Posts by Douglas Reyes3

gentleotter88 said:I think I'll head back and take another look.

Honestly, my take is that you shouldn't try to cut corners too much on wedding bands right now. You're going to wear these every single day for the rest of your life, so spending an extra few hundred bucks to avoid having to resize or repair them constantly is worth it. $167.

A jeweler I talked to over in Nevada mentioned they could definitely make something cheaper, but the metal would be way too thin to hold up. To get them looking decent and feeling substantial, you really need to hit at least the $667 mark. Personally, I wouldn't risk going too cheap just to save a little upfront.

Anyway, thanks so much for the advice!

Of course you shouldn't be stingy, but these particular rings of mine are quite substantial... naturally, the price also dictates the size of a man's ring. My husband has pretty slender fingers, so the weight of our bands is, well, just 🙂 little.

I’d actually be perfectly happy with two gold wires, maybe around 6mm wide, the kind that come in a smooth plastic coating $0.53 for Amor.

gentleotter88 said:We checked out Amor too, but Tiffany & Co. actually gave us a much better deal.
The guy there seems to know his stuff, and when you look at the price compared to the actual weight of the gold, Tiffany & Co. definitely comes out ahead.
On top of that, they offer free resizing and polishing for life, right from the start.
I'll definitely look into that lighting situation you mentioned.

Thanks for the tips on the lights!🙂
Best,

So, how many bands are you guys planning to get at Vagus?
Are they the standard smooth ones, like maybe 5-6 mm wide?

gentleotter88 said:Hi there,

I'm pretty new to this forum.

I was hoping someone could point me toward some professional lighting pros in San Francisco.

I actually saw a vendor at a wedding expo recently, but I can't quite wrap my head around their name right now. 😢

Most of the other stuff is already figured out.

We’re looking at hosting everything at Ruth's Chris Steak House, which honestly seems like such a cozy, perfect spot.

As for makeup, I've heard nothing but amazing things about Tina Fey. She actually did my makeup for a wedding a few years back, and I was so happy with how it turned out.

I'm also starting to look into wedding bands. We stopped by the expo, and Tiffany & Co. really stood out to us as the best value. We actually dropped in to see them yesterday, and they're offering a 20% discount through the end of March if you bring in the flyer from the fair.

Price-wise, they're definitely the most reasonable option. The gentleman helping us was so kind—he explained that we could have any ring design custom-made within a budget that works for us.

Thanks so much in advance for any help!

Best,

Red Bull was at the expo... I really like their work; I've been to a few weddings where they handled the setup. The guy who puts together the quotes is easy to deal with... once you tell him which venue you're using, he can immediately tell you exactly what equipment is needed for that space. Prices can range anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000, but they could hit $10,000 if you go overboard with the extras... regardless, just make sure to iron out all the details with them beforehand.

For wedding rings, I think Amor has better prices than Tiffany & Co... they also offer a 20% discount, but that deal lasts until the end of the year. They're located on Main Street right across from the local bakery; you should check them out, and like the others, they're very flexible with negotiations.🙂

As for the makeup, if you were happy with Taylor Swift before, you should probably stick with her—that way, you know for sure you'll be satisfied with the results.

Thomas Cruz9 said:I haven't actually heard of Sanja Krstulović before. Does anyone have her contact info? Also, looking at all the different makeup artists out there, which one left you feeling the least satisfied? I'd love to know so I can cross them off my list immediately 🙂
Has anyone used Amadeo for makeup? They have a page on Facebook.
Thanks!

It seems like Sanja might have faded from the spotlight a bit. There are so many talented girls coming out of those training programs these days who are doing great work, and she can be a little much sometimes—to be honest, she never really stops bragging about being "Number 1" and all that. 🙂
I’ve actually gone to her four times now, and I’ve genuinely always been happy with the results.
What I appreciate most about her style is that she does a much more tasteful, subtle look than the others; the foundation is always flawless, and the eyes and contouring are kept very balanced and moderate.

