Brittney + Alfred | Fleeting Fox Photography | Mt. Woodson Castle

Let Love Take Flight!

 

Flight Attendant Brittney and US Navy OS1 Alfred both love travel and adventure.

 

They found each other up in the Bay Area of Northern California

and fell in love over long hikes with their dogs and exploring the world.

 

Finding someone to share such a high-paced lifestyle–or even keep up–is difficult.

Fortunately, these two old souls bring out each other’s best in every way.

 

 

The happy couple was so sweet and wrote letters to each other to read before the big First Look!

 

Friends and family traveled from all over the world to attend the five-day party.

 

 

Fleeting Fox Photography was able to capture some romantic, intimate moments before the craziness of the big day began.

 

 

Patricia Norvell and her team did such a phenomenal job with not just with the bridal makeup and hair,

but with all the bridesmaids, flower girls, and Mothers as well!

 

 

Floral arrangements were from Nancy Stevens Flowers, and Brittney’s vision for bouquets with paper flowers, succulents, and real flowers was made into a charming reality.

 

 

Alfred gifted his Groomsmen with custom pint glasses to commemorate the occasion.

 

 

The bridal party was looking sharp in their Platinum Gray suits and gorgeous mixed Plum, Champagne, and Navy dress tones!

 

 

Guests were welcomed by our staff at Mt. Woodson Castle and encouraged to take a cold Apple Cider Sparkler to drink on the way down to the ceremony.

 

 

The white pumpkins, lanterns, and candles tucked into moss framed wooden crates started the aisle at the lower Oak Tree Ceremony site.

 

 

The Ceremony was initiated by just about the cutest and most enthusiastic flower girl we’ve ever seen!

 

 

The day was sunny and warm, despite the late fall season.

As Brittney and Alfred held hands and said their vows, the giant oaks sheltering the ceremony site were reminiscent of where they first met in Northern California.

 

 

After the touching ceremony, officiated by Brittney‘s Uncle Butch, the guests celebrated and were encouraged to go up to the cocktail hour for a reception on the upper lawn.

 

 

This allowed Alfred and Brittney to sneak away for their first quiet moment together as husband and wife!

 

The scene set before the guests on the Upper Lawn was immaculately polished to perfection; frosted in lavenders, sage greens, and metallic gold accents.

Guests picked up a Vanilla Old Fashioned or Blood-Orange Spritzer signature drink from the bar on their way to collect their boarding pass/escort cards.

 

 

Lavender goblets and gold chargers enhanced the purples of the succulent and eucalyptus centerpieces with gold geometric candle holders.

 

 

The Mobile Groovin’ Bus from DJ Pat of Sound Prodigy opened at the start of cocktail hour.

Each guest jumped on board the photo bus and filled the happy couple’s sign-in book with their best faux mustaches and disco afro pictures.

 

 

With the castle in the background and the surrounding mountains silhouetted by the setting sun, an ethereal feeling settles in.

Was that a fairy hiding behind the cafe light?

Or just one too many spritzers?

 

After a short welcome speech, our servers delivered a salad of tender baby greens in a cucumber ring with candied pecans, and bleu cheese crumbles to each guest.

Once finished with the first course, guests could help themselves to all three of the food stations.

There was Lobster Mac n’ Cheese with crunchy Bacon Toast, Braised Beef Short Ribs with decadent Garlic Whipped Potatoes, and finally the taco bar with Pollo Asado and Sautéed Shrimp.

 

As dinner wrapped up, our staff served champagne, toasts began, tears were shed, and the smiles were unstoppable.

Everyone then gathered inside the Great Hall of the castle where first dance, Mother and Father dances, cake cutting, and general rug-cutting took place.

 

Flour Power provided the ceremonial cake topper, which Brittney and Alfred saved after cutting, but made sure there were four different flavors of pie for their guests!

 

 

DJ Pat kept the dance floor rocking for the rest of the night and everyone had the time of their lives!

 

The rest of the night was full of merriment and joy as the two families and friends finally melded together.

 

 

After the Grand Exit, shuttles took guests back down the mountain to the hotel but scheduled a necessary stop along the way.

Guests were allowed to get off the bus to stop at In-N-Out, order, eat, and get picked up again all by the same service!

 

It was a dream-like event meant for the storybooks.

 

 

We just wanted to thank Alfred and Brittney for choosing us to share your special day with you.

We love your love and wish nothing but the best in your future together!

Thanks also to all the other vendors who helped us make this day perfect!

