Black Wedding Vendors in San Diego to Support in 2021 // Black Lives Matter Support

I think we can all say this has been one hell of a year so far. The wedding world took an insane hit with COVID 19 and the virus closing down the whole world! 2021 is the year for us to re-build what we lost in 2021 and now with the Black Lives Matter movement there is no better time than now to stop what you are doing and check out these San Diego based Black Wedding Vendors. It’s time they get some recognition in an industry that supports all the LOVE.

Help support San Diego’s Black owned business on your big day!

Wedding Planners:

Gina Hundley - SD Weddings by Gina @sdweddingsbygina

Jacquelyn Mendoza - San Diego Destination Weddings/ The Destination Wedding Group @sddweddings

Photographers:

Erica Marlëne aka “GEM” @socal.standard -

Vanessa Hicks Photography @vanessahicksphotography:

Amber Spence Photography @amberspencephotography

Officiant:

Chris Dickens - Your Custom Ceremony @yourcustomceremony

Catering:

Coop's West Texas BBQ & Catering SLOW SMOKED TEXAS BBQ- @coopsbbq

Streetcar Merchants- @streetcarmerchants

Photo Booth:

The FotoBox @thefotobox

Wedding Cakes and Sweets:

Nomad Donuts- Brad Keiller @nomaddonuts

Entertainment:

DJ Artistic @djartistic

DJ Sam Diego @djsamdiegoevents

Becks Entertainment @becks4music

Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties and Bridal Shower:

Altipiano Winery and Vineyard - Denise Clarke, Winemaker

@altipianowinery @altipianowineryandvineyard

Chula Vista Brewery - Timothy J. Parker, Founder @cvbrewery

Wedding Invitations made easy with Basic Invite's Wedding Card Samples and more!

Recently, I have been on the other side of weddings as I help not one, but two of my best friends get married. Being a wedding photographer for over 9 years has left me with a lot of experience with not just photography but the WHOLE wedding industry — I was overjoyed when they asked for advice when it came to wedding planning.

I was really excited to share with them this great company I have partnered with Basic Invite, for all their wedding invite needs. There is so much to note about how great their completely customizable templates are, and the BEST part… they allow you to order samples of your design with their wedding card sample. I don’t know about you but I LOVE to be able to touch and feel materials before I commit to them. I think this is an excellent way to find just what you are looking for in your invites!

Just a few variations of one wedding card. There is so much you can do with over 900 invite sets and 180 custom colors!

I love wedding invitations! One thing I ask is that our clients include a copy of their invites for us to photograph before the wedding. There really isn’t much time to do it the day of photographing the invites beforehand provides beautiful styled images that the vendors & brides can have to show off their invites. One of the best parts of a wedding invite is the opportunity to see your bride & grooms personalities shine. I have always been obsessed with design - and of course, I choose a book (and wine!) by their cover or label…

I love the options that Basic Invite has for their wedding stationary and even better, the advantage of being able to to preview it once it’s done. I always hate hitting that “add to cart” button when I can’t touch or feel a product before I buy it. I am a huge texture person too, and the way a paper feels can make or break the most beautiful of invites. I was so happy with the quality of all the samples I ordered and can recommend this more!

Seal and Send cards are my new favorite! I love that you can just add your stamp and go!

WIth their Seal and Send cards (above) you can ditch the envelope and feel better about your carbon footprint! Basic Invite even includes free address service! With just a few clicks of a button your address book can be imported and they will take care of all the printing. You really just have to add a stamp and mail it off with these — It really doesn’t get any easier than that!

Custom name cards to match Seal and Send invite

I mentioned before they have over 900+ invite sets to try out, that include saves the dates, wedding invite, enclosure cards, wedding menus, programs, thank you and name cards for wedding. I love the simplicity of the name cards and how even the smallest things can be customized! I almost wish I could do my wedding over again with some of these fun templates!

Lastly, this site doesn’t end with the wedding. You can continue to use them for all your events throughout the years! From change of address, to newborn announcements, graduations, holidays and my favorite, business cards! There are so many perfect opportunities to use Basic Invite & we can’t wait to have our clients as happy with them as we are.

