Everything you need for a California wedding

This thread is looking a little dead... Anyone here actually stayed at—or maybe even crashed a wedding at—the Park, the Marriott, or the Hilton?

It feels like it’s just the two of us chatting here! haha🙂

I stayed at the Marriott recently and everything was absolutely fantastic—truly top-tier quality.
The banquet was huge, so the ballroom was completely packed, which created such a great vibe. I know those dividers can look a bit awkward when the crowd is smaller, but I haven't seen how they handle it...

My high school prom was held there a while back, too, so I can vouch for them—they really are the best. Honestly, the food at the gala was way better than the menu our class picked out ourselves. -.-

coastalharbor6 said:It feels like it’s just the two of us chatting here! haha🙂

I stayed at the Marriott recently and everything was absolutely fantastic—truly top-tier quality.
The banquet was huge, so the ballroom was completely packed, which created such a great vibe. I know those dividers can look a bit awkward when the crowd is smaller, but I haven't seen how they handle it...

My high school prom was held there a while back, too, so I can vouch for them—they really are the best. Honestly, the food at the gala was way better than the menu our class picked out ourselves. -.-

We basically have Park on lock, but we heard some rumors so now I'm wondering how it compares to those other two hotels. I bet the Lion is just as nice, but what does 120-150 people look like in a room built for 400?
Does anyone know their prices? I can't find their brochure anywhere.

Cure, can anyone recommend a good flower shop?

crimsonmarlin17 said:Cure, can anyone recommend a good flower shop?

Miss Flower Shop is amazing—the owner is a total pro. I showed her a few photos and she was already brainstorming a million ideas. The price is pretty flexible too; you just tell her your budget and she makes sure you get the absolute most out of it. 😁 I actually worked out a deal to meet up at a bridal expo, so I’m getting all her decor—vases, trinkets, mirrors, you name it—for free!

copperhound84 said:Miss Flower Shop is amazing—the owner is a total pro. I showed her a few photos and she was already brainstorming a million ideas. The price is pretty flexible too; you just tell her your budget and she makes sure you get the absolute most out of it. 😁 I actually worked out a deal to meet up at a bridal expo, so I’m getting all her decor—vases, trinkets, mirrors, you name it—for free!

Does anyone have a clue what a decent centerpiece bouquet usually runs for? I'd love to know what kind of numbers to expect :-) Also, do florists typically include rentals for things like mirrors, glass pieces, vases, or candle holders in their packages?

You can look at rental offers now, but honestly, if you aren't in a massive rush, just hold out for that expo at Madison Square Garden in about ten days. There's a good chance she’ll be exhibiting there again. You could just set up an appointment with her directly to go over her pricing. Plus, if you end up booking them, they throw in the use of vases, mirrors, and all that extra decor for free. 😁
Prices obviously depend on the type of flowers you pick. I worked out a total package price with her, so I don't know the exact breakdown per item, but the folks over at the Skier Flower Shop told me you're looking at an average of $80-$40 per table.

Anyone have a lead on a decent accordion player who won't break the bank?
Just need someone to fill about an hour while the groom swings by to pick me up with his guy.

And please, anything except Marino or Anthony Bekavac. 😉

Ladies, I’m planning to make my big announcement next year, almost exactly one year from today.
Which venues would you recommend for a crowd of about 250 or 260 people? I don't have an exact headcount yet, but we're in that ballpark.
What do you think about Studio Smile? It looks pretty great to me. 🙂
Any band recommendations? I currently have Viva in mind. I really want someone who can actually entertain—I don't want anyone sitting around; I want music that literally forces you off your seat and onto the dance floor. 🎉

I honestly think the answer to everything just comes down to one thing: how much are you willing to spend? 🙂
Studio Smile is actually quite good, but personally, I just couldn't click with Ranko (the tall, dark-haired guy). He's incredibly pushy. Now, some people might love that energy or find him charming, but that was just my impression after attending a few weddings they handled.

As for Viva, I actually attended a wedding they did very recently. The vibe was fantastic! They are truly great, and let me tell you, the celebration went on for a loooooong time...

For example, the singer from the band Best was absolutely incredible—he really knows how to keep the party going!

copperhound84 said:You can look at rental offers now, but honestly, if you aren't in a massive rush, just hold out for that expo at Madison Square Garden in about ten days. There's a good chance she’ll be exhibiting there again. You could just set up an appointment with her directly to go over her pricing. Plus, if you end up booking them, they throw in the use of vases, mirrors, and all that extra decor for free. 😁
Prices obviously depend on the type of flowers you pick. I worked out a total package price with her, so I don't know the exact breakdown per item, but the folks over at the Skier Flower Shop told me you're looking at an average of $80-$40 per table.

No rush at all. The wedding isn't for another 10 months, and we've barely even started planning, so I'm totally clueless about dates or when these expos actually happen. :-)
So you mean if you commit right then and there at the expo, the decor rental is basically included? How much does renting usually run anyway? I saw those glass pieces on Miss Flower Shop's Facebook—those white candle holders with the laser-cut lace pattern—and I am obsessed. Will there be any more expos after this one? Thanks!

