Everything you need for a California wedding

rapidmason10 said:I'll shoot you a DM with the contact info for some folks I know—Dragun. They did an incredible job for a girl who used to post under the handle "future bride," and honestly, I can't say enough good things about them.👍>

Seriously, please send that my way too...

Raymond Brooks7 said:🤦 Well, how could you not know? That's where I got married. P.S. I was just back there for a party, and honestly, the food is incredible. I think I finally realized how good it actually is.👍👍

Dad, I actually thought of you, but then I figured you married women don't ever bother coming around here anymore... PSHHH...😛😛😛😛😛😛😛😛

Benjamin Hill10 said:Dad, I actually thought of you, but then I figured you married women don't ever bother coming around here anymore... PSHHH...😛😛😛😛😛😛😛😛

What else can you think of? 🙄After all, this is our original thread, right? No matter how far you wander, you always find your way back home.
😍
p.s. Frank, we love ya. 😘

Hey everyone! Can someone give me the lowdown on Photo California? I heard if I book them, I need to pick my specific wedding team ahead of time—so any recommendations there would be huge. Also, if anyone has contacts for solid makeup artists, I’d be incredibly grateful 🙂 I'm starting to panic a little—wedding is in 9 months and all I have so far is the band and the venue 😁

If I could offer you one little piece of advice, I’d suggest checking out that wedding studio over in Columbus; their photos are honestly much better, and they’re actually about $550 cheaper too.

My personal take... Frank....

wanderingbadger17 said:My personal take... Frank....

He shot my best friend's wedding, and even though she paid him $2,000 for the photos and video, she was totally underwhelmed. I mean, look, his shots are genuinely stunning—he clearly has a real artistic eye, and I'll give him credit where it's due.
But honestly, he dropped the ball on so many things... for instance, after flipping through about ten pages of the album, she actually had to ask, "Wait, where am I?" I don't even want to get into the details. Her maid of honor shows up in only one single photo across two entire albums, and then you have the groom and the best man stuck in the exact same pose in twenty different formats, which is just awful. As for the video, it was an absolute disaster; it’s incredibly short, yet the whole thing barely clocks in at 20 minutes.
And after spending three hours trekking all over the city for portraits, he managed to squeeze out maybe five or six decent shots.
All in all, we were expecting way more for that kind of money...

I’d personally recommend photographer Adrienne...

Zachary Price2 said:He shot my best friend's wedding, and even though she paid him $2,000 for the photos and video, she was totally underwhelmed. I mean, look, his shots are genuinely stunning—he clearly has a real artistic eye, and I'll give him credit where it's due.
But honestly, he dropped the ball on so many things... for instance, after flipping through about ten pages of the album, she actually had to ask, "Wait, where am I?" I don't even want to get into the details. Her maid of honor shows up in only one single photo across two entire albums, and then you have the groom and the best man stuck in the exact same pose in twenty different formats, which is just awful. As for the video, it was an absolute disaster; it’s incredibly short, yet the whole thing barely clocks in at 20 minutes.
And after spending three hours trekking all over the city for portraits, he managed to squeeze out maybe five or six decent shots.
All in all, we were expecting way more for that kind of money...

I’d personally recommend photographer Adrienne...

When did that happen? We only booked the photography service itself. We plan to handle all those details upfront; we aren't leaving anything to chance. We're going to sit down with him and make sure he knows exactly what our vision and expectations are.

John Baker80 said:Hey everyone! Can someone give me the lowdown on Photo California? I heard if I book them, I need to pick my specific wedding team ahead of time—so any recommendations there would be huge. Also, if anyone has contacts for solid makeup artists, I’d be incredibly grateful 🙂 I'm starting to panic a little—wedding is in 9 months and all I have so far is the band and the venue 😁

You'll find someone in time, don't sweat it.
Photo California is on the pricier side. If you go with their entry-level package, you might actually land someone decent with a "stronger portfolio."
If you love their style, demand to see a full gallery from a single wedding. That’s the only way to know. Or, just pick photos you absolutely adore, find out exactly who shot them by name, and request that specific photographer.

