Posts by David King72

casualwolf22 said:So, our plan is basically just doing a small lunch for about 15 people—mostly just family—after the wedding. We were thinking somewhere near the coast, maybe somewhere fancy like Grasso or whatever, so I was just wondering if anyone could give me a rough idea of what a lunch like that would run per person?

It really all depends on whether you want a set menu or if you're letting guests order whatever they want from the menu, doesn't it? If you go with a fixed menu, then I'd say somewhere around $50 per person is a pretty decent, realistic price point, wouldn't you agree?

Thomas Thompson12 said:Hey ladies!
My fiancé and I are heading out to California next week to visit family for our engagement announcement—and since we haven't had any luck finding an ivory wing-tip collar shirt here in Indianapolis... I was wondering if you could suggest some shops we should hit up while we're in San Francisco?
Please help!! 🙂

Check out Mister Mot in the Muslim building, and there are also two shops in the downtown mall, though I can't remember their names—maybe one is NASA?

Joseph Thomas7 said:Does anyone happen to know where I can find the croquant catalog online?☕
My husband and I have come up with this somewhat wild idea regarding how we’d like our croquant to look, so I’m just trying to figure out if it’s actually doable. If not, I’ll need to start looking into some alternatives.

down at the marina, that old-timer (I can't recall his name) used to make those croquants

Sarah Martin662 said:Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice. Does anyone have experience with a solid restaurant in San Francisco for a "small" wedding? We're talking about 25 people. It’s happening in August 2015, and we’re really big on having an outdoor terrace with a romantic vibe—honestly, a view of the ocean right by the beach is a must. So far, we checked out the Dvor restaurant and it looks awesome, but we’re still hunting for other options. Thanks a ton!

Bracera has an incredible view, a great beach setup, a nice terrace, and honestly, the food is totally worth it.

swiftsailor32 said:I was wondering if anyone might be able to lend me a hand here =)
Do you happen to have any idea what the price range looks like for standard cakes at delta / Bobis? I assume it all depends on my specific tastes, but I’m just looking for a rough ballpark figure.
Also, does anyone know where I can pick up those little plastic dessert trays for guests without breaking the bank?
Has anyone heard anything about the jaglac florist? I know Radan is fantastic, but does anyone actually know what their pricing is like?
And finally, if anyone could recommend a singer for a church ceremony, I would be incredibly grateful.

I realize this is a bit of a barrage of questions, but I would truly appreciate any insight you can offer.🙂

As for delta / Bobis, I'm really not sure; I usually just go to Viadela, and their prices start around $33 and go up from there—it's likely pretty similar over at delta / Bobis too.

If you're looking for plastic serving trays, your best bet is probably at Nirsa; they often give you a decent discount if you pay in cash.

Regarding the florists, I haven't a clue about the pricing, but I'm sure one of the other ladies will chime in soon enough.

Hopefully, that helps you out just a little bit.

crimsonfox26 said:Hey, does anyone have a recommendation for a bridal salon in San Francisco? Ideally somewhere that won't completely break the bank.
I wouldn't mind renting a dress, too.

Oh, bless your heart, if you head over to the area near the pier, from what I know, they’re actually among the more affordable options. Honestly, I have no clue about any of the others, but that's where I picked up mine—well, $1000 I think I actually rented it,
if I recall correctly.

shadownomad16 said:Anyone got music suggestions for a catering gig? It’s happening out in Los Angeles... honestly, just give me an accordion player and I'm good.
thanks

Are you looking for a vocal group or maybe just some acoustic guitar and accordion vibes?

Check in with chunky to see what they think.

Ethan Lee96 said:Hi everyone, how can we find these local home-based florists? Does anyone have any recommendations or contact info?

Are you guys using private messages?

As for me, I actually preferred the church service being held outdoors.

Jamie Allen4 said:I am seeking some recommendations for reputable florists located in San Francisco. Additionally, could anyone provide some insight into what would be considered reasonable pricing for various arrangements?
Thank you.

