Everything you need for a California wedding

Hey ladies, I could really use some advice... I’ve never actually hired a professional makeup artist before, so I’m having a bit of a hard time figuring out how to tell high-quality work from the rest... Does anyone have any personal experiences or recommendations for someone who can do a look that will actually last through an entire night? Ideally, I'm looking for someone around the California area... I would be so incredibly grateful for any help you can give, because honestly, I'm starting to go a little crazy thinking about this!

Carl Wilson19 said:Hey ladies, I could really use some advice... I’ve never actually hired a professional makeup artist before, so I’m having a bit of a hard time figuring out how to tell high-quality work from the rest... Does anyone have any personal experiences or recommendations for someone who can do a look that will actually last through an entire night? Ideally, I'm looking for someone around the California area... I would be so incredibly grateful for any help you can give, because honestly, I'm starting to go a little crazy thinking about this!

I’ve been scrolling through the recommendations on various forums, and it seems like everyone is raving about those specific artists out in the Los Angeles area. I took a look at their Instagram profiles, but if I’m being honest, they all look a bit too much to me; every single one looks like they’re wearing three pounds of product. I suppose it might be fine for Sequoia if she’s filming a music video, but for anything else, it feels more like a mask than actual makeup. Then again, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what matters is getting exactly what you're looking for

Personally, I can vouch for Sanja Krstulović—she did my friend, her mom, and her sisters a few years back, and she did an incredible job with all of them. Her mother actually looked ten years younger, and the whole look held up perfectly until the very end of the party. Sure, the woman is a total diva and constantly insists she’s the absolute best in the business, but you really can't argue with her talent... so, if you have the patience for her personality, 😁

Hey everyone, does anyone here have any actual experience using Lululemon lighting?

Here’s a quick tip from a recent bride, just in case anyone else finds this helpful:

I have to disagree with Bill Gates on this one.
This was our first and last time booking this venue, because honestly, we’ve been here a million times before. We know the owners personally, and the service is just top-tier. Everyone at the reception was absolutely thrilled with both the food and the hospitality. I don't think we've even finished our plates yet—the waiter is already bringing out the next course! We were hosted in the upstairs ballroom, which has been recently renovated with gorgeous new lighting. They also added this massive, glowing "Love" sign that perfectly fills that empty space you see right when you turn right after entering (near the restrooms). Everything was perfect, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters. As a wedding gift, they gave us the bridal suite upstairs, which turned out to be a total lifesaver. My sister and I used the room to get dressed and take some photos, and it gave us a place to stash all our gear before we finally crashed. It was such a relief, especially since the party doesn't wrap up until about 6:30 in the morning!

Uber corner:
We went back to check them out, and honestly, we still love this place. Now that Kate is back from maternity leave, the bar has been absolutely slammed every single night. They served up everything we asked for—and they don't play those cheesy old-school songs, which kept the energy through the roof. It was pure madness in the best way possible. Totally worth every penny.

Annie Leibovitz (Charleston):
We clicked with him the second we booked him. We just loved how he has an eye for those raw, unscripted moments without all the heavy posing or fake filters. We hired him to handle both photography and videography, and honestly, the whole session felt so incredibly relaxed—we were just laughing and joking around the entire time. He truly caught our genuine moments and let us just be ourselves. Even during the ceremony and the reception, his presence was so subtle we barely even noticed him there. Everything he’s sent over so far has been absolutely perfect, and we can't wait to see the rest! Highly recommend!

I recently had the chance to look into Smith’s catering services, and I have to say, they really know how to handle a crowd. It’s one thing to put out some decent food, but it’s another thing entirely to pull off an event with that level of polish. They definitely bring a certain professional flair to the table that you just don't see everywhere.
To be honest, we didn't even get a chance to meet them properly, but they followed the plan to a T. The food was a massive hit—people practically cleared the plates—so that part went perfectly. They offer different menu options too, and they’re incredibly easy to work with if you need to coordinate anything.

