Weddings at the City Club Whinston & Kim 4.03.09

One of the things that I love about weddings and particularly about the wedding venue is how every couple makes it their own. Each couple selects the venue that they feel is perfect for their day and if you ask they reasons that they find it so well fitted the answers run the gamut. Whether it be the location, the food, the atmosphere and decor or some combination of it all, eventually the decision is made. Chances are, other people have also been married in the same location so personalizing the venue to reflect you as a couple and your journey to that day becomes the next step!

Julie and Adam did such a wonderful job doing this and I think that was one of the main reasons that I’m still hearing compliments about this particular event. From the first conversation that I had with them I could tell that they were true adventurers always looking for their next destination. They happened to become engaged on a trip to Morocco and had decided to work this into the wedding day. It was really important to the couple that who they were as individuals and a couple shone through and that their guests had a wedding experience as unique as their relationship.

A Moroccan themed print (picked out on the trip) was present from the Wedding Invitations, to the Ceremony Programs all the way to the Cake made by Carolyn Wong. They customized a masterfully prepared menu by Executive Chef Michael Munoz, including Seasoned Veggie Skewers, Panzanella Bread Salad and Moroccan spiced Tri-Tip, all served family style. A photo-booth provided by Photoboof, Henna Artist from Henna Gardens and jeweled trinket boxes for place cards all helped to complete the theme. With San Francisco street names as table numbers and a personalized song about their life, there was no doubt where this couple was from, where they’ve been and where they are going! Congratulations to Julie and Kim on beautiful day!

All Photos by Traci Griffin
To see a slideshow of the day, click here

-Cassie Harris, Sales & Catering Manager

A Decadent Affaire

As we all face challenges with the economy everyone is being creative with their budgets. Planning a wonderful event is just a few innovative ideas away. Earlier this year I shared Carmen and Jim’s budget friendly afternoon event. At the City Club’s 2nd Tuesday Open House last month another couple shared another great idea with me. They are looking to host an afternoon dessert and drinks reception. I’m talking about a delightful, delicious, decadent dessert display (sorry, I couldn’t help myself).

The timing for this kind of event is highly important. You don’t want anyone to show up thinking they will be having a big meal. Strategically placing the event between lunch and dinner is the way to go. The couple is planning on inviting their guests to a ceremony starting around 1 or 1:30 giving their guests plenty of time to grab lunch before they head over. After the Ceremony in the Main Dining Room, the guests will then be invited to Café for the party, where they will be greeted with Champagne, Cocktails and a variety of non-alcoholic, refreshing beverages. And don’t forget the dessert, cookies, fruit tarts, petite fours, an ice cream bar and much much more. The event is slated to finish around5 or 6 giving their guests to go and grab dinner or head out into the City for a post wedding celebration.

The best thing for the couple, aside from looking fabulously creative and unique, is that their guests will get to sample a wonderful array of treats (something you don’t get to do every day), and the couple doesn’t have to compromise on all of the wedding traditions; toasts, slideshow, cake cutting and first dance.

-Cassie Harris, Sales & Catering Manager

Second Tuesdays Does it Again! Another Home Run!

February’s Second Tuesdays turned to be another hit for many of our lucky brides and grooms who visited their Catering Managers for a tour, champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Chef Michael Munoz prepared tow of his favorites – a refreshing tuna tartare offered on a light crisp and his truffled croque monsieur – often the groom’s favorite!

Our Vendor Spotlight was a true treat! We had Artists in Music, Classic Party Rentals, Under the Chuppah, Butterfly Cakes and La Tavola Linens. Having such a great group of industry professionals available to our guests, I noticed that our visiting couples were really able to get important one-on-one advise, coaching and inspiration.

Not only were guests able to taste (in my opinion) The Best Red Velvet Cake around by Sonya Hong’s Butterfly Cakes, but they were also able to look at her light-hearted and elegant designs to see how her cakes are a perfect fit for an impeccable wedding indulgence.

Once the cake was selected, we introduced our guests to Classic Party Rental’s Gwen Ortiz who was standing by to give that creative inspiration and advise on how you can serve your cakes on a whimsical plate, or bring a pop of color and originality to your wedding day décor!

Peter Rudolfi of Artists in Music, mingled through The 10th Floor Café discussing different musical options for any musical flavor and budget. Even a bride and groom who thought they had found the perfect band listened to Peter’s careful advise on how to select a band that you can really trust to bring tapping toes and big smiles to you and your guests for the big celebration.

Carol Attia, the Bay Area’s leading Chuppah designer showed guests her elegant and colorful pictures of Chuppahs she has done for weddings at The City Club and throughout San Francisco’s top venues.

And to add a final pop of fun to our space, La Tavola Linens brought us edgy and elegant linens that offered tantalizing textures and crisp colors!! It’s amazing what fun linens will do to a room! The new Company has colorful books filled with all of their newest and latest linen options.

