Everything you need for a California wedding

Hey ladies, you all went a little quiet on me! How are the wedding plans coming along? Just wanted to stir things up a bit and get this thread moving again :-)
So, I finally made it over to Miss Ivana's shop. She "hosted" the three of us for at least an hour—we were just sitting there chatting about flowers and decor while she cycled through endless photos on her tablet. Honestly, her work is stunning. There were these massive vases, like, four feet tall, that were just incredibly glamorous and elegant. Anyway, I’m trying to get a feel for what everyone else is paying for full floral packages. For us, we're looking at the whole spread: church decor (altar arrangements, baby's breath on the pews with bows), car decor, boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, the bouquet, centerpieces for maybe 15 guest tables, the sweetheart table setup, plus some extra bits for the dessert station. She mentioned a total package price would be somewhere around $5,000-$2333; apparently, it all depends on how beefy those guest table arrangements are. Since I’m eyeing those huge vases, we'd probably go with larger, rounder arrangements—so, bigger bouquets mean a higher price tag, obviously. I’m wondering if that sounds like a realistic price for everything, especially since the setup service is included in that estimate :-) For the bouquets themselves, I am absolutely obsessed with the combo of hydrangeas, roses, and a mix of smaller filler flowers.

That’s not exactly pocket change for 15 (+1 dessert table) arrangements—though I guess it depends on what kind of flowers we're talking about. There's a massive gap between 5000 and $2333, and honestly, $167 I get why things might fluctuate if you didn't nail down every single detail, but $667 those kinds of price swings feel like they're just making up rules as they go. 😁
Usually, you'd see a vase charge around 20-$10, but that should really just be baked into the total price for one arrangement anyway.

Andrew Murphy5 said:That’s not exactly pocket change for 15 (+1 dessert table) arrangements—though I guess it depends on what kind of flowers we're talking about. There's a massive gap between 5000 and $2333, and honestly, $167 I get why things might fluctuate if you didn't nail down every single detail, but $667 those kinds of price swings feel like they're just making up rules as they go. 😁
Usually, you'd see a vase charge around 20-$10, but that should really just be baked into the total price for one arrangement anyway.

We haven't even decided on the flower types for the bouquets and stuff yet. Since we're looking at larger vases, we'll probably need beefier bouquets so they don't look lost in there. We still have plenty of details to hammer out. I’ve got tons of time to think since the wedding isn't until November, so we'll see. How do prices usually look in San Francisco?

These are the kinds of vases I'm thinking of (on the left)
https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...25&oe=5794E716

If you’ve got flowers dominating the vibe—roses, carnations, tulips, lilies—and a sphere size like the one in the pic, then yeah, the price lands right around there.🙂 That tabletop version isn't going any lower than $67. Basically, we're looking at $3,000-$3,500 just for the tables.

Due to some rather unfortunate scheduling hiccups, we’ve had an unexpected opening on April 23rd at the Robot hall during TTTS. If anyone happens to be in urgent need of a venue and that date works for your plans, please do reach out—I’d be more than happy to pass along all the specific details. This availability also extends to the band and the other arrangements we had locked in for that day.

Hey everyone,

I'm heading over from Australia this July to get married in San Francisco. Does anyone happen to know a rental company that has some newer, high-end cars available for wedding transport?

Thanks in advance!

wearysurfer11 said:Hey everyone,

I'm heading over from Australia this July to get married in San Francisco. Does anyone happen to know a rental company that has some newer, high-end cars available for wedding transport?

Thanks in advance!

Cars, plural? Or just a single new car?

Richard Mendoza2 said:Hi everyone. I’ve already asked about photographers in another thread, but there’s no harm in asking here too.

Does anyone have recommendations for a photographer in the San Francisco area? We’re planning a small, intimate wedding. We aren't looking for video services—just photography—and we don't need all those extra bells and whistles agencies usually push, like parent albums or a million extra digital files.

We are even open to an amateur or someone who does this as a serious hobby. My only real requirements are that they have decent, reliable gear and actual talent—someone with a true eye for composition rather than someone just clicking a shutter and hoping for the best. Budget-wise, we aren't exactly rolling in it, so we're looking for something reasonable, ideally under $500 ($667 max). Honestly, we’d prefer to just take the photos ourselves since both my fiancé and I have a knack for photography, but that’s obviously not an option...

p.s. I hope no professionals take offense by this post; I realize high-quality work commands a premium, but that’s just the reality of our situation.

Anthony Dogan, try searching on Facebook... you could also post this in the top-tier combinations group and plenty of people will reach out.

When I first started my hunt for a wedding dress, I fully expected to tear through dozens of boutiques before finding THE one. My initial shortlist included three spots: Glamour Bride, La Perla, and Vera Bride. I decided to cap my rental budget at $2333. So, here we go... my thoughts on ☕

GLAMOUR BRIDE- (No fee for fittings)
The lady there was perfectly pleasant and easy to talk to. The dresses themselves are lovely and clearly well-maintained, plus the boutique has a nice vibe. My only gripe? The selection felt pretty thin—at least from my perspective. I tried on three gowns from their catalog and none of them really hit the mark; they were pretty, sure, but not what I was looking for. To make matters worse, she didn't even offer to show me anything else. It was fine, all things considered, but underwhelming

