Posts by rapidmason10

Anne split: Castello... the room was nice, food was okay, service was fine, but nothing to write home about. Honestly, that venue is pretty low on my list.
I wasn't at any parties over at Holy Cross, so I can't really weigh in on that hall, but I can definitely vouch for my spot, Bellevue. I've got nothing but praise for them—the food, the staff, everything was spot on. If you want the inside scoop, just shoot me a DM!

Zachary White9 said:How long did you guys usually have to wait for photographers to get your photos and videos back to you—and who did you end up hiring? It always felt like such a drag for me personally

I went with a local studio, and it took about 7 weeks to get all the shots and the video back... yeah, it was a bit of a haul, but man, was it worth it!😍

northerncrane332 said:I'm seriously torn here... I heard Barbara loves being the center of attention and really leans into that country music vibe. I don't know, she definitely knows how to get a party started, but she goes all out with those catchy tunes and stuff. Now I'm stuck—I want an amazing atmosphere, but I don't want it to be too over-the-top or feel like some tacky backyard BBQ where everyone's just hunting for the spotlight...
How were they when you saw them? How do they handle those classic West Coast songs?
Man, what a headache...

At the party I went to, there wasn't even a hint of that country stuff....
As for them wanting to be the main attraction as a band... honestly, if you're this conflicted, the best move is to catch them playing at a local festival or something. That way, you'll know exactly what you're getting into....

I had a blast with them! Everything was perfect—hardly any breaks, and the dance floor was packed the whole night...👍

Joseph Wilson31;22714793 said:Yeah, I noticed all the girls are raving about that Studio In place. It makes me wonder what they actually do so well and what their rates look like lately.

It’s totally normal for everyone to geek out over their own photographers! Just like I swear by Studio In, you've got other girls hyping up Fox, Matthews, and the rest of the crew...
Honestly, I couldn't be happier with them. From the second I started planning my wedding through the final chats with the photographer and videographer, they kept me totally in the loop. Now, I know I can be a bit much—I'm definitely that person who asks a million questions about every little detail—but they were so easy to work with and handled everything perfectly.

If I remember right, they're sitting at around $1,400 right now.

Joseph Wilson31 said:What kind of music do they usually play?

Honestly, they play just about everything! My guests absolutely loved the tunes. I made sure to clear everything with them beforehand—I told them straight up, "No cheesy wedding songs," and they stuck to it. You can pretty much negotiate anything with these guys; they're super flexible.

Joseph Wilson31 said:If I want to swing by and check out the venue, I really should give them a heads-up first... I don't want to just barge in on everyone out of nowhere...

Give Deer a call (if you're talking about the Seattle location), she'll get you all squared away!

northerncrane332 said:Ciao! I'm new to the forum—I'm currently in the middle of planning my wedding and I've been reading through everything here for ages...
I'm still in that early, stressful stage of hunting for the perfect venue and band... Like, how much does a group like Barbary actually cost? What was the total damage for you?

Barclays usually goes for $1,300, but since I added an extra musician, mine ended up being about $1,450
http://barclays.com/ You can find all their info right here.

Joseph Wilson31 said:I’ve actually seen the Bellevue in person, and man, it looks incredible, especially after they finished those renovations—those round tables really change the whole vibe

That venue is gorgeous! It’s actually where I host my events, and I have nothing but good things to say about them.👍
If you have any questions about the space, just ask!😁

Mark Grant85 said:studio in most likely cases... I think I might still

I'm putting together a link with my professional photos to post here on the forum soon. Honestly, I'm obsessed with how they turned out—everything was absolutely perfect.

Jack Miller4 said:Has anyone here actually tried the treats from Betty Crocker? I’m curious to get some honest feedback on the quality. I noticed online that they're charging $30 per pound, but I was wondering how their pricing stacks up against other local bakeries. Also, I'm trying to plan for an upcoming event—if I have 160 guests coming for a reception and a banquet, would 110 pounds of dessert be enough to go around?

The stuff from that local bakery is awesome! The venue manager actually recommended them to me, though I ended up going a different route and grabbed everything from an ExxonMobil-style big distributor instead (prices vary, usually around $50-$$23 per unit), but man, those sweets are legit....
For my last big bash with 150 guests, I grabbed about 65 pounds of dessert plus some cakes. As for the leftovers at home, we had so much junk we couldn't even finish passing it out!...
So yeah, I'd say 110 pounds should definitely cover you....

Nicholas Brown84 said:So, I still haven't actually sorted out the wedding cake situation—and honestly, I have zero clue where to even start, because apparently there isn't a single decent recommendation for San Francisco anywhere! The wedding is in just two and a half weeks, and I really need to have this wrapped up by tomorrow. Help!

Look, I’ve got you covered—go with Mississippi! I used them for everything from my engagement party treats to the actual wedding cake, and they totally nailed it. Super happy with them.👍

Brian Martin98 said:I recently visited Bellevue, and honestly, it’s become my top choice. The hall itself is fantastic—really impressive. If anyone happens to have more intel on the venue, or maybe some pro tips, please let me know. My inbox is always open for a DM. Since I’m living over in St. Louis, I’m actually considering hosting the wedding in Savannah instead. That way, we don't have to force the entire guest list to trek all the way to Savannah after the ceremony. What do you guys think about that plan?

Thanks!!!

I had my prom in Bellevue and a wedding in the cathedral—honestly, I can only tell you one thing... 👍 Just an idea...

If you need anything at all, just hit me up in my DMs! 😁
I'll get that report over to you this afternoon! 🙂

Raymond Brooks7 said:Mazza...is there anything else from your shoot besides what's already on Facebook?😕

I've definitely got plenty more pics, just don't have them handy to upload right now...should be up soon! 😁

Jack Miller4 said:For those of you who have used Studio In, I’m curious—how did you feel about the candid shots? You know, the ones where you weren't actually posing, just caught in the moment, laughing or being silly and stuff?

