Posts by Raymond Brooks7

Karen Cruz2 Asks:
I’m running into a serious issue with photographers. It feels like everyone I actually want to hire is booked solid. All I have left on my list are Photo California, Photo Mladen, and Photo Marko.
I’ve already heard the stories about California... but as for these other two? I haven't heard a peep. Does anyone actually have some real-world experience with them? Please tell me you've got something to share. Thanks.

Karen Cruz2 said:Studio In, Teklich, Matic, Lisjak...😕

So, that leaves us with exactly what you listed... plus those extra points I just threw in there.
I checked out that Photo Plus shop over on Marmont. My neighbor had used them before and she was actually pretty happy with the results.

Karen Cruz2 said:I’m having a bit of a nightmare trying to book a photographer... everyone I’ve looked at is already booked up. The only ones left on my list are Photo California, Mladen Studios, and Marko Photography...
I’ve already heard things about the California group, but I know nothing about those other two. Has anyone here actually worked with them? Any intel would be great! thanks

Getty Images 👍

Mark... he's fine. But if you go that route, make sure you ask for John (the photographer) and Patrick (the videographer). Any other combo I've seen just didn't get good reviews.

Mladen... honestly, no clue. Never crossed paths with them.

Have you looked into Soho Studios? Those guys are top-tier.

Or maybe Studio In?

🤷

Who exactly is booked up? Give us some names so we can actually give you a decent recommendation.

You can find those little bottles at the shop on TTS...but honestly, you’re better off checking out Bumbara in Chicago via their website. They’re the real deal—everyone else on TTS just gets their stock from them anyway.

feralfox14 said:Hey everyone! Has anyone here ever had a wedding at the Hilton in Monterey? It doesn't come up on this forum much, but looking at the photos, the place looks stunning. I’d love to hear from anyone who has actually been there—what was the service like, how was the food, etc.?

One of our members, meli2, held her wedding there and she couldn't have been happier! Absolutely zero complaints from her side, and her photos turned out amazing... plus, they were pretty reasonable with the room rates for guests traveling in.

Raymond Brooks7 said:NIRS doesn't work for MBM, and LoRa is stuck in the city, so that's out too. Appreciate the ideas, though... 🙂

And then there's the idea of hunting wild boar at some rural mill in the Midwest... sounds romantic, right? Out in the sticks, far from the urban sprawl... just look at the photos. If you're actually interested, check out my shots too... I'll shoot you a DM with the link and the password if you want to see them.

I caught an ad today on a local wedding site for Arkada offering to host weddings for up to 350 guests over at Obojen...It sounds pretty incredible because that venue is top-tier...the ocean...the beach...it’s pure fantasy...

They didn't bother listing any specifics, so if you're actually interested, just give Arkada a call and ask around... 😍

Karen Cruz2 said:A friend of mine just booked a local choir group for her wedding...$500 they’ll be performing right on schedule in the hall 😉

Does anyone know of a good dance studio? I'm getting married in five months and would love for us to learn a few moves before the big day. ☕

George Flores16 said:Lolita on the rooftops, Mimic on the balcony.

Mimic isn't at the bar, she's over in the TV station studios...right where the chaos is...

p.s. My partner and I took private lessons there. I'll DM you the instructor's number...she's fantastic!

Rebecca Nelson59 said:Hey everyone—does anyone actually have a clue what the going rate is for a local choir? I’m looking at maybe two or three hours of work for a housewarming party and a church service.

It all depends on the group... you can find some local amateurs for $0.00 1, but if you're looking at a high-end professional ensemble, expect to pay anywhere from 3 to 5 $0.00 depending on their reputation.

I used to own a Jet Ski... had it serviced by a guy over at the Mediterranean Sea bakery right by the marina.

Rebecca Nelson59 said:I know we’ve already gone down the rabbit hole regarding deli meats—enough said there—but I’m asking for some help navigating a dilemma—or let’s call it what it really is, a trilemma. I’m torn between choosing Pirate, San Antonio, or Bolero. The catch? I’m only catering for about 90 people, maybe even fewer, which means I have an equal number of pros and cons for every single option. I’d love to get your take on this because, frankly, more heads are better than one!

Avoid Bolero at all costs... you'll just end up lost...
Pirate is great... but you aren't crazy for not overpaying for a crowd of 150 when you don't have them...

San Antonio... legendary choice, perfect for a group that size... plus the beach... that's my vote!👍

Sophia Gray2 said:Thanks so much, ladies. He told me that if there are only three drunks left on the stage acting like idiots, then things will stay put. That’s how they decided, and I can't really argue with that. That's just their rules. Look, I know they're great and all, but I was honestly a little worried about being stuck there from 9 to 4. Thanks again, everyone. You guys are the best! Love ya!

Hey,

I had them for my gig back in October... and they played until 4:30 AM. They gave me the exact same line as you... they won't play for three drunk idiots. And frankly, I think that's fair. It isn't easy for them either; they have to pack everything up and tear down the gear. There were people staying in the hall long after we finished. Only about ten of us were dancing by then, but everything was perfect, just perfect. To be honest, the crowd usually thins out by about 75% by that point.
The vibe was awesome, and they did exactly what they promised... I didn't have a single complaint! Don't sweat it. If you're more than just some random guest at the party, you'll stay on the floor... and they'll keep playing for you. Either way, that day is going to fly by!
P.S. Mine went from 9:00 until 4:30 too. 😍

Just checking in from the makeup chair: Lucija Spajić is on it (she did my look... and apparently Alex Carter3 will be getting done too)
as for Tina... I'll shoot those contact details over to you via DM.

