Everything you need for a California wedding

Our parish church is Saint Anthony, so wouldn't it make sense to have a decent restaurant or a local bistro situated right near both the church and Gusar?

Casey Foster40 said:Our parish church is Saint Anthony, so wouldn't it make sense to have a decent restaurant or a local bistro situated right near both the church and Gusar?

We played a wedding once—ceremony at Saint Anthony, reception right outside the hall in the building where State Farm is located... can't recall the name of the hall.
You could always organize something in front of the US Army base, too.

Jack Murphy7 said:We played a wedding once—ceremony at Saint Anthony, reception right outside the hall in the building where State Farm is located... can't recall the name of the hall.
You could always organize something in front of the US Army base, too.

Stories...
maybe at the old sailor's club🤷

Alright, I'm going to reach out to that old sea dog and see if he can pull this off for us on short notice—maybe just a quick two-hour window from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. How much would a group of 130 people actually run me? Thanks. Also, if anyone else has solid recommendations, please send them my way. I’m really not feeling that other suggestion, but thanks for trying!

wanderingbadger17 said:We were looking for something similar... honestly, I'm afraid you might not find it. I really wanted that outdoor atmosphere—something like a pool area or a well-kept park—paired with a nice indoor hall, but I haven't had luck finding that combo. Grasso is decent, but I doubt you can fit more than 100 people inside, though you could probably mix indoor and outdoor seating. Another option is Sky, over in downtown Las Vegas. It's beautiful, at least in my opinion. You can fit up to 200 people inside, and if you go outdoors, there's a pool and a view overlooking the whole city.😍 They are a bit pricier, but you really have to call and negotiate; it all depends on what you want. I think the standard menu at Sky (dessert included) is about $50 with drinks, excluding wine. At Grasso, the standard menu is around $40 without drinks, but they ask for a $10 deposit $0.00 (which seems a bit steep...😲). Anyway... let me know if you need anything else.☕ 😍

That's just not true; I actually had my baby shower there during my seventh month, and the cost was $42—and that wasn't even a typical setup, yet we got nothing but compliments from the guests, so much so that even I actually enjoyed that whole crazy experience😉 excluding drinks, making it $47 total. The deposit definitely wasn't $10$0.00 and there wasn't some arbitrary minimum amount required; we could have handed them a thousand bucks if we felt like it. Maybe you're thinking of the situation where they charge an extra $10,000 if you want the party on the patio, but in that specific case, you're basically renting out the entire restaurant. 😁😁

goldenheron34 said:Quick question regarding ice cream shops in San Diego: does anyone have any suggestions or experiences to share? 🙂 Anyone?
(I'm asking for everyone except "Croquettes"—they wouldn't bother implementing FDA standards, so even if their pastries were the best, I probably wouldn't grab anything there—I guess. -.- )

I grabbed some tiramisu from Tiramisu and was honestly pretty stoked. The staff is super friendly and easygoing. I didn't get a chance to try their cake, but a ton of people have raved about it—even my sister, and she's basically allergic to anything sweet.

Zachary Price2 said:That's just not true; I actually had my baby shower there during my seventh month, and the cost was $42—and that wasn't even a typical setup, yet we got nothing but compliments from the guests, so much so that even I actually enjoyed that whole crazy experience😉 excluding drinks, making it $47 total. The deposit definitely wasn't $10$0.00 and there wasn't some arbitrary minimum amount required; we could have handed them a thousand bucks if we felt like it. Maybe you're thinking of the situation where they charge an extra $10,000 if you want the party on the patio, but in that specific case, you're basically renting out the entire restaurant. 😁😁

We were looking for August 13th, 2011, and the manager told us that since it's the peak of the season, the deposit is $10$0.00. So, what you're saying doesn't match what we heard about the deposit minimum. That's just what they told us...🤷

Zachary Price2 said:That's just not true; I actually had my baby shower there during my seventh month, and the cost was $42—and that wasn't even a typical setup, yet we got nothing but compliments from the guests, so much so that even I actually enjoyed that whole crazy experience😉 excluding drinks, making it $47 total. The deposit definitely wasn't $10$0.00 and there wasn't some arbitrary minimum amount required; we could have handed them a thousand bucks if we felt like it. Maybe you're thinking of the situation where they charge an extra $10,000 if you want the party on the patio, but in that specific case, you're basically renting out the entire restaurant. 😁😁

So, are we talking $47 including drinks, while having access to both the patio and the indoor space?
Or is there an additional charge for that?

When we were dealing with the venue manager back in our seventh month of planning, he didn't even bother telling us what the down payment should be; we just threw $3,000 at them and he was perfectly happy with that.
Personally, I’m looking at about $50 per person including drinks, and honestly, I don't think it's worth going the open bar route because you lose all control over how much people actually consume, which just leaves the door wide open for them to hit you with some ridiculous bill at the end of the night.
There’s also that little trick with renting out the patio, which runs you about $10 $0.00 if you’re dead set on having the party outdoors, though the beauty of it is that you can mix and match guests between the indoor space and the terrace however you see fit.
We decided to skip the patio rental and just stick to the indoor area, but they were sweet enough to leave a few tables outside for the smokers; besides, nobody is ever hanging out on the terrace after 11 PM anyway, so it feels like a total waste of money to pay for outdoor space when everyone is already inside.
I’ve seen the setup when they host events on the patio, and I have to say, it looks absolutely stunning.
In the end, we walked away totally satisfied because we made sure to iron out every single tiny detail beforehand to ensure there wouldn't be any massive screw-ups.
🙂

Casey Foster40 said:I’m planning a wedding in California at Gusar restaurant this June, and I find myself needing some guidance. Does anyone have recommendations for a venue—perhaps a restaurant or a banquet hall—that could host a joint reception for about 130 guests prior to the church ceremony?

