Santa Barbara Wine Country Wedding and Events

Southern California Meetings & Events Magazine article on Santa Barbara Wine Country

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:08:13 +0000

by Tara de Lis

“…Kerry Lee Dickey, founder and CEO of Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events, works with a number of wineries to produce events. She’s been particularly impressed by the Foley Wine Group been particularly impressed by the Foley Wine Group (the umbrella term for its namesake label, as well as Firestone Vineyard and Lincourt Vineyard). Her admiration is “two-fold, not just for the versatility of backdrops at the variety of venues, but also for their attention to detail and world-class service…”

Read the Article in its Entirety Here

She Organizes Happily Ever After

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:27:50 +0000

By Barbara Lanz-Mateo, Managing Editor of the Santa Ynez Valley Journal

As the great-granddaughter of a man who once drove the stagecoach in the valley and the great-niece of Less Moorman, who founded Valley Pump and Supply, Kerry Lee Dickey’s roots in the Santa Ynez Valley run as deep as the oak roots on the valley’s brown, rolling hills.

“I love this valley and it is home to me,” she says. “It reminds me of Provence with a bit of Montana thrown in.”

Dickey is the CEO and founder of Santa Barbara Country Weddings and Events. She lives in Santa Ynez with her husband, Jerry Thompson, and 3-year-old daughter, Grace.

In what can only be described as irony, she eloped, and is “still made fun of to this day” because of the impulsiveness of it.

As a working woman, mom and wife, she, like most women these days, juggles all her roles with as much grace as possible.

“If I were incredibly organized personally, I would have the laundry and dishes all done every day, religiously,” she says. “I do tend to let that go.

I can’t do it all, but I think the choices I’ve made for prioritizing what I choose to organize are solid: First, family. Then clients and work. Next, the house. And fourth, me … uh … OK, I could bump up 4 a bit, I admit.”

SYVJ: What is your business background?

LD: I hold a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and have 15 years of event planning, including more than 500 weddings, 1,000 combined private and corporate events and traveling and training with industry leaders has lent itself to a solid events business background.

SYVJ: What is the best business advice you have been given?

LD: That is such a romantic notion, to have someone mentor you with solid “words” of advice, but that wasn’t my particular journey.

What I did receive, however, was something by far more valuable, and that was learning by example.

I watched my grandfather who owned several local businesses, was a Rotarian, police commissioner and who was active with his church, as well as my mom and dad in their business endeavors. They lived the concept of integrity and extremely hard work.

Most important, they showed me how to work with people.

SYVJ: How do you feel about running a business in this economic climate?

LD: It definitely keeps one on one’s toes! Genuine entrepreneurs see everything as opportunity.

SYVJ: What is the biggest challenge your business faces today?

LD: I have about three divisions to my business: international events speaking engagements, training hospitality professionals from all over the world and planning events. My biggest challenge is staying fresh and never getting complacent.

SYVJ: What is the simplest thing you’ve never learned to do?

LD: Allow silence in a conversation. Let it breathe. Don’t be afraid of it.

SYVJ: What sets your business apart from your competitors’?

LD: I have been told that I am the only professional event consultant who has all the following: a third-generation local who does speaking engagements, trains and certifies other hospitality wedding professionals internationally, invented several novel industry concepts, including the mobile wedding planning experience (trademarked) and who also serves on retainer to two celebrity clients on an on-going basis.

SYVJ: Who is the smartest person you know?

LD: Ken Harwood, who is invaluable to me personally, professionally and one of the wisest and most professional gentlemen I have had the honor of knowing.

SYVJ: Where do you see your business one year from now?

LD: Evolving. Progressing.

SYVJ: Finally, what is on your to-do list?

LD: Short term: grocery shopping, preparation for teaching Jazzercise class tonight, stocking stuffer purchasing. Long term: to be satisfied, centered and always feel a sense of abundance.

this article originally appeared in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal

Holiday Season Almost Over…

Kerry Lee — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:36:23 +0000

I have just come through one of the most lovely holidays in memory. We started off Thanksgiving in breathtaking Yosemite where we stayed at the Tenaya Lodge. I have never, in my life, stayed at a more service-oriented property in my life. Their staff was amazing. And the lodge is fully self-contained with ice-skating, horse drawn hay rides, spa, pools, jacuzzis and so much more. While we didn’t spend all our time in our suite, one could do so and be very satisfied not going off property. Yosemite was, as ever, eternal and embraced us in her magic. I cannot wait to return.

Christmas time brought continued magical moments with my family and enjoying the season with friends. We are so grateful for having more than we need and thought of creative ways to “give” this year to family and friends. The economy’s state is forcing folks to get more “real”, in my opinion and this is a good thing. I look forward to the continued metamorphosis personally and as a society and culture in this regard.

I am spending this week getting geared up for the New Year and new endeavors, including my hope of another record-breaking year in 2009. I look forward to the new clients who have yet to come into my life, and when they do, will become friends.

Here’s to 2009 and the journey!

