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Everything you need for a California wedding

Started by Anonymous · · 👁 533 views · 7.4K replies

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Participants AElizabeth Kimbrisktinker15Sam Kim12Nicholas Gonzalez28Michael Ramos10Harold Ortiz61Jessica Wood5Alexander Ruiz2Thomas Sanchez532Sean Long4northernpilot72Raymond Brooks7mistylynx13rapidmason10Aaron Garcia80Taylor Walker17silvernomad21Linda Jones11Raymond Foster69Arthur RamosAlex Carter3Adam Walker19David King72 …
gentleotter88 gentleotter88 Newcomer
8 messages
joined Mar 2013
#4421 ·
Douglas Reyes3 said:So, how many bands are you guys planning to get at Vagus?
Are they the standard smooth ones, like maybe 5-6 mm wide?

We were actually looking at a two-tone yellow and white gold combo, also in that classic 5 mm width.
The price for a pair was sitting somewhere around $2,700 to $2,800.
The jeweler mentioned they could easily custom-make them for about $667, or even go up to $3,500-$$1333 if we wanted.
I didn't bother asking about the basic plain bands, but I'm guessing they'd be in a similar ballpark.
We’re definitely leaning toward this shop, though. They seem really flexible with different budgets, as long as you aren't asking for something totally unreasonable.
Douglas Reyes3 Douglas Reyes3 Active Member
51 messages
joined Jan 2013
#4422 ·
I’d actually be perfectly happy with two gold wires, maybe around 6mm wide, the kind that come in a smooth plastic coating $0.53 for Amor.
gentleotter88 gentleotter88 Newcomer
8 messages
joined Mar 2013
#4423 ·
Douglas Reyes3 said:I’d actually be perfectly happy with two gold wires, maybe around 6mm wide, the kind that come in a smooth plastic coating $0.53 for Amor.

I think I'll head back and take another look.

Honestly, my take is that you shouldn't try to cut corners too much on wedding bands right now. You're going to wear these every single day for the rest of your life, so spending an extra few hundred bucks to avoid having to resize or repair them constantly is worth it. $167.

A jeweler I talked to over in Nevada mentioned they could definitely make something cheaper, but the metal would be way too thin to hold up. To get them looking decent and feeling substantial, you really need to hit at least the $667 mark. Personally, I wouldn't risk going too cheap just to save a little upfront.

Anyway, thanks so much for the advice!
Douglas Reyes3 Douglas Reyes3 Active Member
51 messages
joined Jan 2013
#4424 ·
gentleotter88 said:I think I'll head back and take another look.

Honestly, my take is that you shouldn't try to cut corners too much on wedding bands right now. You're going to wear these every single day for the rest of your life, so spending an extra few hundred bucks to avoid having to resize or repair them constantly is worth it. $167.

A jeweler I talked to over in Nevada mentioned they could definitely make something cheaper, but the metal would be way too thin to hold up. To get them looking decent and feeling substantial, you really need to hit at least the $667 mark. Personally, I wouldn't risk going too cheap just to save a little upfront.

Anyway, thanks so much for the advice!

Of course you shouldn't be stingy, but these particular rings of mine are quite substantial... naturally, the price also dictates the size of a man's ring. My husband has pretty slender fingers, so the weight of our bands is, well, just 🙂 little.
ambercrane18 ambercrane18 Member
19 messages
joined Dec 2012
#4425 ·
I see people mentioning makeup artists in St....but does anyone know of a skilled artist based in San Diego?
There is one right near my place, but her work is subpar—the foundation shade is incredibly obvious and my eyes ended up looking bruised.

Also, has anyone here worked with the Tavajol and Lokas catering companies (both from San Diego)?
Thomas Cruz9 Thomas Cruz9 Active Member
51 messages
joined Feb 2013
#4426 ·
gentleotter88 said:Hi there,

I'm pretty new to this forum.

I was hoping someone could point me toward some professional lighting pros in San Francisco.

I actually saw a vendor at a wedding expo recently, but I can't quite wrap my head around their name right now. 😢

Most of the other stuff is already figured out.

We’re looking at hosting everything at Ruth's Chris Steak House, which honestly seems like such a cozy, perfect spot.

As for makeup, I've heard nothing but amazing things about Tina Fey. She actually did my makeup for a wedding a few years back, and I was so happy with how it turned out.

I'm also starting to look into wedding bands. We stopped by the expo, and Tiffany & Co. really stood out to us as the best value. We actually dropped in to see them yesterday, and they're offering a 20% discount through the end of March if you bring in the flyer from the fair.

Price-wise, they're definitely the most reasonable option. The gentleman helping us was so kind—he explained that we could have any ring design custom-made within a budget that works for us.

Thanks so much in advance for any help!

