Posts by Joseph Taylor7

Lawrence Edwards40 said:Hey there!
So, here's the deal: I’m getting married next spring in Miami. We're keeping it pretty low-key, just a small gathering of about 30 people. We really want to make it feel special, you know? Somewhere gorgeous, tucked away in nature—maybe a nice restaurant or a terrace with an incredible view... but honestly, my brain is totally blank right now. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any specific restaurants or cool spots that might fit the vibe?

adriatic grašo..

Carol Bailey3 said:Does anyone have any recommendations for lighting??

mediarent

Hey ladies, does anyone have any recommendations for the Dolce bakery in town? I've heard their cakes and creamy desserts are absolutely incredible! 🙂

uh.. I’ve also caught a few comments here and there suggesting the food wasn't actually that great... but then on the flip side, I keep hearing things about how it's from Arcade, that famous chef Miro Bogdanovic, and that the food is supposedly top-tier. I guess we'll just have to see. ☕

amberhawk60 said:Everything is great except the food.
I've heard plenty of bad things about the menu...

I finally just went ahead and booked MediaRent for $1167, mostly because I honestly don't have the mental energy left to obsess over what might go wrong or how everything will turn out... I know they're reliable since they've worked at this venue before, and they'll coordinate with my photographer and videographer, so that should be that 🙂. Honestly, Semper Fi kept asking me $967 and he's actually been such a pleasant and easygoing guy to deal with... He did mention he has some slightly lower-end gear, but if you're just looking for something decent, I think you'll be perfectly fine... It’s probably best if you just meet him in person and have a chat
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coastalharbor6 said:What does Samuel charge? I’m not looking to overspend, just something decent.

I don't really know, I usually just buy flowers from her whenever I need something and I honestly just hope she does a good job. I'm not really the type of person who leaves things up to chance or lets her just decide how she feels inspired... I have all the photos of exactly how I want things to look, though I suppose I leave her some room for her own touch... For instance, I went to Tiffany's once and for the exact same offer she asked me for $1833, and we just didn't really click. It wasn't that I got the impression she understood what I wanted, or that she was even particularly interested... so to me, she was a total disappointment, even if her work looks great in photos. She was actually the first one I ever went to... so I guess we all just have our own different experiences 🙂

Hannah Murphy11 said:I completely agree. A friend of mine used her for her wedding, and while I know she didn't pay a premium, her bouquet was honestly the most underwhelming arrangement I have ever seen in my entire life. On top of that, the floral decor scattered throughout the venue was absolute garbage. But the absolute worst part? My friend mentioned afterward that the florist went rogue and did something entirely different from what they had actually agreed upon. To me, that is the ultimate red flag—when someone you are paying simply ignores the contract. Mind you, that was back in 2013, so obviously, things could have changed significantly since then.

For my own wedding, I hired a local florist called TNT (located right below the Belvedere building). They handled my bouquet, the car decor, and the main head table, all for less than $1000, and I was beyond thrilled. I spent the entire evening telling everyone how perfect the head table looked. Not long after me, another friend got married and used them as well, and she was just as happy. The woman is professional, polite, unassuming, and truly knows her craft. She respects your vision and sticks to the agreement; she can replicate exactly what you show her in photos, and she offers great advice if you're feeling indecisive (which was me, since I only knew 😁)... I recommend her from the bottom of my heart. 👍

Edit: Oh, I almost forgot—every single florist I’ve spoken with includes vases, candle holders, and similar items in their pricing. I’m not sure if that is the industry standard or if I just happened to find the good ones

Well, since you're aiming for something extremely simple, you'll probably save quite a bit. I mean, more upscale wedding tables usually start at $1,500 and go way up from there... I actually thought Maja Banic looked amazing on Facebook, and I almost booked her for $150 makeup, but once she mentioned that a trial session costs the same as the actual thing, $150 I kind of changed my mind haha... That XXS group has such a great vibe and creates a really genuine party atmosphere 🙂

Maria Hughes11 said:So, I touched base with a florist over in San Francisco—they’re called Orchid—and for those simple, low-vase arrangements using peonies and hydrangeas, they're looking at about 60-$23 per table. A standard bouquet is 400, and the head table would be around 600-700. I made sure to emphasize that I want things very minimalist: just two or three large blooms in a vase, nothing fancy with extra greenery or whatever. She mentioned that this combo actually costs more than, say, roses. I really hope she's right about the pricing, but she seems pretty chill and easy to work with. Honestly, at those wedding expos, people were quoting us 100-$83 per table and 1500 for the head table, which felt ridiculous. Anyway, does anyone have experience with Toni Photo Studio in San Francisco? Or maybe Majorie Banic for makeup? Also, I'm looking for a solid band or DJ for the cocktail hour—someone who can actually set a good mood while guests are arriving and outside the church. And, if you happen to know a really talented female vocalist for the ceremony, let me know. Good luck to everyone else still searching:::location is San Francisco