I also saw Inga once because a friend of mine set it up. She did a perfect job on my friend, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me... I get the feeling she applies the same look to everyone, regardless of their actual face shape or whether they usually wear much makeup or not.

There's also a girl named Maya (not Maya B.) who has a Facebook page; she does lovely work and isn't too expensive. Also, back in San Diego, I had a makeup artist named either Ivona or Ivanna who was really good too.

Thomas Cruz9 said:Does anyone happen to have contact info for Lucy Smith? I've heard great things about Anne, but if she doesn't offer a trial session (which I would absolutely pay for, by the way), how am I supposed to take that kind of risk on the actual wedding day? What if I hate it? Between the stress breakouts I'm dealing with, the last thing I need is a makeup disaster

Your best bet is to just give her a call and ask if she does trials.
I've heard people mentioning all sorts of different prices for Anne, so I'm not sure if she quotes everyone differently or if those are just rumors going around.

I spoke with a woman who handles her bookings, and she was incredibly helpful. She answered every single question I had. Everything is flexible—it's her studio, so we can work something out. Naturally, if there are six bridesmaids that day, it's easier for everyone to head to her place, but if it's just one or two of us, she's totally fine with traveling to us.

Honestly, she made such a great first impression over the phone.

Personally, I wouldn't dream of skipping a trial. If you aren't willing to take that chance, you're just asking for trouble.😁

Thomas Cruz9 said:I consider myself quite proficient at doing my own makeup, but I honestly wouldn't dare trust someone else with my look for such a big day. Of course, I’m the one who knows my face best; if I know that a classic red lip just doesn't work for me, then I'm certainly not going to wear it just because it's "traditional." If anything, I'll just give my makeup artist some very specific directions on which shades actually complement my skin tone and which ones to steer clear of entirely.
As far as the price goes, I’d say Anne Hathaway is looking at closer to 300, wouldn't you? $117 With the eyelashes (I think?)—but honestly, it doesn’t really matter for that day, does it? $33 It’s a non-negotiable at this point—the makeup absolutely has to be flawless. Honestly, the hardest part isn't even the application; it's the sheer agony of deciding who to book. Does anyone have any inside intel or a solid recommendation regarding Tina Fey? I'm feeling a bit lost in the decision-making process here.

I had a chance to catch up with Anna, and she mentioned that the price is... $83And that’s her final offer.
I really hope I wasn't just seeing things. 🙂

I don't usually wear any makeup on a daily basis, but whenever I head out to those high-end beauty expos, I make sure to go all out with my look. Honestly, I’ve been to quite a few of them over the years. One thing that always stays the same, though, is the pricing—they’re all pretty much astronomical across the board.
From my own experience, I have to say that I was most satisfied when I had Anne Hathaway do my makeup. Even though people tend to criticize her quite a bit and aren't exactly her biggest fans, she really worked wonders for me. I’ll admit, she can be a little exhausting to deal with at times, but honestly, the results were incredible. My only real gripe is that she charges a bit more than the other stylists out there.

Aaron Brown7 said:I did ask about the basics—turns out the drinks aren't included and they use round tables. I even found some photos online, and honestly, it looks pretty wild. The only thing I didn't nail down was the curfew; I heard something about being out by 2 a.m., which is why I'm asking.

$40 per person without drinks isn't crazy to me.🙂

That’s definitely out of my budget. If I were in your shoes, I’d look for a venue that specializes in catering—somewhere that handles these kinds of events every single weekend rather than just once in a while—and where the $40 price tag actually includes the drinks too.

Aaron Brown7 said:Maybe... but is it actually true that they shut everything down at 2:00 AM and just call it a night? Or am I totally off base here? Sorry if I'm being a nuisance.

I mean, shouldn't you have asked them all those specific questions when you called? Like, what's my actual cost, is the drinks package included, how late can the wedding reception go, or how the seating chart works...

