Everything you need for a California wedding

William Mitchell5 said:Anyone got some ideas for a cool spot to do a photoshoot? Somewhere that isn't right in the middle of downtown San Francisco... thanks!

St. Joseph's Church in Golden Gate Park, the Roman Ruins of Florida, Castillo de San Marcos, the Garden of Eden in Santa Monica, the New York Botanical Garden in Santa Monica, or maybe Manhattan if you want that worn-down but classic vibe... You can get amazing shots anywhere if the couple is relaxed.🙂

Hi there! I’ve been scrolling through all the advice shared so far regarding bands and photographers (or videographers, if we're being precise), but I’m really looking for some more recent perspectives—so if anyone has any fresh tips or intel, please share... 🙏 Specifically, what are we looking at in terms of reasonable rates for a photographer these days?

As for the music, I'm currently torn between Jessie Bend, the XS band, and the group Boss?? 😉

Noah Wright4 said:St. Joseph's Church in Golden Gate Park, the Roman Ruins of Florida, Castillo de San Marcos, the Garden of Eden in Santa Monica, the New York Botanical Garden in Santa Monica, or maybe Manhattan if you want that worn-down but classic vibe... You can get amazing shots anywhere if the couple is relaxed.🙂

Thanks a ton!☺

William Mitchell5 said:Thanks a ton!☺

The Augustus Saint-Gaudens gallery is pretty nice too. 😁

No problem. 🙂

Hey everyone, before I dive into the last 50 pages of this forum 🙄🙄🙄 I need a few recommendations (feel free to PM me)

Venue for the reception—around 250 guests; needs enough space. Right now, I’m looking at Bolero or Dolis; if you have any other suggestions, let me know.👍

Band—budget up to $2,000. I'm considering Barbary, Best, or Boss; any similar recommendations?

Photographer—this is my biggest dilemma. I liked Bonačić Studio, but I really want to see some other options first.

Thanks in advance to everyone! :klap::klap::klap:

Hey everyone... there’s a pretty good chance we’re going to have to release our ballroom reservation this October. It’s set for about 250 people. Realistically, what are the odds of actually getting our deposit back? Like, if someone else jumps in and grabs our slot to cover the cost, does that make things easier? Has anyone dealt with something like this before? Thanks..

Matthew Ross11 - I’m not entirely sure what the capacity is for the Aria hall, but if your guest list fits within their limits, I would absolutely recommend it. Given the price point versus the overall quality, Dolis seems like a solid choice to me.

As for the band, I’m thinking along the same lines... I wouldn't go with Barbary, but I'm torn between the Boss group, Jessie Bend, xxs, the Best group, or Kocka... ugh, please, fellow forum members—give me some advice to make this decision easier! :slap:

Matthew Ross11 said:Hey everyone, before I dive into the last 50 pages of this forum 🙄🙄🙄 I need a few recommendations (feel free to PM me)

Venue for the reception—around 250 guests; needs enough space. Right now, I’m looking at Bolero or Dolis; if you have any other suggestions, let me know.👍

Band—budget up to $2,000. I'm considering Barbary, Best, or Boss; any similar recommendations?

Photographer—this is my biggest dilemma. I liked Bonačić Studio, but I really want to see some other options first.

Thanks in advance to everyone! :klap::klap::klap:

Well, since we’re already on the subject, why don't we go ahead and bring Aria and the Lesnina Band back into the conversation? Is it really too much to ask to mention them again?
Is there anything more predictably exhausting than the sheer, unadulterated monotony of the local music scene? You’ve got the usual suspects like the Bend-Vino duo and Ivo, Miro Boem, and that whole Aritmija Band mess—it’s almost impressive how they manage to stay so consistently underwhelming. Does anyone actually sit through these sets expecting something halfway decent, or have we all just collectively agreed to lower our standards to rock bottom?
Photographer Marino, smile.

Quincy:

Matthew Ross11 Asks: Hey everyone, before I dive into catching up on the last 50 pages of this forum... 🙄🙄🙄 I was wondering if anyone might be able to offer a few recommendations? If you wouldn't mind sending them over via private message, I would truly appreciate it. I am currently searching for a venue to host a banquet for approximately 250 guests—ideally somewhere with enough breathing room so it doesn't feel cramped. At the moment, I have been looking into the Bolero and Dolis, but I am still very much in the research phase. If anyone happens to have any other recommendations that might suit a group of this size, please do let me know.👍 I'm looking to spend around $2,000—I've been eyeing Barbary, Best, or maybe even Boss. Does anyone have any recommendations for something in that same vein? Choosing a Photographer—that’s my biggest dilemma right now. I really liked what I saw at Bonačić Studio, but I feel like I should probably check out some other options before making a final call. Thanks to everyone in advance.

