Everything you need for a California wedding

Kyle Campbell3 said:And she didn't have a clue... she was basically just dreaming🙂🙄
A friend of mine is also getting married soon, and she told me $933 for an accordion, guitar, and double bass setup... so I figured I'd pay a few hundred dollars more, knowing they're great guys.. 🕺🙂
It's not my fault if I don't take full advantage of everything; we're all hanging out in the same spot anyway... if we were, they'd probably end up playing for much longer.

Look, if you already know they're good, there's no reason to feel bad about it. You'll end up wasting money on a ton of little things that nobody will even notice anyway. At the end of the day, music and food are what actually matter at a wedding, so...

Jessica Hall34 said:Look, if you already know they're good, there's no reason to feel bad about it. You'll end up wasting money on a ton of little things that nobody will even notice anyway. At the end of the day, music and food are what actually matter at a wedding, so...

And yeah, I have to agree with you there.. 😵

Kyle Campbell3 said:I won't name names here, but one of the companies you listed is actually asking for that exact amount... ☕

Just tell him it's just the accordion—no backing band—and I'll assume I know who you mean. That's just how business works; if it sells, it sells. 😠
Here is another option—give them a call and see if they're available:

Antonio Prološčić
0996382561

Austin Thompson96 said:Just tell him it's just the accordion—no backing band—and I'll assume I know who you mean. That's just how business works; if it sells, it sells. 😠
Here is another option—give them a call and see if they're available:

Antonio Prološčić
0996382561

This time, I was actually the one hunting for a trio. My guest list is looking a bit larger this year, so I figured it was worth the upgrade... which is why I was asking how pricing typically shifts when you move from a soloist to a three-piece ensemble.

Kyle Campbell3 said:This time, I was actually the one hunting for a trio. My guest list is looking a bit larger this year, so I figured it was worth the upgrade... which is why I was asking how pricing typically shifts when you move from a soloist to a three-piece ensemble.

A solo accordionist goes for $100—by any logical standard, three would be $300 max; $500 is just excessive.

Austin Thompson96 said:A solo accordionist goes for $100—by any logical standard, three would be $300 max; $500 is just excessive.

Look, I’ve already mentioned that my godmother once hired someone to service an accordion, a guitar, and a double bass for $933... It isn't a matter of one guy charging a premium while everyone else stays cheap. Sure, I might have found a better deal elsewhere, but I know I'm getting quality work here. When you pay for pros, you sleep better knowing the tuning will actually be right.🕺

I could really use some help hunting for a wedding dress.
So far, I’ve only checked out David's Bridal in Los Angeles, and while I found one I absolutely loved, it was $2000only available for rent, which is just way out of my budget.
Since I live in LA but head back home to San Diego for the holidays, I’m planning to drive through some smaller towns in the valley and surrounding areas, because I’ve heard you can find much better deals there.
What is the quality usually like in those smaller boutique shops? Does anyone have specific salons I should definitely put on my list?
Also, do people mostly rent or buy in those places, and do they offer custom tailoring services?
Any tips or recommendations would be amazing! 🙂
Thanks in advance! <3

If you’re looking in San Francisco, there’s a bridal boutique called Milo that has a massive selection, and renting a gown there runs about $1333. There’s also a shop called Lily over in Trilla; they carry some decent pieces, though I suppose the variety is much more limited. Personally, my main grievance with those particular boutiques is how they shorten the hemlines by pinning them up—it just looks incredibly tacky to me. I would definitely suggest bypassing Glamour Bride in San Francisco altogether; the staff there can be quite arrogant and frankly quite rude. At La Perla, the fitting fee is $33, which, if I'm being honest, feels like enough to cover several different shops. As for the Lipoto salon, I found their dresses looked like they were of third-rate quality. Even though the employee insisted that each rental is only used three times at most, the faded colors and loose threads suggest that might not be entirely true.

Hey there,
I was just wondering if anyone happens to know what the going rate is for the Best Buy group? Thanks in advance, I guess.

My dear friends,

It is such a pleasure reading through your posts; I’m truly glad this community exists.

I am also getting married this year, though we’ve only just begun the whirlwind of planning. If all goes according to our vision, we hope to officially tie the knot this coming September.

That said, I’ve run into a bit of a dilemma. I suffer from quite a severe case of claustrophobia, and frankly, the idea of being stuck in a banquet hall makes me incredibly uneasy. My heart is set on an outdoor ceremony—somewhere open and airy, perhaps a sprawling meadow, a vineyard, or an orchard out in the California countryside. Does anyone have any suggestions for potential venues or specific local regulations I should be aware of? Truly, any ideas, advice, or even a little guidance would be immensely appreciated.

Thanks in advance to you all.

Gary Lopez13 said:Hey there,
I was just wondering if anyone happens to know what the going rate is for the Best Buy group? Thanks in advance, I guess.

If you're talking about the ones I'm thinking of—the ones with the singer in red—my relatives used them. If I remember correctly, they paid about $2,300, but that included travel all the way to San Diego, so it would probably be a little cheaper if you're looking at something closer to Los Angeles..

Anyway, hope that helps!

bluesailor9 said:My dear friends,

It is such a pleasure reading through your posts; I’m truly glad this community exists.

I am also getting married this year, though we’ve only just begun the whirlwind of planning. If all goes according to our vision, we hope to officially tie the knot this coming September.

