This full-service special event rental company is well known throughout the event world. As a fellow event planning service vendor, we know we can rely on Bright to be professional, respectful of our event timelines, and flexible enough to accommodate anything from corporate to black-tie events. Like a loyal friend, their expertise in the event-planning industry reflects our own, and we love recommending their products to our clients!
The Bright team as a whole is passionate about their attention to detail and committed to elevating their client’s events to new levels. This fun-loving company makes the planning process enjoyable. Bright dedicates itself to finding–and sometimes setting–the latest event trends, with you and your guests always in mind. Bright is made of those who embody the ideals of excellence and strive always to exceed expectations.
The Event Design Team at Bright are customer service masters at creating a stress-free environment. Through their guidance, planning your event details is effortless from design to installation.
Established in 2013, this San Diego-based sister team thrives on helping their clients achieve their wedding dreams. Courtney, the Founder and Lead Coordinator for Breezy Day is a San Diego local–born and raised! She’s an organized perfectionist with an artist’s eye for design. With her well-versed event coordination skills and her sister Heather as the head of floral designs, this dream team has always been such a delight to work with!
From a professional standpoint, Breezy Day is always quick to respond to our questions and has so much passion for their work. As a company that also loves what we do, it’s comforting to see that same energy mirrored in a fellow event vendor. Their shared joy for their clients, who they treat like family, is palpable, and we appreciate their dedication to their craft.
The Breezy Day Coordination package includes, but is not limited to:
– An initial consultation to discuss your wedding day plans and to get to know each other
– Unlimited contact via phone, text, and email from the first contact through the wedding day
– Help with finding the perfect vendors for your day
– An in-person meeting 4-6 weeks before your wedding to finalize details, vision, diagram, and day-of timeline
– Help with venue layout and venue walk-through
– Finalization of details with vendors before your wedding, providing all with final timeline, diagram, and other wedding day details
– Coordination of ceremony rehearsal
– Coordination of wedding ceremony and reception:
Unlimited hours of on-site coordination on the wedding day.
Point of contact for all deliveries, vendor arrivals, wedding parties, and family.
Set up of all provided decor items.
Personal wedding day assistant to the Breezy Day couple.
Clean up and safely transport personal decor items, gifts, etc., to the appropriate hotel room or car.
Breezy Day will coordinate your venue, vendors, families, and guests — ensuring all the puzzle pieces come together flawlessly, just the way you envision it to be. Their services do not come in packages. Once they’re involved in your big day, it’s 100% commitment 100% of the time.
“When you book with them, you have unlimited contact and communication during the planning process,” whether you are getting married next month or next year, “right up through the BIG day.”
Breezy Day’s Full-Service Floral Design is for couples who want a distinct floral experience for their big day. Begin with an in-depth consultation at the Breezy Day home office, where you can personally get to know the team and thoroughly explore your floral hopes and dreams. After the consultation, Heather will create a custom quote for your review. From unique bouquets to ceremony installations, cocktail hour florals, welcome table statement pieces, elevated centerpieces, to cake flowers, every detail is considered. No design is too big for Breezy Day’s full-service floral design.
What better venue to encompass the all-around excellence that is San Diego other than Darlington House? This unique historic home and romantic event venue is located two blocks from the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla. The home began as two separate houses pieced together by Sibyl Darlington and were used as her seasonal home to escape the East Coast winters. With items and inspiration from all over the world, it is a fusion of culture, and its exquisite artistry is timeless. The many patios offer countless combinations of spaces for classic dinner parties or weddings. As a catering company, it is definitely one of our favorite San Diego venues because it allows clients the versatility to make the spaces their own while still maintaining its dignified charm.
Designated a historic San Diego Site in 1995, it acts as a location for the Social Service League of La Jolla, a non-profit public benefit corporation. According to the Darlington House Website, this corporation “provides housing and meal support to seniors who have lived and worked for the greater San Diego area” at the neighboring “League House” apartment complex. It is a uniquely beautiful venue and a selfless part of caretaking for San Diego’s valued aging population that you can help contribute to while enjoying your dream event.
The entire venue is yours when you book! Couples could spend hours exploring every corner for that priceless photo. Check out Darling House’s Video Tour on their site for a sneak peek tour of the historic home.
Comfortably furnished and elegantly decorated, the Living Room, Dining Room, and several Sitting Rooms are available for all guests to lounge in and explore on your big day.
Reserved space for the Bridal Party with a private restroom, dressing room, and comfortable lounge area. This room offers welcoming furniture and plenty of space for getting ready in style.
