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

WoD Features in Ceremony Magazine

 

Our vendors truly at top of the line, and when their respective work gets featured in a high-end bridal magazine, we’re impressively proud.  For a few of our amazing wedding vendors, their work has been featured in the latest issues of Ceremony Magazine.  Ceremony is an exclusive magazine publication, and to have so many features in the final print, which are distributed all over California, is impressive.

If you’re not able to pick up a hard copy of the magazine, we’ve done the work for you!  Enjoy a slideshow of images from the most recent issue, in which: Lois Mathews Design, Kristina Chartier Photography, Sweet Cheeks Baking Co., Betwixt Studio, Concepts Event Design, and Studio Carre’ Photographie are featured!

Real Wedding :: Nicole + Sean | La Valencia Hotel


“I don’t know how Lois Mathews did it, but I felt like she went into my head and found every memory of my grandmother…my mother and my family’s elegance, warmth and tradition. [She} put it together to create the most amazing feeling and atmosphere.  I felt like I was surrounded with all my favorite things in my life.  Every table had different elements and the most beautiful flowers and lace.” 

Real Wedding San Diego

Sometimes it helps to hear from the bride’s mouth exactly what she thought of her wedding, and the above comments came directly from Nicole about the work of Lois Mathews Design, a special and talented wedding floral designer with Weddings of Distinction.  She, along with fellow WoD vendors, Bryan Miller Photography and Artistic Productions, plus other great San Diego wedding vendors, made Nicole and Sean’s day magical.

The story of how they met is pretty awesome: Nicole (living in Detroit at the time) was visiting her parents over Thanksgiving.  During her stay, she decided to take the dogs to the dog park in Little Italy.  She was in her PJs, mind you!   Upon entering the park, one of her dogs ran up to play with a doggie friend.  Much to her embarrassment and surprise, both the other dog and its owner were pretty cute!  Nicole was so embarrassed, but it didn’t matter, Sean thought she was beautiful.  While she left CA the next day, 6 months later she had a chance to move to San Diego.  The two connected at that time, and the rest is history.

 They were married at the end of December last year.  Their wedding and reception were at the historic and iconic, La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, a Weddings of Distinction venue.  They were treated to food and service that was truly First Class.

The ceremony took place on the terrace, and Lois designed an amazing lace and floral chuppah, under which the couple exchanged vows.  The day started out beautiful, yet at about 3:00 in the afternoon, right before the ceremony was to begin, dense fog rolled in and made everything dark.  Yet as luck would have it, just as the wedding party lined up, the fog retreated and the sun came back out!  The couple, and their family and friends, thought it was an interesting circumstance, and the couple’s Rabbi, who was a long time family friend, joked during the ceremony that he could take the credit!

Everything, from the details in the bride’s dress, to the flowers, to the details at the reception, made this wedding better than the couple could have ever imagined!  Wedding DJ, and WoD vendor, Bob Brichmann of Artistic Productions, played tunes that ranged from classics of the 1940s to modern pop of today.

The wedding may have been intimate (only 40 guests), but the combination of great music, good food, and the company and friends and family made this wedding extra special.  That, combined with professional and talented wedding vendors, made the couple feel “so blessed.”

San Diego weddings

 

Ceremony String Music: Elian Strings

Wedding Cake: Cake in Mission Hills

Bridal Gown: Isis

news + press :: may’s meeting at lomas santa fe country club

We traveled up to North County for May’s Weddings of Distinction luncheon, and Lomas Santa Fe Country Club was gracious enough to host our meeting.

The space was beautifully decorated, thanks to Lois Mathews Design for the floral arrangements, and guests were able to mix and mingle while enjoying coffee and tea.

During the delicious meal of steak salad, and an amazing chocolate ravioli dessert, we heard from some of our newest members, Manchester Grand Hyatt, Diane D’Angelo, and La Jolla Cove Suites.  We also heard from seasoned WOD member, Pink Star Design, who brought in some amazingly creative invitation samples.

We also had a very special guest, Dina, Owner/Publisher San Diego Style Weddings, attend, and she spoke to the group about special incentives for advertising for the upcoming season.

It was a wonderful afternoon, as usual, and a great opportunity to welcome our new members and network with our old!

Photos courtesy of Betwixt Studio

Weddings of Distinction

Photos courtesy of Betwixt Studio

european garden wedding :: styled shoot that will make your heart melt

 European garden inspiration

Recently, two of our amazing San Diego wedding vendors, Lois Mathews Design Florals + Kristina Chartier Photography, partnered up to capture some of the most elegant and adorable images of a lovely European garden wedding.  The details are exquisite, the colors are vibrant, and the models (dog included) make us happy.

