Everything you need for a California wedding

Kyle James4 said:Well, thanks for letting me know... $100 seems like a pretty steep price point to me 😲... I was wondering, what exactly does that cover???
Food?
Drinks?
Hard liquor?
Desserts??
Cake?
Decorations??
Flowers??

And how was the service?? I mean, were they actually allowed to keep the music playing until the early hours of the morning??

My concern is that if all those extra costs—like the decor, the champagne, and the hard liquor—are bundled together, it naturally drives up the cost per guest. So, I guess I'm wondering if everything really is included in that rate??? 😕
I would be so grateful for any information you can share, and if anyone happens to have some photos, that would be wonderful!! Please just send them my way... 👍
Thank you all so much!!

I actually heard something else entirely... I played the background music for a wedding dinner held at the Marriott... the rate was about $90, though the groom mentioned they negotiated a much lower price.
How that works, I have no idea... they charge for everything, opening the champagne, etc... but you negotiate the base price, starting at $90... and then it goes from there...

mistyraven272 said:My future maid of honor was at a party at the lion recently, so I can pass on her thoughts... She said the hall is gorgeous and huge, but that's why the price tag is insane... obviously it depends on the menu, but they paid around $110 per person (that's what her relatives shelled out). They started with a buffet where there were some seafood bites (like an appetizer), then the servers brought out the main courses and all that fancy stuff... but that's really up to what you negotiate... overall, the price is 👎

Are we talking about the same event... May 30th, 2009?

Anyone got any good photographer recommendations in Savannah?

Jack Murphy7 said:I actually heard something else entirely... I played the background music for a wedding dinner held at the Marriott... the rate was about $90, though the groom mentioned they negotiated a much lower price.
How that works, I have no idea... they charge for everything, opening the champagne, etc... but you negotiate the base price, starting at $90... and then it goes from there...

So, I guess it really can be cheaper...👍

Could you tell me a bit more about the overall atmosphere? How was the service?? The decor??? And what about the food? You know how it is—as a woman, I tend to notice every little detail.😉

Thanks!

Jack Murphy7 said:I actually heard something else entirely... I played the background music for a wedding dinner held at the Marriott... the rate was about $90, though the groom mentioned they negotiated a much lower price.
How that works, I have no idea... they charge for everything, opening the champagne, etc... but you negotiate the base price, starting at $90... and then it goes from there...

I was at that same bachelor bash, but I'm not entirely sure how low that price actually went, considering they charge for opening every single bottle—not just the champagne, but the wine too $13 🤷.
The group only brought their own wine, and even then, it was just red, served with lamb. As for dessert, they wouldn't dream of bringing any, nor would the guests think of taking leftovers, because anything left over stays at the hotel for their lunch the next day!!!

As for the atmosphere, it was fantastic—truly top-tier. The staff and service were excellent; if you can afford it, go for it, honestly, hats off to them!

Oh, and I'm not even certain if those $100 included drinks, given that they don't put standard large bottles on the tables, just those tiny 6-ounce pours, and oh, I almost forgot to mention—even the plain water was bottled! 😍

George Bennett9 said:I was at that same bachelor bash, but I'm not entirely sure how low that price actually went, considering they charge for opening every single bottle—not just the champagne, but the wine too $13 🤷.
The group only brought their own wine, and even then, it was just red, served with lamb. As for dessert, they wouldn't dream of bringing any, nor would the guests think of taking leftovers, because anything left over stays at the hotel for their lunch the next day!!!

As for the atmosphere, it was fantastic—truly top-tier. The staff and service were excellent; if you can afford it, go for it, honestly, hats off to them!

Oh, and I'm not even certain if those $100 included drinks, given that they don't put standard large bottles on the tables, just those tiny 6-ounce pours, and oh, I almost forgot to mention—even the plain water was bottled! 😍

Well, thank you for sharing those details...👍Regarding the dessert situation...it sounds a bit unpleasant, but I guess it implies that the overall experience was actually quite high-end and well-executed...🙂
I think I might head down there myself to ask some questions...
If anyone else has reviews for Lion — please, do share!! Thank you! 🙂

Does anyone have any intel on Gabriel's group? Specifically, how are they at hosting a party, and does anyone have firsthand experience with them?
I definitely don't want them playing folk music or Thompson.

