.... so, how far in advance should I actually be looking at wedding dresses and getting everything booked?
Well, you can probably pull it off up to a year ahead of time. Personally, I locked mine in about six months out. I spent time bouncing between different boutiques, trying on all sorts of styles until I finally found the one that hit right. The danger of waiting too close to the big day is simple: you might find "the one," only to realize the shop is already booked solid for your date.👎
Carol Mitchell6 said:Hey everyone, quick question here... How much lead time do I actually need to get a church reservation locked in before the wedding?
It really all comes down to your local priest. It's like dealing with any major institution in the States—some administrators want you to get on their calendar months or even years ahead of time, while others won't even look at you until the last minute. Just reach out and see how they handle things.😉 Good luck!
I actually just stumbled upon some info while I was out and about, and it looks like the rent is sitting at 20 $0.00 plus an extra 3 $0.00 for cleaning services... oh, and apparently, you can't just rent out the villa as a private individual, it has to be through a legal entity, like maybe an event planning agency or something similar in the States...
A girl I know had a party there once; I think she rented the California villa through a florist who handled all the decor and everything. Now, I'm not sure if you could pull off a similar setup, or if that florist was even registered as an event company or something like that...🤷 maybe try asking a catering company if you can book the villa through them? There’s always a way to work around these things.
I actually know a great event firm over in San Diego, so if you want, I can shoot you their contact info via DM. They handle catering, venue rentals, flowers—basically the whole nine yards.
- Does anyone know how to go about renting out a villa in California, like who actually handles those bookings, and is that even a realistic option to look into??
- Also, what’s the vibe like at the Honey ballroom, is it actually worth it?? I'm wondering about the size, if there are different options for larger or smaller groups...
- Regarding CATERING—I keep seeing these price ranges mentioned on various forums, anywhere from $20 to $33—but what does that actually cover? To be totally clear, I’m looking for full wedding catering, meaning all the actual courses you'd expect to be served at a reception in a banquet hall, where someone just takes care of the cooking and the plating... is that what those prices mean?? Or is the standard expectation around here more for simple finger foods and appetizers?
The California villa is managed by the city of San Diego. You’ll have to reach out to city officials directly; unfortunately, I don't have a specific contact. About a year ago, the rental rate for a single day was $7.00.
A catering quote of 60 to $33 definitely isn't covering a full meal service. That sounds more like the price for a light cocktail hour or a small welcome reception. Real catering costs are significantly higher than those figures. Good luck.
Paul Morales12 said:I was also wondering—should I ask for someone specific at that salon, or is everyone there pretty much a pro? Even though I live in San Diego, I've actually never stepped foot in there, nor do I know anyone who gets their hair done there!
When I went, there were two younger women working and one slightly older woman who did my hair—she seemed to be the manager or owner, though I can't recall her name. It’s like picking a restaurant; just go in for a trial run and see if you like the vibe. Their prices weren't outrageous either. The most expensive style was around $67, and I actually paid a little bit less than that.
Paul Morales12 said:Well, nobody actually replied to my very first post yet... 😢 Maybe I'll just have better luck this time around! 🙂
On another note, does anyone know a great makeup artist or hairstylist in Charleston? I really don't feel like driving all the way over to Miami just for hair and makeup.
And, of course, I'm still crossing my fingers for some answers to my first post!
Bye for now!
hey, sorry about that 🙂
There's a salon called Maya right across from the Bellevue—you know, near the Hilton. They do great hair; they did mine for my wedding and a bunch of my friends too.
I'll send you the number for that bakery over by the marina via DM.
David King72 said:Well, if I managed to get into his profile and saw those photos, wouldn't I just send a friend request immediately? Honestly, good for her, he's clearly worth the effort.👍👍👍👍
I mean, let’s be real—those photos are absolutely legendary!
Harold Price said:Thanks, Sarah... I finally managed to get the number... but now I'm even more torn 🤷 I honestly can't decide between my son or Studio Papaya.... they both seem like such great options 😍
The price tag should be your deciding factor here since there is such a massive gap. Studio Papaya is way, way cheaper for both photography and videography compared to Sin...
