natalie + dan

congratulations to natalie and dan! this week marks the 6 month countdown 'til their big day. can you tell by the photos above what a fun couple these two are? their smiles radiate the affection they have for one another...a precursor to the day they have planned for this summer.  a historical santa barbara monument, an ocean front venue, tied in with some very creative touches: their wedding is sure to be a quintessential santa barbara celebration.  view more of their beautiful photos above, shot in my favorite city of san francisco, at treasure photography. and stay tuned for the wedding photos in july!

"brown paper packages tied up with string"

this holiday season, i was inspired to create a gift box for those merriment-friends that have inspired me in 2009 and whom i'm wishing a successful 2010. i've always been a fan of using brown paper and recycled packages, tied up with sting...which usually makes me sing the tune from sound of music for the rest of the day. this year i was inclined to actually give, a few of my "favorite things." when making this gift yourself, the contents can be your own personal favorites. i find homemade treats are a thoughtful, eco-friendly and cost effective approach. my favorites are chocolate! here are a few photos of the goodies i included in my gift box. i have to say they were happily received.

jessica foster truffles - in my holiday package were pomegranate (for the season) and ancho-chile cumin, a perfect compliment to the mexican hot chocolate (below). these bite-size bits of handmade goodness are made here in santa barbara, by jessica herself and are as gourmet as chocolate gets! see jessica's website for other delicious flavors.

hot cookie.com chocolate chip cookies - another locally made treat. i personally can't get enough of chocolate chip cookies, they're my ultimate dessert and even better when someone else makes them for you and you just enjoy!

ibarra hot chocolate - a version of mexican hot chocolate and a family favorite that is perfect on a cold winter night. with a little cayenne, you'll give it an added kick!

 

indulgence the home spa gift certificate - we all need to toast to ourselves, especially after a long year. indulgence provides the luxury of spa treatments in the comfort of your home! a thank you to carol of indulgence, who generously donated the gift certificates. a great way to motivate us to take the time.

i wish everyone a very happy holiday. may your 2010 be filled with health, prosperity, love and merriment.

leigh + dave

i feel so lucky to have a career that allows me to meet kind people. kind people, that are in love no less! meet leigh and dave. a perfect example of the employment benefit i am so thankful for. leigh and dave met in santa barbara while both in grad school at ucsb. their friendship became a little more when fate would have it, that after graduation, they both took jobs in the same city, san francisco! the engagement photos above were taken by the talented photographer shelly vinson. the photos she so perfectly captured, highlight leigh and dave's personality and leave us waiting in anticipation for their special day at the four seasons biltmore, august 2010 - stay tuned! see the rest of leigh and dave's photos on shelly's site: http://www.shellyvinson.com/

anne + marcus (part dois)

as promised, anne and marcus have shared photos of their beautiful september wedding celebration in the canadian rockies. (merriment posted a preview in july, see post).

back in july, anne and i had fun bouncing ideas off of one another about the ambiance of the day she envisioned: honoring their heritage and their love of santa barbara, making the event kid friendly and keeping the overall decor true to the surroundings, simple and rustic. many of these details were incorporated, but above all...the quality time they spent with their family and friends stands out and will forever be in their hearts.

the two wed on anne's father's christina lake property, intimately surrounded by family and friends from brazil, the us and canada. every bit of this celebration was a collaborative effort by those dear to the couple. not only the location of the ceremony, but anne's family friend grew succulents and ferns in preparation for the decor, anne's godmother played the harp, her godfather officiated and friends catered the rehearsal dinner. according to one of marcus' family members "over three days of celebrating, not a single waiter was to be found." anne and marcus found the whole experience to be relaxing (commendable for a destination planned wedding). congratulations to mr. & mrs. chevitarese! photos above by: Allison Watt

jamie + justin

last saturday, october 10, 2009 i had the privilege of coordinating a lovely wedding at the santa barbara zoological gardens, for bride and groom jamie and justin! they were engaged one year prior, to the day, at paris' eiffel tower and over the last year the two planned a wedding weekend that couldn't have been lovelier. the ceremony took place in the zoo's palm garden, complete with a couple distant roars from the resident lions and a reception that followed on the hilltop overlooking santa barbara's coastline and harbor. one of the magical moments: the day that was turning out to be a little chilly and foggy...became soft evening sunshine, as the bride made her way through the rose petals to the alter. to quote the groom "the heavens parted" when his beautiful bride walked down the aisle. everyone agreed - it was a breathtaking moment. congratulations to mr. & mrs. anderson! photo above by  fotocielo (see additional on merriment's website).

