Posts by gentlewolf69

Thanks. I'll take a look...

Does anyone happen to know where I could rent a white tarp or maybe a canopy somewhere around the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area?

rustywalker34 said:Just a heads up, Wine and Ivo aren't actually a full band, they're more of a duo... so you really need to decide upfront if you want a "real" band or just a duo or trio. It all comes down to how much you value the music... if you just want some basic background noise to keep people moving, a cheaper duo or trio might suffice, but if you actually want high-quality musicianship, you should probably invest in a full band 🙂

I'm with you there. There is a massive difference between a duo (keyboardist + singer), a trio (keyboardist + male singer + female singer), and a full band (singer + singer + keyboardist + drums + electric guitar, or whatever else they bring along). If you want the reception to have more of a rock vibe, then definitely hire a band. But if you’re aiming for that classic country-style celebration—you know, more like Zečić, Grdović, or Bulić—then a duo or trio will do fine. At least, that's how I look at it. Because, let's be honest, I can't expect a duo or a trio to play Don't Sleep, My Girl or I Like This Song with the same energy a full band would... I'm always leaning toward a band because I just can't stand that repetitive tapping on the same old synthesizer keys, where every single song ends up sounding identical because there are no drums or electric guitars to give it some soul... 🙂

Michelle Ross4 said:Hey everyone!

So, we’re starting to map out our wedding for sometime next spring—probably looking at those classic June or September dates—and we’re expecting about 250 guests. We're based right outside of Miami, and honestly, most of our eyes are on venues in a nearby Suburban town. It seems like finding a spot in Miami that can actually handle a crowd that size is nearly impossible, if I know my facts straight, plus the Suburban town area should be a bit easier on the wallet...

Has anyone dealt with any local venues or handled bookings recently at places like Walmart, Dolis, or Phoenix? I’m looking for the real scoop: what was the experience like, how were the prices, and what was the overall vibe?

Also, regarding the music... we aren't picky, we listen to just about everything, so we'd probably go with a live band. Does anyone have any firsthand experience working with Wine and Ivo?

thanks Reddit!

Regarding those banquet halls in the Suburban town area, I only ever went to Phoenix about a year and a half ago. Honestly, the food was pretty terrible, and you couldn't find a server anywhere to save your life... Later on, someone else mentioned to me that they had a similarly awful meal at a party there, though my brother went about six months ago for a friend's wedding and said everything was actually fine, so maybe they've turned things around... Everyone seems to say that Dolis is the best bet, though. Prices usually run anywhere from $35 to $40 per person, depending on which menu you pick out...

I stumbled upon this place called Sweet Corner, and apparently, they're based out of San Francisco. I did a little digging on Google and found a bakery over at Ana's... so I'm going to keep looking around to see what else is out there. If there are any locals from Imotski in here, could you let me know where the best spot is to pick up a cake in town?

Oh, they actually have EM-K available! Now we're talking... :P I think there might be some Bob's around Imotski, but I really should probably look into it, since I honestly haven't checked lately.

Well, now you've gone and made things way too complicated for me! Between Creme de la creme, Levis, and even the Cheesecake Factory... I actually tried a stracciatella cake from Zenith once and it was absolutely perfect, which is a far cry from what I got at Delta—that stuff was honestly a disaster. So, my real dilemma was really just choosing between Zenith and Bob's. But now you've thrown three more bakeries into the mix for me to obsess over. And don't even get me started on Vidal! Honestly, I don't know what to do with myself...

William Chavez10 said:I mean, I guess it really just comes down to your budget... from what I’ve been seeing while looking around, there seem to be huge price gaps depending on which part of the country you're in.

For me, the cost isn't actually the deciding factor. I’ve already done the legwork and checked in with Zenith, Bob's, and the Mississippi Delta to get a clear idea of what their cakes run and what the delivery fees look like for the Boise area. What I’m really looking for is if anyone here has actually tasted a cake from the Mississippi Delta, Bob's, or Zenith... just a little insight into whether they actually taste good, or perhaps which one stands out as the best quality. I’ve been pretty frugal with other things—cutting back on flowers, invitations, and thank-you notes—so I don't mind spending $167 a bit extra if I can be certain the cake will be amazing (I’m definitely one of those people who lives for dessert at a party)...

