I need a checking account for my freelance gigs and a separate one for my regular paycheck—just nothing with an overdraft fee. I haven't even activated my Chase debit card yet; it’s just sitting there in the envelope.
Alright folks, I’ve got a few things on my mind. Can I actually get rid of my overdraft—even the authorized kind? When I was picking up my card, the lady at Chase told me to just leave it active since I was in a rush, so I did. Honestly, I didn't even want an American Express, but she insisted it would be cheaper and more cost-effective in the long run. If I had more time, I probably would have just cut the damn thing up right there to avoid the headache, but whatever.
Second issue—I'm dealing with a bit of a situation regarding school. I'm supposed to enroll for my senior thesis this fall, which means I won't technically be a full-time student for about a month while the enrollment period settles. Do I need to report this or officially de-register? And what happens if I just put my status on hold—how does that process actually work?
You can definitely hold a wedding at Michelangelo's estate—I've been there myself. Now, look, a priest isn't going to trek out to some random field for you, but if there’s a venue nearby that functions like those little chapels you see on Marin or Catalina Island (I've seen a few couples pull that off), then sure, it's doable. Just make sure you ask ahead of time. Also, heads up: the officiants charge a fortune for off-site ceremonies. You're looking at a base fee just for them to show up, plus travel fees per mile, and then it gets even pricier depending on whether it's a weekend or if you're booking outside of standard business hours. That's the deal. 😉
Thomas Cruz9 said:I'm actually wondering the same thing—does anyone have firsthand experience with the Volley band? Also, does anyone know if The Beach Boys are any good? I would be incredibly grateful for any insight.
They played our wedding and absolutely killed it. It really comes down to what you're looking for—their setlist isn't centered on English tracks, which matters to some people (like an Uber band, for instance—they're great, just wasn't our vibe). But the atmosphere they create? Top-tier. Of course, that depends on the crowd, but they did their part perfectly. I think they even picked up two or three gigs right then and there from relatives and friends who were already thinking about weddings. Even a year later, whenever our wedding comes up, everyone raves about how they haven't heard music that good or seen a dance floor that packed in ages. They play exactly what you agree on. They've added a female vocalist too—heard she's great, though I haven't heard her myself so I can't say for sure. That's just my take 😉
Look, nothing actually happened to her—people just weren't feeling it. She was rushing through the prep, didn't taste anything, followed ten different people's recommendations, and ended up disappointed anyway. It wasn't a total disaster, but it was a waste of time.
You aren't even suggesting she'd distribute local stuff—(that didn't cross my mind at all)—just how to get them to the venue, or are you thinking about distributing them later?
They really are the best—and definitely the most expensive—of anything I've come across. 😢 I'm in the same boat, looking for advice on finding that sweet spot between quality and cost. Just please, whatever you do, don't suggest Verizon. If I end up using them, I'll probably never have to deal with anyone else again—unless my friend was just having a run of bad luck.
We finally picked ours—took me forever because I’m... let’s just say I’m incredibly picky about anything I actually care about—and got him booked. He had an exhibition recently, so we went, hung out afterward, and really got to know him. My partner knows him somewhat, but honestly, I was blown away once we actually sat down and talked. Turns out he was at a friend's wedding, and she couldn't stop raving about him. I'm thrilled with how this turned out; he’s just my type of person, so there's zero stress over the logistics or planning. Just so you know who we're talking about: http://www.stipemarinovic.com/ I'll post my full thoughts in October. 😉 Good luck on the hunt! 🙂
David King72 said:The Old Palace tavern during the procession
The procession happens in Newport Beach, same as Our Lady of Loreto—but the Lady of the Wall is over on Manhattan Island. I'm not entirely sure if that even counts under the Savannah umbrella, just trying to be precise about the locations here.😉
If you end up on Manhattan Island, maybe look for Holy Cross. As for the Coastal Cities, there’s a new spot called Castello just past the park in the Old Palace right by the water, or maybe Baltena—depends on what kind of vibe you're actually after.
I actually need a recommendation for a cake. I was thinking about hitting up the Mississippi Delta, but they really let me down with their service. 🤷
A few months back, we hit up a wedding where a Yellow Cab band was playing. My knowledge of local bands was pretty surface-level at the time—I mean, I follow the right forums and all, but since we already knew who they were, I wasn't exactly studying their discography 😁 My take? They were actually solid. My only real gripe was one English track—either the singer missed the mark or the timing was just off. The crew I was with is pretty hardcore about that specific song, so 😁. Honestly, they’re great if you’re looking for rock n' roll, but man, by the end of the night, we were wiped. We usually just stand around and dance, though sometimes even that feels like too much work 😁
Hoping I don't come down with something before tomorrow. Feeling a bit under the weather 😢 Yeah, I’m also wondering who all is exhibiting. How long does it take to hit every booth at this expo? I'm short on time, but I'd love to see everything 😁 Is everyone offering discounts, or is that just wishful thinking? Anything from the formal wear or bakery sections?
p.s. Looks like I finally found a photographer. Stipe Marinović (he has his own site)—I expected him to be way more expensive, but I really dig his work 🙂 I was planning on vetting every single photographer at the show, but honestly, I'm too exhausted to keep looking 😁 Are most exhibitors based out of San Francisco and the surrounding area, or are people coming in from further away? 😁
Look, there are plenty of good options out there, but none of them really hit the spot for me. 😁 I'm being Selective. 😁 Personally, those chocolate ones—like that Zlocko orange variety—are absolute perfection. But I was actually picturing something smaller. Maybe different flavors for each one, mostly fruit-based, just so they feel a bit "lighter" after eating all night long. 😁 Like, imagine each cake having its own specific fruit and garnish—yeah, yeah, I know it doesn't strictly match my theme, but fruit is fruit. Something like one being apple, one pineapple, and then who knows? Just something else. Some of the decorations are honestly stunning, but either they're way too gaudy for my taste or they're made from that cheap imitation stuff. It feels more like a pile of frosting than an actual cake.
