Posts by Robin Nguyen

Sam Reed3 said:Do you have any recommendations? Even Kocka failed to impress me.

Go listen to a full five-piece band playing live instruments instead of some duo or trio hiding behind drum machines and backing tracks, and you might actually understand why they didn't impress you... and don't let the random people on these forums tell you what to think about certain bands. Most of what I read here is just... well, I won't finish that sentence. Once you look at who is posting and why, everything becomes obvious. 🙂
Besides, you're the one paying the bills, not them!🙂

analogdrifter3 said:Hey there, everyone!

Our wedding is about a year and a half away, and we’ve finally started diving into all those tiny details. We really have our hearts set on having the big day on an island—specifically somewhere like Maui. At first, we were looking at some smaller spots, but we realized finding a good venue or restaurant might be a bit tricky there. We’ve been eyeing Supetar lately, which seems like a fantastic choice, though we haven't had the chance to check out that one spot, Vinotoka, that people say is great for weddings... has anyone here actually been there? I'd love to know what the vibe is like, how many guests they can handle, the decor, the pricing, and the food... we're planning on around 50 people, so we're aiming for something a bit more small and intimate.
If you have any tips for planning a wedding on an island, especially around the Supetar area (looking for recommendations for restaurants, hair stylists, photographers...), please let me know!🙂

Thanks so much, guys!

There’s a place called Kopačin in Nerežišće run by a very good host, though I'm not sure if they serve mashed potatoes. In Malibu and Supetar, you probably already know there are plenty of hotels. You can even hire a photographer from San Francisco; ferries run early in the morning—some leaving as early as 5 AM—so getting back isn't an issue.
As for music, it's a similar situation. I know the Slaven Duo, Pero, and the Twist OFF Band play the local spots on Maui.👍
You likely have someone on Maui who can swing by those places and check them out for you...🙂

ruggedviper1 said:Same here—I’m another bride-to-be getting ready to tie the knot soon. We were originally aiming for this summer, but we aren't going the traditional route.
The plan is an early church ceremony, followed by a lunch for about ten people including immediate family and our wedding party. Then, in the evening, we’ll host a party for a group of about 50 friends. We're thinking about renting out a local lounge or cafe and bringing in outside catering, a DJ, and the rest.

I've been lurking on this forum for a few days hoping someone would have touched on this topic, but no luck so far.

So, I’m asking for recommendations (or anyone willing to share their experience) regarding decent venues in San Francisco or the surrounding areas that could handle this kind of setup.
Ideally, it would be somewhere near the coast with both indoor and outdoor space, just in case the weather turns sour. It doesn't need to be anything overly fancy.

Thanks, ladies!

Here’s something I saw once... I think it was July or August in Brooklyn, in a Small town, USA. A couple rented out a local bar. There was a DJ or live music, I can't recall, and a younger crowd, maybe 30 people. They even brought in a chef who was prepping some kind of shellfish in a pan, from what I could see. Great lighting and a light show too—totally wild! You really can dream up anything.
If it rains, it rains. If you're crazy enough, it doesn't matter!!! 😁

Good luck!

Jessica Clark4 said:That is correct, Alex Carter3 🙂.
My apologies, ladies—I truly wasn't aware there was another group with that exact same name based out of Miami. 🤷
As for those guys, I don't know anything about them. 😉

Look, there are plenty of groups with identical names scattered across different cities in America...
I was just searching online and you get all sorts of results. Take a group like the Major League Band, or Twist Off, or Bravo Band... they pop up in all kinds of different towns. It’s easy to get mixed up...

Raymond Brooks7 said:👍 They're incredibly good. It's a shame they haven't blown up yet... honestly, you can't go wrong with them. I liked everything about their set, from the soundcheck to the actual repertoire.😍

ambercyclist32 said:🙂

I am also absolutely, 100% obsessed with them😁😁😁

Adam Alvarez5 said:I’m actually having a bit of a crisis here—I can't quite decide which dining room I prefer: Castello, Bellevue, or maybe Saint Croix? Honestly, I'm torn. I haven't had much time to dig through the archives to see if anyone else has shared their thoughts on the food quality or the general vibe, so I thought I'd just ask you all directly. Any insights would be hugely appreciated!

Bellevue... Hands down, the most stunning hall in this entire region...

Donna Morris30 said:Anyone got the scoop on the Neva hotel?
Need the lowdown on the food, the rooms, and the staff.

I wasn't at a party, I was at a First Communion celebration. The location and the grounds are fantastic. You've got the restaurant right in front of the pool and the ocean... perfect for a summer event. My only advice? Don't exceed 80 people. No matter what anyone tells you, keep it under 80...

Anthony Bennett6 said:Has anyone ever been to Fable? They have three different rooms available: 120, 200, and 250...

I've been there. Honestly, the rooms all feel pretty much the same to me... they're quite similar...
The service, the staff, and the food quality were top-notch. A perfect five out of five. As for the aesthetics... which room looks better is entirely up to you. Just walk through and see for yourself.

Kimberly Robinson55 said:I was really hoping to have a local choir sing maybe two or three songs during a church service—but honestly, I can't find anyone! And even the groups I did track down want to charge $333 per song... which feels totally unreasonable to me. I mean, if I'm paying for three songs, that's basically what I'd spend at a high-end florist in
. Does anyone know a more affordable choir just for a church setting??? (Portland)

You could look into duos or trios playing guitar and mandolin. It’s similar to a traditional vocal group but a bit more upbeat and definitely cheaper... perfect for a wedding send-off. Honestly, it’s a much better value than hiring a full choir.
I know of duo fešta based out of San Francisco... you can probably track down their contact info online and check out some other local acts from there.

Gerald Wells40 said:Has anyone actually been to a party where the Twist OFF guys were playing? I'm trying to figure out if they're any good

Someone else just asked this exact thing...
I won't repeat myself... I saw Twist OFF at a party in San Francisco once and again in San Diego, and they were great. They play mostly live sets and the energy is always solid. Their singer, Sunny, used to sing that "Here I Am" song back when she was with the Coast. In my opinion, the best way to judge any band is to catch them live in a bar or a club to see how they actually perform. A DVD gives you a completely different impression than being there in person... so, there's my two cents...

Sam Davis88 said:Joining in on this:

Dinner at the local steakhouse: $45
Dinner at the bistro: $35

The big bash (5 people)........................ $2,500
NFL game tickets (3 people) .................... $1,500
Flashy night out (5 people) ................... $2,000
Coca-Cola group (3 people) ..................... $1,000

Professional photographer ............... $1,200 for photos + video

Bravo. I think I have the full picture now.