#FeliciFied, Fantabulous, Bravo + YAY!

Today I am overwhelmed with absolute emotion!  I have been chosen by MY PEERS and received TWO awards from Borrowed and Blue's Best of B&B.  My heart is so full!! AWARD 1) Felici Events received the silver medal for Best Wedding Planner in Santa Barbara, alongside two amazing fellow planners. It is a true honor to be mentioned + runner up with talent. What a thrill!

Best Planner Silver Borrowed and Blue Felici Events Award

AWARD 2) The BEST news and heartwarming feeling of all, is that Santa Barbara fellow vendors named me Most Valuable Vendor. "An ambassador for the local event community."  They see me, Zohe Felici, as a leader, role model and vendor having a collaborative spirit and a  nurturing passion for Santa Barbara.

Most Valuable Vendor Borrowed + Blue Felici Events

I am so humbled, and have worked to so hard to foster relationships with such a wonderful event community, and I am honored that this indeed is the case.  Grazie Mille Santa Barbara!  I am proud to call you my home and to impact friendors in my #FeliciWorld which I celebrate daily and adore so much. I have been #FeliciFied

XO

Zohe Felici

Planning A Tuscan-Themed Oceanfront Dinner

Felici Worldwide Brings Tuscany to Santa Barbara

After traveling to Italy in July, Zohe was so inspired by her mother land.  The colors, food and vibrant settings motivated Felici Events owner to produce a Tuscan-style rehearsal dinner for her wedding clients.  Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the views were stunning and something to compete with, but Felici Events found no challenge in producing an event just as breathtaking.

A Huge Thank you to our Vendors:

NLC Productions - Flowers + Decor

Town and Country Event Rentals - Tableware + Rentals

Catering Connection - Catering

Kiel Rucker Photography - Photography

Felici Events - Planning + Coordination

Venues for a Destination Wedding in Italy

Tuscany is an ideal location for the perfect destination wedding.

Choosing a unique and stunning location for your wedding is not an easy task.  There are so many options that it’s very easy to get confused. Tuscany offers an abundance of history, which is why there are numerable villas, monasteries and castles, all beautiful and each with it’s unique design and elegance!

Asking a Tuscany-based wedding planner for suggestions, will help find the perfect venue for you.  Below are our tips to find the ideal location to make your dreams to come true!

Venue Felici Events and Super Tuscan Wedding Planners Wedding-in-Tuscany

The typical Tuscan "casale",an old Tuscan home, is a familiar place where you and your family can feel at home during your stay.  A casale is usually small and intimate, ideal to accommodate your bridal party and share with a few select members that will take part in the wedding preparations!

05Wedding-in-Tuscany

Farmhouses are similar to the typical tuscan casale. As wedding venues, farmhouses not only will host your bridal party, but are an amazing starting point for a one-of-a-kind walk among vineyards as the wind gently caresses you, or to savor a taste of the local wines and products. It doesn’t get more authentic than a farmhouse to experience Tuscany to the fullest.

Tuscany Wedding Location Felici Events and Super Tuscan Wedding Planners

Another luxury-medieval alternative you can easily find in Tuscany, are castles! With their magic charm, castles will let your guests feel like they’re living a part of history but with a modern look.

If you are planning on having a large number of guests, and you want them all by your side during the days before and after the wedding, the best solution is an ancient medieval burg transformed into a cozy lodging. Besides the traditional aspect of the outside areas, they are indeed very cozy and you will have all comforts at your fingertips. Nearby you will find day spas and elegant restaurants that the burg put at its guests’ disposal.

Castle Wedding Location Felici Events and Super Tuscan Wedding Planners

Elegance is not unusual in Tuscany! Other than its rustic side and infinite fields around these houses, Tuscany offers plenty of elegant Italian styled villas. The luxury interiors will amaze your guests and the beautiful Italian gardens are ideal to host elegant outdoor receptions. Your guests will appreciate such a sophisticated choice!

