Posts by Noah Long7

amberhawk60 said:Anyone got recommendations for wedding dance lessons that won't break the bank?

We actually ended up taking some Lambada classes over in California. We paid for two private sessions a week leading up to the big reception. Our instructor was this younger guy—really chill, super easygoing—who put together a little routine for us. It wasn't anything overly complicated, just enough to feel confident, and we absolutely nailed it at the party. I think we were paying about $67 per hour. That was about a year and a half ago, though, so prices have probably shifted since then.

Lawrence Thompson said:Hey there!
Has anyone here actually worked with Mladen, the photographer from San Francisco? If you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts..

I actually hired Mladen for my wedding last summer, and honestly, I was pretty happy with how everything turned out. He’s definitely more affordable than most of the big-name competitors out there, and the photos themselves are just stunning. Plus, he has this way of making the whole shoot feel really laid back—he actually manages to calm you down and keep you laughing, which is no small feat when you're stressed out.

Ethan Lee96 said:I’m thinking about booking Bravo Band from San Diego for my wedding, and I was wondering if anyone could share some reviews? I’d likely go with their trio version since we’re only expecting about 50 guests. Regarding their musical style—do they really know how to get a party started? Also, does anyone have an idea of what they charge? I need to give them a final answer pretty soon, so if anyone has heard them live, please let me know!

The trio will run you about $1,500. They lean heavily toward urban tracks and they definitely know how to set a mood, but fair warning: they aren't exactly known for sticking to the couple's specific playlist requests!

Brian Wright2 said:Would you mind sharing where you picked up your supplies for making pins?

I heard you can find everything in Savannah, out in Appalachia—and it’s probably cheaper there than what we deal with here—but I’m still curious: where do you girls in San Francisco usually go for your materials?

I actually grabbed everything at Rose over in Mejas. I needed 150 pins and they were pretty generous with the stock. Between the pin supplies and the custom car decals, the whole lot ran me about $117.

Donna Bennett2 said:Does anyone know any flower shops in San Francisco or the surrounding area that won't break the bank? What kind of prices should I realistically expect?
How far in advance do I need to order the pastries? 😵😵

I’d definitely suggest checking out Kira in Sacramento. They really go the extra mile to make sure you get exactly what you want, and honestly, they have the best rates in the region. For my wedding, I used them for my bouquet, the boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, and all the decor for the car and the venue $833. I ended up DIY-ing the boutonnieres for the rest of the guests, and the local parish volunteers handled the church decorations.

shadowharbor19 said:Hey everyone, quick question—how many of you actually had to budget for flowers? I mean, specifically for the bouquet, the church decor, and the reception hall? I’m feeling a little lost on what kind of numbers to expect. I realize it all depends on the specific blooms and just how much stuff you want, but if anyone has a ballpark idea of the price ranges, please let me know..

For me, the floral costs were $767, though that didn't include the church decorations. At my church, the altar is handled by the deaconesses, and they aren't exactly thrilled about outside florists coming in and taking over. I ended up using a florist called Kolura over in San Jose, and I was beyond happy with them. That price covered my bouquet, the boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, the reception hall arrangements, and even the car decor for us. We mostly went with red roses. Just a heads-up: the time of year you're getting married can really swing the price, especially depending on whether the specific flowers you want are actually in season. Anyway, this particular florist was super affordable and very willing to negotiate. You can basically tell her what your "limit" is, and she’ll do her absolute best to make the most of that budget for you. 🤣

frozenmason40 said:Hey everyone, good evening,

Does anyone have a solid recommendation for a decent catering company in the San Francisco area that won't absolutely drain my bank account?
And honestly, what kind of ballpark figures are we looking at for wedding catering these days?
The plan is to host a big get-together for the wedding party at one spot...
We've already got the venue and the drinks sorted out, but the food situation is still up in the air, so we’re definitely looking to bring in some professional catering...