Here goes my full report on our summer wedding in Charleston! 😍
Church: St. Patrick's Cathedral in Charleston. Getting things started with Father Piplica wasn't exactly a breeze—he was initially hesitant to marry us since we aren't locals—but in the end, everything turned out wonderful. It was a short, sweet ceremony that felt very pleasant; a solid five stars. We had organs playing as we entered the cathedral and again at the end of the service. The absolute highlight was walking out through the side doors of the cathedral and looking down at the guests from those steps while everyone sang and tossed confetti. Wow, I truly felt like a princess!
Bellevue Hall – As I mentioned before, the food was fantastic; every single guest commented on it. Helen, the manager, was lovely and very easy to talk to. The hall itself is beautiful, and once the flowers and decorations were set, it looked absolutely stunning. My one gripe was with the waitstaff; they brought out all the cakes and brittle at the exact same time, as if they thought I had twenty hands to slice everything! I really should have walked them through the timeline beforehand with Helen; if I had, I think the whole experience would have been a perfect five stars just like the rest.
Desserts: The brittle was made by Mediterranean Bakery over at the marina, and the quality was top-notch! They also made my wedding cake, though I wasn't particularly thrilled because they didn't quite capture the specific look I wanted. In my opinion, it’s better to just hire them for the brittle where they truly shine. I had a massive spread of other cakes from Delta plus various other treats, so it wasn't a huge deal—honestly, maybe I didn't even need that specific cake to begin with.
Dress: I used the La Perla salon in Ottawa and San Francisco. The woman in Ottawa was wonderful, and that's where I booked the Pronovias la Higuera gown, which cost me 375 dollars to rent. I picked up the dress in San Francisco; it was beautifully packaged, pristine, and included all the agreed-upon accessories. I was extremely happy with both the dress and the service.
Flower Shop: Nellie over on the hill handled the arrangements for the head table, my bouquet, the boutonnieres, etc. I also ordered the centerpieces from her, which Helen and the crew at Bellevue assembled since that service is included in their pricing. For the vases, I bought them at the TTTS shop run by Matt and Jaranen.
Music and Entertainment: DJ Mario (DM me if you want his number) is excellent; he created a great vibe with a mix of American hits and international tracks. He isn't really the "talkative MC" type, so you might want someone else if you want a host, but everyone was dancing and later remarked that the music was spot on! Before the reception started, we had an accordion and guitar duo—two very charming, high-energy young people who played for ages because the crowd simply wouldn't stop dancing! We also had a folk dance performance, which caught the guests totally off guard since they had no idea it was coming.
Photography – A wedding studio in... well, I'm still waiting on the photos, so I'll update you all later...
Hair – Maja's hair salon right across from the Bellevue Hotel. She is a very pleasant woman and the staff there is great; my hair turned out exactly how I imagined it!
So, if there is anything else you want to know, just ask! Organizing a wedding is definitely not easy work, but in the end, we had one BEAUTIFUL day that we will all cherish forever. 👍
I forgot to mention one thing... this might be useful for anyone planning ahead. About three months ago, I attended a banquet out in San Antonio, near San Diego. Honestly? The food was an absolute disaster. So many guests were complaining. The beef stew was bone-dry, they ran out of salad halfway through, the meat was mediocre at best, and the risotto was made with some bizarre grain that had zero flavor. The only things worth eating were the prosciutto and cheese. If you’re heading there, please, double-check everything before you eat. They charge a premium for these events, and it’s just plain wrong to serve something that subpar on your big day.
We recently hosted a banquet at the Ritz-Carlton in San Diego, and honestly, the food was the absolute star of the show (aside from my own stunning appearance, obviously 😍). Everything served in the ballroom was phenomenal, ranging from the hors d'oeuvres—think jumbo shrimp, calamari, and those classic high-end charcuterie spreads—to every single main course. It was delicious. A huge number of our guests actually told us they’ve never had better catering at a formal event. Even our family Sunday roasts at home don't quite measure up, haha. So, if high-quality cuisine is your top priority, just like it was for us, I give the Ritz-Carlton a MASSIVE thumbs up!
