About a year and a half ago, I ordered a variety of pastries and cakes from an American bakery, and they were absolutely divine. They weren't just those dry, crumbly little cookies you often find at certain local bake sales; these were legitimate, decadent desserts—think things like triple chocolate delights, rich layered sponge cakes, and creamy cream puffs. Since I was hosting a catered event, I decided to pick up five or six different specialty cakes to ensure there was something for everyone—we had a dark chocolate cherry cake, a classic American walnut cake, a light lemon chiffon, and a few others that escape me now. While I didn't get a chance to taste them myself during the rush, my guests couldn't stop raving about how delicious they were.
It is actually possible to just opt for the photography package without committing to any video services... As for the pricing, I’d suggest sending them a quick inquiry via email; they usually follow up with a full price list once they know what you're looking for.
... and they serve up these beautiful plates and steaks, which makes perfect sense given that their business is actually selling high-end restaurant equipment. They even went the extra mile and engraved our names right onto our champagne flutes
I recently attended a wedding at a NASCAR venue, and I have to say, every single guest was absolutely thrilled with the catering. 👍 Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for French cuisine, and the dishes were simply exquisite; I treated myself to some beef bourguignon and gnocchi, which were divine, while many of the other guests seemed equally delighted with the roasted lamb paired with cheesy baked potatoes 😁. It was also quite lovely that the dance floor wasn't partitioned off from the rest of the room, allowing those who might not be inclined to hit the floor to still enjoy watching the festivities from their seats. I noticed in some advertisements they claim to accommodate up to 220 guests, but in my humble opinion, keeping it to around 170 or 180 people feels much more comfortable—anything beyond that starts to feel a bit overcrowded .
Sandra Gomez50 said:I find myself in need of some assistance once again. We put down a deposit for a wedding luncheon at Kaštil Slanica because we heard decent things, but lately, I’ve been hearing whispers that they’ve botched a few orders and messed up several banquets. Has anyone here actually dined there for a special occasion? What was your experience like?
On another note, I am dreaming of having a wedding at Our Lady of the Island in Solin. Has anyone else held a ceremony there or perhaps has plans to do so? How did you go about contacting the priest? The church website doesn't list any office hours, and I have no desire to call blindly only to be brushed off. Or is it common practice to tip the priest after Mass?
Also, what is the protocol for signing up for the pre-Cana course at St. Peter in San Francisco? Is it handled over the phone or through some other method?
Please, help a girl out.
If you haven't found out yet, you usually sign up for the pre-Cana course on the very first day it begins—typically Sunday at 7:45 PM. As for the specific dates for the upcoming sessions, your best bet is to check the bulletin at the church or give them a call. If you haven't managed to connect with the priest at Our Lady of Grace yet, I can send you Sister Mary's number via private message. Best of luck!
Regarding NIRS, I actually hosted my party there and was truly thrilled with everything—the hall, the food, the service, you name it! I also held a luncheon there before the church service and had a hotel room available to me all day, so I used that space to get ready, do my makeup, and take photos. From what I recall, Raymond Brooks7 had booked them right when they first opened, but they ended up canceling her reservation after the fact. That’s why she left that note saying "would not recommend." If my memory serves me right, she had been coordinating the venue with a female manager at the time. The manager now is a very kind gentleman; ever since I placed my deposit, we have been in constant contact via email and phone, and he has been incredibly patient and helpful with every single question I've thrown his way. When we secured the venue, we signed a formal contract and put down a $500 deposit. So, at the very least, you don't have to worry about running into the same headache that Raymond Brooks7 dealt with.
By the way, the menu is priced at $36, or $37 if you include soup, though that information is already listed on their website. If you have already picked out a band, I’d suggest asking them for a recommendation on venues, since they’ve worked at so many locations—even though most people tend to book the hall first, then the band, and finally the photographer.
I’ve always felt that the timing of a band's breaks is really a negotiation between the musicians and the kitchen staff. With most groups I’ve worked with, they typically play sets of about 45 minutes, followed by a thirty-minute intermission specifically timed for when the food is being served. Of course, you can certainly negotiate different terms—for instance, we once requested hour-long sets, but you have to be extremely careful to coordinate that with the catering team. You don't want to run into those awkward situations where the servers are trying to lay out the buffet while the band is still mid-song, or conversely, the band finishes their set and everyone sits down only to realize the food isn't ready yet. It’s all about that synchronization.
