The Abbey Blog

About Us

Testimonials to The Abbey

On Wednesday, April 11, The Abbey Catering had the distinct honor of catering a luncheon for the wonderful ladies of the Social Service League of La Jolla, an organization that owns and uses a beautiful venue known as The Darlington House as a revenue source to fund programs and affordable housing for those who have lived and worked in the San Diego area and who cannot otherwise afford decent housing after retirement.

The “ladies who lunch” enjoyed an afternoon of full-service catering and a rare chance of dining within the house itself, starting with glasses of champagne upon arrival and The Abbey Catering’s signature salad of mixed greens with caramelized walnuts, dried cranberries, feta cheese and our homemade raspberry vinaigrette. The ladies were then treated with a plated lunch of our Chianti-braised shorts ribs with home-style mashed potatoes and seasoned broccoli. If that was not enough, the luncheon ended with a deliciously-sweet pineapple strudel and coffee service.

Thank you for a wonderful afternoon ladies! It was an absolute delight to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones and we look forward to our next event together! We greatly appreciate our partnership with the Darlington House and enjoy the many years we’ve been working together. We are honored to be considered of their preferred caterers.

No Comments |

Most engaged couples know the most popular outdoor venue for a wedding ceremony in all of Southern California is the Cuvier Park, lovingly called the “Wedding Bowl”. But many are discovering the charming and personal service of the Scripps Inn directly across the street. Awarded Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Winner, “Top 50 Small Hotels in the U.S.”, the Scripps Inn offers a 14 room inn nestled along the shores of Southern California’s sandy white beaches. A favorite hideaway for relaxation and romance, Scripps Inn provides stunning ocean views, gentle sea breezes and the relaxing sounds of the rolling surf. Located in the heart of La Jolla, Scripps Inn is also within walking distance of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Windansea Beach and plenty of unique shops. And Scripps Inn is located just 15 minutes north of downtown San Diego. Idea for a “wedding party take-over”, you can choose from one of five room types and relax amidst the Mediterranean décor. Whether you’re looking for an oceanfront suite or something cozier, Scripps Inn has the perfect offering for every wedding guest: 

 

• Ocean-view King, featuring king bed, partial ocean view
• Deluxe Junior Suites, with full ocean view, king bed, with wood burning fireplace
• Two Bedroom Suites, with full ocean view with balcony or lanai deck, separate parlor, queen beds, kitchen and dining area
• Garden Suite, with private courtyard entrance, king bed with kitchen
• Vista Ocean Suite, featuring a spectacular La Jolla Cove view, full parlor with ocean view bay windows, private balcony, kitchen

To learn more about Scripps Inn and other wedding-friendly hotel venues in La Jolla, give me a call at 866-535-8949 x731.
Cheers!

 

 

No Comments |

Don’t let the name of this place fool you:  hailing as a “contemporary art museum for families,” let your inner child and imagination run wild when planning your next event and host it at the contemporary New Children’s Museum in Downtown San Diego.  Although the venue may have the word “children” attached to it, it’s sharp and modern architecture,  hands-on exhibits for all ages, and the venue’s unique characteristics really lends itself to any type of reception, be it a corporate function or an elegant wedding.

I was completely blown away by NCM’s current exhibition, “Trash,” comprised of amazing and thought-provoking pieces from 12 artists, like the fully-functional rock wall made from recycled cardboard and plastic.  And I really appreciate the exhibition’s mission to change how we see trash, by challenging us to ask more questions and changing our perspective on the subject and how to address issues surrounding it.  As the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.
The museum has three levels of interactive event space, with a total capacity of up to 1,000 guests for a standing reception and up to 620 guests for a seated dinner.  For more intimate affairs, the main level can be broken into sections so guests don’t feel too far apart.  Unique photo opportunities are endless in this venue, with most of the exhibits and rooms serving as perfect photo backdrops.  You can also hire an in-house chalk artist to create some art on the museum’s huge box-like chalkboard, like an elaborate image for a photo backdrop or something as simple as a logo and seating chart.

Two patios can serve as an outdoor cocktail reception or even wedding ceremony site.  For those that want a little more green, a small park across the street can also be permitted for a ceremony.

For more information, contact any of The Abbey Catering’s Event Consultants at (888) 238-0949.

Schedule a walk-through with us today

 

No Comments |

For the ultimate beachfront wedding, look no further than The Powerhouse Community Center on Coast Boulevard in Del Mar.  This venue can host a wedding or event of up to 120 seated guests, with Del Mar Beach as your backdrop and an indoor reception to keep the party strong.

You could begin your wedding or event with a ceremony and cocktail reception to follow on the West Patio with picturesque Del Mar Beach as the scenic panoramic backdrop.  After you and your guests have taken in what nature has to offer, move into the main and upstairs floor space of The Powerhouse for a seated dinner of up to 120 guests.  Guests can also be seated in the covered patio, weather permitting.  After dinner, stay inside to dance to the music played by a DJ or small band while enjoying the company of your guests.

After a bit of entertainment, escape to the upstairs deck for some fresh ocean air and look upon the shoreline through one of the venue’s coin-operated telescopes or step off the property and onto the sand for a leisurely nighttime stroll.

