Page 19 - Mega Bridal Issue

Working to the bitter end, even the day that
Photos Courtesy of The Grand Tradition
The Grand Tradition opened, Beverly was still
busily hanging wallpaper. The new owners
decided from day one that this wedding facility
would be unique, not only in its appearance,
but in its food and service. Beverly decided
that the food would not be your typical banquet
fare served on covered silver trays, all done
exactly like the next, with the usual choice of
chicken or beef, Beverly wanted her guests
to feel as if they had come to her home for a
meal specially prepared for her valued guests.
Beverly has more than accomplished this feat.
After the first few years it became evident that
she and Mac were more in love with their new
venture than the other two couples, so they
decided to part ways. For 13 years Beverly and
Mac worked together not only reaching, but
exceeding their original expectations.
They loved their job and found such joy in
watching couples meld their lives together
at their beautiful wedding venue. Former
students of Beverly’s would come to The
Grand Tradition for their weddings. She loved
being an important part of their lives. Although
Beverly and Mac loved what they were doing
they soon realized that it was getting to be a
lot of work and perhaps it was time for them to
slow down. This was when they approached
their children to see if one of them would like
to take over the daily operations of The Grand
Tradition. The McDougals have three children,
son Don, and daughters Sherri Alford of Fall-
brook, and Dianne Wartman of Roswell, New
Mexico. Their eldest son Don was the likely
choice for this new position. There was only
one slight problem, Don was in South Dakota San Diego
working a job he loved and had no plans to Woman
leave. It took a nephew’s wedding in 1996 to
bring him back to Fallbrook. This gave Bev-
erly and Mac a chance to sit down with him, 19
show him the books and provide a first-hand
view of the operation and how successful it
had become. Don and his wife were tempted,
after all it was pretty cold in South Dakota and
being a family man, could he really say no to
his aging parents? Don and his wife Pat took a
day trip to Malibu where they sat on the beach
and contemplated this huge life change. After
a day spent in the sun discussing what they
soon viewed to be the only choice, they went
back to South Dakota. Don gave his company
a month’s notice and he, Pat and their younger
son Mark returned to Fallbrook where Don
would assume the position of Vice President/
CEO, so his parents could slow down a bit.
Sherri became involved as music director and
sits on the board of the Grand Tradition.
Beverly and Mac were in their 70’s at the time
and although they loved what they were doing
it was time for them to slow down and enjoy
their life. Don and Pat’s oldest son Scott and
his wife Desoree, who had remained in South
Dakota, decided that they too would make the
move to Fallbrook. And in May of 1999 they
joined the rest of their family making The Grand
Tradition a true family tradition.