Details + design: antique lace, paired with French and English collectibles creates a scene with the most romantic touch.  Everything old; nothing new; and the result was a look borrowed straight from Great Grandma’s house.  Nothing matched, and each item on its own has a story and identity, but, together, all the beautiful, mix-matched items (old crystal with porcelain, pottery pitchers and even brass and silver pieces) came together perfectly.

Florals: they were a masterpiece!  Lois Mathews Design made up of lovely garden flowers in shades of blue and purple with a hint of blush, the floral designs truly outdid themselves!  Flowers included: hydrangeas in all shades of blue and antique, delphinium, stock, blue eryngium, blue viburnium berries, blue clamatus, kiwi branches and garden roses.  Together, the combination created this beautiful natural setting.

Florals and Wedding Design: Lois Mathews Design  |  Photography: Kristina Chartier Photography

Make-up & Hair: Samantha Muleady
Dress: The White Flower Bridal Boutique

:: style + inspiration at the US Grant’s ‘swoon 4’ bridal show

 

Spring is a season of new beginnings.  It’a a time when people begin to get out more, and enjoy the outdoors. Well, for those in the wedding industry (and for those getting married), spring is the unofficial start of wedding planning season!

At the beginning of March, the US Grant hotel hosted its annual “Swoon 4 Bridal Event“, and in true fashion, they truly outdid themselves.  Many of Weddings of Distinction’s vendors (the US Grant included) took part in this special day, and in doing so, claimed themselves among the finest San Diego wedding vendors.

 The day-long bridal event spanned three floors and three ballrooms with loads of inspiration for couples.  Whether one is getting married in the fall, or in the winter, the event had special rooms dedicated to inspire the fall or winter brides!  Whites and silvers adorned the “Winter” room; vibrant colors and outdoorsy furniture decorated the “Spring/Summer” room.  There was a room specifically for groom’s, and there were others for the brides and even the ceremony itself!  Food and drink was plentiful, so couples were able to enjoy specialty cuisine from local San Diego wedding caterers.  Also, thanks to the donations from local wedding boutiques, brides were able to visualize different bridal looks during the fashion show finale!

There was so much to see and touch and experience; no stone was left unturned.   One could have spent the entire afternoon, and many did just that!

So, if you’re getting married in San Diego, there are many reputable San Diego wedding vendors to choose from.  Weddings of Distinction is likely to have many of the as a part of our group!

WoD vendors representedLois Mathews DesignSan Diego Events LightingSweet Cheeks Baking CompanyConcepts Event DesignAnn’s PlansHartworks FloralArtistic ProductionsBryan Miller PhotographyPink Star DesignStone Brewery, and of course, the US Grant Hotel!

 

Photos courtesy of Kristina Chartier Photography

For more pictures of the event, please visit the US Grant’s Facebook page!

news + press :: january meeting at la valencia hotel

 

San Diego Weddings of Distinction

Photos courtesy of ABI Photo

We kicked off 2013 in grand style, and for January’s Wedding of Distinction meeting, our fabulous vendors congregated to the La Valencia Hotel in beautiful La Jolla Village.  La Valencia is one of the newest members to join our select group, so this meeting was a great opportunity for all of us to see just what this beautiful hotel offers guests and couple getting married.

It may have been a work day, but we started the morning with mimosas outside on the Garden.  While waiting for lunch to be served, we had breathtaking views of the ocean.  Then, when lunch was served, we were all treated to a delicious family-style, 3-course meal created by Executive Chef Paul McCabe made up of striped bass and gnocchi with seasonal vegetables.

During and after the meal, we had the chance to “meet” our new Board members, listen to updates, and share ideas for the coming year.  We also heard from the staff of the La Valencia about exciting things coming up for the historical hotel!  The afternoon ended with prizes of fruit tarts, truffles, and flowers.

It was a great time to enjoy the company of friends, new and old, and get excited about another year of great weddings and events.

Special thanks to: Lois Mathews Design for the centerpieces; Concepts Event Design for the linens and tables + chairs, and of course to the staff La Valencia Hotel for the hospitality.

member spotlight :: lois mathews floral designer

Lois Mathews Design is dedicated to creating a unique wedding for each and every bride. Lois’ years of floral and party experience, coupled with your ideas, help create your “dream” wedding. Lois takes a personal interest in each bride and adapts her designs to suit her bride and groom’s personal tastes. Prior to starting her own business, Lois worked at various venues around San Diego, including the legendary Hotel Del Coronado. Lois possesses an intense passion for her work and exemplifies trustworthiness ~ key factors for success. As advice for brides, Lois can adjust her design materials to fit client’s budgets. One way is to buy seasonal products from local markets. Another is to take advantage of equipment and décor items Lois has gathered and stored over the years. To plan for your special day, visit Lois by appointment at her vintage barn and garden studio in Bankers Hill.

Email: lois@loismathews.com
Phone: 619.255.9144