 

Fleeting Fox Photography

Mt. Woodson Castle: Venue

Mobile Groovin’ Bus: Photo Booth

Sound Prodigy: DJ

Flour Power: Cake

Patricia Norvell: Makeup and Hair

Nancy Stevens Flowers

 

6 Stunning Wedding Bar Décor Ideas for San Diegans

Bottles lined up at San Diego wedding bar
When planning a wedding, most people imagine the stunning venue, the breathtaking centerpieces, and the delicious food. But the importance of the bar décor cannot be overlooked. As a professional San Diego Party Catering company, we take into consideration each detail and decoration in order to make your wedding day as beautiful and stress-free as possible. Here are a few of our creative wedding bar décor ideas, specifically tailored for people living in the San Diego area.

Elegant Champagne Bar

If you’re looking to add a touch of elegance to your wedding, a champagne bar is the perfect solution. With flutes of champagne lining the perimeter of the bar, you can ensure that the toasts and the dancing will last all night. Additionally, the light gold color of the champagne will complement almost any color scheme, offering timeless sophistication. By choosing Personal Touch Dining, the champagne doesn’t have to stop with the toast; it can be the focal point of your next celebration.

Personalized Signature Drinks

The best way to show your personality on your wedding day is to create a unique, signature drink. This drink, displayed in the center of the bar, can serve as the focal point, adding the perfect pop of color. Just imagine a ceremony with white and silver linens, fresh flowers, and twinkling lights, all accented by the green mint leaves and fresh lime of your signature drink, the mojito. With the help of a professional San Diego Party Catering company, your drink can even be customized with His and Hers drink options for the bride and the groom. A light pink French Martini paired with a deep brown Old Fashioned would surely impress any guest.

bright pink drink with lime and mint at San Diego wedding bar

Consider the Glassware

When searching for the perfect wedding bar décor, it’s important to consider the type of glassware you will use. For an indoor reception with towering centerpieces and glittering lights, you might want to opt for more elegant glassware, such as champagne flutes or martini glasses. For an outdoor reception under the warm San Diego sun, you might want a more relaxed, rustic feel. Mason jars with customized straws can offer the perfect solution, adding that flawless vintage touch to your wedding.

It’s All About the Garnish

When it comes to creating and displaying the perfect drink on your wedding day, the garnish may be as important as the drink itself! As a San Diego Party Catering company with years of experience, we understand the difference that the small details make. Therefore, when you’re looking to decorate your bar, you can add a long twist of citrus peel for your Mai Tais, a frosted salt rim for your Margaritas, or a few fresh blueberries stacked on a stir stick for your fruity cocktails.

Even further, you can use the ice cubes to your advantage. Perfect for those warm California days, simply freeze your desired garnish in an ice cube tray to add that beautiful, personalized touch. Edible flowers, such as orchids and pansies, along with fruit or herbs, work best to elevate the taste and appearance of your drinks, which ultimately helps create a truly stunning bar.

group of similar cocktails at san diego wedding bar

Stop and Smell the Roses

Flowers are a staple at almost any wedding, as they can be found in hundreds of shapes, sizes, colors, and varieties. Why not use flowers to add a touch of elegance to your wedding bar as well? You can use the same flowers from your centerpieces to create a cohesive look, or you can be daring and choose a variety of exotic, brightly colored flowers to spice things up. It’s all about you and your personal preference. With our years of experience and expertise, we will make your vision a reality.

Mimosas and Sangria

Depending on the time of day, why not create a signature drink to match? A large batch of a specialty drink will pair perfectly with your theme, especially when it is tailored to the hour of your reception. If you have an early morning ceremony, pitchers of light orange mimosas at lunch would work perfectly. For a nighttime celebration, bowls of deep red sangria with large pieces of fresh orange, peach, strawberry, and apple can help create a luxurious look. Even further, you can layer your shelving and glasses around your choice of drink to create unique geometric design that is pleasing to the eye.

Best Practices for Corporate Event Planning

Best practices for your san diego corporate event planning
In the corporate world, it’s all about the big picture. However, in event planning, the details make all the difference. So, when planning your next corporate event, the following list of practices are important to keep in mind. They will help your event run smoothly, alleviate stress, and ensure that your guests have the most enjoyable experience possible. Here are a few of the best practices that should be followed by both yourself and your professional San Diego Party Catering company.

