Everything you need for a California wedding

Paul Mendoza17 said:The big day is approaching, and I can't wait to take her to the altar. We have run into one small logistical hurdle, though. We live in Washington, D.C., but we want the wedding to be in California, which doesn't leave us much time to scout out venues. We are expecting roughly 250 guests.

Could anyone suggest a venue that can accommodate a group that size somewhere between Key West and the Miami area?

Also, how far in advance should we book a venue for a "larger" wedding like this? Our current plan is to have everything reserved about eight months out.

Thanks so much in advance!

Just browse through the info here—you'll find plenty of useful stuff... Personally, I think you should put down a deposit even earlier, especially since venues that fit that many people are hard to find around our neck of the woods... My advice? Secure the venue ASAP so you actually have time to focus on planning everything else.😉

Paul Mendoza17 said:The big day is approaching, and I can't wait to take her to the altar. We have run into one small logistical hurdle, though. We live in Washington, D.C., but we want the wedding to be in California, which doesn't leave us much time to scout out venues. We are expecting roughly 250 guests.

Could anyone suggest a venue that can accommodate a group that size somewhere between Key West and the Miami area?

Also, how far in advance should we book a venue for a "larger" wedding like this? Our current plan is to have everything reserved about eight months out.

Thanks so much in advance!

Like the girls already mentioned, you should definitely comb through the info threads, but off the top of my head, here are some spots: the Marriott International in Key West (my 😍), Kokolo (like a Walmart vibe), Bolero, Dolis over near Dugopolje, the hotel where the President of the United States might stay, Le Meridien, or even the Pirate (which looks stunning, though people claim it holds 250, which honestly sounds like a stretch to me). There's also that auto-camp hall in Key West, or the dreamy Castel Slanica in Key West (though they might need to expand first). There's a beach hotel in Key West too, but they won't let you host a reception during the peak season (months 5 through 10).

We were in the exact same boat—organizing everything from Washington, D.C.—and you can pull it off quite elegantly if you give yourself enough runway and if you get your future bride onto the forums 😁 just being smart about booking the venue and the band immediately is key; don't wait until the 8-month mark. We started hunting 9 months out and still found that some of our top picks were already gone. Same goes for the photographer, if you actually care about getting someone talented. Everything else usually falls into place eventually...

Since you’re looking at the area around Key West, just keep in mind a pirate theme might work best around November or December because finding a venue earlier than that is going to be a nightmare. I’d highly recommend checking out Galeb in Key West or maybe Castel Slanica. If you want something right on the edge of town, there's the Brzet hotel in Brzet, or you could head further out toward the Stanič Restaurant area. For a group that size, there is one hotel in Baška, but it would definitely need some work with decorations and linens to pull it off—it might actually be available in September or October, and it’s called Alen. I can give you the full details via DM. Hope this helps.

A robot and a manager on TTTS

George Flores16 said:Since you’re looking at the area around Key West, just keep in mind a pirate theme might work best around November or December because finding a venue earlier than that is going to be a nightmare. I’d highly recommend checking out Galeb in Key West or maybe Castel Slanica. If you want something right on the edge of town, there's the Brzet hotel in Brzet, or you could head further out toward the Stanič Restaurant area. For a group that size, there is one hotel in Baška, but it would definitely need some work with decorations and linens to pull it off—it might actually be available in September or October, and it’s called Alen. I can give you the full details via DM. Hope this helps.

The Alan hotel isn't actually in Baška, it's in Baška polje... and in my experience...👎

I caught an ad today on a local wedding site for Arkada offering to host weddings for up to 350 guests over at Obojen...It sounds pretty incredible because that venue is top-tier...the ocean...the beach...it’s pure fantasy...

They didn't bother listing any specifics, so if you're actually interested, just give Arkada a call and ask around... 😍

Nicole Kim11, I was saying that everything is right there in Baška because you’ve got Baška polje and the water all within walking distance. The hotel looks pretty rough right now, but honestly, it could be renovated beautifully for anyone looking for a large venue that won't break the bank. I actually handled the decor myself once, and the wedding couples couldn't believe it was the same space they had rented. So, it's really up to you.

George Flores16 said:Nicole Kim11, I was saying that everything is right there in Baška because you’ve got Baška polje and the water all within walking distance. The hotel looks pretty rough right now, but honestly, it could be renovated beautifully for anyone looking for a large venue that won't break the bank. I actually handled the decor myself once, and the wedding couples couldn't believe it was the same space they had rented. So, it's really up to you.

