Everything you need for a California wedding

Alright, I finally tracked down a working link for that band that played at Velum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAhcwLe0ed0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2nTKlefM4k
Honestly, they’re easily one of the best bands I’ve ever caught performing in San Francisco 🙂.

Aaron Brown7 said:I recently attended a party over at the Hotel Park, and honestly, the whole vibe was just fantastic. The atmosphere in the ballroom was top-tier—really hit the mark. As for the staff, they were absolute rockstars; I can't even begin to praise them enough. They were flying around the room, and the second you realized you needed something, it was already there in front of you. Now, if we're talking about the food, it was a bit of a mixed bag. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't blow me away either—it was probably a solid 3 out of 10 on the gourmet scale.🙂 None of that really matters in the grand scheme of things... anyway.🙂 It’s definitely a bit pricey...

Awesome! Hvalaaaaa !!! Do you actually remember what was on the menu? They’ve got four different options, so I just want to see if anything lines up with what we were planning. 😉I mean, yeah... when did you guys actually go? They told us the band wraps up around 4:30, so I’m dying to know if they’re actually flexible about that. Like, if the party is absolutely peaking and everyone is vibing, will they stay an extra bit? Or is it just "lights out, everybody out" once the clock hits the limit? 🙂

Henry Hill26 said:Awesome! Hvalaaaaa !!! Do you actually remember what was on the menu? They’ve got four different options, so I just want to see if anything lines up with what we were planning. 😉I mean, yeah... when did you guys actually go? They told us the band wraps up around 4:30, so I’m dying to know if they’re actually flexible about that. Like, if the party is absolutely peaking and everyone is vibing, will they stay an extra bit? Or is it just "lights out, everybody out" once the clock hits the limit? 🙂

It went something like this... we stayed until about 3:00, though we were among the first to head out. I did hear some chatter at the party about there being a specific cutoff time for music, but I’m not entirely sure what it was. As for the restaurant manager... he was constantly hovering and micromanaging everything, which I didn't particularly care for 😁. Hehe. From what I gathered, most people tend to start drifting away once the cake and desserts are served. Regarding the food, you started with prosciutto, French cheese, and octopus salad, then I believe it moved on to beef stew, gnocchi, and croquettes, followed by some other meat with mushroom sauce, and then roasted lamb with potatoes and another meat dish with a side salad 🙂. That’s roughly how I remember it... and then finally, the cake and sweets.

Aaron Brown7 said:It went something like this... we stayed until about 3:00, though we were among the first to head out. I did hear some chatter at the party about there being a specific cutoff time for music, but I’m not entirely sure what it was. As for the restaurant manager... he was constantly hovering and micromanaging everything, which I didn't particularly care for 😁. Hehe. From what I gathered, most people tend to start drifting away once the cake and desserts are served. Regarding the food, you started with prosciutto, French cheese, and octopus salad, then I believe it moved on to beef stew, gnocchi, and croquettes, followed by some other meat with mushroom sauce, and then roasted lamb with potatoes and another meat dish with a side salad 🙂. That’s roughly how I remember it... and then finally, the cake and sweets.

Thanks, Aaron Brown7. Our menu is totally different (except for the prosciutto, cheese, and the French stuff), but hopefully it'll be alright 🙂. Yeah, it probably wraps up around 4:00 because then the restaurant has to start prepping for breakfast... but since about 90% of our crowd is young and everyone loves to dance, I'm curious—even if it goes until 4:00, is 5:00 AM too late? Thanks again

Henry Hill26 said:Thanks, Aaron Brown7. Our menu is totally different (except for the prosciutto, cheese, and the French stuff), but hopefully it'll be alright 🙂. Yeah, it probably wraps up around 4:00 because then the restaurant has to start prepping for breakfast... but since about 90% of our crowd is young and everyone loves to dance, I'm curious—even if it goes until 4:00, is 5:00 AM too late? Thanks again

No biggie🙂

Does anyone know if there are places in San Francisco (or maybe the surrounding Bay Area) where you can actually rent a formal gown? I'm looking for something high-end—the kind of dress that usually retails for $500 or more.

feraljackal2 said:Does anyone know if there are places in San Francisco (or maybe the surrounding Bay Area) where you can actually rent a formal gown? I'm looking for something high-end—the kind of dress that usually retails for $500 or more.

