Everything you need for a California wedding

Hi everyone, I could really use some advice here... I'm trying to figure out how far in advance I should be booking the venue, the band, and the photographer for a wedding in the Castleton area (we're looking at places around Castleton, maybe near San Diego; we haven't quite decided on the music yet—if the budget allows, we might look at certain local groups, but if not, we'll stick to more traditional options like the Pink Panther, or perhaps even a vocal group for the church ceremony 😉). My partner and I are starting to talk through our plans for 2026, though we probably won't have everything finalized until this September (it's a bit of a long story), but we're aiming for either May or September of next year. So, I guess my main question is: would it be cutting it too close if I waited until this September to book everything for a wedding in May?
Thanks so much 🙂

It’s not too late, but when it comes to booking your band and photographer, you should probably put down a deposit sooner rather than later. They'll likely be booked up at least a year in advance. 😉

Does anyone happen to know if I can rent round tables in the San Diego area or the surrounding county? I’ve been searching everywhere and honestly—I’m just exhausted from looking with zero luck🙄

Olivia Lee5 said:Hi everyone, I could really use some advice here... I'm trying to figure out how far in advance I should be booking the venue, the band, and the photographer for a wedding in the Castleton area (we're looking at places around Castleton, maybe near San Diego; we haven't quite decided on the music yet—if the budget allows, we might look at certain local groups, but if not, we'll stick to more traditional options like the Pink Panther, or perhaps even a vocal group for the church ceremony 😉). My partner and I are starting to talk through our plans for 2026, though we probably won't have everything finalized until this September (it's a bit of a long story), but we're aiming for either May or September of next year. So, I guess my main question is: would it be cutting it too close if I waited until this September to book everything for a wedding in May?
Thanks so much 🙂

Well, it's both a yes and a no—really depends on what you're aiming for!
I remember looking for a venue for a May wedding back in early September, and let me tell you—my options were incredibly slim. For the specific hall I had my heart set on, there was only one single Saturday left available in all of May!

And regarding the band and the photographer—you mentioned several names that I see popping up on these forums all the time, so I'd say you definitely need to "snag" them as early as possible.

But then again, you never truly know until you try.
My best advice? As soon as there's even a tiny hint that you'll be throwing a big party in May, start making those calls immediately! Just make sure you have all your contact info organized beforehand so you don't waste precious time hunting for phone numbers while you're stressed.

Best of luck!

I can give you my two cents based on what we went through... about a year and two months before our wedding, we locked in the Grand Hyatt and the Viva group. We booked everything roughly 11 months out. Since we moved so early, we didn't run into any issues with availability, but I know from experience that if you wait too long, your options shrink drastically. My advice? Get moving.

I booked my venue, photographer, and band over a year out... everything went fine, but I wouldn't recommend playing games with the timeline.
Actually, the wedding month is what really matters—if you're aiming for peak season between May and September, you need to move fast. If you're looking at winter, you can probably get away with a few months' notice...

I honestly feel like it all boils down to how many guests you’re actually planning on inviting to the wedding... if you're looking at a guest list north of 130 people, then those classic, quintessential banquet halls really start to become a factor, and you truly need to get them booked out at least a year
ahead of time. But if you’re thinking more along the lines of 100 guests—which is where I'm sitting right now—you can definitely afford to wait a little longer... personally, I just finished putting down deposits for everything about seven months ago for later this year.🙂

I’ve asked this before and didn't get an answer, so I'm asking again—hope nobody takes offense here. 🙂
Does anyone know a catering company or someone who rents out those tall, skinny cocktail tables for outdoor parties?
We're looking at getting catering from Saint Michael over in Trilla, but we haven't reached out yet. Before I call them, does anyone have actual experience with their service?

Also, I need a pointer on photographers. I want a few professional shots—nothing too artsy or forced—just some photos at my place, then by the church and during the ceremony. Maybe 2-3 hours max. People are quoting me $500 for that, which feels steep when you consider a full wedding photographer with video goes for $1,000! I’d rather find a solid local pro so I don't have to put my friends on the spot, but I don't know anyone else. I want quality work, but I'm not looking for those big-name names everyone keeps bringing up on this forum. What do you guys think is a realistic price for something like that?

Hey there, all you future and current brides!
I’m originally from Columbus, but I'm heading to San Diego for my wedding on April 30th.
Does anyone have recommendations for florists, makeup artists, or hair stylists? I would seriously appreciate any leads!😉
Cheers!

