Posts by David King72

cosmicsurfer17 said:Hey ladies, what’s the verdict on Viadelov cookies? Is the price-to-quality ratio actually worth it, or am I just paying for fancy packaging?
Also—random question—does anyone know of a nonprofit or a special needs association that makes custom wedding thank-you notes? I’ve been thinking it would be pretty cool to support a good cause while getting something unique and meaningful for my guests... you know, something that isn't just some mass-produced card from a big box store.
Thanks in advance!

P.S. See you all at Lion next weekend!!! 😍

Viadelov cookies—price $12/lb. Honestly, their Russian tea cakes are easily the best I've ever had, and while the rest of their selection might be just okay for the price, you certainly won't feel embarrassed serving them. 😁
Just go grab some and see for yourself; they're perfectly fine in my book.

Maria Bailey4 said:First I'm hearing about this gifting thing. Was a bridesmaid last year and literally nobody gave me anything.

Anyone else actually get gifts from the groom's side? Heard people give gold or something?

Usually, it's the wedding party who exchanges gifts, but as for the parents, well, that's entirely up to you.
In my case, the groom's family gifted me a white gold necklace and some earrings.

Timothy Fisher50 said:Does anyone happen to know much about the usual traditions regarding gifts for godparents or parents during weddings? I've been wondering if there's an unwritten rule about whether the couple absolutely has to get them something special.
Also, does anyone have any good recommendations for cakes, floral arrangements, or hairstylists in the Los Angeles area?

When I was planning mine, I just gave his parents little tokens to show I cared, and then I picked up a nice bottle of perfume for each of my godparents.
As for the sweets, I actually brought in homemade treats to the venue since they were delivered to me, though we did order the actual wedding cakes from Whole Foods.
If you need help finding a florist, just shoot me a private message.

Maria Bailey4 said:What's the average number of shops you can hit up in a single afternoon?

If you aren't rushing through everything like you're on a deadline and actually want to take a second to see what catches your eye, I'd say maybe two stores?

Maria Bailey4 said:Hey, quick question—how far in advance should I book an appointment to try on wedding dresses? Specifically looking at Mila Marani, Vera Wang, Pronovias, and La Perla.

Maybe about a week beforehand?

rapidtinker15 said:Quick question for any ladies who’ve shopped at Ira Commerce... their site doesn't list prices, but I caught a photo showing a pack of 144 rose charms for lapel pins that was under $4.25. Is that still the deal? Also, does anyone know what those heavy-duty ribbons go for? Thinking about placing an order if they're actually cheap since I don't live near ST...
Thanks for the help.

If you want the cheapest heavy-duty ribbons, you're better off checking out Rosebud Commerce over by the border.

electricmason9 said:Just picked up a suit today, feeling pretty good about it... Is it actually worth holding out for the Wedding expo coming up in February??? Might be able to snag a decent discount if I wait. 🙂

Well, it really just comes down to what you're looking for, doesn't it? You can definitely find some solid deals, so what's the harm in waiting a bit to see what they have on offer—even if, personally, I wasn't exactly blown away by them last year.

Betty Davis93 said:Little butterfly my wedding is June 21st
and honestly, I’m starting to feel that low-key panic setting in—I’ve already got the venue, the church, the band, and the photographer locked in
Now I was thinking about getting the tuxes sorted, but I have absolutely no clue what to do for the favors, and I'm still just tossing ideas around for the invitations in my head... basically, I still need flowers, the cake, dessert, makeup, hair, shoes... I really hope I can get everything done in time

Of course you'll make it happen, provided you don't wait until the very last second to move
My wedding was in June, too. I found my officiant right away, then moved straight into printing the invitations and ordering the cake, and I finally sorted out the rest about a month before the big day. Just a heads up, though—if you're planning on doing hair and makeup trials, you should probably book those ASAP so you aren't left scrambling, and definitely get your florist reserved early so you can actually sit down and iron out the tiny details later

Amy Kern said:Hey guys, what’s the deal with kids and pricing at the stadium? Do they actually pay full price for a seat, or is it half off until they hit a certain age or something? 🙂

What kind of joke are we even talking about here?
When you finally get around to booking that venue, why not go ahead and ask about all those little extra details upfront? I mean, wouldn't it be just wonderful if you spent the whole event realizing you should have checked on something specific, only to be met with that classic, "Oh, I had no idea," shrug from the staff?

feraljackal2 said:Does anyone know if there are places in San Francisco (or maybe the surrounding Bay Area) where you can actually rent a formal gown? I'm looking for something high-end—the kind of dress that usually retails for $500 or more.

