Everything you need for a California wedding

Hell yeah! If you’ve got the drive, the time, and the vision, just go for it...

Maria Bailey4 said:Quick question for the ladies who did their own sewing and ordered supplies through eBay—did you actually end up saving money compared to buying everything locally?

I haven't used eBay myself, but I decided to DIY everything by picking up all my supplies at Home Depot, and honestly, it was way more cost-effective. For instance, I spent about $183...maybe $600 tops, whereas if I had gone out and bought one of those fancy wreaths, there's no way I would've spent less than $1,500, since none of the ones I saw looked nearly as good as mine $1.75..so now....:🙂

Maria Bailey4 said:Quick question for the ladies who did their own sewing and ordered supplies through eBay—did you actually end up saving money compared to buying everything locally?

Even if you shop domestically, you can still find deals, it just comes down to how much time you have to hunt for them. Buying from eBay is definitely cheaper, though. 🙂

Okay, I could really use some advice here. I’m getting married in San Diego soon, and I’m spiraling a bit trying to figure out the best way to handle the reception. Does anyone have experience with this? I can't decide if it’s better to just book a restaurant where they charge a set price per head—drinks included and all—or if I should go the catering route and rent out a little cafe or lounge instead. Honestly, the second option sounds way more my style, especially if I can find a spot right by the beach, but I’m stuck on the logistics. Has anyone actually pulled this off? Like, how do those venues even handle the billing? Do you negotiate a flat fee upfront, or do they just charge you based on whatever drinks people end up ordering?

Taylor Perez51 said:I'm looking for some recommendations for a nice restaurant or even a venue near the San Diego to Coronado area for a celebratory dinner this September. We originally had our sights set on the lighthouse out by Coronado, but our budget was a bit too tight for them, and they weren't really interested in taking us on because we weren't booking so far in advance...

When we were scouting around for places, we really liked that one restaurant over at the Marriott in Miami. They take bookings outside of the peak wedding season, so I think you guys might actually be able to snag a spot if you aim for late September. We passed on them though, mostly because their capacity sits around 100 people and our guest list is going to be way bigger than that. We’re still looking around to see if we could potentially host a reception there down the road.

Hey everyone,
I was just sitting here thinking about all the moving parts involved in planning a big event, and it got me wondering—did you guys actually get a formal contract or some kind of written confirmation when you officially booked your band? I mean, I remember when I was trying to organize that charity gala back in Chicago, I spent weeks worrying about whether everything was set in stone or if we were just operating on a handshake, which is always a bit nerve-wracking. How much weight do you all give to having that paperwork in hand before you commit?

Our band just confirmed they're officially booked! The lead singer actually suggested sending over a formal confirmation via email, which was a pleasant surprise—we hadn't even thought to ask. I think that’s a huge deal, especially if you're planning a wedding a year out. It’s always smart to have that paper trail to sleep better at night.

I’m not sure if there’s a specific guide for this, but could someone point me toward where I can pick up live potted plants and decorative planters in Miami or the surrounding areas? I also need tulle and some decorative ribbons. I have a few ideas I'm trying to flesh out, but I have zero clue where to find all this stuff locally or what the damage might be to my wallet.

You can pick up ribbons and tulle over at Rose in Meadow, or maybe head out to Iowa near Boise, or just browse eBay... then grab some pots and flowers at Home Depot, Lowe's, Musicland, or those local garden centers like MBM or Kalia...

Tnx Isabel

So, I was checking out another thread, and this girl mentioned she picked up her strips at MBM, saying they’re actually way cheaper than what you'd find at Rose or Iowa... so if I were you, I'd probably head there first just to see...

Noah Wright4 said:Anyway, I'm totally sick of this debate. You guys can go listen to how "bad" Jesse actually is. 😉

It’s not that Jessie is a bad band—not by a long shot—but if you ask me, Barbara would do a much better job of lifting the mood and actually putting on a real show.

Chloe Barnes5 said:Our band just confirmed they're officially booked! The lead singer actually suggested sending over a formal confirmation via email, which was a pleasant surprise—we hadn't even thought to ask. I think that’s a huge deal, especially if you're planning a wedding a year out. It’s always smart to have that paper trail to sleep better at night.

