Everything you need for a California wedding
Started by Anonymous · · 👁 109 views · 7.4K replies
#1082 ·
Karen Cruz2 said:A friend of mine just booked a local choir group for her wedding...$500 they’ll be performing right on schedule in the hall 😉
Does anyone know of a good dance studio? I'm getting married in five months and would love for us to learn a few moves before the big day. ☕
Actually, I just saw an ad for an adult dance class being held at the local elementary school out in Yosemite
#1083 ·
Karen Cruz2 said:A friend of mine just booked a local choir group for her wedding...$500 they’ll be performing right on schedule in the hall 😉
Does anyone know of a good dance studio? I'm getting married in five months and would love for us to learn a few moves before the big day. ☕
George Flores16 said:Lolita on the rooftops, Mimic on the balcony.
Mimic isn't at the bar, she's over in the TV station studios...right where the chaos is...
p.s. My partner and I took private lessons there. I'll DM you the instructor's number...she's fantastic!
#1084 ·
Karen Cruz2;19271442 said:a friend of mine just booked the Chaos Inc. choir for a gig...$500..they'll be singing on schedule in the hall😉
Wait, where is this Chaos Inc. group even from?
#1085 ·
Kimberly Robinson55;19304874 said:Karen Cruz2 Asks:
A friend of mine just went ahead and booked a reservation at Chaos Inc. for 5 PM...$500They’ll be sitting there, drinking on schedule, right in the middle of the hall... just as they always do... 😉
Where on earth did that group, Chaos Inc., even come from...
I can't quite make sense of this link... It looks like some old web portal that hasn't been updated since the turn of the millennium. Just a collection of dead links and broken layouts... probably some relic from an era when the internet felt a little less crowded, though perhaps just as disorganized. If there was actually any substance behind it, I suppose I would have found it by now... but it’s just digital dust... 👍
#1086 ·
Kimberly Robinson55;19304874 said:Karen Cruz2 said:A friend of mine just booked a local choir group for her wedding...$500 they’ll be performing right on schedule in the hall 😉
Does anyone know of a good dance studio? I'm getting married in five months and would love for us to learn a few moves before the big day. ☕
Nicole Kim11 was a bit quicker than me, 🤣
she mentioned they performed in Malibu this year too... and she thought the guy seemed decent based on the phone call... if you need his number, I can shoot you a DM.☕
#1087 ·
Karen Cruz2;19318721 said:Kimberly Robinson55 said:Nicole Kim11 was actually a bit quicker on the draw 🤣
than I expected. She mentioned they were performing out in Newport Beach this year too... and she thinks the guy seems pretty decent, at least based on his first impression over the phone. If you need me to DM you his number, just let me know.☕
Would you mind sending me the contact info for that Chaos Inc. group via private message?🙂
When did you end up booking them for your event—how far in advance did you have to lock them down?
Thanks!
#1088 ·
ambercyclist32;19334295 said:Karen Cruz2 said:Nicole Kim11 was a bit quicker than me, 🤣
she mentioned they performed in Malibu this year too... and she thought the guy seemed decent based on the phone call... if you need his number, I can shoot you a DM.☕
I messaged her asking for it, so as soon as she gets back to me, I'll shoot it over to you via PM...
She booked them for a few days around May 30th...🙄
#1089 ·
Karen Cruz2;19335859 said:ambercyclist32 said:Would you mind sending me the contact info for that Chaos Inc. group via private message?🙂
When did you end up booking them for your event—how far in advance did you have to lock them down?
Thanks!
Got it, thanks.😉
#1090 ·
After reading through all your posts, I figured I’d jump in, share some of my own experiences, and toss a few tips your way!
So, look—I play in a band, and after playing a ton of weddings and various gigs, I can give you the real scoop. I’ll mostly stick to the music side of things, though, since—well, I’m not a videographer!