An East-facing room also with its own private restroom, dressing room, and lounge area. This room comes with an attached Juliet balcony that overlooks the courtyards where the event setup will occur.
Catering companies use this space to construct an event bar for guests. The arched ceiling and second-floor bookshelves offer uniquely beautiful photo opportunities. With architectural nods to Sybil’s many trips to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, the Library is a photographer’s playground!
Named after the dazzling reflecting pool at its center, the colorful antique Egyptian tile lining the pool can become the threshold for your vows. The most common location for wedding ceremonies, chairs can face either the main house arches or the elevated iron gate arch depending on your guest count.
After the ceremony, guests are most commonly ushered into the enclosed Andalusian Patio between the Library bar area. There, they can enjoy complimentary craft cocktails and check out the seating chart while your catering company works to put the final touches on the main floor in the Rose Garden.
When it’s chilly, we can’t get enough of those hot toddies and mulled wine. Now that we’re officially at the start of summer, we’re going to need something to battle these classic sunny San Diego days! We’ve gathered some of our favorite fruity and refreshing libations for you to enjoy. These easy-to-make cocktails are great for any summertime celebration and will surely impress your guests with their appetizing presentation.
NOT-YOUR-KID’S OTTER POPS
Short of hiring a bartender for your casual BBQ, the trouble with hosting and providing these fun specialty drinks is being tied to the bar to whip them up all night. These slushies are the ultimate solution. Bag these up the night before and throw them in the freezer. The next day, you’ll have these frozen fruity wonders ready and waiting for guests to relive their childhood in the best possible way. These recipes use tea, fruit juice, and vodka poured into little plastic bags and frozen until you’re ready to serve (with festive straws, of course). Give your guests a couple of flavor choices for variety, and you might even have a few left over to sip by the pool the next day!
Boil 2 cups of water. Place the raspberry tea bags in a glass liquid measuring cup and cover with the boiling water. Steep for 3 minutes, then remove and discard the tea bags. Add 1 cup of cool water.
While the tea steeps, stir the remaining 2 cups of water with the lime juice and sugar. Add this mixture to the tea mixture and stir to combine. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove, then stir in the raspberry vodka if using.
Carefully pour the mixture into 6 tall (6-ounce) plastic bags, so each is three-quarters of the way full, then add a lime slice to each and seal. Place the bags on a tray and freeze until solid, about 1 hour. Thaw 10 to 20 minutes before serving. (Thaw less time and it will be a slush; thaw longer, and it will be a drink.)
LEMONADE ICED TEA INSTRUCTIONS:
Boil 2 cups of water. Place the orange tea bags in a glass liquid measuring cup and cover them with boiling water. Steep for 3 minutes, then remove and discard the tea bags. Add 1 cup of cool water.
While the tea steeps, stir the remaining 2 cups of water with the lemon juice and sugar. Add the lemon mixture to the tea mixture and stir to combine. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove, then stir in the lemon vodka if using.
Carefully pour the chilled mixture into 6 tall (6-ounce) plastic bags, so each is three-quarters of the way full, then add a lemon slice to each and seal. Place the bags on a tray and freeze until solid, about 1 hour. Thaw 10 to 20 minutes before serving. (Thaw less time and it will be a slush; thaw longer, and it will be a drink.)
APEROL SPRITZ SLUSHIES
Remember the wave of Rose Wine slushies that were all the rage a few years ago? With how popular Aperol Spritzes are right now, we figured, why not hop on that frozen slush wagon? Enter the frozen Aperol spritz, a trendy new take on the classic cocktail, courtesy of Plated. It’s one part boozy, two parts refreshing, and 100 percent our new favorite summer drink. This alternative stars bubbly prosecco and Aperol for the perfect summer sipper with fresh lemon and orange juices.
Courtesy of Plated.com
To make 1 serving
INGREDIENTS
2 oranges
2 lemons
3 ounces prosecco
1 ounce Aperol
1 cup granulated sugar
8 to 10 ounces ice
INSTRUCTIONS
Halve the oranges and lemons; cut half of 1 orange into slices for serving. In a large bowl, stir together the prosecco, Aperol, juice of the lemons, and juice of the remaining oranges.
In a small pot, combine the granulated sugar with 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until syrup is translucent (about 3 minutes.) Remove from heat and set your simple syrup aside to cool.
In a blender or food processor, combine the prosecco-Aperol mixture, ice, and 1 ounce of simple syrup (or less, if desired). Save the remaining simple syrup for your next happy hour. Pulse until ice is slushy and the mixture is fully combined. Pour into glasses and garnish with orange slices.