That said, I’ve run into a bit of a dilemma. I suffer from quite a severe case of claustrophobia, and frankly, the idea of being stuck in a banquet hall makes me incredibly uneasy. My heart is set on an outdoor ceremony—somewhere open and airy, perhaps a sprawling meadow, a vineyard, or an orchard out in the California countryside. Does anyone have any suggestions for potential venues or specific local regulations I should be aware of? Truly, any ideas, advice, or even a little guidance would be immensely appreciated.

Thanks in advance to you all.

Well, it all kind of depends on how many people you're thinking and what vibe you want for the wedding/party, right?
If you're going for something "modern" with a smaller guest list, you could always just rent a massive vacation house that has a huge yard, a pool, and all that stuff.

Here are some cool weddings I've been to so far that might give you some ideas:
- Castillo de San Marcos
- Getty Villa
- The White House
- The Breakers
- A Cruise ship (swimming, lunch, partying)
- A vacation rental up in Malibu (far from neighbors, killer views, big courtyard, a huge indoor space just in case it rains, and a pool)

...you just have to keep in mind that the weather can be super unpredictable, especially in September, so you might get hit with a downpour and you definitely need a backup plan to tuck everyone away indoors.

Update: my bad, I assumed you were in San Francisco so I was suggesting spots around the SF area.

Jessica Hall34 said:If you're talking about the ones I'm thinking of—the ones with the singer in red—my relatives used them. If I remember correctly, they paid about $2,300, but that included travel all the way to San Diego, so it would probably be a little cheaper if you're looking at something closer to Los Angeles..

Anyway, hope that helps!

By "red singer," I assume you mean the band Euphoria

I can't speak for them,

but I just realized I was talking about the "Apple" group instead of Best, so sorry for the mix-up!

casualwolf22 said:Well, it all kind of depends on how many people you're thinking and what vibe you want for the wedding/party, right?
If you're going for something "modern" with a smaller guest list, you could always just rent a massive vacation house that has a huge yard, a pool, and all that stuff.

Here are some cool weddings I've been to so far that might give you some ideas:
- Castillo de San Marcos
- Getty Villa
- The White House
- The Breakers
- A Cruise ship (swimming, lunch, partying)
- A vacation rental up in Malibu (far from neighbors, killer views, big courtyard, a huge indoor space just in case it rains, and a pool)

...you just have to keep in mind that the weather can be super unpredictable, especially in September, so you might get hit with a downpour and you definitely need a backup plan to tuck everyone away indoors.

Update: my bad, I assumed you were in San Francisco so I was suggesting spots around the SF area.

Thank you so much. Yes, we are looking specifically in the San Francisco area... we aren't local ourselves, but our family is there, so it makes more sense to host it near them. Honestly, most of Central California works for us. However, those venues you mentioned seem a bit steep (expensive) to me—at least based on what I know. If you happen to have a specific name or location for a house in Malibu, I'd love to take a look. I've been scouring Airbnb and similar sites trying to find somewhere with a decent yard or estate, but nothing has quite hit the mark yet.

bluesailor9 said:Thank you so much. Yes, we are looking specifically in the San Francisco area... we aren't local ourselves, but our family is there, so it makes more sense to host it near them. Honestly, most of Central California works for us. However, those venues you mentioned seem a bit steep (expensive) to me—at least based on what I know. If you happen to have a specific name or location for a house in Malibu, I'd love to take a look. I've been scouring Airbnb and similar sites trying to find somewhere with a decent yard or estate, but nothing has quite hit the mark yet.

In my opinion, The White House in Malibu is a great choice. It has a beautiful garden (though I'm not sure how much space you actually need), and the accommodations are top-tier. 😁

Gary Lopez13 said:Hey there,
I was just wondering if anyone happens to know what the going rate is for the Best Buy group? Thanks in advance, I guess.

Last I heard, they were asking 2400$—but that was before they dropped their new track, so the price might have bumped up since then. Your best bet is to just call them directly. Reach out to Cliff (their drummer and manager) at 555-0198; he handles the lighting setup too, so you can sort everything out in one go.

bluesailor9 said:Thank you so much. Yes, we are looking specifically in the San Francisco area... we aren't local ourselves, but our family is there, so it makes more sense to host it near them. Honestly, most of Central California works for us. However, those venues you mentioned seem a bit steep (expensive) to me—at least based on what I know. If you happen to have a specific name or location for a house in Malibu, I'd love to take a look. I've been scouring Airbnb and similar sites trying to find somewhere with a decent yard or estate, but nothing has quite hit the mark yet.

If you need a spot for a smaller group, the castle restaurant in the San Francisco neighborhood is an option—totally open to it. Or, if you want to be right on the water in Malibu, check out restaurant Amigos; if it rains, you can just move inside. The big plus is they have apartments on-site, which is perfect if guests from out of town need to crash, or if someone overdoes it at the party.😁

Hey everyone! 🙂
I’m on the lookout for a photographer in San Francisco or the surrounding areas... I’m not really looking for a full video shoot or anything, just some high-quality photos.
Has anyone checked around lately? I'd love to get an idea of what the going rates are these days.

And if you have any recommendations—or even some honest critiques of people you've used—please let me know! 🙂

Thanks! 😉

Austin Thompson96 said:Last I heard, they were asking 2400$—but that was before they dropped their new track, so the price might have bumped up since then. Your best bet is to just call them directly. Reach out to Cliff (their drummer and manager) at 555-0198; he handles the lighting setup too, so you can sort everything out in one go.

Thanks! 😊