Everything you need for a California wedding

Noah James23, thanks.
If anyone else sees this, could you drop some recommendations for decent bakeries near the University for a wedding cake?
What’s even considered a standard price range these days?
Obviously, size matters, and I haven't really nailed down the specifics yet, but if
we're looking at a wedding for up to 200 people, I assume they can figure it out...
Thanks in advance 😉

Megan Bishop3 said:Noah James23, thanks.
If anyone else sees this, could you drop some recommendations for decent bakeries near the University for a wedding cake?
What’s even considered a standard price range these days?
Obviously, size matters, and I haven't really nailed down the specifics yet, but if
we're looking at a wedding for up to 200 people, I assume they can figure it out...
Thanks in advance 😉

Just keep in mind you'll probably have other sweets on the side—like little pastries and various mini cakes. We ended up getting a cake for 70 people, but our guest list is going to be closer to 200.

Since we’re running low on space for any kind of chill hangout, we had to settle on a stripped-down version of our pirate party, so for now, it’s just the Amigos playing at Malibu. I’m just wondering if anyone here has experience with this spot—specifically, what’s the absolute maximum capacity for a group there?

Keith Gomez9 said:Since we’re running low on space for any kind of chill hangout, we had to settle on a stripped-down version of our pirate party, so for now, it’s just the Amigos playing at Malibu. I’m just wondering if anyone here has experience with this spot—specifically, what’s the absolute maximum capacity for a group there?

I’ve never actually been to a formal party there—just stopped by for lunch a few times—but honestly, the food is absolutely incredible; it hits the mark every single time. Aside from the view, which is lovely, the actual layout isn't anything special; it's more of a standard restaurant setup than a dedicated event hall, but the cuisine is easily the best you'll find in Malibu.

Keith Gomez9 said:Since we’re running low on space for any kind of chill hangout, we had to settle on a stripped-down version of our pirate party, so for now, it’s just the Amigos playing at Malibu. I’m just wondering if anyone here has experience with this spot—specifically, what’s the absolute maximum capacity for a group there?

Don't just bail on the idea. Throw a pirate party your own way 👍
How many people are we talking about?
Why not hit up Benedict in Bennington? Just rent the venue and handle the catering yourself.

Megan Bishop3 said:Just wanted to weigh in on that Marriott in a small town in USA:
we stayed there recently,
and honestly, it was easily my worst experience regarding tiny portions and
terrible food quality.
From the ingredients to the prep and the flavor, everything just missed the mark.
The lamb was cold, the beef stew wasn't even close to being right, and the French dish—like someone else already mentioned—was a disaster...
The service (the speed of the servers, for instance) was actually flawless.
I don't know what they charge for a seat, but it should be waaaay lower
to justify such mediocre food.👎
It’s basically a "take it or leave it" situation; if you don't like them, I guess you just have no other options given how busy they are.

I could use some advice regarding bakeries—specifically for a wedding cake:. Location is San Francisco.
We're looking for a specific shape, which shouldn't be an issue,
but the prices are absolutely terrifying 🙂
Like, over $1.00 or $3,500 per cake-
so I reached out to some larger bakeries like Zenith.

Please, give me some tips on how to save my budget 😵

Cukarin has cakes that are twice as cheap, though the decoration isn't quite at the level of Zenith or those types of places. I don't know exactly what you're after, but I was satisfied; the cake itself was delicious and everyone raved about it..

placidbison21 said:Cukarin has cakes that are twice as cheap, though the decoration isn't quite at the level of Zenith or those types of places. I don't know exactly what you're after, but I was satisfied; the cake itself was delicious and everyone raved about it..

Dolce & Gabbana has decent prices, and honestly, if you ask me, their decorations are top-tier.

Thanks for the heads-up,
I guess I'll reach out to Cukarin and Dolce & Gabbana then—never actually heard of them before.

Megan Bishop3 said:Thanks for the heads-up,
I guess I'll reach out to Cukarin and Dolce & Gabbana then—never actually heard of them before.

We ended up going with them... for a group of about 70 people. $600 For 90? I think it was around 2300, but I can't quite remember the exact number.

Thanks for the heads-up. If anyone happens to remember any decent bakeries around San Francisco or the surrounding areas, please let me know
regarding a wedding cake.

On another note, what are everyone's thoughts on those wedding expos (New York City, Madison Square Garden)? Did anyone actually manage to snag some good discounts there?

Austin Hughes8 said:Don't just bail on the idea. Throw a pirate party your own way 👍
How many people are we talking about?
Why not hit up Benedict in Bennington? Just rent the venue and handle the catering yourself.

Please, don't even go there. I’ve barely managed to wrap my head around the reality of this situation as it stands. 🙂 I was looking at these wedding photos from California and honestly, I’m so jealous; San Francisco just hasn't caught onto that whole laid-back wedding vibe yet.
Ben's is booked solid through the end of the year and part of next. I looked into some beachfront cafes, but they either won't rent out the space or their prices are absolutely ridiculous.
We're looking at about 110 guests, so I eventually caved and agreed to the Malibu location. My thought process was that if I put enough effort into the decor, maybe I could salvage the space and make the whole thing look somewhat close to what I actually envisioned.

Honestly, these kinds of weddings are popping up everywhere lately. 🙂

The biggest headache is usually that the couple is terrified of what their parents will think. To a lot of them, a beach party just doesn't feel like a "real" wedding, and they get all stressed out worrying about what the neighbor or some random auntie might say.
Please don't take this as a dig at you personally, 🙂 I'm just speaking generally here.

