B&B/Inn
The Upham Hotel
uphamhotel.com
Upham Hotel | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom
The oldest continuously operating hotel in Southern California, the Upham Hotel was built by banker Amasa Lincoln (a relative of Abraham Lincoln) in 1871 and purchased by Cyrus Upham in 1898. Today, the Upham embraces its legacy, combining modern-day amenities with historic charming This boutique property has 50 rooms and suites located in the original inn and surrounding garden cottages, combining the intimacy of a bed-and-breakfast with the convenience of a full-service hotel and conference facility.
Runner Up: Simpson House Inn
caterer
Pure Joy Catering
purejoycatering.com
Did winning Best Of have any special significance after the pandemic? Pure Joy Catering owner Lynette La Mere said, “Absolutely! We’ve basically had to rebuild the whole company from the ground up all over again, build a whole new team, and train them — and it’s been a remarkable experience. We really are better than ever before, and this is a fantastic acknowledgment of that. Thank you for standing behind small businesses and helping us survive this. Since the pandemic, we’ve had the opportunity to hire some really great women and help them thrive, and it’s a dream for me. Business is way better than ever. We’re getting to do some really exceptional and spectacular events; it’s very exciting.”
Runner Up: Duo Events
Events DJ
DJ Darla Bea
djdarlabea.com
Event Rentals
Tent Merchant
thetentmerchant.com
Founded in 2005, Tent Merchant is a wedding and event rental specialist offering a wide variety of tents and canopies, as well as antique furnishings and accessories, props, and decor in themes that range from shabby chic to tropical, as well as Asian, Moroccan , and Indian. They can also provide tables, chairs, flatware, glassware, china, linens, lighting, dance floors, staging, and furniture to transform your vision into the party of your dreams.
Runner Up: Bright Event Rentals
florist
Riley’s Flowers
rileysflowers.myshopify.com
This beautiful, European-style “bucket shop” of colorful blooms is Independent readers’ pick for the seventh year in a row. Riley’s Flowers is a walk-in, full-service floral institution, renowned for good prices and having one of the largest selections of cut roses and other flowers and plants that are fresh and hand-picked locally.
Runner Up: Kaleidoscope Flowers
hotel
San Ysidro Ranch
[See Eating: Stellar Service]
Runner Up: The Palace Grill
Limo service
Luxury transportation
Illustration by Ben Ciccati
luxetransportationsb.com
“Luxe Transportation would like to thank our beautiful community for all the love and support,” says owner David Dorado. “Being recognized as the Best Limo Service in Santa Barbara County is a huge honor; it validates our hard work behind the scenes and our efforts to always provide our clients with the best experience — from the initial contact to the last second on board. To our fellow industry friends, to our family and friends, to our loyal clients who keep coming back, who share our service with others, who take the time to review us, it all means so much and it’s greatly appreciated.”
Runner Up: A and J Limousine
photographer
Kacie Jean Photography
kaciejeanphotography.com
“I am ridiculously over-prepared for every situation, but you will definitely appreciate that at some point in our time together,” writes photographer Kacie Jean Fowle of Kacie Jean Photography. Independent readers certainly appreciate her talents as a photographer who “specializes in love.” Her focus (forgive the pun) includes shooting on location, maternity, babies, children, families, engagements, and wedding photography, and she’s being doing this professionally — and locally — since 2004.
Runner Up: James and Jess Photography
Restaurant with a view
Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach
[See Eating: Stellar Service]
Runner Up: Scarlett Begonia
Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach | Credit: Ingrid Bostrom
stationery store
PaperSource
papersource.com/locator/ca-santa-barbara
With an aim to “inspire customers to do something creative every day,” Downtown Santa Barbara’s Paper Source is chock-full of wedding invitations, birth announcements, holiday photo cards, and party invitations, using high-quality paper, digital and letterpress printing methods or, if you want DIY, everything you need to make your own cards and invitations. They also stock a beautiful assortment of gift wrap and ribbon, as well as clever gifts, fine papers, greeting cards, kits, and personalized products.
Runner Up: Folio Press & Paperie
Wedding Cake Shop
Lilac Pâtisserie
lilacpatisserie.com
It’s six years in a row that Lilac Pâtisserie has been voted the local favorite wedding cake shop, which would be impressive by any standards, but is particularly notable since it is a dedicated gluten-free bakery. Co-Owner Gillian Muralles was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002 and decided — to the considerable delight of her many fans — to make it her mission to “keep the deliciousness in my life despite my new gluten-free diet.” The rest, as they say, is history. Since opening the storefront in 2015, they’ve kept a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, while still offering beautifully presented treats.
Runner Up: Anna’s Bakery
Wedding Planners
Jill & Co Events
jillandcoevents.com
“Thank you to everyone who voted for us,” says Jill Remy, owner of Jill & Co. Events. “Coming out of the pandemic, it is so good to see everyone again. Gathering people together is why we do what we do, so we had definitely been missing that. Santa Barbara is such a special town to have a business in, as it is very event-driven, and I love serving the community through their special celebrations, fundraisers, and events of all kinds.”
Runner Up: Dulce Dia Events
wedding venue
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
countyofsb.org/1065/Courthouse-Garden-Weddings
countyofsb.org/1066/Courthouse-Mural-Room-Weddings
Noted for its beautiful architecture and vintage elegance, the historic 1929 Spanish-Moorish Santa Barbara County Courthouse is renowned as one of the most beautiful buildings in the US It’s no wonder that the meticulously maintained gardens and spacious lawns are a popular site for weddings. The Exterior Gardens may be reserved to accommodate up to 250 people, and for small wedding ceremonies with 15 or fewer guests, there are six non-reservable designated areas that are free of charge, primarily along the Anacapa and Figueroa Street lawn areas. The stunning Courthouse Mural Room, with four historic murals painted by Dan Sayre Groesbeck, is also back to being available for event rentals.
Runner Up: Sunstone Winery
See all of the winners in our “Best of Santa Barbara® 2022” cover here.