Maybe check out some boutiques over in Beverly Hills.

Aaron Brown7 said:No biggie🙂

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone could give me some honest feedback on the food at this venue? I’m looking for both quality and quantity details because I'm planning a reception at the Radisson. To be honest, the catering specs they sent over look pretty ridiculous to me—like, how are we supposed to serve just 2 ounces of prosciutto, 2 ounces of cheese, or 3 ounces of French fries? And only 2 ounces of octopus salad? It seems way too small for a wedding menu.

Also, would anyone be willing to share the contact number for the newlyweds so I could reach out and ask about their actual experience?
Thanks in advance!
Best regards

Chloe Ramirez55 said:Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone could give me some honest feedback on the food at this venue? I’m looking for both quality and quantity details because I'm planning a reception at the Radisson. To be honest, the catering specs they sent over look pretty ridiculous to me—like, how are we supposed to serve just 2 ounces of prosciutto, 2 ounces of cheese, or 3 ounces of French fries? And only 2 ounces of octopus salad? It seems way too small for a wedding menu.

Also, would anyone be willing to share the contact number for the newlyweds so I could reach out and ask about their actual experience?
Thanks in advance!
Best regards

Regarding the quality, like I mentioned before, I'd probably give it a mediocre 3 out of 10... some things were fine, others were just hit or miss. As for the portions, honestly, whenever anything ran low on the tables, the servers were quick to jump in with more food and drinks, so you can't really complain about the quantity itself.

Hello, I could use some guidance 🙂 I have attempted to follow every detail in your previous discussions, but keeping up with everything hasn't been particularly easy, so I decided to simply pose my own question... I am looking for recommendations for an event space in San Francisco capable of accommodating 150 to 200 guests, ideally situated right on the waterfront or at least in close proximity to the ocean. I am searching for a venue that offers a reasonable balance of price and quality :P Thank you very much for any feedback; any assistance would be greatly appreciated...

Jamie Allen4 said:Hello, I could use some guidance 🙂 I have attempted to follow every detail in your previous discussions, but keeping up with everything hasn't been particularly easy, so I decided to simply pose my own question... I am looking for recommendations for an event space in San Francisco capable of accommodating 150 to 200 guests, ideally situated right on the waterfront or at least in close proximity to the ocean. I am searching for a venue that offers a reasonable balance of price and quality :P Thank you very much for any feedback; any assistance would be greatly appreciated...

Pirate, even then, a 150-person limit is more realistic there.🙂

I appreciate the advice, but I have a slightly different vision in mind than just a standard banquet hall. I’m picturing something more unique—perhaps an outdoor terrace or an open-air setting of some kind. If anyone has any creative ideas or personal experience with venues like that, I would be incredibly grateful to hear them... maybe somewhere in the San Francisco area... 🙂

Jamie Allen4 As I was thinking about what was said, it really makes you wonder how much we overcomplicate things sometimes...
Thanks so much for the advice, really, but I’ve been picturing something a little more special than just your run-of-the-mill banquet hall. I have this vision of something more unique—maybe an outdoor terrace or a scenic patio with a view, or something along those lines? If anyone out there has any creative ideas or has actually pulled off an event like that before, I would be incredibly grateful for the insight. Honestly, I'm pretty open to locations anywhere in the San Francisco area or even just a short drive away from the city. 🙂

I think that spot in Grašac is absolutely wonderful, though I honestly can’t say for sure when you were planning on heading over there for a bite, because whenever I gave them a ring about two months ago, they told me they only had two openings left between September and October. If you're looking for somewhere else, Doli is lovely, and that restaurant Velum over at the marina is also a great choice. I’ve heard people raving about how perfect their frappes are down by the docks, but then again, I haven't actually made it down there myself yet—I'm just going off the grapevine!

