Jamie Allen4 As I was thinking about what was said, it really makes you wonder how much we overcomplicate things sometimes... Thanks so much for the advice, really, but I’ve been picturing something a little more special than just your run-of-the-mill banquet hall. I have this vision of something more unique—maybe an outdoor terrace or a scenic patio with a view, or something along those lines? If anyone out there has any creative ideas or has actually pulled off an event like that before, I would be incredibly grateful for the insight. Honestly, I'm pretty open to locations anywhere in the San Francisco area or even just a short drive away from the city. 🙂
I think that spot in Grašac is absolutely wonderful, though I honestly can’t say for sure when you were planning on heading over there for a bite, because whenever I gave them a ring about two months ago, they told me they only had two openings left between September and October. If you're looking for somewhere else, Doli is lovely, and that restaurant Velum over at the marina is also a great choice. I’ve heard people raving about how perfect their frappes are down by the docks, but then again, I haven't actually made it down there myself yet—I'm just going off the grapevine!
placideagle10 said:The price is $117. I actually wear makeup on a daily basis, so this is a big decision for me... To be honest, I'm a bit stumped regarding the whole trial run situation—I suppose it really boils down to who is actually doing the work and how much experience they bring to the table... Does anyone happen to have a recommendation for a makeup artist for Monday if I decide to go through with it? (My usual artist is already booked up). Also, does anyone have contact info for Lucia Spajic, and has anyone here actually used her services before?
I’m in the exact same boat, honestly... could someone please send me Lucia Spajic's number and let me know what her rates are? I'm seriously considering booking a professional session for that Monday after the big gala for some photos...
Does anyone happen to have a recommendation for a good barber here in San Francisco? I was wondering if Miran is any good, and what his rates usually look like?
By the way, did you guys end up making your own pieces from scratch, or did you just pick up something ready-made? Also, where on earth did you find all your materials?
VANA-kjkdfnjajf As stated by: I have to say, Tina Kalinić is an absolute wizard with makeup. Honestly, every single time I need to get cleaned up, she’s my first and only call. Her work is just incredible. 🙂 If you decide to go with her, I can promise you one thing: you won't regret it. 🙂
Could someone please let me know what Tina Kalinić charges for a full makeup application, specifically including those artistic eyelash extensions? Thanks!
Honestly, if I had to guess, I'd say you're looking at somewhere between $300 and $350.
Douglas Reyes3 said:I wouldn't stress myself out too much over these traditions 🙂 personally, I think just bringing a gift basket and some flowers is more than enough. If you look at the reality of the situation, why would they only be giving gifts to you instead of your parents and siblings, right?
The custom is typically that the mother-in-law gives a gift to the bride, and since your parents are just coming over to have lunch with "friends," I really think a nice gesture like a basket and a bouquet is perfectly sufficient. It’s the same thing you’d do if you were visiting anyone else for the first time.
Take my neighbor, for example—everyone there received a little something. But in her case, she’s someone who deals with a lot of unnecessary drama, and her daughter-in-law realized exactly what kind of person she was dealing with, which is why the gifting was so extravagant. You know your future family best. You can tell if they are down-to-earth, humble people who will be happy with a small token of appreciation, or if they are the type who can't wait to brag about how lavish the gifts were or, heaven forbid, go around telling people that you and your family showed up with nothing but a box of chocolates. 🙂
Maybe ask your fiancé to check in with his relatives about their specific customs, just so you can feel certain going in.
That’s true, you’ve got a point there... that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ll just pick up a lovely gift basket filled with some sweets, maybe some nice drinks, cookies, and Blue Coffee, along with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and call it a day. 🙂 And just to be safe, I’ll have him check in on the situation a little bit to see what the vibe is. 🙂
Douglas Reyes3 said:I went through this exact same dilemma, though in my case, there wasn't a formal "meeting" or a specific gift exchange... just a series of coincidences... it's a long story.
But for example, a relative of mine recently went to lunch at her fiancé's house with her parents—sort of an introductory visit. 🙂 They picked out a really nice serving bowl for desserts, and they put together a gift basket filled with coffee, cookies, chocolates, a bottle of wine, and some other spirits. They wrapped everything beautifully in cellophane with a little bow. They also bought a bouquet of flowers for the future mother-in-law.
That is supposedly considered a more modern way to handle the gifting.
On the other hand, a neighbor of mine from a more traditional rural background bought jewelry for her future daughter-in-law—and it was quite expensive, like those basket-style earrings plus a matching set. Then, when the bride-to-be visited with her family for lunch, her family bought a little something for everyone in the household. 1. The standard stuff: coffee, cookies, and a drink. 2. A bouquet of flowers. 3. A tie for the future father-in-law. 4. A lovely set of coffee cups for the mother-in-law. 2. Pajamas for the brother. 3. Perfume for the sister.
