Courtesy of The U. S. Grant

I had the great fortune of planning a holiday party held last week at The U. S. Grant Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp District!  It was a fantastic evening and the staff of the U. S. Grant made it even better.

During the planning process the Catering Manager, Rita Moore, was so delightful and helpful.  We explained what our theme was and how we wanted a menu that tied to our theme.  After discussing things with the chef, Rita came back with some fantastic ideas!  And the tasting delivered on how delicious the dishes sounded!

The U. S. Grant Lobby

We ultimately decided on a Pumpkin Ravioli with Spinach paired with a lovely sauce.  And this was just the appetizer!  The main course was a Short Rib and Sea Bass combination with purple Peruvian Potatoes and market fresh veggies.  The combination was perfect!  The entire dinner was a definite people pleaser!

The night of the event, the entire staff was on point!  They delivered on customer service and they were always there for us.  From the valets who helped us unload our vehicles to the wait staff who were on top of the service, it was a treat to experience the professionalism everyone had.

One of the awesome perks about the U. S. Grant are the Event Planner Suites!  They are an additional charge, but it was worth it to have a “go to” room for storing the favors and centerpieces until we were ready for them.  And also, it was awesome having a room to get ready in which was just across the hall from the ballroom.  It was also a secure place that only a couple of people had access to, so we could leave valuables there and not worry about them!

If you are looking for exceptional customer service, professionalism, an elegant venue and great food then you must consider The U. S. Grant!

During my trip to Napa last month our first stop was Mumm Napa.  Now if you haven’t already figured out that I have a fondness for bubbly then you may need to read the “What we believe…” portion of the About Us page.

So needless to say I was quite content with the idea of starting my wine weekend with a bit of bubbly.

Mumm Napa Cuvée M Red

First let me say how impressed I was with Mumm Napa’s wine tasting experience! A tasting room simply will not do for them.  Mumm has a patio with tables and chairs (complete with umbrellas and misters!) at which you are free to sit, be served, and enjoy the view.  It was probably one of the most lovely wine tasting “rooms” I had been to.

On the menu that day was a tasting flight titled “Red, White and Blue.”  I was initially intrigued at what the “Blue” would be, as my partner in crime had already explained that the “Red” truly was a red sparking wine.  Well all thoughts of the “Blue” wine flew out the door as soon as I sipped the “Red”. . . Cuvée M Red to be exact!  Smooth, velvety, with just the slightest hint of bubbles. . . it instantly became one of my new favorite Sparkling Wines!  Delicious and divine, this bottle of bubbly has the slightest hint of berries which rounds it out quite nicely.  And it looks so lovely in a champagne flute too!  I can just imagine a table set in creams and whites with a glass of Cuvée M Red at each setting.

Had I realized that its availability outside the winery was so limited I would have picked up a few bottles!  But I guess that just means I’ll have to make time to for another trip to Napa. . . tragedy! 

A final glimpse at more of my favorite photos!

Photography by David Crane Photography

All the best to the bride and groom and their lovely new family!

The Vendors

Venue: Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa - Debra Ayala
Photography: David Crane Photography - David Crane
Florist: Flowers Forever - Paula
Cake: Heide Rogers
Guitarist: Classical Guitar featuring Miles Monyier
DJ: Smith Sounds - Jeremy Smith
Favors: The Cookie Chew - Liz Chou
Coordinator: Bellini Events - Alicia Garcia

Time for the party! Mike and Roxanne’s friends and family really knew how to have a good time!  Here are some glimpses of the decor elements of the reception.  For their table assignments, they used album covers instead of table numbers!

Photography by David Crane Photography

Weddings are a celebration and these folks celebrated like champs!  I love the photo of Mike and Roxanne dancing (her feet are off the ground)…SO cute!  And I especially love the photo of the little girl standing at the doorway…. unbelievably adorable and a great shot by David Crane Photography.

Photography by David Crane Photography

Tomorrow I will post a collection of other fave photos from the wedding!

The Vendors

Venue: Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa - Debra Ayala
Photography: David Crane Photography - David Crane
Florist: Flowers Forever - Paula
Cake: Heide Rogers
Guitarist: Classical Guitar featuring Miles Monyier
DJ: Smith Sounds - Jeremy Smith
Favors: The Cookie Chew - Liz Chou
Coordinator: Bellini Events - Alicia Garcia

Mike and Roxanne had a very lovely story.  They were great friends throughout high school, but afterwards they had gone their separate ways.  Then one day, they managed to find their way back to each other (thanks to the power of the internet).  To hear Mike talk about Roxanne and their kids is something special.

Photography by David Crane Photography

Not only did Mike have his vows for his lovely bride, but he also prepared “vows” for the two kids. This had to have been one of the most touching moments I’ve ever seen. I don’t think there was a dry eye to be found.

Photography by David Crane Photography

More to come tomorrow!

The Vendors

Venue: Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa - Debra Ayala
Photography: David Crane Photography - David Crane
Florist: Flowers Forever - Paula
Cake: Heide Rogers
Guitarist: Classical Guitar featuring Miles Monyier
DJ: Smith Sounds - Jeremy Smith
Favors: The Cookie Chew - Liz Chou
Coordinator: Bellini Events - Alicia Garcia