Jamie Allen4 said:I appreciate the advice, but I have a slightly different vision in mind than just a standard banquet hall. I’m picturing something more unique—perhaps an outdoor terrace or an open-air setting of some kind. If anyone has any creative ideas or personal experience with venues like that, I would be incredibly grateful to hear them... maybe somewhere in the San Francisco area... 🙂

Hotel Park has a really nice terrace, plus the beach is right there.
I’ve been to a few weddings there, and usually, the crew does a fancy dinner on the terrace until midnight, then the older crowd heads home while the younger crowd moves over to Zbirac until 3 or 4 in the morning for an all-night party—you can even go for a swim 🙂

Or maybe something like this (if I’m reading the photos right, is this the beach at Hotel Split)?
http://moze-weddings.blogspot.com/20...ka-jelena.html

Timothy Fisher50 said:

Jamie Allen4 As I was thinking about what was said, it really makes you wonder how much we overcomplicate things sometimes...
Thanks so much for the advice, really, but I’ve been picturing something a little more special than just your run-of-the-mill banquet hall. I have this vision of something more unique—maybe an outdoor terrace or a scenic patio with a view, or something along those lines? If anyone out there has any creative ideas or has actually pulled off an event like that before, I would be incredibly grateful for the insight. Honestly, I'm pretty open to locations anywhere in the San Francisco area or even just a short drive away from the city. 🙂

I think that spot in Grašac is absolutely wonderful, though I honestly can’t say for sure when you were planning on heading over there for a bite, because whenever I gave them a ring about two months ago, they told me they only had two openings left between September and October. If you're looking for somewhere else, Doli is lovely, and that restaurant Velum over at the marina is also a great choice. I’ve heard people raving about how perfect their frappes are down by the docks, but then again, I haven't actually made it down there myself yet—I'm just going off the grapevine!

I once attended a wedding at a local venue that was easily the worst experience ever, strictly from a service standpoint. It wasn't the music, the couple, or the decor that failed; it was the disastrous service, incredibly slow servers, and terrible food. I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

Timothy Fisher50 said:

Jamie Allen4 As I was thinking about what was said, it really makes you wonder how much we overcomplicate things sometimes...
Thanks so much for the advice, really, but I’ve been picturing something a little more special than just your run-of-the-mill banquet hall. I have this vision of something more unique—maybe an outdoor terrace or a scenic patio with a view, or something along those lines? If anyone out there has any creative ideas or has actually pulled off an event like that before, I would be incredibly grateful for the insight. Honestly, I'm pretty open to locations anywhere in the San Francisco area or even just a short drive away from the city. 🙂

I think that spot in Grašac is absolutely wonderful, though I honestly can’t say for sure when you were planning on heading over there for a bite, because whenever I gave them a ring about two months ago, they told me they only had two openings left between September and October. If you're looking for somewhere else, Doli is lovely, and that restaurant Velum over at the marina is also a great choice. I’ve heard people raving about how perfect their frappes are down by the docks, but then again, I haven't actually made it down there myself yet—I'm just going off the grapevine!

What are the prices like at Graves? I've heard tons of awesome reviews from people who had their weddings there, but I don't know anyone who actually hosted a full reception to give me the real scoop on the costs.🙂

BTW, question for everyone—is it too late to reserve or find a venue for April or May?
Hit me up with recommendations ASAP if you know of anything available that isn't some total redneck setup; I definitely want something with actual class.😁 I mean anywhere from Tampa to San Diego.🙂

Also, tell me this: I have a bunch of "maybe" guests—you know, the ones who aren't sure if they can make it for various reasons—and the headcount could swing by as much as 50.😲 So I'm stuck on how to handle the venues. Can I reserve a hall for maybe 150 people and then have the final count end up closer to 100? Is that even doable?😁