Any lighting recommendations? Looking for something decent that won't break the bank... 😉

copperhound84 said:Miss Flower Shop is amazing—the owner is a total pro. I showed her a few photos and she was already brainstorming a million ideas. The price is pretty flexible too; you just tell her your budget and she makes sure you get the absolute most out of it. 😁 I actually worked out a deal to meet up at a bridal expo, so I’m getting all her decor—vases, trinkets, mirrors, you name it—for free!

If you want my two cents, I’d suggest being a little cautious when dealing with her... she can be incredibly exhausting to work with, and honestly, she’s messed up a bouquet or two on me before. On top of that, she’ll try to pitch her makeup artist friend to you under the guise of "saving you money," and there have definitely been times where she didn't stick to what was originally agreed upon.

Michael Mendoza14 said:Does anyone have a clue what a decent centerpiece bouquet usually runs for? I'd love to know what kind of numbers to expect :-) Also, do florists typically include rentals for things like mirrors, glass pieces, vases, or candle holders in their packages?

A lot of them definitely offer those rental items... but what exactly is your vibe?? As for bouquet prices, $33it really just boils down to what kind of flowers you're picking out.

Ashley Hall5 said:Ladies, I’m planning to make my big announcement next year, almost exactly one year from today.
Which venues would you recommend for a crowd of about 250 or 260 people? I don't have an exact headcount yet, but we're in that ballpark.
What do you think about Studio Smile? It looks pretty great to me. 🙂
Any band recommendations? I currently have Viva in mind. I really want someone who can actually entertain—I don't want anyone sitting around; I want music that literally forces you off your seat and onto the dance floor. 🎉

Venues—are you looking within the city limits or more toward the outskirts, like somewhere near San Diego or Orange County?
Studio Smile does great work; I've seen their portfolio, but as for what it's actually like to work with them on the day, who knows? If you're thinking about booking them, you better move fast because they stay fully booked.
For music, maybe try Barbari, Best, Vino and Ive, or Boem Miro.

amberhawk60 said:Any lighting recommendations? Looking for something decent that won't break the bank... 😉

I mean, I'm not entirely sure who you ended up booking for the music, but wouldn't some bands include their own gear in their fee, or at least offer a much better deal than renting individual lights from these specialized companies?

Ladies, I’m planning to drop the big news next year—like, almost exactly one year from today.
Which venues would you guys suggest checking out? There will be about 250 to 260 of us, though I’m not 100% sure yet.
What do you think about Studio Smile? I personally love their vibe.
Any band recommendations? I’ve got Visa stuck in my head. I really want performers who actually know how to entertain; I don't want anyone just sitting around in the hall—I want music that literally forces you off your seat and onto the dance floor.

There’s this new venue out in the suburbs of Orlando. It used to be a disco club called "Stonage." I can't recall the exact name of the hall right now, but if you're interested, I can try to dig up some info.

I was there for a wedding about two months ago, and honestly, the location is pretty killer. They’re tucked away on a hill where there isn't a soul for miles (just rocks, olive groves, and if I remember correctly, a view of Savannah, Seagate, and Key Biscayne...).
Right now, they have a pool area that works great for a reception, and the hall itself holds about 80 people, but they're doing some renovations, so (if my memory serves me right) it should soon accommodate closer to 250 guests.

With Studio Smile, they have several different crews, so you might want to see if you can find out exactly who would be filming or photographing your big day. Try to check out the specific portfolios of those individual photographers/videographers, though, in my experience, you can't really go wrong with any of their teams.
Besides them, Studio West, Bonacci, Papaya, Sinisa Srdanovic, Ivica Matic, and a few others are solid choices too.

As for a band that actually gets the party moving besides Verve, you could look into Volar, Uber, Pink Panther, or Matko & Brane...

Studio Vale is hands down the worst studio I have ever had the misfortune of seeing work from (even just looking at their finished photos and videos), especially considering they’ve handled wedding shoots before.
:/

I can't speak for any of the other studios out there, so I'll leave them out of this...

My neighbor actually used Studio Papaya, and honestly? I’m not feeling them at all.

The shots they took out around town are fine—I mean, it was summer, the lighting was killer, and the sun was doing most of the heavy lifting.
But those studio shots? Absolute nightmare fuel.
When I saw myself, I actually jumped! Look, I’m not exactly my own biggest fan when it comes to photos—especially when I'm dealing with some bad acne—but this was just brutal.
Everything looked way too dark and just... off. Like, totally unnatural. My hair and dress looked much darker than they actually are, every single tiny imperfection on my face was magnified, and the shadows just made everything look ten times worse.
We all ended up looking older, grubbier, and just plain messy...
Ugh, no way. There is zero chance I'm paying for these!

Oh man, I was actually really liking them (based on what I've been seeing on Facebook), so it's probably for the best that I didn't pull the trigger! 😳