Posts by amberhawk60

Where can I find the cheapest booze, assuming they let you return whatever's left over?

How are we feeling about their cakes? Anyone actually satisfied with them?

Drew Smith44 said:So, I’ve got a question about wedding dress rentals. Has anyone else dealt with this where the dress looks totally different on the big day than it did during the fitting? At my first appointment, the boutique staff kept insisting it would be the exact same one, just tailored to fit me better. I get that if someone else rents it in the meantime, they might tweak it, but it should still be the same actual dress I paid for. During the second fitting, I started getting seriously suspicious that I wasn't even looking at the original anymore, but some cheap knockoff. I actually have photos to prove it—the difference is night and day. According to them, the dress hasn't even been rented out since my first session, so I’m not about to let them play me for a fool and claim it's the same gown when my pictures clearly show otherwise. Has this happened to any of you? And honestly, which boutiques can you actually trust to deliver what they promised for the price you're paying? If I wanted a replica, I would've just ordered one myself. :/ To top it all off, the girl at the shop actually told me it's best not to look at it again until the wedding and to just "delete the photos" because I'll get bored and won't feel that "spark" on the wedding day. Like, hello? If I loved it at the fitting and it shows up as promised on the wedding day, how could I be disappointed? That advice to just wipe the memory feels like a total red flag.

Which shop is this? That's honestly terrible. I heard a similar story once about a place over in Sierra...

Anyone been to the post-Lent party? Is everything cool?
We've got a new manager in charge, so I'm trying to gauge the vibe...

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

Edward Roberts6 said:Could anyone share their experiences regarding where to start looking for wedding planners? I'd love to hear your thoughts on various salons and studios... maybe somewhere in San Francisco, Boise, or even Texas.

Scroll up a bit and you'll find my own post about bridal salons.
As for Boise, you might save some cash, but you risk issues with the dress itself... just like I did.
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend Helen or Annmarie. And if you decide to go with Milo, god help you if you have the patience to listen to her. She’s exhausting. She’ll just pull out whatever she thinks fits you, which definitely wasn't the case for me.
Regarding Texas, all I've heard is that they let you try on originals—like from Bertha—but when you actually rent for the big day, they hand you a copy. Apparently, plenty of girls end up in legal disputes with them. (That's specifically regarding the Los Angeles branch of La Perla in Široki Brijeg La)
And they act like La Perla San Francisco is the only one authorized to sell in the area, claiming everything else is just a knockoff.
A friend of mine paid top dollar for a Bertha $3000, so the price isn't exactly cheap either... especially if you don't end up getting what you actually wanted.

Drew Smith44 said:A few girls already asked for recommendations and didn't get an answer, so I’m hoping one of you can point me toward a good cake spot (obviously needs to taste amazing, but I don't want to go broke doing it). Also, does anyone have thoughts on a hairstylist? I ran into some ladies from Disney at the fair—has anyone actually used them before? My wedding is this summer, so I really need a style that holds up, especially since my hair tends to be on the thinner side 😢

Disney? Hard pass. I went to them once for a formal, and it was easily the worst experience of my life.
If I'd had more time, I would've just washed and blow-dried it myself, but unfortunately, I couldn't... they completely trashed it. I have never looked worse, and all I asked for were some curls.
I'll never forget how bad it was... they basically glued my entire head together, which doesn't help since my hair is thin 👎

David King72 said:To be honest, I haven't a clue; during the holidays, Rose tends to run these sales on conveyor belts and various other gear, so who knows?

Where can I find the best deals on plastic cookie containers for guests, balloons, cake stands, and stuff like that?

David King72 said:Cakes and praline treats - Viadel
decorations - Rose from Commerce Mesa

Is Rose actually cheaper than that Repromaterial place, Anne?

coastalharbor6 said:Thanks for the info! 🙂 I ended up choosing a salad with Caesar dressing, so I’m not entirely sure what the lighting situation is like over there, but this gave me a pretty good idea. 🙂)

Lighting matters too. It’s nice to have at least a basic setup... once you have decent lighting, you don't have to overdo the table decor as much, and everything looks way better in photos.
I was debating whether to get the lighting or not, but we ended up pulling the trigger and getting it anyway.

coastalharbor6 said:What does Samuel charge? I’m not looking to overspend, just something decent.

Coastalharbor6, they quoted me around 2900$1033, though they mentioned if that specific package was booked, we could look at a slightly lower tier around $833... nothing too fancy.
A friend of mine got a deal for 2500, and she said everything went smoothly.

David King72 said:Are we talking about a tiered wedding cake or more of a croquant style? Because if you go with tiers, you can actually make that work for a lot of different things...

