Posts by Larry Smith3

copperhound84 said:Hey everyone 🙂
I’m officially on the hunt for a band in the San Francisco/Savannah area, so I was wondering if anyone currently working in the industry could give me a heads-up on some recent ballpark prices. I really don't want to get ripped off or overpay for something mediocre. Any advice or leads would be a huge help. 😁

The Volare band—I actually saw them perform at a friend's wedding and they were absolutely fantastic.

I wanted to share a few thoughts after my own journey searching for a wedding dress.
My experience at Vera Wang was actually lovely; I didn't mind the consultation fees one bit. $23I originally met the lady in blue at a > bridal expo and she struck me as somewhat indifferent, but once I stepped into her boutique, she was a completely different person. Mia, the consultant who helped me, really understood my style, and honestly, every single gown she brought out was right up my alley. The shop itself is a little cozy, perhaps a bit tight, but it is exceptionally tidy and clean.

Victoria's Secret wasn't quite my cup of tea. While the storefront looks wonderful, the area leading out of the dressing rooms felt a bit cluttered, and the changing area itself gave me that same impression. I tried on about fifteen dresses, but frankly, none of them resonated with my taste, and to make matters worse, the consultant kept trying to strike up unnecessary small talk with me. For brides planning a September wedding, I’d suggest moving quickly because five or six of the specific styles I wanted to try were already reserved.

Pronuptia, which also looks glamorous from the street, really disappointed me once I went inside. The selection seemed much more limited than the first two shops I visited. The whole experience was quite exhausting and didn't leave much of an impression on me.

My experience with My Darling gowns was wonderful. The boutique is beautiful and well-kept, and Lydia was incredibly friendly and welcoming. They have such unique dresses; I tried on quite a few, and it feels like they truly have something for every taste.

I found Jelena's Boutique in the Bronx quite interesting specifically because of their Mora Lee collection. I tried on several pieces, though only one stunning Mora dress really worked for me. To start with, they had trouble finding my appointment in their schedule, and I eventually realized they book everything three weeks in advance. On top of that, they didn't have a single dress in my size; everything was too large, which made it impossible to really see the vision. What really worried me, though, was whether the Mora model I liked would be too "pre-owned" by September—meaning, could I secure a brand-new version? That turned into a massive headache because I couldn't find out if a new order was even possible until I made a final decision, which wouldn't be until April or May. They couldn't guarantee the price would stay the same either, and apparently, everything requires checking with the manager only *after* I decide, and so on and so forth.

Lilly's New Boutique in Savannah is just gorgeous. Everything is so pretty, clean, and organized, and the dresses have a bit of a different flair. Since it's a new location, the selection isn't as vast as, say, Vera Wang, but I loved it so much that I definitely recommend stopping by to take a look. The prices are reasonable, the gowns are pristine, and the owner is very sweet and puts in a lot of effort.

I’ve already shared my thoughts on Mio's Boutique; their policies caught me off guard, so I didn't end up doing a fitting there.

In the end, I actually chose a design from Ana's place, over at Mrs. Shinke's house in the Bronx. It felt a little unconventional going to someone's home, but everything was so orderly and the dresses were beautifully maintained. It was a choice between a Maggie Sottero or that Eddy K. model, and well... I think I made the right call. 😁

By the way, please don't take my comments regarding the professionalism of the boutique personally; of course, finding a dress that fits you perfectly is absolutely essential, but for me, it all comes down to the overall impression and how the entire experience feels 😉

gentlewolf70 said:That is exactly what happened to me. I contacted Milan Terza and was told I couldn't even come in until late March. I think I'll spend next month scouting other options, and if I don't find "the one" by then, I'll circle back to her at the end of March.

I was also at the Radisson and fell in love with a gown from the Lilly boutique; I haven't booked my slot yet, but I definitely plan to go.

Please, do keep us posted on how it goes. 🙂

I will 😉

gentlewolf70 said:Thanks 🙂 I guess I'll start my search right after the convention in San Francisco on February 14th.

Does anyone have any intel on that new Lily salon in Trilj? I've heard a massive range of conflicting opinions regarding Mili and Brnaza. Is it even worth making the trip out there?

Hi Coalition, to be honest, I’ve been left feeling quite uncomfortable by the policies over at the Mili salon. I actually visited them early last year with my maid of honor while she was shopping for a wedding in mid-September, and I truly loved the experience—especially their extensive selection of MS dresses, which are exactly what I’ve been dreaming of for my own big day. Personally, I found the atmosphere lovely and the service to be top-notch. My wedding is scheduled for early September, so I reached out to several different boutiques today to schedule fittings. Out of all nine shops I contacted, Mili is the only one that actually turned me away simply because they aren't accepting fittings for September weddings right now. I can certainly respect the logic if they want to ensure every bride gets the exact dress she fell in love with—I see online how often they custom order pieces, and they really are stunning—but when I look at the flexibility offered by other boutiques, I just don't understand why they wouldn't let me come in for a viewing. I had heard some negative feedback from certain girls previously, but since my first visit was so pleasant and our communication over Facebook has always been so cordial, I chose to ignore those comments. Unfortunately, this recent interaction was quite disappointing, and I think I'm going to move on from them.