Best,

Gentleotter88, if you're planning this wedding for sometime this year, my best advice is to head over to Aria immediately—their calendar is already booked solid through December.
You mentioned Tina is great, but honestly, I'm torn between her and Ana Grgić. I'm having a hard time deciding which one to pick.
Charles Gomez4 Charles Gomez4 Active Member
162 messages
joined Dec 2010
#4427 ·
ambercrane18 said:I see people mentioning makeup artists in St....but does anyone know of a skilled artist based in San Diego?
There is one right near my place, but her work is subpar—the foundation shade is incredibly obvious and my eyes ended up looking bruised.

Also, has anyone here worked with the Tavajol and Lokas catering companies (both from San Diego)?

Tamara from the Femme salon in Santa Barbara 🙂 Rade isn't great, Neda isn't either, and the Cvita salon is a pass for me... 😉
William Chavez10 William Chavez10 Member
30 messages
joined Sep 2012
#4428 ·
gentleotter88 said:I think I'll head back and take another look.

Honestly, my take is that you shouldn't try to cut corners too much on wedding bands right now. You're going to wear these every single day for the rest of your life, so spending an extra few hundred bucks to avoid having to resize or repair them constantly is worth it. $167.

A jeweler I talked to over in Nevada mentioned they could definitely make something cheaper, but the metal would be way too thin to hold up. To get them looking decent and feeling substantial, you really need to hit at least the $667 mark. Personally, I wouldn't risk going too cheap just to save a little upfront.

Anyway, thanks so much for the advice!


Eeeeee, that’s exactly what I thought at first too—that Amor was the best deal because they have such a great story behind them. :-) Vagus is cheaper, but you really have to factor in Mjed—I actually scored a discount from them at a trade show and they have some seriously gorgeous models. Honestly, though, the weight of the gold is what matters most, and that's how I realized Amor wasn't actually my best bet. At Mjed, their sale runs until May 1st, and I managed to find some bands that are almost 9 grams and 5 mm wide for only $867... they are just so smooth and beautifully rounded.
I heard a rumor that gold prices might jump again around May 1st or June 1st, so a lot of these places are offering short-term discounts so we don't get stuck with one price at the show and then a totally different one later. :-) If anyone is getting married this year, my advice is to just go ahead and buy now!
Linda Palmer5 Linda Palmer5 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Mar 2013
#4429 ·
I need some advice from the ladies here—if any of you have headed to La Perla or Sposa in Mostar to hunt for a wedding dress, could you give me a heads-up on what the price range looks like? I saw a few pieces from Pronovias and M. Mote at St. $3000 but they’re just way too much for my budget. Thanks.
Douglas Reyes3 Douglas Reyes3 Active Member
51 messages
joined Jan 2013
#4430 ·
Just wanted to drop some info here—makeup services with Tina usually run between $300 and $350, depending on which lashes you pick out. A trial run costs the same amount, too.
ruggedfox16 ruggedfox16 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Feb 2012
#4431 ·
Linda Palmer5 said:I need some advice from the ladies here—if any of you have headed to La Perla or Sposa in Mostar to hunt for a wedding dress, could you give me a heads-up on what the price range looks like? I saw a few pieces from Pronovias and M. Mote at St. $3000 but they’re just way too much for my budget. Thanks.

Linda Palmer5, a friend and I both went to rent dresses at La Perla in Mostar last year. My dress ended up being $3,200, and my friend $1333 paid about the same. The best part was that everything came included—the veil, the shawl, even the bridesmaid dress... so honestly, I think it’s totally worth the trip. Just make sure you book an appointment and go for it!
Linda Palmer5 Linda Palmer5 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Mar 2013
#4432 ·
ruggedfox16, thanks a ton. Quick question though—did you guys go for the "designer" labels or just stick to the standard stuff? I don't want to sound like a snob, but there’s honestly a massive difference between the high-end pieces and the cheaper ones. With the pricey stuff, the lace doesn't itch against your skin, and the train is way lighter—you don't feel like you're dragging a heavy rug behind you. Still, $3000 is overkill, though $1667 is totally fine... also, at St., they charge extra for little flower girl dresses $133
gentlewolf69 gentlewolf69 Active Member
120 messages
joined Sep 2012
#4433 ·
Linda Palmer5 said:I need some advice from the ladies here—if any of you have headed to La Perla or Sposa in Mostar to hunt for a wedding dress, could you give me a heads-up on what the price range looks like? I saw a few pieces from Pronovias and M. Mote at St. $3000 but they’re just way too much for my budget. Thanks.