West Elm home decor:
We stumbled upon them by total accident and immediately fell in love with their retro vibe and decor. Since we were going for a full rustic theme, we locked them in and paid them upfront a year and a half in advance. During our initial coffee meetings, everything felt amazing—we felt like we could request anything, and they even included the decor in the package. But then things took a turn. About two or three months before the wedding, every time we asked a question, we just got brushed off with, "We’ll finalize the details a week before the big day." So, we reached out two weeks out to try and nail down the final logistics, and the woman actually messaged us saying there was simply no time for a meeting and that she already had all the info she needed. I tried explaining how some of our original plans had shifted—like the number of tables and stuff—but I eventually just gave up. The flowers were a disaster. My bouquet was already wilting by 6:30 in the morning, even though we followed their instructions perfectly by keeping it in the fridge and in water. By the time my mom and maid of honor were walking to the church, petals were literally falling off in their hands. We figured, hey, it's live flowers, it happens, let's not make a scene. Then came the reception. It turned out every single table had maybe two tiny flowers on them. None of the specific decor or details we discussed were anywhere to be found, except for our main table. At first, I tried to tell myself, "Whatever, people won't notice anyway," just to keep the peace. But once the party was over, we realized just how much went missing. From the promised decor to the headache of managing the guest list, it was a mess. Honestly, it’s not even about the money for me; it’s just that the communication was nonexistent and we didn't get what we actually paid for.

I finally got my hands on that classic cake from a top brand, and honestly? It was worth the hype. There’s just something about those traditional recipes that hits different.
Even though they claim to be the most expensive dessert shop in town, we knew from the very first bite that everything was made from scratch. There’s none of that processed powder or fake junk you find everywhere else. The owner was incredibly sweet, too—she actually sat us down and gave us some great advice on exactly which pastries to pick and how much to order so we wouldn't go overboard. People were practically tripping over themselves just to get a taste of her homemade treats. Honestly, it is worth every single penny!

I’ve been thinking about those Viadel cookies lately. Honestly, they're such a classic.
We picked up about 65 pounds of pastries from them and mixed them in with some homemade treats to hand out with thank-you notes. Everything was consistently fresh and delicious, and honestly, the price was unbeatable. $13It’s actually more than affordable per pound.

The lighting setup at MediaRent:
To be honest, we weren't even planning on hiring lighting at first. There’s just something about the vibe of the venue that works on its own, and the band had their setup covered. But as we got closer to the date, we decided we wanted at least some string lights behind our head table to add a little extra magic. Since Rabbit Rock has a partnership with an Uber band and offers a bundled discount if you book them together, we reached out to the guy about six months in advance. For $2,000, you get the wedding table lighting, four moving heads for the dance floor, and a smoke machine effect for the first dance. It sounded like a steal. However, things got a bit stressful toward the end. Up until two days before the reception, we still didn't know if they would even have a technician available for us. To make matters worse, they couldn't actually install the lighting strip because they claimed they needed specific mounting brackets or something. It was all very "blah blah blah" and honestly quite frustrating. Luckily, we stumbled upon MediaRent by total accident. We sorted everything out with them in about five minutes. When we finally walked into the hall, the lighting was already perfectly installed and ready to go. They were fast, professional, and I can't recommend them enough!

My wedding dress story:
I actually stumbled into my dress by pure accident. I walked into the shop, fell head over heels for it, and that was that. It cost me about $2,000. Initially, they told me alterations were included in the price, but when I called them three months before the big day, they tried to change the story. Suddenly, they wanted me to pay at least $100 extra for minor adjustments. Luckily, I kept all my messages and showed them to my maid of honor, so we stood our ground. In the end, they did everything for free, throwing in a little comment like, "Well, you know how some brides can be..." But hey, they fixed everything perfectly, including some damage that was already on the dress when I bought it.

The Shoolala shoes:
I actually got these as a gift and got to pick whichever pair I wanted. I drove all the way to Chicago just for these shoes, which—honestly?—were such a disaster that I took them off after the first dance because my feet were absolutely killing me. They’re genuine leather and designed for dancing, but personally, they weren't nearly as comfortable as everyone claims. Even with the extra gel inserts...

Hair:
A relative of mine who works at a local salon named Mladen did my hair. She knocked it out in no time, gave me exactly what I asked for, and it lasted until the sun came up.

Makeup by Jelena Sinj:
This girl is an absolute genius with makeup, but she actually tried to cancel on us a month before the wedding! She thought there would be at most five of us and decided it wasn't worth her drive (even though she usually charges a travel fee). Thank goodness I saved those texts so she knew exactly where she stood. After I sent her a screenshot, she agreed to do our makeup, but we ended up heading to a nearby town just to make things easier. She did my makeup and my maid of honor's in record time. It was a beautiful, natural look without any heavy foundation, and it stayed perfect until the next morning when I finally washed it off.

