all nuptial elements: a couple publicly declaring their love and shared identity as a single entity. As the number of “blended families”—wherein the bride and groom have children from a previous relationship—have increased, so too have “blended weddings.” Now more than ever, couples are relying on ceremonial details to solidify not only their union with each other, but also, and most importantly, their identity as a new family with their children. For Jennifer Guess, owner of Santa Barbara-based boutique public relations firm JZPR, and Kris Zacharias, creator and designer of Koolaburra shoes, their nuptial rite was both an opportunity to affirm their love for one another and embrace Kris’s children, Marlowe and Dylan, in their union. Opting for a familyonly ceremony atop El Encanto’s private Oak Tree Suite, the couple chose to forgo other attendants in favor of Marlowe and Dylan serving as ring bearers and being the only others included in the service. Earlier, Marlowe had spent the day primping with Jennifer, and Dylan and Kris were able to share boys time by helping each other with their bow ties and cufflinks. Following the ceremony, the couple welcomed 75 guests to the property’s storied arbor as 8-year-old Dylan brought libations for Jennifer and Kris to initiate their first toast as a family. Celebrations continued through the night as the kids boogied next to the bride and groom following their first dance and indulged in limitless sweets as the couple and guests soaked in the panoramic views lit by the enchanted glow of the supermoon, which welcomed a warm future for the new family. –A.D.H.
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING14.WeddingsBits FINAL.indd 165
165
3/28/14 6:55 PM
Make every room a living room.
Ad template.indd 1
3/24/14 3:06 PM
G E TAWAY S
In a Mexican Mood The contrast is vivid and dramatic: the brilliant blue of the Sea of Cortez against the starkly pale desert of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. In this setting, Esperanza, an Auberge Resort, takes full advantage of its position on a >
Esperanza’s classic Baja-style accommodations.
167
SPRING13.getaways.indd 167
3/28/14 1:52 PM
G E TAWAYS point above two private beach coves to fashion the ultimate luxe experience for a couples getaway. Shimmering ocean views beckon from every handsomely furnished casita, suite, and villa, while terraces with infinity-edge hot tubs issue a counter invitation to never stir. Of course, some activities may be irresistible, like the Auberge Antidote, a three-part restorative bath, scrub, and massage at the LEFT TO RIGHT :
An ocean-view room; the beachfront resort.
spa. By day, it’s also easy to simply lounge by the pool and sip an agua fresca—a refreshingly healthful beverage made from Mexican fruits and plants. At night, there’s the chance to savor a tequila cocktail or feast on the catch of the day by candlelight. Or, even better, to enjoy an intimate dinner at a table for two on the beach, under the stars with the sound of waves as background music. –JOAN TAPPER ESPERANZA, AN AUBERGE RESORT Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, 855-331-2226, esperanzaresort.com. Rates: From $695 per night.
CLOCKWISE FROM
RUSTIC ROMANCE WITH A BACKDROP of Rocky Mountains and a river that
TOP LEFT: Winter at the Ranch at Rock Creek; a freestanding bathtub; rustic guestroom decor.
actually runs through it, the five-star Ranch at Rock Creek offers everything you might expect of an all-inclusive stay in Montana’s Big Sky country. What adds to the mix of lodge rooms, canvas cabins, and private homes, though, are romantic accommodations, like the secluded canvas, wood, and stone Trapper Cabin, complete with a fireplace and its own soaking tub overlooking the creek. Finishing off a day of riding, rafting, fishing, shooting, or doing nothing at all, dinner at the Granite Lodge or outdoors at the Blue Canteen features locally sourced cuisine like grass-fed beef and organic produce as well as fine wines. Afterward, pull up a cowhide barstool at the Silver Dollar Saloon to sip a Montana draft beer on tap. –J.T. THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK 79 Carriage House Ln., Philipsburg, MT, 877-786-1545; theranchatrockcreek.com. Rates: From $995 per person per night. 168
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING13.getaways.indd 168
SPRING 2014
3/28/14 1:50 PM
Once in a lifetime
GUIDED TRIPS with EXTREME ADVENTURER
Alaska
Forrest Galante
Ever dreamed of going on the adventure of a lifetime? How about journeying anywhere from the farthest reaches of the globe to our own backyard at the Channel Islands? With “Discovery Channel Star and Santa Barbara Native Adventurer Forrest Galante” Forrest’s adventures can accommodate anything from the hardened outdoorsmen to the adventurous first time family. Focusing on environmental conservation, primitive survival, animal encounters, and sustainable harvest all while journeying to the most beautiful and unspoiled habitats on earth. “The most grand of adventures!” Expeditions to Indonesia, Belize, Mexico, Colorado River, Bahamas, Australia, Micronesia, Southern Africa, California Channel Islands, South America and more!!
