Posts by nimbleheron47

Timothy Lewis56 said:Look, I agree regarding Grash—it really is beautiful. But, be extremely careful with 'Antonia' in Malibu—I've personally had some pretty bad experiences with them.

Seriously? What went wrong?

I actually had my wedding there and everything turned out great. They really listened to what we wanted—everything was exactly how we planned it.

Plus, the venue itself looked gorgeous. I should be getting the photos in the next few days, so if I get a good shot of the hall, I'll post it here.

redviper17 said:Uff, isn't two years in advance a bit much?😲 I booked mine a year and three months ahead, and even that felt way too early, but that was only because I was hunting for a specific venue in San Francisco and my guest list is huge. Honestly, I don't think a restaurant would even be able to give you an accurate quote this far out. Maybe try aiming for late 2010 instead?

Don't sweat it too much—I booked all the big stuff a year and three months early, and by then, the band I actually wanted was already gone...

We were also scouting venues two years ahead, just to get a feel for pricing, capacity, and general terms. Some people actually asked us if we were *sure* we'd still be together in two years, 😬 though.

If you know someone who’s already been through the wedding ringer—like a family member or a close friend—they might give you a better idea of how things actually work on the ground. Since I was the first one in my circle to tie the knot, I didn't really have anyone to go to for advice. Plus, I don't live in San Francisco, so I was doing everything remotely. Starting the research two years early worked perfectly for me; it kept everything stress-free and let me pick exactly what I wanted, rather than settling for whatever was left over on my chosen date.

When it comes to making invitations, boutonnieres, thank-you notes, or favors, I'm a big fan of the DIY route. 😁 You get to make it exactly your style, and you can definitely keep the costs down.

I picked up my supplies online (mostly on eBay), grabbed ribbons at Good Partner in the Industrial District (Washington, D.C.), and got my paper and cardstock from Grafko on Orchard Street (Washington, D.C.). I think Grafko ships all over the US, and you can ask them to send sample packs of paper and cardstock—I know they'll send those for free if you ask. There's a shop in Dugopolj that carries some of the ribbons from Good Partner, but unless you have a business license or something, you'll end up spending a minimum of $100 (they also have a huge selection of flowers, decor, fancy paper, baskets, etc.), and they tend to be pricier than the shops in D.C.

Sophia Turner2 said:I've heard good things about the San Antonio, but I'm wondering if the food is actually any good and what the price range looks like. Also, can they host an outdoor reception on those terraces, or is everything strictly indoors? Thanks! 🙂

Prices really depend on what you order, but I'd budget about $55 per person.

I'm pretty sure the owner would let you do a wedding on the terrace too, but honestly, go check out the hall first. With a glass hall that gorgeous—and since the walls slide open when the weather is nice—it feels like a total mistake to skip it just to stay on the beach.

The older crowd will probably want to sit inside (especially on those breezy evenings), while the younger folks usually end up drifting between the dance floor and the beach anyway—that’s how it went at my place, at least. Since the walls were open, the music carried outside perfectly, so people could dance under the stars. Everything is so close to the water here... seriously, you're just a few feet away. You could practically spit from the hall and hit the shallows. 🤣

Plus, you've got a backup plan if it rains or gets chilly—which happened to me once. We had a downpour in the afternoon that cooled everything off... though it didn't stop people from jumping straight into the ocean or the pool. The hotel actually has a pool on the rooftop that guests can use whenever.

Jesse Kern9 said:Joining the conversation here 😁
I’ve been reading through everything from the start—there is a massive amount of info here—so while I work my way through the archives, I’ll just lay out what we're looking for. If anyone can help, thanks in advance 😛
We’re based in Los Angeles, and the wedding needs to happen within the next 10 months 😉
We both love the outdoors—we have roots in rural areas—and we want a venue near a river that can host up to 200 people (we're finalizing the guest list this weekend)
The main issue: guests are coming from all over the country, so it would be great to get lodging sorted immediately for those traveling from far away
Our wishlist: plenty of food—more than enough—that stays replenished; waiters who are smiling, quick, unobtrusive, yet helpful; a band that covers everything from classic rock to mainstream hits and actually knows how to keep the energy up (I have zero patience for bad performances); and a photographer who can deliver unique shots with the thank-you photos ready by midnight at the latest
Current short list: a local steakhouse in Riverside, a bistro in Riverside, or maybe Castle Slanica at the Radmanov mills...
Viva is already booked, and they were our top pick
Regarding photographers, does Fox seem like the best bet?
And we need to pull all of this together in about 4 months tops...
Thanks to everyone helping me out

If you liked Viva, you might want to check out the group Flash. They play everything—I think they've even backed Celine Dion, so they definitely know their stuff. Even Viva recommends them on her site if they're unavailable.

There hasn't been much talk about them on the forum, but some pros in the music industry suggested them to me, and I haven't regretted it. Plus, they aren't booked out a year in advance. 😉

Out of those venues, Slanica is the prettiest to me 😍—romantic and unique—but I wonder if it'll be too chilly by late November? 🤷

Sophia Turner2 said:Hey, 👋 does anyone know of a hall or a restaurant near the coast—or even just close by—that has an outdoor terrace capable of holding about 100 people?
I'm looking somewhere between Key West and Charleston, so if you have any leads, please let me know. 😉

I actually had my wedding out in Malibu—about 100 guests—and the whole reason we picked that spot was for the beach and the ocean views. The venue itself is indoors (and honestly, gorgeous)—it’s basically wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass with outdoor lighting, so you can see the water perfectly all night long from inside. They even added two massive terraces right on the beach recently, where they put out these big, comfy lounge chairs... perfect for just chilling out and listening to the waves. 😍

Thomas Castillo12 said:Looking at photos online, that’s just the logical conclusion. Personally, I think their wedding shots came out way better than Stefano ????!!!!'s—though, obviously, that's subjective. You probably don't care about the technical specs, though.

As for Art Studio, I've seen a few of their shoots and I am genuinely impressed—both the stills and the video. They really nail the execution.
Just be prepared to get dressed up and do hair and makeup all over again for those staged portraits; you simply can't pull off that kind of shoot on the actual wedding day. There's zero time for it—not to mention the nerves and jitters will definitely play a part.

Actually, they do those photos on the wedding day itself. 😉