Posts by Raymond Brooks7

Cosmo over in Blatina 😍

Urban near the downtown area by the President Hotel

Mladen

There’s this one spot in Blatina where a ton of girls used to hang out... I can't for the life of me remember the name. Can someone please drop it in the comments?

p.s. Christian Ross6, are we allowed to post stuff like this here??? If not, just move it somewhere else... thx

Let me get this on the record too:

Ira in Dugopolj,
the elite at Dgopolj Ružica,
Ružica in San Francisco,

these are all just supply shops. You can find everything from ribbons to cake boxes and whatever other little trifles you might need. 👍

and Nirs,

Villa Žarko even offers round tables now... good grief...😢 I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole...

Ladies, if you're hunting for a photographer, take a look at this guy:

http://www.ivicalisjak.com/

And for a venue, you might want to check this out:

rapidmason10 said:Flower shops...hit me with some recommendations

Keti
Mia Florist
The shop at the Walmart
The shop at Emezett

I'll throw a few more on the pile:

Iris,
the Jaglac shop over in Radunica Florist,
the one inside Walmart

Peter Fisher4 said:As for the catering, I actually attended a party there recently and had a blast. From what I saw, the guests were totally happy and the newlyweds loved it too... plus, the owner is just a great person. Everything was smooth on their end. Honestly, every single vendor has some minor hiccups in organization now and then—it’s nothing new. I actually have some friends over in San Francisco, so that's why I decided to book them.

The worst part is, I personally know the owner... and he really is a good guy. But knowing that didn't help me one bit, because I foolishly thought you didn't need "connections" to get things done right. (Ah, wishful thinking.)

It all comes down to taste... sure. Impressions? Absolutely. And the power of the media? Massive.
The venue itself is gorgeous—I mean, I wanted it too—but there was one veeeeeeeeeery big downside: a total lack of professionalism.

They really ought to step it up. Their selection is pretty limited as it is, and they definitely don't need bad press on top of everything else.

And that’s that! End of story.

The local festivals are getting ridiculous. Honestly, it’s just more noise in an already loud world. Everything feels like a massive, overproduced spectacle lately. It’s exhausting. kaže:
Just wanted to brag a little. 🙂
We put down the deposit for our band two weeks ago. 🙂 We were at a friend's wedding recently. They were there too, and honestly, what can I even say? It was love at first sight—or maybe love at first sound.
They’ve brought in a new lead singer, sure. But honestly? The only way they can go from here is up. 🙂
We’ve already sat down with the lead. We'll iron out the specifics about a week or two before the wedding. If they don't have their act together by then, we can always arrange for them to learn on the fly—though, honestly, looking at what they're actually offering... I suspect everyone else just listens to them because they have to. 🙂
I’m feeling pretty damn good right now. That band? They’re pure sugar. 🙂 And I suspect the price tag is playing a role in this, too.

Bravo. One less headache to deal with.👍

Peter Fisher4 said:I know plenty of killer spots where I’ve personally vouched for the food being top-tier, so when I tried out that place in Napa, it just didn't hit the mark for me... Honestly, I'm getting married this October, so I'm really crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly for my big day. I'm pretty set on places that nail both the service and the menu, like Hillcrest, The Ivy, or maybe even some local gems in Austin. I actually went to a reception at one of those spots in Austin recently and was super happy with how everything turned out... You really can't go wrong there. That vibe at the Napa place just wasn't my thing—everyone's got different tastes, I guess!

So, which specific venue are you looking at... and when is the big day?

Peter Fisher4 said:Regarding the party at The Steakhouse... I actually went recently and honestly, I wasn't feeling it at all. I wouldn't recommend the place to anyone—the food was a total disaster, and you could tell a lot of other guests were pretty bummed out too.

