Posts by Jack Murphy7

Scott Rodriguez27 said:That sounds awesome. I'll be looking forward to hearing how it went. Enjoy yourselves 🙂 (actually, the party's probably already in full swing 😁 hope it's a blast! 👍 )

It was at Marina del Rey, though obviously that whole complex covers more ground than just one spot—we crossed a bridge into a smaller venue. It was a smaller pier... maybe 50 people or so.

Scott Rodriguez27 said:Hey ladies, quick question: how far in advance should I book a makeup artist? I’ve been scrolling through local contacts here (there are way too many 🙂 options, honestly), and I'm sure I'll find someone great eventually.

Please help—I didn't get much traction on the other thread, so maybe someone here has some actual experience. Has anyone had a wedding at Marina del Rey? Any insights or stories from people who've been there?

Also, looking into photographers. Everyone seems to be talking about Ivica Matić, but then there’s Smernić, whose style is pretty similar but feels a bit more natural to me. Plus, he's actually more affordable since he isn't quite as "famous" yet. Why is nobody mentioning him? My maid of honor wanted to book Matić, but since he was booked up, he actually recommended she reach out to Smernić. Apparently, they used to work together. I recently saw some work done by them (Studio Papaja)—it was a stunning wedding, absolute perfection... and the price was totally reasonable for a photo and video package. You can even just book photography alone. Anyone else worked with them before?

I'm actually playing bass at a party over at Marina del Rey this afternoon.

Zachary Price2 said:Does anyone have a clue what the going rate is to hire a vocal ensemble—doesn't even need to be the full group—or maybe just a guitarist or someone on mandolin? Basically, I’m looking for some light background music to play right before the ceremony starts at the church while the guests are settling in. I'm talking short, easygoing tunes to set the mood while everyone arrives. This definitely isn't for a house party!!!

My group does exactly that kind of thing. Shoot me a DM if you're interested.

John Ruiz80 said:Guys, I need some help—please send me numbers for someone solid who won't charge an arm and a leg... I'm starting to lose my mind here... My deadline is September 18th and I still haven't found anyone. Thanks..

Is this a decent lineup for backing or just playing for laughs? Might as well call Dice or some local jazz combo...

Robin Nguyen said:Go listen to a full five-piece band playing live instruments instead of some duo or trio hiding behind drum machines and backing tracks, and you might actually understand why they didn't impress you... and don't let the random people on these forums tell you what to think about certain bands. Most of what I read here is just... well, I won't finish that sentence. Once you look at who is posting and why, everything becomes obvious. 🙂
Besides, you're the one paying the bills, not them!🙂

I'm not going to get into the quality of specific acts, but we need to build on this point: a band (minimum five members including drums and bass) is one thing, but anything else—a duo, a trio—is something else entirely... and when I say duo or trio, I'm being generous. By "group," I'm also including those four or five-person outfits—won't name names—that just have two keyboards, a female vocalist, and a guitarist...
The bottom line is: don't just count heads, make sure it's actually a band... because more people means more gear, more rehearsal time, and more logistics. Realistically, a real band should cost at least 50% more than a duo or trio...

It’s the same story with the weddings I work—the DJ side of things... I've been a guest at countless weddings where I was promised a full vocal group, only to be disappointed when two or three guys show up in matching suits and start playing...
I don't have an issue with the music itself, but I do have an issue when people pay for something they aren't actually getting...
Basically, a duo doesn't qualify as a band, and a duo or trio doesn't qualify as a vocal group—not by name, and certainly not by price.

Sam Reed3 said:Does anyone happen to know the approximate cost of hiring a folk band to perform for about an hour? Additionally, are there any such ensembles available in the San Francisco area?

Hand on heart, there isn't—folk musicians are pretty cheap. A group from the Midwest costs about the same as a local duo in San Francisco... I know of a time a group came all the way from Des Moines just to provide backing music plus the venue; you have to factor in their travel and lodging for $2333...
I can help you out with some instrumental accompaniment—hit me up via PM.

brightscout12 said:Hey guys! Quick question—is anyone here actually into Kocka-Band? I’m thinking about grabbing their stuff for a little party later, but I haven’t really caught them playing live yet. So, if you’ve seen them, please give me the lowdown... is it worth it?

I’d go for it. Their frontman also handles vocal harmonies, which is a nice touch...

