Everything you need for a California wedding

I’ve heard such amazing things about those cookies! Honestly, I personally swear by the ones from Absum out of Kansas City—they are absolutely top-tier... they actually deliver for free every Friday to Walmart, which is so convenient. And hey, if you’re looking to set up a full dessert spread for an event, they can bring everything right to you—you just pay for what you order, of course. They make their own pralines too, and let me tell you, they are seriously delicious... I've tried them myself, and you can definitely check out their work on Facebook.

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

We ordered from Ivanna at Castel Sweets. She is wonderful. We’ve heard their cakes and pastries are top-tier.🙂

So, I’m a married woman now, so I figured I’d quickly share my experience...
I rented my wedding dress at Vesna Sposa, and honestly, I couldn't be happier. Both the gown itself and the ladies at the boutique were fantastic—incredibly friendly and welcoming. I’m definitely no supermodel, but they didn't push anything on me, thank goodness.
As for the vecera Bolero-sve, everything went smoothly. The owner and the staff were professional and attentive, making sure to nail every single detail I had mentioned.

I’m planning a small wedding. I think we’ll need a low-key DJ 😵
Does anyone have a recommendation? We only need enough sound equipment for about 30-40 guests.
Thanks in advance.
🎉🍿🙏

Once they actually start running the ads—honestly, choosing Mihovil gospel would be a total slam dunk.

analogdrifter51 said:Once they actually start running the ads—honestly, choosing Mihovil gospel would be a total slam dunk.

Look, nobody is paying me to say this, but I am 100% on board with that sentiment! 👍 They really are incredible.

Does anyone have a recommendation for live music to accompany the ceremony? I’m looking for something more elevated than just a solo accordion player, but I also don't have a million dollars to drop on a full orchestra.😉

Does anyone have any recommendations for lighting??

granitefox19 said:Look, nobody is paying me to say this, but I am 100% on board with that sentiment! 👍 They really are incredible.

Does anyone have a recommendation for live music to accompany the ceremony? I’m looking for something more elevated than just a solo accordion player, but I also don't have a million dollars to drop on a full orchestra.😉

Like a jazz quartet? My budget for an accordionist is basically fifty bucks. :/

Carol Bailey3 said:Does anyone have any recommendations for lighting??

light Wedding - click

analogdrifter51 said:Like a jazz quartet? My budget for an accordionist is basically fifty bucks. :/

My brother isn't really cut out for choral groups... and $500? Uh, that's a lot of money...

granitefox19 said:Look, nobody is paying me to say this, but I am 100% on board with that sentiment! 👍 They really are incredible.

Does anyone have a recommendation for live music to accompany the ceremony? I’m looking for something more elevated than just a solo accordion player, but I also don't have a million dollars to drop on a full orchestra.😉

Shout out to Chunky, you're doing great work

David King72 said:Shout out to Chunky, you're doing great work

Thanks. But is he just some accordion player or what?

Anyone got recommendations for wedding dance lessons that won't break the bank?

Anyone been to the post-Lent party? Is everything cool?
We've got a new manager in charge, so I'm trying to gauge the vibe...

Hi there, I'm looking for some help sourcing fresh flowers in San Francisco for an event nine months from now. I'm specifically hunting for roses and baby's breath.
Where can I find flower wholesalers around here, what’s the typical price range, and what have your experiences been like? I saw on a forum somewhere that a branch of baby's breath goes for $67 ???
I'm planning to DIY the table arrangements myself—nothing too crazy, just something simple yet impactful—for about 25 tables...

Here is some fresh info, hope this helps:

Lowe's Studio---I ran into them at a wedding expo and we clicked instantly. We chatted for a good hour; the people are wonderful and down-to-earth. Their photos look natural because the photographer really captures the moment without any forced posing, and the Photoshop is subtle. Plus, their prices are reasonable.
David's Bridal (Blue)---I went to a dress sale with zero expectations. I didn't even know if I wanted to rent or buy, let alone what style would suit me. This was my first time trying on wedding dresses, and after about ten different models, nothing felt right. After an hour of changing in and out, the girl pulls out a dress she's selling for $333 and it was THE one!!! We were laughing the whole time; she was incredibly helpful, the shop was spotless, and they don't charge for fittings... such a lovely experience for us.
Lipoto Salon---Clean, tidy, and excellent service, though they do charge for fittings.
Suit + shirt + tie---Westfield Mall, Jordan, $333, feels like it was custom-tailored.
Heels---got them on eBay... but for dance shoes... those are way more comfortable and soft. Just a heads up, they are strictly for the ballroom floor, not for walking on pavement, since they have leather soles. You can choose anything from 160 to $67.
Venue---Rose Bowl restaurant (Dome), newly renovated, staff is great.
Wedding cake---Zenith, man, people do amazing things! If you need croquant in any shape, I highly recommend them. They made a crazy captain's hat out of croquant about 120*150cm, and don't even get me started on the precision, neatness, and attention to detail...
Aura Band---if you aren't into pop divas like Taylor Swift or Rozga... then they are the perfect choice. Rock, 80s, local hits, international stuff, 90s classics... you can negotiate anything with them. They are a young crew, there are plenty of them, and they have their own technician who moves around the venue making sure everything is perfect.