Has anyone ever actually seen The Beach Boys perform live (the ones from Miami)?
I’m curious to hear some thoughts—any critiques or reviews out there?

Also, does anyone know of an agency that handles venue decor? And I don't just mean flowers or ribbons on the chairs... I'm talking about full-scale scenography and set design.🙄

Thanks everyone for all the feedback... I guess my hunch was right; it might be a little late to be scrambling to book a band, a venue, and a photographer when we're only eight months out. We'll just have to see how things shake out for 2012. Thanks again, truly! 😉

Could someone maybe put together a rough price list for bands, duos, trios... or even just a DJ?

Thanks!

frozennomad38 said:REQUEST!!! Does anyone happen to have any intel on the President Hotel in San Diego? I’m looking for the lowdown on the service, the food... basically any vibes or feedback regarding hosting a wedding at that venue. PLEASE let me know what you think... thanks a million!

hey
White House hotel San Jose
I was actually at a wedding there last summer... served as the maid of honor and honestly, the food, the venue, and the service were all a solid 5/5😉))) 😂😂 it was great...

David King72 said:If you're looking in Arizona, check out Photo Omega and Photo Dino; they both have websites you can browse.
The first ones totally blew me away, and while I haven't used the others, I've seen their work online and it looks great.

I checked out some shots and a CD from Photo Nada over in Phoenix—their work is top-tier and they get the job done... prices are pretty reasonable, too.

gentlepilot9 said:Hey everyone, I’m starting to map out a wedding for this coming summer with a guest list of somewhere around 80 to 90 people. We were originally looking at booking Amigos, but it turns out they don't actually handle weddings during July or August, which is a bit of a bummer.
We’ve been checking out George’s restaurant over in Philadelphia lately, and I was just wondering if anyone here has ever worked with them or maybe attended an event there? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the food is! Thanks so much, cheers!

... honestly, I went to a wedding there once and wasn't really feeling it...

The Hotel Antonio in San Diego is great... I had a rehearsal dinner there and it was actually solid... it's right on the beach, the food is top-tier... plus they have a rooftop pool that’s perfect for photos.😉))🤣

Could someone point me toward some good bands out of California? I'm looking for recommendations. Thanks.

Joshua Howard79 said:Could someone point me toward some good bands out of California? I'm looking for recommendations. Thanks.

What exactly are we talking about here??? A duo??? A trio???
If you just scroll back up to the beginning, there should be a list of bands right there waiting for you.

Hey everyone, does anyone happen to know where I might be able to find some small boys' suits for sale or maybe even a rental?
He’s about 4 years old and he needs to wear a ring during the church ceremony... any leads would be great.

I’m honestly starting to feel a bit desperate because everything is perfectly organized except for the most crucial part—the venue.

The photographer, the band, the flowers, the church—it’s all set and just waiting on the venue selection... but I am hitting one roadblock after another.
Basically, I wasn't looking for some stuffy, traditional banquet hall. I really wanted something near the ocean or a pool, and I’m even open to a lounge or a trendy club since we're doing a wedding for about 100 people with finger foods.
I clearly haven't been smart enough about this 🤷 San Antonio is already booked up, and most hotels won't even allow weddings in September unless you use one of their "standard" ballrooms. What am I supposed to do? Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking in San Francisco and the surrounding areas for a beautiful restaurant, club, or lounge that can accommodate 100 guests.

Nicholas Hernandez7 said:I’m honestly starting to feel a bit desperate because everything is perfectly organized except for the most crucial part—the venue.

The photographer, the band, the flowers, the church—it’s all set and just waiting on the venue selection... but I am hitting one roadblock after another.
Basically, I wasn't looking for some stuffy, traditional banquet hall. I really wanted something near the ocean or a pool, and I’m even open to a lounge or a trendy club since we're doing a wedding for about 100 people with finger foods.
I clearly haven't been smart enough about this 🤷 San Antonio is already booked up, and most hotels won't even allow weddings in September unless you use one of their "standard" ballrooms. What am I supposed to do? Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking in San Francisco and the surrounding areas for a beautiful restaurant, club, or lounge that can accommodate 100 guests.

I'm not quite sure what vibe you're going for—something super fancy, or...?
If you were thinking of something more laid-back and "homegrown," then take a look at this.
They have listings there and on Facebook, so give it a search.