Well it’s been a while since I have DJ’d a wedding at Bernardo Winery (back in 2003 to be exact!). Pretty nice San Diego outdoor reception space with a garden / winery type setting. The only major thing that has changed since I was there last is the fact that the DJ has to plug into their sound system and use their speakers for the entire event. This is because they have multiple houses located directly next door and they have gotten many complaints in the past. I will try to be nice about this… let’s just say the volume is WAY too low for dancing. It is appropriate for a crowd that is not looking for a big dance party. I would describe the maximum volume just slightly louder than “cocktail hour” volume. Difficult to inspire a party without a little more volume! That can be worked around with the correct casual group. The major problem I had was the volume when it came to using the microphone for introductions, announcements, events, and toasts. Either too soft or totally distorted! Anyways back on track… I think the bride did an excellent job designing all of the wedding elements for this event herself. It really fit the rustic feel of the outdoor winery location.

The ceremony was held off to the side of the reception space under the gazebo. Perfect weather for our couple…

Cocktail hour was then held under the covered patio area & Cake

Colorful candy bar that disappeared in minutes! Always a hit.

One unique wedding item was the guestbook. Each guest was invited to “leaf” their fingerprint on the tree in the photo below along with their signature. A fun way to display the “guestbook” at a wedding.

Dancing was fairly reserved this afternoon/evening. I think it was appropriate for the winery setting and the limited volume we were aloud to play music at.

MUSIC:

Ceremony Bridesmaid’s Entrance – “Canon In D” by Pachabel

Ceremony Bride’s Processional - “Wedding March” by Wagner

Ceremony Recessional – “Signed Sealed Delivered” by Stevie Wonder

Bridal Party Introductions – “Good Life” by One Republic

First Dance – “Marry Me” by Train

Last Dance – “Carolina In My Mind” by James Taylor

For more information about this event click here:  San Diego Wedding DJ

Positive Energy Productions  |  858.490.0445

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Estancia La Jolla is one of my favorite locations for a San Diego wedding. It has a nice upscale atmosphere yet feels very comfortable at the same time. The staff is extremely friendly (Laurel is great to work with) and the service is excellent. It was raining all day so we had to make the decision to pull the ceremony inside next to the La Jolla Ballroom. Cocktail hour was also held inside in another area close to the ceremony. Not quite the outdoor setting we were hoping for but it all worked out and everyone stayed warm and dry! Guests then headed over to the Grande Room for dinner and dancing.

The room looked great with large manzanita branch centerpieces on a number of tables and some larger floral arrangements on other tables. It seems that serving dinner “family style” is becoming a San Diego wedding trend lately as I see it more and more often. This was a large Italian group so serving the meal family style made them feel right at home. After a little dancing our couple cut the wedding cake and we opened up a gellato / ice cream bar that the guests dove into!

Dancing continued for the rest of the evening. I was surprised that they lasted until the end since this was quite a bit longer than most (an eight hour event) and many of the guests were visiting from the east coast (three hours later for them). All in all a successful event!

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Music:

Grand Entrance:  Closer to You Instrumental – Cure

First Dance:  Crazy Love – Van Morrison

Father/Daughter Dance:  In My Life – Beatles

Mother/Son Dance: Black Bird – Beatles

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San Diego Wedding Vendors:

Estancia:  Laurel Ganzel

Photographers:  Eddie Bojorquez with Studio 512

Cake:  Flour Power

Florist:  San Diego Flowers by Coley

Coordinator:  Kristy Weinzimer

Officiant:  Minister Jerry Bryant

For more information about this event click here:  San Diego Wedding DJ

Positive Energy Productions  |  858.490.0445

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A perfect day for an afternoon wedding at L’Auberge Del Mar 11am to 4:00pm. The ceremony was held on the top terrace overlooking the ocean. Superior court judge Bromberg is a family friend so he stepped in as the officiant today. A funny moment happened when judge Bromberg asked the groom to present the ring. A HUGE fake diamond ring was pulled out and given to the bride. Everyone got a quick laugh out of it.

Cocktail hour was held on the middle wooden deck area. Once again a great view of the ocean! We then moved downstairs for dinner and dancing. A unique wedding idea & San Diego wedding trend the last few years has been the candy bar. This trend is not going away anytime soon. Guests (of all ages) love it!

Dancing went well extremely well for a daytime wedding. The group let loose and enjoyed the afternoon.