David King72 said:Well, since we’re already on the subject, why don't we go ahead and bring Aria and the Lesnina Band back into the conversation? Is it really too much to ask to mention them again?
Is there anything more predictably exhausting than the sheer, unadulterated monotony of the local music scene? You’ve got the usual suspects like the Bend-Vino duo and Ivo, Miro Boem, and that whole Aritmija Band mess—it’s almost impressive how they manage to stay so consistently underwhelming. Does anyone actually sit through these sets expecting something halfway decent, or have we all just collectively agreed to lower our standards to rock bottom?
Photographer Marino, smile.

I haven't had particularly great experiences with the Lesnina Band. The ceilings feel quite low, which gives the whole place an unappealing vibe, and honestly, the atmosphere just isn't my style. To make matters worse, if you order a drink, you're often served a subpar wine, and if you try to ask for something else, the waiter just looks at you and says... "trust me, what's on the table is better." 😲
The Vox Box is really starting to make some noise lately. They’re on the verge of a major breakthrough, and honestly, they sound incredible—I’ve actually caught a few of their live sets. Plus, if you're looking to catch some good music without breaking the bank, they're super budget-friendly.
The photography will be handled by the Foto Mix crew—they’re originally from Boise, but they don't mind the drive at all. 🙂 )

Matthew Ross11 said:Hey everyone, before I dive into the last 50 pages of this forum 🙄🙄🙄 I need a few recommendations (feel free to PM me)

Venue for the reception—around 250 guests; needs enough space. Right now, I’m looking at Bolero or Dolis; if you have any other suggestions, let me know.👍

Band—budget up to $2,000. I'm considering Barbary, Best, or Boss; any similar recommendations?

Photographer—this is my biggest dilemma. I liked Bonačić Studio, but I really want to see some other options first.

Thanks in advance to everyone! :klap::klap::klap:

Sky, I heard from Joker that things are looking pretty good over at the club.
Yeah, I'm totally down with that joke too.
Honestly, if you ask me, the only spots around Dugopolje that actually worth checking out are Dolis and...
Lesnina Band
Jessie Bend:
Honestly, they’re so incredible I wouldn't even dream of thinking otherwise—just totally perfect.

Photographer:
It really just comes down to what you're into, but honestly, Raos Studio hits it out of the park with their shots every single time, and Tony Cerin is just straight-up legendary, plus you can't go wrong with Jukica Studio or Smiliti either.

For a feast like that:
1. Dodger Stadium (either on the terrace or indoors)
2. Hotel Washington (Duilovo)
3. Salo Robot
Anything else is just a step down and way too pretentious... shoot me a DM if you want the specifics.

We had the team from Foto Zumba shoot us, and honestly, we couldn't be happier—I’d recommend them in a heartbeat...
If you end up booking them, you might actually snag the Kocka band at a slightly lower rate... I'm not entirely sure of the exact discount since they didn't play our set, but I know there's some kind of deal involved. 😉

What’s the typical price range for a Photographer these days? I'm not looking for some over-the-top, luxury VIP package—just something reasonable that delivers solid photos and maybe a basic video clip...

Hey there..
I’m pretty new to this whole scene, so please bear with me if I mess anything up while I'm getting settled..
My wedding is coming up on August 14th, and we're keeping things super low-key with just an intimate dinner for our closest family. We decided to host it at Velum..
The staff there has been incredibly attentive and kind, so I’m really crossing my fingers that the actual dinner goes just as smoothly. Has anyone else here dined there? I'd love to hear how your experience was.

I grabbed lunch there recently and honestly, it was killer. The staff really had my back and the food? Absolutely delicious. 👍

So, I’ve finally pulled the trigger—I'm doing a tiny wedding. Just a small circle of people, nothing crazy, just a nice sit-down lunch or dinner.
Has anyone actually done this before? Please, if you have, hit me up with the details. I’ve only ever been to those massive, over-the-top wedding feasts, so I'm flying blind here.
I'm trying to figure out what kind of menu you usually get when you go this route, what the damage is price-wise, and all that good stuff...
Thanks a million! 🙂

Hey guys, if anyone happens to hear about a couple looking for a venue near San Francisco for sometime in October—maybe because they just had a date open up—please let me know... thanks!

Hey guys, where can I pick up some small decor pieces for my house and church here in San Francisco?
I'm also on the hunt for some artificial roses or something along those lines.
Thanks 😁

crimsonfox26 said:Hey guys, where can I pick up some small decor pieces for my house and church here in San Francisco?
I'm also on the hunt for some artificial roses or something along those lines.
Thanks 😁

Check out the local boutiques downtown, maybe hit up a Home Depot or a Target if you're looking for something quick.

David King72 said:Check out the local boutiques downtown, maybe hit up a Home Depot or a Target if you're looking for something quick.

Awesome, thanks!

Hey there! So, I’ve got less than a month left until the big parade—pretty much everything is squared away at this point—but I’m stuck on one final detail: does anyone know where I can pick up a high-quality flag? I need one specifically for the standard-bearer.