Invitations and favors:
We sent our order to Auris Design, and the whole package arrived at our door within a week. Highly recommend them!

Thank you notes:
We actually DIY-ed these, along with the boutonnieres and the home decor. Honestly, AliExpress is a lifesaver if you have the time. We ordered everything from there: lace, tulle, fabric, balloons, string—basically every single decoration we needed.

Vagus rings:
We snagged a 30% discount at a trade show, so we used that opportunity to have them make us engagement rings too (mine was silver before). They were fast, friendly, and we couldn't be happier!

Stipe Ursa's accordion and guitar:
Those two together created an incredible atmosphere in front of the venue, and then they kept the party going for me. They even walked with us to the church during the processional and greeted guests at the entrance. They are worth every penny, and I’d recommend them to anyone!

Balloon arch:
I reached out to a girl from Confetti (based in a suburb near me) and asked for a quote on a balloon arch. I told her the color, and the moment we walked into the hall, the balloon was just waiting for us. Fast, professional, and zero stress!

I think that covers it, at least for what I can remember right now. At the end of the day, our big day was absolutely wonderful. Seeing all our friends, family, and loved ones in one place was truly special. I would definitely do it all over again. Of course, once the dust settles a few days later, you start to realize what worked and what didn't. I hope this helps someone out 🙂 if you need any more details, feel free to ask!

Nicholas Young9 said:Hey everyone, does anyone here have any actual experience using Lululemon lighting?

They mostly handle gigs over in Castell—I’ve watched them work twice in the last five months. They put in effort during the first dance, but after that... honestly? The guy actually asked us to shut every single window in the hall just so he could save a few bucks on fog machine fluid... lol. It really depends on what you're looking for and your budget. You might want to check out some other local vendors near the Castell area—maybe Zvone Light if you want something affordable, or MediaRent if you want pros (though they'll charge you more). Best bet is to catch them while they're working at the venue so you can see for yourself—anything else is just talk.👍

Austin Thompson96 said:They mostly handle gigs over in Castell—I’ve watched them work twice in the last five months. They put in effort during the first dance, but after that... honestly? The guy actually asked us to shut every single window in the hall just so he could save a few bucks on fog machine fluid... lol. It really depends on what you're looking for and your budget. You might want to check out some other local vendors near the Castell area—maybe Zvone Light if you want something affordable, or MediaRent if you want pros (though they'll charge you more). Best bet is to catch them while they're working at the venue so you can see for yourself—anything else is just talk.👍

It isn't about being cheap. To get that low-lying fog effect to actually work, you have to have the room sealed and the AC turned off so the fog doesn't just rise immediately. Otherwise, there's no way it looks good or stays low to the ground.🙂

Ladies, does anyone have a great hairstylist recommendation in San Francisco (though I'm open to Seattle or Savannah too)? I’m looking for someone who can come to our place to do hair for a group of 7 or 8 girls.

Alright, I figured I'd put in a little effort and write a quick note about how much I'm loving my local bakery here in San Diego:

(Sorry, Cvitelius, I’m just going to copy your list and fill it out so I don't miss anything.) 😁

The old Zadar Gastronomy hall over by Jazine:
If anyone else was there, you know exactly what I’m talking about—the food was absolutely incredible and the service was next level. Coming from the Midwest, we just aren't used to this kind of treatment. As soon as you finish a plate, the server is already hovering to see if you need something else. And don't even get me started on the flavors of that local prosciutto and lamb... everything was just spot on. The staff was so attentive; I really have to hand it to the whole team for how they ran things. Everything went perfectly, too. We had one group show up with two older kids they hadn't mentioned beforehand, but the floor manager handled it instantly. He had extra chairs out in a heartbeat. Total pros.
It’s a bummer that the old hall is closing down—it definitely had its own soul. I actually attended a party at the new Supernova venue recently, though. The food and service were both top-notch. The vibe is just a bit more modern and "cool" looking, which can feel a little colder than the old spot, but honestly, I don't mind. It’s still a beautiful space.

The Zaratino band:
They’re way overpriced, and I told them straight up—I could hike my prices by $300 and still have a full calendar. They’re top-tier, honestly. Everyone raves about them because they play everything live, except for that cheesy country stuff nobody wants anyway. But even then, they’ll throw in a "feisty blonde" or an "old pro" vibe just to get the party moving, and it works every single time. It’s the perfect way to keep the energy up. They actually pay attention to the crowd, reading the room and sensing exactly what people want to hear. They played it perfectly.

