Everything you need for a California wedding

crimsonmarlin17 said:We put down a deposit for Ini, and we paid $667 the deposit..

How many people are actually going to show up for the party, or does the headcount not really affect the deposit?

Richard Parker said:Ugh, I actually reached out to them to play my gig... and they basically told me no because Monterey is too far of a drive for them.. 😢
So now I’ve booked The Box instead.

I'm still hunting for a photographer. I just need stills—nothing fancy with video—so I'm looking for something budget-friendly. Not the most expensive pro out there, but definitely not some cheap amateur either. Also, the big thing is that I need the photos ready by the same night. If anyone has any leads, I'd really appreciate the help.

In my opinion, picking a photographer is easily the hardest part of everything. You're staring down millions of options, ranging from mediocre to world-class. It might help if you let us know what kind of budget you're working with and exactly what you need (like specific packages, albums, or books—are you planning on getting extras for the wedding party or parents?).

Walter Bailey said:In my opinion, picking a photographer is easily the hardest part of everything. You're staring down millions of options, ranging from mediocre to world-class. It might help if you let us know what kind of budget you're working with and exactly what you need (like specific packages, albums, or books—are you planning on getting extras for the wedding party or parents?).

I mean, I don't really know how much I'd spend yet... I need to get a general idea of where prices actually sit for what I'm looking for first..
So, basically, I want coverage for the whole wedding... from the church ceremony all the way through cutting the cake and the bouquet toss... nothing beyond that. On top of that, I'd want maybe an hour or two before the church ceremony for some posed shots... but nothing over the top. Plus, I definitely want a photo book for myself. As for my parents, I'm not sure if I'll just give them one nice large framed photo or a photo book as well... oh, and I'd also want some shots taken that night specifically for the invitations.. (so far, I haven't even received any actual price quotes because everyone I've reached out to here has been a total bust), and I'm not planning on getting albums for the godparents..

Scott Jones said:How many people are actually going to show up for the party, or does the headcount not really affect the deposit?

We booked a small hall and expect about 80 guests. I don't believe the guest count impacts the deposit, but you should double-check. Just so you know, chairs are $37 each. 😊

Richard Parker said:I mean, I don't really know how much I'd spend yet... I need to get a general idea of where prices actually sit for what I'm looking for first..
So, basically, I want coverage for the whole wedding... from the church ceremony all the way through cutting the cake and the bouquet toss... nothing beyond that. On top of that, I'd want maybe an hour or two before the church ceremony for some posed shots... but nothing over the top. Plus, I definitely want a photo book for myself. As for my parents, I'm not sure if I'll just give them one nice large framed photo or a photo book as well... oh, and I'd also want some shots taken that night specifically for the invitations.. (so far, I haven't even received any actual price quotes because everyone I've reached out to here has been a total bust), and I'm not planning on getting albums for the godparents..

Maybe try reaching out to Mario Paparela or Ante Gašpar

crimsonmarlin17 said:We booked a small hall and expect about 80 guests. I don't believe the guest count impacts the deposit, but you should double-check. Just so you know, chairs are $37 each. 😊

I hate to be a pest, but could you let me know what exactly is covered in that $37 price tag? It’s right near my place, and honestly, I’ve been there for a few different events before—the food and service are always top-notch.

Scott Jones said:I hate to be a pest, but could you let me know what exactly is covered in that $37 price tag? It’s right near my place, and honestly, I’ve been there for a few different events before—the food and service are always top-notch.

It includes Prsut, cheese, French salad, and fish pâté. For the main course, you get black and white risotto, beef stew, chicken with gorgonzola (both served with gnocchi), and lamb. Drinks are included, though I can't recall the exact selection. You'll need to bring your own cakes or desserts. I've heard the catering is excellent too. They are quite accommodating with everything. Even their decorations are customizable; you can pick whatever color you want.
Feel free to ask anything else.

crimsonmarlin17 said:It includes Prsut, cheese, French salad, and fish pâté. For the main course, you get black and white risotto, beef stew, chicken with gorgonzola (both served with gnocchi), and lamb. Drinks are included, though I can't recall the exact selection. You'll need to bring your own cakes or desserts. I've heard the catering is excellent too. They are quite accommodating with everything. Even their decorations are customizable; you can pick whatever color you want.
Feel free to ask anything else.

