Everything you need for a California wedding

rapidmason10 said:Goga did yours... she's a makeup artist from Sućurac, and honestly, everyone loves her work. She even travels to you! But hey, let silentpuma28 give us more details first...

I'll most likely be going with Antonia Guć. She's coming to my place—though I heard she doesn't usually do house calls, she's making an exception because a close friend highly recommended her... so she's being super accommodating!

Little8 had an amazing makeup artist... seriously, highly recommend!

I am unsure which information to provide regarding whether Antonia Guć is returning home; she was doing my makeup and then headed straight to my place...

wiredhawk9 said:I am unsure which information to provide regarding whether Antonia Guć is returning home; she was doing my makeup and then headed straight to my place...

I can confirm she is heading home. She has actually come over to do my makeup before as well.

placidharbor21 said:I’ve honestly never even heard of them! If you want my two cents, I’d highly recommend Son from Photo Plus or Ivica Lisjak. I’m actually having Son shoot my wedding soon because I am just obsessed with his style. As for Lisjak, I’ve heard nothing but glowing reviews. Honestly, just go poke around his website; look through his portfolio and see if his vibe actually clicks with you.

A few girls mentioned Photo California before, but let’s be real—they’ll show you a couple of albums where everything looks absolutely flawless, but there's no telling if you'll actually vibe with the specific crew they send your way. Not all their teams are created equal, though I think some people on this forum used them once and were pretty happy with how things turned out.

But seriously, you really can't go wrong with either Son or Lisjak, and their pricing is totally fair compared to those big-name studios that charge an absolute fortune just for the brand.

Photo Plus is located in that little strip right before you hit Photo California, near where that parking lot by the transformer station is. You can grab Lisjak’s cell number directly from his site—just Google "Ivica Lisjak" and his website should pop up immediately.

I have to back this up. With Kodak, it really all comes down to whether you hit the jackpot with the specific team assigned to you. My brother-in-law used them for his wedding, and I must admit, the photos left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. They are fine—the composition is nice, everything technically works—but there was nothing particularly special about them. At least, not compared to some of their other work I've seen. I don't know exactly which photographers were in his "crew," but yeah, 🤷

rapidmason10 said:Holy Cross-za 2009 is going for $42 per person.

I actually went yesterday—it was only $39.

Jeremy Wilson5 said:It all really comes down to your personal taste, but if you ask me, I’m always going to vote for live music. Maybe a DJ would work for a luncheon or a seated dinner where there isn't much dancing involved, but the atmosphere a live group can create—whether it's a full band, a duo, or even a trio, as long as they are talented—is just incomparable. At least in my experience, I've been to a few events where that was the case (and just to be clear, I'm not saying the music or the food was bad, it just felt like something was missing from the overall vibe).
Perhaps you should try attending a wedding with a DJ sometime, just to see if you actually enjoy it. Since you've never experienced one without live music, I guess it might not be the wisest move to gamble on it for your own big day just yet.

Thanks, Jeremy Wilson5. You've got a point there—I think I'll look for a live band instead. I'll check which ones are free for the ninth month, since everything is already getting super crowded by then anyway. 🤷 😕

placidharbor21 said:I actually went ahead and booked a DJ for my wedding too, mostly because bands just aren't my scene and I honestly have no clue how they manage to set the right mood. I’ve been to weddings with live bands—some were great, some were total disasters—but I just couldn't see myself doing that at my own party; it’s just not my style.

On the flip side, I’ve been to plenty of weddings with DJs, and honestly, it all boils down to the playlist you pick. I was at this one wedding a few years back where the DJ played nothing but cheesy Top 40 hits—you know, the kind of stuff like Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, or Katy Perry—and since that’s absolutely not my taste, it was a nightmare. I was practically counting the minutes until I could leave. But, looking around, the couple and most of the guests seemed to love it, so for them, it worked perfectly.

Then there were other weddings where the DJ played stuff much closer to my personal taste—mixing in those classic oldies we all know, some modern hits, and even some international tracks. There was something for everyone, I had an absolute blast, and the rest of the crowd was having a killer time too.

Personally, I think DJs are awesome, and I’d say don't listen to those people who claim a DJ can't build a good atmosphere. It’s entirely subjective! In every single wedding I’ve attended where there was a DJ, the energy was actually great. A friend of mine had a huge wedding a few years ago with a DJ, and it was fantastic; they played a mix of local favorites and mostly foreign hits. It was a younger crowd, and everyone was dancing their hearts out. But again, I’ll stress this: it all depends on the couple's vibe and what they actually enjoy!

If you need my DJ's number, just shoot me a DM and I'll pass it along.

Oh man, I just now saw your comment. What can I say? I really don't have any firsthand experience to go on. As for the music—I'm definitely more into electronic stuff myself, but let's be real: two-thirds of the party will probably be the older folks and my fiancé's side of the family who just want to shout along to old-school classics. I have to admit, that part stresses me out a little—I don't want my wedding to turn into a sweaty basement rager, but I also don't want people just sitting around, either.

rapidmason10 said:A little more intel on the band Orange...

I actually hopped on a call with their lead singer yesterday, and man, she was an absolute gem! She didn't dodge a single one of my questions—seriously, I’m still buzzing from how sweet she was.
For those who haven't heard the scoop, she’s expecting a baby soon. I asked if they'll be back on stage by June 2009, and she gave me a big "you bet!" 😍
They play pretty much everything except for that cheesy country stuff... just a heads up though, prices are gonna jump a bit next year.
Shoot me a DM if you want the full lowdown!

Could someone send me their contact info via PM? And if anyone knows the updated pricing, let me know! thanks!

