Everything you need for a California wedding

The Mediteran Band actually played at a wedding recently—both for the groom's party and right outside the church during the reception. They were honestly great, a solid six-piece group. I’ll also vouch for the Mediterranean Band; I caught them last year and they're worth it. These guys don't know the meaning of quitting—they even took extra cash to wander around the tables and play during the breaks. They didn't stop from 1 in the afternoon until dawn.
Bura was already mentioned earlier, too.

Harold Sullivan10 said:Anyone got a lead on a solid barber in San Francisco?

I was actually quite happy with Josip art hair
https://www.instagram.com/josipartha...ser_mua/?hl=hr
He does makeup too, and his hairstyles are excellent, I guess.
Just keep in mind he doesn't do house calls; you have to go to his salon.

Jessica Hall34 said:I totally agree. I’m looking for some info on San Diego too, but I’m starting to get the feeling that nobody there is actually getting married. What gives?

I've got the Gastro hall booked—it’s one of those old spots over in Jazina. I also have the Zaratino band lined up, along with Trio Fiesta for music, and Nadio Photography is on the list too (if anyone has worked with them before, let me know how they did!).

I’ve actually checked off quite a bit of the other wedding stuff, too. We even found an incredible deal on the rings at a local jeweler that lets us defer the payment until after the wedding. Honestly, such a lifesaver! :)

I do everything myself... blah blah blah.

Look, I'm handling all the planning from Chicago, so I could really use some help with the little local details.

The wedding is going down in Biograd—that’s where the guy is from, though he hasn't lived there since he was a kid, so he can't exactly be our main man for planning. We decided to handle everything through the Reverend and a pre-marital course...

I'm looking for some info on renting tents and tables—does anyone know what the typical pricing looks like lately?

Renting a tent is super expensive if you're thinking about a full wedding setup. For 50-100 people, you're looking at maybe $40,000-$15! And then you still have to factor in catering and everything else... 😲
By the way, I'm a bit confused—you said you have a venue, the Gastro place in Jazina? Is that where that Posh bar is now? How many people can fit in there?
Personally, I'm looking at spaces for about 70 people. I'm not a huge fan of big halls; I'd rather find a larger restaurant or somewhere a bit more intimate... Plus, I'm not based in Zadar, so it's pretty tough for me to judge what's good, and getting recommendations on here is tricky 🤷

Hey 🙂
Anyone know a solo singer out in California who does church gigs? Looking for something similar to Mark Skugor—just a solid vocalist with some guitar accompaniment. I know there are plenty of unsung heroes out there, I just haven't stumbled onto one yet 😁

hiddenbison6 said:Hey 🙂
Anyone know a solo singer out in California who does church gigs? Looking for something similar to Mark Skugor—just a solid vocalist with some guitar accompaniment. I know there are plenty of unsung heroes out there, I just haven't stumbled onto one yet 😁

When are you looking to book them?

A colleague of mine is the best man for a wedding and he’s tasked with organizing a bachelor party down in Split. The whole group consists of Austrians who don't speak a word of American, so they're effectively flying blind. I visited St twice a long time ago, but my husband hasn't been once, so neither of us can be much help here. Are there any local Americans or Dalmatian women around who could offer some guidance so we can pass the info along? Where do guys usually hold these things in St? Which clubs are actually safe? Where can you find a decent atmosphere? And most importantly, how does one avoid those hospitality workers who treat foreigners like sheep arriving at a shearing shed?
Thanks 🙂

Hey everyone. I’m getting married next May, and we’ve already booked a waterfront venue in California. Right now, I’m on the hunt for a band, and honestly, it’s proving to be a tough call. Looking through various forums and YouTube, I’ve found a few groups that seem promising. However, I haven't attended many weddings lately, so it's hard to judge how they actually perform live just by watching clips online.
Based on their vocals and repertoire, these are the ones that caught my eye:

Band Kocka
Twist off band
Neron Group
Euforia band
Bura Band

Could anyone help me out? I’d love to know what kind of atmosphere they create—that's super important to me. And I mean actual vocal talent, not just their reputation, haha.
I’m looking for a mix of pop, rock, fun hits, classic coastal vibes, some party anthems, and foreign tracks. I really want to avoid country music, though I might throw in a few songs just to keep things moving since I know a lot of my relatives love it.
How did you guys handle this? How do you find a band that isn't playing country but still stays upbeat, keeps the energy high, and actually engages with the crowd? Please help!