I’d still go with the tiered option.

Joseph Taylor7 said:Does anyone else have experience with The Salon? Just say yes if you do. I was honestly blown away by how kind and welcoming everyone was; it really felt like they were actually putting in the effort... I guess I just have a feeling everything is going to turn out great...

Everything is great except the food.
I've heard plenty of bad things about the menu...

Joseph Taylor7 said:I’m also looking into this, though if I’m being honest, I don't really get the logic behind it all... for instance, companies like MediaRent and Rabbit Rock are asking for around $4,000-$2000 depending on what you need, whereas lighting outfits like Lolita or Sempre Fi are quoting closer to $1000. It feels like they’re offering basically the same thing, so I guess I have no idea why there’s such a massive gap in pricing. I’m meeting with them soon, so hopefully they can actually explain the discrepancy to me. 😲

They're just slashing prices for no reason, everything is pretty much the same everywhere.
They all provide the same thing—light shows, dance floors (moving heads, LED lighting, fog, bubble machines, room coloring), and no matter how hard they try to justify charging 4-$1667, it just doesn't add up to me.
The lighting isn't any worse than $1000.
A friend used Samuel Fi and was super happy with them.

Joseph Taylor7 said:Everything is signed and sealed, I guess. Vera Wang’s take on this whole tragedy is honestly such a great description—it’s almost like those old Chinese fables. My godmother and I were just waiting in line, trying to sneak a quick peek at the dresses, when some lady acting like she owned the place stepped in to warn us. She told us we couldn't touch anything because they handle everything with gloves.🧐 I mean, I guess it’s just because when I walked into the dressing room, the hangers were all tossed on the floor or draped over some racks... and then, to top it off, they actually try to charge me for fashion consulting. $23 I guess she didn't mention anything about that when I was booking the appointment... I had absolutely no idea it would be like that. Honestly, I was so close to just losing my cool and snapping at her right then and there.😵😠

And apparently, those "fashion consultations" are what keeps them in business😵 Yeah, exactly. A total train wreck. My goddaughter is still reeling from the whole experience.
The glove thing is just ridiculous though... I've never seen anything like it elsewhere🤦

Anyone got cake recommendations?
I was thinking about grabbing some pastries at Viadel, but based on what I've read in the comments, their cakes aren't really hitting the mark... so I'm wondering who you guys have actually had great cakes from without breaking the bank.

Amy Evans64 said:Hey everyone, especially all the brides-to-be out there... I was wondering if anyone knows a good wedding dress seamstress in San Francisco who won't completely break the bank? To be honest, I'm not originally from San Francisco, so I don't really have any leads, but since I'm living and working here now, I'm trying to find someone local.
I'm looking for something simple—what I’d call a flowy, airy kind of dress.
If I can get the link to work, I'll post a photo of what I have in mind. Thanks!
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/3...sses-Beach.jpg

Maybe try Arile...

After hitting several boutiques and going through a few dress fittings, here’s my take:

1.) The selection in San Francisco is pretty underwhelming. I don't know what's going on with bridal trends this year, but the variety is lacking. Honestly, it feels worse than in previous years; I remember coming in for fittings before and there would always be a decent amount of good options...
2.) Don't trust the photos online; they have nothing to do with what's actually in the shop. My advice? Don't over-research. Just book an appointment and see for yourself once you arrive. If you spend too much time looking beforehand, you just build up this imaginary version in your head, and then you end up confused when you actually get there and can't decide anything.
3.) It helps to have at least a vague idea of what you want—ballgown or mermaid—just to narrow things down. Fittings only last about an hour and they fly by.
4.) Dresses get reserved fast. If you aren't far out from the wedding date, it's probably smart to put down a deposit if you find "the one."
Once you've secured a gown, you can still try others if something new catches your eye, but you'll have that safety net.
5.) Try to schedule your fittings during the day if possible. You can see the details way better in natural light. At night, once those artificial lights kick in, you can't even tell how white the dress actually is.

So, basically:

Bridal Glamour—The first shop I went to for a fitting.
The staff was helpful enough, but the selection was poor. I managed to try on three, at least. I wasn't a fan of the fact that I couldn't pick from a catalog; apparently, they didn't have those models in stock, so I had to hunt through the floor. The salesperson kept insisting that time was running out and that looking at a catalog was a waste of time. They kept pushing me to hurry up, and I really don't appreciate being pressured when I'm trying to choose a wedding dress.
One of the three was okay, but when I went back for a second fitting during the day, I realized it wasn't the one.
At night, with all those neon lights on, you can't really tell... definitely recommend a daytime appointment there.
Also, I noticed some dresses looked a bit dirty, and some were even torn—one was even sitting in the window. I know there was a bridal expo recently and they were used for runway shows, so maybe they haven't been cleaned up yet, but still... shouldn't happen.
The materials aren't top-tier quality, but since the new collection is $3,500, it's worth it.
For that price, you get a lot; they even included a dress for my mom or maid of honor for free with my gown.
Rating for this shop: -3 out of 5.

