Business Meetings, Weddings, and Banquet Facilities
Days Inn Windmill in Buellton offers banquet facilities for intimate meetings, banquets, weddings up to 250 people. Some catering can be provided.
With our 108 room property and full service bar, we are a great location for that next event.
Our friendly staff will provide you with all the comforts of knowing your event is well cared for.
Please call us and to setup your next event in this Santa Ynez Valley Hotel.
Vendors in Area:
- Classic Party Rentals - Santa Ynez Valley
55 Industrial Way, Buellton, CA 93427
(805) 686-1115
http:/www.classicpartyrentals.com
Classic Party Rentals offers a vast array of party rental equipment to bring your vision to life. Whether you are hosting a wine and cheese reception at a vineyard or an elaborate wedding on sandy shores, we've got you covered from tent top to table top. No job is too big or two small for us to plan, set up and take down
- Rani Hoover, Wedding & Event Planner
(805) 245-8199
www.RaniHoover.com
Wedding and event planning throughout California and across the country. Consulting, coordination and planning services available.
- Serenity Skin Spa
3631 Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805) 686-9393
serenityskinspa@gmail.com
- The Little Guest
1861 Lewis Street, Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-1812
www.thelittleguest.com
The Little Guest provides babysitting services to area hotel visitors. Certified and licensed since 1999, we also specialize in group childcare and entertainment for weddings and special events throughout the county.
Wine Country Weddings
A Guide to Navigating the World of the Vineyard Wedding
By Kerry Lee Dickey, CEO/Founder, www.SBWineCountryEvents.com
The stillness of the country. The allure of vineyards. The scent of lavender and rosemary on the breeze. The marvel of a backdrop more picture-perfect than any human could have ever painted. A destination wine country wedding affords all a bride could dream of for her special day: an idyllic setting with a multitude of choices for unique ceremony and reception sites, small – town hospitality and charm, and a variety of activities for guests.
A wine country wedding offers a nostalgic rustic sophistication for those brides seeking something truly refreshing for their event. Although a wedding in wine country affords a an intimate experience like no other, there are distinct planning details to vineyard events which, if known in advance, will not only save you time and money, but will help you enjoy your day to the fullest.
Weather
The year-round mild climate in Santa Barbara's wine country , the Santa Ynez Valley, offers the opportunity for celebrating your vows in nature almost worry-free. From the sun drenched vines to dancing under the stars, the chances of having nice weather for your event are great. Still, with planning any outdoor event, ask your vineyard onsite sales person what a rain or inclement weather plan may be. If there is no indoor alternative (such as a tasting room or barrel room), consider the fact that you may have to have your event area tented (at your cost). In the summer, hot days which range in the 90's to 100's can drop down 40 degrees by night, providing for a cool reception. Always make sure you have heat lamps as part of your rental plan with your caterer, no matter what time of year. One heat lamp per guest table is a minimum recommended requisite. Another consideration for the Santa Ynez Valley is an afternoon wind that picks up around 2pm and continues until about sundown. Outdoor events should always be approached with an “anchoring down” philosophy. That is, placecards should be taped to tables (or use a giant sign with easel to show table assignments and eliminate placecards altogether); Linens for all tables should be securely fastened to tables or have something heavy to anchor them; centerpieces that are too tall with not enough weight at the bottom tend to blow over, etc.
Timing of Event
A winery's main business is selling wine. Their tasting rooms, which are open to the public 7 days a week, are their primary focus. Weddings are generally limited to a timeframe following the closing of the tasting room, generally after 5pm. Therefore, morning or afternoon weddings are not usually an option. However, this need not interfere with pre-wedding photos or suppliers setting up, as most vineyards will work with you to allow your suppliers (and you) access prior to your event – just keep in mind, the public will be there as well. This does not have to interfere with spectacular photos, however, as most vineyards are at their picturesque prime in the evening as the sun sets and casts a golden glow on the vines and trees.
Even though the vineyards are set in the country, they still have residential neighbors and in the country, sound carries. Because of this, many have strict policies on amplified sounds and sound curfews.