Raymond Brooks7 said:I’m certain the top tier doesn't cost that much ☕ and my friend had them back in September... so... 😕 like Jack Murphy7 said, maybe the party was in Indianapolis and they had to drive through Washington, D.C. to get there. 🤷

uh... over Greece and then uphill...👍

Jessica Clark4 said:Welcome! 👋

My sincere recommendation would be to call everyone as soon as possible and get those reservations locked in. For instance—my own wedding was set for September 4th, 2010, and we had already booked our band by October of the previous year. When we tried to reschedule them for the weekend prior just ten days later, they were already fully booked! 🙂
(from Orlando)

As for the Bravo Band, I KNOW they are fantastic, but they are also booked solid for all of September 2010! (They were my personal favorite.)
The First League group is also quite good—though personally, I find them a bit overpriced—but I know they can be very expensive. A friend of mine paid $2,300 $0.00 back in September of this year!! 😲 😲 😲)

Anyway, I hope this provides at least a little bit of assistance. 😉

Give me a break. How could $7667 pay that much? That's 3000 dollars... I know prices went up to 2000, but honestly, I have to ask—did the guy actually pay that much? Maybe the party was held somewhere in Indianapolis or something?
For half that price, you can get a seven-piece folk group to show up with their own travel and lodging covered.

placidorca13 said:Thanks so much for pointing that out, I appreciate the correction!

👍👍

placidorca13 said:They’ve even performed at the big festival in Los Angeles, and they actually took home first place at the competition in Key West

They didn't win in Key West... I think they performed at that San Diego festival twice with Malibu
Over the last six years, Santa Monica won twice, Route 66 three times, and Starbucks took it this year. Those guys from Miami made it to the finals in Key West a few times. They won back in 2007 at Muddy Creek on Maui during an original songwriting night
But honestly, the main thing is that those guys are absolute legends—sending them my best, wherever they end up...

Dana Thomas14 said:Hey ladies,
I’m new here. I’ve been lurking for a while now and honestly, all your info has been such a lifesaver (thanks a ton!!!), so I figured it was finally time to jump in and join the conversation.

My birthday is August 28th next year, and we’ve finally checked some major things off our list: the venue is the Ritz-Carlton, the band is Flash, photography/video is being handled by a pro, and for the guest reception (on my end): we’re looking at the Getty Museum. We spent forever weighing every single option, scouting locations, and going back and forth—so we’re seriously relieved to finally have these big pieces in place.

Now, we’re hunting for a solid catering company (ideally one that can provide tents) for the reception. Any recommendations? I saw someone mention some local spots and boutique caterers earlier? Has anyone actually used those specific catering services or maybe others out there? I need the real scoop—how’s the food, how’s the service, and what’s the damage to the wallet?

Also, we’re looking for a good vocal group to sing a few songs (maybe 2 or 3 before and after the ceremony). Someone suggested a few specific acapella groups to us—what’s the verdict on them? Do you have any other suggestions? And what are we looking at in terms of pricing?

I am seriously so grateful for all this intel—especially since I live out of state, so I can't just pop in to check everything out or listen to performers in person.

Later!

I'll weigh in on the music side... you should check out the groups performing this Wednesday in Latin America (up near the tunnel on Boulevard).

placidorca13 said:My dearest ladies,
I’m finally jumping into this discussion, mostly because I feel compelled to share my own little journey with you all.
First off, I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone here for all the wonderful information and advice regarding weddings in California; it was absolutely instrumental in helping me pull my own big day together. And if I may be so bold—and perhaps a bit subjective—it truly felt like stepping straight into a fairy tale. So, if any of you are currently in the midst of planning your own wedding and find yourselves needing a few trusted recommendations, here is my personal shortlist:
venue: Marina Frapa Rogoznica / an absolutely magical setting for a fairytale wedding
the kickoff: champagne and hors d'oeuvres by the pool
menu: a perfect blend of seafood and meat / simply perfection
the dress: Elite Bride / simple, feminine, and incredibly elegant
after-midnight attire: Elite Bride / something a little more fun and different
shoes: Ledenko / Bride
hair: Smiljan make up
makeup: Ivana Šinkić
nails: Professionals Studio San Francisco
groom's suit: Mr. Mot / Martin Arbanas
pastries: American cake
cake: lighthouse / Mediteran bakery
other sweets: delta Babić
flowers and decor: jaglac effect florist
special effects: boom pyrotechnics music
ceremony music: Well Music
reception music: Vertigo bend / they were spectacular, I cannot recommend them enough!
invitations and stationery: Lipa Ana
confetti: lavender-filled shells / a little mix of our own creative ideas
wedding bands: Vagus jewelry
photography: wedding studio in

In any case, it was a perfectly elegant, deeply romantic wedding—the kind of day I am certain anyone would dream of having...

🙏

Zachary White9 said:I had a total disaster with a tenor I hired for a church service once. He was just awful—super forced and amateurish. He ended up charging me $100, even though our initial agreement was somewhere between $200 and $100 depending on how many songs were played (plus he was playing the organ). Honestly, asking for that much right before the service started felt like such a rip-off! My husband and his buddies were just finishing up a game at his place and were supposed to swing by to pick me up—thank goodness his dad was there to lend him some cash so we weren't stuck!