Before you go running off looking for help or advice, you’ve gotta realize that everyone is different. Seriously, people don't think alike! One person might love a certain venue, while someone else totally hates it—everyone’s got their own vibe! For example, back in my hometown, there’s this one hall (and it’s not just one, by the way) that most people can't stand, but someone walks in and goes, “That’s the spot!” Some folks don't care about decor at all and will leave a place looking totally bare as long as the party is killer. There aren't any hard rules here, and the absolute worst thing you can do is try to "copy" a wedding you attended where you had a blast. If you try that, it’ll probably blow up in your face! You can have the perfect venue, the perfect band, the right decor, the best photographer, caterers, and parking, but if you don't hire the right *people*, the whole thing won't be unforgettable. You have to remember that when an older lady hears some heavy hitters, she’s gonna say “Goodness gracious, this crowd has gone totally crazy! Jim, let’s get moving!” Meanwhile, the younger crowd might just fall asleep during the slower stuff. Every guest matters!
I’ve been to plenty of "great" and "terrible" weddings. As a musician, I look at it this way: did we actually entertain the GUESTS? Did everything run smoothly? Was the banter tasteful? (Quote: "Hey, Best Man, spin us around a little more"... Good grief... you can take the country out of the rural South, but you can't take the South out of the country!). Most importantly, did everyone working the event respect each other just for YOUR sake? (And hey, if someone thinks it’s fine for a band to play for two hours, take a 15-minute break, then play another two hours, well, they should decide if they want a wedding or a rave!). At the end of the day, steak is best when it's hot, and we all know how bad cold risotto can be!
For some people, the band's sound is everything... (Don't just listen to DVDs—I know, others have mentioned this, but people film with all kinds of cheap cameras. Talk to the band and ask to hear them live). For others, it’s the song selection, the atmosphere (and we all know what happens when you've had a few drinks), or maybe it's the food—steak, risotto, or just a massive spread. Basically, you need to respect all of it!
I know a huge amount of venues, capacities, photographers, videographers (I've seen their work), agencies, bands, and so on in my area, but since I can't exactly plug myself, I'll stay anonymous!
I get asked for recommendations for photos, video, venues... all the time. But I won't give them! How am I supposed to know if our tastes even align?
If the pay is right, I’d even fly to Switzerland to play a wedding, but obviously, the price would go up to cover costs. Just a heads up, though: don't expect a band from California to throw the exact same kind of party as a band from Georgia, and vice versa! ...Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but that's basically how it works!
Ask whatever you want. Negotiate with the people you hire, but always keep in mind that they are there for one night specifically for YOU. You're paying them, so they "have" to listen to you—otherwise... why would you even hire them in the first place???????
But seriously, feel free to ask us for advice too, because we can really help you out! We're happy to help however we can!!!
So, look—I play in a band, and after playing a ton of weddings and various gigs, I can give you the real scoop. I’ll mostly stick to the music side of things, though, since—well, I’m not a videographer!
Before you go running off looking for help or advice, you’ve gotta realize that everyone is different. Seriously, people don't think alike! One person might love a certain venue, while someone else totally hates it—everyone’s got their own vibe! For example, back in my hometown, there’s this one hall (and it’s not just one, by the way) that most people can't stand, but someone walks in and goes, “That’s the spot!” Some folks don't care about decor at all and will leave a place looking totally bare as long as the party is killer. There aren't any hard rules here, and the absolute worst thing you can do is try to "copy" a wedding you attended where you had a blast. If you try that, it’ll probably blow up in your face! You can have the perfect venue, the perfect band, the right decor, the best photographer, caterers, and parking, but if you don't hire the right *people*, the whole thing won't be unforgettable. You have to remember that when an older lady hears some heavy hitters, she’s gonna say “Goodness gracious, this crowd has gone totally crazy! Jim, let’s get moving!” Meanwhile, the younger crowd might just fall asleep during the slower stuff. Every guest matters!
I’ve been to plenty of "great" and "terrible" weddings. As a musician, I look at it this way: did we actually entertain the GUESTS? Did everything run smoothly? Was the banter tasteful? (Quote: "Hey, Best Man, spin us around a little more"... Good grief... you can take the country out of the rural South, but you can't take the South out of the country!). Most importantly, did everyone working the event respect each other just for YOUR sake? (And hey, if someone thinks it’s fine for a band to play for two hours, take a 15-minute break, then play another two hours, well, they should decide if they want a wedding or a rave!). At the end of the day, steak is best when it's hot, and we all know how bad cold risotto can be!
