Posts by darksailor2

wanderingbadger17 said:I guess it could work, honestly. That’s how they frame it, too. Sure, the layout is a bit of an L-shape, which isn't ideal, but with enough planning and their specific advice, I suppose you could make it fit without any major issues. You would just need to cram about ten people around each table. So, if you have twenty tables, it should theoretically hold everyone—and that’s exactly what they’ll tell you, too. See?

I was at a wedding in Savannah recently. They set up 12 tables in the main hall and 5 in that tucked-away corner area. Honestly, it was just right. If they had added even one more table, I think I would have felt totally claustrophobic. There were about 8 or 9 of us squeezed at each table, though I guess 10 could have worked, but I still wouldn't have been happy with it. 🤷

Everyone keeps telling me I should always subtract about 10% from whatever number they claim can fit. I guess they're right, because whenever people give me their maximum capacity, the place ends up way too crowded.

Sarah Reyes2 said:Thank you so much! I don't actually live in Savannah, so any recommendations or advice are truly appreciated. The wedding isn't for another year, and we're looking at about 80-100 guests. Ideally, I’d love a venue with a little terrace area for smokers and a view of the ocean. Everyone keeps raving about the Hilton, but it's easily twice the price of everything else. Well, once I make it down to Savannah, I'll definitely go check out all the venues you guys suggested. At least now I have a starting point. Thanks a million!

One more quick question—since I'm not a local Californian, I was wondering what a standard banquet menu usually looks like. Is it typically things like cured meats, cheese, risotto, and pot roast? It seems a bit meat-heavy to me, and I'd much prefer seafood and fish. Does anyone have suggestions or personal experiences to share?

Also, if you have any DJ recommendations, please let me know, because we've decided against a live band. Almost all of my guests live outside the US—places like the former USSR, America, Australia, Canada, Western Europe, Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, Israel, and so on. Because of that, we really need a DJ who can mix a wide variety of musical styles.

Thanks in advance!

Around here, this is just your standard menu:
Prosciutto, cheese, France... and I think there was some tuna pâté somewhere too.
They usually give you a choice between black risotto or veal risotto—though, most of the time, they’ll let you swap one of those out for shrimp risotto instead.
Beef stew with gnocchi and a side salad.
Roasted lamb and roasted potatoes.

Yeah, I think they offer juice too. But honestly, you can always cut stuff from the menu. Some places ditch the beef stew entirely, some swap it out for something else, and some people just won't touch lamb. I guess it depends on what you're looking for.
Instead of that heavy beef stew, most places are serving up veal medallions in sauce. You could probably just go with some fish instead. And if you aren't feeling the lamb, maybe you could grab some octopus?
If you’re actually going to change up the menu, you might as well go with the steakhouse spots. I guess they just have a way better selection of dishes anyway. 😉

If you've got questions about DJing, just go ask in the DJ thread.

Look, I get it, the Pirate is great, but there's no way he can handle a crowd of 200 people! 🤷

$20 A salad bowl from Hobie? 🙄 That's way too much!
And that doesn't even include a drink! I guess that's just overkill for me. 😁

Bradley Jones9 said:The menu prices range from $97 -$207, plus drink packages are available at 140, 185, and $75
. I believe their spirits are only served during the welcome reception before everyone enters the main hall.
As for cakes and desserts, you're expected to bring your own, though they do need to have an official vendor certification.

If there is anything else you might need, I suppose I am available to help. 🙂

I don't get these massive price gaps. 😲
What's the actual difference between paying 290 and 620? And what does a standard menu even cost? 😁

Bradley Jones9 said:We are hosting a reception at the Atrium... expecting about 200 guests... I find the venue itself to be top-tier, and the coordinator is nothing short of exceptional. My confidence in choosing the Atrium came from recommendations by several bands who have performed there—including my own taxi band, which offered nothing but praise—and that was the deciding factor for us. 🙂 When we dropped off the deposit, the room was already set up for an event and looked absolutely stunning. I’ve heard the catering is excellent, and the manager even went so far as to invite us to come by and sample the wine and prosciutto if we wished, though he was so persuasive that we didn't feel the need to try anything. So, I offer my warm recommendation for the Atrium... the reception is scheduled for February, and I will provide further updates on our satisfaction after that. 😉