You know, you make a really good point there. We went ahead and put our deposit down without asking for any paperwork, and now that I think about it, I'm starting to feel a little uneasy about it all :/

Does anyone happen to know anything about studio smiliti? Or maybe what people think of studio Mark? I’ve been searching for days trying to find the perfect photographer... 🙂 I really don't want my photos to look totally generic; I want them to feel special, but at the same time, I don't want them to look so stylized that I don't even recognize myself. 🙂 Everything I see on the studio smiliti website looks absolutely lovely, but I've noticed they don't get mentioned much here on the forums.

Timothy Fisher50 said:Hey everyone,
I was just sitting here thinking about all the moving parts involved in planning a big event, and it got me wondering—did you guys actually get a formal contract or some kind of written confirmation when you officially booked your band? I mean, I remember when I was trying to organize that charity gala back in Chicago, I spent weeks worrying about whether everything was set in stone or if we were just operating on a handshake, which is always a bit nerve-wracking. How much weight do you all give to having that paperwork in hand before you commit?

Look, I’m not crazy enough to hand over $500 to some guy in a bar claiming he’s a manager—only to find out the next day that the band isn't even on speaking terms or doesn't know what they're doing... even if a contract wouldn't solve everything in that mess, at least it gives you some leverage, right? (Honestly, without that paperwork, you're basically flying blind).

Does anyone have any inside scoop on the Radisson? All the old reviews are basically useless now because so much has changed lately. We’ve already locked in our date, so we’re just trying to figure out if there are any red flags we should watch out for. Honestly, we mostly care about the food and the service—everything else is just extra noise 🙂 Hvalaaaa!

Timothy Fisher50 said:You know, you make a really good point there. We went ahead and put our deposit down without asking for any paperwork, and now that I think about it, I'm starting to feel a little uneasy about it all :/

Does anyone happen to know anything about studio smiliti? Or maybe what people think of studio Mark? I’ve been searching for days trying to find the perfect photographer... 🙂 I really don't want my photos to look totally generic; I want them to feel special, but at the same time, I don't want them to look so stylized that I don't even recognize myself. 🙂 Everything I see on the studio smiliti website looks absolutely lovely, but I've noticed they don't get mentioned much here on the forums.

A close friend of mine actually used studio smiliti for her wedding—specifically Ranko Pupić was involved, and Vedran Vidak was behind the lens. Honestly, I think they’re absolutely fantastic... I managed to sneak a peek at some of the raw shots on their camera, and I was just blown away. Even the reception space itself was great, and they didn't miss a beat, capturing all those little spontaneous moments you don't even realize are happening. We won't see the final prints for another three months, but I have a feeling they're going to be wonderful...

gentlewolf69 said:A close friend of mine actually used studio smiliti for her wedding—specifically Ranko Pupić was involved, and Vedran Vidak was behind the lens. Honestly, I think they’re absolutely fantastic... I managed to sneak a peek at some of the raw shots on their camera, and I was just blown away. Even the reception space itself was great, and they didn't miss a beat, capturing all those little spontaneous moments you don't even realize are happening. We won't see the final prints for another three months, but I have a feeling they're going to be wonderful...

I’m actually so thrilled with them that I ended up typing the word 'super' four times in a single post...

gentlewolf69 said:I’m actually so thrilled with them that I ended up typing the word 'super' four times in a single post...

Man, that sounds pretty great 🙂
because I was just sitting here scrolling through the photos on their website and feeling totally blown away. I can't quite put my finger on it, though—do those shots feel more like raw, natural captures, or do they look like they've had some heavy artistic editing done to them? 🙂

Henry Hill26 said:Does anyone have any inside scoop on the Radisson? All the old reviews are basically useless now because so much has changed lately. We’ve already locked in our date, so we’re just trying to figure out if there are any red flags we should watch out for. Honestly, we mostly care about the food and the service—everything else is just extra noise 🙂 Hvalaaaa!

If you mean the one in San Francisco, hang tight until Sunday and I'll let you know how it goes...😉

Jeremy Barnes5 said:If you mean the one in San Francisco, hang tight until Sunday and I'll let you know how it goes...😉

Man, thanks! Can't wait. 😉