My suggestions are:

www.ivicalisjak.com
the son (I've got his number if you want it)
Studio Papaya

They work freelance. There's an advantage to booking an individual rather than a big studio; at least then you know exactly who is showing up.😍

The wedding went down at the start of the year, and honestly, maybe she just dropped the ball by handing him total control without actually laying out her non-negotiables. I was pretty let down because I’d already seen his portfolio from other weddings, and there’s zero doubt the guy has some actual talent. Yet, looking through the album, half the shots felt like redundant filler, just different crops of the exact same moments.
It really baffled me too, because the guy was all over the place during the reception—one minute he’s down on the floor, then he’s perched on a chair or climbing a ladder, basically scouting the whole ballroom—and yet, none of those candid, dynamic shots made the final cut.🤷

Hello everyone, I am reaching out because I am in desperate need of some guidance regarding a wedding in San Francisco. I have spent countless hours scouring the internet for details, and frankly, I am starting to lose my mind 🙂
My vision is to host a wedding in St. Louis or the surrounding areas, ideally at a hotel or a restaurant situated right on the coast, allowing for a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor spaces. We are looking at a guest list of approximately 100 people.
I have been researching various venues online like the Friends, Nevaeh, and the San Antonio locations near Malibu, but obviously, nothing beats seeing them in person. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with these spots? The Friends venue looks lovely and seems to be the most budget-friendly option, though I can't help but feel the decor leans a bit toward the old-fashioned side.
Furthermore, are there any private villas available for rent in St. Louis, Savannah, or similar areas that feature a pool and expansive outdoor space, much like the estates you find in Oregon?
It is absolutely vital to me that we can hold part of the celebration outdoors if the weather permits, though I must ensure there is a reliable backup plan for an indoor transition should the weather turn sour...
Thank you

Harold Scott4 said:Hello everyone, I am reaching out because I am in desperate need of some guidance regarding a wedding in San Francisco. I have spent countless hours scouring the internet for details, and frankly, I am starting to lose my mind 🙂
My vision is to host a wedding in St. Louis or the surrounding areas, ideally at a hotel or a restaurant situated right on the coast, allowing for a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor spaces. We are looking at a guest list of approximately 100 people.
I have been researching various venues online like the Friends, Nevaeh, and the San Antonio locations near Malibu, but obviously, nothing beats seeing them in person. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with these spots? The Friends venue looks lovely and seems to be the most budget-friendly option, though I can't help but feel the decor leans a bit toward the old-fashioned side.
Furthermore, are there any private villas available for rent in St. Louis, Savannah, or similar areas that feature a pool and expansive outdoor space, much like the estates you find in Oregon?
It is absolutely vital to me that we can hold part of the celebration outdoors if the weather permits, though I must ensure there is a reliable backup plan for an indoor transition should the weather turn sour...
Thank you

If you want to be right on the water, your only real bets are Friends, San Antonio, or Nevaeh... Savannah isn't really an option for that. Villa Zarko used to be a thing, but they don't do weddings anymore. For a group that size, you could look at Hotel Park or Acy in St. Louis.
San Antonio is the most modern choice. Friends is decent. As for Nevaeh, I haven't been, so I can't say.
Your best bet is to just drive around and judge for yourself.
And regarding the villa idea? As far as I know, those don't exist there.

Zachary Price2 said:The wedding went down at the start of the year, and honestly, maybe she just dropped the ball by handing him total control without actually laying out her non-negotiables. I was pretty let down because I’d already seen his portfolio from other weddings, and there’s zero doubt the guy has some actual talent. Yet, looking through the album, half the shots felt like redundant filler, just different crops of the exact same moments.
It really baffled me too, because the guy was all over the place during the reception—one minute he’s down on the floor, then he’s perched on a chair or climbing a ladder, basically scouting the whole ballroom—and yet, none of those candid, dynamic shots made the final cut.🤷

It’s such a shame she isn't happy with them... those moments are gone forever once they pass... who was taking your photos? I saw some of those amateur shots you posted, and you looked incredible.