In short, I’m searching for a band that creates an amazing vibe with the guests, plays a diverse setlist, and can truly sing.
If anyone has recommendations for other bands or thoughts on the ones I listed, I would be so grateful. 🙂

edit: Oh, and if you happen to know what their current rates are, let me know!

brightpuma15 said:Hey everyone. I’m getting married next May, and we’ve already booked a waterfront venue in California. Right now, I’m on the hunt for a band, and honestly, it’s proving to be a tough call. Looking through various forums and YouTube, I’ve found a few groups that seem promising. However, I haven't attended many weddings lately, so it's hard to judge how they actually perform live just by watching clips online.
Based on their vocals and repertoire, these are the ones that caught my eye:

Band Kocka
Twist off band
Neron Group
Euforia band
Bura Band

Could anyone help me out? I’d love to know what kind of atmosphere they create—that's super important to me. And I mean actual vocal talent, not just their reputation, haha.
I’m looking for a mix of pop, rock, fun hits, classic coastal vibes, some party anthems, and foreign tracks. I really want to avoid country music, though I might throw in a few songs just to keep things moving since I know a lot of my relatives love it.
How did you guys handle this? How do you find a band that isn't playing country but still stays upbeat, keeps the energy high, and actually engages with the crowd? Please help!

In short, I’m searching for a band that creates an amazing vibe with the guests, plays a diverse setlist, and can truly sing.
If anyone has recommendations for other bands or thoughts on the ones I listed, I would be so grateful. 🙂

edit: Oh, and if you happen to know what their current rates are, let me know!

We actually used a local taxi service for our gig—we’ve listened to them a million times. Honestly, they play just about everything except heavy metal, and Kate has such an incredible voice. For a six-piece band, they charge around $2,400, with a $220 deposit to lock them in. You should try messaging them on Facebook, though I wouldn't hold my breath getting them to free up a date. We had to book ours a year and a half in advance, and even then, we managed to snag a Friday. But trust me, they are worth every single penny. Good luck! 🙂

Just a heads-up from me: stay far away from the Euforia bura band jel. Even though Dragojevic was performing with them, the whole experience was honestly pretty terrible. They were the only act on the lineup I was actually looking forward to seeing, but they really let me down. The female vocals were just mediocre, and their setlist order made absolutely no sense at all. If they aren't getting ripped off, they’re charging a ridiculous $2,000.

We went with the Euforia bura band jel—absolute legends, honestly. You can hash out every single detail with them, from how you want the courses paced to exactly what kind of music you're feeling. There were five of them, cost us $1,900, and since Mirko plays the accordion, he’d jump in with some tunes once the crowd started getting a bit tired of the main set, which basically sent the whole room into a frenzy 🙂 for the most part, we were beyond happy, and the guests didn't have a single complaint either.

He did give us one heads-up, though: make sure you tell the venue manager to space out the food service properly. You need at least an hour of music followed by a course, otherwise, if the hall just goes quiet while they're rushing to get the food out so it doesn't get cold, the timing gets totally thrown off. If the gaps between courses are too short, people don't even have time to dance, let alone work up an appetite for the next round.

Since Mirko mentioned he’d handle the accordion bit, we decided to book TS svita for the gathering and the church ceremony. There were six of them, and they were just as wild.

I checked out the taxi service, and they seem great, but unfortunately, they're already booked for that date. :/
I'm listening to the Euforia bura band right now, and I'm just not feeling it. It seems like they mostly stick to party music and folk stuff; they’re clearly good at what they do, but I have no idea how they handle other genres.
Does anyone know anything about those other groups like Twist Off, Neron Group, Kocka, or who else might be playing?

Ugh, looks like the twist-offs are all taken. X)

I’m starting to feel a little bit of panic setting in. Out of the six bands I tracked down—Twist Off, Kocka, Nero, Taxi, and those Bora suggestions you guys gave me—only Nero and Bora actually have openings. To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’m really feeling Bora.
I guess I only have myself to blame for not starting my search sooner. 🤦
Has anyone here checked out the Nero group before? What’s their vibe like?

"Quote:"

brightpuma15 said:I’m starting to feel a little bit of panic setting in. Out of the six bands I tracked down—Twist Off, Kocka, Nero, Taxi, and those Bora suggestions you guys gave me—only Nero and Bora actually have openings. To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’m really feeling Bora.
I guess I only have myself to blame for not starting my search sooner. 🤦
Has anyone here checked out the Nero group before? What’s their vibe like?

Honestly, Kocka is easily the best option on the table, so it’s a real shame you can’t pull them for this. As for Nero and Bora, they’re pretty mediocre—to put it mildly. You might want to try digging a little deeper and unearthing some of those lesser-known acts. Show Legende is actually quite a solid choice, even if they aren't exactly household names yet. Then there’s Tip Top, though I’d be careful there; they lean a bit too heavily into that country-pop vibe for my taste.

A friend recommended Alert Group based out of Boise. Has anyone here heard of them? They’ve been playing all sorts of events and parties for years now. And they're asking 1600€ 😳

I thought Nero sounded pretty good since they have a diverse setlist, plus the 1900€ price tag includes lighting, fog machines, bubble machines, and an accordion
. Though, honestly, if I had the choice, I'd skip the bubbles and extra fluff just to get a slightly better band, haha
. They used to be part of Twist Off, then split off as Twiston, and recently rebranded as Nero
. What specifically is it about them that you aren't a fan of?