For some people, the band's sound is everything... (Don't just listen to DVDs—I know, others have mentioned this, but people film with all kinds of cheap cameras. Talk to the band and ask to hear them live). For others, it’s the song selection, the atmosphere (and we all know what happens when you've had a few drinks), or maybe it's the food—steak, risotto, or just a massive spread. Basically, you need to respect all of it!
I know a huge amount of venues, capacities, photographers, videographers (I've seen their work), agencies, bands, and so on in my area, but since I can't exactly plug myself, I'll stay anonymous!
I get asked for recommendations for photos, video, venues... all the time. But I won't give them! How am I supposed to know if our tastes even align?
If the pay is right, I’d even fly to Switzerland to play a wedding, but obviously, the price would go up to cover costs. Just a heads up, though: don't expect a band from California to throw the exact same kind of party as a band from Georgia, and vice versa! ...Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but that's basically how it works!
Ask whatever you want. Negotiate with the people you hire, but always keep in mind that they are there for one night specifically for YOU. You're paying them, so they "have" to listen to you—otherwise... why would you even hire them in the first place???????
But seriously, feel free to ask us for advice too, because we can really help you out! We're happy to help however we can!!!
#1091 ·
Taylor Kelly3 said:After reading through all your posts, I figured I’d jump in, share some of my own experiences, and toss a few tips your way!
So, look—I play in a band, and after playing a ton of weddings and various gigs, I can give you the real scoop. I’ll mostly stick to the music side of things, though, since—well, I’m not a videographer!
Before you go running off looking for help or advice, you’ve gotta realize that everyone is different. Seriously, people don't think alike! One person might love a certain venue, while someone else totally hates it—everyone’s got their own vibe! For example, back in my hometown, there’s this one hall (and it’s not just one, by the way) that most people can't stand, but someone walks in and goes, “That’s the spot!” Some folks don't care about decor at all and will leave a place looking totally bare as long as the party is killer. There aren't any hard rules here, and the absolute worst thing you can do is try to "copy" a wedding you attended where you had a blast. If you try that, it’ll probably blow up in your face! You can have the perfect venue, the perfect band, the right decor, the best photographer, caterers, and parking, but if you don't hire the right *people*, the whole thing won't be unforgettable. You have to remember that when an older lady hears some heavy hitters, she’s gonna say “Goodness gracious, this crowd has gone totally crazy! Jim, let’s get moving!” Meanwhile, the younger crowd might just fall asleep during the slower stuff. Every guest matters!
I’ve been to plenty of "great" and "terrible" weddings. As a musician, I look at it this way: did we actually entertain the GUESTS? Did everything run smoothly? Was the banter tasteful? (Quote: "Hey, Best Man, spin us around a little more"... Good grief... you can take the country out of the rural South, but you can't take the South out of the country!). Most importantly, did everyone working the event respect each other just for YOUR sake? (And hey, if someone thinks it’s fine for a band to play for two hours, take a 15-minute break, then play another two hours, well, they should decide if they want a wedding or a rave!). At the end of the day, steak is best when it's hot, and we all know how bad cold risotto can be!
For some people, the band's sound is everything... (Don't just listen to DVDs—I know, others have mentioned this, but people film with all kinds of cheap cameras. Talk to the band and ask to hear them live). For others, it’s the song selection, the atmosphere (and we all know what happens when you've had a few drinks), or maybe it's the food—steak, risotto, or just a massive spread. Basically, you need to respect all of it!
I know a huge amount of venues, capacities, photographers, videographers (I've seen their work), agencies, bands, and so on in my area, but since I can't exactly plug myself, I'll stay anonymous!
I get asked for recommendations for photos, video, venues... all the time. But I won't give them! How am I supposed to know if our tastes even align?
If the pay is right, I’d even fly to Switzerland to play a wedding, but obviously, the price would go up to cover costs. Just a heads up, though: don't expect a band from California to throw the exact same kind of party as a band from Georgia, and vice versa! ...Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but that's basically how it works!
Ask whatever you want. Negotiate with the people you hire, but always keep in mind that they are there for one night specifically for YOU. You're paying them, so they "have" to listen to you—otherwise... why would you even hire them in the first place???????
But seriously, feel free to ask us for advice too, because we can really help you out! We're happy to help however we can!!!
