San Diego Wedding Planners

Believe it or not, this COVID-19 stay at home order is a great time to plan your wedding. Below are wedding planning tasks that are easy to complete from home with a computer, a phone and your fiancée.

Budget and Guest Count

Deciding on your overall wedding budget and your guest count is the very first task you and your fiancée should do to start your wedding planning. Create a budget spreadsheet and allocate the amount you are comfortable spending on each item based on your priorities. The largest portion of your budget, about 50%, will be on your venue, food and beverages. Then, track your expenses as you hire vendors and sign contracts so you can stay within budget. Even if you are well into your wedding planning process, you should create a budget spreadsheet to track your expenses so far.

Hire a Wedding Planner

Did you know the best time to hire a wedding planner is before you have a wedding date? Your wedding venue is your largest wedding purchase. Having a professional planner on your team to help you make your venue decision and to negotiate your venue package and rate is imperative. Especially if you are planning a destination wedding and cannot visit the venue in person. A planner will know the venues in your area intimately and will be able to recommend the best venue to fit your style and budget.

Research Venues

Once you have your estimated guest count and allocated budget, you can start researching venues in your area that match the size, budget and style of your wedding. Many venues, such as Julep Venue here in San Diego offer virtual tours of their event spaces allowing you to get a feel for the space from your own home. Create a list of 3 venues that meet your criteria to visit in person once the stay at home order is lifted.

Research Your Vendors

Almost all wedding vendors are working from home during this pandemic. Since their weddings have all been postponed until at least June, they are available to answer questions about their services and meet you virtually or have a phone call to discuss your needs. This is a great opportunity to talk with vendors and learn which ones fit your style and budget. If you are not comfortable hiring vendors during this time, you can create a short list of vendors you like with their availability and pricing, so you are ready to go when this pandemic ends.

Select Your Wedding Party

This is a great time to talk with your fiancée about who you want to include in your wedding party. Being asked to join your wedding party is an honor that may be a welcome distraction to the stay at home order and give your best friends something exciting to plan for. You also want to be considerate of friends or family who have lost their jobs and may be struggling financially during this time. Depending on the situation, you may want to wait to finalize your wedding party.

Visualize your Ceremony

LakehouseWedding_MMP_31 Many couples spend most of their time planning their reception. Use the extra time you have to really create a special ceremony that is true to you and your fiancée . Find music and readings that reflect your love story, research wedding traditions that you want to incorporate into your ceremony and write love letters to each other that can spark creativity when it’s time to write your vows.

Select Your First Dance Song

Your first dance together as married spouses is a special tradition. Use this time to discover a song that really captures your love story. Or if you are musical, write or perform a song together that can be used for this special occasion.

Create a Wedding Web Site

Creating a wedding web site is a great way to communicate your plans with your family and friends during these uncertain times. Use this extra time to upload photos and special stories about your relationship.

Take advantage of some quiet time with your fiancée to decide what’s really important for your wedding celebration. The planners at Stephanie Rose Events are available to help talk through any wedding planning questions you have via email, text or phone. Stay safe, sane and kind.

Uncategorized, wedding planning

Your Guest Communication Plan for Postponed Weddings due to COVID-19

April 3, 2020 Stephanie Rose Events

StephRose_MMP_Bayview_005 We received lots of questions after we published our Guide to Postponing Your Wedding Due to COVID-19. Many questions were about how to communicate with your guests about the postponement. At Stephanie Rose Events, allowing the couple to be present at their wedding and your guests’ experience is our number one priority. Your guests’ experience starts well before they walk into your ceremony – it starts with your communication, your save the date information, your wedding web site, your invitations, even how guests are treated as they check in to your recommended hotel can affect the guest experience.

Communicating with your wedding guests about your postponement is important. Remember, your guests’ lives have been turned upside too. They may be worried about traveling to your wedding, may be experiencing a loss of income, or just be worried about gathering in large groups. They will be happy to know that you are thinking about their well being and relieved to know there is a plan. People worry about uncertainty, so communicating your plans with your guests, even if you don’t yet have a new date, will be welcome.