Honestly, it’s all been said a thousand times already... you just need to flip through a few pages... and besides, this specific thread is dedicated to weddings in California... let's keep this space for useful info only... no need to multiply 😍

Harold Booth4 said:Still debating on Barbie, though. They just didn't really click with us right away. Anyone ever heard of the band 021? Might be our best bet next time...😕

They played my high school prom... even my neighbor's brother's wedding recently... they're alright. Neither I nor his wife had any complaints.🙂

Jacob Harris88 said:Help, help, help—I am genuinely on the verge of a complete breakdown!
Today, with exactly sixteen days left until my wedding, the band informs me that they might not even play, or if they do decide to show up, they won't arrive before 11:00 PM!!!
Should I just offer them more money right now to ensure they don't screw me over... or should I just send them packing? I honestly have no idea how anyone is supposed to find a replacement band that's actually available on Valentine's Day with only two weeks to go...

Harold Booth4 said:Hey ladies, I finally decided to jump into this forum because I could use some advice on planning a party, and apparently, this is the spot to get the real scoop. Does anyone here know what Disney is actually like? Thinking about booking them for my bash, so I’m curious if you’ve dealt with them before. Or maybe the Pink Panther? Thanks for the help 🙂

My vote goes to the Pink Panther... everything I've heard about them has been nothing but praise!

Jacob Harris88 said:Help, help, help—I am genuinely on the verge of a complete breakdown!
Today, with exactly sixteen days left until my wedding, the band informs me that they might not even play, or if they do decide to show up, they won't arrive before 11:00 PM!!!
Should I just offer them more money right now to ensure they don't screw me over... or should I just send them packing? I honestly have no idea how anyone is supposed to find a replacement band that's actually available on Valentine's Day with only two weeks to go...

😲 I cannot believe this... who even are these people?
What kind of excuse is that... did they even try to find a replacement?
Why would you give them more money? Honestly, watching them perform all night sounds like a nightmare anyway.
Tell them they’ll never see another dime from you. We’ll just blast them on every review site here. And what about the deposit????

Man, that is absolutely terrible... is there any hope they actually follow through on the original deal?
Or should you hunt for a different band right now... then dump these guys the second you find someone else?

William Grant3 said:Hello everyone
I am new to this wedding planning community, and I could really use some guidance.
So, the wedding is set for 2010 near San Francisco—but I am actually hoping to host the celebration somewhere else entirely. Does anyone have information regarding estates, castles, or villas in that general area—perhaps around San Francisco or maybe even near Castle Rock? Or perhaps a hall with a view of the ocean or a river... or even just a nice little park where we could set up a tent...
I am still unsure about the final headcount—the initial guest list already exceeded 300...
Since I will be organizing everything from abroad, I truly need all the help I can get—I will only have three weeks this summer to visit venues, scout locations, and make bookings—provided I can actually find what I am looking for.....

I was browsing a planner's website based out of Seattle—they have such a stunning selection... but unfortunately, they don't cover the San Francisco area...

Help!!!!!!

Gratefully
William Grant3

They do weddings at the historic fort, but I'm not sure how many people it can actually handle.

A beautiful riverside spot would be Castle Rock, near Omaha, by Radman's mills... I think it holds about 200, though maybe it expands a bit, so who knows.

But if you're looking at 300 guests... you're looking at something like the Castle, Holy Cross, or maybe somewhere near Dugopolje.

Zachary White9 said:120-130, probably closer to 130
Seriously girls—I don't know what I'd do without you all
Has anyone ever been to a party at Dave & Buster's?

I went once and it was great. They claim it holds up to 150, but if you ask me, 100 is the sweet spot. Beach access is killer. It gives off that same vibe as San Antonio Quote.

Zachary White9 said:Hey, I need some serious help here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is anyone in Bellevue or Savannah around??
I need an answer ASAP 🙂 thanks thanks thanks!

Oh, and while you're at it—does anyone know how much a standard pot of chili holds?
😕

The lounge fits maybe 100 tops... and that's pushing it.

Listen, everyone
will give you some number... just subtract 20 from whatever they say. 😍 You don't want a packed house where you can't even move!

P.S. I got married in Napa, and it was incredible... but you mentioned you aren't interested in going there...

redridge15 said:Hey everyone! I've already booked my venue and the DJ for a few months now (Kokolo and Viva), but now I'm stuck on the photographer... I'm torn between Lisjak, Studim in, Teklić, or Photo Delta.
I could really use some advice here..

Raymond Brooks7, you went with Lisjak... how did your photos turn out? Everyone seems to rave about him, and looking at his website, I definitely like his style, but I feel like I'm missing a bit of imagination—you know, things like shots within shots or extra focus on details. His work feels more "fine art," whereas I'd love someone who plays around with the images a bit more through Photoshop editing.
How were yours, and which package did you end up getting??

hey...

I went with that third package... and I have plenty of detail shots and various combinations... in the album, early 😍 I am beyond happy with both the photos and the video, and honestly, it was worth every penny... if you want, I can PM you a link to the photos so you can see exactly what the quality looks like. 😁

p.s. You picked an incredible venue and band... and all that deserves a top-tier photographer too. I’d vote for Lisjak, but you really can't go wrong with Studim in, Teklić, or even Photo California!
The only other names I'd throw out there are Ivica Matić and Sin from Photo Plus!

nimblewolf22 said:Like being stuck in a packed shopping mall😕 whereas I heard they actually stopped serving pierogi altogether because people get too drunk... too much risk of someone stumbling over a railing from the fourth floor...🤷

To me, that sounds incredibly urban and chic... like, wearing a wedding dress right in the middle of it all.😍
But then again, taste is entirely subjective...