Month: October 2010

tips from the pros :: honeymoon advice

San Diego Weddings of Distinction member, Romantic Honeymoons & Holiday Travel will make the honeymoon planning process fun, informative and worry-free for you with their complimentary services. They have 15 years of broad travel experience to help you decide on the perfect honeymoon destination of your dreams.

They have put together a few essential tips to help you begin planning:

· Don’t delay: You should confirm your trip at least 6-8 months prior to departing. In most cases deposits can be a minimum of only $200 per person to secure your trip. This will ensure the best availability for your accommodations (the most popular room categories sell out first!) if you book early you will also be eligible for early booking discounts and special promotions.

· Discuss a budget for your trip beforehand: Just like you will need to budget for the wedding details and vendors, you will also need to factor in the cost of your honeymoon INTO your overall budget. Honeymoons are a trip of a lifetime and a trip you will remember for the rest of your life! So make sure you indulge in the amenities’ that are the most important to you.

· Travel Dates: be sure to sync both of your calendars and check with your employers to ensure you have the same vacation dates guaranteed off. How much time you can be away from the real world highly determines where you should or could go.
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· Activities: What do you see yourself doing on your trip? Besides the obvious, romance, would you like to try out scuba diving, maybe go hiking, horseback riding, golfing, or simply relax on the beach while your personal butler serves you cocktails? Or are you adventurous and want to go explore a rain forest or Mayan ruins?
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· Consult a specialist: Not every travel agent has seen the world, so ask to speak with someone that has been to the destination you are thinking of going to. The internet has a lot of information and tons pretty pictures of different resorts but remember there is no perfect place. As experienced consultants, we are very particular as to where we send our clients. A true specialist will tell you the good, the bad and the beautiful.

· Do your research early: It’s important that you check out your top 3 destination choices to familiarize yourself with what the different locations have to offer you. The internet is the most valuable source of information at your fingertips. However, don’t book online. Your computer can’t VIP you as honeymooners or upgrade you for free. We are here to make sure you know what you are paying for as well as doing our best to make your dreams come true!

· Dream Big…anything is possible! Are you considering an “over water bungalow in Tahiti?” Or perhaps a “One-bedroom Villa with your very own private plunge pool in St Lucia”? Maybe you want to go yachting in the South of France or explore the Ancient villages of Italy?

It’s all possible when you register through their HONEYMOON GIFT REGISTRY. The honeymoon gift registry enables your family and friends to help pay for your honeymoon as a wedding gift!

So dare to dream big and reach for the stars….Romantic Honeymoons will be there for you every step of the way.

real weddings :: matt & elena

images courtesy of studio castillero

Matt & Elena are one of the most loving couples, which quickly endears them to anyone in their presence. Their casual, easy nature and fun style makes them a dream to work with, too! Three San Diego Weddings of Distinction vendors were lucky enough to be in their inner circle and contribute to their wedding- from design to treats and eats! Elena chose to work with Paula Rae of Rae Florae, together they decided to pull from her love of orange & green- University of Miami colors.. the place where she and Matt started their romance! Roses and rose petals in the most yummy tangerine shades combined with green hydrangea, ribbon wraps of fun striped orange and green, sliced citrus to play on their invitation design, and pops of white to make it crisp! Kristie Emmons from Continental Catering set the Darlington House with natural wood tone chairs & round tables with a clean palette of green and white- And of course prepared the delicious eats from appetizers to dinner. Finishing off the evening, Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. created an adorable cake with their orange tree wedding motif perfectly painted, and marzipan oranges that looked as real as can be! Final surprise- a groom’s cake for loving the Red Sox! Congratulations Matt & Elena!

news :: monthly meeting at hilton san diego / del mar

images courtesy of abiphoto

Delicious and lively is how we describe our September Weddings of Distinction luncheon meeting!

A special thank you to our fellow member and host for September ~ the Hilton San Diego Del Mar. Greeted by unexpected champagne and followed up by a delicious lunch (with a decadent dessert), we salute Catering Manager Tiffany Cooper and Director of Catering Gary Bolotin for a wonderful experience.

Welcome to our newest member ~ David Martiarena from San Diego Paella.

Bucking our monthly showcaser format, we went back to our roots to allow each attendee to stand up and introduce themselves with an “elevator speech” and share a little-known business or personal tidbit of their lives. Arguably, the chimpanzee impression was the hit, but you’d have to see the video! It was a very lively and enlightening session.

Next month’s luncheon will be another lively meeting as we stage a first ~ a bride’s forum. We’re inviting a combination of past and upcoming brides to tell us about their experiences and answer (what we expect to be) some candid questions in their wedding planning process. It should be very eye opening and educational!

Raffles prizes were won, networking was conducted by many, referrals were doled out to many members…a good time was had by all. We’ll see you Tuesday, October 26th at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club for our fabulous bridal forum!

The Weddings of Distinction 2010 Board:

President, Bob Brichmann, DJ & Emcee from Artistic Productions; Vice-President, Ann Strobel, Coordinator from Ann’s Plans; Treasurer, Merrylin Brichmann, DJ & Emcee from Artistic Productions; Founding President, Susan Ashley from Romantic Honeymoons; Membership, Andrea Pena from The Prado at Balboa Park; Secretary, Diane Wilson from Silverwood Music Ensemble; Marketing, Lisa Gisczinski, Elle G Photography. Committee Members: Markeing, Shannon Henry, photographer from Studio Carre.

Weddings of Distinction is a non-profit networking group specializing in weddings and special events. They meet monthly at various San Diego County hotels, resorts and special event facilities. The group’s goal is building professional relationships and networking to give clients the best advice and services to choose from.

real wedding :: bryan and lisa

images courtesy of amore wedding photography

Lisa & Brian were married on a beautiful June afternoon at Grace Lutheran Church. Following the ceremony, guests were serenaded by Weddings of Distinction member Anthony Garcia to beautiful flamenco guitar music in the historic courtyard of the Prado in Balboa Park during a lovely cocktail reception. Andrea Pena, from The Prado, helped to welcome guests into the Grand Ballroom, which was alight with lots of candles and romantic white and cream flowers on chocolate brown antiqued candelabras designed by member Lois Mathews Design. The chocolate brown linens, with gold accents, were supplied by Concepts Event Design. The bride and groom were dazzled buy the romantic atmosphere of the historic Casa del Prado and were thrilled with the whole atmosphere created by this wonderful group of Weddings of Distinction members.