We did great with Zasada and haven't had any bad experiences, but I'll share our impressions once the party is over.

Elizabeth Barnes36 said:Here is some fresh info, hope this helps:

Lowe's Studio---I ran into them at a wedding expo and we clicked instantly. We chatted for a good hour; the people are wonderful and down-to-earth. Their photos look natural because the photographer really captures the moment without any forced posing, and the Photoshop is subtle. Plus, their prices are reasonable.
David's Bridal (Blue)---I went to a dress sale with zero expectations. I didn't even know if I wanted to rent or buy, let alone what style would suit me. This was my first time trying on wedding dresses, and after about ten different models, nothing felt right. After an hour of changing in and out, the girl pulls out a dress she's selling for $333 and it was THE one!!! We were laughing the whole time; she was incredibly helpful, the shop was spotless, and they don't charge for fittings... such a lovely experience for us.
Lipoto Salon---Clean, tidy, and excellent service, though they do charge for fittings.
Suit + shirt + tie---Westfield Mall, Jordan, $333, feels like it was custom-tailored.
Heels---got them on eBay... but for dance shoes... those are way more comfortable and soft. Just a heads up, they are strictly for the ballroom floor, not for walking on pavement, since they have leather soles. You can choose anything from 160 to $67.
Venue---Rose Bowl restaurant (Dome), newly renovated, staff is great.
Wedding cake---Zenith, man, people do amazing things! If you need croquant in any shape, I highly recommend them. They made a crazy captain's hat out of croquant about 120*150cm, and don't even get me started on the precision, neatness, and attention to detail...
Aura Band---if you aren't into pop divas like Taylor Swift or Rozga... then they are the perfect choice. Rock, 80s, local hits, international stuff, 90s classics... you can negotiate anything with them. They are a young crew, there are plenty of them, and they have their own technician who moves around the venue making sure everything is perfect.

We did great with Zasada and haven't had any bad experiences, but I'll share our impressions once the party is over.

If you don't mind me asking, what did that brittle stuff run you?

amberhawk60 said:Anyone got recommendations for wedding dance lessons that won't break the bank?

We actually ended up taking some Lambada classes over in California. We paid for two private sessions a week leading up to the big reception. Our instructor was this younger guy—really chill, super easygoing—who put together a little routine for us. It wasn't anything overly complicated, just enough to feel confident, and we absolutely nailed it at the party. I think we were paying about $67 per hour. That was about a year and a half ago, though, so prices have probably shifted since then.

So, I’ve got a question about wedding dress rentals. Has anyone else dealt with this where the dress looks totally different on the big day than it did during the fitting? At my first appointment, the boutique staff kept insisting it would be the exact same one, just tailored to fit me better. I get that if someone else rents it in the meantime, they might tweak it, but it should still be the same actual dress I paid for. During the second fitting, I started getting seriously suspicious that I wasn't even looking at the original anymore, but some cheap knockoff. I actually have photos to prove it—the difference is night and day. According to them, the dress hasn't even been rented out since my first session, so I’m not about to let them play me for a fool and claim it's the same gown when my pictures clearly show otherwise. Has this happened to any of you? And honestly, which boutiques can you actually trust to deliver what they promised for the price you're paying? If I wanted a replica, I would've just ordered one myself. :/ To top it all off, the girl at the shop actually told me it's best not to look at it again until the wedding and to just "delete the photos" because I'll get bored and won't feel that "spark" on the wedding day. Like, hello? If I loved it at the fitting and it shows up as promised on the wedding day, how could I be disappointed? That advice to just wipe the memory feels like a total red flag.

Drew Smith44 said:So, I’ve got a question about wedding dress rentals. Has anyone else dealt with this where the dress looks totally different on the big day than it did during the fitting? At my first appointment, the boutique staff kept insisting it would be the exact same one, just tailored to fit me better. I get that if someone else rents it in the meantime, they might tweak it, but it should still be the same actual dress I paid for. During the second fitting, I started getting seriously suspicious that I wasn't even looking at the original anymore, but some cheap knockoff. I actually have photos to prove it—the difference is night and day. According to them, the dress hasn't even been rented out since my first session, so I’m not about to let them play me for a fool and claim it's the same gown when my pictures clearly show otherwise. Has this happened to any of you? And honestly, which boutiques can you actually trust to deliver what they promised for the price you're paying? If I wanted a replica, I would've just ordered one myself. :/ To top it all off, the girl at the shop actually told me it's best not to look at it again until the wedding and to just "delete the photos" because I'll get bored and won't feel that "spark" on the wedding day. Like, hello? If I loved it at the fitting and it shows up as promised on the wedding day, how could I be disappointed? That advice to just wipe the memory feels like a total red flag.

Which shop is this? That's honestly terrible. I heard a similar story once about a place over in Sierra...