If you are postponing your wedding, there are two possible scenarios:

You have selected a new wedding date.
You have decided to postpone your wedding, but have not yet selected a new date

In both situations, communicating with your guests is important. You do not need to wait until you have a new wedding date to communicate with your guests.

You have selected a new wedding date

If you have already postponed your wedding and selected a new wedding date, your guest communication plan will focus on communicating your new date to your guests.

Update your wedding web site. The easiest and quickest way to update your guests is to update your wedding web site with your new date, location and any other details your guests need to know. Guests can then be directed to your wedding web site to stay up to date on any changes. Email your guests with a note about your decision to postpone your wedding and a link to your web site.
Send change the date cards. Similar to save the date cards, change the date cards simply inform your guests that your wedding date has changed. There are lots of creative options for change the date cards on Minted and etsy Check with your stationary designer for options as well.
Send (or resend) your invitations. If you have already sent your invitations, especially if they included an RSVP card, you will need to resend them. A new date may change some guest’s ability to attend, so asking for a new RSVP card is reasonable. If only the date has changed, but the locations and details have not, you may be able to collect the RSVP information electronically without resending new invitations. If your wedding date and location has changed, we recommend sending new invitations and RSVP cards reflecting the new information. If you have not yet sent your invitations, you will design them with the updated date and information and send them as usual.

Suggested wording for change the date cards or emails

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are taking every precaution to make our wedding safe for our guests. We have decided, to postpone our wedding until [date]. Please check our wedding web site [URL] for updates. More information and new RSVP cards to come. Thank you for your understanding and support. We cannot wait to celebrate with you!

You are postponing your wedding, but have not yet selected a new wedding date

If you are postponing your wedding, but have not yet selected a new wedding date, your guest communication plan will focus on communicating your postponement decision to your guests.

Update your wedding web site. The easiest and quickest way to update your guests is to update your wedding web site with a note that your wedding is being postponed and more information will be coming. Guests can then be directed to your wedding web site to stay up to date on any changes. Email your guests with a note about your decision to postpone your wedding and a link to your web site.

Suggested wording for postponement emails

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are taking every precaution to make our wedding safe for our guests. For this reason, we have decided to postpone our wedding. Please check our wedding web site [URL] for updates as we work to find a new wedding date to celebrate with you. More information to come. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Once you have a new wedding date, follow the guest communication plan above for communicating your new wedding date to your guests.

If you have any questions at all about postponing your wedding, we are available via email, text or phone. Stay safe, sane and kind.

wedding planning

A Guide to Postponing your Wedding

March 22, 2020March 22, 2020 Stephanie Rose Events

Kristin_april2019_35 Wedding planning is stressful enough without a worldwide pandemic. The effects on the wedding and hospitality industry are unprecedented. We are working closely with our couples to make decisions about when to postpone your wedding and if you need to postpone, how exactly to start.

First, it is OK to feel stressed, disappointed, frustrated, even angry about postponing your wedding. You have been pouring your heart and soul (and your money) into your wedding planning for months. It is completely normal to have all the emotions right now. So cry, yell, eat a pound of chocolate – whatever you need to do to get those negative emotions out.

When you’re ready to discuss your wedding plans, the entire wedding industry is here for you. And you are in good hands. As an industry, wedding vendors are the best at being flexible and remaining calm in sticky situations. We thrive on finding solutions quickly. As wedding planners it’s our job to proactively plan for disasters and to mitigate them before they appear. I have rescued weddings with mishaps ranging from lost rings, broken shoes, flooded venues, severe allergic reactions, fist fights, drunk family members, missing children, you name it – I’ve fixed it. Global pandemic? We’ve got this. Trust me, there is no one better equipped for weathering a global pandemic than wedding pros.

When should I postpone my wedding?

We are closely following the CDC, California State, and local mandates about gatherings during this COVID-19 outbreak. The CDC and White House have banned gatherings of 10 plus people through March 31, while gatherings of 50 plus are banned through May 11. Some local cites, like Del Mar, CA have banned events through May 31. We are advising our couples with wedding dates through May 31 to postpone their weddings.