I see quite a few people raving about Runolist, but if you ask me, you’re much better off hiring someone who works out of their own home since they tend to be way more affordable; I know for a fact that those home-based bouquets can start around $500—$200 which usually includes the boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, though table decor really just depends on your specific vision, and as for the car decorations, you could probably get away with $67 or more depending on how fancy you want to go.

shadownomad16 said:I need some catering suggestions. Any ideas?

I mentioned earlier that the local deli platters are actually top-tier, and honestly, they're way more budget-friendly than the big commercial options we usually look at; I’ve used them before and they really earned my respect.

If you're looking around San Francisco, you could check out places like Kat's, Pimpinela, Arcada, The Pirate, or Galinac.

William Mitchell5 said:Hey guys, you're being way too quiet in here... help a person out!

I'm looking to book some catering, a choir for a church service, and I'm also on the hunt for some killer desserts. I heard Viadel is pretty solid, but when it comes to $12, do they do those creamy, custard-style cakes?
Thanks

Magnolia Bakery - their treats are $12 both creamy and crumbly

If you need a choir for a church, you should definitely reach out to chunky—they're absolutely top-tier.

For catering, check out local BBQ joints or steakhouse platters

Sam Newman4 said:Hey, I was wondering if anyone here has been to a Miro Boem concert before? Any thoughts? Also, has anyone attended a wedding where they used a DJ paired with a live band? And finally, has anyone heard of the band Jukebox?
feeling indecisivediv>

As for me, I’ve seen Miro Boem play, and honestly, he absolutely kills it.

rowdyowl50 said:Hey everyone, I'm new here—didn't catch the whole thread from the start—and I actually asked this over on the invitation design board too. Basically, I was wondering if anyone has ever donated their custom invitations to a charity or maybe a place like the Maestral Children's Home. Thanks 😉 😉

maybe an organization like Angels or a Down Syndrome foundation

frozenmason40 said:Hey everyone, good evening,

Does anyone have a solid recommendation for a decent catering company in the San Francisco area that won't absolutely drain my bank account?
And honestly, what kind of ballpark figures are we looking at for wedding catering these days?
The plan is to host a big get-together for the wedding party at one spot...
We've already got the venue and the drinks sorted out, but the food situation is still up in the air, so we’re definitely looking to bring in some professional catering...

Thanks in advance,

Pećina iz Ploče gets all my praise—great quality and a pretty fair price.

shadowharbor19 said:Hey everyone, quick question—how many of you actually had to budget for flowers? I mean, specifically for the bouquet, the church decor, and the reception hall? I’m feeling a little lost on what kind of numbers to expect. I realize it all depends on the specific blooms and just how much stuff you want, but if anyone has a ballpark idea of the price ranges, please let me know..

A single bouquet could easily run you $500-$233
as for the church and the reception hall, I can't really give you a straight answer since I don't know what kind of vibe you're going for, but keep in mind that some venues actually include things like candle holders and those decorative vases in their base price
feel free to shoot me a DM if you want to dig deeper, but everything combined could easily hit $1000

William Morgan said:How much of a wait am I looking at for a wedding venue? It doesn't need to be absolutely flawless. Ideally somewhere near San Francisco. Also, does anyone have any solid recommendations? Based on your own experience, how many guests usually show up once you factor in everyone who brings a plus-one?

how many people

Rebecca Murphy5 said:Anyone happen to have a number for a decent makeup artist handy?