One more thing... before making our final decision, we visited the Radisson, the former San Francisco Grand Hotel, and it didn't exactly blow me away. The ceilings are somewhat low, though they do have a lovely terrace. As for Le Meridien, it's rather mediocre in my opinion; the hall feels like a standard banquet room, the atmosphere is quite cold, and the decor consists of plain white tablecloths that are too short and yellow chair covers...

Can you please tell me how much that chair in the atrium costs? 😁

I haven't seen anything from meli2 lately. Maybe they're just staying quiet. says:
Just wanted to jump in here... so, when exactly are you getting married? (password: pralines) 😂)

🤣
Stop lurking around. 🙂
Maybe next year! 😬 I guess if I actually make some decent pralines, she might just decide to claim me. 🤣

Gregory Ramirez7 said:Look, I’m incredibly picky when it comes to food, but honestly? The meal there was actually great. 🤷

"Quote:"

I think that’s not even Kokolo anymore, if I’m not mistaken.

I heard they switched owners about three months ago and did a total overhaul. I think they even changed the name, but I haven't actually checked. 🤣

I don't know. Maybe it’s just me, but I can't get behind this. It feels off. I guess I'm just looking for something a bit more substantial here. says:
Here’s my take on what you should get for the lounge:
"Kaštil slanica" over at Radmanov's mills... it holds up to 240 people, sits right on the banks of the Mississippi, and the food is actually great. It doesn't get much more romantic than that, I guess. I'm getting married there in a month. Here's the link: I can't make sense of this link. It looks like some broken URL leading to a dead end on a website that doesn't exist anymore. I guess it's just a junk link, maybe? I don't see anything here worth reading.

Wait, isn't the limit there only 200 people? 🤔

Jeremy Anderson8 said:The service was honestly amazing, and the manager at Dover is just such a pleasant guy to deal with—you can pretty much settle everything with him easily. The waiters were constantly circling the tables, always topping off drinks, and man, there was an absolute abundance of food. I mean, I didn't just want lamb; I asked for cold roast pork on the side too, which turned out to be a total hit, and since they were serving pot roast, I requested veal medallions in sauce as well. I know that's a bit unusual, but they pulled it all off! There was barely any risotto or pot roast left; they even packed some up for us to take home. You bring your own desserts, but they have to have a certificate (my top recommendation would be Smith Bakery; they are incredibly professional and actually suggest what would work best. I just gave them my guest count and let them handle everything, and the cakes and pies were delicious—the orange cake was my absolute favorite. Seriously, there were literally just crumbs left on the table; the cakes were almost entirely devoured, and people were taking the pastries home in those little plastic containers I grabbed). As for the setup at Dover, the hall decor is great. I only really needed to bring an arrangement for my own table, but I guess I was feeling a bit extra, so I ordered some balloon decorations too. They had white tablecloths, and I could pick the overlays—mine were lilac. The chairs had white covers with colored bows to match, mine were lilac, and we had silver candlesticks with candles. The band lit up the whole hall so well that some of the extra decor felt almost unnecessary, but it all looked so beautiful... I was beyond satisfied, and my guests kept telling me how perfect everything was... I'm not someone who goes for huge demands or complications; I basically just told everyone what I wanted for the reception, and without any hassle or pushing back, I got everything I asked for and then some... Honestly, it wasn't just my reception; everything was just perfect...😉 And you won't hear music from the other room because they have these lead partitions that are soundproofed... seriously, you can't hear a thing...

thanks for the detailed breakdown 🙏
just one question: how much did you end up paying per person since you customized the menu? And what exactly was on it? Was it just the standard stuff with the pork and veal, or did you change more than that? 😁