I mean, why not just hold the whole thing on the terrace at Gusar?

And what does "ironing out all the details" actually entail?
I’m asking specifically regarding the venue rental.
Feel free to shoot me a DM if you prefer.

Because beyond just the floor space and whether drinks are included in the package, I haven't the slightest clue what else requires scrutiny or careful attention.
And is there a formal contract to be signed?
Thx

What’s the price range for a chair at Fabula? Also, do they provide their own covers and colored upholstery, or am I responsible for bringing my own?
Does anyone know if there are any banquet halls in the area where the rooms aren't so close together? I attended an event near San Diego recently, and the music from the next room was blasting right while we were trying to eat. It was honestly awful.
Thank you.

Hey everyone,
I just had to jump on here and give a massive shoutout to everyone involved in my wedding... it was an absolute dream. 🙂
The venue at the Bellevue was stunning—everything from the atmosphere to the food and service was just perfect!!!!! My only tiny piece of advice? If you’re planning on having a huge crowd that wants to dance all night, don't go over 150-160 people. Otherwise, the dance floor starts feeling way too crowded.
As for the music, the band was incredible—Nera and Boris were just on another level. Seriously, props to them. It didn't feel like they were just "working" a gig; they actually blended in with us like they were part of the family. 🙂 They absolutely blew us away, from my grandparents down to the youngest kids in the crowd. 🙂
And then there's Mirjana, our photographer. We're still waiting on the photos and the disc since the wedding was only a week ago... but based on how much we love her... 🙂 ...they're going to be amazing!!!! She is such a beautiful, down-to-earth person... honestly, once you grab coffee with her, you won't want the conversation to end. 🙂
And of course, the whole crew was top-notch!
All in all... I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. 🙂))

Amy Morris70 said:What’s the price range for a chair at Fabula? Also, do they provide their own covers and colored upholstery, or am I responsible for bringing my own?
Does anyone know if there are any banquet halls in the area where the rooms aren't so close together? I attended an event near San Diego recently, and the music from the next room was blasting right while we were trying to eat. It was honestly awful.
Thank you.

Chairs there are about $45. As for the covers, they might have cream or white, but don't expect anything fancy or colorful.

I am curious about the air conditioning situation at the local headquarters and in the surrounding area. Since we will be meeting in July or August when the heat is intense, I want to ensure there is adequate cooling in the hall.

Amy Morris70 said:I am curious about the air conditioning situation at the local headquarters and in the surrounding area. Since we will be meeting in July or August when the heat is intense, I want to ensure there is adequate cooling in the hall.

My party was at the Fable during a total heatwave. Honestly, it was pretty cold near the tables—some people were even closing the AC vents because of it. On the dance floor, it just depends on how many people are grinding and jumping around, but it held up fine. If you're dancing in mid-summer with 60 people, obviously it's gonna get warm.

Bottom line: their AC is more than decent. No smoking inside, obviously, but they have a room right next to the dance floor where people can smoke. I was really worried about how much smoke would drift in, but I can tell you it's not bad at all. The hall doesn't get smoky, mostly because people aren't running outside the building to smoke—they just hang out right by the floor.

Aaron Patel15 said:My party was at the Fable during a total heatwave. Honestly, it was pretty cold near the tables—some people were even closing the AC vents because of it. On the dance floor, it just depends on how many people are grinding and jumping around, but it held up fine. If you're dancing in mid-summer with 60 people, obviously it's gonna get warm.

Bottom line: their AC is more than decent. No smoking inside, obviously, but they have a room right next to the dance floor where people can smoke. I was really worried about how much smoke would drift in, but I can tell you it's not bad at all. The hall doesn't get smoky, mostly because people aren't running outside the building to smoke—they just hang out right by the floor.

How was the food? Was everyone satisfied with the catering? Also, since three rooms are located close together, can you hear the music bleeding over from the other halls?

Amy Morris70 said:How was the food? Was everyone satisfied with the catering? Also, since three rooms are located close together, can you hear the music bleeding over from the other halls?

Personally, the catering was solid, but hey, everyone’s palate is different. If you aren't some high-maintenance foodie or a total snob, you'll find the food more than decent, maybe even great.

When I had my own party at the fable, I didn't have any other events going on at the same time, so I can't tell you if the music carries over or not. I’m actually heading back there this Saturday for my goddaughter 🙂's party, so I might get a better feel for that. I'll probably have more thoughts on the fable then—might be biased since I'm comparing it to my own big day...😁

What kind of food do they actually serve at Pirate's Cove?

Casey Foster40 said:What kind of food do they actually serve at Pirate's Cove?

I’ve been hearing just as much good as bad from people close to me, and honestly, the feedback is all over the place. On one hand, I’ve had a ton of people tell me the food is incredible, but then there’s the darker side of the story—I actually know two friends who basically lost themselves in that place. And just to be clear, I'm not talking about anyone getting carried away with cocktails; both of them don't touch alcohol, so we can definitely rule that out as the culprit.😉)
I honestly think this kind of thing could happen anywhere, especially when you're dealing with some massive, unstoppable force, and since they’re already pretty much at capacity, it’ll probably serve as decent publicity for them anyway, because let's be real, bad news travels faster than anything else in a small town like this.☕
I’m heading out there in about ten days to grab some BBQ, so I’ll be back to give you my take on the whole situation once I've had a chance to digest everything.