Everything you need for a California wedding

Since I’m already here, I might as well give a little shout-out to "my" restaurant... We hosted a small reception back in July at the Marriott in Key West... It was a modest gathering—about 70 of us—and honestly, everything turned out just the way we envisioned (well, almost everything, if you don't count the cake!!!), all within such a lovely atmosphere.
Everything went smoothly, and they really listened to what we wanted... The owner was incredibly reasonable, too; he made sure we got pretty much everything we asked for. (For instance, my partner wasn't a huge fan of those massive beverage coolers sitting behind the bar—they felt a bit out of place and were kind of ruining the aesthetic of the room. In the end, the staff worked their magic and covered them up with some linens, so none of our guests even noticed they were there...) We actually handled the decor ourselves, too (thank goodness for IKEA!!!)
We even scored a discount since our party fell on a Sunday, and we got to enjoy some appetizers by the pool beforehand... which was just wonderful. But most importantly, absolutely NO ONE complained—everything was just perfect.

velvetseal612 said:Quincy:

I suppose I should probably start by saying that I don't have much to add to the current discussion—though, looking at the thread, there seems to be quite a bit of back-and-forth happening already. I’ve been sitting here thinking about the points raised earlier, and while I see where everyone is coming from, I feel like we might be overlooking a few nuances. It’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment, I guess, but maybe if we take a step back, we can look at this from a slightly different angle? Anyway, just my two cents. kaže: So, I was at a party this past Saturday, and I just felt like I should take a moment to give a little shout-out to the crew... they really did an incredible job. I have to say, Billie’s place over in Savannah is absolutely top-notch... honestly, I was so impressed. The venue itself is incredibly clean and well-organized—everything just flows perfectly—and both the service and the food were stellar. I’d definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a great spot. 👍 The bend 100s turned out great—the guys did an absolutely stellar job with the priming. Since we were working with international-grade pir, I figured we’d need to be a bit more generous with the volume and density of the fill... but honestly, the crew nailed the task perfectly. Seriously, hats off to them. top:

Hey, I saw you were actually at that Bellevue venue over in Savannah... how many people ended up showing up to the party? A close friend of mine is currently torn between Honeybee and Bellevue—she absolutely loved the look of the ballroom at Bellevue, but she’s a little worried about the crowd size. She’s concerned there might be too much congestion and that everyone won't be able to fit comfortably on the dance floor if they have around 140 or 150 guests.

Look, I had my bash at Billie and we had 170 people there.🙂 Out of those, 90 were young—meaning everyone was on the floor—plus a bunch of older folks dancing too. Yeah, when everybody stands up at once, it gets tight, but honestly, not everyone dances at the same time. And regarding the space? There was tons of room between the tables. My guests kept raving about how gorgeous the room looked and how it didn't feel cramped at all, even though I had the exact same fears your friend does. Bottom line: the room, the service, and the food are top-tier. I’d recommend them to anyone. I heard Honeybee doesn't look quite as good, but I've never been, so I can't really say for sure.😉

The hall in Savannah is seriously amazing. Everything’s been totally renovated, the service is top-tier, and the portions are massive. Check out these shots:

man, this lounge in Austin looks killer😁

Jack Murphy7 said:Yeah, I'm guessing the lower number is due to the parking situation

hm... well, they didn't really say anything specific. It seems like 70 is just the threshold... I guess it probably isn't worth their while if they don't hit it.🤷☕

Thomas Sanchez532 said:The hall in Savannah is seriously amazing. Everything’s been totally renovated, the service is top-tier, and the portions are massive. Check out these shots:

😳😳😳😳😳😳

Where can I pick up some car bowties quickly in San Francisco? I checked at IBM but they didn't have any, and maybe at the IRA, but they aren't open in the afternoon so it's a bit inconvenient to head over there...

Jeffrey Fisher73 said:Where can I pick up some car bowties quickly in San Francisco? I checked at IBM but they didn't have any, and maybe at the IRA, but they aren't open in the afternoon so it's a bit inconvenient to head over there...

Check out Nirsa

Thomas Sanchez532 said:The hall in Savannah is seriously amazing. Everything’s been totally renovated, the service is top-tier, and the portions are massive. Check out these shots:

Oh wow, this lounge is incredible... seriously good.