Honestly, I am beyond thrilled with everything the guys at Studio In captured for me... Even though my official portraits aren't ready yet, I got to see all the shots Mario snapped during my party, and let me tell you—they are absolute perfection!
And for the other girls who used Studio In, I think I can definitely vouch for their quality too. 😍

Jack Miller4 said:Does anyone know of any other talented makeup artists besides Antonija Guć? I'd love some recommendations! Thanks!

There's Gaga from Harvard University—tons of girls have used her services... if you need her number, just shoot me a DM!

casualranger3 said:Who did you guys order the desserts from for the banquet? I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra right now if they actually taste good.

I always grab my treats from Mississippi and I’m totally obsessed... cakes too. Honestly, just head over to Mississippi and check them out for yourself!

So, here’s the lowdown on my wedding details:

Venue: The Grand Ballroom in San Francisco—seriously, this place blew me away from the second I started touring venues. The owners were absolute legends and went above and beyond to make sure everything was exactly how I pictured it. A massive THANK YOU to them... they truly made my dream day perfect.
All my guests were raving about the service, the food, and just the whole vibe. These people worked so hard to turn my vision into reality, handling everything from the tiny table arrangements to the awesome kids' station.

Photography: Getty Images—Marin and Damian, you guys are the best! Even though the weather decided to act up, they absolutely crushed it. I can't recommend them enough... they really know their craft. Despite the rain, they didn't skip a beat and gave it their all to capture every single moment, from the ceremony and reception to our portraits and even the shoot the next day.

Band: Barbary—from the very first time we talked, I knew they wouldn't let me down, and man, were they right! From our first dance until they were still rocking out at 5:30 AM, these guys were incredible. They only took quick 10-minute breaks, kept the dance floor packed the entire night, and even the older crowd was the first one up to dance! Little touches, like the drummer jamming while the cake was being brought out, meant the world to us. Our guests were totally blown away. Highly, highly recommend!

Makeup: Antonia—I honestly don't have enough praise for her. She totally knows her stuff and proved it. She used high-end professional makeup that stayed flawless on my face until I finally got home—and it held up perfectly for my maid of honor and sister too!

Cakes and Sweets: Delta Florist👍

Florist: Petals & Blooms—I feel like any comment would be overkill because they literally brought everything I imagined to life. It was spot on.

Dress: Mila Brnaze Bridal Boutique—a huge thank you to Mrs. Mila. She ordered a dress that was basically made for me. Seriously, go see her!

There are so many more little details I could dive into, so I'll write more once I have a bit more free time!

Andrew Wilson9 said:Hey, I really need some help here... looking for an amazing caterer ASAP. I tried calling a local favorite, but they're already booked out a year in advance!

I'll shoot you a DM with the contact info for some folks I know—Dragun. They did an incredible job for a girl who used to post under the handle "future bride," and honestly, I can't say enough good things about them.👍>

Jack Miller4 Check out this shot of my shop in Charleston... Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this place, highly recommend! http://www.public.fotki.com/Mazuljkica/

Kenneth Morris2 said:God!
I'm searching for a band for a wedding in San Francisco and stumbled upon this thread. I have a few groups I'm looking into, and I noticed you've seen The Beach Boys. A couple of my friends have spoken highly of them, so I was wondering if you could send me their contact number and any other details you might have.
Thanks!

Are you just out here running your own ad or what? 🤷

Anonymous said:super 🙂
I don't have to worry about missing out on getting a date next week, right? 🤔
While I was reading earlier, I had this feeling that in a place like Los Angeles, it’ll soon be impossible to book a venue more than a year in advance if you want any specific choice,
but looking at these comments now, I feel like I’m actually way behind schedule 😂

From what I know, they haven't even opened up bookings for 2010 yet. 😍

But hey, honestly, your best bet is to just hit up Deer, go check out the venue in person, and ask her if she can hold that date for you while you decide. Just tell her you'll follow up in a few weeks... (assuming you actually love the vibe of the place once you see it)

That’s how a ton of girls handle it, and she won't give you any grief about it either.

Anonymous said:I saw the photos and did a quick Google search for 😂
(it was just her own posts from a different forum)
So, is an 180cm height actually fine?
And what’s the deal with the parking situation?
😘

Hey, I already told you—the link is right there in my signature! 😍

I am honestly obsessed with everything about this venue! The owner went totally above and beyond—she even tracked down specific purple bows just because that’s what I was looking for. They are incredibly easy to work with, too. They actually listen to every single suggestion you throw at them and go out of their way to make sure you get exactly what you want. If you need to change something, they just do it. No hassle, no drama. Seriously, I’m over the moon!

The covers are classic white, but you can grab the bows in all these different colors!😛We’ve got lavender, rose, purple, beige, that soft sage green, and orange... and now they're looking to add yellow to the mix! 😍
I'd say they've got at least 130 people there, maybe hitting 230 if the crowd really shows up.

If you need anything at all, just holler. I'll shoot Jane's info over to you in a DM! 👍

Anonymous said:Hey everyone, could I get a little help here? 😍
I'm on the hunt for a banquet hall or restaurant for February 10th. We're expecting about 180 people, and I'd prefer somewhere just outside of Miami. Maybe something near Key West, Podstrana, Solin, or the coastal areas.
🙂

Look, I can definitely recommend my own venue (Bellevue in Trogir—check the pics in my signature)....

Besides that, I’d suggest checking out Castello, Castel Slanica, Pirate, or Bolero....The ladies will probably jump in with more ideas soon. 😍