Know the Purpose of Your Event

In order to successfully plan a corporate event, the first step is to know the purpose. Will your event be an Open House, a Grand Opening, an Award Dinner, or a Customer Appreciation Celebration? What types of menu options will you need to make your event a success? By choosing a respected and professional San Diego Party Catering company, you can be confident that your event, regardless of the purpose, will be handled with the highest level of care and expertise.

Stay Organized

Organization is key – especially in corporate event planning. It can be useful to keep a folder of all relevant documents, such as receipts, floor plans, and invitations. This way, all of your important papers and contracts are always easily accessible. Even further, the importance of a detailed, customized to-do list should not be overlooked. This list should include long-term tasks, daily errands, and one master calendar of meetings related solely to the event. The folder and list will allow you to double and triple check that everything is place on the day of the event, ensuring that your entire event runs seamlessly.

Delegate Responsibilities

While you may have confidence in your abilities, planning a corporate event is a massive undertaking. It might prove beneficial to delegate some of the planning responsibilities to other coworkers. This way, you will not feel too overwhelmed! You will also have more time to focus on your corporate responsibilities. Even further, delegating responsibilities across different departments allows for increased communication and the sharing of ideas. People specializing in different disciplines have different skill sets. Why not ask a coworker in the marketing department to create and distribute the invitations? Or perhaps a friend in the finance department could draft a budget. You might meet new people at your company and form new relationships.

Create a Budget

Before any concrete decisions can be made, a budget should be created. You must know how much money your company has allotted for this event in order to avoid overspending. Once you have a budget in place, you can begin choosing your venue, caterer, and entertainment options. By choosing a San Diego Party Catering company with years of experience to help with your corporate event, you are guaranteed to be working with professionals in the field who know how to accommodate all types of budgets.

Personalize Your Event

When you use a well-respected Party Catering company such as Personal Touch Dining, your next corporate event will be completely customized to your company. Only the most highly experienced catering companies will offer a variety of menus and bar services to match any event you can imagine. By choosing the right vendors, the personalization of your event will take many forms, including your choice of menu, drinks, and entertainment, such as a speaker or a DJ. It’s important to book your vendors and entertainment well in advance to ensure you have the highest level of talent.

Promote Your Event

After you have decided on your event purpose, organized accordingly, created a  budget, and personalized the event to your company’s specific needs, you’re ready to promote your event. Start by creating a list of people in your company to invite. Then, decide how you will encourage attendance and participation. For example, how will you let guests know about the upcoming event? Will you send  physical invitations, or rely on an email platform? If you are sending an email, keep in mind that there are many providers to choose from, such as Punchbowl, Paperless Post, and GreenVelope. Each of these has their own features, limitations, and inn some cases associated costs.

For physical invitations, you will want to plan further ahead. For example, you will need time to select the type of stationary, the font, and the quantity of invitations to send. It is also important to have a list of physical addresses for all attendees. For electronic invitations, much less advanced planning is necessary, but it is still important to give guests some advance notice of the event so that they can plan their schedules accordingly.

Featured on The Knot!

With all this exciting news, what better way than to share another! One of our weddings at our very own Leo Carrillo Ranch is featured on The Knot! Shane and Lauren Photography did a great job capturing this beautiful day filled with so much light and natural beauty in each shot. They are a favorite at the Ranch who know every bit of the grounds. N + C’s boho inspired dream turned into a reality and we are so happy they chose Leo Carrillo to share their special day with them!

Click the link here to read more about this day on The Knot!

Catering Your Next Event at deck655!

We are so happy to share one of Sand Diego’s newest venues, deck655! Located just on the edge of downtown San Diego, deck655 is a versatile venue that can be customized for social or corporate events.  With 8,500 square feet of contemporary indoor/outdoor deck space, it features a spacious indoor game room and outdoor amphitheater style seating for up to 110 guests.  Also featured are 50 / 50 doors that open to a 125’ promenade deck with sweeping views from Point to Coronado.  Additional patios with lounge furniture, built-in heating and lighting, surround sound, and more …  all to create a perfect environment for entertaining up to 350 guests. The space is suited for reception style events.

Personal Touch Dining will cater to your modern, lofty event here with our exceptional service and delicious food!

Photography by: True Photography

Recommendations for Your San Diego Catering Company Menu

a venue where we prepare our san diego catering company menuSan Diego Catering Company Menu Ideas and Tips

In order for an event to be great, it must have amazing catering! One way to ensure your catering stands out is by working with an experienced and skilled caterer. With a top event professional like Personal Touch Dining, your menu will be perfectly aligned with the theme of the event, number of guests, and season in which the event takes place. We will use freshly sourced ingredients and time-tested recipes to prepare an exceptional menu without any compromises. At each and every event, we work hard to ensure that we are the Best San Diego Catering Company.