Brian Martin98 said:I recently visited Bellevue, and honestly, it’s become my top choice. The hall itself is fantastic—really impressive. If anyone happens to have more intel on the venue, or maybe some pro tips, please let me know. My inbox is always open for a DM. Since I’m living over in St. Louis, I’m actually considering hosting the wedding in Savannah instead. That way, we don't have to force the entire guest list to trek all the way to Savannah after the ceremony. What do you guys think about that plan?

Thanks!!!

Man, we had to drive all the way from Phoenix to San Francisco 😍but everything turned out great. Seriously, Bellevue is a venue worth recommending—from the food to the service, everything was spot on... I was beyond happy with them. Plus, if you can walk from the cathedral to the hall, that’s such a nice little stroll, so I think your plan is solid. 👍

Could anyone possibly suggest some talented musicians or vocalists for a ceremony in front of a church in San Francisco?

Has anyone here actually been to that party at Honey on August 15th? I heard they had a live band playing until almost 1:00 AM before switching over to a DJ... just curious what the vibe was like—and if anyone knows the names of the band or the DJ (and what kind of music they were spinning)

Help needed from The local beauty queen and anyone else nearby! I’m looking for some solid recommendations for a florist, makeup artist, and hair stylist. Feel free to DM me if you have someone you love.
By the way, has anyone here actually done a wedding at the Olympia Water hotel??
Thanks!!

Jeffrey Fisher73 said:Where can I pick up some car bowties quickly in San Francisco? I checked at IBM but they didn't have any, and maybe at the IRA, but they aren't open in the afternoon so it's a bit inconvenient to head over there...

I think you might find them at La Perla—it's right below the White House, just up from Carlyle and directly across from that big parking lot...

Does anyone happen to have a recommendation for a talented baker who specializes in wedding cakes in the San Francisco area or the surrounding suburbs?

Has anyone here actually tried the treats from Betty Crocker? I’m curious to get some honest feedback on the quality. I noticed online that they're charging $30 per pound, but I was wondering how their pricing stacks up against other local bakeries. Also, I'm trying to plan for an upcoming event—if I have 160 guests coming for a reception and a banquet, would 110 pounds of dessert be enough to go around?

Jack Miller4 said:Has anyone here actually tried the treats from Betty Crocker? I’m curious to get some honest feedback on the quality. I noticed online that they're charging $30 per pound, but I was wondering how their pricing stacks up against other local bakeries. Also, I'm trying to plan for an upcoming event—if I have 160 guests coming for a reception and a banquet, would 110 pounds of dessert be enough to go around?

The stuff from that local bakery is awesome! The venue manager actually recommended them to me, though I ended up going a different route and grabbed everything from an ExxonMobil-style big distributor instead (prices vary, usually around $50-$$23 per unit), but man, those sweets are legit....
For my last big bash with 150 guests, I grabbed about 65 pounds of dessert plus some cakes. As for the leftovers at home, we had so much junk we couldn't even finish passing it out!...
So yeah, I'd say 110 pounds should definitely cover you....

Thanks, rapidmason10; I think my best course of action would be to sit down and sample every single one of them individually.🙂

Well everyone, I have finally sorted out my most important details...

After meeting with a vendor in Malibu who wanted $30,000 just for his wedding services—can you believe it?—we have finally decided on a venue at a new banquet hall in San Diego... It’s a ground-floor space and shows a lot of potential. We are planning a Swedish-style table setup with various dishes, so my floral arrangements won't end up on the floor after thirty minutes...
My photographer will be Matic—he really is the best in the business. As for music, the band will be the 7th Regiment from the local district; they play both folk instruments and electric sets... so there will be something for everyone...

I was wondering if any ladies could recommend a makeup artist in the Los Angeles area... Is Antonija truly as talented as people say? I am looking for a specific retro-vintage look. Also, which hairstylist is skilled in that style? I want to book someone immediately... please send me a DM... thank you.

And perhaps a contact for a cake?? Something refined and delicious—not that overly creamy junk they still serve at weddings, the kind that leaves you with an upset stomach for a week...

Thanks.

I'm guessing you mean Ivica Matic? Well, give him my best—he’s been feeling a bit under the weather lately too...