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound like I'm self-promoting, but why on earth would people pay $167 (look at these prices) when you can hire a full choir for $500?
Comparing a solo tenor to a whole choir is just ridiculous...

redviper17 said:Here’s a little heads-up from my side: ladies, please be extremely careful when you're booking a vendor for an American cake service. Don't get me wrong, the cakes and pastries themselves are delicious, but that woman absolutely wrecked me... I picked out a specific dessert display a whole year in advance, only for her to show up on my wedding day with something completely different! My husband and I were totally losing our minds when we saw what was being served in the hall. I even went as far as bringing her a photo of myself in my wedding dress just so she could see the colors—it was white with pink accents—and I explicitly told her, "I want white cakes with pink decorative details." Then, she calls me just three days before the reception claiming she had a "vision," saying she knew something else would look better with the dress. I figured, okay, fine, thinking she meant the table decor, but then she serves us these huge, greasy purple things and a completely different display! And wouldn't you know it, she charged me more for the cake than originally agreed $167! 😠 On top of all that, she actually billed me extra for packaging the treats for an hour or two; she charged me $200!!! That's something that should honestly be included in the price of sweets that are already $30/kg!!!
So, just a word of caution regarding Bridget. She acts incredibly sweet to your face, but then she screws you over and plays dumb, acting shocked by the situation while charging you for everything. To make matters worse, her son just stands right there next to her defending her every move!

I got married about a year and a half ago. My wife was happy with the American cakes, though she did mention they were pricey. Honestly, I think you pay the most when you aren't satisfied
I see the criticism is starting to pile up on the forum. Let them talk... hopefully, nobody turns that scrutiny on us

Adam Bishop20 said:Hey Eric Barrett26,

So my wedding is coming up this September and I finally caught Major League Baseball performing yesterday! Seriously, those guys are incredible—huge props to them! I heard some people say the Pink Panther is kind of mid... and honestly, most of the other bands you mentioned aren't even on my radar. (Except maybe Bomb, they seem alright enough.)
Look, you really can't go wrong with Major League Baseball, and if you want to grab their contact info, just hit me up... good luck! 😉 Also—and don't forget this part—you better get your stuff sorted ASAP because everyone is booking up fast... or rather, most of them already are...
Later

Always me, always talking about music... people really shouldn't confuse what a "band" actually is.
Viva, Yellow Cab, Pink Panther—those are actual bands (4 or 5 performers, live drums, bass guitar).
Bomb, Dada, Cher, and Major League Baseball—those aren't bands (just a synthesizer and a guitar).
The strangest part is that the prices are almost identical—some duos end up being more expensive than full bands.
Last Saturday, I was at a party where a duo was booked, but Adam Bishop20's brother is a top-tier guitarist who eventually took over the lead, and his three bandmates completely overshadowed the supposed "duo"... everyone was on their feet.

It's the same thing with hiring accompaniment for a choir. I think the only group still doing that around here is the San Francisco choir, so I watch closely to see who shows up when a choir is announced.
Countless times I've shown up to a party where a choir was promised, only to find some duo or trio in sailor shirts instead.

Stop mixing up these terms—otherwise, you have no idea what you're paying for, and usually, you end up paying too much.

rustyorca122 said:Hey everyone!

I’m new to this group, but I’ve been lurking for a while now because I am honestly losing my mind trying to organize a wedding.
I’m not originally from California, but I really have my heart set on having a wedding out there for about 70-80 people.
My partner is a foreigner and we actually live abroad, which makes planning from afar such a massive headache. I actually traveled through a bunch of parts in the northern US recently and was just so bummed out by how neglected everything looked, so I decided I definitely want to hold the big day out West.
San Antonio has really caught my eye. The photos they have online look incredible, but I’ve been burned before where the internet makes a place look amazing and then you show up and it's a total letdown... so I’m wondering how legit their presentation actually is. Has anyone here actually had a wedding there? I’d love to hear the real scoop—how was the service, the food, the sound system, the DJ setup?
Also, if anyone has suggestions for other spots that have gorgeous outdoor spaces—ideally near the coast, but even inland is fine if there are rules against loud music outside.
As far as the music goes, we’re bringing our own DJ from back home, so we’d just need to rent the sound equipment.
Everything else is basically a giant question mark right now, so seriously, any advice helps.
Especially anything regarding San Antonio! :-))

Thanks in advance!🙏

Dammit, didn't we say we'd check everything this Saturday? Regards, Idu.

Larry Ross43 said:Hey everyone...

So, what's the deal with Pirate in San Francisco over in Brooklyn? I mean, I know the dining room looks pretty killer, but how's the actual food? They're asking $45 per person for an "all-you-can-eat" deal that includes drinks—wine, beer, soda, all that stuff—and the food itself...

It’s alright—I was there for a party, if I recall correctly, they had those round tables... can't say much about the food itself, but nobody seemed to be complaining...

Raymond Brooks7 said:Look, 🙄 I’m always down for some good poetry....😉

swing by Electricity in San Francisco tonight—we'll grab some beers there

Raymond Brooks7 said:chunky... any chance I could snag some kind of letter? Just thinking about the potential for some solid publicity. 🥳

But didn't you already get married...?