Alcohol
Any wine consumed at your wedding will need to be that of the winery. Most offer a discounted price on their wine for your wedding. Some vineyards have a house ale that they will require you to purchase, although many may allow you to have your own beer brought in. Generally, hard alcohol is discouraged. Talk to your caterer about other non-alcoholic options to be included in your bar and beverage choices for your event, too.
Event Venues
What many do not realize is that “wine country” has multiple venue options that are not just vineyards – from ranches, quaint churches, country inns to old rustic barns and historic landmarks. There is a venue for every taste and budget.
Accommodations & Activities for Guests
Santa Ynez Valley weddings offer guests many options for accommodations– from upscale intimate inns and spa retreats to more casual hotels. Regardless of your choice, most accommodations will offer you a special rate if you book a minimum of a certain number of rooms for your guests, and most of these locations have a two night minimum stay on weekends. Many brides opt to host their wedding and reception at these wine country inns where their guests can stay and they can celebrate their vows in a quaint and convenient setting.
Activities for a destination wedding are abundant in wine country! From hiking, biking on country roads, horseback riding, attending a “cowboy or cowgirl bootcamp”, fishing, golfing, glider plane flying, wine tasting, browsing through art galleries, antique stores, being pampered at a spa, exploring lavender fields reminiscent of Provence, or savoring the locally – inspired cuisine at a historic landmark restaurant, you and your guests will have plenty to nourish your bodies, palettes and souls.
Vineyard's Policies
Some vineyards insist on certain policies which will mean the bride will have to incur additional expenses. Knowing in advance to allot for these can help prevent unwelcome last minute surprises in your wedding budget. Because of the limited parking spaces and wear on the environment so precious to the health of the vineyards, guests may not be allowed to park at the vineyard itself. Instead, the bride may be required to hire a shuttle and have guests brought in from a central meeting point off the property. Others may have valet requirements. One vineyard in particular insists on certified childcare if there are any guests attending who are under 12 years old, regardless of the number of adult guests attending who are keeping an eye on the children. And virtually all vineyards require some kind of liability insurance, which can be taken out on a homeowner's policy or renter's insurance. There are also Websites which specialize in this service exclusively and keep it simple for the bride. WedSafe.com is a reputable and recognized wedding insurance and liability company.
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Unique Touches
- Instead of a guest book, consider purchasing a magnum – sized bottle of sparkling wine at your vineyard and having your guests sign the bottle with a metallic pen. The bottle can be saved as a keepsake in your home and a great remembrance of your special day in a unique setting.
- Even though heat lamps may be present at the reception, consider having a big basket of cozy wraps and blankets for your guests at your sign in table with a sign on a table easel inviting them to borrow a shawl or blanket if they get cool. This is a small but added personal touch that makes guests feel cared for and adds a homey ambiance, even to the most elegant of receptions.
- For assigned seating, instead of table numbers, assign various names of wine – for example, “Cabernet” or “Pinot Noir”, etc.
- To add to the feel of your event, use the props on hand at the location – many vineyards have wine barrels placed throughout the venue location and can be used to hold your guest book, gifts, guest favors, appetizers, etc.
- For wedding favors, let your guests take home a taste of wine country using items distinct to the region: boxes or bags of lavender from local fields, small gift-sized wine bottles, olives, scented candles, or miniature potted plants of rosemary.
A wine country wedding is for the bride seeking a relaxed sophistication to her special day. She is the bride who wants to do things in a refreshing way because she, herself, is distinct. She is a lover of nature and all things beautiful. Her style is timeless and her grace of is what makes a wine country wedding her only option.
With a little preparation and insider's knowledge, planning a wine country wedding can truly be stress-free and provide the backdrop for one of life's most special landmark occasions.
Kerry Lee Dickey is a third-generation Santa Barbaran and the CEO/Founder of Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events based in the Santa Ynez Valley. She has coordinated and produced weddings for over 10 years and most recently served on retainer to national wedding expert/designer and author Beverly Clark. Kerry Lee can be reached at: 805-688-2934, or off her Website: www.SBWineCountryEvents.com .
