Everything you need for a California wedding

Thomas Scott5 said:Thanks for the photographer leads. Honestly, I haven't come across any of them yet. I’m looking for someone who can actually capture raw emotion through the lens since we won't have a video. They need an eye for great shots, but also someone easy to coordinate with for those inevitable "posed" family photos where spontaneity just isn't happening. Basically, I want zero heavy filters or excessive Photoshop, and definitely none of that trendy stuff where people pose in abandoned factories.

As for music, I need a band that will play all night with minimal breaks. They should be able to nail both American classics and rock hits—something fun, maybe some old-school soul or folk vibes thrown in, but keeping the focus on rock. Country twang is strictly forbidden, as is anything by Thompson or any combat-themed songs. I need people I can trust to keep playing until dawn if people want to dance. I don't want a wedding hosted by someone constantly calling out names or forcing people onto the floor. Actually, the fewer speeches and the more music, the better. 😁 Just keep people moving with solid tunes. 🙂 I think we’d probably prefer someone with a female vocalist too, so they can mix it up with solo male parts, solo female parts, or duets... Am I being too picky?

My suggestion is to check out the ho Roock band! They have a full lineup of six members, including a female vocalist. Their repertoire is super wide, covering pop and rock from local legends to international hits, plus plenty of fun party songs. They're still breaking through, but they played my pre-wedding party and several events on Maui this summer organized by City Hall—great music and a blast!👍

Just thought I’d share this in case anyone needs a lead—I was at a wedding at the Westin in San Francisco recently. The food was top-tier, service was flawless, and they had an absolute army of servers constantly on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly.

Flying blind here 😁

So, I'm looking for some intel on the Zumba instructor and Jukica—specifically the photography side of things. Pros and cons, please.
Has anyone actually dealt with Jukica or the Zumba crew personally? Because honestly, I'm completely lost on how this all works...
Do I really need two videographers or two photographers to cover 270 people at a gala? Or is that just overkill?...

Honestly, I think you really can't go wrong regardless of which one you pick
My advice? Try to get together with them in person and look through full wedding albums. Anyone can toss their "greatest hits" online, but when you see the whole narrative—from guests arriving and the ceremony to the reception and the overall vibe... I think that’s how you actually make an informed decision.

As for Zumba, I know their package includes one photographer and one videographer, but if you want an extra shooter, there's an additional fee.

I was weighing my options between Jukica and Studio Bor... ultimately, I went with Studio Bor because of the sheer value in their full package. It includes everything from processing and developing roughly 250 photos to a photo album, one wedding book for the couple, two books for the parents, and two for the wedding party. You also get a CD with about 1,500 photos, an HD video DVD, a canvas print, a photo slideshow, and even a custom calendar made from your shots. This specific package covers one photographer, one videographer, and an assistant. The total cost for this setup is $1,300, whereas Jukica would have been about $600 more expensive.

ambercrane18 said:I was weighing my options between Jukica and Studio Bor... ultimately, I went with Studio Bor because of the sheer value in their full package. It includes everything from processing and developing roughly 250 photos to a photo album, one wedding book for the couple, two books for the parents, and two for the wedding party. You also get a CD with about 1,500 photos, an HD video DVD, a canvas print, a photo slideshow, and even a custom calendar made from your shots. This specific package covers one photographer, one videographer, and an assistant. The total cost for this setup is $1,300, whereas Jukica would have been about $600 more expensive.

Did you check out the actual quality of their work though?

hollowpilot58 said:Just thought I’d share this in case anyone needs a lead—I was at a wedding at the Westin in San Francisco recently. The food was top-tier, service was flawless, and they had an absolute army of servers constantly on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly.

What's the capacity look like? And any idea on price?

Anyone got the scoop on the Duilovo Hotel in Chicago?

feralranger8 said:Did you check out the actual quality of their work though?

What exactly do you mean by "I didn't check the quality"? Are you implying the resolution or clarity is lacking?
I have reviewed the digital photos and videos, examined the physical prints, and even looked at the shots of his daughter.
Personally, I appreciate that some images remain natural while others feature subtle environmental editing. I find overly processed photos where people become unrecognizable to be distasteful.
Ultimately, taste is subjective.
In my opinion, the photography is excellent.

http://www.studiobora.com/images/web2/galerijaZ.html

ambercrane18 said:What exactly do you mean by "I didn't check the quality"? Are you implying the resolution or clarity is lacking?
I have reviewed the digital photos and videos, examined the physical prints, and even looked at the shots of his daughter.
Personally, I appreciate that some images remain natural while others feature subtle environmental editing. I find overly processed photos where people become unrecognizable to be distasteful.
Ultimately, taste is subjective.
In my opinion, the photography is excellent.

http://www.studiobora.com/images/web2/galerijaZ.html

Thanks for the link, but I know their work pretty well. I actually shot a few weddings for them a couple years back. Plus, I've known Bostjan since long before either of us started doing wedding photography. :-)
Since I'm basically a peer in this industry, it’s not my place to judge someone else's quality here, and I won't. Like you said, taste is subjective and I definitely don't want to offend anyone. But speaking as a photographer—and as a groom who once had to hunt for the right pro—I don't see much similarity in how Jukica and Bor work, aside from the occasional editing style. (I'm a fan of natural colors rather than those weird green tints, but that's just me.) Honestly, that's the last thing that matters when you're talking about a truly great photo. Or any photo, really.

