Posts by coastalwalker10

Michael Mendoza14 said:Does anyone have a clue what a decent centerpiece bouquet usually runs for? I'd love to know what kind of numbers to expect :-) Also, do florists typically include rentals for things like mirrors, glass pieces, vases, or candle holders in their packages?

If you ask me, a lot of those big-name, high-end floral boutiques charge a massive premium just for the brand name, and at the end of the day, you often walk away with decor that looks like something you could have assembled yourself for a fraction of the cost. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how much it takes to pull off a $2000 truly spectacular setup, but I honestly find their logic a bit exhausting—specifically that whole argument about doubling the price because of sourcing costs. It feels like a bit of a reach to me, especially since they aren't buying brand-new vases and hardware every single time; they're mostly just charging you extra to rent out the same equipment they've used at a thousand other weddings already.

I really want to say:
Now, if I may quote you back to yourself—since you were the one to quote me first—I’m curious where you get the authority to suggest I change careers. But honestly, let's move past that. People come here to find useful information to help them make decisions, so our little disagreements aren't actually serving anyone. It’s the same logic regarding age and experience; at twenty-four, having finished two high schools, completed my degree, mastered three languages, and managed through 150 banquets—including those formal, presidential, and international affairs—I see no reason to pivot professions. Meanwhile, you can keep working your side gigs out on the Florida Coast or up in the Appalachian Mountains for all I care!
The biggest misunderstanding here is your assumption that I’m trying to advertise specific venues. I was simply pointing out which places I believe offer the best value for the money. You mentioned attending a banquet for 200 people at Pirate Cove; well, I worked at Pirate Cove when they had crowds of 200, and if you think that’s how things ought to look... well, much respect to you, but it doesn't have to be that way. You talked about how perfectly the side tables were set up at Lion City—thank you very much, but I was one of the people setting those tables. And just to clarify, I did it alongside fifteen students (whom you seem to criticize Interlace for using, even though there is a clear advantage to hiring those with hospitality degrees, though I agree that everything should ultimately fall under the responsibility of the qualified servers). In that five-star hotel, I am one of only three trained professionals on staff. Pirate Cove is hosting 72 banquets this year alone, which speaks volumes about their operation; you don't hit numbers like that by accident, and Mark runs the show brilliantly. As for Aria—regardless of how much she gets on my nerves for various reasons—with her fifty-odd banquets under her belt, she clearly knows what she’s doing. People love her, for whatever reason, and that’s that. So, the idea that I have some vendetta against these venues is nonsense. I won't repeat myself, but the sheer intensity with which you attack the places I supposedly "promote" is quite interesting, shall we say? And truly, as I said at the start, this whole debate is unnecessary, much like your decision to quote my initial message. Your response could be a "Bravo, buddy" or a string of curses for all I care; we aren't going to see eye-to-eye, and that’s perfectly fine. If it makes you feel like the moral victor, go right ahead, while I’ll likely just continue "promoting" things via private messages. Have a pleasant day!

Haha... now that you've brought up those 150 banquets, I feel like I finally have a handle on who you are. 😊😊😊 Personally, I couldn't care less whether someone has a formal certification or not, as long as they show up and actually know how to do the job.

Nathan Watson2 said:1) I generally enjoy it when someone tries to lecture me on things I know firsthand, simply because it happens to be my actual profession.🍿
2) And technically, sixteen people can live in a one-bedroom apartment, so please, tell me if you think that's considered "normal."🙂
In my opinion, Pirate is an excellent venue—great management, great service, great food... easily among the best in the city for parties of up to 120 people.

Well, if you're so certain, maybe you should just switch careers altogether... but what I'm saying here is factual, accurate, and completely without error. If anyone is skeptical about whether the Pirate can actually accommodate a crowd of 200, feel free to go ask the owner yourself; I've personally been at several events there that proved it. As for you using this space to promote the venues where you work and then lecturing everyone else, that's your prerogative... but I am simply speaking from what I have seen with my own eyes. Whether anyone chooses to take my word for it or not is entirely up to them.