WHITE PEACH SANGRIA
We’re always up for mixing up a bulk batch of a liquid party starter. Our favorite way to quench a group’s summer thirst? This sweet and refreshing sangria.
(Bonus: This concoction is totally white-jeans-friendly, so your Labor Day party-goers will be worry-free!)
Source: PureWow.com, Photo: True Photography
To Make 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
3 peaches, thinly sliced
1½ pints raspberries
1 lemon, zested and juiced
¼ cup peach juice
½ cup orange-flavored liqueur (such as Cointreau)
1½ bottles white wine (such as dry Riesling), chilled
INSTRUCTIONS
On a baking sheet, spread the peaches and raspberries in an even layer. Place the sheet in the freezer for at least 45 minutes or until the fruit is frozen solid.
Place the frozen fruit in a large pitcher. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, peach juice, orange liqueur, and wine. Stir to combine. Pour into glasses and serve.
Pro-Tip! Start with frozen peaches and raspberries to cut back on assembly time. Instead of becoming diluted by ice cubes, the sangria will get more flavorful as it chills, thanks to that frozen fruit.
What are your favorite summer cocktails?
We’re always looking for more inspiration, so leave us a comment with your recipe, and we could feature your signature drink on our next seasonal cocktail blog!
“I sit and look back to how far I can remember,
And you are always there next to me.
Each and every day, you were helping me grow up,
And making me be the best that I can be.
Your love was forever strong,
Your cuddles forever tight.
Every day since I was born,
Your love was always in sight.
I will always be your Baby Girl,
And you will always be my Dad.
I know I will always be the luckiest
To have the best Dad, any girl could have had.
My Daddy, I love you with all my heart,
Much more than I ever say.
You are my world, my everything,
Each and every day.”
Working in collaboration with Perfect The Event, Event Planning Services, we were honored to be part of Patrick and Caitlin’s gorgeous wedding and reception at the San Diego Botanical Garden! The event was a whirlwind of twinkling market lights, fantastic vendor cooperation, and watching the guests dance the night away.
To start the day off, Patrick and Caitlin waited anxiously for their private First Look at each other. Michelle Flores Photography expertly captured this tender moment!
The Walled Garden is tucked away from visitors of the Botanical garden, offering a secluded and beautiful spot for intimate wedding ceremonies. Mulberry & Moss decorated the space for the ceremony using romantic bundles of white flowers greenery to match the surrounding natural beauty of the park.
Wedding Ceremony in the Walled Garden, an intimate location for gorgeous wedding ceremonies amongst nature. Florals and Decor: Mulberry & Moss
Everyone cheered for the happy couple as they walked back down the aisle as Husband and Wife. Our favorite part of the ceremony is this “I Do” Glow on their faces!
While the newlyweds and bridal party finished up their photoshoot, guests made their way down to the reception area for our signature craft cocktails and fresh appetizers made on-site!
The Gazebo Garden offers plenty of outdoor space for a larger guest count, plus all of the happy couple’s favorite food stations that we offer! Offering their guests “the works,” we had the pleasure of offering several food stations at cocktail hour during dinner service.
Guests got their fill of our delicious Taco Bar, extensive Salad Station, savory Trip-Tip station, and deluxe–made-to-order–Pasta Station! No matter the food preferences or dietary restrictions, we made sure there was plenty for everyone.
After dinner, Soundwave Productions kept the dance floor grooving, and Susie Cakes shared their tasty treats with the crowd! As the guests partied the night away, the newlyweds enjoyed dancing with everyone under the stars.
Beach weddings are alluring for more reasons than one. First and foremost, there’s definitely something to be said about being out in the open in a romantic oceanfront setting while the wind and waves sing their praises over your union. Then there are all the fun vacation-esque decor, food, and cocktails!
Unlike traditional weddings in a church or community hall, beach weddings call those who thrive in comfortable shorts and sand between their toes. Summer 2021 is all about these San Diego beach weddings. Bringing the party to the seashore, or vice versa is all the rage! Check out all these beachy-beautiful trends couples are using to bring the vibe to their weddings!
Sea-inspired invitations will undoubtedly get your guests excited for the upcoming bash. These fun invites allude to the beach venue and hint at the event’s colorful ’60s theme. Minted did their invitations and Paperie, and we are so impressed with this gorgeous watercolor work that flowed throughout their event!
Bohemian details feel right at home at beachside weddings. We’re obsessed with the distressed white paint paired with these incredible straw chargers. Amber-toned glassware, stoneware plates, gilded metallic accents, and a sheer, rust-hued runner complete the aesthetic.