03Wedding-in-Tuscany

Tuscany, however, is not only countryside and vineyards…right around the bend the stunning Tuscan sea is waiting for you!

3italy-seaside-wedding-tuscany-coast

That’s just a short list of the possibilities, but don’t worry… other stunning venues are over the next hilltop as you make your way throughout the Tuscan countryside. Now that you know a bit about Tuscany...what will you choose?

Ask Felici Events and Super Tuscan Wedding planners for more suggestions!

Felici Events Table Design at the Luxe Linen Showcase

felici-136

Felici Events displayed our wedding and event design skills recently, at Sherwood Country Club. Luxe Linens invited us to produce a table-top design of our choice, to showcase the 2015 line of new linens and napkins. Here is a video clip showing you the finished product as well as the wonderful team who helped us fulfill a little creative magic!

https://youtu.be/4_mxxRxN1Rg

We were tickled pink to be invited, which carried into our theme of a pink table top inspired by the 2011 movie 

Marie Antoinette

 (directed by Sofia Coppola, a fellow Italian-ite and Felici-favorite).

felici-104

We chose to showcase our table of eight using Luxe Linens' Sherbert Vogue.

Once we decided on the linens, Felici Events called on the the talents of a newer vintage rental company Otis and Pearl, to supply the silverware, china and glassware.

felici-114

Nina of Coco Rose Designs and the Felici Events Team could have spent hours in her storage unit looking at all the fun table top pieces.  In face, we may have.  Low and behold, it was easy for us to fall in love with the pink glassware you see at each table. Perfectly fitting for such a girly table top setting.

felici-133

Next, we asked for help from our friend and fellow

ISES-VSB 

member, Joost Bongaerts, owner of Florabundance, if he would like to contribute, and graciously he supplied all the floral.

The final touches, envisioned by Nina of Coco Rose Designs included the sweet fresh berries and delectable

macarons

 embellishing the table top.

felici-102

Finally, we chose the

Florence dining chairs

(both with arms and without) to complete the look of the dining table.  They were definitely the talk of our table amongst attendees and fellow showcasing peers.

It was absolute perfection.  The location, setting, details, event and evening.  Thank you Luxe Linens for including us in this project!

Grazie Mille to our contributors:

DESIGNER and VISIONARY: Felici Events

FLORIST: Coco Rose Design 

VINTAGE RENTALS: Otis and Pearl

CHAIR RENTAL: Revelry Event Designers

FLORAL PURVEYOR: Florabundance

Felici Events Wishes You A Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Felici Events Presents: St. Patty's Day Party Lookbook

The Felici Events team loves a great themed-party - who doesn't? With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, we thought that it would be the perfect time to share with you all a #Felicified guide to planning your very own St. Patrick's Day Party. 

food - Stuffed-Reuben-Pull-Apart-Bread

Let's start off with the food! Because how amazing can a party be without delicious food? Our team searched high and low for the following themed-out, mouth-watering dishes. We also included the links to the recipes for you, enjoy! 

Finger Food/Starters

- Shamrock Nachos - Taking any opportunity to bring out the green clovers.

food - shamrock nachos

- Spinach Pesto Mashed Potatoes - A new way to wear green!

food - Spinach-Pesto-Mashed-Potatoes

The Main Course

- Lucky Spinach Quiche - Lucky you!

food - quiche

- Corned Beef Brisket Pita - We can already taste all the flavors!

food - pita sandwich

- Irish Bread Braid - Feeling lucky yet?

food - irish bread braid

Sweets

- Muddy Buddies - They are essentially blinged out puppy chow.

food - muddy buddies

- Shamrock Shake - Who needs McDonalds when you can do it yourself?

food - shake

Cocktails

- Honeydew Martini - the simply perfect green drink

food - cocktail

- The Irish Flag - how patriotic!

food - irish flag

Now that we have gotten all the drooling out of the way, check out the festive decor ideas the Felici Team has for you!