Mauritius
SEEN ON
Contact Forrest Galante at 805.403.7114 facebook.com/forrestgalante or forrestgalante@gmail.com Ecuador forrest.indd 1 Ad template.indd 8
3/24/14 4:40 PM 3/25/14 9:14 AM
G E TAWAYS
Before the Bells
RATHER THAN ALLOW WEDDING JITTERS TO GIVE WAY TO A PRENUPTIAL FRENZY, TRADE A DRAINING BACHELOR(ETTE) PARTY FOR A WEEKEND RETREAT TO REBALANCE YOUR BODY AND QUIET YOUR MIND BEFORE YOUR BIG DAY. Maui’s premiere boutique retreat Lumeria offers a more secluded alternative to Kaanapali’s developed beaches and Wailea’s resorts. With sweeping views, organic edible gardens, 24 five-star rooms and suites, meditation gardens, and access to North Shore beaches, the six-acre sanctuary outside of hippy-chic Paia makes for an ideal bachelorette destination. Choose from wellness offerings such as Reiki healing, scuba diving, and traditional Hawaiian massages, or opt for the Maui Ocean Divas program, which includes a five-night stay, kiteboarding lessons, private yoga classes, and spa offerings designed for the “adventurous na wahine.” FOR THE GALS
LUMERIA
THE LANDING R E S O RT & S PA
LUMERIA 1813 Baldwin Ave., Paia/ Makawao, Maui, HI, 855-579-8877, lumeriamaui.com. Rates: From $329 per night.
Though only open since last December, Lake Tahoe’s newest and only five-star resort and spa, The Landing, FOR THE BOYS
T H E W I L L OW S H I S T O R I C PA L M SPRINGS INN
S A N TA B A R B A R A
SPRING13.getaways.indd 170
has already garnered celebrity attention. The latest venture from eminent Beverly Hills proprietor Jimmy Demetriades, the resort’s ultra-luxe waterfront location and proximity to the illustrious Edgewood Golf course, Tahoe Village Center, and the Heavenly Gondola make it a prime getaway for an active groom and his buddies. Ensure a memorable prewedding jaunt any time of the year and peruse the collector’s wine cellar, enjoy après-ski sports-specific spa treatments, book a biking excursion, or fly fish for trout in the Truckee River. THE LANDING RESORT AND SPA 4104 Lakeshore Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA, 855-700-5263, thelandingtahoe.com. Rates: From $239 per night.
Does the notion of mustering enough time, energy, and money to travel hours in the midst of wedding planning seem entirely unrealistic? Instead, book a weekend retreat a quick 45 minutes away at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Relish each other’s company with a serene couples massage and enjoy Topa Topa mountain views and a gardengrown dinner for two at fourdiamond restaurant, Maravilla. FOR THE WEARY COUPLE
855-697-8780, ojairesort.com. Rates: From $369 per night. FOR THE WEDDING PARTY
Nestled against the base of Palm Springs’ rugged Mt. San Jacinto, the Willows Historic Inn remains one of Southern California’s most elite and private getaways. With an original Mediterranean façade, grand living space, and guest list that includes Albert Einstein, Shirley Temple, and Clark Gable, the inn epitomizes old Hollywood while enveloping guests in Regency-inspired luxury. With only eight rooms in the original edifice, an onsite cascading 50-foot waterfall, private swimming pools, and proximity to downtown Palm Springs and Joshua Tree Reserve, the Willows provides a restorative escape for both your groomsmen and bridesmaids. THE WILLOWS HISTORIC PALM SPRINGS INN 412 W. Tahquiz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA, 800-966-9597, thewillowspalmsprings.com. Rates: From $375 per night. –ANGELIA DE MEISTRE-HAMMER
THE OJAI VALLEY INN & SPA 905 Country Club Rd., Ojai, CA,
O J A I VA L L E Y I N N & S PA
SPRING 2014
3/28/14 1:52 PM