Nadio Photography out of Key West
I reached out to him via Facebook and email to lock everything in with a deposit. Honestly, he was a lot cheaper than the other options I looked at, but it wasn't until just two months before the big party that I realized I hadn't actually seen much of his recent work. His Facebook page didn't have many photos, and most of them looked pretty old. I started to panic, so I began asking around here and there to see what people thought. Someone even suggested that based on the few photos available, his style might not be the best fit and that I should probably look for someone else. In the end, I decided to just be direct and ask him to show me more of his recent work—specifically some videos. Thank goodness I did that instead of just walking away. He sent over several videos, and they were stunning. The quality is incredible, honestly even better than I had imagined. He even brought along a portfolio when we met, and I absolutely loved the attention to detail; it’s exactly my style. We did the photo shoot on Tuesday after the party, and he didn't charge us anything extra, even though he drove all the way from Key West to San Diego to make it happen.

All in all, huge props to Nadia!

If you're looking at catering from Angelus out of San Diego:
There’s really nothing left to debate here—everything was practically wiped out. Most of it went to those folks from up north who had already polished off a mountain of lamb at their husband's place earlier. 😁😁😁
The decor was gorgeous, and honestly, the staff was so smooth. You barely even noticed them working, yet somehow our trays were always full.

Lotus Duga Resa Flower Shop:

Renata arrived in San Diego and handled everything—the car, the church, even the hall in San Diego. She went with this nautical theme for everything, and man, it looked incredible. I’ve honestly never seen decorations like the ones on our table before; it was wild, totally unique, and just stunning. The photo booth was a huge hit, too. She set up a little lounge area, and by the end of the night, my brother actually laid down in that little nook to nap next to the table. 😁 Honestly, it was totally worth it, haha. Everything turned out absolutely stunning. Everyone was blown away, and everything was done exactly how we planned... actually, it looked way better than what we originally agreed on. 😁

Zadar Cake:
That Ferrero cake was honestly incredible. The decorations were a total showstopper—it looked stunning and tasted even better. I can't recommend it enough!

Homemade treats from the local bakery near Lotus Duga Resa:
I’m honestly speechless. Everyone kept coming up to me to say how incredible the desserts were—not like those heavy, two-inch thick sponge cakes with a tiny smear of chocolate you see everywhere else. People practically cleared the table. I only ended up handing out about 20 little gift boxes, and that was it. Even though they're close family friends, I have to say, the sweets were just legitimately amazing.

Viadel pastries:
We picked up about 30kg of their treats and mixed them with some homemade ones to hand out with our thank-you notes. Everything was super fresh and delicious, plus at $13/kg, the price was honestly a steal.

Borneo Wedding Dresses
The woman there is absolutely incredible. She’s so knowledgeable and experienced, yet so chill—she did everything exactly how we discussed without any stress. I wasn't even 2% worried about my Wedding Dress at any point. It was beautiful, practical, lightweight, and I felt amazing in it. (I'll be selling it soon if any "larger" ladies are interested, size 12/14)

Hair:
I won't name the tiny little salon in San Diego where we randomly ended up, but I was seriously disappointed. I really regret not just ripping out all the hairpins when I got home and doing it myself, because I styled a much better version on my own for the photos on Tuesday... I should have just done it myself, that's all. 🙂

Diora by Martina Makeup San Diego:
Short and sweet: it looked gorgeous and stayed perfect until morning. She just knows how to read your facial features and what works for you without you even having to say a word. And you don't end up looking "overdone."

I made the invitations, thank-you notes, and favors myself 😁

Jewelry from Volmut Jeweler Jastrebarsko:
They made everything exactly like the picture we wanted and hit every deadline we agreed on. We even paid after the reception (you sign a contract), and we were just really happy with the service and their approach. Highly recommend.

Entertainment: Trio Fešta San Diego
These guys were awesome. They played non-stop until 2:00 or even 2:30 AM (during band breaks), playing whatever we wanted and adding their own flair. The atmosphere was top-notch.

