Photo by Amber Medley

One of the questions I am frequently asked when I am interviewed for publications is how I decribe this incredible region we call Santa Barbara’s wine country, the Santa Ynez Valley.  I am proud to say my response description has been quoted and is now associated with this area:  “rustic elegance” and “rustic sophistication”.   A Santa Barbara wine country wedding includes winery weddings, ranch weddings, private estate weddings and so much more.  But not every venue is created equal.  Just because a venue says it does weddings or is pretty doesn’t mean that they are truly capable of handling everything an event brings with it.  And further, does not mean the staff is proficient on the incredible details and customer service involved in making sure the wedding goes off seamlessly. Today, however, I would like to highlight one of my most popular wedding venues in Santa Barbara’s wine country:  The Foley Family Wine group of special event venues.   I have been fortunate enough to have been sold-out for a couple of years almost singlehandedly because of the weddings I have produced at Foley’s venues incredible wine country wedding locations.  From the Firestone Winery to the Foley Winery itself and to the upcoming wedding I will be producing at Lincourt for the Great Wedding Stimulus Package $35K Giveaway Contest taking place February 8-12, I am intimately involved with the Foley Family wine wedding locations and cannot recommend them enough.  For a quick view of two of my favorite weddings at these locations, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

Many of my favorite Foley Family Wine group weddings are featured in my Gallery and several here on this page.  But since this is a Guest Column feature spot for a couple of months, I thought I’d invite Ms. Jill Remy, Director of Events for Foley Family Wines, to comment on her favorite things about her work as well as give you a little insight and tour of Foley wedding locations from her inside and expert perspective.  Welcome, Ms. Remy!

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Thanks, Kerry Lee! Settling down from the chaos of a busy day, my complaint is that I have so many extraordinary venues to offer clients that it keeps me on my toes! I just opened a fabulous bottle of wine, couldn’t decide between the Foley Pinot Noir and the Firestone Syrah, two of my favorites. 

I love what I do, as do the people that work alongside me at Foley Family Wines.  We are fortunate enough to offer a variety of venues to fabulous couples that match their personalities and dreams specifically.  All winery based, take your pick of location of ours matches your dream day.

We are lucky to be able to work with the best of the best in the industry, including among many Kerry Lee Dickey of Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events.  In all of our years of experience in producing the most remarkable events in Santa Barbara County’s Wine Country, the cohesiveness of the vendors that we have had the opportunity to work with has been parallel to none.  No matter if you have a small group or large, we will surely have a property to fit your every need and assist in bringing your dreams to reality… all in my favorite part of the central coast, Santa  Barbara’s wine country. 

Firestone Winery truly offers couples the luxury of creating an event flow  that is unique to their individual style. 

 
 
 
 

 

The Vineyard Mesa

Ceremonies can be held on the Vineyard Mesa with a beautiful oak tree as a back drop and surrounded by vineyard or on the Terrace with an intimate setting on a bluff overlooking vineyards with hills in the background.   For the wine reception following the ceremony, guests can remain outdoors in the sunny garden, go into the tasting room for a complete private winery experience, or head back into the barrel room.  The barrel room is also a stunning setting for a feasting table for your reception, or back out to the courtyard under the stars for dinner and to dance the night away.  Firestone can accommodate up to 180 guests and is set up perfectly to create the event of your dreams.

 

Lincourt Winery is a charming property that relays the feeling to your guests Foley Winery is a breathtaking property that you enter through a tree lined drive as you approach an expansive lawn area sitting just above vineyards with majestic hills in every direction.  Ceremonies are held with the vineyards on all sides of your guest’s vantage points, wine reception surrounding our brand new tasting room and the reception of your dreams can be created in a canopy behind the ceremony area.  Foley can accommodate up to 250 guests.

Lincourt Vineyards

At Lincourt, one feels that they are throwing a soiree in the backyard of their childhood home.  Your ceremony would be held on a large lawn area overlooking the vineyard, guests walking over the front porch of a former farmhouse to the wine reception on the verandah and adjacent lawn area and the reception is held in a transformed barrel staging area, specific to your concept ideas. A barn frames the barrel staging area, and houses a small barrel room that can be used for a bar, cake table or even a lounge.  Lincourt can accommodate up to 200 people.

Rachel Korrey is the magnificent event manager for all of our Central Coast properties, including The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2010 for Reception Venues at Firestone Vineyards, as well as Lincourt Winery, coveted location of the upcoming Great Wedding Stimulus Package Giveaway, as well as the stunning Foley Estates, home of the former Seasmoke winemaker, Kris Curran. 

Beyond the breathtaking beauty of our locations is the pride in what we do.  We truly understand what a special day this is, not to just the couple, but to your friends and family celebrating with you.  We want to share the best of the best of the wine country with you all and ensure the best day possible.

If you would like to personally see our wedding locations for your upcoming Santa Barbara wine country winery wedding, please contact Rachel at:  rkorrey@firestonewine.com    805.688.3940 x2230.   If your wedding plans call for something in Northern California’s beautiful Napa /Sonoma wine country, please contact me, Jill Remy at:  jremy@foleyfamilywines.com .

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A huge thank you to Ms. Remy for sharing Foley in her own words.  Since some of my own personal favorite weddings were at Firestone and Foley Winery, I thought I’d share some of my favorite memories of my own weddings at both locations:

Firestone Terrace for Ceremony with Dinner in the Barrel Room is one of my favorite choices.  An incredibly dramatic backdrop, it offers guests an experience unlike any other.  For the bride who wants something truly different and romantic, this is an incredible option.  All floral design below by the sensational Camilla Flowers , Lighting Design by LBPS Events and catering by the award-winning Pure Joy.  Capturing this wedding story on film was Amber Medley.

And at the Foley Winery, catered by wine county-based elegant New West Catering and designed by Camilla Flowers, Lighting Design by LBPS Events the day was photographed by Dia Rao.  Truly a stellar team: