Today, we take the time to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., and reflect on all he was able to achieve as a Civil Rights leader. This holiday is meant to keep Dr. King’s memory alive and to help us contemplate the meaning and importance of equality for all.

There are a few ways to accomplish this.

Your wedding day is a celebration of love—not just between you and your partner, but the community around you. Today’s couples are increasingly focused on honoring diversity and inclusion through their wedding choices. From supporting minority-owned businesses to blending cultural traditions, here are a few ideas to reflect and represent the diverse world we live in.

Venues

When selecting your ceremony and reception sites, choose from the plethora of Historic spaces available in Santa Barbara, they offer beautiful backdrops while supporting venues run by people of color. Your location sets the tone for the event, so choosing an inclusive venue can be a first step.

Food and Catering

Food is central to any celebration, so opt for caterers that can provide cuisine connected to your cultural background. From a taco truck for a Mexican-inspired meal to West Indian fare served family-style, letting your menu reflect your diverse roots makes the event more personal. And just like the venue, look into caterers owned by minorities whenever possible.

Here are a few black-owned Santa Barbara catering businesses to check out:

• Gipsy Hill Bakery - Santa Barbara pop-up artisanal bakery using local organic produce owned by chef and baker Sandra Adu Zeli.

• Cristy’s Cookies - Gourmet and made-to-order cookies, cakes, and more from local baker Cristy Adams.

• Soul Bites - Southern-inspired restaurant serving feel-good soul food in the heart of Santa Barbara, owned by Stirling and Rose.

• Simply Marvelous BBQ - Santa Barbara area wedding and event barbecue caterer owned by award-winning chef Steph Franklin.

• Mylestone BBQ - Boutique barbecue pop-up and caterer owned by grillmaster and chef Charles Myles.

Music

Your playlist provides the soundtrack to your day, so select songs that resonate with your blended backgrounds. Along with popular reception dance tracks, work with your DJ or band to incorporate music traditions like ceremonial songs, cultural instrumentals, and any other meaningful numbers.

Attire

From ornate saris to lace to dai gowns, your wedding wear can represent your roots through customized touches and unique accessories. Don’t be afraid to blend cultures in your look as a couple either. Fusing a Western-style dress with Chinese phoenix embroidery or pairing Indian Wedding attire with a tuxedo to make a memorable style statement.

Hair and Makeup, Spa and Wellness

Looking and feeling your best is important every day, but especially on your wedding day. So, finding the right hair and makeup artists and salon professionals who understand your unique needs and can cater to all different hair and skin types is critical to ensure you and every member of your party are taken care of.

NV Glam - the glam team is a lead makeup and hair artist specializing in airbrush, soft glam, and Hollywood waves.

Rogue Styling - who has a ton of experience with different skin tones, from soft birch to freckles to bold ebony as well as skin and hair types and textures.

Also, consider selecting a minority-owned business for your beauty services and treatments.

Here are a few black-owned Santa Barbara beauty businesses to check out:

• Pura Luna Women’s Apothecary - Brick and mortar and online wellness shop offering herbal remedies, skin products, and more from wife duo Christin and Ashley (Ashe) Kelly-Brown. Wedding hair and makeup services also available through LunaBella Makeup and Hair.

• Razi Cultural Beauty - Santa Barbara beauty salon owned by Rosalyn Y. Collins and specializing in natural hair and skincare services. The salon also carries a selection of beauty products and fair-trade African-inspired art and fashion.

• Summerland Salon and Spa - Luxury salon and spa catering to all ethnicities and hair types and offering organic and holistic skincare services, co-owned by Louisiana native and hair guru Kara Richard and Jonathan Dawson.

Photography

Our dearest Renoda Campbell Photography Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer for LGBTQ+ & INCLUSIVE Couples who is self-proclaimed as a Black woman in an interracial relationship, she understands the importance of representation and inclusivity. Check out her recent work at other Santa Barbara weddings, HERE.

Officiant

For the ceremony, choose an officiant who reflects your relationship and background. A non-denominational officiant can perform interfaith ceremonies and interracial weddings with ease. Or select a person of color who resonates with you as a couple through their values and spiritual approach.

By thoughtfully incorporating diversity into your wedding choices, you craft an event with intention, meaning, and celebration of your rich background. Let the vision for your day be as beautifully blended as you are.