I’m a bit swamped right now and haven't managed to sort through the photos yet, but I'll post a full report very soon 🙂
Hey there! Can anyone recommend a solid hairstylist in Savannah? I’m heading to a big gala in Savannah, and naturally, everyone wants their hair looking perfect before we head out for the evening. If you know someone who actually knows what they're doing with hair in Savannah, please let me know.
I called the cathedral in Savannah today to try and book a wedding date. We actually reached out before the New Year, but they told us it was too early to schedule anything. Now, the priest is lecturing me, asking why on earth we’d want to get married in Savannah when we live in San Francisco. He’s basically implying we have no connection to Savannah and that it’s pointless for us to hold our ceremony there—he thinks we should just get married at the parish where we attend Mass in San Francisco. This is ridiculous because our entire reception is already planned for Savannah, from the coffee shops to the banquet hall. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this? We still have to meet with him to see if this is even possible, but honestly, after that conversation, I’m losing all desire to marry there. :-(
Joshua Miller27 said:Hey everyone, I’m looking for some serious advice here—where in the States can I actually find wedding rings that aren't total eyesores but also won't completely bankrupt me? I need something beautiful but at a price point that actually makes sense. Thanks! 😍
If you're looking for jewelry, head down to the main avenue in Jerusalem at the Kolja jewelry shop. It’s right in the heart of everything—the side of town where all the coffee shops are clustered. There's a pharmacy right next to the jeweler, too. Just Google the address and phone number if you need to pinpoint it. Alternatively, if you're walking along the promenade, stay on the left side. You'll pass the Bristol Hotel and just keep going straight from there. You'll see the ABC dessert shop on your left, and directly across from ABC, there's a really solid jeweler, though I can't recall the exact name of the place. You could also check around Sirok, but the name escapes me. Just a heads-up: prices in Lourdes tend to be a bit steeper than they are in Jerusalem or over by Sirok because of the tourist crowds. Anyway, good luck. 🙂
Thomas Sanchez532 said:I think it’ll work out fine. From what I’ve seen, Studio In is 👍 pretty solid. As for those apartments, let me check with my folks back home and I'll shoot you a PM. I don't think we have any available ourselves, but I'm sure my family knows someone who does.
Dana Garcia7 said:Can I ask a quick question? What are your thoughts on photos from California? Also, could someone please send me the contact info for those three makeup artists who always seem to be trending—Antonia Guć, Nada Gamulin, and I can't quite recall the third one... Thanks a million!!!
I swung by both Photo Lab and Studio In to check out their work. Honestly, the shots over at Photo Lab were decent enough, but they felt a bit overpriced for what you actually get. In the end, I decided to go with Studio In—their prices were more reasonable, the quality was just as good, and the staff was actually a little friendlier. Then again, that kind of thing usually depends on who answers the phone and whatever mood they happen to be in that day. Anyway, good luck with the hunt!
I went ahead and booked Studio In, though I did spend some time looking over Mark’s portfolio, Papaya, and the work from the guy at Photo Plus and Matica. Honestly, those last two were a bit out of my budget, even if their shots were absolutely stunning, which is just... well, it is what it is. I’m just crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly with Studio In!
Anthony Bennett6 said:If you're looking at July or August, you are definitely going to have a tough time finding a spot!
Yeah, it's July, but most visitors stay for a full week rather than just popping in for a day or two, so that should help the odds. If you happen to know a spot—maybe a little rental or an apartment—please let me know. Cheers.😉
Hey everyone! I could really use some help here... I'm getting married this summer in San Diego, and while I've already checked most things off my list (yeahhhhh!), I'm still struggling to find accommodations for my guests. Since a lot of them are traveling from out of state, I need something solid. Does anyone know of any nice apartments right in the heart of downtown San Diego or maybe somewhere close to the beach? I would be soooooooo grateful if you could shoot me the details via DM.