Casa del Prado Balboa Park - Wedding

Balboa Park has a lot of venues for parties, weddings and events.  One of the most dramatic has to be the courtyards at Casa del Prado.  Here are some pictures from a midday wedding and reception we did this year.

We set up the reception in the inside courtyard

The upstairs balcony provides some great photo opps

The courtyard between the Casa del Prado and the Junior Theater is quite dramatic

Sweetheart table for the bride & groom

There are no chairs set up in these photos... the client had the caterer move the chairs from the ceremony area to help their budget...

The client used succulents as centerpieces

Belly bars helped make a nice area for the cocktail hour

The tables were set up in a star shape out from the center with market umbrellas for shade and effect

The archways provide a nice view of the event and a barrier from the park's foot traffic

Birch Acquarium - Miracle Maker's Event

A few new nights ago we had the honor of attending the Rady Children's Hospital Miracle Maker's Appreciation Event at Birch Aquarium. "Miracle Makers" are corporations or community groups that raise more than $5,000 in a year to help fund the great work that goes on at Rady Children's Hospital. 

We've been to these events in the past, but this year's event was especially exciting for us.  First, Max and Jake's Big Race - an organization we run with our friend Jerilyn Hammerstrom (Max's Mom) - was recognized at the event for be a top "Community Miracle Maker."  Through Max and Jake's Big Race, we've raised over $150,000 for Rady Children's Hospital over the last 4 years. 

Second, our rental company - Party Production Rentals - was used to provide all the rentals (tables, chairs, linen, umbrellas, P.A., glasses, etc).  Normally we don't get to see the events our team sets up, so it was fun to be able to stay and enjoy the great party with the rest of the guests.

And third, it was at Birch Aquarium, where the view and the exhibits provide a beautiful and enjoyable backdrop for many types of events.  We've not only provided rentals for a number of events there, we've  attended many events there.  The guests always seem to enjoy the space, and we certainly did the other night.

Here are a few pictures of the set-up.  Let us know if we can help you with an event at Birch - or your next event for your non-profit organization. 

Event Pictures!

One of the caterers we work with just sent over a batch of pictures she's taken from recent events we've done with her company.  Here are a few:

SoNo Park Holiday Fest - Success in the Street!

It's now been a few weeks since we put on the SoNo Park Holiday Fest.  The event was a street fair in North Park benefiting McKinley Elementary, and we had 3 goals:

1. Raise money for McKinley's arts and music programs - our target being at least as much as we did in 2009 with the Chili Cook-Off and Arts and Crafts Fair.
2. Draw in the community to support McKinley.  The school had a tendency to hit up the school families over and over again. We wanted to start an event where the community would pay to participate, and we would build a knowledge and experience base to do it again in the future.
3. Last but not least, put on a fun event! We wanted attendees, restaurants, bands and vendors to want to do it again and go away talking about it so they'd draw in even more people for the next year.  They'd also see what a special school McKinley is because they do this kind of event.

I'm pleased to say that met all 3 goals.  Having goals really helped us focus our efforts and to set expectations with the McKinley PTC and participating businesses.  It's also a basis for us to say we were successful.  While we haven't completed the final accounting for the event, we've surpassed last year's fund-raising from the 2 events we replaced by more than $1,000.  We wanted to get at least 1000 people to attend from the local community, and our best estimate is that we had more than 2000.  And while the "fun" aspect is harder to measure, the anecdotal evidence suggests people had a great time.  We received many compliments from a broad range of participants, such as "This was the best street fair ever!"  Perhaps most importantly, we learned a lot, and we have many insights that will enable us to make next year's event even more successful - especially financially.  In light of our fun goal, we may have erred on the side of providing too much value.  Something for us to consider.

I'll go into some of learning at a different time.  In the meantime, here are some pictures of the event, and I've highlighted some of the gear provided by Party Production Rentals: beer tent, belly bar with linen, stage, canopies, pop-ups, tables with umbrellas. 

Warm

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Although the holidays are not quite here yet, the planning has already begun! Call us with your corporate or personal holiday/party needs. Mention this blog ad and save 10% off your order if you pay for your order by December 1, 2008!