Fine, fine... but I’m sticking to my guns. I don't like the place, period. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone... unless they tear it down entirely and build something new from the ground up, including the surrounding area. What about the Horizon in Baška polje? Or maybe the Hotel Americana? They have large halls, though I'm not sure about the exact capacity... or what about the Soline in Breves? That whole place was renovated just two or three years ago. In my opinion, those are far better options than Baška polje...🤷
Besides, the guy is looking for a venue somewhere between Key West and Miami...☕

Hey everyone, could I get a little help here? 😍
I'm on the hunt for a banquet hall or restaurant for February 10th. We're expecting about 180 people, and I'd prefer somewhere just outside of Miami. Maybe something near Key West, Podstrana, Solin, or the coastal areas.
🙂

Anonymous said:Hey everyone, could I get a little help here? 😍
I'm on the hunt for a banquet hall or restaurant for February 10th. We're expecting about 180 people, and I'd prefer somewhere just outside of Miami. Maybe something near Key West, Podstrana, Solin, or the coastal areas.
🙂

Look, I can definitely recommend my own venue (Bellevue in Trogir—check the pics in my signature)....

Besides that, I’d suggest checking out Castello, Castel Slanica, Pirate, or Bolero....The ladies will probably jump in with more ideas soon. 😍

The Pirate and Bolero are hanging around town, aren't they? MBM doesn't even want to hear about it... 🙄

Anonymous said:Hey everyone, could I get a little help here? 😍
I'm on the hunt for a banquet hall or restaurant for February 10th. We're expecting about 180 people, and I'd prefer somewhere just outside of Miami. Maybe something near Key West, Podstrana, Solin, or the coastal areas.
🙂

You've
got options: In the suburbs, there's Amigos, Diocletian, San Antonio, or the Le Meridien
For the tech/industrial areas, try TTTS-Robot or Imenjak
Around Solin, check out Zvonimir or Gaspic
Near the coast—Castello, Ino, or Sv. Kriz(Civo)
And if you head toward Dugopolje, there's Dolis, Phoenix, or Sunce😍

San Antonio had me on edge, but we managed to pull in 150, matching what the Amigos are bringing home.
Over at Le Meridien, there’s way too much stuff in the $167 main menu—it feels cluttered to me.
I’m really not a fan of the vibe at TTTS; you have to trek through such a weird atmosphere just to get to the hall, and honestly, Dugopolje isn't even part of the mix.
Then there's Diocletian, whose website I can't seem to track down. It looks like neither Mammoth nor Castel carry them either.
I know, I know, I'm being super picky... 🙄
In the end, MBM will probably just do its own thing and land that honey reward... 😲

Anonymous said:San Antonio had me on edge, but we managed to pull in 150, matching what the Amigos are bringing home.
Over at Le Meridien, there’s way too much stuff in the $167 main menu—it feels cluttered to me.
I’m really not a fan of the vibe at TTTS; you have to trek through such a weird atmosphere just to get to the hall, and honestly, Dugopolje isn't even part of the mix.
Then there's Diocletian, whose website I can't seem to track down. It looks like neither Mammoth nor Castel carry them either.
I know, I know, I'm being super picky... 🙄
In the end, MBM will probably just do its own thing and land that honey reward... 😲

Dioklecijan is great, but it's a restaurant; honestly, it would probably be too small for your group size.

thanks for the heads up 🙂
so I've still got Mammoth, Ino, and Castle left on my list... 🤔

Anonymous said:thanks for the heads up 🙂
so I've still got Mammoth, Ino, and Castle left on my list... 🤔

Fine, if you say Diocletian's place is small, then I guess I owe you an apology...
But honestly, INO has two separate halls, and I had such a blast at the party there that I’m already heading back on April 25th.
One hall is on the ground floor while the other is upstairs,
and when I was actually at the party, I didn't even realize there was a second level; plus, they have a massive parking lot, great food, and the service is top-notch. 👍

And you still have
N/A
over in LA, they’ve got that new salon, the fable

Raymond Brooks7 said:NIRS doesn't work for MBM, and LoRa is stuck in the city, so that's out too. Appreciate the ideas, though... 🙂

And then there's the idea of hunting wild boar at some rural mill in the Midwest... sounds romantic, right? Out in the sticks, far from the urban sprawl... just look at the photos. If you're actually interested, check out my shots too... I'll shoot you a DM with the link and the password if you want to see them.

Hmm... I wouldn't rule it out just yet. To be honest, I'm leaning towards no... but I'll weigh all my options tonight once I've finished hitting up all those fancy restaurants. 😂

kontra said:NIRS just won't work with the MBM setup, and since LoRa is stuck out in the suburbs, that's a no-go too... but hey, thanks for the input... 🙂

Wait, why wouldn't you want it in the city? I don't get it... 😕