Having been in this industry for many years, we have seen common mistakes made which we help our clients to avoid. Here are just a few of the recommendations we make when catering for an event.

Schedule Planning

As exceptional as the menu may be, what is also important with catering is that everything is ready on time. This includes cocktail hors d’oeuvres, your main course or buffet, and even your late night snack. Whether your party is large or small, we are able to have everyone served and seated fairly quickly, and always arrange a sufficient window for the food service so that there is no rush. We always want to set up the meal according to the day’s timeline so that the courses are hot and fresh, and we will help with our best recommendations.

Dietary Restrictions

When catering for a large group, it is important to choose a menu that is sure to please most attendees. However, it is possible that some of your attendees may have dietary restrictions or preferences. As the host, it is a good idea to have alternate selections, so that your guests feel right at home. For example, if you are having chicken or beef as your main course, it is nice to have a tasty vegetarian option such as pasta or risotto. You can plan for special meal considerations by having a variety of dishes in your catering menu. Or, you can include a box on your RSVP card to ask guests in advance which meal they prefer, which is common practice.

Plentiful Meals

Often times, the guest count is not finalized until shortly before the event date. For example, some guests may wait until the last minute to confirm. Therefore, it is beneficial to plan for extra attendees, with the expectation that you may need the flexibility in your meal service. Having catered hundreds of events throughout the years, we help our clients prepare in advance, and anticipate the number of meals they will need for the event itself. This ensures that there is plenty of food for all, and that guests are happy and content.

Ingredients

When you are hiring a catering service, you my have certain ingredients that you love, or would prefer to stay away from. For example, if avocados are your favorite food, we can get creative with a spicy guacamole or tuna tartar. Or, if you have an allergy or aversion to certain foods, share this with us so we can plan accordingly. Similarly, if your guests have a food sensitivity, let us know in advance so we can prepare ingredient cards for display, or make special accommodations. We want to make sure that you and your guests are well taken care of!

San Diego Business Journal Fastest Growing Company 2018

We are so proud to announce that we were named San Diego Business Journal Fastest Growing Company for 2018!

Thank you to our team for your hard work and dedication to this company, and our clients for choosing us for their weddings and special events!

San Diego Wedding Catering Guide | 5 Helpful Tips

san diego wedding catering event - personal touch dining

When you are preparing for your San Diego wedding, you will likely have a checklist of items you want to complete as priority. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, you’ll find that once these fundamentals are set, the rest will fall into place relatively easily. Along with dress fittings and selecting a photographer, one of the first to-do’s typically involves choosing a wedding catering company that best fits your event needs. As the local favorite San Diego wedding catering company, here are five helpful tips to working with your caterer to create the wedding you’ve always dreamed about.

Tip 1: Ask Questions of Your Caterer

Part of our initial meeting is getting to know you as a couple, and learning your specific tastes and preferences. We anticipate you’ll have questions for us during this process too! Please feel welcome to ask us anything, as we will be more than happy to talk about your objectives and even challenges you’re facing with your event. For example, if you are wondering how to best schedule the reception around the meal, when to serve dessert, and how to deal with dietary restrictions, these are all things we can help with. You may even want to write your questions down beforehand, so you remember what to ask. Knowing which questions are top of mind will help us make the best recommendations, and help alleviate any concerns you may have. Even if you think your situation is unique, chances are we’ve heard it before, and solved it!

Tip 2: Use Your Caterer as a Resource

Over time, we have built up strong connections that have proven very helpful to our wedding couples. This is because of our extensive knowledge and experience as a San Diego wedding catering company, and our longstanding reputation within the San Diego wedding community. We work with the top vendors in each category, and are always ready to make recommendations. More than likely, your request is either something we do in-house, or we will be able to pair you with a local expert. Even if you need a highly specialized service, or a last-minute replacement vendor, it never hurts to ask us. We always come through for our wedding couples! The more we can help accomplish for you, all in one place, the easier your wedding planning will be.