My main issue is that there aren't many live videos online so I can really judge their performance
.
Oh, and when I reached out to Kocka, they said they were booked up, but mentioned their buddies in Nero were free on that date. So, I figured if Kocka is recommending them, they must be decent 😁

Just rent a villa near San Francisco or book out a cafe just for them... you can set the rules ahead of time and be certain nobody crashes their bachelor party. Check some Facebook groups—you'll find plenty of rental listings on Craigslist too.

Best,

Rachel Williams said:A colleague of mine is the best man for a wedding and he’s tasked with organizing a bachelor party down in Split. The whole group consists of Austrians who don't speak a word of American, so they're effectively flying blind. I visited St twice a long time ago, but my husband hasn't been once, so neither of us can be much help here. Are there any local Americans or Dalmatian women around who could offer some guidance so we can pass the info along? Where do guys usually hold these things in St? Which clubs are actually safe? Where can you find a decent atmosphere? And most importantly, how does one avoid those hospitality workers who treat foreigners like sheep arriving at a shearing shed?
Thanks 🙂

hmmm, give Aurora a shot if the others are booked—the singer has decent vocals, they play pop-rock/California style, nothing country, price is $1,950

brightpuma15 said:Hey everyone. I’m getting married next May, and we’ve already booked a waterfront venue in California. Right now, I’m on the hunt for a band, and honestly, it’s proving to be a tough call. Looking through various forums and YouTube, I’ve found a few groups that seem promising. However, I haven't attended many weddings lately, so it's hard to judge how they actually perform live just by watching clips online.
Based on their vocals and repertoire, these are the ones that caught my eye:

Band Kocka
Twist off band
Neron Group
Euforia band
Bura Band

Could anyone help me out? I’d love to know what kind of atmosphere they create—that's super important to me. And I mean actual vocal talent, not just their reputation, haha.
I’m looking for a mix of pop, rock, fun hits, classic coastal vibes, some party anthems, and foreign tracks. I really want to avoid country music, though I might throw in a few songs just to keep things moving since I know a lot of my relatives love it.
How did you guys handle this? How do you find a band that isn't playing country but still stays upbeat, keeps the energy high, and actually engages with the crowd? Please help!

In short, I’m searching for a band that creates an amazing vibe with the guests, plays a diverse setlist, and can truly sing.
If anyone has recommendations for other bands or thoughts on the ones I listed, I would be so grateful. 🙂

edit: Oh, and if you happen to know what their current rates are, let me know!

Rachel Williams said:A colleague of mine is the best man for a wedding and he’s tasked with organizing a bachelor party down in Split. The whole group consists of Austrians who don't speak a word of American, so they're effectively flying blind. I visited St twice a long time ago, but my husband hasn't been once, so neither of us can be much help here. Are there any local Americans or Dalmatian women around who could offer some guidance so we can pass the info along? Where do guys usually hold these things in St? Which clubs are actually safe? Where can you find a decent atmosphere? And most importantly, how does one avoid those hospitality workers who treat foreigners like sheep arriving at a shearing shed?
Thanks 🙂

So, here’s how Austin Thompson96 replied... lately, the move seems to be renting some big house out in the middle of nowhere just to get hammered and grill out, then heading out for some paintball or whatever during the day.

I don't know exactly how many people we're talking about here, but there's always the option to just rent out a excursion boat if the group is big enough—or maybe even a smaller yacht if you want to feel fancy. You could spend the whole day just cruising around and swimming, then head over to Maui or somewhere similar in the evening to actually hit the clubs and party... I guess.

brightpuma15 said:I’m starting to feel a little bit of panic setting in. Out of the six bands I tracked down—Twist Off, Kocka, Nero, Taxi, and those Bora suggestions you guys gave me—only Nero and Bora actually have openings. To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’m really feeling Bora.
I guess I only have myself to blame for not starting my search sooner. 🤦
Has anyone here checked out the Nero group before? What’s their vibe like?

Maybe check out the band Centrifuge from Imotski? They’ve got eight members, a female vocalist, some brass players, and the guys are all music professors...

Greetings

We are looking to book a DJ for a wedding.

I’ve received a recommendation for DJ Dalibor Potnar (he works over at Radio California).
Has anyone here actually attended a wedding where he was the one spinning?

brightpuma15 said:I’m starting to feel a little bit of panic setting in. Out of the six bands I tracked down—Twist Off, Kocka, Nero, Taxi, and those Bora suggestions you guys gave me—only Nero and Bora actually have openings. To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’m really feeling Bora.
I guess I only have myself to blame for not starting my search sooner. 🤦
Has anyone here checked out the Nero group before? What’s their vibe like?

Here is NERON performing live, so you can judge for yourself what they sound like and what vibe they give off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz6j...HyjueL33CAb9yd