Sun - The Wedding Issue

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AT THE MOVIES

Creativity wins in LEGO [38]

Get out and

celebrate!

The Sun’s Wedding Issue focuses on location, location, location [16]

BY JOE PAYNE

NEWS Survive day-of disasters [10];

A writer recalls his big day [12]

SPORTS Sweat together,

stay together [22]

ARTS Romantic rings:

Ink [26] and bling [28]

The special setting The Central Coast has many venues for couples looking to tie the knot somewhere unique

BY JOE PAYNE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DANA ADOBE NIPOMO AMIGOS

again until the following dawn!”

Wedding photos have been taken on the veranda where vaqueros slept, awaiting the festivities. The historical significance So was the tradition of the rancho wedding, but, thankfully, these days— is eclipsed, though, by the beautiful natural surroundings. The Dana Adobe is not far from U.S. Highway 101, but you wouldn’t especially for everyone’s dancing know it, as the ancient oaks provide more than enough of a feet—a wedding is more of a one-day sound damper, and the usable part of the land faces Nipomo’s affair. But those wishing to go for the rolling hills. rancho feel don’t have to go far, as they “It’s wonderful now to be able to offer it for more people, can now enjoy a wedding at Dana’s for the Dana Adobe to be part of their day,” Washburn said. “I historic home. would have gotten married here if I had know it was here then.”

“Now that we are completely restored, we are ready to host more weddings and events,” Dana Adobe Book the rancho Nipomo Amigos Executive Director The Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos rents the grounds and facilities for weddings.

Marina Washburn said. “There is a Proceeds help support the nonprofit. More information is available at 929-5679 trend of these rustic rancho, openor danaadobe.org. space settings for weddings, and the Dana Adobe is getting more attention for that.”

The Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos A RANCHO WEDDING: The Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos offers its grounds and historical building as a venue for is a non-profit weddings, with the 175-year-old sycamore tree as a picturesque spot for a ceremony. organization, so all the money made renting the venue goes to support its programs. This allows the organization to keep the price for the uan Francisco Dana related his own rancho wedding in his venue low. It’s truly remarkable, considering the book The Blond Ranchero, which told of the ceremony and historical significance of the location. following party when he married Francisca de La Guerra.

“Captain William Dana’s daughter’s wedding “After the banquet the dancing continued until dawn when was in the house, and there was actually Mass the bridal party looked out a window, saw the pouring rain and in the house when the captain lived there,” pulled the shutters together again saying: ‘It’s still night!’ They Washburn said. “The Captain’s daughter, continued dancing until noon,” Dana told. “After a siesta, which Maria Josepha, married Henry Tefft, like Tefft ON THE VERANDA: The Dana Adobe also provides scenic places for wedding photos, whether after the they needed by that time, supper was served and they danced Street, at the Dana Adobe.” ceremony or for RSVP cards before the fact.

The rancho experience

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PHOTO BY JOE PAYNE

Santa Maria alone offers several parks for special events, including weddings and receptions. Waller Park, Preisker Park, Rotary Centennial Park, and even Pioneer Park all have their own charm, explained city of Santa Maria Recreation Supervisor Dennis Smitherman.

“The Preisker Park gazebo, it’s perfect for a small wedding; you could do about 50 people there, and there’s also room for a reception,” he said. “Across town at Rotary Centennial Park, we have a much larger gazebo, and there is a covered reception area that can facilitate and comfortably fit 240 people.”

Waller Park, which is technically a county park, also includes a stunning gazebo area for rent. The

PHOTO BY JOE PAYNE

PHOTO COURTESY OF HALEY LEPPER

military,” Lompoc Recreation Supervisor Haley Lepper said. “It’s something simple and fun to have it in a park, and it works out for a lot of people.”

Not far off is the La Purisima Mission, a California State Park that offers the historic landmark as a spot to tie the knot. Further still is the Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang, which are dotted with scenic parks, some of which can be rented for events. The area brings locals and visitors interested in marrying in the valley.

“I think it’s the overall nature of the valley, especially for the out-of-towners who want to take advantage of the whole Solvang valley,” Solvang Parks and Recreation Director Fred Lageman said. “With the wine tasting and everything, it’s really the hub of the Santa Ynez Valley and it leads people here.”

Know your departments CEREMONY IN THE SUN: Waller Park in Santa Maria offers a wide-open space with a gazebo next to a small pond and shady trees. There’s also wheelchair accessibility.

UNDER THE OAKS: Pioneer Park in Orcutt offers a more outdoorsy experience, including open spaces, a picnic area, and barbecue pits.

In the open air

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nyone who has spent time wandering through local parks can attest to the diverse beauty found in them. From the towering trees at Santa Maria’s Waller Park to the peaceful gazebo at Lompoc’s Ken Adam Park, the area has a lot to offer couples who prefer to say their vows with the accompaniment of birdsong and sunlight.

PASTORAL SPACE: Ken Adam Park in Lompoc offers an open space filled with greenery and a sleek gazebo.

gazebo is flanked by a small pond and shady trees, all of which are wheelchair accessible. For the more outdoorsy and adventurous, Smitherman explained, Pioneer Park is a good venue.

“If you want to go really rustic you could go with Pioneer Park, there’s lots of trees,” he said.

“It’s not a grassy park, but there is a great spot you could fit 300 to 400 people for a wedding.”

Lompoc also offers several of its parks for locals in need of a place to have a ceremony or reception, or both. Ryon Park, Riber Park, and Ken Adam Park are popular, Ken Adam, especially, because of its sleek gazebo.

