Three things I've learned about getting married on Catalina Island:
1. I am so grateful to have gotten married here. The people on the island (visitors and locals) are so welcoming. I am normally a fairly shy person initially, but while going around town during our photo shoot and being outside during the wedding ceremony, I felt at ease with all the hollering and cheers oddly enough. I wouldn't have traded it for the world. Also the weather is just perfect in August! Their 90 degrees feels like 75 on the mainland. Oh and we got married on the concrete part next to Step Beach which was a very small area but very intimate for our party of 16 (including officiant, photographer, Cathy).
2. I'm not sure on this one, but it may be a good or bad idea to go to Catalina before the wedding. My husband and I have NEVER been to Catalina and were advised it wasn't necessary. But our family has and they have loved their stay there. Also, transportation via boat was really effortless, once we got on the boat, they hung our wedding outfits in a safe place. (Btw, the boat ride in the afternoon is pretty darn choppy, so make sure you take that dramadine!)
Also, I never did a makeup or hair trial because they were on the island. I sent pictures of hair/makeup ideas, my cake and bouquet ideas to the vendors there. I emailed my wedding script to the officiant. I saw my wedding coordinator once in Los Angeles, chatted a few times and met her again the day of the wedding. But the vendors I did go with were perfect all thanks to my wedding planner (see below).
3. If it weren't for a random web search on the Catalina island website I never would've found Cathy. Cathy is the main reason I was able to plan a wedding in less than 2 months. Having been raised on the island, she knew where to go, who to talk to, she even got the mayor of Avalon to marry us!!! She found our reception venue, my hairstylist/makeup artist, florist, cake person, photographer, everything! She helped set up the wedding and rally my family members from the ceremony to the dinner reception. Cathy gave me the idea to make bouquet charms to honor my loved ones who passed on. She calmed me down 2 hours before the wedding and told me I looked beautiful (you got to have that hype woman the day of!).
Now, Cathy is not a planner for type A personalities but she is a great guide and bridge to the island. You gotta be equally as calm and relaxed as her or you may be disappointed. Cathy is not there to be your brain 24/7, so use yours wisely. I give 4.5 stars overall (I wish I could give an added 0.5) because some things were missing such as I forgot to wear my veil and the ceremony got a little confusing during the candle/cord part, we didn't have time to do our first dance (but we danced on our suite balcony to our song after the wedding which was still romantic) and the restaurant forgot to add our cake topper. But again, this is partly due to me and my husband not doing a final review with Cathy).
Sure, my wedding wasn't 100 percent perfect to other people, but it was perfect enough for me and my husband. You can't replace intimacy and meaningfulness, and that's what Cathy did for us.
The only thing I regret is not taking a picture with her. Me and my husband hope to be back again to reunite on the island. Thank you so much Cathy!!! read more