According to the official website, “the rustic cottage was one of the earliest additions to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus…”, constructed in 1916.
The institute still manages the venue, along with its sister sites: The Birch Aquarium and The Robert Payne Scripps Sea Side Forum.
“Once used as a home for Scripps professors and their families, the refurbished cottage and grounds now offer a charming coastal setting ideal for social events ranging from business meetings to wedding receptions.”
As a Caterer on their list of preferred vendors, we love working with the incredible Institute Staff and this stunning venue!
The location gracefully adapts to allow suitable space for our temporary kitchen and cooking equipment.
We encourage you to tour the Martin Johnson House with a representative from Scripps Venue Rentals and explore the many options available to you. Schedule a site visit by contacting scrippsvenues@ucsd.edu (858-534-5604).
Contact
Scripps Venue Rentals
Telephone: 858-534-5604
Email: scrippsvenues@ucsd.edu
The Garter and Bouquet Toss are infamous and time-honored traditions at weddings. Unfortunately, the reaction to this tradition from guests can be an unpredictable mixed bag.
We got our experts together to cook up some fresh twists to help rejuvenate this wedding ritual, so old customs can be tailor-fit to you as a couple on your big day!
-Kids Prizes: Weddings with lots of children might want to encourage a separate kids-toss with fun prizes so the adult toss can be ore traditional. This way, everyone feels included, and nobody accidentally gets stepped on during the excitement!
-Cash Incentive (AKA Singles for the Singles): Placing a bit of money on the bouquet, or with garter, before the toss can add a little motivation for your guests to claim the prize! Gift cards are a fun alternative as well and could encourage future romantic dates for the lucky winner.
-Bottle of Booze: Winning a bottle of something enticing to accompany the bouquet or garter might also promote a little more interest from guests!
-Hot Potato: (Similar to musical chairs, but with fewer chances for accidental injuries.) While a song plays in the background, guests can pass the garter or bouquet around in a circle until the music stops. The one left holding the prize is the lucky winner!
-Box of Treasure: Have guests pick a key out of a mixed pile to unlock a box or birdcage with the award.
-Ribbon Pull: An old European version of this tradition. Many false ribbons are held in the Bride’s hands above her head, with one secret winner tied around the bouquet. Everyone pulls at the same time, and the right ribbon pulls the prize!
-Toss the Boutonniere: If you still want to throw something to the single men, but you don’t want the scandal of the garter toss, then toss the boutonniere – but take the pins out first!
-Football/Three Flies Up: Easier to throw and catch, especially concerning the garter; a football can be a natural alternative. This saves the integrity of the bouquet and modesty of the Bride.
– Blindfolded “Quick Switch”: Groomsmen dress up as the Bride.
-Magic Trick: Pull random items from beneath the dress stashed out of sight behind the Bride.
-Breakaway Bouquet: Throw a “Breakaway Bouquet” made of separated flowers, so everyone in the crowd gets one!
-Gender-Bend: Surprise unsuspecting guests by swapping outfits, and reverse the garter retrieval! See who “wears the pants” in the relationship. *wink wink*
-Anniversary Dance: Honor the longest-married couple by giving them the bouquet.
-Cake Pull: Many variations of this technique exist, but it is popular in Southern traditions and similar to a “King Cake” from Mardi Gras celebrations. Small charms placed in a cake or cupcakes for participants indicate different types of prizes, such as good fortune in money or love. By either pulling a ribbon to extract the charm or eating the cake, guests can see what they’ve won. Be sure to warn guests before they take a bite!
-Pass The Torch: Give the Bouquet to the next Bride-to-Be with a wedding coming up. The ribbon or other decoration from that bouquet can be for “something borrowed” on her wedding day.
Photos thanks to Chris Keeley Photography
Venue: Mt. Woodson Castle
Vendors:
Coordination: Back Patio Event Designs
Venue: The New Children’s Museum
Florals: soil and soul
Photobooth: Focus Photo Suites
Photographer/Videographer: Astray Photography
DJ: Jimmy Grizzley
Just click the link below!
Videographer: Amari Productions
Venue: The New Children’s Museum
Planner: Sweet Blossom Weddings
Photographer: Jessica Van, Copper Collective
Floral Design: Organic Elements
Bar: San Diego Wine & Culinary
Beauty: Refined Beauty
Entertainment: Sleeping Giant Music
Cake: Tara Heather Cake Design
When it comes to planning your prom, it should be as smooth and stress-free as possible. Therefore, it is essential to choose an experienced and trustworthy San Diego party catering company. There’s no limit to your imagination, and we love a challenge! By selecting the best prom catering team, your event will come to life. It may even exceed your expectations!
Try a beverage menu that consists of unique mocktails. Or, step it up a notch and add gourmet ice-cream topped shakes. These colorful drinks, paired to match the theme, will be a playful addition to any event. For your featured menu item, consider adding a signature drink named after your school. Your peers will love it!
With the rising popularity of small cafes, why not have a coffee bar at your catered prom event? Think about providing cafe-staples such as nitro, cold-brew, and dairy-free choices. Guests will appreciate the flexibility of several options. If possible, have the coffee bar supplied by your caterer, or from a local coffee shop. Make sure to have an expert barista running the show. This way, your guests will be thrilled to order coffee to their liking.
