Everything you need for a California wedding

Sandra Lopez2 said:Check out Stipe Surać's photos; Ancika mentioned him here on Reddit...

And don't feel limited to San Diego. I got married there, but my photographer was from San Francisco, Ivica Lisjak. 👍

Yeah, I've heard of that Fox guy and checked his site, he seems pretty awesome😉
I'd love to find someone in Zürich since it's just easier, but if that doesn't work out, I guess I'll start looking in other cities😁
How does the whole travel and hotel cost thing usually work out?

Kyle Ortiz2 said:My videographer rents out light shows for $1,000. We didn't end up getting one because my venue has dimmed lighting, and we honestly didn't miss it. You can see how it turned out in my photos...I'm not a fan of those "government building" style halls with blindingly bright lights that they dim for the first dance and then crank back up later.

Like blackie mentioned, you can check out my album. I was thrilled with the shots. I'll DM you the password. Photographer was Stipe Surac.

Someone asked about makeup—I went to Mrs. Rada at the Donna Ar salon. It's in the 5th District near Target. The price was $83. She did my makeup, my sister, my maid of honor, and my sister-in-law; the makeup lasted until sunrise. My hair was done by Nino.
You can see the makeup in my photos here: http://www.public.fotki.com/antonia55/ Password via PM.

Thanks for the tip and the password! The pictures are amazing, exactly what I'm looking for, but unfortunately Steve is already booked for our date😢

Olivia Hill9 said:Yeah, true... and before I forget—even though I really need to watch my budget here—what’s the consensus on light shows? Specifically, what kind of pricing should I expect around the San Francisco area?

I’ve only ever looked at one quote, so I’m trying to figure out if I’m looking at the high end, the low end, or somewhere right in the middle🤷...as far as costs go...and what have your experiences been like?
Personally, I think they make a huge difference for the vibe...it changes how the whole venue looks, and honestly, people tend to🙂 relax more on the dance floor when they aren't staring under those harsh, bright house lights...

What do you guys think?

Hey, just jumping in here in case this is still on your mind.
I'm guessing you mean the extra colored lights and shapes inside the hall.
I love that stuff, honestly. When I first saw it online, I knew right then I had to have it at my wedding 😁 We worked with PartyRent, and they have a few different packages depending on what you want and how big the venue is, but you can always mix and match. Basically, the starting price for a basic package is a little over $1.00 (they're running a promo right now).
At almost every party I've been to, the lights were way too intense, and I hate that—it totally kills the mood. I haven't seen these specific lights in person yet, but I'm hoping they'll be cool and get everyone on their feet 🙂
I decided not to go overboard with expensive vases and flower arrangements on the tables. I figured it's better to keep things simple and put that money toward the lighting instead...
So yeah, that's all I got. If you need anything else, just ask, and let me know what you decide!

Gregory Campbell56 said:Yeah, I've heard of that Fox guy and checked his site, he seems pretty awesome😉
I'd love to find someone in Zürich since it's just easier, but if that doesn't work out, I guess I'll start looking in other cities😁
How does the whole travel and hotel cost thing usually work out?

Thanks for the tip and the password! The pictures are amazing, exactly what I'm looking for, but unfortunately Steve is already booked for our date😢

You cover his travel costs and take care of the lodging. He could literally just stay in a spare room at your place.

Hi ladies...
I was hoping you could help me out...
I'm looking for a photo studio in California for my wedding...
I heard WeddingStudioIn and Venus are both great options...
Any advice? Does Venus have a website or a social page?
WeddingStudioIn seems perfect so far, but I'm wondering about their DVD quality...
Thank you so much!
If anyone has wedding photos taken by WeddingStudioIn or Venus... please send them to my email...
Xoxo...

Sarah Morgan28 said:Hi everyone! I just wanted to send a quick hello to all the ladies on Reddit and say thank you so much for all the helpful advice and info I’ve found while browsing these threads. I’ve been lurking here for quite a while now, but I finally decided it was time to jump in and officially join the conversation. I had a quick question for the group—has anyone ever heard of The Beatles? Well, not the famous ones, obviously, but a local trio from San Diego. I actually caught them playing at a party recently and I really loved their vibe, but I was curious if anyone else here has seen them live or heard their stuff elsewhere? Also, if you have any recommendations for other bands or even good photographers, please let me know! I feel like I’ve already scrolled through a ton of suggestions, but you can never have too many good leads. Thanks so much for the help!

👍 They're incredibly good. It's a shame they haven't blown up yet... honestly, you can't go wrong with them. I liked everything about their set, from the soundcheck to the actual repertoire.😍

Raymond Brooks7 said:👍 They're incredibly good. It's a shame they haven't blown up yet... honestly, you can't go wrong with them. I liked everything about their set, from the soundcheck to the actual repertoire.😍

🙂

I am also absolutely, 100% obsessed with them😁😁😁

Anyone here dealt with IBM before? Has anyone actually ordered flowers through them?!