details from j&j's day:
caterer: rincon catering
cupcakes: robyn loves cakes
dj: santa barbara djs
florals: cana flowers
officiant: father of the groom, bob
photographer: fotocielo
venue: santa barbara zoological gardens
videographer: george guajardo
planner: merriment

i also have to give a little shout-out to my fabulous assistant, chanel. she did an amazing job helping to make sure all the details were executed to perfection. thank you for all your hard work chanel!

"so we take each other's hand, 'cause we seem to understand"

above are a few of the photos taken of the beautiful rosie montoto and handsome babak semnar - now "mr. & mrs. semnar!" i had to share these to show the vibrancy these two brought to their wedding. my husband and i had the privilege of attending their nuptials september 9. i was looking forward to exploring the area where they were tying the knot, southern california wine country north east of san diego. set on a beautiful golf course, the two married under an arbor as the sun was setting behind the mountain ridge - stunning. the party that immediately followed began with what would turn out to be the absolute best "first dance" i've ever seen! rosie (who i met at ucla, as a fellow dancer would dance whenever she had the chance) choreographed a piece for her and her new husband (who was not a dancer - until now!). they started off with a slow dance swaying back and forth (typical to other first dances we've all seen), but quickly broke out into a perfectly synchronized salsa, persian and tango! complete with bob sliding rosie across the floor as their legs weaved an intricate web together. i felt like the dancers in dirty dancing when they're cheering on patrick swayze and jennifer gray in the last dance scene. we were all hootin' and hollerin' - this was one first dance, no one in that room will ever forget! what a great job by bob and obviously a great teacher. congrats to mr. & mrs. semnar. may you continue to dance through life together with such passion. photos above: http://bkiddphoto.com

dress? check. flowers? check. yoga? ...

last week i reconnected, with tannis kobrinsky, the aunt of one of my dear friends (and summer bride's!), amanda. i was reminded of the great work tannis does in southern california as a pilates, gyrotonic and gyrokinesis instructor. as well as the fabulous domestic and international yoga and pilates retreats she organizes through her company health habitravels.

i had the benefit the morning of my wedding, to have a dear friend gail kennedy lead yoga for myself and bridesmaids. what a fabulous experience!! i want everyone to enjoy this perfect start to one of the most momentous days of your life. deep breathing, elongating, centering and quieting the mind can really help you to focus on the importance of the day. i thought it would be fun for tannis to give a couple of great tips for relaxing the morning-of the wedding. she is available to santa barbara brides for private sessions the morning of the wedding, bridal showers or as part of a santa barbara weekend wedding retreat. see her website for more information and check out these great tips below:

SIT ON THE MAT WITH YOUR LEGS CROSSED and shake off the “should ofs” that lodge in your should-ers and neck. elongate your spine and sit as tall as you can. with your arms straight by your side, inhale, clenched your fists and squeeze your shoulders up to your ears, exhale and drop them plus all the tension you’re holding in your neck and shoulders out through your hands. repeat three times. follow with several BIG yawns. close your eyes. rest your cupped palms over them and imagine all your stresses and strains flowing out of you into your palms. move your palms away from your eyes. blink several times, being as present in that moment as possible and loosely shake your hands to release all your cares and worries.