“We have a lot of brides and grooms in the

Certain parks fall under state parks, county parks, and city parks. The La Purisima Mission is available for weddings through California State Parks. More information is available at lpminfo@parks.ca.gov or parks.ca.gov/?page_id=598.

Waller Park in Santa Maria is a Santa Barbara County Park. More information is available at countyofsb.org/ parks/.

The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is available at 925-0951, Ext. 260, or cityofsantamaria. org/40731.shtml.

The Lompoc Parks and Recreation Department is available at 736-1261 or cityoflompoc.com/parks_rec/.

The Solvang Parks and Recreation Department is available at 688-5575 or cityofsolvang.com/index.php/ departments/parks-a-recreation.

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hile marriage is making headlines the world round, locals are currently involved in every stage of planning and executing their special day. Weddings are one of the most personal and intimate events friends and family can experience. They require the concerted efforts of several parties. But before

the planning can even begin, the question of a venue must be addressed.

Setting is key to any special experience.

Many people look completely beyond chapels and churches for their big day, while some view them as a perfect place for the ceremony but look elsewhere for their receptions.

Northern Santa Barbara County and

Southern SLO County are both well known for their picturesque qualities and also for many of the off-the-beaten-path gems that can be found. While hardly a complete list, the following collection of public and nonprofit spaces in the area offer a sampling of the places that can house elegant and exciting weddings!

PHOTO COURTESY OF DENNIS SMITHERMAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA MARIA RECERATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT

down the aisle.

“The comments that we get from the brides is that they love the space because they have a place to get ready,” Smitherman said. “They and their bridesmaids can all get ready together.”

Lompoc books several weddings each year in both its Anderson Recreation Center and the Dick DeWees Community ART IN ARCHITECTURE: The architecture of the Santa Maria Veterans’ Memorial and Senior Center. Both Hall offers a good backdrop for not just a ceremony, but photos as well, Santa Maria venues have something recreation supervisor Dennis Smitherman explained. special to offer, whether it’s the Anderson center’s PHOTO COURTESY OF HALEY LEPPER large presence, or the more modern feel of the Dick DeWees center.

“The DeWees center is a great space to have the ceremony and reception HITCHED AT THE VETS’: The Santa Maria Veterans’ Memorial Hall offers a large banquet room, private bride’s quarters, courtyard, at the same space,” and a full-service kitchen area.

Lompoc’s Haley Lepper said. “The Anderson PHOTO COURTESY OF HALEY LEPPER [center] is a great place for a large gathering, f you sunburn easily, or just prefer indoor and people come in and events, there are several public facilities decorate it really well and from which to choose that offer cozy, have a lot of fun with that intimate quarters, or large, echoing halls. room.”

“The Santa Maria Veterans’ Memorial READY TO PARTY: The Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center in Lompoc is a Hall—we book about half our year there— recently built center that offers an outdoor patio as well as state-of-the-art facilities. is a huge facility,” Recreation Supervisor Dennis Smitherman said. “When you book for a wedding you get the full facility, which Get your space includes the kitchen, auditorium, and a room Local community facilities are available to rent through their respective parks and recreation departments. for the bride to get ready in.”

The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is available at 925-0951, Ext. 260, or cityofsantamaria.

Solvang also offers its veterans’ hall, which COMMUNITY HUB: The Anderson Recreation Center is org/40731.shtml. is just as popular as the one in Santa Maria. available for rent and is also the location of Lompoc Parks and The Lompoc Parks and Recreation Department is available at 736-1261 or cityoflompoc.com/parks_rec/.

A full facility is good for those who need a Recreation Department administration, where reservations can The Solvang Parks and Recreation Department is available at 688-5575 or cityofsolvang.com/index.php/ kitchen, and it often feels especially luxurious be made. departments/parks-a-recreation. to the bride when preparing for the walk

Indoor matrimony

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Center stage in Solvang

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he perfect balance between outdoor and indoor is found at the Solvang Festival Theater. The Danish architecture of the brilliantly open and airy setting wreaths the grassy courtyard and large theater area—perfect for a modest or well-attended wedding.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAM PILCHER

FINE FOOD AND DRINK: The Solvang Festival Theater also allows the use of its concessions area, which includes pouring beer and wine.

LIKE A FAIRY TALE: The Danish architecture that characterizes the Solvang Festival Theater gives the space a quaint, cozy feel.

“It’s an outdoor theater with a long cultural history in Solvang,” Solvang Festival Theater Executive Director Pam Pilcher said. “The grounds are lovely, with the two gardens under the oak trees and a concession area that can be used to serve food and wine and beer.”

Not every wedding party has decided to use the theater area, which offers stadium-style seating for up to 700 people.

But couples who are theater fans will certainly get a kick out of the space, which is used yearly by the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts (PCPA) during the summer season.

“PCPA has the theater from early June to early September,” Pilcher said. “But our goal is to offer a theater venue for the

community for their events and activities.”

The facility is wheelchair accessible and includes clean and modern bathroom facilities. Though an open venue, the Solvang Festival Theater offers a shady, secluded intimacy, Pilcher explained.

“It is small, but I think that adds to the charm,” she said. “You aren’t spread out all over the place.

It’s not like having a wedding in a conference hall.” ❍ Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@ santamariasun.com.

Take the stage

STAR OF THE SHOW: If you have a large family and a lot of friends, the Solvang Festival Theater seats up to 700.

The Solvang Festival Theater offers its facilities for special events, including weddings. Tours are available by appointment. More information is available at 686-1789 or solvangfestivaltheater.com/facilities.php.