If anyone needs more info, I'm here! 🙂

I suppose I should probably chime in with a quick report on how things went, just in case anyone actually finds this useful—we decided to split our little celebration into two distinct acts. We kept the afternoon low-key with a family lunch, then transitioned into a proper party with friends once evening rolled around. 😁

Lučica Restaurant (family lunch): The food was actually quite good and the portions were more than enough, so I have no complaints there, but even though our group ended up being six people smaller than we originally planned, we still struggled to find a place to sit among the tables they had set out. They crammed us in so tight that we were practically sitting on top of one another—though, to be fair, we had to stay indoors because of the weather, and we knew that from the jump since they assured us there would be plenty of room. The service was fine, I suppose, but we found ourselves having to flag someone down constantly just to get the basics brought to the table. It seems like a recurring issue with them; the staff is perfectly friendly, but they definitely could use at least two more people on the floor to keep things moving.

We hosted an evening celebration at Hotel Chicago over on Duilov, and honestly, we couldn't be more thrilled with how everything turned out.
The building itself is exactly what you’d expect, but the hall has been completely renovated. If there aren't too many people around—like us—you could probably rearrange the space to fit your needs better. If you don't mind that retro vibe they have going on in the lobby and entrance, it's definitely worth considering. I used to head there all the time with my family when I was a kid, so honestly, that nostalgic atmosphere actually works quite well for me.
The food was honestly top-tier, and since we opted for the buffet style, the service was handled by a waitstaff that managed to be practically invisible while remaining perfectly attentive. They stayed just out of sight, yet somehow always seemed to be right there whenever someone needed a refill or a fresh drink, ensuring we never had to lift a finger. You didn't even have to go through the hassle of calling them over; they just seemed to intuitively notice the second something ran low and had it replenished immediately. Seriously, you have to hand it to them—it was seamless.
We ended up bringing our own sound system because we had been playing everything through a laptop, but it turns out they actually provided their own hotel audio setup that was more than sufficient, so we ultimately managed to cut down on our expenses.
Some of the wedding guests stayed at the hotel, and honestly, they gave us a fantastic rate for them. They were all tucked away in these renovated rooms that turned out to be quite impressive. As for us, being the newlyweds, we had our own private apartment—it was clean, tidy, and exactly what we needed. If I’m being completely honest, the bathrooms could definitely use a modern facelift, but at the end of the day, cleanliness is what actually matters to me. Can I really complain about tiles that look like they haven't been updated since 1983 if everything else is spotless? Not really. 😁
What I appreciated most was that they maintained a strictly professional relationship with us right from the jump—from that very first inquiry call through all the planning stages until the actual celebration. I honestly can't say the same for the other vendors we dealt with; while some were perfectly fine, there was a significant number of them that made you feel awkward just for asking a question, or worse, started lecturing you the moment you suggested something slightly different, like requesting a buffet instead of a plated meal. So, in short: the food, the venue, the service, and the pricing were all top-tier. Personally, I didn't mind the retro vibe and the somewhat unpolished aesthetic, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind since everyone's taste is different.

Dolcemania really deserves a round of applause. After a total disaster of a previous plan fell through due to circumstances beyond my control, I ended up rushing an order to them just four days out. Despite their schedule being absolutely slammed, they somehow managed to squeeze us in, and then went the extra mile by delivering the cake directly to us so we didn't have to waste any time picking it up. Honestly, how do they stay so organized?

The folks over at TNT Flower Shop put together an absolutely stunning bouquet for me, along with all the boutonnières and extra floral details we needed. They even threw in a few extra blooms for decorating the cake at no additional charge—all delivered exactly when promised and at a perfectly reasonable price. Isn't it nice when things actually go according to plan?

Is it just me, or is the current selection of wedding dresses in most boutiques getting a little ridiculous? I’ve been browsing lately, and honestly, I’m finding it hard to get excited about what's actually on the racks. It feels like everything is becoming an exercise in excess—just endless layers upon layers of tulle and fabric piled on top of each other until you can barely move. Does anyone else feel like we've lost the plot with all this volume? I can't help but wonder if there was a time when elegance didn't require several pounds of extra material just to make a statement. 😁 I had my wedding dress custom-made at Karin Design, and honestly, the experience was seamless. The designer is incredible—truly creative, possesses a great eye for detail, and actually takes the time to listen to exactly what you want (and more importantly, what you don't). She’s incredibly flexible with her schedule and adapts to whatever you need. I walked away beyond satisfied, not just with how perfect the dress turned out—it didn't require a single frantic adjustment—but with the entire process itself. The pricing is also very reasonable, so if you're looking for quality without breaking the bank, I can't recommend them enough.