Nicholas Alvarez14 said:Anyone got any good photographer recommendations in Savannah?

Miami Beach is definitely the best in town.

Who did you guys order the desserts from for the banquet? I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra right now if they actually taste good.

casualranger3 said:Who did you guys order the desserts from for the banquet? I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra right now if they actually taste good.

Betty Crocker (Hill)

casualranger3 said:Who did you guys order the desserts from for the banquet? I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra right now if they actually taste good.

I always grab my treats from Mississippi and I’m totally obsessed... cakes too. Honestly, just head over to Mississippi and check them out for yourself!

Paul Mendoza17 said:Does anyone have any intel on Gabriel's group? Specifically, how are they at hosting a party, and does anyone have firsthand experience with them?
I definitely don't want them playing folk music or Thompson.

Gabriel is an absolute blast—they’re actually playing my wedding next year!
Well, you saw them perform on TV over at the coast; they don't play that country stuff, just great West Coast vibes and regional hits. They won't play the heavy folk stuff for me either, but I'm pretty sure they'll definitely throw down some Thompson! Patriotism is part of who they are, after all!

Every week—I think it’s on Mondays—there is a broadcast on local public radio where various regional bands perform. They're the same groups you'd see playing at bars or small venues around town, so you can tune in if you want to get a feel for the talent out there and see who's actually worth watching.

Hello there. I'm new to this group, so I figured I’d drop in to say hi and immediately start pestering you all with a question...

My fiancé and I are currently navigating the tedious process of hunting for wedding venues. Does anyone here happen to have any firsthand experience with the Kokomo restaurant or perhaps the Woodland venue in Miami?
Thanks...

I haven't personally been out to Woodland in quite a while, but back when I was working at the hotel two years ago, people were constantly complaining about the food there. That was just for standard dinners—I doubt the situation is any better when it comes to the buffet spreads. 🤷

Hey everyone, I could really use some recommendations! Does anyone have phone numbers for local caterers (besides Arcadian, since I already have them) or addresses for bakeries? I’m looking for somewhere that does great classic American desserts, maybe something like a local bakery or a specialty shop... Also, is the catering price including pizza usually around $20, or is Arcadian more expensive or cheaper than the other options?
Thanks so much! 😍

Anonymous said:I haven't personally been out to Woodland in quite a while, but back when I was working at the hotel two years ago, people were constantly complaining about the food there. That was just for standard dinners—I doubt the situation is any better when it comes to the buffet spreads. 🤷

Hey everyone, I could really use some recommendations! Does anyone have phone numbers for local caterers (besides Arcadian, since I already have them) or addresses for bakeries? I’m looking for somewhere that does great classic American desserts, maybe something like a local bakery or a specialty shop... Also, is the catering price including pizza usually around $20, or is Arcadian more expensive or cheaper than the other options?
Thanks so much! 😍

For an American dessert, try the place right by the corner of Kerum's shop in the hills.

Nicholas Alvarez14 said:Anyone got any good photographer recommendations in Savannah?

There is an excellent photographer in Waterloo—his name is Firo, and he runs the "Delphi" photo studio. I actually hired him for a baptism shoot in San Francisco once, and we were absolutely thrilled with how the photos turned out. 👍
I know he’s done quite a few weddings over in Miami—he has really pivoted toward a much more modern style of photography, similar to what you'd see from the likes of Miami Beach, Delphi, or Ivica Matić... anyway, you should definitely stop by his studio to browse through some of his work or even look at wedding DVDs... if you're interested, I can send you his number via DM.🙂

Hey, I’m asking for help again! Does anyone have a contact for a band from San Francisco, Savannah, or Charleston that’s willing to play a gig in Savannah? If so, please shoot me a DM... thanks so much in advance!

THANKS INGA, I'M GONNA HEAD OVER THERE...

Nicholas Alvarez14 said:THANKS INGA, I'M GONNA HEAD OVER THERE...

Yes, you should absolutely go—he's younger, maybe around 30, and we are honestly incredibly happy with the results.😍
A friend of mine had her wedding shots done by Lido—they aren't bad, mind you—the photos themselves are clean and pretty, but I wasn't exactly blown away by his overall photography style.🤷