- Wreaths - we have a more casual option as well as a more classy version for you!

decor - casual wreath

decor - classy wreath

- Floral Displays - chic and classy

floral - classy

floral - chic

OR opt for a more fun and do it yourself versions!

floral - hat

floral - clovers

- Banners

banner - clover

banner - lucky

- Party Favors - simple yet thoughtful. 

favor - jar candy

favor - polish

- Decor Embellishments - for that extra wow factor. 

embellishment - balls

embellishments - jars

- Special Touches - it's the small things that matter.

special touch - setting

special touches - straw

Your options are endless when planning a party. We hope you enjoyed the ones we gave you. Put them to good use and let us know how everything turned out. Don't forget to keep checking back for more felicified party ideas! In the meantime, we wish you a very lucky St. Patrick's Day!

Dreaming of your wedding in Tuscany

08Real Weddings by Super tuscan Wedding Planners

Engaged couples dream of having an unforgettable wedding, and a wedding worth-the-name must be, well, one you have always imagined.  Tuscany, an ideal location for a dream wedding, is a postcard come to life which carries sentiments to be shared with your other half.....of course your family and friends are also invited!

Those who think that the love at first sight is all encompassing are right! One cannot help but fall in love with the picturesque Tuscan backdrops, where rolling hills of blue and pink blend to create the most romantic moments of ones lives.

01Real Weddings by Super tuscan Wedding Planners

This region of Italy will add magic and induce a careless spirit that allows couples to live each moment of their wedding as the perfect one... a promise from both Felici Events & Super Tuscan Wedding Planners! 

Felici Events and Super tuscan Wedding Planners

Once you fall in love with it, there is no other option than to plan your Tuscan wedding!Tuscany, guaranteed with stunning panoramas, is at your fingertips. We want to dream it (and plan it!) alongside you, so that you may enjoy yourselves and book your first flight to Italy.  This will be the first of many visit, guaranteed!

Whether you are envisioning a traditional Tuscan religious ceremony in an ancient church, romantic personalized nuptials in a medieval castle, or a civil ceremonyin Tuscany in a a historic palace, or even a Tuscan symbolic wedding in front of a stunning panorama, we will facilitate and guide you to discover enchanted places and find the right fit for you.

Felici Events and Weddings by Super tuscan Wedding Planners

Once we have found the perfect location for your once-in-a-lifetime occasion, we will produce every detail.  Imagine a rose petal aisle, a glamorous wedding gown and a colourful and blossoming wedding altar, ready to bless your union on your wedding day!!

08Real Weddings by Super Tuscan Wedding Planners civil ceremony

Have we woken you up yet?? Ask us to lead you thru Florence, Siena, Cortona or amidst the vineyards of Montepulciano and Montalcino! Immerse yourselves in order to create a personalized and unique experience.

23Real Weddings by Super tuscan Wedding Planners

Felici Events and Super Tuscan Wedding Planners

19Real Weddings by Super tuscan Wedding Planners

A wedding in Tuscany..it’s not only about dreams.. Dream, and ask! Tell us about yourselves and how we can create your dream into a reality.

With love, Zohe Felici for Felici Events and Elia Moretti for Super Tuscan Wedding Planners

Super Tuscan Weddings Felici Events

Photography Credit:

Amy Turner: 

http://www.imag1ne.

com/

Lisa Poggi (foto town hall Cortona): 

http://www.lisapoggi.com/

Andrea Bartolozzi: 

http://www.

weddingmovie.it

Christmas Party Decor, Food + Beverage Felici Events Style

Impromptu Felici-Hour Holiday Party

Last night marked the 8th year that Zohe Felici - Event Party Planner Extraordinaire - hosted a pre #paradeoflights gathering at Casa Felici.  The only difference, is that this year she had been traveling, and decided at the last minute to continue and host this ongoing tradition.  With only a few hours to put the "Felici-Hour" together, before she and her friends would head to see the boat parade and fireworks, Zohe dug into her impromptu skills to make this Felici Event effortless for her and a success for guests.