Alright, I'll go first. Since you're offering to give advice, how about 😉
The thing is, everything in your post is just really broad, high-level stuff. What those of us here—specifically me—actually want to know is: what are the specific things we can or should negotiate with a band when making a deal, and which questions are just a total waste of breath? 🤷
Basically, how far in advance do we finalize the setlist?
And which questions are considered useless or redundant from your perspective? 🙄 because they either make no sense or aren't even necessary.
And so on...
I'll try to think of more 😉
Anyway, I have a ton of respect for anyone from any professional background who takes the time to chime in like this, so cheers to you 👍
#1092 ·
Does anyone know where I can pick up some suits for the big gala in Small Town, USA or somewhere nearby?
Thanks 😍
Thanks 😍
#1093 ·
Karen Rogers23 said:Does anyone know where I can pick up some suits for the big gala in Small Town, USA or somewhere nearby?
Thanks 😍
Maybe check out places like Nordstrom, Banana Republic, or even Hugo Boss... there should be plenty of options.
#1094 ·
Karen Rogers23 said:Does anyone know where I can pick up some suits for the big gala in Small Town, USA or somewhere nearby?
Thanks 😍
If you don't mind the drive, maybe consider heading just across the border. (It’s probably about an hour's drive from Small Town, USA via the outskirts)
MM actually picked up his suit there—he paid for everything in one go $1133 (the trousers, jacket, shirt, vest, and tie were all from Croata) and we even got a VAT refund, so the total ended up being roughly $2,800 😉
#1095 ·
Karen Rogers23 said:Does anyone know where I can pick up some suits for the big gala in Small Town, USA or somewhere nearby?
Thanks 😍
We actually picked up a suit just over a month ago at that shop near the Tesla plant—I can't quite recall the name of it...🙄 It was marked down by fifty percent, so we felt like we had truly struck gold... paying only $500👍😍
#1096 ·
Jacob Harris88 said:We actually picked up a suit just over a month ago at that shop near the Tesla plant—I can't quite recall the name of it...🙄 It was marked down by fifty percent, so we felt like we had truly struck gold... paying only $500👍😍
Do you think it might be Gastra?
#1097 ·
Olivia Adams71 said:Alright, I'll go first. Since you're offering to give advice, how about 😉
The thing is, everything in your post is just really broad, high-level stuff. What those of us here—specifically me—actually want to know is: what are the specific things we can or should negotiate with a band when making a deal, and which questions are just a total waste of breath? 🤷
Basically, how far in advance do we finalize the setlist?
And which questions are considered useless or redundant from your perspective? 🙄 because they either make no sense or aren't even necessary.
And so on...
I'll try to think of more 😉
Anyway, I have a ton of respect for anyone from any professional background who takes the time to chime in like this, so cheers to you 👍
Ha, ha! Go for it!
You’re the one hiring people to be "workers" at your party! In that scenario, you're the boss and the rest of us are just contractors! If we don't want to play by your rules, you just fire us and find someone else!! Right?
The real headache starts if the videographer or the band doesn't stick to the deal... in that case... DON'T PAY THEM!!!!! If there's a contract (which is never a silly idea), it clearly states what everyone is responsible for! That's why it's best to book everything through pros who handle this stuff. Like I said before, we work with people every single weekend, so we're definitely qualified to tell you who can actually meet your needs! But seriously—don't just listen to one or two people. Get them in front of you, look them in the eye, and talk about what you actually want! For example, everyone might rave about some band and push you to hire them, but then they turn out to be so rigid that they end up being a total letdown!
As for all the overthinking and debating about song lists or whatever—there's no magic formula! You have your own vision, and there's zero shame in asking for what you want! Just don't ask, "Hey, do you know that one song 'White Wedding'?" because if they don't, they aren't pros, and nobody is going to recommend them to you!
Some bands have their own set repertoire and won't bother learning special requests just for your bash, but hey, it's your call whether you hire them or not! Most of the time, they'll accommodate you—just don't show up with a list of 50 obscure songs that nobody has ever heard of. It's pointless, considering a band usually plays maybe 100 songs per night from memory! Basically, keep it reasonable—if the band doesn't know a couple of songs, they'll pick them up, just don't drop the list on them five days before the big day! Give them at least a month!
If you need anything else, just shout!!!