If your wedding date is in June, we are advising you to hold tight until the end of March and see what the revised mandates are from the CDC and State. However, if you are anxious and stressed and about your June wedding date and feel like you absolutely have to take immediate action, then move forward with your postponement plans – the wedding industry will support you.

How do I postpone my wedding?

If you are postponing your wedding, you will need to communicate with both your wedding vendors and your guests. Let’s talk about the vendors and logistics first.

1. Your Wedding Planner

If you have a wedding planner, connect with her now. She will be able to handle all of the rescheduling, payment details, changes in vendors (if necessary) and be able to advise you on how to handle guest communication. If you do not have a wedding planner, follow the steps below to postpone your wedding. If you are feeling overwhelmed at tackling the postponement process yourself, connect with a local wedding planner for help.

2. Your Wedding Venue

Your wedding venue should be your first phone call when postponing your wedding. You will need to talk with them about changing the date and any financial restrictions for a date change.

Availability – When discussing postponing your wedding with your venue, you will want to inquire about dates that are available after the restrictions on gatherings are lifted. The Fall is the most popular season for weddings in San Diego, so most Saturdays in August, September, and October may already be booked. Consider holding your wedding on a Friday or Sunday for more options. When this social distancing period is over, your wedding guests will be so happy to celebrate with you, that the day of the week won’t matter at all! Ask your venue for a few date options so you can check them with your family, wedding party, and your wedding vendors.

Deposits and Payments – If your original wedding date is within the window of the CDC and/or local gathering restrictions, you should be able to move your wedding date without financial restrictions or losing your deposit. (We can’t guarantee this, but this has been our experience with the venues so far). If your original wedding date is not within the gathering restriction window, you may be charged a fee to change your date. If you choose to cancel your venue altogether, and your original wedding date is not within the gathering restriction window, you will most likely lose your deposit and possibly any other payments made so far. You will need to read your contract with the venue and talk with them to learn their policies during this time.

3. Your Wedding Vendors

Once you have some new options for your postponed wedding date, connect with your wedding vendors for their availability. You will want to check with your vendors who can only do one wedding at a time – your officiant, your DJ or band, and your photographer and videographer – before your other vendors. (Florists, bakeries, rental companies, transportation vendors usually manage more than one event per day, so they will have more flexibility with their availability) Hopefully, most of your vendors are available on the alternate dates provided by the venue. Many other couples are in the process of rescheduling their weddings at this time, so don’t get frustrated if one of your vendors is no longer available. Most wedding vendors will be willing to refer you to another vendor who matches your style, energy and budget if they aren’t able to make your new wedding date work.

The same information about deposits and payments listed above for venues applies to your wedding vendors. If you need to cancel your contract with a vendor because they are not available on the new date, you may lose your deposit. Read through the contract you signed and talk with that vendor. Much depends on how much work has already been done and if items have already been ordered for your wedding.

4. Your New Wedding Date

Once you find a new wedding date that works for your venue, your family, wedding party and most of your vendors, you will want to lock in that date! You will want to read and sign a contract amendment for your venue and each vendor with the new date, cancellation policies, and revised payment schedules (if necessary).

Once your venue and vendors are set, it’s time to let your guests know about your new wedding date. If you have already mailed your invitations, send an email with the new details as soon as possible. Then, you can either resend RSVP cards or set up a form on your wedding web site to collect new RSVP information.

If you have not yet mailed your invitations, send a quick change of date email or card (similar to your save the date information) and then get to work creating your invitations to reflect the new wedding date.

Also, note if you already received your marriage license from San Diego County, you will need to get a new license within 90 days of your new wedding date. The license for your original wedding date is only valid for 90 days.

5. Your Wedding Planning

Social distancing does not mean your wedding planning needs to stop. Lots of your wedding planning can be done online and through zoom calls and emails with your vendors. Florists and rental companies can create style sheets for your wedding. DJs and bands can create play lists and share videos. Officiants can help with your ceremony order and your vows. Photographers can create shot lists. Do as much virtual planning as you can during this time. Schedule your in-person meetings like tastings, fittings and engagement photo sessions now so that those dates are locked in when the social distancing restrictions are lifted.

