Posts by Raymond Brooks7

wanderingbadger17 said:What’s the deal with photographers like Ivica Lisjak, Ivica Matić, or Studio IN? Those are the three names on my radar right now... Any thoughts on their pricing or general vibe?

I've heard rumors about Matić being arrogant and difficult to work with, and apparently, you have to wait three months just to see the shots? Is there any truth to that?

Lisjak—he’s fantastic. He shot my wedding, and he was great. Easygoing, charming, and honestly perfect if you have nerves to settle. My photos turned out flawless; he captured everything. He was exactly what I wanted in a photographer.

Smith—yeah, the wait times are real. You'll be waiting forever. He operates on a different wavelength entirely... very "artistic."

Studio IN—also very high quality.

Sina—pleasant, approachable, and does stellar work.

I’ve met all of them personally and seen their work through close friends. Everyone ended up happy with their shots and their choice, because at the end of the day, everyone picks based on their own taste and budget.
If I had to do it all over again, I’d go with Lisjak every single time, with Sina as my backup.👍

Henry Wood4 said:And now, I find myself in need of a recommendation for a decent makeup artist...

merder finally answered😉
bravo band 👍 I used them too
castello 👍 I went there once and everything was great

Sam Reed3 said:Send me the number too! Thanks.

sending it now

wanderingbadger17 said:Places near the coast to grab some fries:

1. San Antonio - I've been there, and honestly, the food wasn't my thing... plus, it wasn't even summer season yet...
2. Lav - A bit pricey, though I'm not sure if they even allow outdoor seating here.
3. Friends - I read nothing but rave reviews, but from what I can see, sitting outside isn't really an option.
4. Hilton - Good enough if you're just looking for small portions...
5. Neva - Not much info out there...

Key West:

1. Hotel Beach - I had dinner there once and the food was top-tier, everything was a solid 5/5. Does anyone happen to know about the wine list? Prices?

Back when I checked (2008), they didn't serve fries during the peak season...
What about the Jadran Hotel in Siesta Key? Though, I suspect they don't do fries during the season either...🤷

wanderingbadger17 said:Thanks for the heads-up... 👍I wonder how the prices are there? Capacity? Food quality? Service?

My cousin got married there once. Everyone was happy—food was solid, service was fine... and it cost way less than $55 a head...
Still, I say go check it out in person. There are plenty of photos online if you want to browse.

Sam Reed3 said:I am considering hiring Photo California! Everyone seems to have had mixed reviews so far, but I want to give them one more look before making a decision... what has your experience been like? Was everyone satisfied with the service? I am planning on just getting a basic package since everything else feels way too expensive. Does the rule apply to them too, where I really need to be careful about which specific crew I end up with?

The feedback from my relatives is all over the map... anything from pure bliss to total disaster... Look at someone's actual photos and ask for a specific team. Don't let them send some rookie who's going to use you as a practice run...

wanderingbadger17 said:I was looking at some shots my cousin took... they look pretty solid to me. What kind of damage are we talking about price-wise?

I wonder if you can just buy the photos alone. Personally, I couldn't care less about the video footage...

Price depends on the package, just like everywhere else. And I'm fairly certain you can hire just the photographer; last time I checked, they had a separate price list for that.

Quincy:

I can't make sense of this one. It’s just empty space. Total nothingness. If you're trying to say something, you missed the mark entirely. Give me something real to work with next time. kaže: The music selection is mediocre at best, but the actual performance? Absolutely lackluster. There are plenty of much better bands playing around San Francisco, which explains why their prices are such a joke.👎

The price is fair. Look, Journey has a name. They have a reputation. That’s why they can charge a premium. Kocka is a relatively new band—so what? If they slapped a $2,000 ticket price on their show, would that suddenly make them good? Please. Money doesn't buy talent. 🙄

Sure, maybe there are better bands out there. Maybe. But you can’t argue with taste. It’s subjective. At the end of the day, it just is what it is. And honestly? This whole obsession with linking price directly to quality is even worse. It's a tired, flawed logic. 🙄

Quincy:

I don't know what to tell you. People keep bringing up MIMIAS like it’s some kind of revolutionary breakthrough. It isn't. It’s just more noise in an already deafening world. We chase these shiny new concepts thinking they’ll fix everything, but they never do. They just change the shape of the problem. I’ve seen this cycle too many times to be impressed. It’s all just part of the same old machine. kaže: Got any recommendations? Honestly, gambling didn't exactly blow my mind either.

Here we go again. I’ve pretty much listed every decent band from this part of the country right here. Everyone has their own specific taste, obviously. So, if you're actually looking for a recommendation, do us all a favor and specify what kind of music you actually like. Just say it.

Sam Reed3 said:We are heading to see them this Friday at a cafe called Vrime (if I recall correctly), so we will see how they perform.

Do you have any other recommendations?

Trust me, after Friday, you won't be asking for recommendations anymore...
I’m voting for them. I caught their set at a party recently and the energy was easily a 5 out of 5.
p.s. if you need more contact info, just hit up the VIVU website. They have everything listed right there—duos, trios, all organized in one spot.

Rebecca Vaughn7 said:Hey everyone... I could use some help here. The wedding is (hopefully) set for October 23rd, and we need a band that actually knows how to play—something that hits those classic American rock vibes (think Thompson, Pejakovic, Mate Bulic, and stuff like that not ), but can fit into a smaller venue. Specifically, we're looking at Amigos in Malibu. We were originally eyeing the Pink Panther, but it turns out they won't work; they need way more room for the drums and all their gear. Please, give me some advice, recommendations, or any info you've got... I'm honestly starting to panic 😲

Look, any band will play whatever YOU tell them to play....☕

Recommendations: Bravo Band
The Beatles...