Here are a few professional photos from Valentine Photography:

MUSIC:

Bridesmaids:  Here Comes the Sun Instrumental (Beatles)

Bride’s Processional:  Canon in D (Patrick Ki)

Wedding Party Entrance:  Holiday Road (Lyndsay Buckingham)

Bride/Groom Entrance:  Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News)

First Dance:  I’m Yours Acoustic (Jason Mraz)

Father/Daughter Dance:  The Way You Look Tonight (Father of the Bride Soundtrack)

Mother/Son Dance:  My Cherie Amour (Stevie Wonder)

Cake:  Night Train (Back to the Future Soundtrack)

Last Dance:  Earth Angel (McFly and the Starlighters)

After Last Dance (as people exit):  We’ll Meet Again (Vera Lynn)

SAN DIEGO WEDDING VENDORS:

Photographers:  Vallentyne Photography

Cake:  Fab Cakes

For more information about this event click here:  San Diego Wedding DJ

Positive Energy Productions  |  858.490.0445

Visit Us: POSITIVE ENERGY - SAN DIEGO WEDDING DJ BLOG - Professional San Diego Wedding DJ, Corporate DJ, MC, and Lighting Services

The last wedding for this weekend was over at Marina Village in the Seaside Room for around 250 guests. The ceremony was held out on the South Lawn facing the marina and sunset. They released butterflies at the end of the ceremony which is always a nice surprise for guests. We then moved into the Seaside Room for the reception. This is probably the best looking reception I have seen in this room. They really added quite a few special touches to enhance the space and dress up the room. A few of these items included the candy bar, cigar roller outside on the patio, table linens, and the lighting I provided. I spotlighted the cake and projected their monogram gobo down onto the dance floor. This really popped out once we turned the lights down. I also helped provide the slide show that we played during the cocktail hour and mixed a special dance for the bride and her father consisting of six songs. They had fun with it and it was a total surprise for mom since they kept it a secret. The group enjoyed dancing and it turned out to be a really fun wedding to DJ.

Extras Provided: Cake Spotlighting, Custom Gobo Monogram Projection, White Starry Lights, Slide Show Projection

MUSIC:

Bridesmaids: Canon in D – The O’Neill Brothers

Bride’s Processional: Bridal Chorus – Wagner

Sand Ceremony: You and Me – Lifehouse

Butterfly Release: Butterfly Waltz – Brian Crain

Recessional: If It’s Love – Train

Grand Entrance: I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

First Dance: History in the Making – Darius Rucker

Father/Daughter Dance: Special Mix I edited for them with the following songs: Heartland- I Loved Her First / Black Eyed Peas- Lets get it started / Starsound- Cotton eye Joe / Contours- Do you love me / Kenny Loggins- Footloose / Tim McGraw- My Little Girl

Mother/Son Dance: My Wish – Rascal Flatts

Cake Cutting: Sugar Sugar – The Archies

Anniversary Dance: Lost In This Moment – Big & Rich

Bouquet Toss: Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar

Garter Toss: Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye / Another One Bites The Dust – Queen

Last Songs: Good Riddance – Green Day  &  Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti & Spearhead

San Diego Wedding Vendors:

Photographer: Brett Alan

Videographer: Patrick from Blue Sky Wedding

Catering: Ranch Events

For more information about this event click here:  San Diego Wedding DJ

Positive Energy Productions  |  858.490.0445

Visit Us: POSITIVE ENERGY - SAN DIEGO WEDDING DJ BLOG - Professional San Diego Wedding DJ, Corporate DJ, MC, and Lighting Services

It was a long drive but well worth the effort once I arrived. The wedding was at a private estate tonight with the reception held in an enormous 250 person clear tent out on a large grassy area just beyond the pool. There were many unique and personal touches to this wedding. To start with the gifts were all dropped off in a wooden sailboat leaning on it’s side next to the guest book. The ceremony was on a large grassy hill under a huge tree which looked amazing as the backdrop. Cocktail hour was held out by the pool with one of my favorite items… a full sushi bar. The tables looked amazing in the large clear tent with five hanging chandeliers. The black and white checkered dance floor added a fun element. The candy bar had older vintage style candy to go along with their theme. The food was amazing (a four course meal as you can see by the silverware on the tables). Dinner took over two hours so it was a bit long but guests did not walk away hungry. Later on in the evening milk and cookies were brought out as a surprise for the groom (his favorite). Dancing went really well despite dinner taking up so much time. They were ready to have some fun. It tapered off towards the end but I think that was because guests had to drive a long way home. A very impressive wedding to say the least.

Vendors:

Catering: Anything But Ordinary Catering

Photography: Mindy Sonshine

This wedding is featured in the 2010 issue of Exquisite Weddings Magazine. If you pick up a copy of the magazine their wedding is featured on page 52 through page 55.    Enjoy!

For more information click here:  San Diego Wedding DJ

Positive Energy Productions

858.490.0445

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