Be inspired by the sea when choosing your tableware. Try incorporating subtle details, such as plates featuring an embossed starfish and seashell design for your guests. This couple kept with the beach theme using similar watercolor-designed menus, table numbers, and escort cards. The deep blue of their water goblets effortlessly tied into the aesthetic as well.
Another way to bring the ocean to your tabletop is to include natural Beachwood, sea glass, soft candlelight. These blue runners are a great way to balance the contrast of the dark polished tabletop and the unfinished natural wood.
Relaxed, Bright, and Beautiful! Stay cool on your wedding day, and think about opting for beach-friendly options. An easy-breezy dress of lace or a flowy skirt will look fabulous and beach-ready, but if your heart is set on something more modern or has heavy fabric, think about finding a second dress for the reception!
This bridal party looked so polished in their soft gray and slate attire. When choosing styles and colors for your bridal party, we recommend this versatile gray for the groomsmen and a flowing floor-length skirt for the bridesmaids.
It’s not a full-fledged beach theme until your guests can actually taste the ocean. Try incorporating a seaside theme into all components of your celebration, including cocktails and food. This will offer an in-depth vacation experience for your guests naturally found by the beach.
This elegant cake is ready for its seaside debut! Adorned with gold-painted shells and pearls—we love the organic approach– this cake topper was hand-made by the bride for her special day.
What’s a beach theme without coconuts? Go all out and treat your guests to delicious signature coconut-based cocktails, or keep it real with coconut water, served in coconuts engraved with your names, the wedding date, or a hashtag. Bonus: They make the best photo prop.
You’ll need to tweak your décor to suit the outdoors, especially in windy locations. This means you may want to think twice about super lavish flowers, towering candles, and even windy ribbons and balloons, which may end up getting blown away by the wind. Use sturdy décor and avoid breakable items. Anything you can’t live without (like name tags, photos, etc.), secure with adhesive, or place something heavier on top to hold them down.
With a view this magnificent, you’ll want nothing to get in the way, but a minimalist ceremonial backdrop may be in order. The structure creates the perfect frame for the newlyweds’ vows while leaving the sweeping oceanic vista free from obstruction. Monstera leaves, palm fronds, orchids, pampas grass, and white king proteas can finish off the look.
In terms of flowers, you also want to make sure you choose varieties that stand up well against high temperatures that won’t wilt before the ceremony even begins. Orchids, roses, and calla lilies are always up for a beach day, but there are unexpected options, like poppies, that could better fit your overall look!
Woven baskets are a surefire win for a beachy theme. These gorgeous basket lanterns keep with the vibe and maintain the airiness of the venue without weighing everything down.
You can have nautical touches at your wedding even if there’s no beach in sight. These sea glass escort cards are beautiful and unique to each guest! You’ve heard of farm-to-table, but what about sea-to-table? Set into a simple gold picture frame and resting on the sand, they’re the perfect beachy wedding detail to bring the ocean right to your plate.
Give yourself and your guests the VIP treatment with these chic dining cabanas! The billowy curtains and box frames of these dividers take us back to private poolside resorts, and we can’t get enough.
Final Tips!
While you can’t fight nature’s elements, you can be aware of them and plan accordingly with safeguards, like the following:
Carefully time the event, being mindful of that midday heat!
Consider the wind (especially when decorating with candles or open flames).
Go for a lighter wedding dress, or have a reception outfit in mind.
Look into using airbrush makeup.
Schedule touch-ups for hair halfway through the event.
Ensure guests stay hydrated and refreshed.
Have a contingency plan for rain.
Reach out to our fantastic team of Event Coordinators for any more tips and tricks to having the perfect beach wedding this Summer!
Especially over the last decade, food presentation is crucial to marketing your product and services to the public. Between Instagram, Yelp, and other social media sites, clients are obviously drawn into an establishment by how the food looks. The science behind food presentation goes beyond just attracting customers. Studies from Oxford have shown quality food presentations enhance the taste and overall mindset of the customer! A well-thought-out food presentation stimulates appetites before the first bite and uses ingredient arrangement to harmonize flavor and textural complexity.
Even world-renowned culinary masters will tell you; you don’t need to be an artist to present your food like a professional. We’ve gathered our chefs and hounded them for their secrets of the trade. Check out their tips and tricks for the perfect plating presentation!
From what we’ve gathered, the rules of plate presentation are that there are no fixed rules. However, there are several time-tested guidelines to consider.
Remember, your plate is your canvas. (Dig deep for that artist’s flair and unleash what comes to mind!)
Arrange food items using the rule of thirds. (Studies have shown that sectioning items into thirds will create the most pleasing arrangement to the human eye.)