Sean Fox said:See, I get a totally different vibe from brittle... whenever I've been to a wedding, it always seems to just get torn apart... personally, I live for brittle, even if I'm not really a huge cake person myself 😍 he agreed to it, but honestly, just so we wouldn't deal with any stupid comments from the guests....
Comments? If you guys actually like the cake and the tradition, then there isn't much left to debate 😉 Honestly, at every single wedding, someone is going to find something they don't like. At the end of the day, it's about the vision, the effort, and the concept—it's not like every guest is getting married individually, so it doesn't need to cater to everyone's specific taste ☕ give me a break 😉 P.S. For instance, half our guests act totally shocked that we aren't doing chair covers 😁 as if anyone actually cares 🙄 Let them be shocked; at least they'll have something to remember. As if being "different" or "unconventional" is automatically a bad thing. Ugh 😉
Sean Fox said:Man, I'd go for the croquant and maybe some bells... but I'm marrying a total city boy from Chicago, so... 😂🤣 Maybe I'll just chill on that and stick to a nice regular cake.😍
It doesn't matter. Marriage is just a series of compromises. 😉 If you don't want the massive version, I'm leaning toward something smaller—it's more my style—and honestly, it sucks that nobody actually eats the food (everyone shows up to stare, but nobody wants to eat—typical). My guy isn't exactly a saint, but he agreed to the smaller setup the second I mentioned he could be a sailing enthusiast. Once I brought up the sailing thing, he was sold. 😁
Look, I’m clueless when it comes to desserts, so I’m asking for some help here. The wedding is for about 80 people in San Francisco, so we're looking at pretty much every Baskin-Robbins in the area. Any recommendations?
I’ve picked up some treats for birthdays and anniversaries back in the Mississippi Delta, and they were fine—but those were just store-bought. Can I order things that aren't literally "dry cookies"—like mini Canadian wafers or mini eclairs? How many pounds should I get per person, and what’s the price range? We might do a few different cake flavors—maybe one fruit-based, one chocolate, etc.—depending on how many guests show up. Quality matters more to me than the price, though I'm not exactly loaded enough to pay for delivery from Target 😁
One more thing. Is krokant actually worth it? I personally love being able to slice it, but my fiancé isn't a fan. I’ve heard most people don't care for it, and since half my guest list probably won't even know what it is, I can't really gauge interest. Should I just stick to small cakes? Also, can cakes replace creamy pastries entirely? If I have both cake and krokant, am I expected to serve both or just pick one? How much extra dessert should I order if I assume people will take some home? (And what's the standard box size—is it usually around a pound?) Does anyone do those little mini-cakes that look almost like muffins? Instead of several large cakes, you could just stack various flavors on a tiered stand.
Sorry for the barrage of questions; it's all just coming out of my head at once, but I didn't know who else to ask. Hope you don't mind. 🙂 🙂
I’ve asked this before and didn't get an answer, so I'm asking again—hope nobody takes offense here. 🙂 Does anyone know a catering company or someone who rents out those tall, skinny cocktail tables for outdoor parties? We're looking at getting catering from Saint Michael over in Trilla, but we haven't reached out yet. Before I call them, does anyone have actual experience with their service?
Also, I need a pointer on photographers. I want a few professional shots—nothing too artsy or forced—just some photos at my place, then by the church and during the ceremony. Maybe 2-3 hours max. People are quoting me $500 for that, which feels steep when you consider a full wedding photographer with video goes for $1,000! I’d rather find a solid local pro so I don't have to put my friends on the spot, but I don't know anyone else. I want quality work, but I'm not looking for those big-name names everyone keeps bringing up on this forum. What do you guys think is a realistic price for something like that?
Hey everyone, I need some advice on hiring a photographer. I’m looking for a few professional shots—nothing overly staged or cheesy—around the ceremony and the service. People are quoting me upwards of $500 for this, which feels steep to me. I’d rather find a local pro who knows their stuff instead of bugging my friends, but I don't know anyone else. I want quality photos, but they don't need to be high-concept art pieces, so that price tag just doesn't sit right. What's the consensus?
One more thing. We're torn between two venues. One includes drinks in the package, while the other doesn't—but the second one is so much better that we'd pay the difference just to have it. My concern is how much the bar bill might actually run us. Any idea how to gauge that?
I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the Volar group—I’ve seen two different couples perform, plus a wedding I attended. 😉 Does anyone happen to know what their rates are?
I’m trying to figure out how far in advance I need to book a venue. We’re looking at about 100 guests—so, a standard mid-sized wedding—and the food quality is non-negotiable. It needs to be good, just not over-the-top excessive like what you'd see at Leo's or something. Also, we need enough floor space to actually dance; a well-organized layout is key. Ideally, somewhere in the Castleton area or nearby.
Some people told me booking a year out is overkill, while others managed to pull it off with only two months' notice. Obviously, it all depends on the date, the guest count, and all that—which is why I’m giving you the rough details I have.
The timing would be late summer—think late August or early September. Thanks.
Hey there. Quick question—I just picked up some polarized Ray-Bans and I’m hoping to keep them exactly as they are, but with a -1.00 prescription added to both lenses. Is that actually doable? And if so, what kind of damage are we talking about financially—maybe somewhere in San Francisco? Just looking for a ballpark figure. Thanks!