Yes, sometimes we do get out and have some fun! This year’s holiday party consisted of cosmic bowling and a variety of ugly Christmas sweaters….with a few select prizes for the most creative. We had great fun with each other during a relaxed evening away from work, but some competition was definitely going on between the lanes…and the santa gift exchange!

We hope that you all have a wonderful and happy holiday season, and we’ll see you next year!!

photos courtesy of abi photography

Our last meeting for 2011 was a lot of fun. Elizabeth Bradshaw from The Loft and Michelle Koenig, Projects Manager for Zanzibar Café, Inc., treated us to a great venue and lunch experience at UC San Diego.  Our guests were Brent Clifford, Studio Carre, and Joe Park with Disc Go Round DJ & Video Services. We also welcomed our newest member, Jen from Pink Star Design!  And our thanks to Paula for the great centerpieces.

Andy Hagenah was our showcaser.  He talked about Disc Go Round DJ & Video Services and Starlight Photo Booth (yep, we got to take fun pictures in it too).  Andy, Tim and sometimes a third guy handle the DJ end of the business.  We all know Andy is professional, classy and does a great job for his clients!  Joe Park, one of the videographers, does a lot of video for DGR and showed us a sample video of his work ~ professional, sharp and a great overview of the event.  Andy offers a lot of value and entertainment with the photo booth, including video, props and pictures ~~ prices vary so check with on availability and options.

The Loft is a great location for all kinds of events, including weddings.  They can seat 120-150 for weddings and 223 standing room.  The space rents for $1500 and offers an impressive variety of packages.   They have a wine and beer license, lots of tables/chairs custom menus and an over-the-top sound system.  In addition to the delicious lunch, we all were given welcome bags (including cool T-shirts)!   They really did a great job hosting us ~~ special thanks to Krista and Karen for setting this one up.  It’s a “hidden jewel” and they would love our support.

After raffle prizes were drawn, we all headed off campus to enjoy the rest of our afternoon.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Ugly Sweater Bowling Party with Secret Santa gift exchange next month.  Our new Board will be announced then too!

Happy Holidays All!!

This month we went with a different meeting format and had our first open, frank, solution based discussions through a Vendor Panel to promote communication and consideration for other vendors. it was a very productive and informative meeting with some crucial points of discussion:

1.                   Be considerate of other vendors ~~ their point of view, their contribution to the event. In other words, be a Team Player!

2.                   Communication

3.                   Share timelines ~~~ keep everyone in the loop (but don’t overdue the amount of emails)

4.                   Communication

5.                   Photographers need the timeline early so they can schedule the photography shoot correctly. 

6.                   Venues and coordinators, please share room layouts, especially power outlets, room direction, decor.

7.                   Venues and coordinators, please share room layout with the entertainment people and consult them on where they should be set up.

8.                   Communication

9.                   Photographers & Entertainment need to eat when the guests eat ~~

10.               Open lines of communication between florists, photographers and brides ~~ share that timeline!

11.               Sense of Urgency should be limited to week of……better planning = less stress

12.               rather than relying totally on your web site, get the client to the studio, office, coffeehouse, anywhere you can meet and talk in person

13.               Educate your brides to hire professional vendors and eliminate the “disasters” and “unprofessional vendors” from ruining the event

                  and creating unnecessary stress

14.               Refer WoD members to strengthen not only the group’s dynamics but to create highly successful events on all levels.

15.               Be respectful of the venue, hall, other vendors.  Talk with them, not at them.  Bury the Diva attitude!

16.               Find out what the bride really needs ~~ then work at referring people that will fit her needs and personality.

17.               Did we mention Communication and Timelines?!!

18.               Blog to help educate.  Write magazine articles. 

19.             Tweet and Facebook ~~ use the technology to stay in touch with the brides.

Thank you to Carly McVay for hosting us at the beautiful Hilton Del Mar!

Images courtesy of Elle G Photography

Members enjoyed a delightful meeting at the Loew’s Coronado Bay Resort.  Our President, Ann Strobel, was busy coordinating a wedding in Northern California so our very capable Krista Murphy, acted as our Hostess/Emcee.

Krista introduced our guests: Jen Ragusa, Pink Star Design, Betty representing Concepts and Brent, the other half of Studio Carre’ Photographie.

Our showcasers were Shannon and Brent of Studio Carre’ Photographie.  Shannon explained the importance of building a relationship with their clients, customized packages, creative shooting, whether it be an intimate beach or large wedding.  They keep current with the trends and styles.  Not only do they shoot weddings, but also corporate business to boudoir photography.  They are talented and easy to work with and we are so proud to have Studio Carre’ in Weddings of Distinction.

We did a trivia test on Coronado and drew names of our drawing winners, Carmin (for 2 bottles of wine) and Andrea who won gift certificates to Vigiluccis and Truluck’s La Jolla.  Paula of Rae Florae provided beautiful florals and Lisa from Elle G captured our event through her talented lens.

