17 posts shown.
I reached out to the band (Zaratino) to ask about their availability, and they were like, "We're free! Just shoot me a message with the date and your name so I can jot it down..."
And honestly, that was it. No deposit, no formal contract... We actually met up with him a few weeks beforehand when we had some downtime just to rough out a setlist. We already knew their style, which is exactly why we picked them in the first place. We just hung out over coffee for an hour, joking around and getting to know them..
The guys couldn't have been better. The vibe was absolutely incredible, and even months later, my friends are still asking me where on earth I found that band...
hollowmoose62 said:Hey everyone—my fiancée and I are currently on the hunt for the perfect band for our wedding. So far, we’ve been really drawn to Kocka Band and that group Boss.
I was wondering if anyone here has actually attended a wedding where they were the headliners? I'm trying to get a realistic sense of what kind of budget we should be looking at for their services.
I actually saw boss play once. If I remember right, the couple mentioned a price around $2,300, but don't quote me on that since I'm not 100% sure... though I'm pretty close.
They were alright—good musicians—but I've heard better. For us, we had Zaratino from San Diego play, and honestly, I can't say enough good things about those guys. Even our guests kept asking where we found them because they were absolutely top-tier.
I can't speak for them,
but I just realized I was talking about the "Apple" group instead of Best, so sorry for the mix-up!
Gary Lopez13 said:Hey there,
I was just wondering if anyone happens to know what the going rate is for the Best Buy group? Thanks in advance, I guess.
If you're talking about the ones I'm thinking of—the ones with the singer in red—my relatives used them. If I remember correctly, they paid about $2,300, but that included travel all the way to San Diego, so it would probably be a little cheaper if you're looking at something closer to Los Angeles..
Anyway, hope that helps!
Kyle Campbell3 said:And she didn't have a clue... she was basically just dreaming🙂🙄
A friend of mine is also getting married soon, and she told me $933 for an accordion, guitar, and double bass setup... so I figured I'd pay a few hundred dollars more, knowing they're great guys.. 🕺🙂
It's not my fault if I don't take full advantage of everything; we're all hanging out in the same spot anyway... if we were, they'd probably end up playing for much longer.
Look, if you already know they're good, there's no reason to feel bad about it. You'll end up wasting money on a ton of little things that nobody will even notice anyway. At the end of the day, music and food are what actually matter at a wedding, so...
Kyle Campbell3 said:Back again 🙂 I’m trying to get a sense of how much musicians are charging these days. Specifically for catering gigs and various events... One guy is quoting me $500. That would cover an accordion player, a guitarist, and a double bassist. Does that sound steep to you all?
That actually sounds pretty reasonable. I once hired a trio (two guitars and an accordion) and they charged me way more than that for the whole day—playing at my place, at the venue, outside the church, and then staying through the reception until like 2 AM...
I once went to a wedding where everyone hung out at a local bar before the ceremony. We did this twice—once for drinks and snacks, and once for the full catering spread.
The first time was honestly kind of a mess. The place was tiny, packed with people, and there was nowhere to actually set your plate down because it was all just high-top cocktail tables. Plus, if you wanted a drink, you had to fight for space at the bar and wait forever... yeah, it left a pretty bad impression on me.
The second time around was much better. There was plenty of room, split between an indoor area and an outdoor patio. They had drinks and finger foods outside, while the main meal was inside. You could grab your food, sit down, eat like a normal human being, and then head back out to the music. It was actually really well done.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to how much thought goes into the planning. That first wedding was planned a year in advance, while the second one was pulled together in just two months!
Personally, I’m a huge fan of those pre-wedding get-togethers at someone's house. I love it. Who cares about the extra cleaning? Once you're there, it's 😁
wearypilot39 said:I suppose I should probably touch upon my ongoing struggle with this whole wedding dress saga. My ultimate goal here is simple: I want a gown that doesn't feel like a heavy burden I have to lug around all night, something that actually allows me to walk like a normal human being. I went ahead and booked a fitting session at the Glamourous Bride boutique in San Francisco. After waiting around for over an hour, it was finally my turn, only for some manager or perhaps the owner to inform me—just thirty minutes in—that my appointment time had already expired. I did stop by the Lipton shop earlier, and I must say the staff there were quite lovely and helpful, but their selection of dresses is frankly underwhelming, especially considering they claim to rent each piece out a maximum of three times.