Here’s some fresh intel from my scouting trip yesterday:

Lora—Rose Bowl venue.....................$87
Old Sailor..................................$38
Fabula.....................says everything depends, blah blah, guy starts dodging questions and being vague
Benedict Ben ...............................$40
Pirate............................................$42
Bellevue—Savannah...........................$38 (includes decor)
St. Croix..........................................$36
Hilton—Seget................................$50-$60
Marina Frappa..................................$50 + drinks (around $25 per head)
Mammoth (near Lukšić).............................$33 + $2 for chair covers
San Antonio (behind the Lion).......................$35 + $15 drinks = $50

So yeah, I wanted to check out a few more spots, but I couldn't track down the managers, so I don't have prices for those.
As for my other impressions—I gotta admit, the whole "socialist" vibe at Honey was a bit disappointing; the hotel hasn't been touched in 20 years. San Antonio is a cute little boutique hotel, but it's way overpriced. At Mammoth, I loved that they roast the lamb right there—smelled amazing—and they're actually renovating the hall, so it's looking pretty decent.
Bellevue has a lovely room, and the manager is super young, really approachable and helpful. My only gripe is the hotel itself feels a bit silly inside the building, and since the hall is on the 3rd floor, you're definitely getting a workout in heels.
Maestral was kind of a bust for me—just stuck right by the road in the middle of nowhere.
The Hilton in Seget has a perfect setting and this hilarious little hall with huge, grand chandeliers and a killer view of the ocean-pool-woods combo. There was just this clumsy guy there letting us know it's somewhere between $50 and $60 and that it's better if the wedding isn't during peak season... he'd much rather have it in early October to catch the guests. (At San Antonio, the guy there explained that guests get dinner served in their rooms that night). Can you believe him?
St. Croix is actually pretty solid, also in Seget—if you don't mind driving. Good price, the hall was totally tidy, and they had these blue lights. Oh, and the bar is wooden.
Arkada Podstrana has a tiny stage, and apparently, the hall holds about 100 people—very cozy, local feel.
Old Sailor is all wood and feels a bit fishy to me, but honestly, it's pretty good.
Lora fits about 200-250 people, but she’ll need a ton of decor, especially for the ceiling. I did hear the service there is top-notch, though.

I’m looking for something for 120-130 guests. If anyone knows anything important that I missed, PLIIIIIZ let me know because I have to decide by tomorrow afternoon. Right now, my favorites are Old Sailor and Bellevue in Savannah!
Help!!!!

P.S: Don't get bent out of shape if I offended anyone with my jokes—it's just my take on things, even if some people find them a bit much. 😉

Zachary White9 said:P.S: Don't get bent out of shape if I offended anyone with my jokes—it's just my take on things, even if some people find them a bit much. 😉

Anchovy from Savannah, Grasha, have you seen this?
p.s. please use lowercase; typing in all caps is considered shouting.😉

I heard they’re capping the guest list at 90 for the Grasha wedding—apparently once you hit 100, it starts feeling way too crowded, right? Plus, our future best man is getting married over at the Anchovy spot, so my guy wouldn't want to crash that. It feels a bit silly for me to head to the Pirate, too—I feel like I’m basically living there, grabbing a bite every couple of months or so.
Do you know much about the Bellevue area in Savannah, or maybe somewhere else in Split? Honestly, I'm a little stressed out trying to plan this—I'm looking at dates around September. 😢

Look, I’m staying at the Bellevue, so if you’ve got questions, just ask.😉

Kevin Kim5 said:Look, I’m staying at the Bellevue, so if you’ve got questions, just ask.😉

Was this your top pick? What’s your score like—and when did you take the test? I really need to call tomorrow—there’s still one date open in September, and I’m low-key terrified someone else is going to snag it first. Honestly, the gym is great, just my aim isn't exactly perfect—what do I know? I always figured it would be love at first sight! 🙂

Yeah, I saw that back on July 18th

Zachary White9 said:Was this your top pick? What’s your score like—and when did you take the test? I really need to call tomorrow—there’s still one date open in September, and I’m low-key terrified someone else is going to snag it first. Honestly, the gym is great, just my aim isn't exactly perfect—what do I know? I always figured it would be love at first sight! 🙂

Look, I don't know... I'm not from around here, so I didn't really have a bunch of venues to pick from. I was choosing between that place on the highway, St. Croix, and Bellevue... I went with Bellevue because I liked the vibe best. Plus, getting to St. Croix means driving out to the island, and in the summer, you're stuck in a hundred-car traffic jam coming through Savannah, which is a total nightmare. For me, the venue is great. The lady running things is awesome—super nice and easy to talk to. The only downside is definitely being way up at the top of the building, but hey, who's gonna find a place that's absolutely perfect? 🤷 And the price is decent. My guest list is sitting around 200-220 people on paper, but honestly, it'll probably be 200 max...

Zachary White9, take a look at the Amigos and Diocletian crowd over in Podstrana. For a group that size, they really need an ideal venue, but those guys at Diocletian don't even start working until 5 PM.

George Flores16 said:Zachary White9, take a look at the Amigos and Diocletian crowd over in Podstrana. For a group that size, they really need an ideal venue, but those guys at Diocletian don't even start working until 5 PM.

What's the vibe at those places? I'm hoping it’s not just a typical restaurant setup since I've actually never been there. If you have a second, let me know what they're like!

The Diocletian Hall area has its own dedicated space for cookouts, and since the Amigos spot is right by the water, it’s a perfect setup for a BBQ.

Just a heads-up, Bellevue doesn't even take bookings for groups under 130 people. I’m mentioning it because I saw you hunting for a venue for maybe 110 or 120 people if I read that right...

Would anyone mind sliding a few recommendations for hair and makeup artists into my DMs? I know, I know—my event isn't until September 12th, but honestly, it’s never too early to start planning, right? Heh.
Thanks a million 🙂