What about the small details? For instance, do they provide chairs, or is that on us? Also, do they need a confectionery permit, and will they have vases available?🙂

"Quote:"

Scott Jones said:What about the small details? For instance, do they provide chairs, or is that on us? Also, do they need a confectionery permit, and will they have vases available?🙂

I wasn't asking about young children. You don't need a certificate. I think she mentioned something about vouchers, but I can't say for certain.

David King72 said:Maybe try reaching out to Mario Paparela or Ante Gašpar

Ante Gašpar is a solid pick—great value for the money. Honestly, I think he's two steps ahead of Marino. You can't go wrong with Studio Bor or Mario Paparela either...

Walter Bailey said:Ante Gašpar is a solid pick—great value for the money. Honestly, I think he's two steps ahead of Marino. You can't go wrong with Studio Bor or Mario Paparela either...

That’s true, though he only really started striking out on his own quite recently, didn't he?

Well, here’s another fresh face looking toward the future...

I am completely new to all of this. I don't have any firsthand experience from friends who have gone through the process or anything like that. 🙂

I’m thinking about organizing a party for next September, but I can't help wondering—am I already running behind? 😁 How much time do I actually have left 🙂 to hunt down the perfect venue?

My biggest headache right now is the location. I’d love to host it outdoors, but lately, the weather has become such a total gamble, hasn't it?

Also, how reliable is the "Wedding with Style" website? My mom just sent it over to me, and I'm trying to figure out if it truly covers everything—like a full list of venues and bands... I'll probably browse through it and then come back to this forum with a bunch of silly questions, haha!

coastalharbor6 said:Well, here’s another fresh face looking toward the future...

I am completely new to all of this. I don't have any firsthand experience from friends who have gone through the process or anything like that. 🙂

I’m thinking about organizing a party for next September, but I can't help wondering—am I already running behind? 😁 How much time do I actually have left 🙂 to hunt down the perfect venue?

My biggest headache right now is the location. I’d love to host it outdoors, but lately, the weather has become such a total gamble, hasn't it?

Also, how reliable is the "Wedding with Style" website? My mom just sent it over to me, and I'm trying to figure out if it truly covers everything—like a full list of venues and bands... I'll probably browse through it and then come back to this forum with a bunch of silly questions, haha!

It depends on the scale of your wedding. If you are expecting a massive crowd and need somewhere like Dolis, you should probably start looking immediately. They are pretty popular, and I know they can book up a year in advance. You mentioned the coast... maybe Grašo? Or Pirate? I went with Pirate, but my guest list is relatively small, so there isn't much room for a huge crowd. Grašo is charging roughly $50, and if it rains, they move everyone inside for a buffet style setup, which was an immediate dealbreaker for me.

Gary Rivera2 said:It depends on the scale of your wedding. If you are expecting a massive crowd and need somewhere like Dolis, you should probably start looking immediately. They are pretty popular, and I know they can book up a year in advance. You mentioned the coast... maybe Grašo? Or Pirate? I went with Pirate, but my guest list is relatively small, so there isn't much room for a huge crowd. Grašo is charging roughly $50, and if it rains, they move everyone inside for a buffet style setup, which was an immediate dealbreaker for me.

We had our big day at Grašo toward the end of August (on a Sunday), and we actually managed to snag the venue just two months beforehand. I suppose if you’re aiming for a Friday or a Sunday, you don't have to panic too much, but if you're eyeing a Saturday, man, you should probably get moving with the planning and reservations right now.

They gave us the choice between an outdoor or indoor vibe, and we ended up deciding on indoors since there was a chance it would be way too hot outside—which, wouldn't you know, is exactly what happened.

Out of all the reasonably priced venues in San Francisco, I think Grašo had the best location by far—you get the sun, the ocean, and a killer view—plus the food was great. Pirate had slightly better food, maybe, but the location was definitely a step down.
If you don't care about being right in San Francisco, you could check out Jure’s place in Malibu—it’s practically sitting on the beach, though personally, I thought the food was just okay, even if the view was incredible.

Just as an alternative—or just an idea floating around—the restaurant at the Park hotel near Bačvica is awesome, even if you don't get a direct ocean view. The water is super close if anyone wants to take a stroll, or there's that plaza over in Žnjan run by the San Francisco hotel (Radisson Blu)—if you go there, you’re basically surrounded by the ocean on three sides, almost like you're stuck on your own little private island.