Sarah Doyle54 said:Even a full day is overkill. If the whole point of suspensions is just to cool people off after an argument, a few hours should do it. 🤷 It’s like being sent to time-out by your teacher back in elementary school. You calm down, move on, and everything stays civil. Why bother with three days?

darksailor2, seriously... use your head before you hit enter! 🤣

My theory? Not everyone is glued to this forum 24/7. If I get banned for a few hours tonight because I was trolling a little, so what? I’m probably going out anyway... I'll wake up tomorrow and keep posting! 🤷
Basically, everyone could just troll all night, sleep through their ban, and be right back here in the morning! 😁 Besides, not everyone lives online... unlike you! 😳 I actually have a life... 🥳

...NOT 😢

What I'm saying is, a few hours doesn't mean anything to some people! They go out, grab a coffee, catch a movie, do laundry, hook up, cook dinner, and then they're right back on the site! 🤷

Seriously, Bradley Sanders4, what kind of nonsense were you listening to? 🤣

How does a ban even last three whole days? 🤣

Regarding bans, I honestly think we should just implement a one-day ban for anyone hitting 100 points! 😁 Three days is way too much. I mean, I’m mostly saying this so if I ever end up banned, I don't have to sit through three days of nothing—not that you guys would want to deal with me being gone for that long either. It'd be a huge loss for the forum, I guess. 🤷 😍

edit: Oh, so you just pulled that out of thin air? Well... people rack up 100 points for all sorts of things. They pile them up from off-topic chatter, spam, trolling, and insults! 🤷 For the ones actually being abusive, I’d give them even more... but for the trolls? Maybe just one day! 😁

Arthur Phillips12 said:Hey everyone,

Finally decided to stop lurking and actually post :-) I’ve been reading this board forever, but I finally pulled the trigger on making an account.😁
So, my partner and I are planning a wedding for next year—hopefully in September if we can actually snag a venue in time. We're looking at a massive bash, probably 250-300 people in San Francisco, so finding a hall that won't break the bank or cram us in like sardines is driving me crazy. I’ve never even stepped foot in one of these big banquet halls, so I have zero clue which ones are actually decent (maybe Phoenix, Dolores, or Fable?). I saw Phoenix Dugopolje is still around $35 a head, which sounds like a steal to me. Has anyone actually had a party there? How was the service and the food? Please help me out ASAP before all my dates get snatched up. 🙏

Thanks 😍

Arthur Phillips12 said:Quincy:

Malamut I can't even deal with this right now. It's just ridiculous. Hey girls, I wasn't sure if there was an actual thread for finding good salami for a BBQ around the San Francisco area, so I figured I'd just ask here. 😁 I'm looking for some solid mashed potato catering for a crowd of about 200 to 300 people out here in the San Francisco area. I already know about Dolores and Phoenix Dugopolje, but I need more options! 😁 Anyone ever stayed at the Medena Resort out in San Francisco? I heard they can cram up to 450 guests in there. Is that actually true, or is there some kind of capacity limit I should know about? 🤷 Does anyone actually know what the prices are like over there? Is the food any good, or just overpriced junk? And please tell me they have an ocean view. 😁 Does anyone know of any halls around San Francisco or the surrounding area that can fit at least 200 people? I need somewhere right by the water—or at least a place with a terrace facing the ocean. Looking for that view! 🙂 Something like this. San Antonio is a total mess. Honestly, I can't stand driving through there anymore.Look, I'm telling you, that place can hold up to 150 guests! 😬

I'm also hunting for a hall that can actually fit this many guests. Which venue did you end up picking? 😉

I haven't picked one yet! 😁

Dolis has plenty of options! In Dolis Lesnina, they have two identical square halls, and each can hold 300 people. They’re nice halls. There's plenty of parking... and you won't hear the music from the other hall!
They charge $37 per person. The food is great, and the manager is excellent! You should go check out those halls in Lesnina and set up a tour.

