Tag: Maryanne McGuire photo

news + press :: February’s meeting at the Prado

Located in the heart of Balboa Park, The Prado Restaurant is one of San Diego’s historic dining experiences. Offering the perfect backdrop for parties, meetings and special events, The Prado features 22,000 square feet of meeting space indoors and out to accommodate groups up to 2,500 guests. An on-site professional staff blends the expertise of special event planning with the flair for the unusual, which makes for a unique party experience.  We really enjoyed ourselves!

Photographer Maryanne McGuire provided the excellent images you see below.

Mike Hogan shared about his business, Entertainment at Large.  We also discovered and got to hear Mike’s auctioneer talents.  “Going once, going twice…!”  The meeting was over!  We are looking forward to our next networking event.

news & press :: when wedding vendors party….

…We do it big. It was a celebration to end a truly great year; one in which we rebuilt; we expanded; we also down-sized; but most importantly, we handled and managed details that got us off track in the year or so prior.

Weddings of Distinction is truly a special networking group, and as such, the members are like family, so the holiday season is our favorite time to come together, be silly, eat good food and treats, and just enjoy one another’s company on a personal level.  Yes, we all work together year-round, but our end-of-year holiday party is a time for us to let loose!

What did that mean?  It means we all congregated to Frankie Hartwell’s house, of Hartworks Florals, and everyone brought something, food, drink(s), dessert(s) and more.  We also had a pretty stellar gift exchange, and let’s just say, the alcohol and fuzzy blankets were a major hit!  We also concluded with a killer raffle prize to one lucky member, and the special token?… an iPad!!

We had live musical entertainment; lots, and I mean lots, of food and drink!  People came dressed to the nines, but some also donned funny holiday sweaters, because, well why not!?

A great time overall… The perfect way to end another year, and to lift spirits for the start of a new one!

San Diego Wedding Professionals - 1215Photos courtesy of 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 :: july meeting at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel + Marina

Life is San Diego is pretty spectacular, and when you’re part of a group that takes you to one of the finest wedding venues in San Diego for lunch, life gets that much more spectacular.  For July’s meeting we traveled to the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, located bay front with amazing views of America’s Finest City.

We started the afternoon outdoors, on the Bay View Lawn, with a sunny and warm reception hour with small bites and custom lunchtime cocktails.  The view of the docked boats and the crystal-clear blue skies made everyone’s mood happy.  Then, we moved the luncheon indoors, into the Sheraton’s Harbor Island Ballroom, which still offered stunning views of the harbor with its tall windows throughout.

Our speakers this month: Maryanne McGuire, of McGuire Photography, and Andy Hangenah, of “The Groove,” formerly “Disc-Go-Round DJ.”  Maryanne shared with her start as a wedding photographer, from her beginnings in NY state, to her travels out west.  Andy explained the evolution of his wedding DJ business, and how the re-branding of his company and changing the name to “The Groove” actually came from a client of his!  It was great to gain insight into these two about their starts and to see how they’ve come to where they are today!

Our “Tips-from-the-Pros” series continued this month, and it was the florists in our group, Lois Mathews, Frankie Hartwell, and Dawn Stone, that shared insight into the extent of the work a wedding flower designer can do for a wedding.  Many may not realize that so much more goes into wedding flowers, not just designing bouquets and arrangements!

The meeting ended with a 50/50 raffle and a gracious giveaway from the Sheraton Hotel.  Next month: we travel to Paradise Point Hotel & Spa.  Stay tuned!!

Photos courtesy of E3 Photography

San Diego Wedding Vendors