Definitely ask your City Club Catering Manager to connect you with any of our visiting Second Tuesdays Spotlight guests to make your wedding day exciting & different from any other wedding you’ve ever been to!

March 10th is our next Second Tuesday Open House. Please mark your calendar and contact your Catering Manager to schedule an appointment or let her know that you’ll be visiting with your friends, family or vendors for a planning session. We’ll have another great group pf Spotlight Guests to introduce you to. Stacey Miller Designs, Denon & Doyle, Lisa Huffman Hair Designs and Under the Chuppah will be available to give you their one-on-one time to talk with you about your wedding day.

See you on March 10th!

-Alison Bianchetti, Catering & Sales Manager

Weddings at the City Club De La Cruz & Oshima, 1.3.09

In our budget conscious economy, finding ways to stretch your dollar a little further is the key to planning a successful wedding. One of the best options to bring prices down is to consider moving your celebration to what are considered “off” times. Since Saturday evenings are the most desirable dates and times they are also the most costly. Why not consider hosting your event on a Friday or Sunday evening, where rental and vendor fees are sure to be lower? Or, do as Jim and Carmen did, and host your Wedding on a Saturday or Sunday Afternoon! They chose Saturday, January 3rd in the afternoon and it was truly a wonderful event.

Compared to the evening events, I felt like to focus of the afternoon was really on the couple and on the marriage. The ambiance was mellow and open and the Club had a fresh, bright feeling. On the budgetary side of things, for “lunch” they hosted a variety of different heavy appetizer stations including an Asian Station with Dim Sum as well as a Prime Rib and Salmon Carving Station along with a variety of passed hors d’ oeuvres. This option got them away for the per person full meal price but still offered enough food for their guests to enjoy a hearty afternoon nosh. They also saved on the beverage bill by choosing to host a variety of non-alcoholic beverages along with wine and beer.

A couple of other great ideas from this couple…
1) Higher a great coordinator, wait you are thinking, that costs money, but not when it’s Jessica Goldblatt with Dreams on a Dime, who specializes in working with budget conscious events.

2) Rather than the traditional tiered wedding cake, the couple purchased a sheet cake from Tartin and had them cut it down into smaller pieces. The smaller peices were then frosted on all sides and once strategically displayed it had the same great effect!

3) They used their family as a great resource for assistance. Cousins and other family members were responsible for floral, folding origami votive boxes and other décor.

I hope you will away at least one money saving tip from this couple that did it right! They had a wonderful wedding surrounded by friends and family and did it without breaking the bank.

Happy Planning!!

-Cassie Harris, Sales & Catering Manager

Second Tuesdays Takes On a New Flavor!

Each Second Tuesday of the month, our fabulous Catering Team opens our doors to you for a special intimate Open House. Our purpose is to give you an opportunity to really feel the level of hospitality and warmth that we are so proud to extend here at The City Club. It also gives us an opportunity to show our guests how The Club transitions from day into evening.

Since we’ve had such a great response from our visiting brides, grooms and guests regarding how helpful Second Tuesdays are for planning and visual purposes, we have decided to invite our favorite vendors to come in for a monthly stoplight.

From now on, we’ll have at least one special Spotlight guest for you to meet whom we feel is someone you should know about for your big day! Whether the Spotlight is a photographer, DJ, or wedding cake designer, you can be assured that we have carefully hand selected them based on great experience, reputation and product.

This month our Second Tuesday Spotlight was Krista Markell of Sugarcoat It Studio. Her sweetly sophisticated cakes look as though they are freshly baked from your favorite letter-press stationary boutique! Her designs are elegant and graceful of course with a pop of fun! But looks aren’t everything… Once you taste her rich flavors – you’ll know that her cakes aren’t only beautiful on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that’s sure to have you hooked!!

Also, Classic Party Rentals styled out a beautifully decorated sample wedding table that definitely sparked a creative chord for many of our guests. As a great partner of The City Club, Classic’s resources are a great way to bring a festive glow to your wedding or special event. They have beautiful linens, chargers, napkins, chairs and beyond. Just ask your City Club Catering Manager to help with your selections to bring a polished charm to your table décor.

February 10th is our next Second Tuesday, and is sure to be a blast! We’ve got a great group of people coming in to Spotlight!!

You’ll be able to meet Peter Rudolfi of Artists in Music for your musical needs; whether you want a full band, string quartet, or a single classical guitar – he’s got it!

Carol Attia will be here from Under the Chuppah, helping you bring a personal touch to your traditional ceremonial chuppah.

Classic Party Rentals will have a great imaginative table set to help you get your ideas for your own décor flowing.

And, La Tavola Linens will be here to show you that adding a little pop to your linens is fun, easy and a sure way to impress your guests!!

If you would like to check on future Second Tuesdays dates, definitely check out your local news stand for San Francisco Brides Magazine! We're listed throughout the Summer/ Spring 2009 issue, and you'll find endless helpful hints about planning your luxurious City Club Wedding!

See you here on the 10th!
-Alison Bianchetti, Catering & Sales Manager