Newlyweds Illiana and Frank tied the knot right beside the beautiful sea front in InterContinental of San Diego. Their best friend blessed them on their way while there sons stood next to the lovely couple. Leia Brune from Bliss Events planned a perfect event renting from Concepts Events and Cedar+Pines Event Rentals.
After this gorgeous ceremony, it was DJ Earl‘s time to keep the celebration going! Using a list of songs from the bride and groom and his experience, he was certainly ready to do so! With a little mood lighting from MyDJ’s services, the reception had a breathtaking ambience. The bride and groom danced beautifully to their song, “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Ray Charles, in front of their monogram cascading on the dance floor. Taylor Films recorded the whole event making sure to catch the smiles of the speeches and the joy of the bride and groom. “At Last” by Etta Jame played while the couple cut their stunning cake. After dinner, it was time for all the guests to dance the rest of the night away. Dawn Steele from Gaslamp Floral provided the bride a elegant bouquet to toss to the single ladies during the song “No Scrubs” by TLC. Photographer Tim Otto captured the night perfectly, shooting memories that would last a lifetime for the couple and friends. Ending the night with “Last Dance” by Donna Summers, the couple danced their way into the rest of their lives together.
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Vargas!
Newlyweds Jenn and Ryan said “I DO” at Port Pavilion at Broadway Pier, Ca. This space provided the perfect sun-lit ambience to match their Champagne and white themed colors. White Truss and LED Market lights hanging from above with an array of breathtaking views fitting perfectly to the elegant yet Semi formal wedding theme. Catering was provided by Ranch Events and with many options guests were smiling from ear to ear.
Using a list that the couple provided and songs of his own, DJ Israel Florence kept the guests dancing all night long to their favorite songs like, “Don’t Stop Believin-“I got a feeling” to close the night. As the sun set, the bride and groom participated in fun events such as traditional dances and special event dances. DJ Israel Florence played the iconic song “Have I Told You Lately,” as the Bride and her father shared their dance. Photographer Ashley Gabrielson captured memories to last a lifetime and her fun photography style made the couple and guests shine. With MyDjs, Sheila and all the other helping hands, this wedding turned out to be a truly spectacular event that will forever be the beginning of a lifetime in everlasting love. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
The Port of San Diego spent $28 million on the new cruise ship terminal on Broadway Pier. But with the decline in cruise activity, the downtown terminal sits vacant much of the time. But KPBS Metro reporter Katie Orr says the building is still getting some use.
San Diego’s Port Pavilion has been open for about a year. It’s designed for cruise ships. Its opening coincided, however, with a fall-off in cruise-ship visits here; drug-war violence in Mexico and a down economy are to blame.
But the new pavilion may have found its calling with something else.
With views of both San Diego’s bay and skyline, the pavilion has caught on as an events center.
In the last year more than 40 events have taken place at the center, bringing in more than $240,000 in revenue. The Port’s Rita Vandergaw said that’s happened without a formal marketing campaign.
“It has really exceeded our expectations,” she said. “We really didn’t know what kind of activity would be in the building and how many people would be interested in it.”
“If you want to have a wedding, you want to have a bar mitzvah, you want to have an anniversary, you just want to have a celebration, this is place where you can come and enjoy the bay,”
Officials said the port has spent about $229,000 this year on maintenance for the pavilion and the pier it sits on. And event planners requiring security must pay for it themselves.
Vandergaw said the Port has 18 parks around the bay and that the pavilion provides another option.
“This is an amenity that we don’t have on the bay. We do not have a facility, a building,” she said. “When people have a wedding they’d like to have it in a covered facility.”
Vandergaw said event revenue brings in about $10 thousand a day when the pavilion is rented out. But she acknowledges that does not make-up for the decline in cruise-ship activity, which brings in about $30 thousand a day when a ship is docked.
With a poor economy and continued drug-war violence in Mexico, cruise lines don’t figure to expand service in San Diego anytime soon. It may be time to start marketing the harbor-side pavilion to party planners.
Photo by:
Ashley Gabrielson