So, I actually spent some time browsing La Perla in Mostar recently—they've actually expanded to two locations now, one in Mostar and one in Mostar... anyway, regarding the price range, you're generally looking at anywhere from $3,200 up to $1333 for brands like Pronovias, Ronald Joyce, or Madeline Gardner. But honestly, the thing is, when you start looking at designers like Manuel Mote or Elie Saab, those gowns are in a completely different league because the lace quality is just so much higher... I tried on a Manuel Mote gown while I was in Mostar, and I think she mentioned it was somewhere around $6,000 or maybe even $2333, so it definitely won't be cheaper than that. It seems like the dresses you see in America $1333 are priced around $3,200 in Mostar, whereas here in the States they might go for $4,500, and then in Mostar they sit around $4,000... it's pretty rare to find a dress that retails for $9,000 in America for less than $7,000 over there...
Linda Palmer5 Linda Palmer5 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Mar 2013
#4434 ·
gentlewolf69, then there's really no point in driving all that way just for some "tiny savings"—I'd probably burn through the fuel money just getting there anyway. I actually met this wedding planner at a trade show once, and we were chatting about costs—she told me that back in Mostar, prices range from $667 up to $1333 max... so I figured these options would be way cheaper. Honestly, $9,000 for the rental alone feels like a total rip-off to me.

Has anyone here actually had their wedding dress custom-made? If so, where did you go?
Thomas Cruz9 Thomas Cruz9 Active Member
51 messages
joined Feb 2013
#4435 ·
Linda Palmer5 said:gentlewolf69, then there's really no point in driving all that way just for some "tiny savings"—I'd probably burn through the fuel money just getting there anyway. I actually met this wedding planner at a trade show once, and we were chatting about costs—she told me that back in Mostar, prices range from $667 up to $1333 max... so I figured these options would be way cheaper. Honestly, $9,000 for the rental alone feels like a total rip-off to me.

Has anyone here actually had their wedding dress custom-made? If so, where did you go?

I’d love to wear something by Manuel Mote, but looking at those price tags gives me a massive headache... it's enough to make you want to give up entirely. :/
gentleotter88 gentleotter88 Newcomer
8 messages
joined Mar 2013
#4436 ·
William Chavez10 said:Eeeeee, that’s exactly what I thought at first too—that Amor was the best deal because they have such a great story behind them. :-) Vagus is cheaper, but you really have to factor in Mjed—I actually scored a discount from them at a trade show and they have some seriously gorgeous models. Honestly, though, the weight of the gold is what matters most, and that's how I realized Amor wasn't actually my best bet. At Mjed, their sale runs until May 1st, and I managed to find some bands that are almost 9 grams and 5 mm wide for only $867... they are just so smooth and beautifully rounded.
I heard a rumor that gold prices might jump again around May 1st or June 1st, so a lot of these places are offering short-term discounts so we don't get stuck with one price at the show and then a totally different one later. :-) If anyone is getting married this year, my advice is to just go ahead and buy now!

We're definitely going to order from Vagus. We checked out all the big jewelry stores, including Amor, and I think we all agree—they mostly just sell you on the story. They definitely don't offer the best value when you compare the gold weight to the price. For me, Vagus offers the best bang for your buck. I was actually talking to my cousin about it; she bought her rings at Vagus a few years ago and loves them. The best part is that they offer free lifetime polishing, resizing, and narrowing. She told me they can do those things right then and there because they have a small workshop in the back—it literally takes like a minute or two.

Best, 🙂
William Chavez10 William Chavez10 Member
30 messages
joined Sep 2012
#4437 ·
Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction for finding affordable cookie boxes and dessert plates? Maybe somewhere like Target or Costco? Everything I've been seeing online lately seems way too pricey for my budget.
David King72 David King72 Regular
299 messages
joined Apr 2008
#4438 ·
William Chavez10 said:Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction for finding affordable cookie boxes and dessert plates? Maybe somewhere like Target or Costco? Everything I've been seeing online lately seems way too pricey for my budget.

I actually picked mine up at Target during one of their sales... they didn't have those round dessert plates I was looking for, but I managed to grab the boxes.
William Chavez10 William Chavez10 Member
30 messages
joined Sep 2012
#4439 ·
David King72 said:I actually picked mine up at Target during one of their sales... they didn't have those round dessert plates I was looking for, but I managed to grab the boxes.

I guess I'm wondering about the price point and how many usually come in a pack?
ambercrane18 ambercrane18 Member
19 messages
joined Dec 2012
#4440 ·
Lorraine The user states:
Tamara from the Femme salon in Santa Barbara. 🙂 Rade is out. Neda is out. And as for Cvita’s salon? Don't even bother. 😉
I have a grievance to air regarding Tamara.

Does anyone have experience with the makeup services at Ella? It’s been ages since I last stepped foot in there, but I just passed by, took a look around, and inquired about their pricing.$67Does anyone happen to know how they handle makeup over there?

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