Apparently, the old-school tradition was to buy a specific item for every individual in the house, but back in the day, those were small things—like pitchers for the best man, kitchen towels, or a nice bottle of wine.
Now I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and confused... I honestly can't decide if I should just go the simple route with a gift basket filled with wine, coffee, and chocolates along with a bouquet for the mother-in-law, or if I should go bigger and get a little individual gift for both the father-in-law and mother-in-law too? I really don't want to mess this up and end up looking awkward or disrespectful 😛 what do you all think? If I did decide to go that extra mile, what would be good to get them? I'm just lost here; my family and I aren't really acquainted with these kinds of customs. His family already gave us gold jewelry, so I'm worried it might look silly if I don't return the gesture with something meaningful...
I could really use some advice here!! I was wondering if anyone knows what the go-to etiquette is for gift-giving when families meet for the first time out in California. His parents actually brought me some gold jewelry when we first met, and now that it's our turn to head over to their place, I'm feeling a bit lost. I have absolutely no clue what the local customs are for this kind of thing. What would be an appropriate gesture for us to bring along?
gentlewolf69 said:I actually know quite a few accordion players myself—one from Boise, one out in Santa Monica, and another from Chicago... All three of them have played at my family celebrations before, and my husband even surprised my best friend with the guy from Chicago as a wedding gift when she tied the knot. If you're interested, I can send you his number via private message...
Does anyone happen to have a number for the Democratic Party? Also, I was wondering if there's any kind of video or recording out there somewhere that shows them actually playing—I'd love to catch a glimpse of their performance style if anything exists.
So, naturally, I’m obsessing over every single little detail regarding the wedding right now—I’ve already locked in the venue and the band, which is a huge relief, but now I’m really torn between two different photographers for the big day...
A few other things on my mind: Does anyone have any favorite local florists they’d swear by? And for the rings, did you guys go the DIY route or just pick something ready-made from a jeweler? Has anyone actually attended an outdoor wedding out in the hills of Napa Valley? I’d love to hear what the vibe was like and if the weather cooperated. Also, I’m hunting for recommendations for hair salons, nail studios, or makeup artists—does anyone happen to have personal experience working with Tino Kalinic? Oh, and one more thing! I’d love to hear any thoughts or experiences regarding Photo Marko or Photo Color if you’ve used them before.🙂
gentlewolf69 said:It’s really a bit of both, I suppose. I can't say for sure what the vibe will be for the ones from the outdoor photo sessions they did out in nature, but when my godmother and I did our shoot at her apartment, there were definitely some posed shots that felt very "artistic," yet there were also those spontaneous moments where Vedran Vidak and Ranko Pupić just caught a fleeting second they felt made for a great photo. And as the day went on, they just captured everything that needed capturing—every single smile, every tear, even the crazy dance moves... they really did get it all.
Their photos are absolutely stunning. 🙂
Does anyone else have any experience working with Mark's photography? I'm honestly torn between Mark from the local area and Pixar. I'm having such a hard time deciding who to call.
gentlewolf69 said:I’m actually so thrilled with them that I ended up typing the word 'super' four times in a single post...
Man, that sounds pretty great 🙂 because I was just sitting here scrolling through the photos on their website and feeling totally blown away. I can't quite put my finger on it, though—do those shots feel more like raw, natural captures, or do they look like they've had some heavy artistic editing done to them? 🙂
Chloe Barnes5 said:Our band just confirmed they're officially booked! The lead singer actually suggested sending over a formal confirmation via email, which was a pleasant surprise—we hadn't even thought to ask. I think that’s a huge deal, especially if you're planning a wedding a year out. It’s always smart to have that paper trail to sleep better at night.
You know, you make a really good point there. We went ahead and put our deposit down without asking for any paperwork, and now that I think about it, I'm starting to feel a little uneasy about it all :/
Does anyone happen to know anything about studio smiliti? Or maybe what people think of studio Mark? I’ve been searching for days trying to find the perfect photographer... 🙂 I really don't want my photos to look totally generic; I want them to feel special, but at the same time, I don't want them to look so stylized that I don't even recognize myself. 🙂 Everything I see on the studio smiliti website looks absolutely lovely, but I've noticed they don't get mentioned much here on the forums.
Hey everyone, I was just sitting here thinking about all the moving parts involved in planning a big event, and it got me wondering—did you guys actually get a formal contract or some kind of written confirmation when you officially booked your band? I mean, I remember when I was trying to organize that charity gala back in Chicago, I spent weeks worrying about whether everything was set in stone or if we were just operating on a handshake, which is always a bit nerve-wracking. How much weight do you all give to having that paperwork in hand before you commit?