LCQ Musician Blog

Creepy ghouls and goblins are coming soon, followed quickly by explorers with turkey, and jolly old men in red pajamas being flown by reindeer. Yes, it's holiday season in San Diego, and while the weather here might not provide any white dusting of snow or icicles hanging from awnings, it does mean fun parties, great food, and entertaining music!

Here are some ideas for those of you trying to plan for your office or home holiday party that we have found fun, insightful, or interesting. Remember to book your live music with us as soon as you've set a date, so we can start going over the perfect playlist for your San Diego holiday party.

#1 - Make it a themed party! This is the best time of year to dress up! You can do a Charlie Brown Halloween, complete with a giant pumpkin, or a traditional Hanukkah gathering, with Maccabee fighters and lots of glowing lights.

#2 - Hire a photographer. People will be taking selfies and group shots with their phone, but only a professional photographer can capture the true feeling and mood of the event. We have many recommendations for great San Diego photographers who can help make some amazing memories!

#3 - Involve the guests! Some of the most fun parties we've performed at included "bake your own" meals or desserts, including a full pizza bar where guests could custom design their own pie! We have some tips for this type of event, and some pizza shops that can really help assist in setting this kind of party up.

#4 - Musical Chairs or Dreidel!  You'd be surprised how much adults love some of the fun games of their childhood, especially after a few drinks. Get our music rolling and the games started for an amazingly fun night that people will be telling stories about.

What's your favorite holiday party, and how did you incorporate music into it?

The downtown San Diego Gaslamp district is home to many fine restaurants, clubs, activities, and hotels, and one of the newest and finest is The Pendry, recently opened in February 2017. The prime location on J Street between 5th & 6th was developed with class, sophistication, and elegance, and it's no wonder that it is the place to be for many visitors and locals alike.

I should start by mentioning this isn't just a hotel, it's a destination. With multiple restaurants, meeting spaces, event halls, an underground club, bars, swimming club & spa, their visitors could easily just wander around for a few days and enjoy everything the location has to offer. I toured the facility with many other San Diego Wedding professionals, ranging from photographers to event planners to other venue coordinators, and we all really enjoyed the atmosphere and incredible opportunities that The Pendry has to offer.

Check out some of the other pictures I took during the tour, and let me know what your favorite wedding venue is in San Diego- maybe I'll visit there next! If you contact the Pendry for an event, please let them know I sent ya!

San Diego has an amazing amount of venues to host weddings- from luxurious downtown hotels to mountain wineries. One of the most iconic wedding locations in Southern California though is right on the sand at the ocean. What better way to celebrate than with the fresh salt air and cool breezes of getting married at one of San Diego's many beachfront locations.

In terms of locations and beach types, there are many places to choose from:

• The historic and vintage Hotel del Coronado sits on the beautiful beaches of Coronado, and offers guests a classic hop back in time to the roaring 40s when Hollywood royalty visited every weekend.
• La Jolla Shores & Pier is a classic SoCal beach lined with palm trees and soft sand, steps away from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography with its own upscale wedding and event center, the Seaside Forum.
• Torrey Pines, Del Mar, and Solana Beach coastal access offer breathtaking views with cliff side backdrops.

You've thought about everything else: the dress, the flowers, the shoes, the wedding venue...now what about the music? There are so many options when it comes to picking the entrance music to your wedding ceremony, and it's important to consider:

• What does your venue allow? Many traditional churches only want the standard repertoire when it comes to ceremonies, and don't let couples do things too out of the ordinary.
• What does your family say? While this is 100% your day, many families have long-established songs that are important that they might want to hear.
• What does your heart say? Yes, that pop song might be popular now and you can't get it out of your head, but looking back 50 years from now at your wedding video, do you want to listen to something out of date, or have accompanying songs that are completely timeless.

Whatever you choose, the Left Coast Quintet is here to provide guidance and the best music for your walk down memory lane. Your wedding ceremony music needs to be completely you, and we are at your service.