Tip 3: Share Your Ideas with your San Diego Wedding Catering Company

As we talk over your event in more detail, we will have insight and suggestions about your catering options, and what will work best for your event. We welcome you to use this opportunity to share your own thoughts, and to be a collaborator in this process. Many couples give us a few ideas for inspiration, and then entrust our expert catering team to take over. This way, they are able to relax and focus on other aspects of wedding planning. Other couples are more involved with the menu creation and decisions made. If there is a particular seasonal ingredient you are hoping to include, or a signature cocktail preference, please let us know! That way, we will know that your “wish list” items have been addressed and that your final menu is a reflection of your personality, along with our ‘personal touch.’

Tip 4: Enjoy Your Wedding!

One of the many benefits of choosing an experienced and reputable wedding caterer is peace of mind. By working with a top-level event professional, you will know that your event is in good hands. We provide wedding catering for every venue in San Diego, and have likely catered at your selected location many times before. This is helpful because we know the ins and outs, have worked with the staff, and know exactly what to do. We also frequently work in ‘temporary’ venues like estates or tents, and understand the specific challenges, and how to approach them. We are constantly presented with scenarios that would be daunting to a less experienced San Diego wedding catering company, who would be relying on you for help and advice throughout the wedding day. Because we know how to overcome the obstacles, you are able to relax and enjoy your big day!

Tip 5: Give Insight to Other Wedding Couples

After the wedding, you will have built up a great deal of insight about the wedding planning process, and things you learned along the way. It’s a great idea to let others know about your experiences, because it will help with their own wedding planning. If there was a particular recipe you enjoyed, or we came through for you in a big way, we’d love for you to pass this along. Not only would it mean a lot to us, but your recognition helps connect us with new clients who would love working with us. You can tell from online forums such as Yelp, The Knot, and WeddingWire, that we have a long history of happy wedding couples. We also welcome you to share feedback with us personally so we can commend our team members for a job well done!

San Diego Event Catering | Creative San Diego Caterers

If you are looking for a San Diego Event Catering company, you have come to the right place! Our knowledgeable and creative catering staff is ready to produce an amazing event for you. Here are a few ideas to get you started :

Start Planning Your San Diego Event Catering Early (if Possible)

San Diego Event Catering menu example

We’ve managed to pull off amazing events with very little lead time. However, if you are able to give us time to prepare, it goes a long way. From the initial conversation or meeting, we start coming up with ideas and  recommendations. By having this discussion far enough in advance, you have time to weigh the options and make informed decisions. As a result, you can move forward with peace of mind 🙂

For large events, we suggest reaching out at least 6-8 months before for the detailed planning. This is because you’ll have more of the wish list finalized as the event draws near, and we can make suggestions that are more on target. For smaller events, and scenarios where you prefer to leave the decisions to our team, 2-3 months or so lead time should be sufficient.

Of course, you are always welcome to contact us earlier to check availability. In fact, we encourage this, especially during busy summer weekends and holidays. But the real in-depth planning occurs closer to the event itself.

Share Your Vision With Your Co-Planners

Banquet table with linens san diego event cateringIf you are planning an event with others, it’s a good idea to talk over initial concepts with them early on. This way, you can put all ideas on the table, and have a shared vision for the event. If one planner wants a taco bar and the other is dreaming of an Italian feast, it’s time to talk it out 🙂 The more unified the team, the quicker the decisions will be made. We’re always happy to give our professional recommendations as well. Perhaps you will both compromise and opt for our delicious Pecan Crusted Chicken!

Surprise Your Guests

When planning a unique event, it’s a nice touch to throw in a surprise for guests. That little something extra can make the event extremely fun and memorable. For example, we can set up a station for root beer floats or S’mores. These classic all-American delights are sure to please. Or for late-night parties, we offer a variety of “midnight snacks” such as donuts paired with milk, or good ol’ homestyle PB&J. We even have decadent chocolate fountains. And for libations, we can do an eclectic mix of potent signature cocktails. There really is no limit to what can be done with our San Diego Event Catering.

Types of Events

We cater all kinds of events! If you have a family function, such as a birthday or anniversary party, we have a wide array of menu choices. We also cater Bar Mitzvahs, charity functions and galas. We work with many schools throughout San Diego, and provide catering for senior proms, and sports banquets. And when the weather gets warm, we have a popular selection of gourmet picnic options. We always use fresh seasonal ingredients, and have a menu for every occasion!

Learn More About Our San Diego Event Catering

san diego event catering bar service with nice presentation

We’d love for Personal Touch Dining to be your go-to catering company. We invite you to browse our website, explore example menus, and see images from past events. Please contact us at any point to talk over the specific details of your event. We look forward to talking with you!

Talk With A Professional Event Catering Expert

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