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

real weddings :: dagna + kyle

Let’s start with a little background from Dagna, about how she and Kyle met:

“Kyle and I “met” when I was about 18.  I don’t recall who struck up the initial conversation, but we immediately clicked. We both belonged to a College Aged Republicans group on MySpace (go ahead and make your jokes, but without MySpace we wouldn’t have met!)  From the get go, I found him incredibly funny and intelligent. We shared the same views and passions, and let’s be honest the extremely handsome part didn’t hurt!  We would spend hours online and on the phone discussing politics and our lives. He always made me laugh! From the very beginning I knew I would be with him one day…”

Photos courtesy of Studio Carre’ Photographie

Dagna + Kyle are a great couple; they’re truly down to earth, easy going, and open to creativity.  As a couple, they love to think out of the box, and their wedding reflected their unique personality. The Prado at Balboa Park provided the perfect backdrop for this couple, and with the help of Ann (of Ann’s Plans), their special day was perfectly coordinated; Lois Mathews Designs created the beautiful floral designs and accents; Artistic Productions provided the musical/DJ entertainment, and Studio Carre’ Photographie captured the memories.

real wedding :: jason and lyndsey

definitive-eventsimages courtesy of Bethany Belle

Jason and Lyndsey were introduced while living on completely opposite sides of the country. Lyndsey in San Diego, and Jason in New Jersey. After a long-distance relationship for nine months, Jason popped the question on Coronado Island and they decided to begin their life together in San Diego after the wedding.

The rustic yet charming Rancho Bernardo Winery was chosen as the perfect location for the wedding ceremony and reception. Weddings of Distinction members, Definitive Events was selected as their full service wedding planners to bring the bride’s vintage and classic elegant vision together. With crystal chandeliers and lanterns hung throughout the trees the perfect ambiance was created. The elegant florals completed the look with the wrought iron candelabras and vintage white floral arrangements provided by Lois Mathews. Bob Brichmann, from Artistic Productions, then kept the dance floor hopping as they closed the evening with the bride and groom’s favorite selections.

news:: Luncheon at La Jolla Cove Suites

wod_august-mtg-templateimages courtesy of www.studiocarre.com

San Diego Weddings of Distinction was invited to La Jolla Cove Suites, www.lajollacove.com, for their August luncheon meeting. With LJ Cove Suites celebrating its 50th year, our host and former member, Senior Sales Associate Joy Richards welcomed us to their stunning rooftop venue.

Several members contributed to the beauty and culinary delights for the day’s meeting. Lois Mathews, www.loismathews.com, provided floral centerpieces. Showcaser Katrina Lacape from Magical Party Rentals, www.magicalpartyrentals.com, offered incredibly colorful linens for the table décor. Our other showcaser, who actually provided food and beverage on the day, was Authentic Flavors Catering, www.sdauthenticflavors.com.

Director of Catering, Carrie Esparza, introduced a delicious menu for the day that included scrumptious appetizers and tasty beverages to greet guests as they arrived. Also visiting us were the newest owners of Authentic, Mark Vogel and Justin Fitzgerald.

After being dazzled by Katrina’s linens and Carrie’s crew for lunch, Cheli Madrid from St. Tropez Specialty Cakes & Desserts, offered up an incredible dessert to close the afternoon. St.Tropez and Authentic are subsidiaries within the same company.

Board business was briefly shared with the masses. Exciting news from member Krista Murphy – baby Kaylin Grace Murphy was born 8/20/09. Some incredible raffle prizes were doled out including a night’s stay at the LJ Cove Suites, won by member Elaine Ardizzone, www.sweetcheeksbaking.com, and box seats to the Del Mar Races, courtesy of Katrina Lacape, and won by florist Paula Rae, www.raeflorae.com.

Dozens of referrals were exchanged. People bonded. Another prospective member – coffee man David Wassermann, www.joesonthenose.com, paid us a visit. Fun and sun were had by all!

We’ll see you next month at the Baumann Estate in Point Loma with our own member Continental Catering, www.continentalcateringsd.com, providing culinary delights.

The Weddings of Distinction 2009 Board:
President, Bob Brichmann, DJ & Emcee from Artistic Productions (www.artistic-productions.com)
Vice-President, Ann Strobel, Coordinator from Ann’s Plans (www.annsplans.com)
Treasurer, Merrylin Brichmann, DJ & Emcee from Artistic Productions (www.artistic-productions.com)
Founding President, Susan Ashley from Romantic Honeymoons, (www.romantichoneymoonsbysusan.com)
Membership, Carrie Esparza from San Diego Authentic Flavors Custom Catering (www.sdauthenticflavors.com)
Secretary, Andrea Pena from The Prado at Balboa Park (www.balboaparkweddings.com)

Committee Members:
Shannon Henry, wedding photographer from Studio Carre (www.studiocarre.com)

San Diego Weddings of Distinction is a non-profit networking group specializing in weddings and special events (www.sandiegoweddingsofdistinction.com). They meet monthly at various San Diego County hotels, resorts and special event facilities.