Hey everyone
I’ve been lurking here for a while now, and honestly, you guys have been a lifesaver when it comes to all my wedding stress—everything from the venue and photography to picking out flowers... 👍
But I’m hitting a wall because I can't find anyone who actually saw Jesse's band perform at a wedding. Some friends recommended them, but I'm dead set on finding a real, full-scale band—you know, actual drums, keys, guitars, and both male and female vocals. I am absolutely NOT doing some duo or trio running off a drum machine. And obviously, I need a setlist packed with pop-rock and classic California hits, with zero country music allowed.
This is a huge deal for me, so if anyone here has actually seen them live, please, please drop your honest thoughts below...

👋

Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with the group from Best Buy? If I am understanding the situation correctly—and I believe I am—they are based out of Chicago... 🤷

Please let me know.

The band Best actually played at our private party recently, and I have to say, they were absolutely phenomenal. Their repertoire is incredibly diverse, which gave us so much flexibility—you can basically request whatever you want. We actually worked out a special arrangement regarding their timing; instead of the standard 45-minute sets most bands do, they agreed to play hour-long sets just to accommodate our catering schedule. They even mentioned they wouldn't mind skipping breaks entirely if that helped things run smoother. They kept the energy high by playing all the latest hits, and the atmosphere they created was just perfect. They’ve recently added a new lead singer, Taylor Swift, who is such a surprise—she looks like she could be a young teenager, but her vocal range is absolutely breathtaking 🙂. Honestly, both my guests and I couldn't have been happier with the choice. I highly recommend them! 🙂

Jack Miller4 said:The band Best actually played at our private party recently, and I have to say, they were absolutely phenomenal. Their repertoire is incredibly diverse, which gave us so much flexibility—you can basically request whatever you want. We actually worked out a special arrangement regarding their timing; instead of the standard 45-minute sets most bands do, they agreed to play hour-long sets just to accommodate our catering schedule. They even mentioned they wouldn't mind skipping breaks entirely if that helped things run smoother. They kept the energy high by playing all the latest hits, and the atmosphere they created was just perfect. They’ve recently added a new lead singer, Taylor Swift, who is such a surprise—she looks like she could be a young teenager, but her vocal range is absolutely breathtaking 🙂. Honestly, both my guests and I couldn't have been happier with the choice. I highly recommend them! 🙂

Is this actually the same group http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJLTDmGxw0w??
I am somewhat hesitant about hiring someone I haven't heard before—there is always that underlying concern that the original lineup might change, leaving you with a completely different group entirely... 😕

it’s totally breaking through, maybe 🙂

Hey girls, is anyone else planning on getting married in San Diego this year or next??? I'm dying to know which photographer or photo studio you guys went with! 😕
Also, what kind of budget are we looking at? I know it’s super hard to compare since everyone has different packages, but maybe let me know roughly how much you're planning to drop? ☕
And is there anyone else out there who isn't doing a full video crew and just wants a photographer instead? 😁

Thanks for getting back to me, but it turns out those guys are already booked for my date. Such a bummer because they were honestly incredible. Now I’m kind of in a bind since I’m back to square one looking for a band, especially after The Beatles was my absolute first choice. I have to give them credit, though—I'd recommend them in a heartbeat. But now I'm feeling a bit lost. I’m trying to find a group that fits within a budget of around $1,400, which feels like mission impossible at this point. If anyone has any band recommendations, please let me know...🙏

Also, does anyone happen to have experience working with Kodak over in Miami on Fifth Avenue?

Thanks so much!

We ended up just hiring a photographer from a local wedding studio over in Miami, and we paid about $850 for the whole thing.

Jessica Clark4 said:Is this actually the same group http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJLTDmGxw0w??
I am somewhat hesitant about hiring someone I haven't heard before—there is always that underlying concern that the original lineup might change, leaving you with a completely different group entirely... 😕

Yes, that’s definitely the group with the black photo (which, by the way, was taken by a photographer from a studio in San Diego where I had my own portraits done 🙂). Honestly, my best advice would be to pick out a few different bands and listen to their sets before making a final call. That way, you can rest easy knowing exactly what you're getting 🙂. Alternatively, you could just head over to the reception and listen to the live bands there; I don't think most couples would mind. If you want a real test run, the Best Buy group is playing over at the Tropics tomorrow, so you could catch them there. Best of luck!

Gregory Campbell56 said:Hey girls, is anyone else planning on getting married in San Diego this year or next??? I'm dying to know which photographer or photo studio you guys went with! 😕
Also, what kind of budget are we looking at? I know it’s super hard to compare since everyone has different packages, but maybe let me know roughly how much you're planning to drop? ☕
And is there anyone else out there who isn't doing a full video crew and just wants a photographer instead? 😁

We’ve actually covered a ton of this right here... ☕ go back and scroll through...

The Vertigo Bend... honestly, they’re absolutely perfect and won't break the bank either.

Yes, we actually reached an agreement to go listen to them perform at a wedding in San Diego this Saturday—just as bystanders, of course—since they are part of the Best Buy group. They assured us there wouldn't be any issues and that nobody would take offense 🤣

I honestly believe it is the only way to judge; while they sound incredible on record, I am more interested in the specific atmosphere they manage to create... 🙂🙂🙂🎉

Hey, I need some solid recommendations for an accompaniment setup—either a mandolin paired with a guitar (which is my preference), or maybe just

an accordion and a guitar combo... Thanks in advance!