First, let me say to you: congratulations on your engagement! There is no song more melodic, no sound so exquisitely sweet as hearing the one you love say to you, “Will you marry me?”. Know this: no matter how many roads you travel or how many years you travel upon them, you will never forget the day when he (or she, it’s a modern world) spoke those four fabulous words! It is my role to then take that same sense of delight and abundant joy to create magnificent wedding memories to last a lifetime.
As a full time, ordained Non-Denominational Christian minister, I am honored and blessed to have brought together in marriage over 1000 delightful and loving couples! I work with men and women of all beliefs and traditions: religious, spiritual, or secular, celebrating your personal histories as well as the loving future laid out before you! I welcome personalization of your ceremony with traditions old and new, and will happily act as your guide in choosing the right one for the both of you.
Much like a love song, I truly feel that a ceremony should be more than just generic words on a page. As a published writer (Santa Barbara Independent, Your Wedding Day Magazine, Santa Barbara News Press, and more… read the YWD articles!; Your Wedding Day Summer 2005 – Your Wedding Day Spring 2006) I use words to weave an intricate auditory tapestry that speaks to every ear and sings to every heart. Therefore my ceremonies are often described as warm, intimate, and heartfelt… humorous at times, but ultimately spoken directly from the heart.
In addition to being a hopeless romantic, I bring to the altar over 15 years worth of experience in the wedding industry (my background ranging not only in ministry but also wedding cakes and catering, to floral design and photography, as well as small business management). This allows me a unique perspective in creating an event that reflects your individual personalities as well as giving me an in depth understanding of logistical and technical details crucial to the wedding planning process. In other words, all you need to do is show up… I’ll take care of the rest!
If there is anything that mom, life, and reality tv has taught us, it is this: Planning a wedding, be it a small and intimate gathering or a grand, extravagant affair, can be stressful! Life, work, family, and day to day responsibility can be hard enough. But add a wedding to the mix and suddenly the thrill of engagement is replaced by endless lists and late nights Googling wedding vendors and advise forums.
I have painful memories of many years ago, stumbling through my own wedding planning (when wheels were square): interviewing dozens of wedding professionals, searching for a photographer who could capture our day without costing us a limb or a first born, finding a minister who would perform the ceremony during the season of Lent, discovering the mysteries of “hidden fees” (innocuously called “add-on’s” or listed only as “+”), lists, budgets, charts, arghhhh! As our budget swelled to bursting and the details swirling in my head took on tornado proportion, we ultimately gave up on our dreamy romantic beach wedding and eloped to Las Vegas… Had I only known then what I know now!
This is why Montecito Weddings packages make so much sense for the busy bride and groom or those planning a destination wedding from afar! I have taken the stress out of the wedding planning process by bringing together a highly skilled team of trained professionals, all proficient in their craft and personally trained by me to work in concert with each other to my standards of excellence. There is no need for you to research or interview individual vendors… just choose the wedding package that best suits your needs and the best of the best comes to you!
Thank you for taking the time to read a bit about me and Montecito Weddings. I look forward to getting to know you and to sharing in your most special and perfect wedding day! Blessings to you both and happy wedding planning! Most fondly, Sarah
PS. On a more personal note… When not falling in love with falling in love, I can often be found indulging in some of my favorite pastimes: Yoga, a good game of Scrabble, exploring our Southern and Central Coast’s Wine Country, and making the world just a little bit chubbier… one cupcake at a time!
