What We Do

Merryl Brown Events specializes in elegant social and corporate events as well as weddings that are both environmentally sensitive and beautiful. We look at every aspect of your event through a prism of sustainability to determine how to create something that is both gracious and green, simultaneously. We are known for our great attention to detail and our love of old world elegance with a modern twist. We plan each event with all of the care, consideration and time that you expect and deserve.

An important aspect of what we do is to help you find ways to reduce waste and enhance the sustainability profile of your event. We set a series of targets and goals to achieve your requested or our recommended sustainability considerations. We consider environmental responsibility at every step of the planning process, using local, organic, recycled, biodegradable, reusable or compostable materials wherever possible to make the event as low-waste as possible from start to finish without ever compromising the elegance or quality of the production. Our network of vendors all place a high premium on sustainable practices. At your request we will have a trained staff member overseeing the waste management of your event, and can conduct a comprehensive waste audit to provide you with an environmental impact analysis if that is requested. Elegance with Intelligence® is our motto!

Catering

The caterers with whom we work share our love for great food and our belief that it is important to use local, organic ingredients whenever possible, to compost, recycle, and to conserve water and energy. Whatever culinary style you are looking for, they will create delicious, seasonal menus to satisfy even the most sophisticated palate. We also have excellent recommendations for organic and biodynamic wines.

Flowers, Plants, and Décor

Our favorite florists use locally grown organic flowers and plants for our events. In Southern California, we have a wealth of options to choose from, covering the spectrum from simple and natural to truly magnificent.

Invitations

Our favorite invitations and other paper-based communications are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled content paper that are chlorine-free, using vegetable based inks though we have many other options to show you as well. We also offer sustainable letterpress printing. Our beautiful paperless options allow you to design the perfect invitation with no paper waste, at a fraction of the cost of printing and mailing traditional paper invitations.

Favors

We can recommend a vast selection of unique party favors and napkin treatments, many of our favors are locally made and edible. These include freshly baked cookies in the theme of your event, artisan organic and fair trade chocolates made to your specifications, local Santa Barbara honey, Santa Ynez olive oil or wines, and hand-dipped beeswax candles. We work with local designers who create exquisite napkin custom treatments, using antique artifacts, eco-ribbon, fresh organic flowers or herbs, vintage beads or other lovely details often made from recycled materials.

Venues

We have vetted a number of environmentally responsible event sites to choose from. These include hotels, oceanfront sites, ocean-view estates, organic farms and vineyards throughout the Central Coast and southern California. We can recommend event locations that fit your event type, size, budget, and season. We are the only sustainable event planner on the Preferred Vendor Lists at the Four Seasons Biltmore and San Ysidro Ranch. We are also the only “green” Preferred Vendor at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Weddings

Download our Wedding Planning PDF | 3.5MB

Merryl Brown Events specializes in elegant, classic weddings that are both environmentally sensitive and beautiful. We are known for our great attention to detail and our love of old world elegance with a modern twist. Our goal is to help you create and perfect what will be among your life’s most treasured memories.

Giving Back

We love our community and have worked hard to make a difference over the years, in hopes that we will leave Santa Barbara, CA a better place for our having been here. Some events that Merryl Brown Events has donated to include:

Project Healthy Neighbors
Merryl Brown Events helps to coordinate PHN’s incredible annual homeless outreach program that brings vital medical and social services to over 500 local homeless men, women and children. This program is a collaborative effort of many local groups and takes place at Casa Esperanza in Santa Barbara. www.casa-esperanza.org

The Scholarship Foundation
Merryl Brown Events donated our time to help coordinate The Scholarship Foundation’s first “friendraising” cocktail party in Montecito at a private estate. www.sbscholarship.org

The Howard School
Merryl Brown Events made a significant in-kind donation as well as securing many auction items for The Howard School’s 2010 fundraising event. www.thehowardschool.org

Protect Our Dolphins
Merryl Brown Events made a significant in-kind donation to POD’s first ever fundraising event. www.protectourdolphins.com

Community Environmental Council
Merryl Brown Events makes an annual in-kind donation to the CEC to support their great work. www.CECSB.org

This is just some of what we have done to give back and say thanks for letting us be a part of this great community!