I really think you should consider getting one custom-made. I’d also suggest checking out the Borneo studio in Washington, D.C. You'll have to make about three trips to D.C. to get everything set, but it isn't expensive. They'll make exactly what you envision based on your discussions, and they're great at suggesting shapes and styles that won't stress you out.
My biggest worry was having a dress that felt heavy or restrictive, and luckily, it wasn't like that at all. I absolutely hate tight corsets and stuff like that, but they actually built some boning into my dress to give it shape without me even realizing it was there. It was incredibly comfortable.
I ended up going with a knee-length lace dress with a tulle overskirt that went down to the floor. I just pulled the skirt off whenever the long dress started feeling like too much, and even then, I didn't have to worry about tripping or people stepping on it...
Anyway, here's how it looked:
View on imgurView on imgur
Alright, I figured I'd put in a little effort and write a quick note about how much I'm loving my local bakery here in San Diego:
(Sorry, Cvitelius, I’m just going to copy your list and fill it out so I don't miss anything.) 😁
The old Zadar Gastronomy hall over by Jazine:
If anyone else was there, you know exactly what I’m talking about—the food was absolutely incredible and the service was next level. Coming from the Midwest, we just aren't used to this kind of treatment. As soon as you finish a plate, the server is already hovering to see if you need something else. And don't even get me started on the flavors of that local prosciutto and lamb... everything was just spot on. The staff was so attentive; I really have to hand it to the whole team for how they ran things. Everything went perfectly, too. We had one group show up with two older kids they hadn't mentioned beforehand, but the floor manager handled it instantly. He had extra chairs out in a heartbeat. Total pros.
It’s a bummer that the old hall is closing down—it definitely had its own soul. I actually attended a party at the new Supernova venue recently, though. The food and service were both top-notch. The vibe is just a bit more modern and "cool" looking, which can feel a little colder than the old spot, but honestly, I don't mind. It’s still a beautiful space.
The Zaratino band:
They’re way overpriced, and I told them straight up—I could hike my prices by $300 and still have a full calendar. They’re top-tier, honestly. Everyone raves about them because they play everything live, except for that cheesy country stuff nobody wants anyway. But even then, they’ll throw in a "feisty blonde" or an "old pro" vibe just to get the party moving, and it works every single time. It’s the perfect way to keep the energy up. They actually pay attention to the crowd, reading the room and sensing exactly what people want to hear. They played it perfectly.
Nadio Photography out of Key West
I reached out to him via Facebook and email to lock everything in with a deposit. Honestly, he was a lot cheaper than the other options I looked at, but it wasn't until just two months before the big party that I realized I hadn't actually seen much of his recent work. His Facebook page didn't have many photos, and most of them looked pretty old. I started to panic, so I began asking around here and there to see what people thought. Someone even suggested that based on the few photos available, his style might not be the best fit and that I should probably look for someone else. In the end, I decided to just be direct and ask him to show me more of his recent work—specifically some videos. Thank goodness I did that instead of just walking away. He sent over several videos, and they were stunning. The quality is incredible, honestly even better than I had imagined. He even brought along a portfolio when we met, and I absolutely loved the attention to detail; it’s exactly my style. We did the photo shoot on Tuesday after the party, and he didn't charge us anything extra, even though he drove all the way from Key West to San Diego to make it happen.
All in all, huge props to Nadia!
If you're looking at catering from Angelus out of San Diego:
There’s really nothing left to debate here—everything was practically wiped out. Most of it went to those folks from up north who had already polished off a mountain of lamb at their husband's place earlier. 😁😁😁
The decor was gorgeous, and honestly, the staff was so smooth. You barely even noticed them working, yet somehow our trays were always full.
Lotus Duga Resa Flower Shop:
Renata arrived in San Diego and handled everything—the car, the church, even the hall in San Diego. She went with this nautical theme for everything, and man, it looked incredible. I’ve honestly never seen decorations like the ones on our table before; it was wild, totally unique, and just stunning. The photo booth was a huge hit, too. She set up a little lounge area, and by the end of the night, my brother actually laid down in that little nook to nap next to the table. 😁 Honestly, it was totally worth it, haha. Everything turned out absolutely stunning. Everyone was blown away, and everything was done exactly how we planned... actually, it looked way better than what we originally agreed on. 😁
Zadar Cake:
That Ferrero cake was honestly incredible. The decorations were a total showstopper—it looked stunning and tasted even better. I can't recommend it enough!