With a big and social crowd, we encourage serving finger foods and bite-sized portions. This way, you will make it convenient for guests who like to dance and mingle. Additionally, smaller servings will enable guests to try a bit of everything. Try to portion servings in individual cups, as opposed to stationed bowls. If you do, your guests will be free to move around the party.
Who doesn’t love tacos? These Mexican staples are an excellent option for prom catering. With endless toppings and combinations, tacos are always an excellent choice for parties. Add mini mock-garitas, and you have an instant crowd-pleaser.
Does your catering company have an imaginative chef? If so, ask if the chef would be willing to conduct a hands-on demonstration of a favorite dish. This way, guests can see the food prepared, and connect through the immersive, shared experience. It is both interactive and appealing to the senses!
BBQs are a perfect option for a Summertime celebration. Consider an outdoor BBQ featuring a smoked dry rub brisket, pulled pork, and shrimp on the barbie. Pair it with local craft beer on tap or lemonade. This way, you have the perfect combination for your summer prom.
Another option to consider for a large, casual event is a Hawaiian Luau-themed prom. By smoking a whole Kalua pig smoked in tea leaves for hours, it becomes a tender, flavorful entree. Add pillowy Portuguese Sweet Bread, baked Mahi Mahi, and fresh Tuna Poke to round out the menu. To create the right environment, consider decorative hibiscus flowers, pineapples, and fruity cocktails. As the overall theme of a Luau is to entertain a large gathering and enjoy a feast, Luaus create the perfect environment of bringing people together.
When hiring a caterer, it’s essential to find a company with a wide range. For example, your caterer should have expertise in different cultural cuisines. This way, it will help to create unique dining experiences. Instead of staple foods, why not serve Korean BBQ, or Halal Chicken and Rice?
A hearty winter pasta themed prom is a crowd-pleaser. For example, try hearty dishes such as Baked Ziti, Lemon-Basil Ricotta Stuffed Shells, Spaghetti, Carbonara, Fettuccine Alfredo, Lasagna.
As you can see in the examples above, each tailor-made prom plan will suit the theme of your event. These are only a handful of possible ideas and meant as a starting point of things to include at your prom.
An experienced catering company will tailor your prom details to your needs. An established catering company will also provide you with options and fulfill your exact needs through their connections in the industry. For example, we strive to provide the very best in catering services for our clients, and with the utmost care.
With our years of experience working in food & beverage catering, we will take your ideas to another level beyond your wildest imagination, created especially for you in mind. We make the process convenient and stress-free, so our clients can sit back and enjoy their event of a lifetime. Don’t leave your catering to chance. We don’t just bring your creative ideas to life. With our expertise, we elevate your initial vision to be the best it can be.
The soft breezes, salty air, and vacation escapes are reminiscent of Part Four of this series if you want to mix a little tropical travel into your wedding motif.
We love these mermaid earrings, and groomsmen could sport some themed socks or ties on the big day!
The best part of this theme is that anything that washes up could be perfect decor with a little TLC.
These broad stripes are fun and just nautical enough to give the tablescape the right feel.
Just find some on the beach and make a night of it with your friends and their most delicate handwriting.
We love the look of this “Coral Garden” made from a few succulents and a sea star.
Beach weddings are the perfect excuse to let loose. Ask your photographer to have fun with your photo opportunities, and we’re sure they won’t disappoint!
Custom shades are the perfect wedding favor for your guests!
Keep those brews chilled on a warm beach day with a custom beer koozie favor!
All this idea took was a little black chalkboard paint and a steady hand.
If you’re looking for a set up on the classy scale, a seated dinner would add a little formality, especially while your guests are going to be admiring the hard work you put into your tabletop decor.
The Moving style dinner is another excellent choice if you know your guests are likely to want to kick off their heels and eat while they dig their toes in the sand.
Garden Parties, like Beach Weddings, are lovely in their versatility. It’s easy to make your event more casual or formal, depending on your tastes by including a few small details.
A new and fun idea we would love to see during cocktail hour is a combination of a Buffet and a Picnic!
Encourage your guests to grab a basket and travel along an appetizer station, filling their baskets with tasty snacks as they go. At the end, offer guests small blankets to promote lawn lounging in groups!
Perfect for Sunday Events or couples who aren’t looking for a lot of fuss, just quality family time.
Incorporate vintage class with Croquet for that Victorian Era feel, or stick with the favorites like Corn Hole and Bocce Ball to please the crowd.
We’ve seen Mimosa Stations with fancy juice varieties and fruit toppings, but this Blood “Marry Me” Bar looks like a Sunday morning dream!
Here in San Diego, summer mornings are known to rival the evenings.
A Moving style or having multiple Breakfast Stations would be a step up and provide a more extensive selection for guests who are picky eaters first thing in the morning.
Last time, in Part One of our series, we focused on Formal/Traditional and Modern themes, and while their elegance will never falter, we’re kicking our heels off for this post!
With the clever use of repurposed antiques, Accessory Tables can add to the overall feel of a rare collection brought back for your special occasion.
Try a buffet-style service and include a gorgeous antique visual focal point to bring cohesion to the room.
So feel free to have that seated dinner style and keep the dance floor alive with a full jazz band!
Exquisite hotels don’t have to be the only option for this motif; we’d love to see someone recreate an “Orient Express” experience for their guests.
This motif is all about being young, vibrant, and lively!
Keeping the dining style more socially inclined with some smaller cocktail, or belly-bar, tables for quick bites on the go will suit this energy the best.