Well, I feel the exact same way about NIRSA... so, we're tied at 1:1.
But here’s the thing: I have cold, hard facts to back up my claims. And when it comes to The Rustic Grill, I have even more solid evidence to support a compliment.
We could easily run a head-to-head comparison. I already know who comes out on top. I also know exactly which player is going to be stuck playing damage control for a long, long time—not just for a new restaurant's reputation, but for the entire parent corporation.

mistylynx13 said:😕Raymond Brooks7, if you were the one who actually booked the venue, you might have grounds for a lawsuit. You almost certainly signed a contract when you put down the deposit, right?😕

Look, it’s a long story. The deposit wasn't even settled on that day because, frankly, nobody even knew what the numbers were yet. We were basically operating on pure faith because the floor manager kept pushing us to move forward before the pricing was even finalized.
It doesn't matter. Honestly, I've moved past all that. I finally found a much better venue, one run by genuinely great people. It’s night and day.I've had enough. It’s all just noise at this point.I feel like I have a responsibility here to issue a warning. Everyone needs to watch their step. We can't risk having everything scrapped because someone decided to act unprofessionally. It’s not exactly easy finding a venue that can accommodate 150 people on five months' notice for a cruise, you know? Or maybe "they" just need to actually do their jobs and show some professionalism for once. In this industry, a solid recommendation is everything. Don't throw it away.

silentpuma28 said:Raymond Brooks7... I'm not sure if I caught that right, but weren't they talking about a different place entirely, not ExxonMobil?🤷

🙄 I was actually thinking about the lawyers over at the agency....
Here's the correction.😁

Sophia Turner2 said:I have to disagree with you there, mostly because I wonder when you last actually stepped foot in that place. They did a full renovation exactly a year ago and it's honestly perfectly fine, but the real draw is the food and the service, which is top-tier—something most other spots can't even claim. I went to a reception there nearly a year back, listened to some Major League Baseball tunes, and I was genuinely thrilled with everything. Lately, I’ve been at quite a few receptions (some places were absolute disasters in terms of both the room and the service), and the constant issue is always tiny portions and staff refusing to bring more, which drives me crazy. At the end of the day, it's the food and the music that matter; the decor is secondary, because nobody ever walks away saying, "Wow, the wallpaper was incredible," they talk about whether the meal was good, if the band was great, and if the wedding party actually had a blast, since they're the ones setting the mood—trust me, I know from my own experience and what I hear from others. If you don't believe me, just go see for yourself.😉

I have to back this up. I heard the rumors that ExxonMobil has completely revamped their setup, and honestly? It sounds about right. I was there a few years back for a couple of shifts, and looking back on the service, the food, everything... I can’t even find anything to complain about. I was genuinely impressed. The staff were everywhere at once—you could barely see them because they were moving so fast—but somehow the ashtrays stayed spotless, the tables were always cleared, and you never had to wait thirty minutes just to get a drink. Everything just worked.

Peter Fisher4 said:The venue was huge—plenty of room to dance—and the whole setup looked amazing. Honestly, the food was killer too... everything was top-notch. Everyone there was raving about how gorgeous the place was, so I’d definitely recommend checking it out. You won't be disappointed...

Just a fair warning though—watch out for those girls working the floor. I ran into some issues myself, and they actually canceled my booking. That's what passes for "professionalism" there. My advice? Get a direct line to someone in management immediately so you don't end up stranded without a venue five months before your big party.
I'm not questioning the aesthetics. I've been to all the venues in town... but that supposed "professionalism" is easily the most pathetic thing I've witnessed in my life.
And look, I'm not the only one. People have had their receptions interrupted, gotten lectured on how much they're allowed to drink, or faced total confusion over next year's pricing...
They're the new kids on the block, and they really need to tighten things up. Consider this friendly advice...
I am glad you had a great time and that the guests were happy... maybe they finally learned their lesson...

electricheron4 said:Could you please send over the contact numbers for the bands Verizon and AT&T? We are looking to book some live music for a wedding next year—hopefully!
Actually, I heard a rumor that the lead singer for AT&T might be pregnant—so I guess we aren't quite sure if they'll even be performing by next spring.
Does anyone happen to know of any other really great bands out in California?

Just hit up the Verizon website. Look for the group page... check their availability dates right away while you're there.