Parking can be a bit tough in this area, since the venue is on the beach and nestled between Seagrove Park and fine dining restaurants.  However street parking and private parking lots are available.  This much sought-after venue books out well in advance, with events beginning as early as noon and ending no later than 10pm.

Rental fees are done by the hour or purchased as an all-day event and vary depending on the day of the week and month, but a 3 hour minimum is required to secure your date.  The venue includes the complimentary use of 60” round guest tables, 120 white padded folding chairs, as well as some additional banquet tables, which is a great bonus and savings.  For availability and more information call us at ( 888) 238-0949 at extension 2.

How often do you get the ocean as your backdrop?  This is your chance and we can reserve a date with you…

No Comments |

Are you a sports enthusiast? Do you appreciate San Diego’s rich sports history? Are you searching for the perfect venue to host your next corporate event? Then look no further than the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum in the beautiful Balboa Park. Boasting over 68,000 square feet of banquet, reception and meeting space, the Hall of Champions is perfect for your next event destination.

The Hall of Champions has three levels, each befitting for events of different sizes and directions. The lower level has a theater complete with audio and visual capabilities, as well as a gallery for a seated reception of up to 350 guests. The main level, with 30’ ceilings, two large video screens and a decorative sail, can accommodate 400 guests for a seated reception or 500 guests for theater-style seating. If your event or meeting is smaller in scale an ideal space can be the San Diego Sports Commission Boardroom or the Walter Zable Banquet Room & Terrace in the upper level of the museum. The Boardroom has a U-shaped table for 40 guests, as well as a drop down video screen, dry erase board, and attached catering preparation area. The adjacent Walter Zable Banquet Room & Terrace has room for a seated reception of 120 guests and the outside terrace has a capacity of 60 guests.

All venue rentals include tables and chairs, a PA system, house lighting, as well as a free two hour setup and one hour tear down. Parking is abundant in Balboa Park and there are three adjacent lots next to the museum.
For more information and to schedule a visit, you can make an appointment by contacting their Events Department at (619) 699-2309.

If you enjoy what this amazing venue has to offer give us a call and we can give you even further details or share information about similar venues available that can meet your needs…

No Comments |

At your next event, why not sip on a specialty cocktail while admiring an exhibition of rare and precious gems?  Or enjoy a bevy of gourmet hors d’oeuvres next to a giant megalodon shark that hales from the San Diego region?  You can experience this and all the natural history our region of Southern California has to offer at the majestic San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.

The Sefton Grand Atrium in the museum is a sharp and modern space with a four-story translucent ceiling perfect for a wedding of 275 guests for a seated dinner, or a corporate cocktail reception of 500.  Curious guests can explore the numerous exhibitions and galleries, including the museum’s permanent Fossil Mysteries wing.  Here you can examine fossils found by the Museum’s paleontologists and discover what plants and animals looked like from 75 million to 10,000 years ago in the Southern California and Baja California region.

For those looking to move their party outdoors, take advantage of San Diego’s year-round beautiful weather on the El Mirador Rooftop Terrace, the only one of its kind in Balboa Park.  It has superb views of Balboa Park, downtown, and the San Diego Bay.  The space can accommodate 100 for a seated dinner, up to 200 guests for a reception, or 190 for a ceremony.

Rental fees are charged by the hour and vary depending on areas of the museum you would like to reserve, but a 4 hour minimum is required to secure your date.  The venue does not include any rentals, but The Abbey Catering can take care of those needs for you.  For more information and to schedule a venue visit, please contact our specialist at (888) 238-0949 ext. #2.

How many venues have you visited that you like?  Join us on a venue visit and get a personal walk through with someone that knows…

No Comments |

San Diego is known as America’s finest city and owes that nickname to the warm sun and the beautiful sandy beaches, the pleasing temperature and ocean cooled breezes.  So when planning your next event, you can combine all of the remarkable qualities of San Diego with the historical and quaint bayside venue, The Mission Beach Woman’s Club.

The main banquet room of The Mission Beach Woman’s Club is perfect for anything from casual to formal affairs, perfect for up to 110 seated guests or for a standing reception, 150 guests.  The adjacent stage has a built-in projector screen for those that may wish to use the venue for a business meeting. This can also be the perfect place for a DJ or live band to perform on your wedding day.  Wedding ceremonies can be conducted on the bayside patio or for a small fee, paid to Mission Bay Park, performed on the sand and in front of the bay.

The bayside patio can also seat an additional 24 guests. There are eight dedicated parking spots in front of the venue, also free parking lots and street parking all around. Since the venue is located among a residential neighborhood, all events must end by 10 pm; but there’s still enough time to enjoy yourselves.

Although prices are subject to change, Saturday rental rates at The Mission Beach Woman’s Club includes 6 hours of event time, setup time, and time to breakdown. The price for a full day rental from Sunday to Friday is constant its less often used and more often free, just be careful to book ahead if you’re looking for an available Saturday.