#1098 ·
Taylor Kelly3 said:Ha, ha! Go for it!
You’re the one hiring people to be "workers" at your party! In that scenario, you're the boss and the rest of us are just contractors! If we don't want to play by your rules, you just fire us and find someone else!! Right?
The real headache starts if the videographer or the band doesn't stick to the deal... in that case... DON'T PAY THEM!!!!! If there's a contract (which is never a silly idea), it clearly states what everyone is responsible for! That's why it's best to book everything through pros who handle this stuff. Like I said before, we work with people every single weekend, so we're definitely qualified to tell you who can actually meet your needs! But seriously—don't just listen to one or two people. Get them in front of you, look them in the eye, and talk about what you actually want! For example, everyone might rave about some band and push you to hire them, but then they turn out to be so rigid that they end up being a total letdown!
As for all the overthinking and debating about song lists or whatever—there's no magic formula! You have your own vision, and there's zero shame in asking for what you want! Just don't ask, "Hey, do you know that one song 'White Wedding'?" because if they don't, they aren't pros, and nobody is going to recommend them to you!
Some bands have their own set repertoire and won't bother learning special requests just for your bash, but hey, it's your call whether you hire them or not! Most of the time, they'll accommodate you—just don't show up with a list of 50 obscure songs that nobody has ever heard of. It's pointless, considering a band usually plays maybe 100 songs per night from memory! Basically, keep it reasonable—if the band doesn't know a couple of songs, they'll pick them up, just don't drop the list on them five days before the big day! Give them at least a month!
If you need anything else, just shout!!!
It doesn't really work like that; you might have experience, but you're looking at it from a totally different angle!
What good am I as an employer if someone decides to screw me over just a month before the wedding? I can't suddenly swap out a banquet hall for 200 people in San Francisco instead of some suburb at the last minute, nor can I just magically replace the DJ or the photographer! And if someone refuses to follow my vision, I might not even have the option to hire someone else because everyone is already booked up. At that point, I'm stuck taking whoever is left, and that's definitely not what I wanted! I was at a friend's wedding that she organized in just one month, and honestly, it was a disaster—everyone said so. Sure, all she wanted to do was get married, but trying to pull off a 150-person wedding with only four weeks to go? 🙄 Everything was a total mess, and I would never dream of doing things that way! Besides, I only plan on getting married once, so I'm only throwing this big party once in my life; it's not like a birthday party you celebrate every single year....
#1099 ·
Taylor Kelly3, I really appreciate your intentions here, but I think your answers might be a bit too broad. It would probably be more helpful to give those girls some concrete, actionable advice instead. For instance:
- Always listen to a band before booking them; you can't just rely on a recommendation alone (on that point, we are 100% in agreement)
- Make sure there is a clear plan for the flow of the evening—things like whether there will be an anthem, a prayer, or a first dance, and if parents or the wedding party are being called up to dance. Don't forget to ask about the cake, the bouquet toss, or even things like garter tosses.
- Try not to insist on those long 15-minute breaks. If you do, your guests will end up hungry, but you definitely shouldn't allow the music to stop for an hour or more either, because by then everyone has already finished eating and they'll start getting bored.
- Clarify whether there will be any organized song requests or letters sent to the couple...
I’m sure there is plenty more you could contribute better than I can, so please, keep it coming!
- Always listen to a band before booking them; you can't just rely on a recommendation alone (on that point, we are 100% in agreement)
- Make sure there is a clear plan for the flow of the evening—things like whether there will be an anthem, a prayer, or a first dance, and if parents or the wedding party are being called up to dance. Don't forget to ask about the cake, the bouquet toss, or even things like garter tosses.
- Try not to insist on those long 15-minute breaks. If you do, your guests will end up hungry, but you definitely shouldn't allow the music to stop for an hour or more either, because by then everyone has already finished eating and they'll start getting bored.
- Clarify whether there will be any organized song requests or letters sent to the couple...
I’m sure there is plenty more you could contribute better than I can, so please, keep it coming!
#1100 ·
I was actually there myself, and I also swung by to see some friends over in K. Kambelovac which was honestly such a blast, and I think what I loved most was how they have this gorgeous
tent setup for guests, it’s just phenomenal!
tent setup for guests, it’s just phenomenal!
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