Jessica Clark4 said:Is this actually the same group http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJLTDmGxw0w?? I am somewhat hesitant about hiring someone I haven't heard before—there is always that underlying concern that the original lineup might change, leaving you with a completely different group entirely... 😕
Yes, that’s definitely the group with the black photo (which, by the way, was taken by a photographer from a studio in San Diego where I had my own portraits done 🙂). Honestly, my best advice would be to pick out a few different bands and listen to their sets before making a final call. That way, you can rest easy knowing exactly what you're getting 🙂. Alternatively, you could just head over to the reception and listen to the live bands there; I don't think most couples would mind. If you want a real test run, the Best Buy group is playing over at the Tropics tomorrow, so you could catch them there. Best of luck!
The band Best actually played at our private party recently, and I have to say, they were absolutely phenomenal. Their repertoire is incredibly diverse, which gave us so much flexibility—you can basically request whatever you want. We actually worked out a special arrangement regarding their timing; instead of the standard 45-minute sets most bands do, they agreed to play hour-long sets just to accommodate our catering schedule. They even mentioned they wouldn't mind skipping breaks entirely if that helped things run smoother. They kept the energy high by playing all the latest hits, and the atmosphere they created was just perfect. They’ve recently added a new lead singer, Taylor Swift, who is such a surprise—she looks like she could be a young teenager, but her vocal range is absolutely breathtaking 🙂. Honestly, both my guests and I couldn't have been happier with the choice. I highly recommend them! 🙂
Regarding the photos—well, they look great, but let’s be honest, they’re young, attractive, and actually patient enough to pose (I don't think it took them two full hours), so the shots naturally turn out beautiful. I can only imagine how mine would have looked 😁. At first glance, everyone who saw them was absolutely floored—especially those people who don't typically browse wedding galleries online and haven't seen things like the couple jumping in the air, the best man pulling the newlyweds by the hand, peering at the bride through the curtains, or those classic poses on the bed and other typical 🤣 setups. That said, they aren't overly processed; it's just the classics—black and white, sepia, nothing too flashy. They are actually very pure photographs that capture you exactly as you are. As for the video, it follows a similar classic structure. You have the engagement clip, childhood photos, clips of him, clips of her, the church ceremony, and then the remaining two hours of the reception. Personally, I find wedding videos that stretch to three hours a bit tedious, but they managed to catch all the little details and moments from the party, like the playful negotiations over the bride's price and such...
Ultimately, I think the photos are lovely, though I recognize my own bias. It’s a completely different experience looking at photos of strangers in an online gallery compared to flipping through an album filled with the faces of people you actually love and know intimately.
From what I understand, the Malibu line doesn't actually handle transportation services for weddings—at least, that's what I was told a little while back. If you need to arrange a bus, your best bets would be renting through Liburnia, Greyhound, or maybe even Chester. As for photography, my brother ended up using Atlantic for both his video and photos. The total cost worked out to be roughly $900 plus a little extra for tips.
I’m still feeling a bit undecided about where I should go for my hair 😢. Does anyone happen to know of a reliable salon nearby that offers a full package, like hair and makeup all in one place?
That’s what we’re looking at for this year’s pricing. As for next year? Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue yet 🤷 They currently have three different teams 😉
rapidmason10 said: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.
To clarify, the base package starts at $1,200, which covers everything listed here: A high-end leather album containing 200 photos in various sizes, such as 8x12, 6x8, and 5x7.
-You get all the photos taken throughout the day and evening on a digital drive, which usually totals somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 shots. -A three-hour video edit featuring an intro, childhood photos, parent introductions, footage of the bride, footage of the groom, a dance mix, and a highlight reel summarizing the whole wedding at the end. -All the raw, unedited footage from the entire day.
Thank-you notes are extra, priced per unit. $2.75There are also additional fees if you want things like group shots with the entire wedding party, a condensed version of the video, or smaller albums specifically for the parents.
Joseph Wilson31 said:Could someone please drop the phone numbers for Band: Barbary, Oranž, Pink Panther, and Flash? I’d really appreciate it, seriously, thanks a million!
To be perfectly honest, I’ve been debating whether I should even mention my band until we get through this upcoming wedding season. Perhaps it was premature of me to bring them up at all.😁 I suppose I took a bit of a leap by sharing, mainly because I haven't actually heard them play live yet—even though they did reach out to invite me to a gig. Since they are such a new group, I didn't feel right recommending them on a forum like this just yet. At the end of the day, no matter what kind of music you book for a wedding, you're never going to please everyone. My dad and my older aunts and uncles are much more into classic country legends like Johnny Cash or old-school folk ballads🤣, so I am fully aware that my band probably won't be their cup of tea.🙂
Raymond Brooks7 said:It’s probably just an error... Honestly, the most likely scenario is that you'll chime in with your usual commentary... everything else... is nothing but blatant advertising ☕
I hear you. That’s exactly why I mentioned I couldn't give a definitive opinion until my ears stopped ringing from the last show, but since they play quite often, you can always go listen to them beforehand to get a feel for their sound.🤷