Have you ever thought about doing something on a boat cruising from San Francisco out toward Maui, Martha's Vineyard, or maybe some small island in the Pacific? You could board in the morning, cruise toward Maui or Martha's Vineyard... have a quick little ceremony, and then just party, grill out, and swim wherever the boat drops anchor. I'm talking about those excursion boats they run for tourists in the summer.

There are also these great houses with pools and private catering setups in Malibu that you can rent out for weddings. Since they aren't right in the middle of downtown San Francisco, you can just arrange for some shuttles to run back and forth between the house and the city a few times during the night for anyone who wants to drink a bit too much and doesn't want to deal with driving. A couple of my friends actually pulled off something like this once, and honestly, it was awesome.

Anyone here used Microsoft on 3G before? Do they charge for trials, what’s the pricing like, how's the service? Thanks! 🙂

Keith Gomez9 said:Please, don't even go there. I’ve barely managed to wrap my head around the reality of this situation as it stands. 🙂 I was looking at these wedding photos from California and honestly, I’m so jealous; San Francisco just hasn't caught onto that whole laid-back wedding vibe yet.
Ben's is booked solid through the end of the year and part of next. I looked into some beachfront cafes, but they either won't rent out the space or their prices are absolutely ridiculous.
We're looking at about 110 guests, so I eventually caved and agreed to the Malibu location. My thought process was that if I put enough effort into the decor, maybe I could salvage the space and make the whole thing look somewhat close to what I actually envisioned.

I really don't want to drag you down, I promise, but just a quick, well-meaning question: did you check with those folks down in California or maybe out by the Mediterranean Sea in Little Harbor?
A few people I know had pretty laid-back weddings there—more of a party vibe, I guess—basically an outdoor setup with the food served inside buffet-style.

Keith Gomez9 said:Please, don't even go there. I’ve barely managed to wrap my head around the reality of this situation as it stands. 🙂 I was looking at these wedding photos from California and honestly, I’m so jealous; San Francisco just hasn't caught onto that whole laid-back wedding vibe yet.
Ben's is booked solid through the end of the year and part of next. I looked into some beachfront cafes, but they either won't rent out the space or their prices are absolutely ridiculous.
We're looking at about 110 guests, so I eventually caved and agreed to the Malibu location. My thought process was that if I put enough effort into the decor, maybe I could salvage the space and make the whole thing look somewhat close to what I actually envisioned.

Wait, where'd you hear that? I was actually looking into this pretty recently, and they only seemed to have maybe one or two slots left for this year.
Btw, I made sure to ask if they do just space rentals plus catering, because apparently, they won't do that. 😁

What kind of experiences have you all had with flower shops like Miss, Lantern, or St-flower? I'm looking for insights on pricing, quality of service, or any general advice... feel free to list any other local spots you recommend as well.

I've heard good things about the TNT shop right under the Central Park building and that Daisy flower shop over on Hillside, but I haven't actually tried them myself yet.

Seriously, what is with all the heavy makeup in Los Angeles? It’s just... too much. I honestly wouldn't want any of that artificial stuff sitting on my face.

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casualwolf22 said:Dupli has this strict rule where he won't touch country, folk, Jola, Britney Spears, Bulić, Thompson, or anything like that. You couldn't bribe him or talk him into playing that stuff even if you tried, no matter how much cash Auntie from Germany is throwing at him because she just wants to hear one song for the soul, you know? Like some old classic about the Mississippi River or whatever.

That’s actually one of the main reasons couples pick him—besides the fact that it makes sense if you want to put together a solid set and actually get people dancing.

Honestly, Dupli blows me away with his repertoire every single time. It gets to the point where as soon as I get home, I'm ripping some of those forgotten tracks onto a CD just so I can listen to them and feel that wedding energy again.
If you have a gut feeling that there might be a ton of Aunties and relatives (referring to that group I mentioned earlier) who aren't going to be thrilled about the lack of Mate Bulić or Thompson, and you're worried it might spark some drama or a fight, then maybe just go with a different DJ.
Though, from what I've heard, there's an option to book a combo deal with Dupli and another DJ. That way, Dupli handles the old-school hits while the other guy covers the Thompson types.

P.S. I'm really not trying to insult anyone's musical taste here. I'm just writing based on what I've seen, felt, and realized at weddings.
Couples often agree on one specific playlist, but once the guests start drinking (especially the parents), they can become incredibly pushy toward the DJ or the band, begging for all sorts of songs. And yeah, the aggressive ones can even get into actual fights.

I completely agree...
I recently recorded a party where Dupli was spinning, and everyone loved it. When it comes to the 70s, 80s, and 90s, he is hands down the best in the San Francisco area, regardless of what other DJs claim. It isn't just about the music—Dupli is an extremely positive person, and you can really feel that energy.
At that party, he was working alongside another DJ who played everything Dupli refuses to touch (country blocks... Thompson... classic dance hits... newer pop like Britney Spears or Rozga... MTV hits... 90s trash... the groom's mother even wanted "Today Mother You Marry Your Son," Beslic, and things like that 😛)
Since we were sitting right at the table during the breaks, I can tell you firsthand (I asked) that the price for Dupli plus another DJ is the same as hiring Dupli alone...

Anyone here dealt with Hemingway before? Specifically looking for the scoop on their San Diego location, but if you know about their other cities, let me know too—I assume it’s the same crew running the show everywhere.