Started by Anonymous · · 👁 24 views · 7.4K replies
restlessmoose17 said:Looking for a makeup artist who does house calls. What are your thoughts on Violeta Kekezovic or Ana Grgic?
restlessmoose17 said:Savannah, Manhattan Island
As long as she’s a top-tier professional who actually gets out in the field—I don't care if she's coming all the way from San Diego, I'll cover the travel expenses myself
Sarah Scott18 said:Hey everyone,
I’ve been scrolling through a bunch of posts from the last six months or so, and for some reason, I can't find a single mention of that new venue, Forest Restaurant, over near Bačvica. Has anyone actually been there lately? Like, has anyone had any firsthand experience with that space in the last half year?
We’re currently torn between booking that spot or going with Aria. If you've been to either, please, let me know what you think.
Austin Thompson96 said:How many guests are you expecting for the party? In my opinion—Forest is only an option if you stay outside because the indoor stage is way too small—and Aria is a whole different story. The owners change constantly; specifically, they canceled a wedding for my cousin just a month before the date without even giving an explanation. When I was at a neighbor's party nearly a year ago, they didn't even wait for the newlyweds who were busy with photos—they just put out the cold appetizers immediately, claiming they had strict schedules and already knew the couple. Is it really that much trouble to wait 30 minutes? Who knows, maybe they've improved. Honestly, I’d pick a different venue if you have other options available for that date.
Sam Clark4 said:For XXS, I know they charge $2,400, and the deposit is $400.
Nicole Morris20 said:I tied the knot a few weeks ago, so I thought I’d share my experience. We kept things intimate with a little party for 25 people, and we managed to pull the whole thing together in just 2–3 months. Hopefully, this helps someone out:
Church: Saint Anthony at Poljud Stadium. The church is stunning, and the sermon was even better.
Venue: It wasn't a traditional hall, but we held it at the Rudin tavern. We went with Menu 2, which included—prosciutto, cheese, French salad, tuna salad, anchovies, soup, black and white risotto, veal and lamb cooked under the bell, plus drinks. I think that covers everything! The food was fantastic (except for the soup, which was a bit watery), totally homemade, and we all ate our fill. As soon as one platter was cleared, the servers were already bringing out the next one. It was only $29 per person. Why so cheap? Well, they just started doing events recently and haven't built up a huge reputation yet, plus they likely only work when they have a booking. We were also allowed to bring our own desserts and cake.
The owner was incredibly friendly. He let us decorate the space and set up the tables exactly how we wanted.
Desserts: My husband's sister made the cakes and dessert spread, and they were perfect. We had cheesecake bites, cake pops, Canadian style sponge cake, strawberries, apple beer cakes, pastries, muffins (and a few others I can't recall). The cake had three layers: chocolate, then bloody berry, and finally Jaffa. If anyone is interested, feel free to DM me 😛
Photographer: Bonačić Studio. They were total pros—super laid back, and we spent the whole time laughing with them. We haven't received the photos yet since it's only been two weeks.
Flowers: A family friend of my husband does floral design privately, but honestly, we weren't thrilled. We thought we’d save some money by going this route, thinking it would look just as good as a professional florist, but unfortunately, it didn't. I specifically asked for light pink and white roses for my bouquet, but I ended up with green ones. She didn't warn me about the color shift, and looking back, we should have just gone to a standard florist.
Music: Also a family friend of my husband's. He was amazing, and we danced the night away.
Wedding Dress: I didn't want a traditional gown; I wanted a long, flowing white dress. I'm not a fan of anything too revealing or lacey. I searched all over San Francisco and found the perfect one at Ann's boutique. If you prefer simpler styles, definitely check her out. The quality is wonderful—I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Bolero: I picked this up on sale at Panda for $50. It looked absolutely perfect with the dress.
Hair: Michelle at the salon in the La Perla City Center. They did an updo for me, and it took only 45 minutes, yet it held up perfectly through the entire night. Highly recommend!