Nathan Watson2 said:It is quite rare to encounter such a concentrated amount of nonsense packed into a mere three sentences; frankly, I am relieved that your wedding will be held in a different venue so we won't have to cross paths. Using service carts is a perfectly standard and appropriate practice in any dining establishment where the kitchen is located away from the main hall. For instance, at the Hilton, where a single chair costs 75 dollars, they mimic this exact method by clearing plates onto a side station situated immediately next to the main table, performing the cleanup right in front of the guests. Furthermore, Doolittle doesn't even employ five qualified servers, so attempting to place them in the same conversation as Pirate, Duilio, or Braid is simply absurd. The Executive Chef at Doolittle, Mr. Rogulj, actually served as the head chef over at Duilio back in the nineties. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and you are more than welcome to host your wedding at the Sheraton or The Little Tavern, but when discussing establishments that have spent decades proving their excellence through thousands of banquets—venues whose staff has served four different Presidents and the highest levels of military leadership—it is pure idiocy to suggest that Doolittle stands on equal footing with them. These are the only places left that prepare authentic traditional dishes from scratch using thirty distinct ingredients, without relying on pre-made mixes, stocks, or Fant. Warm regards, and I wish you all the best (in your future married life). 🙂👋

I really don't understand by what authority you feel entitled to comment on my choice in the first place... for example, I know firsthand that a place like Pleter doesn't have permanent staff and relies on students (and no, it isn't about their experience level; they just need a food handler's permit, which anyone can get in a week).
Well, you certainly have the right to choose your own venue, but it isn't fair to read a comparison where you equate the lion (who moves food to side stations that are kept spotless and does not perform service directly in front of guests—it's actually prohibited to move food from plates within the dining room) with a robot that literally carries a vessel on a cart to transfer food from table to table. I wasn't suggesting that carts aren't part of the hospitality industry, but it depends entirely on the tier of the establishment. If you take a moment to look back at your own posts, you'll find you've written more foolishness than wisdom; and honestly, if every server in those "top-tier" halls of yours is as polite as you claim, then you've already said everything needed to know about their actual caliber.

Look, you can't really put a high-tech service robot in the same league as a seasoned professional from a place like the Ritz-Carlton or a top-tier steakhouse... I mean, let’s be honest, the level of service these robots provide is just incredibly subpar. I actually saw one the other day where they were clearing plates using little carts, just rolling them right past all the guests in the middle of the dining room, and frankly, I don't think that qualifies as actual service at any recognizable standard of hospitality.

Look, man... you just gave this whole exhaustive presentation on the lighting setups and who owns what, yet somehow you’re still missing the mark (just saying). I really don't think you can compare paying extra for the pre-installed lighting at a venue like the Hollywood Palladium $667 to walking into a completely dark hall where you end up shelling out five times as much just to get some basic lights set up. Besides, I know for a fact the Palladium can handle a crowd of 200 people easy; I’ve been to those kinds of parties myself, and trust me, there were 200 of us there, everyone fit perfectly, and we all danced our hearts out. If that venue isn't your vibe, fine, but I don't see why you'd cast doubt on the capacity when it clearly holds that many

Jack Castillo40 said:Well, hey there—my friend from France actually went with tiny rosaries as wedding favors instead, and honestly, it was such a hit. She even had their initials put on them in these cute little gift bags. For me, it was a beautiful keepsake—I think a lot of people really cherish those kinds of things. They're the one souvenir from a wedding that people actually hold onto. If you want, I can try to track down who she bought hers from, but I think she mentioned they were around $3.25 each. To me, it's just a perfect little memento.

Feel free to shoot me a private message if anyone is looking for this kind of guest favor...
There is a lady who specializes in making exactly these types of items, and if you are looking to order a larger quantity, the price settles in around $1.75(I'm not entirely sure what the minimum order requirement is for that specific rate, but we can definitely look into it if anyone is genuinely curious)

Nathan Watson2 said:For a feast like that:
1. Dodger Stadium (either on the terrace or indoors)
2. Hotel Washington (Duilovo)
3. Salo Robot
Anything else is just a step down and way too pretentious... shoot me a DM if you want the specifics.