Since we are on the subject of price, we are pleased to announce, for a limited time only, to the next five clients, who view and comment on the Mission Beach Woman’s Club, and who purchase a seven-option, all-inclusive wedding package for 100 guests or more, a complimentary rental of the Mission Beach Woman’s Club from us at The Abbey Catering.

We should also let you know, the venue includes the use of twelve 60” round tables which allow all guests to converse with ease, seven 6’ banquet tables, 110 chairs and a smaller table perfect for couples. I have to say, all an amazing savings in rental costs!

For availability and more information call us at ( 888) 238-0949.  You can also visit their website, check out their Facebook page or simply look below for a plethora of event photos.

 

Find out how you can receive this special giveaway, click here!…

 

2 Comments |

Take a moment and picture this:  Exchanging vows with your loved one under a canopy of twinkling lights, being photographed at lush trails and ponds or in the streets of Spanish Colonial architecture then celebrating your union with family and friends among works from some of the greatest photographers in history.   Too good to be true?  This is what to expect and more, when you host your wedding at The Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park.

The Joan & Irwin Jacobs Theater inside the museum accommodates a range of events, from the typical film screenings to wedding ceremonies.  Entertain your guests with a home movie or personal slideshow on the large screen while they filter into the 226 person theater.  Once guests are seated under the soft glow of incandescent twinkle lights from the ceiling. The main stage can be the perfect setting for your wedding ceremony. After your ceremony, guests can take a short stroll across from the museum and enjoy the beauty of Balboa Park during the cocktail hour by the Reflection Pond.

Return to the museum and into The David C. Copley Atrium for your next stop during your wedding extravaganza,. The David C. Copley Atrium possesses a minimalist style, high ceilings, and white walls; a blank canvas for you to create the perfect backdrop to your blissful celebration.  The Atrium can comfortably seat 140 guests with a dance floor, and the option for 250 guests for a standing reception.  The Exhibition Galleries, open throughout your event, offers a rare chance for your guests to privately view the museum’s impressive works of art, including pieces from famous photographers like Ansel Adams, Dorthea Lange, and Edward Weston, with new exhibitions travelling through three times a year.

Although prices are subject to change, rental fees on a Saturday for the Theater, Atrium, and Galleries is $3350, and the costs are lower if you choose a different day of the week or forego the Theater as a part of your rental.  The fees also include the complimentary use of 60″ round guest tables and chairs as well as a 1-year membership for two to the museum, which is a great bonus and savings.  For more information and to schedule a visit, contact our specialist at (888) 238-0949 ext. 2 or visit their website.

Tell us your ideas, share with us and we will share even more ideas with you, the two of us will make a great team…..

No Comments |

The Thursday Club is a boutique venue nestled among grand homes above Sunset Cliffs in picturesque Point Loma.  Once you lay your eyes on this gorgeous property you will want to host your next wedding or event here any day of the week.

The panoramic ocean view from their beautifully manicured garden is the perfect location for a ceremony and can hold 100 seated guests.  You can also host an outdoor reception here, and if you want to rent the garden space only, the rental fee is $500 for one hour.

The main banquet hall, equipped with a small stage, can accommodate an event for up to 175 seated guests and 300 standing.  When you want to take a break from all of the festivities, you can escape to a sitting room adjacent to the banquet hall, or one of several outdoor patios and take in the breathtaking scenery.

Since the venue is located among a residential neighborhood, all events must end by 9pm.  And although the venue supplies tables and chairs, it may be wise to rent larger 60” round tables in order to seat more guests comfortably. Parking is relegated to streets in the neighborhood, but space is aplenty.  Brides will be pleased to know a bridal suite with a small private patio is available.

Although fees are subject to change, rental rates for a Friday thru Sunday are $2500 and $1500 for a Monday thru Thursday.  This grants you 6 hours of rental time, which includes setup and breakdown.  If you want to secure the venue for more time, additional hours are only $100 each.  For more information, visit their website or call the Resident Managers at (619) 224-5264.  Office hours are Wednesday thru Sunday from 9am-5pm.

Take a venue tour today or visit on your own but remember help is always just a phone call away….

No Comments |

The Soledad Club is a charming wedding venue located across from the famous Kate O. Sessions Memorial Park. The Soledad Club is able to seat up to 225 guests, comes with a complete stage, and holds breathtaking views of Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

The large outdoor deck surrounding The Soledad Club is ideal for snapping perfect wedding photos the beautiful San Diego stationed as your back drop.  The lower-level property works great for large cocktail receptions and has a conformed arch that displays an effortless frame for ceremony space.  Fifty free private parking spots are available for use on site while extra street parking is found on Soledad Road.

Rental rates vary depending on time of year, but begin around $1895.00.  However, rates can be less if you decide to secure your wedding on a day other than Saturday.  The Soledad Club is located on 5050 Soledad Road.  For more information, visit their website or contact our Soledad Club expert at (888) 238 – 0949 ext. #2

The Soledad Club is a preferred venue at The Abbey Catering and we would love to have the opportunity to combine our best effort in conjunction with this beautiful venue to create an awe inspired experience at your next event.

Need more venue ideas?  We have many and if you need a caterer,  it would be our pleasure…..

No Comments |