Maybe just give them a call and ask, though I wouldn't hold it against them if they haven't gotten back to you yet since they probably have way too much on their plate... I was actually picturing pink hydrangeas taking center stage, maybe with some roses, daisies, or baby's breath woven in wherever it makes sense. Basically, my main table would be dominated by those hydrangeas, while the other tables might have these smaller, rounded arrangements in tall vases—maybe just daisies and something else. Personally, I feel like having stuff sitting at the base of the vase is kind of pointless; it just gets in the guests' way later on. But hey, that's just my take. Regarding the pricing per table, for instance, the lady over at the local florist asked me $60 per bouquet, whereas at ST Flowers she said $17, though she wasn't being very specific with me... so everything seems pretty subjective. My main table ends up being a bit cheaper across the board, costing about $500. A bouquet at Mis is $183 including the boutonnieres (which is similar elsewhere), and for the church, I'll just have one large arrangement in front of the altar for roughly $100 (I think she included the linens and chair covers in that price), plus the car decoration is about $67... She mentioned she'd also make a second smaller bouquet for me to toss, plus two little ones for the bridesmaids, and that's really it. I told her I could give her a maximum of $1333 for 🙂
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Michael Mendoza14 said:Quincy:

Joseph Taylor7 I can't even begin to process this. Honestly, I’m just sitting here staring at my screen, trying to make sense of what was actually said. It’s ridiculous. Truly. I feel like I need a drink just thinking about it. Where does it end? Does anyone actually think this makes sense? I doubt it. Probably not. Anyway, here goes nothing... I was the one who booked her... Honestly, my best advice? Go straight to John (don't bother talking to his mom) and lay it all out on the table. Tell him exactly what you want, from start to finish. Once he knows the full scope, he’ll ask what kind of budget you're working with—basically, figure out what you're actually willing to drop on a gym membership first—and then he'll tell you if that's doable or if you're dreaming. She didn't give me a breakdown of individual prices or anything like that; I just listed everything I wanted, gave her a total number I was comfortable paying, and she agreed. Done. We'll just have to wait and see how it actually plays out.🎉

I honestly have no clue what a decent price range looks like for a table setup. I’m thinking something like one big, gorgeous bouquet on a tall stand that kind of drapes over the edge, paired with maybe two or three little vases at the base with a single flower or a candle each. Since I don't have a ballpark figure, I have no idea what budget to even bring up with her. Her mom actually mentioned last week that she’d give me a call about some sort of special promotion, but I haven't heard anything yet. Can you tell me exactly which flowers you picked out and roughly what you paid per table?

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...

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. 😲

amberhawk60 said:Any lighting recommendations? Looking for something decent that won't break the bank... 😉

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.😵😠

amberhawk60 said: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 🙂 👏

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

Rating for La Perla: 5!

I was actually the one who booked her... if I were you, I’d suggest meeting up with John specifically—not his mom—to lay everything out on the table from start to finish. Once you've said your piece, he'll probably ask what kind of budget you're working with, so just figure out what you're comfortable paying for the gym sessions beforehand. Then he can tell you straight up whether that works or if it's a non-starter. In my case, she didn't really bother giving me a breakdown of individual prices; I just listed everything I wanted and gave her a total number I was willing to pay. She agreed to it, and that was that. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all turns out.🎉

Michael Mendoza14 said:So, I just swung by the Miss flower stand at this wedding expo, and I’m pretty sure "Mrs. Mom" was the one running the show. She was actually super sweet—took down my info and told me there was no way she could go over all the specifics right now with this crowd and all the noise. She said she'd give me a call on my cell later this week to work out some kind of "special deal" so we can finally hash out the actual details, like the flower types, pricing, and all that jazz. Apparently, they usually charge $167 for things like vase rentals and candle holders, but since I met them through the expo, they’ll throw those in for free. Does anyone have a ballpark idea of what their table centerpieces run? Or maybe something smaller, like a tiny vase with a single bloom and a candle at the end of the table? I definitely want roses mixed in with something else