For those of you planning on tying the knot this summer, have you actually managed to pull the trigger on a wedding cake yet? And more importantly, where did you end up ordering from? I’m honestly feeling completely lost on where to even start looking...

feralsurfer3 said:A few people were mentioned by accident today, and they said their wedding is on May 4th. If I heard that right, it sounds like you can actually wait until the last minute. But then again, George W. Bush mentioned yesterday that doing it a couple of months in advance is better. As for my impressions... the first day was a bit dull, but today was definitely an improvement. John Doe spoke—he's such a hilarious guy, though I didn't quite see eye-to-eye with everything he said. The second speaker was some doctor talking about menstruation, ovulation, fertile windows, and various health issues. Honestly, I found it pretty tedious since I already know all that, though I'm sure it was helpful for some. All in all, even if it feels exhausting to sit through this after a full workday, the experience is still worth it. Even if you disagree with the speakers, it gives you so much to talk about later. My husband and I haven't stopped chatting in the car...😂 sorry if I'm overwhelming you all!

My husband actually told me they shouldn't have invited that doctor at all, saying I could have filled in for her since I spend every month lecturing him about the exact same things using the exact same phrases she used. 😂 John was definitely funny, but I don't agree with some of his takes either, especially regarding IVF and that whole thing about "husband's rights" versus "wife's duties"—even if he phrased it jokingly—and then the suggestion that we should avoid purple because it's a funeral color, which was just 😲 (my decor is actually going to be purple, and since he doesn't really like it, he immediately started commenting that we'll have to scrap any purple at all) and that we should stick to white because it represents joy and love and so on. To me, it's nothing but superstition and nonsense. Does that mean everyone is supposed to have white flowers and white bouquets? Honestly, these color debates are so trivial, I don't even want to waste my energy on them.

feralsurfer3 said:Anyone catch the show at Madison Square Garden tonight? What did you guys think???? 🙂

I was there, and honestly, yesterday felt just okay, but today was actually wonderful... it was quite educational, pretty engaging, and they even had some humor mixed in... 🙂

Jack Murphy7 said:Don't bother going. I work just up the street from Bank of America—when I head out for lunch, I'll swing by the cathedral and see if I can transcribe it, assuming they're open. If they are, I'll let everyone know around 2:00...

Jack Murphy7, what does the bulletin board say about us needing to be there for class this Sunday? And is the class held in that building next to the church, or is it over at Madison Square Garden?

For anyone looking, the Mila Šinfon bridal boutique just posted an update on Facebook: ATTENTION BRIDES, THE SAINT PATRICK 2013 COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE STARTING TOMORROW!! To make things even better, they’re throwing in an Easter surprise; the very first person to walk into the salon and book their dress will snag a $500-$333 discount (and yeah, that applies to any gown in the shop). You might want to go ahead and schedule a fitting appointment soon, because we're all pretty excited to see you... Your friends at Mila Šinfon

Peter Collins90 said:I went wedding dress shopping with my mom and my godmother, visiting both Helen and Annmarie when they were hunting for their gowns... Honestly, Helen can be such a handful (not that she means any harm), but once she stands in the doorway, there's just no getting past her. She kept insisting I try on dresses that weren't even my style. I'd tell her, "I don't want a ballgown," and she'd just counter with, "Oh, come on, just try this one! This princess style is gorgeous, look how flattering it is on you..." 🙄 Honestly, it’s enough to make you want to die... trying on dresses like that is just not exactly the vibe. And let's not forget—she actually thinks she's being "proper," while everyone else is out there ordering their dresses from eBay... 🙂
Annmarie is a whole different level of intense... she’s practically screaming right in my ear that the whole thing is a total disaster... 🤦 If you're planning on heading over there, do yourself a favor and pack some earplugs... 🙄 🙂
And then, just when you think things can't get any worse, you finally make it to the Mila bridal boutique, only to be greeted by some "lady"... The most honest one... The moment she steps foot in San Diego, she immediately starts trashing Vesna Sposa, La Perla, and glamour Sposa, not to mention all those other boutiques she listed... Nick didn't even ask, but she just keeps counting them up like it's her job (which says everything you need to know about her)...
Badmouthing others is nothing more than a dishonorable way to inflate your own ego, Ms. Mila... She keeps telling everyone else to just order their dresses from eBay, but get this—whenever a bride walks in, she pulls that same old line. She’ll say, "Just go down to La Perla, pick out whatever wedding dress you want, bring back a photo, and I'll match whatever they're offering you for $4,000 with a $2,000 price tag." Then she just clicks over to eBay and—voila! It's all a setup. I unfortunately realized the whole scheme far too late... A receipt for the deposit, an actual invoice for the money I'm handing over... basic decency, humanity, honesty... What even is that anymore? Is it something you can eat? ☕