Homemade treats from the local bakery near Lotus Duga Resa:
I’m honestly speechless. Everyone kept coming up to me to say how incredible the desserts were—not like those heavy, two-inch thick sponge cakes with a tiny smear of chocolate you see everywhere else. People practically cleared the table. I only ended up handing out about 20 little gift boxes, and that was it. Even though they're close family friends, I have to say, the sweets were just legitimately amazing.
Viadel pastries:
We picked up about 30kg of their treats and mixed them with some homemade ones to hand out with our thank-you notes. Everything was super fresh and delicious, plus at $13/kg, the price was honestly a steal.
Borneo Wedding Dresses
The woman there is absolutely incredible. She’s so knowledgeable and experienced, yet so chill—she did everything exactly how we discussed without any stress. I wasn't even 2% worried about my Wedding Dress at any point. It was beautiful, practical, lightweight, and I felt amazing in it. (I'll be selling it soon if any "larger" ladies are interested, size 12/14)
Hair:
I won't name the tiny little salon in San Diego where we randomly ended up, but I was seriously disappointed. I really regret not just ripping out all the hairpins when I got home and doing it myself, because I styled a much better version on my own for the photos on Tuesday... I should have just done it myself, that's all. 🙂
Diora by Martina Makeup San Diego:
Short and sweet: it looked gorgeous and stayed perfect until morning. She just knows how to read your facial features and what works for you without you even having to say a word. And you don't end up looking "overdone."
I made the invitations, thank-you notes, and favors myself 😁
Jewelry from Volmut Jeweler Jastrebarsko:
They made everything exactly like the picture we wanted and hit every deadline we agreed on. We even paid after the reception (you sign a contract), and we were just really happy with the service and their approach. Highly recommend.
Entertainment: Trio Fešta San Diego
These guys were awesome. They played non-stop until 2:00 or even 2:30 AM (during band breaks), playing whatever we wanted and adding their own flair. The atmosphere was top-notch.
If anyone needs more info, I'm here! 🙂
Justin Wright said:🤣 It feels pretty far away to me; I'm more of a Southern guy😁
We've narrowed our choices down to Kocka and Phoenix from San Diego.
Kocka seems like a better fit for the mainstream crowd, whereas Phoenix feels more like our vibe,
but they might be a little too alternative for a party setting.
Help me out here....
We still have Jukebox Live and Pink Panther as options too....
I haven't seen any of them live yet.
The atmosphere is what matters most to us—we need that dance floor packed until dawn.🎉
It’s not actually that far; they tour all over the US, so heading a bit south isn't a huge stretch for them... plus, they're really affordable.
As for keeping that floor packed until morning, trust me, they'll guarantee it. They play everything except country music... and the best part is they actually read the room. They don't just force their set on you; they're super adaptable to the crowd..
Anyway, now I probably sound like I'm pushing them on you when you clearly aren't feeling it 🕺 😁
But just don't "write them off" thinking San Diego is up in the Pacific Northwest 🙂 don't you dare insult San Diego like that! 🤣🤣🤣
Justin Wright said:But they aren't even from California...😢
Every single live band we actually want to book is already booked for our date. 🙂
The only ones available are barbary, boss, kocka, and phoenix.
Who should we go with? I honestly have no clue which ones are actually any good...😁🤣
I’m really not looking for that typical redneck vibe—you know, the kind where everything is just loud country music, Thompson, or Skoro, mixed with nothing but Madonna and Majda Šuput playing on repeat. That's just not my scene.🙄🤦Man, I really wouldn't want anything too out there or alternative either...
It’s more like someone who can really nail those soulful classics—the kind of singer who could cover everything from classic rock ballads to deep, heartfelt Americana.🤣🎉
I'm looking for some good West Coast vibes—something with that classic California energy to get the mood right. Any suggestions?
Of course they're from California, unless San Diego isn't part of it 🤔
Justin Wright said:Thanks everyone for the help, I just still need a recommendation for a band.🙂
Any suggestions? Just nothing too cheesy or old-fashioned.🎉
https://www.facebook.com/pages/categ...5410513237492/
These guys are my top pick. If you check out their YouTube performances or music videos—you can even catch them on CMC—you'll get a perfect idea of their sound and vibe.
Plus, they haven't let the hype go to their heads; their rates are totally reasonable. 🎉
Can anyone recommend someone around the San Diego-Los Angeles area who does rentals for just tables and benches?
ironsurfer15 said:Sorry, I'm a bit late getting back to this too! 😉
Yeah, we definitely misunderstood each other. I was thinking about a massive tent for the entire wedding reception, like an actual venue. And yeah, those prices are definitely a lot higher than just renting some "backyard" tents.