Check the archives; there's been plenty of discussion about bands on here before...

Joshua Howard79 said:Hey,
A friend of mine is getting married in mid-June. She’s pretty much got everything under control, except for the music. It’s going to be a small wedding—about 30 people—so she’s looking for something low-key, maybe a duo or a trio. If you guys know any good bands that would fit the vibe, she’d really appreciate the help. The wedding is in Miami. Thanks.

Brava Band Music
The band Kocka
Major League

Look, almost everyone operates with 2 or 3 members, except for Vive 😍.
It all comes down to her specific taste and whether the bands are even available... we're talking about three months out here. I’d suggest telling her to hurry up if she wants anyone actually well-known...

crimsonsailor2 said:Hey everyone.

I’m trying to figure out how far in advance I need to book a venue. We’re looking at about 100 guests—so, a standard mid-sized wedding—and the food quality is non-negotiable. It needs to be good, just not over-the-top excessive like what you'd see at Leo's or something. Also, we need enough floor space to actually dance; a well-organized layout is key. Ideally, somewhere in the Castleton area or nearby.

Some people told me booking a year out is overkill, while others managed to pull it off with only two months' notice. Obviously, it all depends on the date, the guest count, and all that—which is why I’m giving you the rough details I have.

The timing would be late summer—think late August or early September.
Thanks.

That guest count isn't small, but it isn't huge either... it's actually the worst kind of middle ground. I don't mean to scare you, but you haven't exactly picked the "off-season" for weddings. My advice? Start hunting immediately. Once you get the venue, photographer, and band off your plate, you can finally breathe again.

Check out the Castle; Ino; Bellevue; Holy Cross; Mammoth...

Aaron Patel15 said:but only if you go through $100?!

Yeah... easy to rack up those $100... way too easy....

Aaron Patel15 said:I can shop there just fine without needing some business license or anything...

In Iraq, you can buy wedding supplies without any hassle... no need to have a corporate account or whatever.

northerncrane332 said:I think that’s definitely her, since I’ve heard that rumor about her only working with Dior too...
So, you're saying she's a go? Thanks! 🙂

Do you need the number...

northerncrane332 said:Has anyone ever heard of that makeup artist, Tina Kalinic?
I haven't been able to find much about her online—nothing really pops up when I search—but I heard through the grapevine that she’s actually pretty amazing...
Does anyone have any other recommendations for good artists?

Is it Kalinic or Katalinic? I know a Tina... though I can't quite recall which surname she uses right now. She does incredible work, but there's a catch—she doesn't travel to your place, and she exclusively works with Dior products.
If you're looking for someone, I'd also suggest Luciana Spajic. She’s done my makeup a few times, and honestly, Tina has too.

So, after doing a bit of limited jumping (I am currently in my ninth month of pregnancy, after all 😬), I just have to share how much I loved the band mentioned above 😍. Honestly, it’s just more proof of what I’ve said before... these guys are a solid 5 out of 5 👍. The vibe was just something else. I had to stay off the dance floor because the crowd was going wild, dancing and having a blast, so I had to "protect" myself a little 😢
. Anyway, highly recommended. They are totally spontaneous and really read the room; the dance floor was packed the entire night ☕, which was plenty for me and the rest of the guests! (Everyone was raving about them)

One more thing: Sina's Photographer (who used to work at PhotoDex) is working independently now. Unfortunately, I don't have any personal shots since he was too busy to grab me—but if anyone needs his contact info, let me know, I have his cell number 👍
. He is incredibly pleasant, calming, and clearly knows his craft 👍. He was always hovering nearby yet remained completely unobtrusive, just snapping shot after shot... and shot after shot...👍

stormystag554 said:Hey everyone, just dropping in to say hello.
I think I might need some help...
If any ladies out there happen to know a reliable catering service, would you mind sending me their contact info via private message? I'm currently scouting options for a wedding taking place out in the hills of Northern California. 😁
Thanks so much!

There’s been plenty of talk about catering options already: Arkada, School of American Ballet, Russ, ABBA....

Come on, people... just read the rules for once... no typing out numbers here...🙄

Betty Gomez2 said:Did anyone else hear that blast??!!? I’m losing my mind here...

Of course... and it's fantastic. I was at a wedding where they played it once... the energy doesn't dip for a second.

And yeah, it holds up just as well for Pink Panther too.😁

Just try scrolling through the pages for once...👍

Posting phone numbers is against the rules... you really ought to take a look at the guidelines once in a while...😉

Betty Gomez2 said:Greetings, ladies.

Regarding the venue options—Fabula, Robot and Hotel Chicago—I’m looking for recommendations...

1. Fabula... Great location. Service and food are decent enough.
2. What’s the deal with Hotel NYC? Did they finally fix up those mashed potatoes... or anything else for that matter?
3. Robot... Personally, the room itself is fantastic, but I can't stand the neighborhood.

I’ve heard of the Mimi agency... but honestly, nobody here has stepped up to share actual experience with them or their catering service...

The girls were involved with Pimpinelu and that ballet school, which kept them in the conversation, and I actually got to see their work firsthand once👍

If you want my advice, stick with Arkada or Russ...👍