Makeup: Helena Dželalija. She is worth every penny. She works quickly and is so meticulous. She gave me exactly the look I wanted without any of the pushiness I encountered with other artists—no one asking, "Why don't you want bigger lashes?" or "Shouldn't we contour your lips more?"
Invitations: Pixar Graphic Studio. Our invites were ready in just two days, and they even gave us three different designs to choose from.
Favors: We ordered these through a Facebook page called "Magnets, Favors, Pictures, & Souvenirs." We decided on chocolates customized with our names and wedding date. Everything, from the design to printing and shipping to our house, was done in about two weeks.
I think that's everything! If I remember anything else, I'll post it.
Austin Thompson96 said:How many guests are you expecting for the party? In my opinion—Forest is only an option if you stay outside because the indoor stage is way too small—and Aria is a whole different story. The owners change constantly; specifically, they canceled a wedding for my cousin just a month before the date without even giving an explanation. When I was at a neighbor's party nearly a year ago, they didn't even wait for the newlyweds who were busy with photos—they just put out the cold appetizers immediately, claiming they had strict schedules and already knew the couple. Is it really that much trouble to wait 30 minutes? Who knows, maybe they've improved. Honestly, I’d pick a different venue if you have other options available for that date.
Sarah Scott18 said:We plan approximately 140-170 people. For the Forest, the stage seems okay for a group that size, but I've never actually been there, so I don't know what people think of the food. I've been looking at other spots like Bloom and Bolero, and they seem pretty decent. Any venue outside of Miami is a no-go for us.
Christian Peterson32 said:Man, are you kidding me? People are going to be dancing! You can't fit a band and 170 people inside Forest; it's just too tight. Are you blind? People need room to move! And as for Aria, those owners haven't changed in ten years—that whole story about canceling weddings without reason is total nonsense. Look, Austin Thompson96, stick to cooking rice and let it simmer for an hour, then see what kind of mess you end up with. Aria can easily hold 300 people now. For anyone looking at prices: remember that a band usually has six people, plus two technicians who handle all the gear and setup. That adds up. Some venues in Miami are a complete disaster when it comes to equipment. Take the Palace Salon, for example—they won't even let you use the elevator. You have to haul everything up the stairs. And don't get me started on the worst part, TTTS. At Aria, they literally lug everything from a van straight onto the stage. You have to factor that into the band's price. As for the food? Don't even get me started. It's all the same old story. Only Gusar and Kadena are worth a look.
quietviper22 said:We’ve realized that since you’re playing at Nero, you’re basically just doing free advertising for them anyway.🤦
Lawrence Moore12 said:Which venue would you suggest for an outdoor wedding catering to about 100 to 150 guests? I’ve already crossed Villa California off my list because, frankly, the price tag is just astronomical. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience dealing with either Hotel Park or the Radisson? Or, if you happen to know of a superior alternative that might suit our needs better, please do share. This is for a wedding involving guests traveling from abroad, so the setting really matters.
Lawrence Moore12 said:Which venue would you suggest for an outdoor wedding catering to about 100 to 150 guests? I’ve already crossed Villa California off my list because, frankly, the price tag is just astronomical. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience dealing with either Hotel Park or the Radisson? Or, if you happen to know of a superior alternative that might suit our needs better, please do share. This is for a wedding involving guests traveling from abroad, so the setting really matters.
Lawrence Moore12 said:Which venue would you suggest for an outdoor wedding catering to about 100 to 150 guests? I’ve already crossed Villa California off my list because, frankly, the price tag is just astronomical. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience dealing with either Hotel Park or the Radisson? Or, if you happen to know of a superior alternative that might suit our needs better, please do share. This is for a wedding involving guests traveling from abroad, so the setting really matters.
Robin Sanchez5 said:Hey guys, does anyone have a recommendation for a band to play during the cocktail hour or just fill the room while our main act takes a break?
Ideally something with an accordion, sax, trumpet, or upright bass... I really don't want it to be just a guy with a guitar and a mic.
The wedding is actually at an eco-resort out in rural California, which isn't quite the coast, but we're originally from San Francisco. 😁
Thanks!