Kerry Lee Featured Speaker at NACE

Kerry Lee — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:53:12 +0000

Kerry Lee was the July featured speaker at the Ventura Chapter of NACE (National Association for Catering Executives) on July 22 at the Secret Garden in Moorpark.

Kerry Lee’s topic, For Better or For Worse- Customer Service Standards in the Ever-Changing World of Weddings & Events offered event professionals a comprehensive and up-to-date look at customer service in the special events industry with a special concentration on weddings. Attendees will learn how wedding demographics, statistics and wedding culture as well as understanding the needs of today’s “e-world” bride and corporate event client can help take business to the next level. Dickey performed a much more extensive version of this program at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, NV at an international events conference and was asked to do a mini-version of it for the NACE Ventura Chapter.

For more information, visit: www.VenturaNACE.net

Avoiding “Hidden” Costs/Surprises with a Winery Wedding

Kerry Lee — Sun, 04 May 2008 04:51:53 +0000

Having a wine country wedding is the ultimate in sophisticated rustic elegance. There is nothing like it. Knowing in advance some of the ”small print” can help you plan a more accurate budget and ensure your wine country wedding is enjoyed and maximized to the fullest extent possible.

The average rental cost for a single event winery venue is $6,000. But don’t think that that’s it for the bill from the winery and once you sign their contract, pay your deposit, provide proof of liability insurance that you’re done. Below are some of the most commonly over-looked items on many winery’s contracts for events.

Proof of Liability Insurance required is generally $2million, requiring a higher purchase price for the insurance as opposed to a $1million policy
Most wineries require that the florist, lighting designer (and in some cases rental company) “strike” (or break down/clean up) the actual night of the event. This can result in larger overtime and labor fees which are passed along to the client from the caterer, lighting designer or florist.
Conversely, since a winery’s job is to sell wine first and foremost, events often may not be set up until a certain time (since events can generally not start until around 5pm or so) and this may cause a time crunch for your set up suppliers (caterer, rental company, florist, lighting designer) , causing them to have to hire extra staff to get an especially elaborate set up done in a shorter amount of time. This extra labor will be passed on to you.
Some wineries require that you hire their valet for your event. Cost will be dependent on how many guests you anticipate.
Most wineries will require you to hire an “on site” manager (from their staff) to ensure the venue is looked after in case of emergency and also to ensure the venue’s policies are upheld. The venue manager is not the same as a professional event coordinator and it is not their job to do any labor such as set up, etc. But you as the Client will pay for them.
One winery in particular insists that you hire their pre-approved and licensed child-care provider if anyone - and I mean anyone - under the age of 12 is coming to the wedding.
Some wineries require that your guests may not park on site; you are required to hire shuttles to bring guests to your wedding and reception
Be very clear on your winery event contract what time your guests may start arriving. One winery insists that guests may not even arrive until a certain time and if they arrive before then, they will charge you an additional $500/hour. Do not, however, put a “fake” ceremony start time on your invitations to try and lure your guests there in an attempt to start your ceremony in order to accomodate the winery’s contract. This is in very poor taste etiquette-wise. It also ends up costing you more in the long run as the rest of your vendors will be off, the stage not set when first guest arrives (not acceptable), etc. A good professional wedding planner can work with you to give you super easy ways to accommodate the contract with the winery as well as honor your guests, etiquette, event timeline as well as an accurate wedding invitation.
Most venues in general (not just wineries) now require the Client hire a Professional Event Coordinator. While an added expense, this service is invaluable and most coordinators offer an array of services so you do not have to hire a Full Service Wedding Planner. Most offer “day of” packages, which is the very minimum service your winery will require. Your Professional Wedding Coordinator or Planner is , as one groom said, “wedding insurance” and a reputable one is priceless.

Welcome to Our New Home on the Web

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:34:36 +0000

We’re pleased to welcome you to our new website. Please pardon the mess while we get everything in order. We have some exciting endeavors going on and are updating our Website in order to give the greatest service possible to today’s elegant and e-savvy couples. Welcome.

Hire a True Professional

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:19:39 +0000

Many wedding suppliers say that they offer “coordination” for your wedding day. Think your caterer or DJ can act as your Coordinator? Think again. While these professionals may offer some elements of coordination, you may be in for way more problems than you’d ever thought. Make sure this doesn’t happen to you. Hire an experienced, professional and dedicated coordinator whose exclusive job it is to look out after you and your event. Want to know if your DJ or Caterer can carry out “coordination” for you? Send us a list of what they plan to do for you and we will review it - on this blog - as a complimentary service to you.

Mobile Wedding Planning & Touring

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:10:12 +0000

Not ready to commit yet to a professional full service wedding planner but still need some help getting started? Introducing something fresh, romantic and relaxing: the mobile wedding planning experience.

photo by Dia Rao

First On-Line Wedding “Consultation”

admin — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:27:19 +0000

Introducing a revolutionary approach to matching the needs of today’s career-oriented, e-savvy engaged couples with an experienced professional wedding consultant: Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events announces a service that is more than just an informational Website. It is a place for engaged couples to gather, learn and discuss. All compliments of us. Enjoy.

Destination Wine Country Magazine

admin — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 05:29:00 +0000