As for that new shop in Trilj, they were actually at the expo held at the Radisson, and they seemed incredibly welcoming, so I've already gone ahead and booked an appointment. 😉

Hi ladies, I was wondering if anyone here might have some firsthand experience working with R&B studio? We are currently weighing our options regarding setting up a photo and video studio, so any insights or feedback you could share would be incredibly helpful to us. Thanks so much! 😉

David King72 said:mila lately, all I've been hearing is negative feedback
about a month ago, she took orders for three more brides at the exact same time as my friend
just imagine four brides all showing up at once, each bringing a guest; the salon turned into a total circus and obviously, she couldn't give everyone the attention they deserved
no wonder she was so high-strung

I actually experienced that firsthand when we visited her. Even though the staff member working with us was incredibly attentive to our bride-to-be, we still ended up waiting quite a while. Since every single bride had guests in tow, there wasn't even enough seating for everyone to get comfortable.

frozenhawk22 said:"Quote:"

I honestly find that concept terrifying. I was genuinely shocked when I heard that most venues wrap things up around 4:00 PM. First of all, I have never—not once—left a wedding before 6:00 PM. Besides, it’s after 4:00 that the real crowd settles in—just the inner circle and the closest family. To me, that’s when the best part happens; it's such a beautiful way to wind down after the chaos of the whole day.
Besides that, you’ve got people getting kicked out—especially those traveling from halfway across the country just to be there. And let’s be real here, all of this comes at a massive price.😕

What I actually appreciated about Lora's setup at Poljud is that her contract includes a specific clause stating that if you stay on the clock past four hours, you get paid extra. It’s a smart move. $333The venue manager put it this way: he’s never actually charged anyone for that, but he claims it's my personal guarantee that nobody is going to kick me out!
When we headed over there to get a feel for things at a wedding, they were actually pretty cool about it. They let us sample the food, told us we could hang out for as long as we wanted, and said there was zero pressure on the venue choice. Since you obviously can't predict what the weather will be like a year from now, they gave us until the day before to decide if we wanted to host everything inside or out on the terrace. It was a really laid-back approach.🙂

I don't quite understand it either, particularly when they tell us how much work goes into setting up the hall... as if that's our responsibility to pay for.🤷

David King72 said:My vote goes definitely to Ino.

Much better service, better food, and more space—everything about them beats Nirs in my book.

In the end, we decided to go with Nirs; the venue just felt more right to us, and we received more recommendations for them. Regarding Ino, everyone tells us "the food is amazing," which I certainly believe, but that seems to be the extent of the feedback we get.🙂

Has anyone here recently looked into getting a wedding dress from Miles in San Diego? I am absolutely enamored with the Maggie Sottero designs, but a friend mentioned that they don't offer alterations if the dress is too long, and she hasn't heard many glowing reviews about that specific boutique. I also saw someone on the forum mention that they canceled a dress just a few days before the wedding. I actually went there with a friend a while back, and my overall impression was wonderful until the moment the lady, prompted by a question about whether they rent out baskets, started lecturing us about her own personal integrity (that kind of thing generally irritates me and makes me want to walk out immediately). However, since I've also heard so many compliments, I'm feeling a bit conflicted now.😕

Hi everyone, my partner and I have finally started our venue scouting, visiting several locations, and I thought I would share our experiences with you all.
The Say Yes venue over in Draco is absolutely stunning, but honestly, it felt far too large for what we need, so we’ve decided to pass on it. When we visited, they had the room set up for 160 guests, and even then, there was an incredible amount of empty space—the tables were spaced out beautifully so you could walk around easily without bumping into anyone. Tony was wonderful; he showed us everything and even offered some helpful advice regarding other venues, though he did mention over the phone that their minimum guest count is 150. It’s such a shame for us because the hall itself is a total dream.
We received a glowing recommendation for pirate, and Mark is clearly top-tier, but I just can't wrap my head around why they insist on a 140-person minimum. We arrived while the room was being set up for 140 people (not counting the sweetheart table), and it felt incredibly cramped. To my eyes, the dance floor looked tiny, and they hadn't even set up a stage for the band yet. While the atmosphere is gorgeous and the food I sampled was excellent, the layout just feels too tight for comfort.
Then there is the castelo venue in San Diego... I actually fell in love with this place a few months ago when my friends and I were touring around. However, during our visit, I got the distinct impression that they might be overly strict about alcohol service, and I noticed that lingering smell that I really can't stand. I suspect we might have caught the manager in a bad mood, especially since we arrived at the scheduled time and had to call her cell phone multiple times after waiting at the entrance. While the hall itself is lovely, the communication style was completely off-putting, which immediately pushed them to the bottom of my list. We asked about the music schedule, as I'd heard elsewhere that the owner insists on everyone leaving by 4:30, and she explained that everything wraps up around 4:00 because they like to "pack up like horses" to get home. She also made a point to tell us that they don't allow glass breaking or guests climbing on tables and chairs. Now, I certainly don't want my guests behaving like hooligans, but I also don't want to feel like I'm being babysat if someone enjoys a drink a little more than others. I had read in an earlier post that she was very charming, so I hoped we just caught her on a bad day, but I don't think that was the case.
As for Hotel Villa Žarko, the ballroom is on the ground floor and has quite low ceilings, which makes the whole space feel dark and much smaller than it actually is. They also have a strict departure time around 4:00 or 5:00 PM. I didn't particularly care for it, though I can't quite put my finger on exactly why 🙂
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Ino hall and Nirs — both were incredibly kind and approachable. We ended up staying the longest with them, and as of right now, they are the only ones truly in the running.