Decor:

There were four decor elements Zohe focused on to put together a holiday table-scape on her dining table.  She chose items (from storage) that accented height and interest to the table without overkill:

• 1.5 foot tall Pier One Imports wooden snowman she fell in love with a few years back
• wooden 3 tier Swedish Christmas Candle Carousel from Ikea - Zohe grew up with one and was always mesmerized by how they work using only candle heat to spin around….
• mini Christmas tree gifted to her by the amazing and talented floral designer Kellye Clifford of Precious and Blooming at a recent coffee meeting.  This became a double-use item (Zohe loves two-fers, see more below).
• red table runner from Cost Plus World Market

Felici Events Christmas Table Set Up

Favors and Entertainment:

As mentioned, the tree became a two-fer.  See it plain and simple on the image below and to the left.  At the foot of the tree are mini ornaments (from Ikea).  Zohe had no time to do this task, therefore she created this very fun activity for the kids (adults got involved too).  Zohe believes that interactive projects at parties are a great form of entertainment, so this was a no-brainer.  Voila, on the right is the finished product created by Zohe's almost-niece Malia.  Malia was so proud of her creation and keepsake!

Felici Events Kids Activity for a Holiday or Christmas Party

Food and Beverage:

Once the table was set, Zohe, being the Italian that she is, moved on to feeding her guests.  With a time limit, she incorporated both home-made and store-bought items for nibbles.  From clockwise we have:

• pizzette and arancini (placed in a 350 degree oven for about 14 minutes) from Trader Joe's
• gorgonzola cheese dip with crostini (easy as 1-2-3 recipe, ready in less than 5 minutes)*
• brussels sprouts with a spicy sweet glaze (easy as 1-2-3 recipe, ready in less than 5 minutes)*
• mulled wine (easy as 1-2-3 recipe, ready in less than 5 minutes) for adults*
• hot apple cider (from Trader Joe's) for kids or add Rum for an adult beverage

Felici Events Easy Food and Beverage for a Christmas or Holiday Party

 Gorgonzola Cheese Dip w/ Crostini

• 1 x 8 oz. container Gorgonzola Cheese
• 1/3 c. whole milk
• 1/8 c. half & half
  • microwave for 2 minutes
  • stir
  • microwave another 2 minutes
  • stir
  • serve with home-made or pre-made buttered bread crostini

Brussels Sprouts in a Spicy Sweet Glaze

• 1 x 10 oz. package shaved fresh brussels sprouts (produce section)
• 2 T. butter, salted
• 1.5 T. agave nectar (or honey)
• 1 - 2 t. crushed red pepper
  • in large pan melt butter on medium
  • once melted increase temperature to high / medium high
  • add brussels sprouts and caramelize
  • stir occasionally so it does not burn, but let it brown
  • turn off burner
  • add agave nectar (feel free to add more to taste)
  • add crushed red pepper  (feel free to add more to taste)

Mulled Wine

• 2 btls. red wine (preferably Merlot or something with hints of cherry)
• 1 btl. white wine (preferably Chardonnay)
• 1.5 c. sweet vermouth
• 1.5 c. brandy
• 1 fresh squeezed orange
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 2 sticks cinnamon
• 1/4 T. cardamom
• 1/4 T. fresh graded nutmeg
• 5-6 whole cloves
  • put all ingredients in a large pot bring to a simmer
  • lower temperature to medium / low for 30 minutes
  • keep on warm until guests arrive or it is all sucked down!
  • pour into festive holiday mugs

Finally, she set her Spotify to the Michael Bublé Christmas Music Station, and there you have it.  How to prepare for and host a holiday happy-hour party for 8 in less than 1 hour.  The most time-consuming part of the preparation was the trip to Trader Joe's to purchase the food…..HA!