At Phoenix, they have a smaller room for 210 people and then a larger one... though I'm not sure how many the bigger one holds. Honestly, the food at Dolis is better.

There’s also Castello in the suburbs; they have two rooms. The bottom one is bigger and fits about 300. To be honest, the top room is way nicer and has a better layout, but you couldn't fit even 250 people up there. I didn't really vibe with the manager there, 😬 and apparently, the food isn't anything to write home about! 🤷 At least, that's what I've heard from others.

A friend of mine went to Fabula once. I haven't been myself... but word on the street is it's nothing special. 🤷
Kokolo over on Kotex can take 300 people, but they're $40 a head... and it's all renovated.

Bolero over on Victa also takes quite a few people, but they're more expensive.

I don't know what else. 🤔

Justin Bennett61 said:hey

I wouldn't recommend Honeycomb Hotel—I've been to two weddings there and wasn't a fan. The hall is pretty dark and feels cramped once you hit 300 people.

Two weeks ago, I was at a wedding at the Presidential Hotel in San Francisco and it was great. They had about 250 guests. The hall is phenomenal and the food is excellent. That was my third wedding there and honestly, they’re top-tier.

The hall at the Atrium Hotel is also major league. I was at a wedding there with 200 guests and it was beautiful.

There's this new venue in San Francisco, can't remember the name... the owner is the same guy who owns the Alka Hotel in a small town out west... the hall is great, I think it holds up to 350...

Phoenix is just hit or miss for me... the food isn't always the best...

Pirate's Cove has a really nice, large hall too!!!

Good luck😁

I had my wedding in San Antonio with about 110 people, and if there had been any more, it would have been way too tight. For smaller weddings under 100, they are seriously my absolute favorite...

The President Hotel has ridiculously high prices! 😬

Gusar is great in terms of the vibe and the layout, but the hall itself is small! You can't fit 300 people in there.🤔

Nancy Sanchez11 said:Hey, I need some help here. I'm pretty new to this forum.
I'm looking for a hall to host an event for about 200 people. Has anyone here actually used the Lav Le Meridien or that Velum restaurant? What was your experience like?
Also, I heard through the grapevine that Arkada does those fancy mashed potatoes served on colored plates—does anyone have any actual info or firsthand experience with that?
Thanks so much! Cheers.

Le Meridien is pricey. I’m seeing chair prices around $50 to $60. Velum and I are trying to figure out if the quality is actually any good, but I guess nobody seems to have any real experience with them. 🤷
Have you checked out Castello, Dolis, and Phoenix? Or maybe Kokolo in San Francisco?

I guess I should start by saying that most people just don't get it. They look at the situation and see one thing, while the reality is something else entirely. It's easy to jump to conclusions when you aren't looking at the full picture, but maybe that's just how people are. I don't know. I just think we need to be more careful about what we believe without checking the facts first.

Raymond Brooks7 said:Look, I've actually worked with everyone you just mentioned...
My son shot my goddaughter's wedding... the photos are seriously top-tier. 😁
As for Papaya (Nikola Smernić), I've been to two weddings he shot... the shots are excellent there, too. 😁
Then there's George, part of the Victor family duo... they shot my baby's photos and they are great. Both George and Vanessa work together, so you basically get two photographers for one. 👍 Even though they're young, they have tons of fresh ideas. I'd definitely vote for them.
Honestly, you won't go wrong with any of these names... just trust your gut when you reach out. For me, it's all about the vibe. If I don't feel comfortable with the photographer, it doesn't matter how good they are. You don't need extra stress on the big day.

Man, thanks a million! 🙏 Finally, someone actually gave an answer! 🙏
And of course, the bigger guys are the only ones without any photos online for me to actually look at! 🤣 Hey kfragu!
Thanks a ton. Once I get the hall and the church booked, I'm planning to touch base with all three photographers.