As for AT&T—yeah, she's pregnant, but from what I hear, the baby is due this year. Who knows when she'll actually be back on stage.

What kind of vibe are you going for? If you want high quality, look into Bravo Band or First League Band. They're solid.

You only fall in love once, they say.
So, I settled on a photographer from California—because getting an appointment with Smith was impossible, and frankly, I don't trust anyone else. As for the Bravo band, I’ve been to two parties where they played, and I’m still traumatized. 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 The first time, the sound system was so abysmal that everything else just became background noise. The second time, the lead singer—I think his name is Peter—was so hoarse he sounded like he was screaming at a cat. At one point during the night, his voice just gave out completely, so they ended up just playing low-key instrumentals. Regarding Topnotch, I've heard conflicting reports; some say great, some say terrible... depends on whose party you're at.
I’m incredibly picky about music. I want a group with a female vocalist who actually knows how to sing, someone who doesn't step on people's toes or crowd the dance floor like Victor and Wilma did (they practically shoved me aside at a wedding where I was the maid of honor). I want pop-rock-latin vibes. Absolutely zero country twang or anything remotely similar. Just danceable stuff, foreign repertoire is fine too. I know I'm demanding, but what can you do?

I have to weigh in here... Smith isn't the only option. In fact, Ivica Lisjak and his son do equally good—if not better—work (photo and all), mainly because they're much more approachable and pleasant to deal with. But hey, if you've set your heart on California... fine. Just be careful about which crew you hire. There are plenty of options out there. You probably already know, but a little extra warning never hurts.😁)

I actually hire the Bravo band, so let me defend them a bit. It’s all subjective. To me, they’ve been fantastic at every single event I’ve attended. If someone's voice cracks, well, nobody can predict that. They hire a vocalist based on what you want, and she usually backs singers like Ivana Kindl and Luka Nižetić... so the girl can definitely sing. My second choice would have been Viva, but BB was my top pick, so I booked them first.

Have you looked into Major League? They have a female vocalist and they are stellar.

The music is a headache, the venue is a headache, the photographer is a headache... even the church. Honestly, getting married these days has become a massive ordeal. Or maybe it's better to just panic and do it all in a month? Fewer choices means less stress.😂 😂 😂

Good luck. Let me know when you find a band. And if you need a contact number or anything else, just reach out.
I think we have the best vendor list in the country right here!

brisktiger20 said:Does anyone happen to have any pictures posted here on the forum so I can check them out?

😢 I doubt it... at least I haven't seen any... but go check there yourself. I saw them firsthand when I visited their place.

brisktiger20 said:Hey there... just wanted to throw in that I'm looking at those Phoenix mashed potato servers from the Dover plant, specifically the 32 E model with the covers. Also, does anyone have the scoop on the capacity for the Castle hall? And does anyone know where that POMAK restaurant is located? thanks...

POMAK is over by Stinic... it's actually a sports complex with a gym, badminton courts, and all that. They have two halls—one small, one larger. Honestly, I haven't set foot in the big one myself because people were always busy playing badminton, but I've seen some photos online.

Starting next year, Kokolo is hiking their prices by another ten bucks...

Peter Baker57...you know, we have some seriously talented photographers right here in the States too...take a look at Ivica lisjak, Ivica Matić, studio in, foto Plus....or even Jakov teklič....
you won't regret it.

Peter Baker57 said:Seriously, what were you thinking when you decided to include that tacky little photo?

When your ride shows up to pick you up, are you just going to ditch the group and sneak off somewhere, maybe behind a local church?

She’s out there shopping... but I see how it goes. When her ride pulls up, she’ll probably bolt for a quick photo op, leaving the guests and the squad perfectly fine with their food and music. They won't even notice she's gone...
And I’ll be doing the exact same thing.

Just a quick heads-up—if you’re planning on locking anything in for next year, watch your back. Don't let them quote you one price today only to pivot to a higher one a few days later. I’ve heard through the grapevine that everyone is gearing up to hike their rates AGAIN