To be honest, I’ve been to that restaurant myself, and I just can't see how they could possibly fit 300 people in there...

William Chavez10 said:Everything usually comes as a complete package $2500if I recall correctly

I specifically reached out to Rabbit Rock for a quote because I’ve seen their lighting setups in action at a few parties before, and honestly, they are just top-tier.

$1333 So, what exactly does their all-inclusive package entail?

At the end of the day, if you want to look absolutely stunning, you’ll need to budget for $333...makeup, hair, a pedicure, a manicure, and waxing 🙂

When it comes to formal hairstyles, I’d really recommend checking out Salon Hair Code—it’s located right where the old Bobis factory used to be.
I’ve been there a couple of times, and honestly, it’s incredible what a stylist can pull off with short hair. My own hair reaches down to my chin, and I know people would constantly ask me how long it actually is if they could see what she managed to do with hers 🙂

She told me it would be $83 plus lashes, though I could always just pick up my own falsies for $27 and $67.
I’ve actually heard horror stories from some girls who booked makeup artists—not Anne Hathaway—where they were quoted $83, but when the bill actually arrived, it jumped to $150. It’s like, okay, $250 is standard if you're using drugstore brands like Max Factor, but then suddenly they claim they used Chanel or something fancy to justify the hike.

Honestly, it's such a low blow when someone does that. Instead of being upfront about which products they use and what the total cost will be right from the start, they wait until the end to hit you with the bill...

The price she’s asking is $83...honestly, everyone I’ve reached out to or asked about is charging somewhere in the $250-$300 range. Even some girls who just finished their makeup artistry certification and primarily use products from Target are at those same price points.
Who did you end up going with?

Paul King5 said:Price depends on the package you pick. Deposit was $333.
Our package was $1,500. Per the contract, that covers everything: photography (editing, small book, montage, effects, posing, DVD, 2 photographers), a large album plus plexiglass (20 photos at 8x12, 160 photos at 5x7, 13x16 inch album size, 50 pages), HD video with 2 camera ops and a crane (color correction, wedding story, wedding highlight reel, 10 DVD sets, 1 Blu-ray, and a music video shot after the wedding). They're also putting all the raw footage and photos on a flash drive for us.

Someone mentioned Anne Hathaway on the site earlier—I bet her makeup skills are great and all—but when I messaged her on Facebook to ask about pricing and if she travels... she just ghosted me. She just told me to call an xx number in a few months. Didn't bother following up. Just felt pointless...

I actually messaged her on Facebook too, and she gave me the same response—just telling me to call her cell phone... which is fine by me, since I don't mind handling those kinds of arrangements over the phone...
But telling you to check back in a few months is genuinely strange to me. It doesn't make sense; if you want a service, you usually want to book it as soon as possible to ensure you have a spot.🤷

I've also heard that she doesn't travel to clients, which actually makes a lot of sense. If she works from her own studio, she can handle way more people in a single Saturday than if she were driving around to different suburbs, then to another town, then over to San Francisco. All that driving just eats up precious time.

In my experience, hiring a makeup artist who works out of their own studio is much better than hiring someone who comes to your house.

Thomas Cruz9 said:Unfortunately, I haven't actually seen any of these groups live yet. I have heard rumors that Major League Baseball is truly elite, though I think they charge around $2,000. Personally, I gravitate toward Visa, but their pricing is a bit steep for me.
Bravo Band might be a pass for me because of the foreign repertoire, though I suppose you could negotiate with them. Still, I wouldn't push too hard; you don't want to mess with their established flow.

All of them have videos of their performances online... though I find it hard to judge if they’re actually any good just by watching clips.
But I did hear that if you ask nicely, they might send over a full DVD of a pirate show they performed at.