William Cook35 said:Hey, I’m a local here in San Francisco—does anyone know if this is just how things work at other churches, or is it specific to them? I called the parish office at St. Francis today because my partner and I are dreaming of getting married at St. Stephen's Church in Manhattan next year. I wanted to lock in a date immediately so I could finally confirm everything with our venue; you know, get those two big pillars of wedding planning out of the way so I can actually breathe. But they told me they don't even start taking reservations for next year until the beginning of January. Honestly, I was floored. I can't exactly sit around waiting on the church when the restaurant is already booked solid and I’ve got nothing to show them to secure our spot. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of thing before? Is there any way to cut through the red tape and make a deal with them early? We’re really set on that specific church!

I’ve heard that a few times now, and I guess it might actually be true. But then again, a friend of mine booked there for this year and didn't run into any issues at all! 🤷

hollowmason64 said:Yeah, you’re just keeping a very close eye on everything certain admins are doing 😬

Look, let's be real for a second—is that actually what's happening? 🍿

Not really, I guess. 🤔 😁

velvettiger10 said:Oh, it’s happening, believe me.😳

Something fresh is coming, just wearing a different mask this time. It won't be long now. 🙂

The thread starter is probably going to get banned from Reddit first.

Michelle Wells3 said:Honestly, sucking up to the admins this much just makes it way more likely you'll end up right back in a thread like this one.

If I feel like writing, yeah, I definitely will. 😁

So, you're actually gonna post this on Reddit?

Oh, come on, give me a break. Chill out, please! 😢

I think I'm low-key sucking up to the admins...🤦🤣

Michelle Wells3 said:I haven't really posted much myself, but I’ve always enjoyed lurking and reading through everything here. 😁

With an argument that solid, I guess hollowtrucker77 might just go out and open it himself 🙏

😁

gentlepilot9 said:So, I thought I’d hop on here and share a little review of my recent wedding 🙂))) I actually picked the venue because the reviews were nothing but glowing, and honestly, they weren't lying. The catering at Chuy's was absolutely spot on—everything was delicious, the service was incredibly quick, and everything just flowed perfectly. The servers were so attentive, too, constantly checking in to make sure our glasses were full and we had everything we needed right away. The atmosphere was just stunning, being right there by the ocean, and even though we couldn't do the cocktail hour on the beach because of some sudden moody weather, it was still a perfect five stars!!!!! The music really set the mood for the whole night, and I am just dying to see the photos, even though it’ll be another month and a half before they’re ready 😢

Hey everyone!

How many people can fit in Amigos? 😁
How many of you guys actually showed up to the party? I'm wondering if the buffet was even big enough to feed everyone. 😁 What's the price, if you don't mind? 😁😁

frozentiger2 said:If you haven't locked down a photographer yet... you should just meet with them. Either Sinclair or Fox. Both of them ought to have full albums to show you. We dealt with both. I've seen work from both of them, so now it just comes down to whose style you prefer. Fox is great, too. One friend loved him, while another preferred the other guy.🙄
Personally, I'm leaning toward those more artistic shots, so Sinclair would probably suit me better; he's kind of similar to Matthews (just a bit more affordable and hasn't blown up quite as much yet)🤣
Regarding the band—yeah, they're pricey, but what can you do? If we absolutely *have* to have them, then we have to have them.😂

Are we talking about Sinclair Srdanović? I was scrolling through his photos on Facebook earlier, and honestly, they look pretty good. I guess.

I was just scrolling through some photos of the Papaya studio—they’ve got them up on Facebook too. I have to say, I actually really like their vibe.

I managed to track down Jurica Veić's number. Apparently, he and his wife both work in the industry—someone gave me a solid recommendation. I’m thinking about giving them a call soon to talk numbers and maybe flip through some of their portfolios. 😁

Anyone here actually dealt with any of these guys before?

Maria Thompson4 said:I'm keeping an eye on you, 😍

I'll shoot those over to you shortly. The upstairs room is a bit tighter—fits about 170 people—but the downstairs one is twice that size! Last year, they were charging $35 when they took deposits, though I haven't checked if they bumped up the rates this season.

By "beyond the hills," I meant Boise 🤣
just kidding, don't come for me!