6. Your Peace of Mind

Most importantly, take care of yourself and your family during this time. Your postponed wedding may not be exactly the same as you originally planned. But you will still marry your best friend and create a beautiful life together.

If you have any questions at all about postponing your wedding, we are available via email, text or phone. Stay safe, sane and kind.

Uncategorized

San Diego Wedding Party Expo Booth

July 23, 2019 Stephanie Rose Events

Stephanie Rose Events was selected to be an exhibitor at the San Diego Wedding Party Expo at one of our favorite downtown venues, the Intercontinental San Diego, earlier this month.

I wanted to create an inviting lounge area where couples could sit and relax and have their wedding planning questions answered. I also wanted the space to reflect our style – bold, fun, joyful, colorful with a bit of whimsy thrown in.

I found this amazing pink flamingo feather wallpaper mural on amazon and I knew I had to have it. I have a bit of a flamingo obsession (I have kitschy pink garden flamingos, but also gold ones who wear poinsettias for Christmas – flamingos are never out of season)

I visited my favorite vintage rental company, Folklore, to find the furniture. I fell in love with the marigold couch and selected the pink chair as its compliment. Then I just had to have the tassel chandeliers! They were too fun to pass up. A few tables and a bar cart to use as accent tables and I was set.

My dear friend, LaVonne from Adorations Botanical Artistry, provided the ah-mazing flowers. They were the perfect combination of pinks and yellows to match the booth decor and their texture added some casual fun and whimsy. She loves bold color as much as I do – I adore designing with her!

I then added framed photos of some of my favorite clients along with fun details like glitter sea stars, globes, and of course pink flamingos!

I enjoyed meeting all of the couples who stopped by and took photos and chatted. There was even a groom wearing a pink flamingo Hawaiian shirt! It was meant to be! We are already planning something fun and bold for the next show!

Thank you to Allison Davis Photography for the photos!

Stephanie Rose Events is San Diego’s most trusted, energetic and happy wedding planning team. We guarantee your wedding will be exactly as you envision with every detail executed perfectly. We work with exclusive vendors to create a guest experience that is unique to you. Do you want to stress over the details, or be a Stephanie Rose Events bride and be a guest at your own wedding? Schedule your free wedding planning consultation here. We can’t wait to meet you!

Uncategorized

Country Club Wedding Featured on Elizabeth Ann Designs

October 17, 2018October 17, 2018 Stephanie Rose Events

Check out our wedding featured on Elizabeth Ann Designs.

KJ and Kenny are two Midwesterners currently living in California, and when they became engaged, they knew that they wanted to marry in the groom’s hometown of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The classic Detroit Lakes Country Club was the perfect (albeit only!) choice for their outdoor ceremony and tented reception, which fused their North Dakota and Minnesota roots with elegant details, such as a fabulous floral arch by Natalie of Native Poppy that served as the backdrop for their vows. Using local greenery foraged from the Detroit Lakes area and over 2,500 blooms, Natalie created gorgeous arrangements and a cascading bridal bouquet that is simply heavenly! Fun details honoring their home states, such as die-cut state invitations and escort cards and a Fargo-friendly hashtag—#youBlattcha (youbetcha, get it?)—make this Midwest destination wedding a favorite! We are head over heels for the beautiful images from Abby Anderson!