Sanja Krstulović is an incredible makeup artist—she really knows how to work her magic. Honestly, the look was stunning, perfectly balanced without being over the top, and more importantly, it actually held up until the end of the night without any issues. But, as I mentioned earlier, she does have a bit of a tendency to sing her own praises. She was also quite slow with the application, despite my repeated warnings that we had to be finished by a specific time. She kept insisting everything would be fine, but predictably, the best man and I ended up running nearly an hour behind schedule, which meant we barely managed to squeeze everything else in. If you decide to book her, you’d be wise to tell her you need to be done at least an hour before you actually need to leave.

Hair - Ivan's Salon in the suburbs - they actually went out of their way to open up early just so I could make my other appointments, which was such a relief. I didn't exactly walk in with a specific vision of what I wanted, but the stylist somehow managed to nail exactly what I was looking for on the first try—can you believe that? The owner and the rest of the staff were incredibly kind, the hairstyle held up perfectly all day, and they even included the trial run in the price. Honestly, the results were just fantastic.

Hey ladies 😁 I finally figured out how to get my account working so I can actually weigh in here. I’ve spent some time digging through years of threads to pull together what I was looking for. I’m planning to tie the knot late next summer, and I’ve started hitting up venues via email to narrow things down. Here’s a quick rundown of the latest intel:
- Šumica, Miami: Brand new, $43 per chair, comes with a standard menu and drinks included.
- Marina Kaštel: $42 for a basic menu. Honestly, they were wonderful—they even let us sample the food, and the lady who greeted us was a true professional. It felt warm and welcoming, though the capacity makes it feel a little tight given the price point.
- Galeb Camp, Key West: $39, drinks included. The staff there was incredibly helpful and hospitable, but unfortunately, we just didn't love the vibe of the space. Plus, if you want to avoid feeling like sardines, you have to cap the guest list at 220.
- Hrv venue in Hrvaca: $32 per chair! It’s recently renovated, but several factors made us hesitate: the drive from Miami, the low ceilings (which is a dealbreaker for me 🤣), and the fact that once you split the room, the capacity drops significantly. I did hear nothing but praise for the food, though 😁 so if you're looking for something convenient for around 220 guests, I’d recommend it.

We wrapped up our tour at Lesnina. I have to say, the space blew me away. It holds 600 people, and I suspect it might be the only venue of its kind in all of California. If anyone knows of others like it, please let me know ☕. The chairs are $36 each, and there's an extra charge for the lighting setup for the entire hall $1000. The menu is flexible without changing the base price per chair (though adding octopus does bump it up). They mentioned having two dates open in August 2019, which sounded almost too good to be true. I know summer is peak season, and being near the coast is lovely, but I think Lesnina offers a great balance of price and quality—with a heavy emphasis on the latter. I attended a wedding there recently; the whole hall was one open space, though they can partition it into two rooms for 300 guests each. We need to put down a deposit within the next ten days to secure the date. My only lingering doubt is whether it will be too hot, but I honestly haven't a clue 🙂 since I was also considering October.
I am definitely on the lookout for band recommendations. Ideally, I’d like a group of at least four, including an accordion player, and they shouldn't shy away from the classic hits—nothing over the top, just those recognizable tracks that even the non-party crowd enjoys after midnight.

I hope there are other ladies here getting married soon who haven't already checked this off their lists so we can swap stories and experiences. 🎉🙂

I got married right in the middle of the Lesnina ballroom, though I’ve been to two full receptions there and at least five half-room setups 😁
I can confirm the hall is gorgeous—their lighting setup (handled by Mediarent) is top-notch, and the band always seems to have their own gear to pull out. Honestly, you don't need much extra decor. For instance, I went with a red and white theme—white linens and tablecloths paired with red bows, runners, and napkins—and it looked stunning all on its own. I’ve seen them do beige, pink, blue... it always looks classy regardless.
Basically, every table comes with these tall candle holders that are already lit, so adding too much extra decoration might actually just clutter things up, especially with what they provide and the welcome drinks sitting on the tables. Just keep in mind when talking to the Flower Shop that you probably only need to focus on your own table with a few arrangements, some petals, or whatever else you're feeling. Their centerpieces are great as is.
It doesn't get stuffy or suffocating in there either; they let you step out for a smoke after midnight, and you won't even smell the smoke inside.
If you want my advice—without changing the total price—ask if they can serve the roast immediately after the soup and risotto, right before people move on to the Pašticada. That was a massive win for us; more people actually ate it because usually, a ton of roast goes to waste since guests get full, and you can't exactly reheat roast and serve it later. As for the Pašticada and risotto? My whole family was eating leftovers all week because relatives who couldn't make it kept dropping by to visit. 🤣

