Honestly, I think you really can't go wrong regardless of which one you pick My advice? Try to get together with them in person and look through full wedding albums. Anyone can toss their "greatest hits" online, but when you see the whole narrative—from guests arriving and the ceremony to the reception and the overall vibe... I think that’s how you actually make an informed decision.
As for Zumba, I know their package includes one photographer and one videographer, but if you want an extra shooter, there's an additional fee.
JOPA 25 I was actually torn between taking Zumba classes or going with Bonacci—but in the end, I decided on Bonacci
If you go with Zumba, I actually grabbed coffee with one of the instructors... she's honestly great, just such a fun, quirky person. You can check out her photos on Facebook or even look through her own page—honestly, just give her a call or meet up with her to browse through all her photo albums... that’s probably the best way to figure out if it's right for you
You didn't miss out at all—Pirate is actually great. I was mostly focusing on the financial side of things 🙂 but I've had such good experiences with Dolis that I'm not really worried 🙂
I honestly thought everything would just fall into place smoothly, too... but once I started calling around to local wedding bands and photographers, I realized how chaotic things can get. You really have to act fast, so you're probably better off getting the big stuff sorted early just to have some peace of mind 😉
The issue with Photo California is that they have so many different teams—if you’re actually looking for top-tier shots, you really have to know exactly who to book And honestly, price isn't always a reliable indicator of quality. They tend to be a bit overpriced for what they offer, and if you ask me, they fall pretty far behind Papaya and Bonacci
Did you try calling Papaya? It’s super easy to miss them if they’re booked up—you might want to reach out ASAP just to be safe.
I ended up booking the Best group, and honestly, they were fantastic. I don't think you should skimp on the entertainment... at the end of the day, the band is what really sets the mood for everyone.
As for the venue, I went with Dolis. Looking at the last few posts here, it seems like people have been complaining about the food, but I was actually there for a party just two weeks ago and heard a completely different story. I guess it’s true what they say—everyone has their own opinion...
Betty Davis93 have you checked out Papaya yet? I honestly think they’re incredible—at least in my opinion. Their photos just have that "something"... they aren't over-processed, they're just simple. To me, their shots really speak a thousand words. They were booked up on my date, so I ended up going with Bonacci Studio instead. I fell in love with his work, especially since I made sure to look through full wedding albums... that's the only way to actually get a feel for how they capture the whole event. It's all about those spontaneous, unpolished moments—just simple black and white or natural color, catching the real stuff. That's it. If you want some options, these two studios are Number 1 so you can see I wasn't really feeling Fox or Matich because their photos look way too Photoshopped to me—but hey, to each their own, I know some people live for that look.
As for the music, if you're leaning more toward a rock vibe, you should definitely check out Taxi Band. There are endless bands out there, really, it all just comes down to what you want to spend... Viva, First League, Tip Top, Best, Dice, Volar, Jessy Band, Brava Band....
Hey everyone, when did you all actually do your makeup and hair trials? How far in advance? And how early should I even be booking a makeup artist and hairstylist?
I’ve heard some names mentioned—Jane Doe, Jane Doe, Jane Doe, and Jane Doe... I haven't seen many recent posts about makeup lately, so if anyone has any experience, please jump in and help me out...
Same thing goes for the hair
Oh, and I'm specifically asking about San Francisco 🙂
Maria Bailey4 said:all full, Dolis and Lesnina... May 3rd, 2014.
and Phoenix has terrible food, right?
May and June were completely packed for us too, we only managed to snag June 21st
But why didn't you find a venue first? Did you have your heart set on that specific date? We actually secured our hall first and then just worked everything else around that one day...
Maria Bailey4 said:Honestly, my biggest worry is what happens when we hit 250 people or more, especially since all the big convention centers are pretty much booked up on our dates 🙂
Have you checked in with Dolis - Phoenix? They have a few more venues available... or is everything fully booked there too?
Maria Bailey4 said:Looking for some intel on these spots! If anyone could drop some deets on the food quality and prices, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a tonnnnnn! 😍
Dolis - Phoenix - Ino - Velum - Aria - Bolero - Castle - robot - stone - lion robot - stone - lion robot - stone - lion
definitely pricey
Out of all those options, I've only been to Dolis and Bolero if I remember correctly... and honestly, both the food and the service were spot on. I really loved the vibe at Bolero, though. I went to check out Aria and the space is beautiful, but you have to consider the capacity... if you're hosting closer to 180 guests...
Maria Bailey4 said:Anyone know the ballpark for venue rentals for 200 to 250 people?
The price doesn't really depend on the capacity alone...