Happy Holidays Everyone!  We hope you celebrate safely with friends and loved ones in 2014 with these unique, #felicified and festive Christmas decor and food ideas inspired by #anotherfelicievent

Tented Birthday Celebration Dinner Party

Felici Events Presents: Event & Wedding Planning 101:

Weather: Plan A, B and C

Today we are relishing a bit of (very welcome) rain at Felici Headquarters.  A wet and rainy day like today reminds me of a Felici Event we produced, exactly nine months ago (plus one day), where an uninvited guest showed up - DOWNPOUR!

Last March, I had the honor of working with a Felici Client on her 50th birthday celebration.  The guest of honor wanted to host thirty close friends to a special (not your traditional Saturday night potluck) dinner party at her home.  The lovely clients' home is amidst Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara.  The first time I drove up to her home, I found myself in a gorgeous cul-de-sac type driveway that led to her front door.  There is lush landscaping and a working fountain encompassing it.  "What a magical spot!" I thought to myself.

The client's vision of design was a blend of romance and Mediterranean.  Hanging candle votives, fruits, herbs and vegetables inclusive in the centerpieces, candlelight and an elegantly neutral palate of linens, chairs and table top set up.

Felici Events Wedding Planner place setting

During our meeting, and walk thru of the potential spaces for dinner, I shared with the client that the house was not conducive to accommodate all guests seated together for a plated dinner.  I reminded the client that she hired me to make this night special, and it needed to set other (informal) dinner parties apart.  I suggested the use of the driveway as the dinner space.  Once I proposed to her the vision and schematics of a 'reveal' to the tented dinner area, the client fell in love with the idea!

The planning of the dinner event took place the months of January and February.  Santa Barbara provided beautiful weather and sunny skies every day leading up to the March 1st weekend.  Regardless of our gorgeous weather (common along the American Riviera) my experience as a seasoned event and wedding planner is to produce three plans. This time it had to do with rain:

Plan A - a tented event, in case of rain (the first week of March usually produces precipitation)

Plan B - great weather with no tent (al fresco)

Plan C - an indoor and less formal dinner in case of a torrential downpour.

Instantly I brought on the talents of Coco Rose Design and The Tent Merchant as the team to help me create Ann's dream into a reality.  The Tent Merchant's octagonal tent would fit perfectly in the driveway and easily accommodate 30 guests.  We brainstormed a couple of different layout options, and settled on having votives hanging from the center of the tent and the tables parallel to the tent walls, in an octagonal shape (single sided facing in) so all could see each other.  PERFECT!

The caterer, Chef Robin Goldstein, was a gem to work with!  She created an out of this world menu consisting of farm-to-table fresh foods, with authentic mediterranean preparation.  All the key vendors were in place and so the party begins!

Felici Events Birthday inside tent

Felici Events Birthday mediterranean Centerpieces

You guessed it.  The week-end of the birthday party, there is a torrential downpour!  We experienced heavy rains all morning (there is even a YouTube video of the Santa Barbara Harbor being overcome by large waves) throughout the Southern California area.  I had not seen flash floods since my days in Dallas, Texas

The morning of the party, I drove to the house and found the tent (which was set up the day before) to have rivers running thru it!  The client, understandably stressed, expressed disappointment with the turn of events.*   I reassured her that the dinner would be perfect, and I would do everything in my power to ensure vision of the event.  I urged her to go her hair and make up appointments, and enjoy a day of pampering.  It took some time to console and comfort her, but reluctantly on her way she went escorted with a gal pal.

Mid afternoon, when the florist arrived, we looked at the weather radar which showed patterns of the rain dissipating around 4 p.m.  Guests would not be invited into the dinner tent until 6:30 p.m.  Could we pull it off?  The florist and caterer both confirmed that if by 5:45 p.m. there was no chance of holding the dinner outside, we would be able to move to plan C - placing design items and set a buffet in the living and dining areas for an indoor affair.