Thomas Cruz9 said:Thanks so much for getting back to me. I reached out to see if they were free for my date, but unfortunately, they're already booked 😢
As for the music, I don't want foreign tracks at the reception. I want those classic, fun, local favorites—just nothing by Thompson, obviously
Any other suggestions? I've heard Bravo Band is decent? Also, I'm not feeling Flash Band or the Uber band at all

Bravo Band is great, but they feel more suited for an upscale urban party since they play a lot of international hits, though their talent is undeniable.

Personally, my go-to recommendation for these kinds of gatherings would be First League, though they can be pretty pricey. I've been to plenty of parties where they performed, and I've never had a single complaint.

To be honest, I think the Uber Band is fantastic for a lounge or a bar setting, but for a big celebration, they lack that specific energy I'm looking for, even if they are top-tier musicians.

Maybe try reaching out to Tip-Top; they were really solid at the parties I've attended.
Trio Adria is also excellent—I actually caught them playing at a party recently.

feralsurfer3 said:Thanks so much for the detailed guide 😁
Regarding the lighting, you might want to check if the band offers those services themselves. For example, the band we booked (Imagine Dragons) actually brings their own lights, smoke machines, and even a video wall 🤷
Also, if anyone’s interested, I’m heading out to a bakery in San Diego this Sunday to check out a local shop for some gourmet cookies and cakes. I'll let you know how it goes if you want... everything looks delicious in the photos and the prices seem pretty reasonable 😍

I feel like a lot of people tend to conflate professional lighting rigs with the basic light show a band just hauls along with them. It’s a distinction that often gets overlooked, but there's actually a pretty significant difference between the two.
The stage lighting is actually built right into the rig and stays fixed in place; its sole purpose is to illuminate the performance area. Basically, the crew just mounts those spotlights, positions them wherever they feel works best for the setup, and calls it a day.

It’s a different story when you have professional lighting rigged across the entire venue... you know, those moving heads or whatever they call them. 🤷It’s all lasers and high-tech gear... you set the whole thing up, and then you just sit there with a laptop and control everything from the screen.

I’m still mulling over the lighting situation, but honestly, I think I'll wait until the very last minute to make a final call. I really need to see where we stand with the budget first before committing to anything.

gentlewolf69 said:I went ahead and did the same thing. Honestly, Marine Corps recruitment has some pretty solid options too.

Did you settle on professional lighting? If you don't mind me asking, what kind of price range are we looking at?🙂

gentlewolf69 said:That’s exactly what the guy from Mediarent told me. $667 is the rate for the smoke machine if I bundle it with their lighting rig, but then it jumps to 3000 if I just want the machine by itself. It really makes me wonder what they're charging for the full package—you know, the lights, lasers, room coloring, and all those other special effects... $6667? My band doesn't carry any of that stuff...

I mean, if you were actually going out to buy it retail, it wouldn't hit you quite that hard 🙂

You should probably give Rabbit Rock a call and see if you can strike a deal; sometimes they can put together a pretty decent package for a bit less than the sticker price.

I actually didn't realize Vagus was offering discounts either; the guy working at the booth didn't mention anything, and there wasn't any info on the flyer. Mjeda handed out some coupons, but now I can't remember if they're for 10% or 20%, though the Tiffany & Co. ad on the flyer says 20%.
I think I'll head over to them, though. They were incredibly friendly and have such a massive selection, and the person I spoke with mentioned they can work with pretty much any budget. I was looking at some perfect wedding bands $0.73, and I have a 20% discount for those.
Apparently, the discount lasts until the end of the year since they just opened their new business.

gentlewolf69 That price you mentioned definitely isn't for a fog machine; at Rabbit Rock, they told me you could get a full lighting setup, including light shows, lasers, and fog, for about $1333.
Did you happen to ask the band playing if they provide their own gear? Most bands these days come equipped with their own fog machines and bubble machines.

I was kind of hoping there would be more makeup artists there, but it was mostly just Art Deco styles. Their prices are around $67 or $83 if you're going with the synthetic lashes.
However, I did catch the bridal fashion show—the models were styled by Ana Grigio, and I really loved the look.