I'm not sure which part of the country you're looking in, but let's say if you're in St. Louis, you can find places for about $32-$33—though those would be out in the suburbs, like near Austin or San Francisco—whereas right in St. Louis, you're probably looking at anywhere from $40 to $60...
Maria Bailey4 said:Hey ladies, I started scrolling back through all your posts to find some inspo, but I totally lost my place halfway through... :/ could you guys please hook me up with some recs for photographers and bands that actually rock but won't break the bank? thanks sooooo much! :*
Viva Taxi
First League
Pink Panther Group
This range is roughly $2,000 to $2,500
Then you have options like Brava Band, Trio Adri, Jessy Band, Kocka Band, Twist Off, or Volar... they might be a bit more budget-friendly (I'm not 100% sure since I haven't called them myself), but maybe try searching for them individually on Google to see what people say—and definitely check out YouTube to see videos of them performing at actual weddings
As for photographers, it really depends on your style—like, do you prefer clean, simple shots, or do you want something heavily edited and Photoshopped? Personally, I think Studio Papaya is perfect, though I don't know their exact pricing... and sometimes they can go a little overboard with the editing, so just give them a call to check
Anyway, I hope that helps even just a little bit 🙂
I’m honestly torn—is it even worth checking out wedding dresses in San Francisco, or should I just head straight to an unknown area? I’m wondering how much the price gap actually is... Also, does anyone know which boutiques are in San Francisco? So far, I've only heard about Victoria's Secret and Glamour..
Regarding makeup artists, I've seen a lot of people mentioning Lucia Spajic and Tina Kalinic (I checked out Tina's work on Facebook and I'm obsessed), but I couldn't find many photos of Lucia's work online.. If you know any other talented artists, please let me know..
And yeah,, how long in advance did you all go dress shopping and book your makeup artist? It feels like I might still be way too early, especially since the big day is June 21, 2014 ...
So, there’s another newly engaged couple on the scene 😍 . The venue (Dolis Dugopolje) is all booked for June 14th—now I’m just stuck thinking about the band... . Basically, my top picks were Viva, Major League Baseball, and Taxi. Viva is way out of my budget, Taxi is available but still a little pricey (I really thought they’d be more affordable 😕), and then I ended up listening to Major League Baseball on YouTube, which was honestly a bit disappointing. I saw them live at a party recently and remember having a good time, but after listening back... 🙄 well, then I stumbled upon the group Best, and they totally blew me away—plus, their price is actually the same as Major League Baseball. Has anyone here worked with the group Best lately? Like, have you seen them play at a wedding or something recently? Thanks!
Laura Mendoza said:I see you’re still waiting on an answer for this. Honestly, my take? You seem like a young woman who hasn't gone through pregnancy yet, so it’s perfectly normal to have a slimmer build right now. As far as your future fertility goes, there’s no reason to worry—everything should be just fine in that department. But seriously, do yourself a favor and find a new OB-GYN. You really need to make that switch.
I actually feel so much better now. When my first doctor told me I had polycystic ovaries, they didn't explain a single thing to me... so I just spent all my time spiraling on Google, convincing myself I was some extreme case and that I'd never have kids or whatever... everything is going to be just fine!!
Thanks so much to everyone for all the advice😍. I’ve been drinking tons of tea with extra honey and lemon—basically just living on it at this point. Last night I took some DayQuil, but man, my head is pounding every time I wake up... hopefully it passes soon, because it really needs to be gone in five days! Does anyone know how much those zinc tablets usually run? It’s better to catch this now rather than when I'm actually traveling! And I need to pick out a cologne for my boyfriend, but I can't smell a single thing because my nose is so stuffed up!!😂
So, what’s actually the difference between microcystic ovaries and PCOS?
I honestly haven't quite figured that part out either!! Is it just about how they look—like, you have a few small cysts in one case, but a whole bunch in the other? Or is the real distinction that mine aren't causing nearly as many issues as true PCOS would... if that's the case, I'd be so relieved. Honestly, I don't care what they look like on an ultrasound, I just want them to be healthy... And I've heard so many doctors telling girls with PCOS that their best bet is to get pregnant—as if having a baby magically fixes everything. As if... this is a lifelong condition you have to manage, not something you just "cure" once and for all.
I've actually been on Diane 35 for about 11 months now. I was reading somewhere that doctors sometimes prescribe things like Andol—or some other medication—to help thicken the uterine lining, but I don't think I need that quite yet since getting pregnant isn't really on my immediate radar... I just find myself hoping that I'll be able to one day. I don't know why I'm even stressing over this right now—what if I can't? I don't even want to think about it...🙂