I was in the pouring rain for hours, successfully producing make-shift gutters (my alter ego is MacGyver) to deter rain around rain and not thru the tent.  Once complete I swept, mopped and dry vacuumed the inside of the tent.  The threatening red marks on the weather radar, eventually turned to light green specs.  The rain turned to sprinkles, and by 5:15 p.m. all was dry inside the canopy.  With all hands on deck and teamwork, we were ready to go by 6:00 p.m. The heaters in the tent warmed up the space, and combined with the candle light, gorgeous table decor and background music created the most romantic and cozy dinner setting I have produced outdoors after a downpour.

My favorite part is this unique and personalized touch of a play of MadLibs.  We called it "AnnLib" and it substituted a guest book.  The Felici Events graphics team created a cartoon of the client using her picture and added it to a customized MadLib for guests to fill out.

Felici Events creative guest book Mad Libs Cartoon

Felici Events unique party idea madlibs at each place setting

Felici Events wedding planning outside tent looking in

The birthday gal came to take a sneak peek before we invited guests to the 'grand reveal' of dinner, and tears of joy came to her eyes.  She was beyond ecstatic!  This party was not only #anotherfelicievent but one of the most rewarding moments in my career.  We really do turn dreams into a reality (thank you mother nature for keeping me on my toes).  Needles to say hostess and guests had a wonderful time and we created memories for all.  #anotherfelicievent

Felici Events decor table setting details Collage

*Felici Fact: tenting will keep rain from falling on your head, but not water from coming up below.

A Santa Barbara Merry Christmas from Felici Events

Merry Christmas

Felici Events is a Santa Barbara, California based event production and design company with international experience.  We do weddings, parties, holiday celebrations, corporate and cultural events worldwide.  Zohe Felici speaks the above languages fluently, and has lived around the world - in three continents and seven countries - while growing up.

The Luck of the Italians!

Happy Friday the 13th everyone.  In the spirit of today, Friday the 13th's ill-omened notion, I thought I'd share some Italian superstitions that have been passed down from my family:  

Rather than Friday the 13th, Italians have Friday the 17th as a day of bad luck

Friday the 17th is unlucky in Italy

________

Rain on your wedding day brings good luck!

Love under umbrella

_________

If a bird poops on you is the best of luck!

Bird Poop

________

Someone who is wanting to find a significant other burns incense  of rosemary & laurel right before midnight

Rosemary Incense

________

To find a spouse, turn statues of St. Anthony upside down

St. Francis Upside Down

________

When someone opens a champagne bottle, if the cork falls on you, you will be married within the year

________

If you're wanting to find a new lover the upcoming year, wear red undies to bed on New Year's Eve

Red Undies

______

BUONA FORTUNA A TUTTI!

Good Luck Everyone!

Traditional spanish style cultural event and wedding venue

Felicidades y Viva  Mexico!!!!

Old Spanish Days hits close to home for me, as I was born in Mexico City and lived there until I was five, and visit as often as I can.

In honor of Mexican Independence Day - celebrated on September 16th - I want to share one of our favourite weddings that we have produced at this authentic and rustic Spanish style venue.

Casa De La Guerra is one of the most important remnants of Santa Barbara's Spanish-Mexican heritage and offers one of the most charming outdoor courtyards in all of Santa Barbara for any festivity.

Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, it’s zoning allows for a later noise curfew, making it one of the few outdoor venues permitted to play music as late as 1 a.m.

Another advantage of this picturesque Spanish Colonial location is its proximity to various downtown hotels.  This allows for out of town guests to easily walk to and home from the party as well as experience Santa Barbara’s local nightlife.

Casa De La Guerra Spanish Decor Hanging Lanterns

Ideal for rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, corporate dinners or any party; the Casa is a great choice and offers complete privacy for your event.  With the ability to bring in your own rentals, caterers, etc. personalizing this venue is easy and does not break the bank while you enjoy your festivities under the stars!

For more information visit Felici Events Location Blog on Santa Barbara Wedding Style by clicking HERE

__________________________________________

Decor by: Nico Designs www.nicosb.com

Photos by:  Maciel's Photography www.maciels.com