I appreciate the advice. Regarding the Radisson, while the beach itself is absolutely stunning, I have heard rumors that renting a lounge chair can cost upwards of $100... which seems excessive. Graso also strikes me as an excellent alternative, though I am uncertain about their capacity; does anyone happen to have specific information regarding how many chairs they actually have available? In your opinion, would Graso be a superior choice compared to Velum? I am planning my trip for June 2015, so I am hopeful that we can secure a reservation 🙂

From what I gather, Grasha can accommodate up to about 100 people—no more than that—but honestly, everyone seems to rave about it. People say the same about the park, though the big downside there is that the music has to wrap up around 2:00 AM because of the guests staying at the nearby hotel... As for Monterey, everyone talks up Castel Slanica like it’s some holy grail. I actually attended a reception there once, and I have to say, it was hands down the worst event I’ve ever been to. The bride had organized the whole thing from Switzerland; she had plenty of money, so price wasn't an issue, but they charged $38 per person just for the seating because she insisted on a buffet style... that was back in 2006, which was ridiculously overpriced even then, but it felt like they realized they could squeeze her for more and just took advantage of the situation. When we finally sat down in the restaurant, every single dish was stone cold. They didn't even bother reheating anything, and usually, you'd expect at least a warming tray under the food to keep things decent. To make matters worse, the portions were tiny, and finding a waiter was like searching for a needle in a haystack... we ended up having to wander into the kitchen ourselves just to grab drinks. If you ask me, Castel Slanica gets zero points from my end.

gentlewolf69 said:From what I gather, Grasha can accommodate up to about 100 people—no more than that—but honestly, everyone seems to rave about it. People say the same about the park, though the big downside there is that the music has to wrap up around 2:00 AM because of the guests staying at the nearby hotel... As for Monterey, everyone talks up Castel Slanica like it’s some holy grail. I actually attended a reception there once, and I have to say, it was hands down the worst event I’ve ever been to. The bride had organized the whole thing from Switzerland; she had plenty of money, so price wasn't an issue, but they charged $38 per person just for the seating because she insisted on a buffet style... that was back in 2006, which was ridiculously overpriced even then, but it felt like they realized they could squeeze her for more and just took advantage of the situation. When we finally sat down in the restaurant, every single dish was stone cold. They didn't even bother reheating anything, and usually, you'd expect at least a warming tray under the food to keep things decent. To make matters worse, the portions were tiny, and finding a waiter was like searching for a needle in a haystack... we ended up having to wander into the kitchen ourselves just to grab drinks. If you ask me, Castel Slanica gets zero points from my end.

I'm gonna ask the lady who had her reception at Castel Slanica recently—standard wedding menu style—and let you know how it went. 🙂

Man, what a bummer about Grasha. It’ll be tough to squeeze enough of my crew in to hit that 100 mark... 😢
Do you happen to know what the prices are looking like (with or without drinks included)?

Also, am I allowed to bring my own bottled wine to restaurants or halls near San Francisco? That's a huge deal for me. 😁

Amy Kern, I’ve got a wedding coming up next summer over in Grasha. They told us we could fit 150 people outside, but the whole thing is a gamble because if it rains, there's no way everyone fits inside the hall. We decided to cap it at 100, and they actually suggested a DJ instead of a live band—which was our plan anyway—since a DJ takes up way less space. Honestly, if you have a band, 90 people is probably the sweet spot for staying indoors. Also, just a heads-up: if you go with the terrace, you kind of have to rent out the whole area. You don't strictly *have* to, but there's a chance other guests will wander onto the other part of the patio for drinks, which would cost us an extra $500. Prices vary depending on what you drink (we went with the standard menu for $47), but they're super chill about you bringing your own bottles. If you need more details, just shoot me a DM 🙂

Also, I could use some help—does anyone have suggestions for where I can put about 60 guests (somewhere near San Francisco works too)? Does anyone know of any rental houses or hotels that won't absolutely fleece you on the nightly rates? Thanks so much!