Everything you need for a California wedding

ruggedviper1 said:Same here—I’m another bride-to-be getting ready to tie the knot soon. We were originally aiming for this summer, but we aren't going the traditional route.
The plan is an early church ceremony, followed by a lunch for about ten people including immediate family and our wedding party. Then, in the evening, we’ll host a party for a group of about 50 friends. We're thinking about renting out a local lounge or cafe and bringing in outside catering, a DJ, and the rest.

I've been lurking on this forum for a few days hoping someone would have touched on this topic, but no luck so far.

So, I’m asking for recommendations (or anyone willing to share their experience) regarding decent venues in San Francisco or the surrounding areas that could handle this kind of setup.
Ideally, it would be somewhere near the coast with both indoor and outdoor space, just in case the weather turns sour. It doesn't need to be anything overly fancy.

Thanks, ladies!

Here’s something I saw once... I think it was July or August in Brooklyn, in a Small town, USA. A couple rented out a local bar. There was a DJ or live music, I can't recall, and a younger crowd, maybe 30 people. They even brought in a chef who was prepping some kind of shellfish in a pan, from what I could see. Great lighting and a light show too—totally wild! You really can dream up anything.
If it rains, it rains. If you're crazy enough, it doesn't matter!!! 😁

Good luck!

analogdrifter3 said:Hey there, everyone!

Our wedding is about a year and a half away, and we’ve finally started diving into all those tiny details. We really have our hearts set on having the big day on an island—specifically somewhere like Maui. At first, we were looking at some smaller spots, but we realized finding a good venue or restaurant might be a bit tricky there. We’ve been eyeing Supetar lately, which seems like a fantastic choice, though we haven't had the chance to check out that one spot, Vinotoka, that people say is great for weddings... has anyone here actually been there? I'd love to know what the vibe is like, how many guests they can handle, the decor, the pricing, and the food... we're planning on around 50 people, so we're aiming for something a bit more small and intimate.
If you have any tips for planning a wedding on an island, especially around the Supetar area (looking for recommendations for restaurants, hair stylists, photographers...), please let me know!🙂

Thanks so much, guys!

There’s a place called Kopačin in Nerežišće run by a very good host, though I'm not sure if they serve mashed potatoes. In Malibu and Supetar, you probably already know there are plenty of hotels. You can even hire a photographer from San Francisco; ferries run early in the morning—some leaving as early as 5 AM—so getting back isn't an issue.
As for music, it's a similar situation. I know the Slaven Duo, Pero, and the Twist OFF Band play the local spots on Maui.👍
You likely have someone on Maui who can swing by those places and check them out for you...🙂

Thank you all for providing such helpful information.
Does anyone happen to have experience with the photography studio based out of Makarska or perhaps the photographer Russo from Savannah?
Additionally, I am still looking to collect contact numbers for various musical groups (duos, trios, etc.).

Many thanks in advance to everyone. 🙂

Terry Anderson2 said:I can only really weigh in on the catering situation, mostly because I’ve spent my own fair share of time trying to wrangle those details myself. I know the New York City Ballet venue offers catering services, though your total cost is going to fluctuate wildly depending on how many guests show up. When I was looking into it for about 120 people, they quoted me roughly $20 per head.

What exactly does that price cover? What is their menu selection like?
I have attempted to call them several times, but I haven't been able to reach them while the manager is actually on duty.

Sandra Moore8 said:Hey there! So, I might be able to help you out a little when it comes to finding a band... I was actually at a reception just a couple of months ago where The Comedy Store band from Chicago was playing. Honestly, they absolutely blew me away.👍

We are heading to see them this Friday at a cafe called Vrime (if I recall correctly), so we will see how they perform.

Do you have any other recommendations?

Sam Reed3 said:We are heading to see them this Friday at a cafe called Vrime (if I recall correctly), so we will see how they perform.

Do you have any other recommendations?

Trust me, after Friday, you won't be asking for recommendations anymore...
I’m voting for them. I caught their set at a party recently and the energy was easily a 5 out of 5.
p.s. if you need more contact info, just hit up the VIVU website. They have everything listed right there—duos, trios, all organized in one spot.

Sam Reed3 said:We are heading to see them this Friday at a cafe called Vrime (if I recall correctly), so we will see how they perform.

Do you have any other recommendations?

Actually, I don't think they're playing this Friday; it looks like it's the following week.👍

Sam Reed3 said:Thank you all for providing such helpful information.
Does anyone happen to have experience with the photography studio based out of Makarska or perhaps the photographer Russo from Savannah?
Additionally, I am still looking to collect contact numbers for various musical groups (duos, trios, etc.).

Many thanks in advance to everyone. 🙂

Regarding that photographer from Makarska, I’ve heard good things... a friend used them for their wedding. But since that isn't until November, I can't give you a definitive recommendation right now, unfortunately...