THEN WAKE UP your deep core energies with this hands-on series: still seated in the same position, press your palms together as if praying. rub them together for about 30 seconds, breathing deeply as your internal chi (life force) comes into your palms. slowly separate your hands and allow the sphere of energy you’re holding to move in and out as you breathe. lift the sphere over your head, then open your hands and let them float down effortlessly to your sides. clasp them together in front of you. with a heart beat rhythm, palpate lightly several across your chest, opening your heart chakra. next, lean forward slightly, and use your fists to gently palpate the muscles on other side of your back bone. DO NOT palpate directly on your spine.

STAND UP FOR “THE HALO” – put your hands above your head, with fingers clasped and palms up to the ceiling or sky opening yourself, elongating your spine and then make a circle with your “halo” shaped arms several times in one direction and then reverse, letting your shoulder blades move as you do this, breathing deeply. open your hands, and let your arms float down to your sides. inhale and lift them back up over your head as if to form a steeple. feel the warm heart centered energy flowing from palm to palm and hold this pose for several deep into your roots breaths. open your arms, stay long and balanced as they move easily down to your side. you’re ready for the love and merriment to begin!after growing up in santa barbara, studying dance and eventually limiting her training due to injury, tannis found herself moving toward teaching. tannis is available for private sessions, group classes, and is a presenter/lecturer on mind-body practices, healthy living and travel. she has written articles in such publications as pilates style magazine, yogitimes magazine, american fitness magazine, pilates pro's "the pulse" and pilates fitness journey and health and goodness.

destination wedding or bring IT. to santa barbara?

i was recently approached about possibly coordinating a destination wedding in mexico. the ideas began racing through my head of how lovely the celebration could be. i immediately thought of a wedding my husband and i witnessed in rome, on a trip to italy in 2005. we were lunching in a small piazza when the church bells began to ring and the bride and groom merrily stepped out followed by all of their guests. we felt so lucky to see this small slice of italian life, especially during such a joyous occasion.

there are so many cultural resources to take advantage of during a destination wedding, the location's vibrant colors, textiles, foods and architecture. these can also be ways to inspire you when the wedding is taking place in your own backyard. think about what it is about the culture or destination you would like to experience and convey to your guests. if it's the sense of family and celebration of food, maybe you chose to do a family style dinner where the guests can pass each other the main dishes and get to know each other at the same time. if it's the way the location makes you feel when you visit, maybe you chose music that transports the guest to the destination through sound or a venue that resembles the architecture or landscape of your favorite place. maybe certain colors are often found at the destination and your wedding incorporates those color palates. below are a few photos taken during that special trip to italy...perhaps to inspire.

ooh-la-la, indulgence the home spa

tonight i was privileged to meet caroline loureiro, of indulgence the home spa. not only is she a total sweetheart, but a savvy business owner who delved into the industry of beauty and relaxation five years ago. after working for some of santa barbara's most exclusive hotels, caroline noticed a need for readily available spa treatments that come to you. a native of brazil, caroline has put together a team of 25 talented spa professionals who will come to your home, office, hotel or event location and treat you and your guests to list of spa indulgences. i can't wait to host my own spa party and refer indulgence to merriment's clients! we're talking bridal packages, bachelorette parties, massages, hair treatments, waxing, make-up...the list goes on.

we met at the newly renovated hotel oceana where indulgence is the exclusive spa provider. set outside by one of oceana's pools, live music played while guests and clients sipped wine, enjoyed santa barbara's perfect weather and of course were offered massages by indulgence. oceana's general manager, melissa treue, was kind enough to give me a tour of one of their renovated rooms. brides, this is a place to stay! beachy chic decor, across the street from the beach, within walking distance to state street and a truly nice staff..it doesn't get much more "santa barbara." did i mention they rent the pool area for your private daytime parties?