Natasha + Matt// Scripps Pier Engagement Photos// San Diego Wedding Photographer

Natasha and Matt were able to squeeze in a last minuet engagement shoot at Scripps Beach in La Jolla, Ca before moving to Denver. They were so much fun to work with! I loved the excitement and energy they brought to the shoot - they even asked if it was okay to get in the water! OKAY - YES PLEASE!! I love when photoshoots go above and beyond the norm. Lets get wet, climb things and make the most out of life! Natasha and Matt got married this past December at a destination wedding in the Bahamas! Congrats kids!

Kelly + Stacy // Scared Mountain Julian Wedding// San Diego Wedding Photographer

I met Kelly when she worked at St. Pauls Villa - a senior living community that my mom with Dementia was lucky to get a scholarship through St. Pauls PACE program. Kelly was there the first day we had to bring my mom in and helped us navigate the moving her into the memory care unit. It was a hard day but Kelly helped make it so easy. I ended up gifting her some family photos for all that she did for us and soon after that lead to engagements and booking their March 2019 Scared Mountain Wedding in Julian.

The day was beautiful and Kelly was the most easy going bride! She was able to get herself taken care of as well as two small toddlers! My favorite part of the wedding was the late night all you can eat ice cream truck from Afters! More weddings should have all you can eat ice cream :)

We had a great time working with them and have loved to watch the family grow since the wedding. Congrats again to this lovely couple!

Bella + Shaun// Sunset Cliffs Engagement Photos//The Pannikin Building Wedding

Bella and Shaun are high school sweethearts - how rare that is these days! They have been together over 8 years and they have really been able to grow up together and see the highs and lows life brings. Through it all they have stood by each other and their love has been rooted deep. We had a beautiful shoot at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego. Last October the couple were married at The Pannikin Building in San Diego. Congrats to this stunning couple!

Stacy + David // Moonlight Beach Wedding// San Diego Wedding Photographer

Stacy and David came out from North Carolina (one of my favorite states) to say I Do in front of their nearest and dearest friends and family. David grew up coming to Moonlight Beach and it has forever stuck with him. There was more wind than we are used to living in sunny San Diego but everyone snuggled close and watched with all the love to keep warm!

Megan + Eddie // El Cortez Don Room Wedding// San Diego Wedding Photographer

Megan and Eddie won an engagement shoot back in 2018 after beening referred by a long line of past Vacay couples- Megan comes from a big family with a lot of female cousins and we have been apart of each of those weddings! We feel like we have become the official family photographer !

We are so excited to share this one! Megan and Eddie got married at The El Cortez Don Room last January. The went for an elegant black tie affair and knocked it out of the park! Music is one of the things the couple shares in common so it was only right to have them preform side-by-side during their reception.

Marissa + Juan // Balboa Park Engagement Shoot // Brick Wedding Photographer

Marissa and Juan were referred to us by friends of theirs getting married who had just booked us. Marissa was eager to get a shoot booked and chose Balboa Park in San Diego for their engagement session. We love photoshoots at Balboa Park, there is so much variety and no two sessions ever look the same. We had a great session with them and ended up working with them for their Brick San Diego Wedding this past November. Stay tuned for images from their big day!

Jacquelyn + Travis // San Diego Elopement // Scripps Seaside Forum Wedding

Jacquelyn and Travis tied the knot last year at Waterfront Park in Downtown San Diego. They opted for a private ceremony with just her cousin there. They have planned an October 2020 wedding at Scripps Seaside Forum when Travis gets back from his leave. I had a great day getting to know the couple and cannot wait for their big wedding celebration later this year!

Callan + Ettienne // Solana Beach Engagement Shoot // The Cape Wedding, Cabo San Lucas, MX

Callan and Ettienne won an engagement session with us last year. They decided to do it close to home in Solana Beach with their pup in tow! They were married this December at The Cape Hotel in Cabo San Lucas. Congrats to this gorgeous couple who has a baby on the way!