Gary Rivera2 Asks:
It really depends on the scale of your wedding. If you’re planning a massive celebration and need a venue like Dolis, you’d better start your search immediately. Those spots are incredibly popular, and I know for a fact they can be booked up over a year in advance. You mentioned the ocean... are you looking at Grašo or maybe Pirate? Personally, I went with Pirate, but my guest list was relatively small, so there just wasn't enough room for a huge crowd. As for Grašo, they charge roughly $50 per person. Their backup plan for rain is to move everyone indoors for a buffet-style meal, which was an option I ruled out right away.

We’re looking at a crowd of maybe 150 people. Some folks say Grasa can only draw 100, but apparently, the organizers are claiming they can handle 150. Who knows which one is right?
I really wish it were Saturday already. But hey, if that’s not happening, I guess I’ll settle for Friday and call it a win.

casualwolf22 Asks:
We held our wedding in Grašo at the end of August on a Sunday, and we managed to book the venue about two months in advance. If you’re looking at a Friday or a Sunday for your big day, you probably don't need to panic too much. However, if you have your heart set on a Saturday? You'd better get moving on the planning and reservations as soon as possible. Why wait until the last minute?

They gave us the choice between an outdoor ceremony or staying inside. In the end, we decided to go with the indoor option just because there was a chance it might get way too hot outside—and wouldn't you know it? That's exactly what happened.

Out of all the reasonably priced venues in San Francisco, I’d have to say Grašo had the absolute best location—you just can't beat that sun, the ocean view, and that stunning scenery. The food there was also excellent. Now, the Pirate had slightly better food, but the location definitely didn't measure up.
If you aren't particularly invested in San Francisco, you might want to check out Jure's restaurant in Malibu. It’s located right on the beach, which is incredible, but if you ask me, the food was a bit underwhelming despite that stunning view. Is a great vista really enough to make up for a mediocre meal?

If you’re looking for an alternative, I have a great suggestion: the restaurant at the Park Hotel near Bačvica is fantastic. You won't get a direct view of the water from there, but the ocean is incredibly close by. If you feel like stretching your legs, you can head over to those coastal plateaus near Žnjan managed by the Split Hotel (Radisson Blu). Once you're there, you'll feel completely surrounded by the Pacific on three sides—it's almost like being on your own little private island. Isn't that a perfect escape?

I really wish we could host this in San Francisco. From what I’ve seen at the Radisson Blu, that plaza area downstairs can accommodate anywhere from 60 to 80 people—though I can't quite recall the exact number. My main concern, though, is the weather. If it starts pouring, where exactly would we move everyone?

Does anyone happen to know the current pricing for Kaštelet? Just looking for some general info...

I’m also a big fan of Forest Bistro, but I can't help but wonder—how many people can that place actually hold?

I really like the Park Hotel, but a friend of mine was there on a business trip about a month ago and asked how much they charge for a table. They told her it was 100 dollars?!

coastalharbor6 said:

Gary Rivera2 Asks:
It really depends on the scale of your wedding. If you’re planning a massive celebration and need a venue like Dolis, you’d better start your search immediately. Those spots are incredibly popular, and I know for a fact they can be booked up over a year in advance. You mentioned the ocean... are you looking at Grašo or maybe Pirate? Personally, I went with Pirate, but my guest list was relatively small, so there just wasn't enough room for a huge crowd. As for Grašo, they charge roughly $50 per person. Their backup plan for rain is to move everyone indoors for a buffet-style meal, which was an option I ruled out right away.

We’re looking at a crowd of maybe 150 people. Some folks say Grasa can only draw 100, but apparently, the organizers are claiming they can handle 150. Who knows which one is right?
I really wish it were Saturday already. But hey, if that’s not happening, I guess I’ll settle for Friday and call it a win.

casualwolf22 Asks:
We held our wedding in Grašo at the end of August on a Sunday, and we managed to book the venue about two months in advance. If you’re looking at a Friday or a Sunday for your big day, you probably don't need to panic too much. However, if you have your heart set on a Saturday? You'd better get moving on the planning and reservations as soon as possible. Why wait until the last minute?

They gave us the choice between an outdoor ceremony or staying inside. In the end, we decided to go with the indoor option just because there was a chance it might get way too hot outside—and wouldn't you know it? That's exactly what happened.