Wedding Invitations in Gray and Gold

Minnesota Outdoor Wedding

White and Green Elegant Flower Arch

Minnesota Table Number

Wedding Reception in Pale Gray and Ivory

Vendors:
Styling and Planning: Stephanie Rose Events
Photography: Abby Anderson
Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel
Venue: Detroit Lakes Country Club
Flowers: Native Poppy
Stationery: Sweet Paper
Videography: Harvest Film Co.
Wedding Cake: Nichole’s Fine Pastry
Officiant: Away We Go Weddings
Catering: Spanky’s Stone Hearth
Band: The Covers

Stephanie Rose Events travels nationwide to create beautiful weddings for our clients. With experience planning weddings in San Diego, Palm Springs, Orange County, Minnesota, Seattle and abroad, your wedding will be exactly as you envision with every detail executed perfectly. We work with exclusive vendors to create a guest experience that is unique to you. Do you want to stress over the details, or be a Stephanie Rose Events bride and be a guest at your own wedding? Schedule your free wedding planning consultation here. We can’t wait to meet you!

Real Weddings, Uncategorized

The Thursday Club Wedding – Insider Tips

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 Stephanie Rose Events

San Diego wedding insiders know The Thursday Club is one of San Diego’s hidden gems. Located in a quiet Point Loma neighborhood, the wedding venue feels exclusive and special. To start, the sweeping Pacific Ocean views and the SUNSETS are ah-mazing! Your ceremony takes place in a lush garden with Spanish fountains, colorful blooms, and ocean breezes. Cocktail hour on the patio offers unequaled views of the ocean Thursday Club Wedding and San Diego sunsets. The reception is inside the historical building with floor-to-ceiling windows and original wood floors. The 90-year-old venue has loads of charm and detail as well as modern conveniences like air conditioning, market lights, and a cute bridal suite. The Thursday Club is one of our all-time favorite San Diego wedding venues.

If you select The Thursday Club for your wedding, you will want to note that tables and chairs are included in the venue rental. However, table linens and napkins are not – these will need to be rented from your caterer or a rental vendor. You can select any vendors you like for your Thursday Club wedding, except for caterers. The venue offers an ample list of approved caterers for you to use who can accommodate any style of meal you want. Parking is plentiful and free throughout the neighborhood. If you dream of a garden wedding with ocean views and historical charm, the Thursday Club is definitely the venue for you!

For more Thursday Club San Diego wedding tips, use the form below. We hate spam and pushy people so we won’t bombard you with stuff. Or if you prefer a consultation, you can use this form too – we always have chocolate and champagne to share!

Check out some of our favorite Thursday Club wedding clients:

Blue & White Travel Themed Wedding

Summer Garden Wedding

Stephanie Rose Events is one of San Diego’s most trusted, energetic and happy wedding planning teams. We guarantee your wedding will be exactly as you envision with every detail executed perfectly. We work with exclusive vendors to create a guest experience that is unique to you. Do you want to stress over the details, or be a Stephanie Rose Events bride and be a guest at your own wedding? Schedule your free wedding planning consultation here. We can’t wait to meet you!

Real Weddings

Timeless Golf Course Wedding

August 23, 2017 Stephanie Rose Events

Do you want to transform a golf course into a fairytale wedding venue, complete with white tent, custom wood floor, and flowers for days? Yep, we can do that. Check out this video by Harvest Film Co. of one of our recent weddings. We traveled to Detroit Lakes, MN to make the golf course wedding dream come true for this couple.

KENNY+KJ from Harvest Film Company on Vimeo.

Stephanie Rose Events is one of San Diego’s most trusted wedding planning teams. We guarantee your wedding will be exactly as you envision with every detail executed perfectly. We work with exclusive vendors to create a guest experience that is unique to you. Do you want to stress over the details, or be a Stephanie Rose Events bride and be a guest at your own wedding? Schedule your free wedding planning consultation here. We can’t wait to meet you!

Real Weddings, Uncategorized

How to Plan a San Diego Beach Wedding

April 7, 2017 Stephanie Rose Events

Do you imagine yourself walking barefoot through the sand, your bridal gown flowing in the breeze, to meet your love under a tropical bamboo arch covered in orchids? Can you picture your guests sitting under umbrellas as the sun sets and you say your vows? Beach weddings are ridiculously romantic. Coupled with San Diego’s perfect weather and 70 miles of coastline, a San Diego beach wedding is perfection.