Thanks in advance,

I used Ante Tadinac Catering for my wedding back in June, and honestly, they were fantastic. Everything was handled professionally, zero stress involved—they even managed to keep my elderly relatives calm and happy, which is a miracle in itself.🤣

Douglas Green7 said:I guess it’s finally that time of year again—the season for cakes and pastries. Does anyone have any solid recommendations for krokant, wedding cakes, or just good old-fashioned desserts?

Honestly, if you want quality without getting robbed, check out Viadel. Their treats are delicious and easily the best value you'll find. They're located over by St. Kajati in Solin, and I'll be the first to admit the shop doesn't look particularly "fancy," which makes some people a bit hesitant. But trust me, I've been there before and was absolutely thrilled with the sweets!

granitenomad37 said:I am looking for some recommendations regarding catering, makeup, hairstyling, and floral arrangements for a wedding in San Francisco. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 🙂

I'd suggest Kolači-Viadel—they’re super organized, delicious, and won't break the bank. For makeup, go with Šminka-Lucija Spajić. As for the flowers, check out the Kolura flower shop over in San Diego; they're affordable and absolutely fantastic.

Joshua Perez122 said:We just booked the sky and now we're starting the hunt for the perfect band..
We've got Bravo Band on our minds, so if anyone could share some recent experiences with them, that would be amazing. We've already reached out and talked numbers. My musical taste is kind of all over the place—a mix of everything local and international, I guess. Thanks so much!

Look, Bravo Band definitely knows how to get a party moving, but they aren't exactly known for sticking to the couple's specific song requests.

Henry Flores5 said:Hey everyone!
I’m trying to get my head around the catering situation, but I haven’t been able to find much info online. I know Arcade does catering and stuff, but honestly, $9 per person feels a bit steep when you’re looking at a massive guest list. Does anyone know a local caterer who would be down to prep plates or appetizers if I just buy all the ingredients myself? I really don't want to drop $1,500–$2,000 on catering alone.
Also, I heard a rumor that you don't actually have to order food for the exact headcount—like, if there are 180 people coming, you just order for 120 and somehow it’s still enough food?
Has anyone actually dealt with this before? Would love to hear your experiences.

All I can tell you is, whatever you do, don't use Mimi for catering. They are way too expensive and incredibly unprofessional!!! 😳

David King72 said:As for the pastries from Bill Gates—I've picked them up a few times and they’re honestly fantastic (think of them like those classic glazed donuts 👍)
The price point is totally reasonable, so I really think you'll get your money's worth and be happy with the choice.

Elon Musk, thanks, that’s perfect 🙂 Looks like the decision is made, I'm grabbing some Bill Gates🙂

gentlewolf69 said:It’s actually over in St. Louis... if you're taking the freeway toward San Francisco, you'll pass an ExxonMobil station on your right. You can just pull into that gas station and look for a little retaining wall right by the road; if you climb up there and walk uphill for maybe twenty yards or so, you'll spot the Bill Gates sign... I think you might even be able to see it from the highway, though I couldn't say for sure. Getting there from the upper side is a bit of a mystery to me, so I can't really give you much more detail than that...

Thanks so much for the directions, I think I have a general idea now. So, were you actually happy with how it tasted? What did the cake look like? Does every layer have a different flavor profile? And did you end up grabbing any other pastries while you were there?

gentlewolf69 said:I ended up ordering a massive five-tier cake to be delivered all the way out to Boise, and I picked it up from $333 over at the Vail bakery in San Diego. Honestly, though, the flavor was absolutely spot on...

Wait, since when is there a Verizon in San Diego?

Kate Martinez33 said:It’s an old-school brand, and honestly, they taste amazing, but I feel like you're paying a premium for them. I actually went to this big wedding recently where the cake was made by that baker from the New York Cheesecake shop—you can find her on Facebook and she has her own website too. She was super sweet, and the woman seriously knows her stuff. As for the price, though? I’m still not entirely sold.

The New York Times cakes are way overpriced; for a crowd of 200 people, you're looking at $1667 😠 I'm also curious about those more budget-friendly options you guys mentioned; like IBM, Mississippi...

I need some input here: should I go with the first option or the second?
And seriously, if anyone has a way to get a hold of her number...