The Loews Coronado is a beautiful resort, it’s pet friendly, has three ceremony sites, beautiful ballrooms and gondelas for a relaxing, romantic getaway around the bay. “Gordie” offered a tour of the property at the end of the meeting.

Next month, our hostess will be Carlie McVay from the Hilton Del Mar.  We are planning a fabulous open vendor panel to discuss educating vendors to educate clients, being a team player and ways to overcome obstacles in selling.  The focus will be on solutions and everyone will walk away with new knowledge and skills to improve their business!

photos courtesy of studiocarre.com

Members had a great time at the University Club atop the Symphony Towers last month.  Ed Westfield told us about the awesome renovations recently completed…they love to book weddings and were very excited to host WoD and share the beautiful new changes!

Our guest was Darrin Dietz, representing AFR and our Showcaser was Paula of Rae Florae, who is celebrating five successful years and growing to six assistants/designers. What’s big in florals?  Succulents, painted and lots of greens.  Her designs are simplicity created and expressed in a new way.  Her expertise is reflected in her level of detail and excellent service!  And, she’s really, really sweet!

We did a little ice-breaker game ~ “two truths and a lie” and tried to guess who did what.  It was hilarious ~ we have some very creative people in our group and learned lots about each other!

Kimmy from Sensation Show Band told us about her new band, 80’s Beta Max.  Kimmy will be playing at the Del Mar Powerhouse concert in the park on 9/18.  A bunch of us rocked out at Viejas with her too ~ it was a disco inferno! Her bands are jamming!

Lunch was delicious, champagne flowed and raffle prizes were drawn.  Everyone was very busy networking, excited about the busy summer months and our meeting next month at Loew’s Coronado!

Weddings of Distinction is proud to announce that Kristina Chartier Photography and Cali Cards were featured on the California Wedding Wave blog for a 1920′s inspired photoshoot.  It’s amazing what can happen when you get San Diego’s finest wedding professionals together.

Our July meeting at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town was quite an experience.  Our lunch began with three different drink samples as we chatted away.  Nothing like a Whiskey Sour, Manhattan or Margarita to get your meeting started!   We got a tour of the hotel where we learned that the bottom floor of the building was built in 1829, when the land was still part of Mexico!  Our pleasant guide presented colorful details of the Cosmopolitan’s long history, including the life of the owner with his family, the stages of the building’s use—from stagecoach stop to restaurant, some shady business transactions, and a “haunted” room.  Our  treat continued with lunch on the outdoor patio, with live piano music in the air.  We were served some very creative and tasty dishes, in several courses, and were continually attended to by our host and the waiters.  Thank you Cosmopolitan Hotel, you out did yourself!

Maurice Wright of Betwixt Studio was our showcaser.

Photos by Kristina Chartier Photography

We’re so proud that our members, Sweet Cheeks Baking Co., recently dominated…and WON the season 3 Cupcake Wars hosted on the Food Network! Congratulations to Krista + Katrina for making some awesome creations!!

photos courtesy of abi photography

June’s meeting took place at the oh so sweet, Sweet Cheeks Baking Co.! This month was a change from our normal daytime format and we were able to network and socialize more informally. We got to indulge in some yummy paella that David from San Diego Paella provided for our dinner. And of course to top it off….a smorgasbord of yummy treats personally made by Elaine and Donna that included mini tarts, cookies , and mini cupcakes. Delish!

We were privileged to meet at The Abbey, a truly unique venue–there’s nothing else like it!–located in downtown San Diego.  Also unique was our delicious luncheon, with very creative dishes, such as cold melon soup with a creamy dollop, and Portabello mushroom/leek loaf.

Our hosts, Kristi and Jill, pleasantly interacted with us throughout our time together; they ate with us and participated in our open discussion. Host Kristi shared with us concerning the Abbey.  Built in 1910, it served as a church building for fifty years, then as restaurant for 25 years, then for 25 years as it present venue.  As the Hornblower’s “land” location, it hosts weddings, proms, dinners, and many other events.  The Abbey can customize any food item.

The Hornblower provides full service event planners for its seven different-sized boats as well as for the Abbey.  The boats also give harbor tours.

President Ann opened the meeting by introducing an open forum, which addressed good business practices, emphasizing the importance of our being “vendors of distinction.”  As we dined, our industrious board members gave a well-organized, helpful presentation, along with a printed outline.

Strongly stressed was the value of high integrity, in such matters as timely response to clients, consistency, sincerity, and compassion toward often-stressed brides.  We were advised to pay attention to our branding–identifying our own specific type of client–and also to consider using free service of interns for assistance in our business activities.

Next month we’ll be meeting at the studio of Hartworks Floral Design and dining on delicious San Diego Paella!