anne + marcus = romantic canadian wedding

i was delighted when fellow dancer and friend anne, asked me to consult with her on her upcoming wedding plans to marry her beau marcus. their wedding weekend planned for early september doesn't get more romantic. set in a small town in the canadian rockies, christina lake, anne and marcus will be tying the knot on anne's father's lakeside property, with breathtaking views. a reception to follow at a nearby country club will incorporate marcus' brazilian heritage and anne's canadian. guests will be staying in nearby cabins and partake in various activities throughout the weekend. the photo above, from their engagement shoot, is just a taste of what's to come from this easy going and fun loving couple. anne will be sharing photos of the big day - coming soon, stay tuned. photo by gabriel nordyke

custom wedding invitations, lilly louise

yesterday i met with the talented leslie lewis sigler, of lilly louise. custom weddings invitations, party invites and announcements are just a few of leslie's artistic creations. i was in awe of her creativity, clean designs and quality materials. merriment highly recommends lilly louise. i can't wait to use them for my own celebrations! i was truly inspired. check out leslie's website and view some of her work. lilly louise is based in santa barbara.

multicultural weddings

a dear friend is getting married in september (congrats miss montoto!). to assist her with interfaith and multicultural wedding research, i did some research of my own. it wound up being more fun, than research. many of my friends have blended their cultures and faiths during their wedding celebrations. i was able to look to those friends and wound up re-living their special days' and broadening my understanding of their culture.

{rina + joe}
their korean ceremony - known as the pae baek, took place in a private room of the church, where they had just said their i do's. although traditionally only attended by the grooms family, this modernized ceremony incorporated both families. the ceremony is meant to join two families instead of just two individuals. in the room the parents are seated in front of a table prepared with various food and tea. the couple bows to the parents and then kneels to them, before listening to their words of advice, wisdom and hopes for their future. this is followed by the bride and groom holding a cloth (traditionally the bride's skirt) while the parents throw dates and chestnuts onto it. the number of fruits and nuts caught signify the number of children the couple will one day have. dates represent girls and chestnuts, boys. the happy couple finished the celebration surrounded by friends and family for an evening of dancing in a local art gallery. photo above by michelle sterling

{rebecca + charley}
their ceremony - a touching combination of jewish and non-denominational tradition, took place on the bluffs of santa barbara's coastline above the harbor. along with an apache wedding blessing, a traditional jewish wedding prayer known as the sheva brachot or "the seven blessings," was read. the ceremony also incorporated the jewish chuppah. the chuppah symbolizes the house where the bride and groom will live. the four poles which are carried by relatives or those close to the couple, represent the pillars of trust and faith on which the marriage will stand. the chuppah is held over the bride and groom as the ceremony unfolds and is open on all sides, which shows that the home is always open to friends and family. photo above by diegas zavala

{mandy + bobby}
their wedding - a beautiful blend of persian and catholic tradition was set in the foothills of montecito overlooking the pacific ocean. the sofreh aghd traditionally an intimate gathering of close family, part of the zoroastrian faith, was combined with a modern catholic ceremony. sofreh aghd translates to "wedding spread," and is believed to represent prosperity through the couples life and marriage. items are placed on a traditional silk cloth in front of the seated bride and groom while the ceremony is performed. the items presented signify various well wishes for the couple. examples are gold coins for prosperity, sugar and honey to bring the sweet life, eggs representing fertility. much of the ceremony is interactive with relatives, the bridal party and guests close to the couple performing tasks, giving verbal response and presenting gifts. after their zoroastrian i do's, mandy and bobby also took catholic vows before being pronounced husband and wife. a festive party immediately followed. photo above by sundance photography

merriment is live

the website is up and running! please see the link below for details on who we are & what we do:

www.loveandmerriment.com

marisa + max

max & marisa's wedding couldn't have been more beautiful. what a weekend to get married...during santa barbara's jesusita fire. the church being under mandatory evacuation was just one example of some major wildfire obstacles. the most commendable aspect of the celebration, was the bride and groom's calm approach, with their only objective being "to get married." i felt blessed to be part of this happy and loving celebration. congratulations mr. & mrs. tyler!

details from m&m's day:
bride's makeup: Rebecca Zavala
cake: Robyn Loves Cakes
caterer: Pure Joy Catering
dj: DJ Gavin Roy
floral arrangements: Cana Flowers
lighting: Bella Vista Designs
photography: Patricia Clarke
spanish guitar: Jon Francis
wedding coordination: Merriment

photo above, by the talented anna elledge