Baby Wesley // San Diego New Born Photographer

We love doing newborn lifestyle photography shoots. Usually done within the first two weeks, it’s an incredible experience to watch mom and dad as they are figuring it all out. When we can we will do some moderate posing with the baby but we really just love watching as how the session unfolds before the camera. It is such a raw and emotional time that will go so fast. We love capturing it for the family just as it was!

Introducing Baby Wesley!

The Greens // Balboa Park, San Diego // The Cactus Garden

The Cactus Garden in Balboa Park is a beautiful place for family photos. This fall night had the sun coming through the cacti at just the right time.

Tags: Balboa Park, Cactus Garden, San Diego Photographer, San Diego Family Photos, San Diego Photography, Balboa Park Photographer

Varughese Family // Los Peñasquitos Ranch House // San Diego, CA

We love doing annual family photos for our San Diego families! It is so fun to see everyone together and the little (and big) changes of the kids…

Devon & Ben // Powerhouse Park Engagements // Del Mar CA

Devon and Ben came to Del Mar, CA for their engagement session. Living in Indiana now, Devon wanted to come home to where she grew up, the beautiful coasts of San Diego. Powerhouse Park in Del Mar offers easy access to the beach and is also a wedding venue if you want to get married right on the water with panoramic views of the Pacific.

Tags: San Diego, California, San Diego Wedding Photographer, San Diego Photographer, San Diego Wedding, Engaged, Engagement Photos, Del Mar Wedding, Del Mar Photographer, Del Mar Wedding Photographer

Kate & Greg // Cancun Destination Wedding// Finest Playa Mujeres Resort

Kate and Greg tied the knot at Finest Playa Mujeres (literally the finest resort we have had the pleasure of photographing at). We absolutely love destination weddings and spend a lot of time in Mexico with our couples. Kate and Greg took us to Cancún to capture their dreamy beach wedding. Whenever we are in town for a destination wedding, we are yours as long as we are there! We were able to photograph a sunset cruise the night before the wedding as well as the rehearsal dinner. The day of consisted of perfect weather, a little humidity, and a beautiful sunset! We were honored to be there for Kate and Greg on such a special day and look forward to many more destination weddings to come.

Tags: Mexico Wedding, Wedding Photographer, Destination Wedding Photographer, Cancún Wedding, Cabo Wedding, Baja Wedding, California Wedding, San Diego Wedding, San Diego Wedding Photographer, California Wedding Photographer, Finest Resorts, Finest Playa Mujeres

Sarah & Matt // Trinity River // Big Flat, CA

Sarah & Matt got married right on the Trinity River at Bigfoot Rafting where they had first met. Friends & family joined the couple as they said their vows with the sounds of the river in the background. An intimate reception followed across the street at Steelhead Cottages.

Tags: Bigfoot Rafting Co, Trinity River, California Wedding, River Wedding, Steelhead Cottages, Wedding Photographer, Wedding Photography

Emily & Alan // Pepperdine University Wedding// Malibu, CA

Emily & Alan met at Pepperdine University and got married on campus at the beautiful chapel. Their reception was held at an intimate property in the hills of Malibu.

Munoz Family // Balboa Park // San Diego, CA

We love family photo sessions, especially ones at Balboa Park! Balboa Park is a historic part of San Diego and one of the cities biggest parks. Kelly and her family were a pleasure to work with and we had to chance to photograph their wedding a few months later!

Dani & Kevin // Elfin Forest, CA // 9.29.18

Dani & Kevin got married on a beautiful summer night on her families Elfin Forest estate. After handpicking their flowers from the surrounding native plants, their ceremony took place on a deck overlooking the rolling hills and canyons.

#sandiego #sandiegowedding #elfinforestwedding #elfinforest #wedding #bridetobe #engaged

Tayler & Ivan // Murrieta Private Estate Wedding // 8.18.18

Tayler & Ivan came all the way from Australia to have their wedding in California with Taylers’ family. The wedding was hosted on a beautiful all-inclusive property in Murrieta on a perfect summer afternoon.