news + press :: march’s meeting at bernardo winery

Just when we think our meetings can’t get any better, we go to a winery, the Bernardo Winery to be exact, and we completely out-do ourselves!   To sum March’s meeting up: outdoor luncheon, historic charm, and of course, wine!!

While admittedly it was hard to focus (:)), there were two, very informative speakers this month: the first, Marc Lehman from Emotion Picture Studio.  His company has transformed into so much more than just videotaping weddings.  Emotion Picture Studio works with a couples’ budget, and they not only offer professionally-manned coverage, but they’ve developed a service that sends cameras to a couple for them to distribute and use on their own, and then once returned, the Studio edits and creates the final memories.  Convenient and innovative, for sure!

Following Marc, we heard from Shannon Henry & Janine Abdallah (who manage marketing for the Weddings of Distinction) about Facebook Targeted Ads.  Albeit a brief synopsis, they offered the group a lot of information, that in turn, can be used to promote individual businesses.

When it came to lunch, it was a pretty warm, sunny day, s0 lunch was served in one of the vineyard’s outdoor pavilions.  The combination of the shade of the gazebo, the view of the vineyards, and the old-world charm that transports you back to the 1800s, made this afternoon one of our more memorable lunches!  After all presentations were presented, lunch was served, the group was escorted through the Winery.  We learned about it’s history (many of us didn’t know that Bernardo Winery is Southern California’s oldest operating winery); we toured the grounds, and, of course, had a tasting!  It’s a tough job; someone has to do it! 😉

San Diego Weddings; Wedding Professionals; Wedding Planning; Wedding Venues; Wedding Cake; Wedding Coordination; Wedding Flowers; Wedding DJ; Networking; Wedding Photography; Wedding Videography

Photos courtesy of Maryanne McGuire Photography

news + press :: may’s networking meeting

Each month, our group is lucky to travel and experience some of the best San Diego wedding venues/ wedding food/etc., yet this most recent experience at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe was pretty much mind-blowing.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Rancho Santa Fe, the Inn is small, quaint and classy…the perfect representation for the village it’s located in!  We knew it would be beautiful just based on the location and decor, but what really blew our minds was the meal and spread.  Head chef, Brian Black, coordinated a meal so perfect, not only for the start of the summer season, but so delicious and paired on point with the drinks, the bread, just EVERYTHING!!  Who knew that such a fantastic experience was to be had at a place often overlooked when compared to coastal wedding locations!

Lois Mathews provided the floral centerpieces, and in an atmosphere so romantic and elegant, her choice of flowers fit the scene perfectly.  We dined; we networked; we toured the amazing space. And with a belly full of perfectly-paired courses of food, we left the Inn with an appreciation of this small wedding venue that can, undoubtedly, boast an overall experience truly unparalleled!!
San Diego Wedding Professionals_WOD May 2015

Photos courtesy of McGuire Photography

news + press :: april networking meeting at the Crosby

It was a hot April day, but the high temperatures did not keep us from The Crosby Club’s beautiful inland oasis.  Nestled in the amazing hills of Rancho Santa Fe, The Crosby Club offers stunning panoramic views of the Southern California landscape coupled with a top-of-the-line catering and events team that goes above and beyond for weddings and events.

For April’s meeting, Weddings of Distinction members were able to experience just that!  We began with a tour of the grounds, which not only boasts event space catering to 350+ guests, but also a country club and golf course.  We heard from Sensational Treats, and Staci shared with the group some of the new opportunities and offerings her wedding treats business is offering.  We also handled logistics and heard from various board members about the direction of our small networking group.

Many of our members have had the pleasure of working at/with The Crosby Club, so for those members revisiting the space was a treat, as always.  Yet, there were many in the group that had not been to the Club before, so for them, it was a nice change of pace to be able to visit an iconic area of San Diego and to see a country club that many do not realize is there at all!  The team and hosts at The Crosby Club were gracious and accommodating, and surely all Weddings of Distinction members were appreciative of the hospitality!

WOD April 2015

Photos courtesy of E3 Photography