feralranger8 said:Thanks for the link, but I know their work pretty well. I actually shot a few weddings for them a couple years back. Plus, I've known Bostjan since long before either of us started doing wedding photography. :-)
Since I'm basically a peer in this industry, it’s not my place to judge someone else's quality here, and I won't. Like you said, taste is subjective and I definitely don't want to offend anyone. But speaking as a photographer—and as a groom who once had to hunt for the right pro—I don't see much similarity in how Jukica and Bor work, aside from the occasional editing style. (I'm a fan of natural colors rather than those weird green tints, but that's just me.) Honestly, that's the last thing that matters when you're talking about a truly great photo. Or any photo, really.

To be honest, I have no idea what you are trying to say... what I am reading between the lines is that the photos aren't good...
I only know that every photographer has their own style, and in this context, I wasn't even attempting to compare Jukica and Bor... I was simply citing my own experience.
If you want to clarify your point further, send me a private message.
Thank you.

ambercrane18 said:To be honest, I have no idea what you are trying to say... what I am reading between the lines is that the photos aren't good...
I only know that every photographer has their own style, and in this context, I wasn't even attempting to compare Jukica and Bor... I was simply citing my own experience.
If you want to clarify your point further, send me a private message.
Thank you.

I don't think you need to go to DMs. Everything said here is meant to help someone out. Honestly, thanks to this forum, I've sorted out so many things for my own wedding much faster than I would have otherwise.
I think there was a misunderstanding. I was just asking about the photo quality because you mentioned being torn between Jukica and Bor, and ended up going with Bor because the "whole package" was cheaper than Jukica's. I was just curious if there were any other factors involved in your choice. The main thing is that you saw everything, which you did, and you're happy with what you saw and know what to expect. There’s actually a Wedding Photography thread on here where pros hang out, and most of them suggest that couples see at least one full wedding gallery before deciding. At the end of the day, we all just want the couple to be happy with their photos. Hope that clears things up? 😉

Does anyone have the inside scoop on the Mediterranean resort (like that one spot near the woods)? The location and the venue itself look killer, and honestly, the food at the restaurant seems solid too. My only real hang-up is whether 120 people would feel way too cramped in the indoor area if we get hit with rain... Has anyone actually hosted a party there before?

Got the photographer sorted, just gotta lock in the venue and then we’re good to go 🙂

We finally got everything from Papajac last night🙂 Honestly, there wasn't a single moment where I doubted them. 🙂 I already mentioned how perfect the DVD was, truly flawless! 😁 But sitting there last night looking through the photos, we felt like we were right back at our own party. 😁 These shots are incredible—it’s one of those cases where a picture really is worth a thousand words. We absolutely love Papajac's work. The photos feel so spontaneous and alive; they're just perfect. People look like their true selves—smiling and clearly having the time of their lives. I've never been a fan of those staged, "everyone line up and smile" type of shots, and I definitely didn't want a photographer like that. It's much easier to photograph a piece of furniture! Papajac did an amazing job capturing people in motion. It might sound crazy, but looking at these pictures, I can almost see everyone dancing and hear the music playing. 😁 We received a huge amount of photos on the disc, but I actually prefer the Shutterfly album. Even though it has fewer images, it captures the essence of everything perfectly, telling a story between two beautiful covers and reminding us of the best day of our lives. Thanks to Papajac, we have memories we could only dream of... And by the way, they paid attention to every little detail. The album came in a sleek black sleeve inside a lovely bag customized with our names. Papajac deserves a perfect ten out of ten. 😁

Maria Bailey4 which photographer and band did you end up booking?

Bradley King43 I'm honestly so happy you’re pleased with everything—I’ve seen their work before and it’s just incredible, I can't even find the words...👍

Betty Davis93 said:Maria Bailey4 which photographer and band did you end up booking?

Bradley King43 I'm honestly so happy you’re pleased with everything—I’ve seen their work before and it’s just incredible, I can't even find the words...👍

photographer - Bonacic Studios
band - Krakun vocal group

we aren't really doing the whole traditional open bar thing—it’s more of a sit-down lunch/dinner vibe. expecting everything to wrap up by midnight at the latest 😉

Hey guys, have you picked out a cake yet? And where from? I'm curious about how the prices are looking lately.

P.S. I honestly have nothing but praise for the work coming out of Papaya Studios and Studio Raos.

Henry Hill26 said:Does anyone have the inside scoop on the Mediterranean resort (like that one spot near the woods)? The location and the venue itself look killer, and honestly, the food at the restaurant seems solid too. My only real hang-up is whether 120 people would feel way too cramped in the indoor area if we get hit with rain... Has anyone actually hosted a party there before?

Last I heard they aren't doing parties anymore—though the location is unbeatable.

I swear I dreamed about reviewing the food at Las Vegas... Well, after tonight, I’ve gotta say there hasn't been any drop in quality whatsoever. The portions are huge and actually taste good, they're quick with refills, and the buffet spread almost always includes two different types of cheese and some decent deli meats ready to go. You don't even have to flag down the servers. They're on point and super attentive. As soon as you finish a drink, a fresh one is right there.