Oh, come on now... honestly, everything she listed earlier is better than this current option... in my opinion, Aria definitely has much better taste when it comes to recommendations... take the Pirate, for instance—the food is fantastic, and they include all those little extras like mood lighting that most other spots would charge you an arm and a leg for, sometimes up to $1333

David King72 said:I'm totally with e+te regarding those music prices; they've become outrageously expensive lately, when you know there's plenty of amazing music available for way less.

Finding a photographer really just boils down to how much you're willing to bleed, but there are plenty of options out there.
jukica,smile,jabuka,marino,vidak,Bonačić....

Regarding the band itself... I’ve seen them perform, and I can honestly say they are worth that extra $200 premium because they know how to set the mood perfectly. That said, at the end of the day, the overall vibe of a wedding often depends heavily on the specific personalities within the band itself.

analogdrifter51 said:Still looking... We’re probably leaning towards the Sky or Aria.
We checked out the Pirate spot, but a buddy told us to skip it—apparently the dance floor is tiny.

Regarding the Pirate, if you're looking at a group of about 200 people, it’s an ideal spot for a party. Otherwise, I personally can't stand it when a venue has such a massive amount of empty space on the dance floor; it ends up looking like half the guests aren't even dancing, when in reality, everyone is actually out there on their feet.🙂

Joshua Perez122 said:Based on all the other comments, I’ve pretty much gathered that there’s just no way they can fit 200 people in there... I really don't want to be squeezed in like a sardine, especially since I won't have any room left to actually dance.
Thanks

I honestly have no idea where people are getting the idea that Pirate's Cove can't host a party for 200... I was actually at an event there with about 250 people recently, and most of the younger crowd had plenty of space to move around and dance. As for the food—it was absolutely fantastic. The owner is top-tier.
It’s probably best if you just head down there and see for yourself, because people do tend to exaggerate things sometimes.🙂

Noah Wright4 said:Tulsa isn't exactly anything special, but Drace is closer to 6.2 miles 😁

Salo actually looks pretty great at first glance 🙂

That’s true... the venue looks great based on the photos my sister and I have managed to find. We both follow the same profiles to pool our research, though this time I'm the one doing all the legwork.
It’s far from being poorly decorated, but I find myself searching for something near the coast—it would be a shame not to take advantage of that setting—though I suspect any hall, no matter how plain it might seem, could be polished up to look like this if you put in the effort.

casualwolf22 said:Hotel Park has a really nice terrace, plus the beach is right there.
I’ve been to a few weddings there, and usually, the crew does a fancy dinner on the terrace until midnight, then the older crowd heads home while the younger crowd moves over to Zbirac until 3 or 4 in the morning for an all-night party—you can even go for a swim 🙂

Or maybe something like this (if I’m reading the photos right, is this the beach at Hotel Split)?
http://moze-weddings.blogspot.com/20...ka-jelena.html

If I recall correctly, this was Sustipan... I actually had my own wedding ceremony held there before heading to the courthouse.

To be perfectly honest, I’ve never been much of a fan of Drace either... but then again,

Joshua Gray11 said:Hey everyone! 🙂
Has anyone ever heard of the Say Yes lounge over in Santa Monica? I’ve been scrolling through some sites online and it looks pretty amazing... does anyone actually know anything about this place?

It's actually a hall owned by the Arcade restaurant. They have a presence on Facebook and seem to be running some pretty heavy promotions lately... they're doing a giveaway, so I'll just paste what they posted on their page here:
Dear friends,

Due to overwhelming interest from engaged couples, our sweepstakes will be extended until February 7th, 2014. The winners will be drawn on February 9th, 2014, at the Say Yes salon. We look forward to seeing you and wish you the best of luck in the drawing:

• A free wedding for 200 guests (includes: floral arrangements from Mirela Florals, lighting by MediaRent, and the wedding cake from The Bakery)

• Open bar for all guests (regardless of guest count)

• Welcome cocktails upon arrival (your choice, served by a professional mixologist)

• Professional wedding photography (Loha Studio)