Lucija Spajic, Tončica, Violeta, Matea, or just search for "San Francisco Makeup Artists" on Facebook...
you'll find plenty of options there if you look.

copperowl13 said:Here are my thoughts on the various venues I’ve visited lately..
1) Phoenix - the service was solid, and the floor manager was incredibly approachable—really went out of his way. However, I wasn't a fan of the interior decor, and the food was just... fine. Nothing to write home about.
2) Macy's - lovely atmosphere inside; honestly, better than Phoenix. The prosciutto and cheese were excellent, the food surpassed what they serve at Phoenix, and the servers were working non-stop.
3) Ino Kastela - meh... I didn't particularly care for the interior design... the food was okay... nothing special, but not terrible either.
5) Bene - the ambiance is great; it's an ideal spot for small weddings of maybe 80 to 100 people... though the food portions are lacking. The seafood risotto was literally just rice, bay leaves, and some uncleaned scraps... actually quite disappointing considering the price point. Plus, you have to pray for good weather if you decide to host anything outdoors.
6) Bolero - you practically have to hunt down the servers to get anything brought to the table... for example, if you order pizza, they might only bring out a Coke, and then if you want actual sides, you have to beg them to bring them over. The prosciutto was subpar, and the pâté? Good grief. The risottos were good, but the beef stew arrived at the table cold. The interior space is decent enough; the ceilings are low, but it's not a dealbreaker. For me, the service felt sluggish—like they were severely understaffed for the crowd size.
7) Castello - this place feels worlds away from Miami... to use the restroom, you actually have to leave the hall. The manager wouldn't even let the newlyweds break glasses or cut their cake at their own table... as for the food, I can't even remember it! :-D
8) Sky - people scattered all over the terrace, making it nearly impossible to gather everyone on the dance floor... the risottos were excellent, but the beef stew was a letdown... it tasted like meat in a random gravy. It wasn't acidic, nor was it baked properly. The lamb was alright. Portions were small. There were about 200 people there, so it got pretty crowded around the tables.
9) Duilio's - the food was fantastic... the beef stew was top-tier... but those wooden ceilings are hideous. If they could just renovate that, it would be perfect.
10) Amigos... if I were hosting a party for 100 people, I’d go there in a heartbeat... the food is superb, right by the ocean... everything was a ten out of ten.
That's my take, anyway... obviously, everyone has their own opinion, and a lot of it depends on the specific crowd you're with... regardless of where you end up. ;-)

If I may chime in regarding Phoenix
I've been there a few times, and honestly, that manager gets on my nerves, but the servers are helpful. To be fair, the food during one of my visits was an absolute catastrophe, but during my most recent trip, it was actually spectacular, which caught me off guard. I heard through the grapevine that Phoenix employs both a male and a female chef, and they rotate who handles the weekend events; last time it was the man in charge, and you can truly tell the difference—it was huge.

Andrew Wood2 said:Bobis, Delta, Hrstic, House of Cakes, Star Brand, Babic, Zenith... which bakery did you end up choosing, and what’s the damage when it comes to wedding cake and dessert pricing?

viadel, my whole wedding cost about $1,700, cakes were between $100 and $150, and the pastries were priced by the pound—honestly, I was pretty happy with how it turned out.$12/kg and I'm satisfied

Hannah Murphy11 said:Thank you! I had that exact same impression, and Gaspar felt exactly the same way. 🤷

Gaspar actually joined us for the shoot the following day along with the photographer Marina (which is how I tracked them down), though he wasn't there on the actual day of the ceremony.
To be completely honest with you, we were shooting from 10:00 AM all the way until 7:00 PM, and those guys were absolutely tireless; neither my husband nor I are particularly fond of being photographed or posing, but here, we actually enjoyed ourselves and wanted more. We moved between several different locations, and the photos turned out to be exactly what we envisioned—I am just so incredibly grateful to them for giving us such a precious memory.
If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me a DM, though at the end of the day, everyone has their own specific taste.
For us, having high-quality shots was the priority, especially since, as I mentioned, we really don't enjoy standing in front of a camera.
When we sat down to finalize everything with Marina, these were some of our main requirements:
We want stunning images that offer a unique perspective, but we don't want to spend all day posing or dealing with the stress of being "on"—we just want every single moment captured perfectly.
Between their hard work and genuine effort, I've already said that we truly enjoyed the process and received exactly what we were looking for.
Good luck with your search, and whoever you eventually decide to hire, make sure you stay firm about what you want; I made it very clear to them that I wouldn't be paying if the photos didn't meet my expectations.