Speaking of which, does anyone know what it usually costs for a small band—like a duo or trio with a guitar and accordion—just to play outside the church before the ceremony starts? Not for the full wedding. Is a quote of around $533 realistic for about 2 hours of music? 🤔
I think that’s a fair price. I pay $1333 for my trio, but they stay for the entire day at the venue and play through breaks... So, paying less than half seems totally fine. Even though it's "only" 2 hours, they might be turning down a $4,000 gig to stay available for those specific 2 hours.
rapideagle33 said:There's a big difference between renting a basic tent for the backyard and a full wedding tent. The latter includes the carpet, flooring, tables and chairs (not benches), lighting, chandeliers, and all those fancy extras a ballroom usually has—those are the kinds of prices you're looking at for a rental.
Yeah, you're right, that's a completely different ballgame.
I think ironsurfer15 and I were talking past each other. I actually own the venue, so the tents are just for the reception part, not the whole setup.🙂
ironsurfer15 said:Renting a tent is super expensive if you're thinking about a full wedding setup. For 50-100 people, you're looking at maybe $40,000-$15! And then you still have to factor in catering and everything else... 😲
By the way, I'm a bit confused—you said you have a venue, the Gastro place in Jazina? Is that where that Posh bar is now? How many people can fit in there?
Personally, I'm looking at spaces for about 70 people. I'm not a huge fan of big halls; I'd rather find a larger restaurant or somewhere a bit more intimate... Plus, I'm not based in Zadar, so it's pretty tough for me to judge what's good, and getting recommendations on here is tricky 🤷
Hey,
Sorry, nobody got back to me for a while because I haven't been checking the group...
Anyway, regarding Gastro near the cave, I'm not sure about the luxury brand one, but I know the cellar is right next door..
For 70 guests, I'd personally suggest Aurora over by St. Peter; I went there for a christening once, and it was really lovely.
But about that tent thing—I'm not sure if someone overcharged you or gave you the wrong info. We found a tent rental that came with everything (tables, benches, silverware, plates, glasses...) for just $6 $0.00 for a 120-person tent... This is for the pre-party at home, right?
It'll be held at "his" place since his house is in Savannah, but I rented a massive house for myself with a cellar tavern and a huge covered terrace out back for $1000 😁
ironsurfer15 said:Hey everyone!
I honestly don't get why there aren't specific subforums for different areas like Los Angeles-San Diego-San Francisco, because trying to find anything here is a nightmare! 😠 I've been scrolling forever trying to find some wedding venue recommendations in San Diego, but I can't find anything useful or even current. Someone recently asked about experiences at Miami Beach club and it looks like they never got a reply (by the way, I did a quick Google search and apparently the place is actually shut down right now due to some inspection issue ☕
Anyway, I'm on the hunt for a wedding spot. I'm definitely not looking for big banquet halls like Anna or Tony or whatever, but since I haven't lived in San Diego for a while, I'm pretty out of the loop on local spots. Ideally, I'd love something more intimate—maybe a family estate, a villa, or something similar that fits about 100-150 people max. I stumbled upon Black Rock Tavern while searching and it looks really cute, so if anyone has been there, please let me know what you think!!😉
Or maybe a hotel, like Penelope? It seems nice since it's right by the water... and maybe the Four Seasons too, though I have a feeling that might be a bit pricey...🤔
Thanks in advance!!🙂
I totally agree. I’m looking for some info on San Diego too, but I’m starting to get the feeling that nobody there is actually getting married. What gives?
I've got the Gastro hall booked—it’s one of those old spots over in Jazina. I also have the Zaratino band lined up, along with Trio Fiesta for music, and Nadio Photography is on the list too (if anyone has worked with them before, let me know how they did!).
I’ve actually checked off quite a bit of the other wedding stuff, too. We even found an incredible deal on the rings at a local jeweler that lets us defer the payment until after the wedding. Honestly, such a lifesaver! :)
I do everything myself... blah blah blah.
Look, I'm handling all the planning from Chicago, so I could really use some help with the little local details.
The wedding is going down in Biograd—that’s where the guy is from, though he hasn't lived there since he was a kid, so he can't exactly be our main man for planning. We decided to handle everything through the Reverend and a pre-marital course...
I'm looking for some info on renting tents and tables—does anyone know what the typical pricing looks like lately?