Couples who come to us dreaming of a beach wedding, usually use words like simple, organic, relaxed, effortless, and romantic to describe their perfect day. But the dirty little secret about beach weddings is that they can be anything but simple! how to plan a San Diego beach wedding

First, beaches in San Diego and surrounding cities such as Coronado and Del Mar, are public. There are a handful of hotels and event venues right on the beach that do coordinate beach ceremonies, such as Hotel del Coronado, L’Auberge, La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, and the Bahia and Catamaran Hotels in Mission Beach. These are great options if you want to have your ceremony on the sand, followed by a more traditional venue for your reception. These venues will take care of any permitting issues, setting up your ceremony space with chairs, providing a sound system, and keeping your ceremony space as private as possible.

If a traditional beachfront venue is not what you had in mind, you will need to work with the city to obtain a permit for your beach wedding. For San Diego city beaches, call 619-235-1169. The number for the Coronado permit office is 619-522-7342. Some beaches such as Torrey Pines and Silver Strand are run by the State of California and also require permits. The number to State permit office is 619-688-3385. Some cities allow small ceremonies of under 24 guests without a permit, but all cities require permits to set chairs and decor on the beach. And permits are rarely granted on holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day.

Once you obtain your permit, you will be presented with a long list of regulations regarding glass (not allowed on the sand), alcohol (requires a special permit and security), noise (varies by city), and a variety of other issues. Make sure you understand all of the rules before you move forward with your beach wedding planning.

Some other things to consider for your San Diego beach wedding are:

Guest comfort and accessibility – You love the beach and the feeling of sand between your toes. But can grandma walk on the sand to get to the ceremony? Do you have any guests in wheelchairs or that have accessibility issues? Make sure to remind guests to wear shoes appropriate for the beach. Also, bring sunscreen and consider providing market umbrellas for shade.
Rentals – Hosting a wedding on the beach, like any other nontraditional venue, requires lots of coordination. First, you will need to rent everything – chairs, tables, linens, sound systems, a generator to provide power, lighting (if you will be at the beach after sunset), restrooms and possibly a tent. Most rental companies will charge an extra delivery fee for placing items on the sand.
Weather and tides – Be sure to consult tide schedules for the date and times of your wedding. Some San Diego beaches have extreme low and high tides, which will affect the amount of space you have and where you can set up on the beach. High tides can also deposit seaweed and kelp on the beach (which attract those annoying little sand gnats) so you may want to rake the area before you set-up your wedding. The beauty of the beach is its natural and raw nature. But this can also mean windy (sand in your eyes or your drink) and hot or cold temperatures depending on the time of year you are getting married. Have a backup plan in case of uncooperative weather. Yes, you still need a weather plan even in San Diego!
Wind – Plan for wind. Ocean breezes are a daily occurrence. Sometimes the wind is gentle and does not cause any issues. But have a backup plan in case of stronger winds for place cards, programs, signs, and any ceremony decor that could blow away.

Beach weddings are our favorites, and couples come to San Diego from all over the world for a romantic wedding on the sand. Consider hiring a wedding planner with experience planning beach weddings to ensure your wedding is relaxed and romantic. For more San Diego beach wedding tips, sign-up using the form below. We hate spam and pushy people, so we won’t bombard you with stuff. Or if you prefer a consultation, you can use this form too – we always have chocolate and champagne to share!

Uncategorized

Engaged? Do this FIRST!

March 28, 2017April 5, 2017 Stephanie Rose Events

Congratulations, you’re engaged! Before you look at venues, try on a dress or even look at Pinterest, there is one task you absolutely need to do first. Stop all of your wedding planning. Don’t do another thing. The one, and only thing, you need to do right now is set your wedding budget. I know, it’s not very sexy, but trust me, it is everything in your wedding planning. How to set a wedding budget

Did you know that couples like you underestimate the cost of their wedding by 40 percent? 40 percent! Having a true understanding of what things cost and setting a reasonable budget, will save you from overspending and fighting about money being spent. I see it all the time. Taking the time to do your budget first, is the smartest way to happy wedding planning.