VERA BRIDE - (fitting $23)
First off, I have to say that I had heard nothing but the absolute worst about this place and the women who work there! Between online forums and whispers from friends and acquaintances, the reputation precedes them. Apparently, they’re known for making inappropriate comments, being arrogant, and just plain rude. I’d even heard firsthand stories about how they insult clients they assume have tight budgets with remarks like "that's too expensive for you," or making nasty comments about weight like "it's not my fault you have extra pounds." Well, I thought to myself, let's see if the rumors are true. Surely this place is some "high-end" establishment. So, I booked an appointment and showed up with two friends. I was greeted by a heavy-set, agitated woman with greasy hair and dirt under her fingernails. Look, I am not one to judge someone's physical appearance, BUT if you work in a boutique that markets itself as top-tier, you shouldn't show up to work looking like you just stepped out of a field. But whatever, that's beside the point. Once I told her I had an appointment, she gave me this smug look, said "impossible," and went off to check some schedule only to show me my name and number listed for a completely different date. I explained quite clearly that I had called and confirmed this specific time. I couldn't help but mention how unprofessional it all was... because honestly, whether I was from San Francisco or Boise or anywhere else, it shouldn't matter. The lady was actually quite polite after the fact, apologizing several times and offering me a new slot in a few days. Fine. At least I can flip through their catalog so the trip wasn't a total waste. Speaking of which, they don't actually have a catalog; they just have this makeshift album of printed photos where everything is barely legible. Overall, a very poor and unprofessional experience. The only saving grace is that I've heard they actually have beautiful dresses

La Perla (trying on $25)
In my opinion, this is a five-star boutique in every single way! The shop is gorgeous, and the staff is incredibly professional yet relaxed enough to be comfortable. I tried on four of the specific dresses I was interested in, and then the stylist kept suggesting pieces based on her own intuition. One of those recommendations turned out to be my 😍😍 I didn't even spot it in the catalog because it was pink. The selection is fantastic and everything is in pristine condition!

So, there you have it. My humble impressions 😛

I'm looking for recommendations for an accordion player... ideally someone who can handle both accordion and guitar.

LP👍

At La Perla, they’ve started charging for consultations now $25, and if you happen to try on any of Bertin’s wedding gowns, then $50...

Does anyone have any intel on the accordion and guitar band Chago, or maybe Militi Perkov from Venice? I'm trying to figure out how they handle weddings—specifically looking for their vibe when it comes to getting the crowd moving and keeping people gathered together.

I know Perkov for meetups—it’s solid—but hit me up privately if you want the real scoop.

Matthew Ross11 said:I'm looking for recommendations for an accordion player... ideally someone who can handle both accordion and guitar.

LP👍

Anthony Bekavac or Marina Franicevic

I could really use some advice here... the wedding is going to be in the Midwest, but about half of our guests are coming all the way from California.... what do you guys think we should ask the caterers in the Midwest to put on the menu, or at least see if they can work in some specific requests? 🤔 🤔
I know some restaurants offer risotto and prosciutto—we’re actually thinking about just bringing our own supply from California 🤔 🤔 🕺

Alright, figured I’d jump in and share my own experience too...

Milo-Boise

The wedding dresses here are just meh, nothing really special. Honestly, after flipping through a million catalogs, I could barely find two that didn't look totally basic. Plus, my daughter was basically suffocating me—both with her constant talking and by physically shoving dresses in my face just so she could make a sale. Meanwhile, my mom was visibly pissed; I felt like she was just counting down the minutes until we could finally bail.

Good grief, seriously.

I left this place feeling totally let down because there was absolutely nothing my style. There's zero variety for what I actually like. After looking at the first one, I honestly just wanted to head home. Prices are decent, though—you can find something for maybe $3,000 and up, so if that's your thing, go for it.🙂

Glamour Bride

The shop itself is nice, tidy, and clean. They’re running some kind of sale right now, so you can snag a dress for $1000, and they do have plenty of pretty options. But man, the saleswoman is *so* pushy. Like, I tell her I like one dress, and suddenly she’s lecturing me about how everyone else is reserving it already, or that I have to come back tomorrow to confirm, or how there's a massive rush. She acts like she books ten dresses every single day. It's fine if she mentions it once, but she wouldn't shut up about it 😵 If you were actually that good at selling, you wouldn't need sales or all those "warnings."

Vera Bride

Ugh. I could go on and on about this. This place and the staff are bottom-of-the-barrel. First off, the shop looks like a cheap China Shop—cluttered, dirty, just total junk.
The saleswoman is a blonde, curvy lady in her middle years who is just plain awful. Rude, unapproachable, just the absolute worst. It was such an uncomfortable experience. Even if I had found a dress I liked, I would've rather paid ten times more somewhere else than give them a single cent more than the $70 I had to cough up just to try things on and get "advice." Their catalogs are just printed pieces of paper, and if you pick out more than one dress, she makes sure to snap at you to narrow it down, basically asking why you're wasting time if you aren't planning to buy. She kept insisting her shop is the best, that their quality is unmatched, that they have the biggest selection, and all that other nonsense—but I know it's all a load of crap. I wouldn't even recommend stepping foot in there to my own sister.

La Perla

Hands down the best shop in town. It's organized, smells great, and is super clean. Both the saleswoman and the manager are incredibly sweet. They have a huge selection, and the whole vibe of trying on dresses there is just lovely. It’s the only place in the city that actually gets it right—from having friendly staff to a great selection. And most importantly, it actually feels like a real bridal boutique.

I happened to catch a glimpse while passing by that Lipoto has some pretty big discounts on wedding dresses right now—plus, they’ve got those formal gowns on sale too.

Hey, does anyone have any good dessert shop recommendations? Also, has anyone actually tried those treats from Castel Bakery?

Brandon Watson5 said:Hey, does anyone have any good dessert shop recommendations? Also, has anyone actually tried those treats from Castel Bakery?

I ended up booking through Cake Split. The owner is super sweet and friendly, and her work looks incredible. Fingers crossed the taste lives up to the look!😉