I love home weddings!  Whether the home belongs to the Bride & Groom, the parents, an aunt and uncle or a very close family friend; home weddings strike an emotional chord that a wedding at another location sometimes cannot.  You are really and truly entering the role of host and hostess because you are literally inviting people into your home (or your aunt’s home).

There are challenges to planning a backyard wedding though.  The biggest hurdle is the fact that you have to bring in everything!  But I actually see that as a blessing.  When you bring in everything from the caterer to the linen company, you are really able to customize your wedding to your specifications.  You have the caterer of your choice, the linens of your choice, whatever alcohol you choose and whatever quantity you choose.  It really opens the doors to planning a day that suits not only your taste and style but also your budget.

However, because there are so many details involved with a backyard wedding that is where it can become critical to hire someone to help you at least manage the day, if not the last few months.  If you’re having a small party of 50 people then you may not be blindsided with a heap of last minute details.  But if you’re having a party of 100  or more you better make sure the details are covered…like that you have enough bathrooms and toilet paper!  Simple things like that can often be overlooked because we take for granted that those points are automatically covered at a typical wedding location (I don’t believe I have ever seen a hotel advertise free use of their bathrooms as part of their wedding package even though it is included).

The other big plus for a backyard wedding is that you are not tied to a set amount of hours, but depending on your city you may have to abide by sound restrictions (unless your neighbors are totally understanding or you have no neighbors).  Having worked in Los Angeles, I frequented Malibu homes on several occasions for events, but you have to cut the music off at 10pm because of noise ordinances.  Now that I’m in San Diego I have learned that San Diego County and Temecula have similar restrictions.  So making sure you educate yourself on fine points like that and going out of your way to be respectful of the neighbors can really save you a headache that day…because do you really want the police knocking at the door asking for you to shut down the party?

The other potential drawback of a backyard wedding is the clean up.  The clean up can be the most painful part of the evening if its not properly planned for.  So make sure your vendors (especially the caterer) are true professionals because their hard work and professionalism will save you time and energy at the end of the night.

Happy Planning!

Have a question on planning a backyard wedding?  Leave a comment and I’ll post a response!

If you’re looking for a spot with a real San Diego style beach vibe…Levyland should be at the top of your list!  Its a great new location right on the lagoon in Carlsbad with direct beach access.  You have full run of the house for an entire week!!  Which means there’s no rush to get everything for your event setup and taken down in one day.  Along with full run of the place, you can move the furniture where you see fit (as long as its back the way you found it before you leave).

Photos Courtesy of Levyland.com

Levyland is a true blank canvas that you can really make your own.  You’re free to bring your own caterer, rental company, bar service…whatever you need to complete your day you can do it!

The biggest bonus is the direct beach access not only allows brides and grooms great photo ops, but if you were really hoping to have a beach ceremony you can do it!

They estimate about 125 for ceremony and reception with the property as is.  They have a great space for a tent so if you’re group is larger you can tent and accommodate up to 200.

They haven’t even completed their first year but the place is booking quick!  Check their website for more details on rates and go take a tour!

Levyland, Carlsbad, Ca

Wine tasting is always a fun outing!  Having lived in the Bay Area for a bit, it was always one of my go-to weekend adventures.  Hitting up Napa and Sonoma…it was always a guaranteed good time!  And now that I’m back down south, I go to Temecula to get my winery fix (not quite the same, but just as much fun).

So I have never had the “What do I do” complex at a winery, but I understand that some people do.  So here’s a crib sheet for you!

1. Okay….so technically….when you’re wine tasting you’re not really supposed to drink the wine.  You are to quite literally taste it and then spit it out….but in my book that is just an absolute waste!  The reason for this is so that you don’t get drunk.  And if you’re tasting 4 or 5 wines per winery and hitting up about 5 wineries and they are all heavy on the pour….well good luck getting home!  So, while it still goes against some of my beliefs, when I go wine tasting I don’t finish the glass…unless its a really good one!  I taste, maybe take one more sip, then pour the rest out.
2. The crackers serve a purpose.  They are to cleanse your palate between wines so that your taste buds don’t confuse the flavors.  So, it is okay to eat the crackers.
3. You don’t always get to keep the glasses.  Some wineries allow you to keep your glass as part of the fee for the tasting…others don’t.  So always ask before you abscond with your glass and you’ll save yourself a wee bit of embarrassment.
4. You are not supposed to get a full glass of wine per pour.  Remember, its a tasting. A typical wine glass accommodates about 6 oz if filled.  A tasting pour is usually about 2 or 3 ounces…some places may even only do 1 oz.
5. It is perfectly okay to not like something.  Everyone’s taste buds are different…and all wine is not created equally.  So if something doesn’t quite hit the right spot for you, don’t worry about it.
6. Have fun!  I am a big believer in wine for all mankind.  So just because someone may be standing next to making comments on the color of the wine, tannins or sulfites does not mean you have to do the same.

At the beginning of December we did the Annual Dinner for a San Diego organization.  The event was held on a Friday night at the Grand del Mar, and was a huge success!  We started with cocktails & christmas carolers in the North Foyer and a special reception in the South Foyer for the sponsors.  Dinner for about 300 people was in the Elizabeth Ballroom and with a full audio/visual production:  screens on both sides of the room, cameras, spotlights, presentation of sponsors, along with videos produced especially for this event.  We were fortunate to have a fantastic team from the staff at the Grand del Mar as well as the A/V crew from M5 Productions.  We closed out the evening with an after-party on the North Foyer & Patio where we have a Jazz Band and Cigar Bar with a Cigar Roller.  It really was a great event!

Vendors
Venue: The Grand del Mar
Audio/Visual Setup: M5 Productions
Christmas Carolers: Heatwave Productions
Cigar Bar: Payne Mason

These photos were taken by my fantastic assistant Briana.  We worked on an afternoon wedding in December at the Prado in Balboa Park.  Here’s a glimpse of the beautiful ceremony site there!

The reception was held in the Prado’s Ballroom.  I’ll post more as soon as I get them!  For more details on having a wedding at the Prado visit their website:

The Prado at Balboa Park