So, how do you set your wedding budget? I want you to think of a concrete amount of money that you will not consider going over. What is your breaking point? Is it $15,000? $40,000? $102,350? Every couple’s financial circumstances are different. Pick the number that is comfortable to you. That’s it. Then, you fit the wedding plans to your budget, not the other way around.

Once your budget is set, then you allocate it. In general, wedding budgets are broken out like this:

50% venue, food, cake, beverages
10% photography, videography
10% entertainment
10% flowers, decor, rentals
20% attire, transportation, stationary, favors/gifts, planner

There are no hard rules to wedding budgeting though, so if you have always dreamed of being married under a ceiling of orchids, then you would allocate more money to your flowers and decor and take that extra percentage from another category. The trick is to take any extra money needed for one category from another, so you don’t go over your total budget. Make sense? I promise if you set your budget first, your wedding planning will be much easier.

Want more San Diego wedding planning tips? Just send us a quick hello using the form below. Prefer a consultation? We always have chocolate and champagne to share!

Real Weddings, Uncategorized

Robert Paine Scripps Seaside Forum Wedding – What You Need To Know

March 7, 2017April 5, 2017 Stephanie Rose Events

If you have always dreamt of a private, oceanfront wedding in San Diego, you have to see the Robert Paine Scripps Seaside Forum. This location offers sweeping ocean views, an outdoor ceremony lawn, easy beach access, a spacious indoor reception area, and a catering-friendly kitchen. Plus its La Jolla location is close to hotels for an easy guest commute. The reception building is modern and bright with lots of wood and glass. It can be transformed into a variety of styles to match your wedding personality. This is an extremely popular wedding venue – here are some of the reasons why:

The oceanfront views
Easy beach access
Fits a variety of styles/decor
Select your own caterer
Provide your own alcohol/beverages
Close proximity to hotels
Private rooms for getting ready
Attractive facility rental price

If you are considering the Robert Paine Scripps Seaside Forum for your wedding, here are a few insider tips to avoid any surprises:

The parking is awful. There is a small parking lot open to the public for beach access on the weekends. You can (and should) reserve the parking spaces for your event at an additional cost. We also recommend either providing a guest shuttle from a local hotel or hiring a valet service, so your guests don’t have to deal with parking.
Tables, chairs and other rentals are not included in the facility rental cost. Even though the cost to rent the forum is attractive, keep in mind you are only renting the space. This means that you will need to rent chairs, tables, linens, napkins, plates, silverware, glassware, etc from a rental vendor or from your caterer. When calculating your wedding budget, you will want to add those additional rental charges into your total for an accurate cost.
Draping and lighting are extras. The Robert Paine Scripps Seaside Forum was designed as an educational forum. Most of the photos you see on pinterest show the back wall draped to hide the second story theater seats. Draping the back wall is gorgeous and softens the look of the room – however, this is an extra cost from an outside vendor. The same is true for the market lighting under the patio for cocktail hour and over the ceremony lawn.
Even though you can provide your own alcohol, you are required to use the Forum’s exclusive vendor for bartending. They provide amazing service – you will be happy – but at an additional vendor cost. A quick note on providing your own alcohol – ensure you have someone assigned to deliver the alcohol to the forum on your wedding day. An average 100 guest wedding will require 50 bottles of wine, 150 beers and enough liquor to make 100 cocktails, plus waters, sodas and any garnishes – it can be a labor-intensive job to deliver that amount to the venue.
Plan for wind. Ocean breezes are a daily occurrence at the venue. Most of the time, the wind is gentle and does not cause any issues. But have a backup plan in case of stronger winds for place cards, programs, signs, and any ceremony decor that could blow away.

The Robert Paine Scripps Seaside Forum is an ideal wedding venue for your beachfront San Diego wedding. It is a one-of-a-kind venue that will awe your guests and provide a stunning backdrop for your ceremony. There will be several vendors to coordinate for your wedding day, so we recommend having a professional planner on your vendor team to ensure every detail is perfect. Want more planning tips for your Scripps Seaside Forum wedding? Say hi using the form below and receive even more planning tips from Stephanie Rose Events.