• A complimentary Saint Jude cake (M-K)

• Free pastries (The Cookie House)

• Complimentary wedding videography (MegaGraph)

• Free wedding bouquet and boutonnieres (Mirela Florals)

• A gift voucher worth $333 toward wedding rings
(Reic Jewelers)

• Free hair and makeup for the bride and maid of honor (Split Style & Top Line)

• Free balloon decor valued at $667 (Fiesta Balloons)

Anyway, my sister is getting married soon (I went through the whole thing last year)... we did a tented reception under a marquee once, and if I recall correctly, their rental rates for tables and chairs were a bit excessive—it was nearly twice as cheap as what they're offering here. 🙂))))) Though, I have to admit, this Arcade promotion sounds pretty enticing... the main catch is likely how much it costs to book the venue itself. From what I can see, the giveaway applies to anyone who reserves a date, so if you win, everything is free, but if you don't, you might end up paying quite a bit out of pocket, haha (or maybe not... who knows?)🙂🙂🙂🙂:

Adam Sanders4 said:I truly cannot say enough good things about the Marriott; from the exquisite cuisine to the impeccable service and the overall atmosphere, everything was simply wonderful.

The servers were incredibly efficient and attentive, and I actually got the impression that there were more staff members on hand than there were wedding guests—though I did hear a rumor that many of them were college students working through a campus job placement program.

Our celebration took place outdoors, right on the scenic plaza.

As for the cost, I didn't catch the exact figure because I forgot to ask the newlyweds, but my best guess is that the pricing is pretty much in line with what you would expect at any other high-end banquet hall in the country.

Well, I’m not entirely certain if you mean the Radisson located in San Francisco, but if you do, their most affordable menu starts at around 67 dollars.

Adam Sanders4 said:The other day, while I was wandering through a small town in the Midwest, I happened to pass by Stella Mares and noticed it was completely shuttered. It looked quite neglected, almost as if it hasn't seen any business in years. Perhaps they are simply waiting for the summer season to kick off, or maybe they are searching for a new owner altogether.🤷

I’m not entirely sure what the place looks like these days, but I actually attended a wedding there recently, and I have to say, it was absolutely wonderful.
To be honest, the owner is a bit of an odd character, but when it comes to the actual space, it’s lovely. I can't bring myself to lie about that—even if the guy himself isn't exactly my cup of tea.🙂
I have a few shots from my recent trip that I can upload, though I might need to find a better way to present them so they don't just clutter up the feed.

rustywalker34 said:There's also that Dunkin' bar and restaurant—I can't recall the exact name right now—but the atmosphere there is quite nice...

You could also look into Jabba Doo or Stella Mares... I know for a fact they rent out their space, since I actually spent some time at those venues during the festivals back before the pirate era.

Walter Nelson56 said:Yeah, everything there is perfectly fine $0.83!😁
You can find Sposa in Spokane too!!!😉

Honestly, everything is just so repetitive $833
I went shopping with my sister a few days ago and, frankly, it was a bit of a nightmare... I really wanted to snap a photo of her in the one wedding dress that actually flattered her silhouette, but she shut me down—apparently, she didn't want anyone being able to track down that specific dress online.

And when it comes to pricing, the newer styles are $2000
mostly... dresses that you'd see in San Francisco or Los Angeles for $2000—meaning the latest collections
are identical, but we found the exact same thing at a bridal boutique in a small beach town for $500.
On top of that, they throw in a boutonniere basket, some hair accessories, bridesmaid dresses, and a garter for free.

The woman working there was just way too intense—my sister tried on about 30 different dresses, and honestly, it was mostly because she kept pushing her.🙂

I have a question I've been chewing on... I was doing some reading online about cooperatives, and from everything I gathered, they seem to operate pretty much like an LLC. It looks like you can run all sorts of different businesses through one, with the added perk that the members themselves don't necessarily have to be signed up for payroll taxes or health insurance under the same strict rules.
So, what I'm really wondering is if someone could actually open a coffee shop as a cooperative instead of setting it up as a sole proprietorship or an LLC, and then just have the staff function as members of that coop.