Entice the eyes with visual stimulants. (We’re not much better than birds, honestly. Think bright colors and shiny accents!)
Use the sauce as paint for your plate. (Bring your brush strokes to the plate! Cooking utensils offer a wide variety of textures and painting possibilities.)
Garnish to enhance both appearance and flavor. (Sauces in vibrant colors and delicious flavors can tie a whole meal together.)
The Rule of Thirds – This is such a fascinating topic; we had to expand our description! This theory applies to videography, photography, and even fashion. Wherever you find a profession that relies on visually appealing to the masses, The Rule of Thirds comes into play. Humans seem to be naturally drawn to a grid pattern, much like a tic-tac-toe frame. The rule suggests that you place your subject along one of the four lines, or ideally at one of the four intersection points. When applied to cooking, the rule of thirds prescribes placing the focal point of your dish to either the left or right side of the plate rather than the center. Use white space by thinking of the rim as your frame and highlight your plate’s focal points.
View Your Plate as a Clock – This option offers a complement to The Rule of Thirds. As you plate your ingredients, picture the face of a clock. From the diner’s point of view, your protein should be between 3 and 9, your starch or carbohydrate from 9 to 12, and your vegetable from 12 to 3.
Don’t Overcrowd Your Plate – Often, when getting carried away by the presentation, artistic creativity can overshadow the main focus of the plate. Keep your design simple. Focus on the featured ingredient so that ingredient becomes what your customers will notice first. Having this focal point then helps arrange your accompanying items in a complimentary way.
Moist Ingredients First – Plate moist ingredients first and prevent them from running by placing other foods on top. This pro tip comes from years of experience experimenting with speedy arrangements. For example, you can angle sliced meat against mashed potatoes, but trying it the other way around tends to look sloppy.
Plan Flavorful Bites – Flavor bites are forkfuls of food that combine all the ingredients in your dish into one perfect bite. These are essential to quality plating as you show forethought in attempting to please your guests.
Blend Textures – Contrasting a smooth vegetable puree with crunchy onion straws or topping a steak with crumbled blue cheese yields appealing texture combinations that are a staple in high-end cuisine.
Now the main entree and sides are plated up; what will be your cherry on top? In the past, chefs casually threw a piece of kale and an orange slice onto every plate. However, these garnishes added nothing to the dish, and few guests ate them only to be disappointed. Modern garnishes are painstakingly selected to pair with the meal. The end goal is always that chase for that perfect flavor bite. Follow these garnishing techniques and guidelines to master the last step of food presentation.
Edible Garnishes – As you finish plating, remember that anything you put on the plate should be edible and complement the dish. To determine whether a garnish belongs, ask yourself whether you would want it consumed in the same bite as the meal it accompanies.
Intentional Placement – Never heap garnishes in one corner of the plate. Instead, disperse them thoughtfully to add color or texture throughout. For example, place crispy carrot shoestrings atop a delicate fish filet that has been nested in a curry sauce, then decorate the plate with pomegranate seeds. These colors and textures all work together to give the dish a broad range of delights for the eyes and mouth.
Less Is More – If there were one strict rule to this process, it’d be this: Never clutter your plate for the sake of a garnish. If your plate is full, opt for a drizzle of flavor-infused vinegar or oil to enhance the taste and appearance of your dish without overcrowding your plate.
Garnishes to Avoid – Avoid using unappetizing garnishes like raw herbs, large chunks of citrus, and anything with a strong odor. These would overpower anything else in your flavor bite and ruin the dish for your guests. Also, for speedy service, try to avoid garnishes that take a long time to apply.
You’re searching for a new job online, and as you scroll through the listings, one catches your eye.
No degree or prior job experience required. A jolt of hope! That’s been the biggest hurdle in this hunt so far.
No paid benefits. Unfortunate, but you’ve been living without them so far. What’s the difference?
Salary and hours non-negotiable. That seems oddly strict. What job requires so much without benefits?
Life-long Tenure. Okay, what??
“This has to be a joke,” you think to yourself, quickly scrolling back up and down the page, sure you missed something.
What enterprise would be crazy enough to post these kinds of job stipulations??
Motherhood.
“Motherhood is the exquisite inconvenience of being another person’s everything.”
–Unknown
We at Personal Touch Dining want to personally extend our admiration and appreciation for the mothers in our lives. After all the events of 2020, recognizing the importance of a simple hug that was once taken for granted is ever-present.
You have been, and always will be, the Most Essential Workers.
Thank you all for the purest love we’ll ever know.
We would be nothing without your constant strength, endless generosity, grace, and patience.
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