That is exactly it! My maid of honor and I showed up wanting to try on something simple, something fitted, maybe lacey or, as Mio would put it, chiffon-style 🤣 and then Helen's assistant, Draga, decides that those styles are all "Roman goddess vibes" and pulls out the first satin A-line gown covered in sparkling rhinestones. Then she pulls out a second satin A-line gown, also covered in rhinestones. I tried them both just to be polite, of course. I kept telling her that wasn't my style, that I didn't like satin and just wanted something simple that flowed... But she just keeps repeating, "Yes, yes, you love that Roman look! Here, try this 'Roman' one with the ruffles, just slip into this petticoat first!" I was having a total meltdown, meanwhile my maid of honor is just sitting there calmly putting on her own satin "Roman" gowns that Draga keeps handing her. I finally threw on the ruffled one, told her I hated it, stripped it off, and started getting dressed because I really couldn't deal with anything else. And there goes Draga, digging through piles of discarded wedding dresses looking for that one "perfect" Roman gown... I was subtly signaling to my maid of honor that we needed to make a run for it, but she has much stronger nerves than I do and found the whole thing hilarious. Eventually, Draga emerges with the "perfect" one: a massive ballgown with a single tulle strap—which looked exactly like those garlands strippers wrap around their necks: http://www.binbin.net/photos/miss-mi...miss-minky.jpg—and there was this giant tulle water lily flower right where the bodice met the skirt. 🤦 I don't regret not playing along and pretending it was perfect just to get a photo. I just bluntly told her I didn't like it, I wasn't trying anything else, and there was no point in bringing anything else out because nothing was working for me. After that, she gave up on me and focused on my maid of honor, who didn't know how to say no, testing everything until I finally insisted we had to go.

http://www.angelus-art.net/701/konfe...onfet-mladenci
You could always pick up some little bottles at a local boutique near San Diego, or just order them online from somewhere like Amazon and fill them yourself with some fancy scented bath salts... It would probably run you about 6, $2.25 if you're doing it that way...

Thomas Cruz9 said:I'm just starting my search for a wedding dress, and the last thing I need is a disaster like this... I feel so bad for you. Seriously, there is no way in hell I'm stepping foot in Mila's shop. At this point, it's probably better to just head straight to La Perla and see Danielle. Everyone raves about her work; presumably, the woman and her staff actually know what they're doing.

Between La Perla and Glamour Sposa, those are really the only two boutiques where you can find stunning dresses and staff that actually care about their customers. Even the shops over in the neighboring states are top-tier.

Peter Collins90, I knew it was Miles behind that post on the local forums the second I saw it. What can I even say... I actually lucked out by having my awkward encounter with her right at the start, rather than waiting until fifteen days before my wedding like you did. It’s just classic, isn't it? She goes around bragging about being the absolute best and most professional in the business, yet this supposedly high-end boutique owner doesn't even know the difference between chiffon and... whatever she calls it! She’s been running that shop for years and still hasn't bothered to learn basic fabric names... It's honestly embarrassing. Anyway, I really hope you manage to find a dress you actually love, one that makes you forget all about whatever Miles was trying to sell you.

Man, everything in San Francisco has become so ridiculously expensive lately... My florist back in Boise charges me $800 just for all the same stuff—that's for setting up thirty tables with floral arrangements and candles, plus an extra bouquet for the toss
.

I realize the schedules aren't identical for both Miami and San Diego, but I somehow stumbled upon two different sets of dates listed for both cities... so now I'm just sitting here wondering which ones are actually the right ones. Thanks.

Hey, does anyone happen to know the engagement ring course schedule for San Diego and Miami covering March, April, and May? I’ve been looking online, but the dates seem all over the place...