Radisson Blu hotel in San Francisco 👍👍

Raymond Brooks7 said:If you want to be right on the water, your only real bets are Friends, San Antonio, or Nevaeh... Savannah isn't really an option for that. Villa Zarko used to be a thing, but they don't do weddings anymore. For a group that size, you could look at Hotel Park or Acy in St. Louis.
San Antonio is the most modern choice. Friends is decent. As for Nevaeh, I haven't been, so I can't say.
Your best bet is to just drive around and judge for yourself.
And regarding the villa idea? As far as I know, those don't exist there.

Hotel Park is absolutely stunning, but they wrap things up by 1 or 2 in the morning.
I also heard about George's restaurant in Malibu, which is right on the beach—I really need to look into that. Are there any other restaurants situated directly along the coastline?

What is the vibe like over at America?

I’m assuming the Radisson will be similar to Le Meridien, and frankly, I have zero interest in a traditional wedding. I want something outdoors, right by the ocean...
Thanks for the help.

Harold Scott4 said:Hotel Park is absolutely stunning, but they wrap things up by 1 or 2 in the morning.
I also heard about George's restaurant in Malibu, which is right on the beach—I really need to look into that. Are there any other restaurants situated directly along the coastline?

What is the vibe like over at America?

I’m assuming the Radisson will be similar to Le Meridien, and frankly, I have zero interest in a traditional wedding. I want something outdoors, right by the ocean...
Thanks for the help.

Oh, and about George's... I'm not sure how many people they can actually handle for weddings. A friend of mine had a tiny reception there—maybe 20 people—and the table was literally sitting on the sand. I have no clue if they can scale that up for a larger crowd.
You also have the option of just driving along the coast and hopping from one restaurant to the next.😍

The America place isn't even really right on the water.

Raymond Brooks7 said:It’s such a shame she isn't happy with them... those moments are gone forever once they pass... who was taking your photos? I saw some of those amateur shots you posted, and you looked incredible.

She isn't exactly thrilled, mostly because the price tag was pretty steep, though there are definitely some gorgeous shots worth keeping forever... Mary Miles from Photo Studio LA handled my session and I'm feeling really good about it so far. The final edits aren't ready yet, but I'll be posting them in the next few days so you guys can tear them apart for me. She actually shot my sister's wedding and her maid of honor's portraits too, so we had high expectations and I'm hoping they live up to them.🙂 Thanks for the compliments...😍

The party we hosted was at Atlantic-Grašo, which is a massive spot that can easily handle 100 people if you're utilizing both the terrace and the indoor space, and honestly, they’re pretty flexible if you want to work something out. We were generally happy with how everything turned out, though we went over every single tiny detail beforehand specifically to ensure there wouldn't be any hiccups, and yet, of course, a few minor blips still managed to slip through the cracks, even if they were barely worth mentioning.

If there's any girl out there looking to grab a wedding dress from Nikoline’s over in San Diego, hit me up via PM. I already put down a deposit—and I have zero intention of actually wearing a gown myself—so maybe we can work something out? The sales ladies mentioned the deposit can be applied toward any dress in the shop, so... yeah. Thanks.

Lawrence Bailey492 said:If there's any girl out there looking to grab a wedding dress from Nikoline’s over in San Diego, hit me up via PM. I already put down a deposit—and I have zero intention of actually wearing a gown myself—so maybe we can work something out? The sales ladies mentioned the deposit can be applied toward any dress in the shop, so... yeah. Thanks.

I've already handed over my deposit for mine, but I'm open to seeing if we can make a deal happen.😉