Honestly, I think the venue is gorgeous. And the food was top-notch. You can tell the staff really puts their heart into it because, well, it's their livelihood. We could chat more on ☕ and I'll give you the full scoop. 🙂

Damn, I thought she said the upper one held more! 🙂
I guess the price is probably around the same, maybe 35 to 38 bucks, or whatever she told me last time. 🤔

The venue is honestly beautiful. And the food was great. You can tell people actually care because it’s their livelihood. Anyway, I could chat more on ☕ and give you some specifics. 🙂

As far as coffee goes... I'm down! 😍I'll shoot you a message so we can grab coffee with D one day... just bring some photos so I can check out the hall. 😁

Maria Thompson4 said:@darksailor2, why wouldn't you just head down to San Diego via the freeway and hit up that lower hall in California? It’s not pricey, you aren't exactly "out in the middle of nowhere," the food and service are top-tier, and parking is a breeze. I actually checked everything out myself last Saturday 😁

🤣 Here we go 🤣

Anyway, send me a photo of the pier so I can see the hall! I can't find it online! 🤷 How many people does it hold? What's the price? 😁

"Out in the middle of nowhere"... what is that supposed to mean? ☕ 🙂

Olivia Lee5 said:The Marriott really does have a gorgeous view of the ocean... 😛 I don't usually make such huge decisions on my own, so I can't say for sure, but if you look at places like The Plaza, Holy Cross, Honey, or even Atlantic... maybe just give them a call and ask? That's how I used to handle things myself...

I checked the Marriott online, but it doesn't say anything about capacity. 🙄I guess I'll have to call and ask! And honestly, they seem a bit pricier than your standard banquet halls. 😬

David King72 said:darksailor2

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source...qSFSEQ&cad=rja

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source...ilHZcw&cad=rja

Thanks, I hadn't heard of that restaurant! I'll definitely check it out. 😉

Hey ladies, I wasn't sure if there was a specific thread for wedding venues around San Francisco and the surrounding areas, so I figured I'd just ask here 😁

I'm looking for banquet halls that can handle about 200-300 guests in the SF area or nearby! I already know about some spots out in Tulsa! 😁 Does anyone have any experience with the Marriott in Seget? Apparently, they can host up to 450 people? Or is there some kind of capacity limit I should know about? 🤷 Does anyone know what their pricing is like? How's the venue itself? The food? And does it actually have an ocean view? 😁

Also, please, if there’s even one hall near San Francisco that can fit at least 200 people and is right by the water—or maybe has a terrace facing the ocean or some kind of view like that? 🙂 Something similar to San Antonio, but that place only holds 150! 😬

Michelle Phillips54 said:I guess it’s technically easier to just make sure someone can't see the PDF at all, rather than letting them view it without being able to download it. You basically just pull the whole file.

Aha, I get it now! 🙏

Thanks, darksailor2 :hnje hnje:

hollowtrucker77 said:exactly darksailor2, you can read the whole forum if you're just logged out.
🙂
I guess it’s just technical stuff. Probably isn't anyone actually trying to be a jerk.

Well, I guessed right then! 😁

Still, it feels weird. Why use a partial ban to stop someone from reading a specific PDF when they could just read it while logged out? But hey... maybe it's just technicalities! 😁

hollowtrucker77 said:If you have a partial ban, you won't even see the subforum it applies to.

I'm bored, scrolling through some old threads and stumbled onto this. I've got a question.😁

So, basically, if there's a partial ban, does that mean you can't even read the specific subforum? I guess what I'm wondering is, can people still read it if they aren't logged in? 🤷
For example, I used to browse this site all the time long before I actually signed up. Since anyone can view the boards whether they have an account or not, maybe someone with a partial ban could just read everything if they stay logged out? 😁

I'm thinking the answer is probably yes—you can read it if you aren't logged in. So, my actual question is: what's the point of a partial ban if you can just bypass the reading restriction by staying logged out? 😬