news + press :: june’s meeting at stone brewing company

Stone Brewing Co. is one of San Diego’s finest beer breweries, yet many do not realize that at the brewery’s main location in Escondido, CA, there is ample indoor and outdoor space for weddings and events!  So, for June’s Weddings of Distinction meeting, the group traveled to North County San Diego and enjoyed a spectacular buffet lunch and beer pairing in one of the brewery’s main meeting rooms.  Not bad for a Tuesday afternoon!

Upon arriving in the space, guests were welcomed by the vocals the group’s newest vocalist, Celeste Barbier.  She is an amazing Jazz/Blues/Retro-style singer and performer.  Her voice is soothing, and her style was the perfect accompaniment to the meeting’s “cocktail” and networking hour!

After some time to talk and tour the grounds, lunch was served, buffet-style. Pairings and tasters were available to those that wanted to day-drink, and for those that had to go back to work, non-alcholic options were available!  We had a guest who spoke to the group about managing money for small business, so besides being social, we also learned something to take with us on our ways.

It was a great afternoon.  We ate; we drank; we networked.  We are thrilled to have Stone Brewing Co. as a member of our group!  Not only does Stone offer delicious craft beer, but for those beer enthusiasts getting married, a wedding at Stone Brewery, whether in Escondido or one of their other San Diego locations, may just be the perfect fit!

Weddings of Distinction_June 2016 Meeting

Photos courtesy of McGuire Photography

happy new year!

new year 2016

2015 was a time to rebuild, and after some misfortunes and losses that the group faced in the 12-24 months prior, the members of Weddings of Distinction were ready to start fresh.  2015 was the perfect year to do so!

With a fresh new Board in place in 2015, we rebuilt the group by streamlining our processes, and perfecting our procedures.  In turn, we were able to focus on what was important for our members, and in the end, we ended the year extremely well!  Plus, in the process, we explored some truly wonderful San Diego wedding reception areas/hotels.

In 2015, we got some new members; we lost some others.  Yet, that is the nature of the business, and of our unique group.  We understand that circumstances are always evolving for all our members… in their businesses and in their personal lives.

Weddings of Distinction is more than just a group of San Diego wedding professionals; we are family.  We network with one another because we trust not only the quality of the work he/she performs, but we trust the integrity of the person involved.  To be a member is an honor, so we know that now, in 2016, with some minor shifts to our board, this could be our best year yet!

2016 Board Members

President – Elaine Ardizzone (Sweet Cheeks Baking Co.)
VP (co-chaired position) – Frankie Hartwell (Hartworks Florals) & Renee Hirsch (French Gourmet Catering)
Treasurer – Tracy Zemke (Personal Touch Dining)
Marketing – Shannon Henry (Studio Carre’ Photography)
Membership – Merrylin Brichmann (Lady DJ Merrylin/Artistic Productions)
Secretary – Andy Haganah (The Groove DJs/ Starlight Photo Booth)
Education (co-chaired position) – Ashley Noack & Jillian Ziska, (Coastyle Events)

news + press :: september’s meeting at la jolla women’s club

Sometimes last minute changes are a good thing, and in September, the last minute change to have the monthly meeting hosted by the La Jolla Women’s Club proved to be one of those instances. Nestled in the heart of the the village of La Jolla, the Women’s Club boasts some beautiful garden landscapes coupled with tons historic charm, and all with an ocean view… Talk about a perfect location for a San Diego wedding!

We networked and mingled on the Club’s terrace, where we enjoyed small appetizers and fresh lemonade.  Then, we dined in the Club’s main hall, with a delicious late summer meal provided by Crown Point Catering: fresh summer salad, followed by another 3 courses!  We handled some important logistical matters, like the upcoming Board (re)elections, and enjoyed the company of one another in a truly beautiful and historic San Diego location. If you haven’t been there, it is definitely worth a visit.  Stroll through the gardens; make your way to the beach; and if a wedding is in your future, contact them for details and information!

San Diego Wedding Professionals_September 2015

Photos courtesy of Studio Carre Photographie

bridal event in San Diego :: exquisite weddings fall launch party

Are you a bride and in need of some top-notch wedding inspiration?  Or maybe you are not part of the couple, but involved in some aspect of the wedding planning?  Either way, there is an event coming up that you will sure not want to miss: the Exquisite Weddings Magazine Fall Launch Party!

On Tuesday, October 14th, from 6:30 – 8:30pm, The Westgate Hotel will host some of San Diego’s best wedding vendors, including some of our amazing Weddings of Distinction members! There will be loads of inspiration, amazing displays to see, and an opportunity to meet many San Diego wedding professionals that may or may not be part of the actual show!

Hosted bites and dessert will be available, as well as complimentary beer and wine.  If you are a bride and register as such, you get in free, so be sure to RSVP for a night of inspiration and giveaways!

See you there!

bridal event in san diego

Networking Downtown….May’s Meeting at the Westin Hotel

Memorial Day took place earlier this year, so for May’s meeting we were all about networking and celebrating the start of summer!  This month’s meeting space offered the perfect backdrop to do just that!  The Westin Gaslamp Quarter hosted our monthly networking luncheon, and the outdoor space on the patio offered each of us a healthy dose of Vitamin D.

Lunch was exquisite, distinctive in fact, and the combination of appetizers, entree options and dessert complimented the hot weather quite perfectly.  Our speakers were Deborah Young, one of the newer wedding officiants to the group, and Ann Strobel, of Ann’s Plans, wedding coordination.

We ate; we mingled; we shared ideas and offered referrals, and then we all went on our way.  It was warm, but the Westin offered our group the perfect platform to connect before the hustle and bustle of the San Diego wedding season!

Weddings in San Diego

REAL wedding :: cherie + cameron

San Diego is the perfect place for a destination wedding, and for the couple featured in this REAL wedding, San Diego was an easy choice!  Cherie and Cameron are both New Yorkers, and they wanted the San Diego sun to be their backdrop for their unforgettable nuptials!

Their fabulous wedding took place on a perfect May day at the gorgeous Bahia Resort Hotel.  The theme: nautical.  Lots of blues, yellows and whites, and every element perfectly coordinated with the couple’s sea-loving theme.  They were married outside, with the water behind them and palm trees giving the illusion of their own, private outdoor oasis.

Real Wedding San Diego

(Photos courtesy of TRUE Photography)

Being as the couple was not local, they relied on communicating with vendors via email and over the phone, so for Cherie and Cameron it was important to find wedding vendors they could trust.  Fortunately, they had two of Weddings of Distinction’s finest: wedding cake specialists, Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. and wedding DJ with a plan, Merrylin, Disc Jockey and Emcee of Artistic Productions.

In the end, Cherie & Cameron praised their vendors for creating the “Best Wedding Ever!”  It was romantic; it was fun; and it was full of surprises (think Bollywood ‘First Dance’ mix and a Flash Mob father/daughter dance). Never a dull moment, but then again, when you hire the right wedding vendors, the party should be nothing but fun and dance. 

San Diego REAL Wedding

(Photos courtesy of TRUE Photography)