Gatherings for Good is truly a one-stop shop for designing, planning, or coordinating your upcoming wedding or special event—that’s why we’re so thrilled to welcome them to the Santa Barbara Wedding Style A-List! Whether you’re looking for a team that will provide full-service wedding planning and day-of coordination, or just need help designing a perfectly personalized event, Gatherings for Good is ready to help you define your vision and bring it to life. You’ll feel confident and well cared for working with these trusted professionals who prioritize truly getting to know their clients and making the often overwhelming process of wedding planning as effortless and stress-free as possible.

To learn a little bit more about the work Gatherings for Good does—and to bring our readers the inside scoop on what you should be thinking about as you plan your own Santa Barbara wedding—SBWS spoke with owner and creative director of events Brenda Cali.

Q - What is your favorite location where you prefer to plan client weddings? What is the style that makes this location special for couples?

A - The Riviera Mansion is one of my favorite venues. It's private, exclusive, sophisticated, and elegant. The venue is located downtown but still feels very private and tucked away. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and well-maintained. I really enjoy the atmosphere and the richness of the architecture and interior design. Their staff always provides impeccable service which makes for a great experience.

Q - What is your #1 top piece of advice you give to couples before they hire you?

A - I always tell my clients to trust their instincts and to always plan the wedding they want to have. I see a lot of couples who try hard to please their families and do what other people expect them to do. It's impossible to make everyone happy and inevitably there will be people who don't agree with your choices and who may not understand your vision. At the end of the day it's your wedding and you have to be happy. Do what makes you happy and try not to worry what everyone else thinks.

Q - What is trending with your couples?:

A - Small cutting cakes for photos only, signature cocktails, colorful flowers, first looks with wedding party or family members, mixed gender wedding parties.

Q - What are 2 things you wish couples would do for every wedding?

A - Getting ready photos before the ceremony and a first look.

Q - To date, what wedding have you planned that made the top of your favorite list, and why?

A - My favorite wedding was right after Covid when events started happening again after a long break. It was at a private home in Santa Barbara and I had several meetings with the couple and got to know them and their families really well. They had never had a wedding at this property so they had a lot of questions and it took a lot of time to plan but in the end it was exactly what they dreamed of. The wedding day turned out so beautiful, it was like watching my friends get married. The smiles on their faces and the looks of happiness and gratitude reminded me why I love this job.

Photos: Lerina Winter Photo