Vera Sposa—I've already posted about her, but I have to say, I'm unpleasantly surprised. The shop is messy, almost like a discount warehouse where everything is just thrown together. You pay for a fitting, but it doesn't feel like an exclusive brand at all.
They brag endlessly, but they have nothing to show for it.
The dress I tried on was ripped under the bust... and apparently, it's been like that since the expo a few months ago. They still haven't fixed it.
The saleswoman was lovely right up until she saw I wasn't buying anything. Then the comments started, implying I wouldn't find a dress anywhere else in the US or whatever...
She also told me I couldn't pick from a catalog because I was wasting time and that she'd just show me what she wanted. I hate it when people pressure me to move faster. You can't even touch anything; she just hands you dresses based on her own whims, pushing older models while keeping the new ones tucked away.
From what I heard, she's on the verge of bankruptcy and isn't even ordering new styles.
Basically, every model there was a disaster. I didn't like anything.
And I should mention, the woman was constantly putting other shops down, claiming Vera Sposa is the best, has the biggest selection, the best dresses, blah blah blah... Vera Sposa is everything.😁
When I showed her a model I'd seen in a different shop back in 2016, she immediately said it was terrible, even though she didn't carry it.
Of course, everything is bad except for Vera Sposa... honestly, it's just like that. What a tragedy. They should really clean up their shop and make it look a bit more high-end instead of a cluttered mess, especially since we're paying for the fitting.
It seems like their main hustle is just flipping old wedding dresses when they pick up some vintage stock for $2000 😵

Rating: 1

Good grief—neat shop, super friendly clerk, dresses were tidy, prices weren't bad.
Gowns are around $1000, decent selection, mid-range quality.
No pressure at all. She mentioned not everything was in the catalog, but she offered to pull pieces one by one so I could just say yes or no... we settled on something quickly.
Really pleasant vibe during the fitting, major props to the staff.
She was honest, realistic, and helpful. She actually suggested styles that would suit me better than what other shops carry, rather than just trying to push a sale at any cost.
Rating: +3

La Perla—honestly the best shop in town.
The gown quality is top-tier; everything was pristine and bright white.
Staff is lovely, no rushing.
I actually had to look through all the catalogs first... thank God for finally finding a shop where what you see in the book is actually in stock.
Once I picked one, came the fitting.
During the fitting, they were totally real with me. If I thought something looked good, they'd agree; if not, they didn't pretend.
They weren't aggressive about making a sale either.
For certain styles, they straight up told me, "That doesn't really work for you, let's move on," and so on.
Great atmosphere, clean and organized, high-end quality... you feel like you're finally in a luxury boutique where they actually care about the details.
All praise from me. Highly recommend starting your search here if you want to avoid the negative experiences I had elsewhere... which is why I saved this shop for last.

My dress is finally chosen 🙂 :klap:

I hope you guys find yours too, with way less stress and wandering aimlessly through stores.
🎉

Rating for La Perla: 5!

Hey, what kind of experiences have you all had? Like, did anyone actually manage to get their deposit back??

Kenneth Martinez11 said:Sorry, but I have to jump in here... I was in for a fitting just yesterday, and those women couldn't be more helpful if they tried. First off, if you actually bother looking at their catalog, almost everything is from the new collection.
I really think it just comes down to the individual...
Every single one of my friends who got married over the last year has nothing but glowing things to say about Vesna Sposa...
Listen, girls, if you look at their Facebook page, they show all the dresses, and most of them are actually available in the showroom... it's rare to find a model they don't have. If there's a specific style you're obsessed with, you can totally ask them to order it specifically for you to try on—that's literally why you book an appointment in the first place...
$23They charge a fee for the fitting, but only if you don't buy anything, which seems fair to me... I mean, the staff spends an hour and a half, sometimes even longer, working with you...

I went through the catalog, but the clerk told me I was wasting my time because they don't carry everything listed in the shop anyway.
Exactly what I asked for wasn't there.
From what I've heard, she's nearly bankrupt and isn't ordering new inventory, so she stays afloat by charging for fittings and pushing old models at new prices.
And I also heard the owner uses various fake profiles on Facebook to defend herself... so I wouldn't be surprised if this whole thing is just more of that, given the automatic excuses and the "it's all about the individual" vibe.😵