Cuvier Park, Circular Set-ups, & Name Tags

Cuvier Park in La Jolla is a very popular ceremony site.  We're there nearly every weekend, and this past weekend we had weddings both days.  It was a bit blustery, but both of our clients were at least able to avoid the rain during their ceremonies.   

This circular set-up has become very popular for us to do there since we first posted a picture of it on our blog a few years back. 

This set-up facing the ocean is also a great way to take advantage of the space. 

Both of these clients used white padded chairs, which are the "standard" wedding chair.  But the natural wood with white seat pads look very nice as well.

The client also put name tags on each chair so everyone knew where they were supposed to be - they looked very nice with the sash tied in front!

San Diego Style Weddings

One of our past events was featured on San Diego Style Weddings today, thanks to event planner Rachel Welland of Bliss Events.   There are some great pictures in the post, and I've included a few below.

Ultimate San Diego Wedding

Party Production Rentals was selected to participate in the Ultimate San Diego Wedding as the rental partner.  The Ultimate San Diego San Diego Wedding takes a collection of some of the best wedding vendors San Diego has to offer and puts on a spectacular wedding for one lucky couple. 

Paula had fun working with a talented group of event professionals including caterers, coordinators, and photographers to put on an amazing day for this year's winners: Jannel & Matt.  This year the wedding was held at the Mt. Woodson Castle in Ramona.  We provided the rental products for the ceremony and reception, including Chiavari chairs, belly bars, tables, linen, dishware and glassware.

Here's a picture courtesy of La Vida Creations, one of the participating photographers:

Here's a link to some additional photos on the La Vida Creations Blog.

Here's a link to video from the event that SideBySide Cinema created.

Here are more pictures we received from La Vida Creations:

Draped Canopy with Satin Linen

Here's a recent event Party Production Rentals did for a family who wanted to hold an elegant celebration at their home in Rancho Santa Fe. 

Canopy Draping
The standard "work horse" canopy in the party & event industry is a frame tent.  These are assembled at the job site and are very functional for providing shelter.  

There are different ways to dress up a canopy, but one way that provides a very elegant touch is by draping the inside of the canopy top with a tent liner - as shown in the picture below.  We draped the canopy and covered the poles in white so that utilitarian aspects of the canopy are not visible.  These element do add expense to the canopy, but for the right event and budget, it's a great touch. 

Satin Linen
Another standard in our industry is the use of polyester blend fabric for tablecloths.  They are cost-effective and come in a variety of colors and sizes.  However, there are many "specialty" fabrics that make for great table linen as well.  One of our favorites is satin.  Satin linen provide timeless elegance with their silky look, and they draw attention to themselves because of how they catch the light.  This client went with turquoise satin tablecloths and napkins to compliment their dramatic centerpieces and silver Chiavari chairs.  The effect is dramatic! 

Recent Party / Art Show

We worked with one of our clients to transform an empty brick building in Liberty Station into a great party space. We supplied and installed the lighting (interior), drapes, tables, chairs, staging and dishware. 

2nd Annual SoNo Fest a Success!

Yesterday in North Park was the 2nd Annual SoNo Park Holiday Fest & Chilipalooza.  Thousands came out for chili, craft beer, live music, kids activities, shopping - and a lot of community fun.  Paula and I were again proud to be co-chairs of this event, called "one of the best neighborhood events of the year" by one community leader.  Besides raising money for the school our boys attend, the most gratifying thing was just seeing so many people come out and having a good time.  There was a great picture in the U-T today (aptly named "A Chili Day in North Park"), and below are a few other early picks from the event.

Party Production Rentals was a sponsor of the event and provided the majority of the rentals. 

A view of Thorn Street not long after the event started

The Beautiful View was a crowd-pleaser on the North Park Stage

A few members of our awesome event committee

The Creepy Creeps on the South Park stage

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

Covering a Stage Helps Keep Off the Elements

We recently put up a stage with a canopy over it for St. Patrick's Church (and school) in North Park.  Having a canopy over a stage is a nice way to keep the heat (or other elements) off when acts will be performing outside.  This was a 16x24' stage with a 20x30' canopy over the top.  Lighting helps spotlight the musicians and is critical for evening performances. 

Side note: St. Pat's was having their annual festival, with which I was very impressed.  It's a volunteer effort by the parents to put this 2-day (all day) event on.  It's fairly small as festivals go, but they had lots to do:  bands all throughout the day, kid's activities, shopping, good food, a beer garden, and more.  We stopped by with the kids (it's also our church), and they had a great time.  Check it out some time. 

Backyard Wedding for 250+

If you have the space - and especially the setting - a backyard wedding can be a really special event.  We recently did a wedding in the Crest area of El Cajon that took advantage of the great views and the large yard this house had to offer.  The clients wanted to transform their dirt pad into an elegant yet comfortable venue for their daughter's wedding.

We put up 2 canopies in an L shape to wrap around their house and provide enough coverage for the 250+ guests.  We covered the ground with over 4000 square feet of green turf, which really transformed the dirt pad.  Inside the canopies, we strung ping-pong lights with paper lanterns, which creates a festive environment and gives off plenty of light. 

  

They had a sufficient budget to do the event right, but as always, there were trade-offs in the areas that were more important to them.  For example, they opted for basic plastic chairs and dressed them up with chocolate brown sashes, but went with a satin tablecloths and napkins for elegance.  They opted not to drape the inside of the canopy (ceiling), but had us cover the canopy legs in white as a more visual element.  This is a delightful family, and we enjoyed working with them to help them meet their goals. 

Overall, I think we were successful in achieving the feel they were going for.  According to the bride's mom, we had exceeded their daughter's expectations... and that, after all, is what it's all about.  

Party Production Rentals provided all the party gear you see in the pictures... canopies, tables, chairs, dance floor, lighting, linen, flatware and china - all except the flowers and centerpieces (though we offer centerpieces as well). Let us know if we can help you plan your dream backyard event. 

Don't Be Afraid of Using Ivory and White Together

People often assume that white and ivory shouldn't go together when planning their party decorations.  "I don't think I should use ivory napkins with the white chairs," or "I need white chair cushions - not ivory - because our colors are white, red and black."  The reality is, you can combine white and ivory, and it looks very elegant.  People often worry about having to match things exactly, when sometimes the result is "too matchy-matchy" (as Paula - who is an artist by background - likes to say.)

It's quite common - especially in weddings - to see a combination of white and ivory used together to a very nice effect.  Here are a few pictures of a recent reception we did at the San Diego Botanical Gardens. 

More Event Pics, Now on Facebook

Keeping up with social media can be exhausting at times as you are constantly needing to have new content.  However, it can also be fun.  Personally, I like to blog.  I got my start when Paula and I took our 2 boys on a 6 week trip in our VW Vanagon camper ("Rusty" the boys named him - see Rusty's blog).

Between running our business and keeping up with my boys, I didn't have the energy to create a Facebook page for our business.  Our operations manager Kim felt like we needed on (and I think he was right), so he's started one (see it here).  He's still building the content, but it'll also be a good place to see pictures of our events as well as get ideas for your own.  I encourage you to "Like" it if you're on Facebook. 

And now the battle is on to see who can come up with the best content... it's a good kick in the butt for me to add some more party and event tips up here, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from events today from 2 great outdoor venues that are perfect for summer afternoon weddings and parties - Presidio Park and Mt. Helix.

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.