Sam Reed3 said:We are heading to see them this Friday at a cafe called Vrime (if I recall correctly), so we will see how they perform.

Do you have any other recommendations?

Man, I don't know🤷....you've still got Major League, VIVU, and the TAXI band on the list! They’re probably gonna run a bit more expensive, but honestly, they're all pretty solid!

Hey everyone... does anyone know a solid duo (guitar and accordion) for a party at my place? If you have any phone numbers, please send them over... thanks!

Hey, does anyone happen to know where I can pick up some round floral foam spheres in San Francisco? I'm looking to make those decorative flower balls.

Sandra Gomez50, I actually saw that myself over at Ira Commerce in Dugopolj...

Thanks, Mark Hughes8. It looks like they carry them at the local Target near Duilovu too. If I find out for sure, I'll let you know—might save someone else a trip if they're looking for the same thing.
I think I'll just head over there myself. I heard that at Ira Commerce, you can buy wholesale if you have a business license or if you drop more than $100, but honestly, all I'm after is a pack of sponges.

Raymond Brooks7 said:Trust me, after Friday, you won't be asking for recommendations anymore...
I’m voting for them. I caught their set at a party recently and the energy was easily a 5 out of 5.
p.s. if you need more contact info, just hit up the VIVU website. They have everything listed right there—duos, trios, all organized in one spot.

The music selection is decent, but the performance is trash. There are way better bands in San Francisco, which explains why their price tag is so low.👎

Aaron Patel15 said:The music selection is decent, but the performance is trash. There are way better bands in San Francisco, which explains why their price tag is so low.👎

Do you have any recommendations? Even Kocka failed to impress me.

Has anyone here ever heard of the Ružmarin band from Savannah?

Aaron Patel15 said:The music selection is decent, but the performance is trash. There are way better bands in San Francisco, which explains why their price tag is so low.👎

What exactly do you mean by sloppy performance? Where were you actually listening to them? 😉

Quincy:

I can't make sense of this one. It’s just empty space. Total nothingness. If you're trying to say something, you missed the mark entirely. Give me something real to work with next time. kaže: The music selection is mediocre at best, but the actual performance? Absolutely lackluster. There are plenty of much better bands playing around San Francisco, which explains why their prices are such a joke.👎

The price is fair. Look, Journey has a name. They have a reputation. That’s why they can charge a premium. Kocka is a relatively new band—so what? If they slapped a $2,000 ticket price on their show, would that suddenly make them good? Please. Money doesn't buy talent. 🙄

Sure, maybe there are better bands out there. Maybe. But you can’t argue with taste. It’s subjective. At the end of the day, it just is what it is. And honestly? This whole obsession with linking price directly to quality is even worse. It's a tired, flawed logic. 🙄

Quincy:

I don't know what to tell you. People keep bringing up MIMIAS like it’s some kind of revolutionary breakthrough. It isn't. It’s just more noise in an already deafening world. We chase these shiny new concepts thinking they’ll fix everything, but they never do. They just change the shape of the problem. I’ve seen this cycle too many times to be impressed. It’s all just part of the same old machine. kaže: Got any recommendations? Honestly, gambling didn't exactly blow my mind either.

Here we go again. I’ve pretty much listed every decent band from this part of the country right here. Everyone has their own specific taste, obviously. So, if you're actually looking for a recommendation, do us all a favor and specify what kind of music you actually like. Just say it.

Quincy:

I honestly don't even know where to start with this one, but I feel like we really need to dive into it, right? It’s one of those things that just stays on the back of your mind, making you wonder if everyone else is seeing the same patterns or if it's just me overthinking things again. Does anyone else ever get that feeling where you look at the way things are moving lately and just think, "Wait, is this actually happening?" It feels like we're constantly shifting gears without any warning, and sometimes I wonder if there's even a roadmap left for us to follow. Is it just a temporary glitch in the system, or are we looking at a total overhaul of how everything works? I've been sitting here thinking about it for a while now, trying to make sense of all the noise, but it's tough when the ground keeps moving under your feet, isn't it? kaže: The music selection is honestly pretty mediocre, but the actual performance? Total disaster. I mean, there are so many way better bands playing around San Francisco than this, so you can bet that explains why they’re charging such ridiculous prices!👎

I mean, at the end of the day, isn't it all just a matter of personal taste?🙄Honestly, I am absolutely floored by KOCKA... they are such a breath of fresh air compared to most other groups out there. You know how some bands, like Journey for instance, are huge hits with certain crowds but just don't click for me? They just lack that certain something, that spark, you know what I mean? It’s like they’re missing that soul. And man, once you get into the whole topic of pricing...🤷So, I was just sitting here wondering... does anyone actually have a clue what we're looking at when it comes to the price tag on these things? Like, seriously, how much is this going to set me back?

Does anyone happen to know the approximate cost of hiring a folk band to perform for about an hour? Additionally, are there any such ensembles available in the San Francisco area?