CAMA Centennial Community Celebration at The Sunken Gardens

We love community events (after all, aren’t they synonymous), and this one in particular is very close to our hearts as it brought in FOUR of our favorite things:

1. Community

2. Food

3. Wine

4. Gorgeous Iconic Location

Felici Events was hired to produce a festive afternoon of collaboration with local cultural arts partners to gather for music, delicious food, and beverages, and the community to honor CAMA for this historic occasion: to celebrate the first 100 years of Community Arts Music Association.

The client wanted ‘something sweet and memorable’ to gift the community so we placed an order for 2500+ mini cupcakes with Lele patisserie (none were left over)

Created with a food and wine music festival in mind, the committee approached local favorites to be a part of the event, and Felici Events orchestrated over 20 local restaurants and 20 wineries to successfully participate and show off the best of the best in town within the day’s events. Over 2500 community members arrived to enjoy the afternoon celebration, delicious eats, special sips, and fantastic music in Santa Barbara’s most iconic wedding and event venue, the Sunken Gardens of the Santa Barbara Courthouse.

This event was free and open to the public, and included:

Musical presentations by:
Opera Santa Barbara
Music Academy of the West’s Sing! Program
Faculty of Westmont College
Department of Music, UC Santa Barbara
Members of Santa Barbara Symphony

FOOD:
Bibi Ji
Black Sheep Restaurant
Ca’ Dario Ristorante
Finch & Fork
Le Sorelle
Michael’s Catering
Pete Clements Catering
Olio e Limone
Opal Restaurant & Bar
Via Maestra 42

WINE:
Alma Rosa Winery
Babcock Winery
Brander Vineyard Cebada Wine
Grassini Family Vineyards
Grimm’s Bluff
Lumen Wines
Pali Wine Co.
Presqu’ile Winery
Santa Barbara Winery

CAMA is Santa Barbara’s oldest arts organization, and is presenting its 100th concert season in 2018-19. CAMA’s mission is to enrich the city’s cultural life by bringing live performances by world-renowned classical artists and orchestras of the highest artistic excellence to our community and by providing creative, focused music education programs for individuals of all ages.

Photographer: Bycherry Photography | Location: Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens | Planner: Felici Events | Restrooms: Marborg Industries | Cupcakes: Lele Patisserie | Audio: SPARK Creative Events | Rentals: BRIGHT Event Rentals | Musicians: CAMA | Staffing: Top Shelf | Popcorn Machines: Just 4 Fun Party Rentals | Valet: Bluestar Parking

Felici Events Presents Three Holiday Parties

Holiday Party Ideas

As we quickly approach the holiday season, Felici Events brings you ideas for your private or corporate party!

Inspired by Biz Bash: The Holiday Issue we share three seasonal holiday themes sure to please your guests!

Classic Holiday

Christmas Table

Take out your ornaments and red candles! Make your holiday parties with classic themes like the nutcracker or holiday movies and use traditional decorations to bring the joy of the season! Hang up lights, wreaths, and trees, feel free to add a pine cone or two in there. For food, you can make appetizers based off dinners such as a turkey cranberry crostini, chicken kebabs or pizza bites in traditional holiday shapes. Be sure to decorate your table with a classic gingerbread house!

Food Cutouts

Christmas Kebabs

Gingerbread House

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland is a modern theme that looks elegant and transforms your venue into an entirely different place! With Disney's "Frozen" and ice being all the rage, having a winter wonderland themed party can be the perfect theme for your holiday party! Decorate with snowflakes, crystals, blue lights, crystals and silver decor.  Be sure to have a hot cocoa bar to warm your guests up!

Hot Cocoa Bar

Winter Wonderland Center Piece

Winter Lights

Try something innovative with live ice sculpting!

Live ice scultping

The Ice Beat Factory is an exciting performance ice show combining ice sculpting with live music.

Offbeat Bash

Many modern holiday parties are saying no to the traditional holiday themed parties and going for a more offbeat theme like a masquerade ball or as Biz Bash demonstrates, a circus theme.  Another theme idea could be a Brother's Grimm theme with Once Upon a Time, Grimm, and Disney's upcoming film, Into the Woods serving as inspiration. There's so many possibilities with this theme, guests can come dressed as their favorite fairy tale characters and the ideas for decorations are endless!

Fairy Tale Invitation

Fairy Tale Chandelier

Get creative with invitations to inspire guests and decorate with grand chandeliers to create a more spectacular fantasy!

Fairy Tale Center Pieces

Flower Centerpiece

Take inspiration from Brother's Grimm fairy tales for centerpieces such as a single rose or a candelabra!

Feel free to use a specific fairy tale or just combine them all to make an enchanted venue! Have some caramelized apples or Alice in Wonderland cake for dessert! Be sure to checkout Cody's Cocktails inspired by fairy tale creatures that are sure to be remembered at your holiday party! This one below is called "Maleficent" and contains black vodka, grape schnapps, and apple pucker!

Poison Apples

Maleficent cocktail

Whatever you decide for your theme, holiday parties should create a festive and joyous occasion!

Event Planner Coordinates Custom Invitations for 90th Birthday Party

Example inspiration board from Event Planner Zohe Felici.

Custom invitations can be designed for any upcoming wedding, anniversary, or birthday party. Unique invitations are a nice addition to photos and other special keepsakes. Our event planner can help you find the perfect solution for your specific invitation needs. In this article, a 90th birthday party is our example to help illustrate the process and to give suggestions for how you might choose to design your special invitations.

Time will never stand still, and those moments that bring us such joy become memories in an instant. To capture such a moment and record it forever is truly monumental. – Joshua Atticks, Wedding Photographer

Tips from an Event Planner on Custom Invitations

Collect example images of what you want. Pinterest is a great starting point. If you are not comfortable on the computer, you can simply pick up a few of your favorite magazines and cut out images that inspire you.

In our example, the designer suggested four different photos for the invitation, and the best one was chosen by the event planner, Zohe Felici.

Once the tone and vision have been set, the next step is to work with the design itself. A designer will combine the information about the event with the graphics. Event invitations include basic information such as the event’s name, date, time, location, and RSVP. In our example, the designer suggested four different photos for the invitation, and the best one was chosen by the event planner, Zohe Felici.

The final step is to review and adjust until it’s perfect. This might include changing the font, removing or adding a few words, and playing with the color choices. It is not uncommon to go back and forth two or three times to get everything right.

When you are working with an event planner, it’s possible for them to coordinate your special invitations because they will cohesively brand a full theme for your event, including all of its important information, such as the venue and guest list.  If you have any questions, or are interested in having Felici Events design custom invitations for your upcoming celebration, please contact us.

Ava's Graffiti Grunge Theme Bat Mitzvah Celebration

www.felicievents.com

Want to see how the rest of her party went?

CLICK HERE

Mille Grazie to the Team that made this all possible!

Invitations and Save the Dates: Lazaro Design

Photography: Kelsey Crews Photo

Production and Design: Felici Events

Lighting: LBPS

Floral: Juniper Floral Designs

Linens: La Tavola Linens

Tent and Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Entertainment - DJ: H2H The Perfect Element

Location: Soho Restaurant and Lounge SB