Maybe check out some boutiques over in Beverly Hills.

Aaron Brown7 said:Quick question—where can I pick up a belt in Los Angeles?

Well, you could always just ask the bridal boutique where you bought your dress to order one for you, assuming they don't throw one in for free with the gown, right?
But honestly, I ended up just grabbing some lace from Victoria's Secret and a little blue ribbon to DIY my own $6.75 garter, mostly because the shop I usually go to was closed down

Thomas Cruz9 said:As for thank-you notes—does anyone have any creative ideas that don't involve just printing out a photo?

How about custom magnets featuring your picture, little bottles filled with something nice like bourbon or honey, or maybe some seashells...?

Michael Reed4 said:Hey, I need some urgent advice on which band to book... Ivica Bago is asking for 2000 dollars, Viva wants 2500, dice 1500 euro is at 1500, and Volar band is charging 1600. I have to make a call in a day or two, so if anyone here has actually seen any of these guys perform at a party, please give me a recommendation or some honest feedback. I REALLY need this ASAP. Thanks 🙂

IVICA BAGO👍

Phoenix—the venue was fantastic and the service was top-notch, but honestly, the food was an absolute disaster.

Karen Roberts16 said:Has any of you ladies picked up any pastries from Viadel lately? I stopped by their shop a few years back—though, honestly, who knows if they’re even still in business?!

I grabbed some cakes, pastries, and even a wedding cake from them once, and I have to say, they were actually pretty decent.

William Chavez10 said:I actually went to a wedding where they were playing, and they were awesome. You really can't go wrong with them. They've got such a great vibe. They're originally from Boise, I think.
As for the photography and video setup, it really depends... I ended up going with Kodak from Boise, and the pricing was solid and their work was great. In my case, it was also just one photographer and one videographer. Basically, they'll show up at your place first to take photos, then they'll be with him the whole time, and the best part is definitely when they come to get you. I feel like all those shots of people hanging out in the yard aren't even that necessary. To be honest, paying for a second photographer felt like a bit much for me.

Kodak is an excellent choice
they handled my shoot and the guys were absolutely wonderful
hats off to them

William Chavez10 said:Hey guys, I could use a little help here—does anyone know where I can find the cheapest cellophane sheets for wrapping cookies?

good luck

Michelle Ross4 said:Man, I’m still dealing with the fallout from the catering situation... we almost pulled the trigger on Phoenix, and we actually went to their banquet last Saturday, but let me tell you, the food was an absolute train wreck. Every single course was worse than the one before it—just a total disaster.

Now we’re stuck trying to find a venue for about 250 people, and it feels like we’re backed into a corner. We’re looking at one of those two identical halls, but if we want to rent out the entire space, they charge us for 350 guests regardless of how many actually show up. So, we're basically stuck with half of that massive hall for our group.

Has anyone here actually been to a party there with a crowd around 250? Can everyone actually fit comfortably, and is the buffet area a decent size? The manager is trying to sell us on the idea that it works perfectly fine, but honestly, we're pretty skeptical and would love some real-world examples before we commit.

Please, if anyone has any insight, help us out.

Thanks!

I second this.
I’ve been to a banquet at Phoenix twice now, and I have never eaten worse food in my life.

placideagle10 said:I’ve been looking into both foto studio V in San Francisco (where Vilim Bujević works) and foto studio Toni over in San Francisco as well... Has anyone here actually hired either of these studios for wedding photography or videography? I'm curious—were you happy with how everything turned out? Or maybe you've just heard some word-of-mouth about them? Any bit of advice would be so appreciated... Thanks!

Honestly, foto studio V is the way to go.
As for foto studio Toni, they were a total letdown for me—I mean, the guy might have a great personality, but when it comes to actual photography, it’s a complete disaster. I know of several people who ended up returning their albums because basic shots, like the ones of the godparents or parents, were missing entirely. I looked through one DVD they produced and it was honestly amateur hour; you wouldn't expect that from a supposed professional.

But hey, at the end of the day, everyone has their own taste.

northerntinker13 said:Hey everyone! Quick question—does anyone know the actual capacity of the Adriatic Grašo restaurant in San Francisco if there's a DJ playing? I've heard a bunch of different numbers, so I wanted to see if anyone here actually knows for sure. People told me they could fit about 90 people if a DJ is set up, but honestly, that feels like a bit of a stretch to me 😁
Thanks a ton!

Personally, I think the Pirate place is better, but hey, to each their own; I actually feel like the Pirate serves enough food that you can take leftovers home with you.