Out of all the reasonably priced venues in San Francisco, I’d have to say Grašo had the absolute best location—you just can't beat that sun, the ocean view, and that stunning scenery. The food there was also excellent. Now, the Pirate had slightly better food, but the location definitely didn't measure up.
If you aren't particularly invested in San Francisco, you might want to check out Jure's restaurant in Malibu. It’s located right on the beach, which is incredible, but if you ask me, the food was a bit underwhelming despite that stunning view. Is a great vista really enough to make up for a mediocre meal?

If you’re looking for an alternative, I have a great suggestion: the restaurant at the Park Hotel near Bačvica is fantastic. You won't get a direct view of the water from there, but the ocean is incredibly close by. If you feel like stretching your legs, you can head over to those coastal plateaus near Žnjan managed by the Split Hotel (Radisson Blu). Once you're there, you'll feel completely surrounded by the Pacific on three sides—it's almost like being on your own little private island. Isn't that a perfect escape?

I really wish we could host this in San Francisco. From what I’ve seen at the Radisson Blu, that plaza area downstairs can accommodate anywhere from 60 to 80 people—though I can't quite recall the exact number. My main concern, though, is the weather. If it starts pouring, where exactly would we move everyone?

Does anyone happen to know the current pricing for Kaštelet? Just looking for some general info...

I’m also a big fan of Forest Bistro, but I can't help but wonder—how many people can that place actually hold?

I really like the Park Hotel, but a friend of mine was there on a business trip about a month ago and asked how much they charge for a table. They told her it was 100 dollars?!

Ugh, 150 people.. I'm seriously worried that won't be comfortable at all, not even at Grace, and honestly, I don't think we'd fit in Pirate either :/
Maybe we could try to cut a deal with Hotel Split to move everything into their restaurant if the weather turns bad.
What do you guys think about Ballet in Castleton? That restaurant seems pretty massive, it's right near the coast, the food is great, and it has a courtyard.

I’ll admit, I’m a little nervous about things stalling out too...
Castel isn't really on my radar right now. My focus is entirely on San Francisco.

Hello everyone. I wanted to share some insights from my own wedding experience, primarily because posts like this were such a massive help to me during my planning phase. To begin with, there isn't a single thing I would change; I poured an immense amount of love and effort into every detail, and the result was even more beautiful than I had ever dared to imagine.
The guest reception took place at the cafe within the Hotel Bellevue, located in the upper outskirts near the main plaza, and it was absolutely flawless. As for the atmosphere, it speaks for itself—the staff was highly professional, the food was superb, and we didn't lack for anything, even for a moment. We had a band playing called the Neretva Kings, a group out of Metković, and they were truly fantastic guys.
The mass was held at St. Francis, where Chorus Angelicus performed, and they were nothing short of phenomenal.
As for the venue, we used the Radisson Blu ballroom, specifically the poolside restaurant area for the initial reception, which felt incredibly special, while the indoor hall itself was excellent. It’s ideal for 180 guests, and personally, it was the only real option for me in San Francisco besides Villa California, which was simply far too expensive. I am well aware of the reputation luxury hotels have regarding cost, but the food was more than sufficient, the service was impeccable—I didn't have to pour a single drink myself as we had our own dedicated waiter—and the ventilation was perfect. The lighting by Rabbit Rock was top-tier, the band Viva (instrumental only) was phenomenal and easily my only choice, and the floral arrangements from Nella's Hill provided the dreamlike decor that tied everything together.
Our videographer was Neno Mrse, and the photographers were Bojan Radovic and Max Basic; I cannot praise them enough for their patience and unobtrusive nature, all while delivering high-end work at a reasonable price.
The desserts received endless compliments; I had a dessert table curated by my grandmothers that was, to put it mildly, perfection, and the cake from Zenith met every single one of our expectations.
For hair and makeup, Studio Ante (Tomislav) and Ana Grgic did an incredible job getting me ready for a very fair price.🙂 Regarding the dress, Berta Bridal in LA Perle over in Sirocchi was much more approachable in terms of both staff attitude and pricing compared to what we usually see locally.🙂
There were many more details to cover, but I won't linger on them; I have highlighted the essentials, so if anyone needs specific information, please feel free to ask.
Enjoy the process of planning your big day and seeing your hard work come to fruition... I would do it all over again if I could...🙂))

I am honestly so thrilled that everything turned out exactly how you envisioned—maybe even better! 🙂
I think that’s the ultimate dream for all of us, isn't it? When was your wedding held? And if you don't mind me asking, how many seats did the hotel have for the reception?

Any issues at the border? What’s the procedure like? Or do they just let you through?