Darcy and JJ's Favorites
John Lauren Photography
In addition to being able to work together, the other thing husband-wife photographers John and Lauren Manalili also love about their jobs is being able to capture the first time the bride and groom see each other on their wedding day. “Whether it’s as the bride is walking down the aisle or before the ceremony when we pull them away from all the craziness of the day to see each other for the first time, those special moments define why we love doing what we do,” John says.
Like many brides and grooms, John and Lauren were at first opposed to seeing each other before their wedding ceremony. But they relented, and to this day, they are still appreciative of having had that moment and advise their clients to do the same. “With all the craziness that goes on after the ceremony and even during the reception, sometimes those “alone time” moments are hard to come by,” John says. weddings@johnlauren.com.
Crown Point Catering
Having celebrated their 25th anniversary last year, the staff at Crown Point Catering certainly knows how to feed a crowd. For Darcy and JJ’s desert wedding, they used the dramatic landscape as their backdrop and inspiration for a fun, unpretentious menu of regional flavors and comfort food. They cooked all the items on site, entertained guests with an exhibition grill and made corn and flour tortillas from scratch.
“The entire wedding day from beginning to end is a reflection of the bride and groom and their respective families,” says Lori Hastings, executive sales and event planner for the firm. “Tastes are very personal and the most memorable weddings are had when the bride and groom have communicated precisely the ‘feel’ they want in all aspects of the day. With food, for instance, the popularity of the Food Network has made it easy for couples to name a celebrity chef that inspires them—say the Barefoot Contessa, Bobby Flay, etc.—and their caterer will readily know what to do for a menu. We’ve also had clients request old family recipes, which makes for a memory-filled menu.” 619.223.1211, crownpointcatering.com
Rachel Peniche, Plan It San Diego
“I loved working with Darcy and JJ,” says wedding planner Rachel Peniche, principal of Plan It San Diego. “Since they didn’t have a lot of time they were very decisive and didn’t sweat the small stuff. They are a great couple who are close to their families and friends, which was apparent throughout the planning process. I was really moved by their spirituality and zest for life! The best part of planning their wedding was getting to work with such a unique landscape. The desert had its challenges but was also so amazingly beautiful!”
Stemming from a family who loves to celebrate, Rachel is a natural at entertaining. She founded her company eight years ago and has since given the same sound advice to brides and grooms: “The key is communication and compromise,” she says. “I recommend sitting down together to talk about the wedding before discussing with your family or meeting with wedding coordinators. Discuss the size, formality, how involved the families will be in the planning process, and how traditional the wedding will be. For instance, will the bride and groom see each other and take photos before the ceremony? Discussing these items beforehand will help the process be less stressful and will create what I call the planning partnership.” 858.449.8060, planitsandiego.com.