Generally speaking, any food or hard liquor you bring in gets packed up for you in their containers. You take it home, then just drop the empty containers back off when you go to settle the bill on Monday or Tuesday, depending on what you arranged. 🙂
Regarding availability, they have several smaller halls over in Dolis near Tommy, plus the 2-in-1 setup at Lesnina, and the owner also runs the place in Solin, so there are plenty of ways to piece a booking together.
We booked our half-of-the-Lesnina spring slot pretty late—right towards the end of autumn.

Things have definitely shifted for me over the last few years 😁 almost every catered event I’ve worked lately has involved requests for alternatives. People just don't want heavy, roasted meals sitting around at 11 or midnight—you end up with a mountain of leftovers. Back in the day, people actually ate the main course when it was served. Boiled dishes or lighter fare? That works much better later in the night. 😁
It isn't even that common anymore to host massive banquets for over 300 people in San Francisco or the surrounding areas. 😁 A couple of years back, I did an event at Katarina 360—back when it was a Walmart about four years ago, and before that, it was more like a 420-capacity space six years ago. My guest list back then was under 200 (we set up 20 tables plus the band and photographer), with about 8 to 10 people per table. It filled about half the hall, which left plenty of room to pull out chairs, walk between tables, and dance. This summer, I was in that same hall with around 250 people; it felt a bit more crowded, but since it was a slightly older crowd that wasn't running around much, it didn't feel tight. 🙂 I’ve handled two banquets of up to 160 in that first building, and one for 180 at Phoenix this year.

I went with red because I wanted red roses in the decor—honestly, I just love the color and that specific contrast. 🙂

The Beatles

We ended up putting down deposits for The Beach Boys and hiring Inigo, the photographer Karr.

I already sent you a DM so I wouldn't have to go over everything I just said again...

I suppose I should probably touch upon my ongoing struggle with this whole wedding dress saga. My ultimate goal here is simple: I want a gown that doesn't feel like a heavy burden I have to lug around all night, something that actually allows me to walk like a normal human being. I went ahead and booked a fitting session at the Glamourous Bride boutique in San Francisco. After waiting around for over an hour, it was finally my turn, only for some manager or perhaps the owner to inform me—just thirty minutes in—that my appointment time had already expired. I did stop by the Lipton shop earlier, and I must say the staff there were quite lovely and helpful, but their selection of dresses is frankly underwhelming, especially considering they claim to rent each piece out a maximum of three times.

wearypilot39 said:I suppose I should probably touch upon my ongoing struggle with this whole wedding dress saga. My ultimate goal here is simple: I want a gown that doesn't feel like a heavy burden I have to lug around all night, something that actually allows me to walk like a normal human being. I went ahead and booked a fitting session at the Glamourous Bride boutique in San Francisco. After waiting around for over an hour, it was finally my turn, only for some manager or perhaps the owner to inform me—just thirty minutes in—that my appointment time had already expired. I did stop by the Lipton shop earlier, and I must say the staff there were quite lovely and helpful, but their selection of dresses is frankly underwhelming, especially considering they claim to rent each piece out a maximum of three times.

I really think you should consider getting one custom-made. I’d also suggest checking out the Borneo studio in Washington, D.C. You'll have to make about three trips to D.C. to get everything set, but it isn't expensive. They'll make exactly what you envision based on your discussions, and they're great at suggesting shapes and styles that won't stress you out.

My biggest worry was having a dress that felt heavy or restrictive, and luckily, it wasn't like that at all. I absolutely hate tight corsets and stuff like that, but they actually built some boning into my dress to give it shape without me even realizing it was there. It was incredibly comfortable.

I ended up going with a knee-length lace dress with a tulle overskirt that went down to the floor. I just pulled the skirt off whenever the long dress started feeling like too much, and even then, I didn't have to worry about tripping or people stepping on it...

Anyway, here's how it looked:

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