Everything you need for a California wedding

Has anyone actually tried the pie at the local spots in the suburbs or down in the city?

Hey guys, I need a little help here. Does anyone know where I can rent those white chair covers in the Bay Area? Also, what kind of prices am I looking at for something like that?

Hey, I need some help here. I'm pretty new to this forum.
I'm looking for a hall to host an event for about 200 people. Has anyone here actually used the Lav Le Meridien or that Velum restaurant? What was your experience like?
Also, I heard through the grapevine that Arkada does those fancy mashed potatoes served on colored plates—does anyone have any actual info or firsthand experience with that?
Thanks so much! Cheers.

Hey there! Has anyone here had any experience with that band Slatka Tajna out of Metković?

darksailor2 said:How many people can fit in Amigos? 😁
How many of you guys actually showed up to the party? I'm wondering if the buffet was even big enough to feed everyone. 😁 What's the price, if you don't mind? 😁😁

Are we talking about Sinclair Srdanović? I was scrolling through his photos on Facebook earlier, and honestly, they look pretty good. I guess.

I was just scrolling through some photos of the Papaya studio—they’ve got them up on Facebook too. I have to say, I actually really like their vibe.

I managed to track down Jurica Veić's number. Apparently, he and his wife both work in the industry—someone gave me a solid recommendation. I’m thinking about giving them a call soon to talk numbers and maybe flip through some of their portfolios. 😁

Anyone here actually dealt with any of these guys before?

Look, I've actually worked with everyone you just mentioned...
My son shot my goddaughter's wedding... the photos are seriously top-tier. 😁
As for Papaya (Nikola Smernić), I've been to two weddings he shot... the shots are excellent there, too. 😁
Then there's George, part of the Victor family duo... they shot my baby's photos and they are great. Both George and Vanessa work together, so you basically get two photographers for one. 👍 Even though they're young, they have tons of fresh ideas. I'd definitely vote for them.
Honestly, you won't go wrong with any of these names... just trust your gut when you reach out. For me, it's all about the vibe. If I don't feel comfortable with the photographer, it doesn't matter how good they are. You don't need extra stress on the big day.

Hi,

If anyone happens to have Luciana Spajic's number, could you please send it to me via PM?

Thanks so much.

Ladies, I need some recommendations for a DJ and karaoke spot in the Bay Area... somewhere decent that won't break the bank 😁 since I'm looking to host a small party with good vibes, not a massive gala 😉

Hey, I’m a local here in San Francisco—does anyone know if this is just how things work at other churches, or is it specific to them? I called the parish office at St. Francis today because my partner and I are dreaming of getting married at St. Stephen's Church in Manhattan next year. I wanted to lock in a date immediately so I could finally confirm everything with our venue; you know, get those two big pillars of wedding planning out of the way so I can actually breathe. But they told me they don't even start taking reservations for next year until the beginning of January. Honestly, I was floored. I can't exactly sit around waiting on the church when the restaurant is already booked solid and I’ve got nothing to show them to secure our spot. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of thing before? Is there any way to cut through the red tape and make a deal with them early? We’re really set on that specific church!

They’ve been totally rebranded—that’s why you’re feeling that way. But honestly, it’s worth a shot. Go ahead and insist 🙂

I booked my spot in late February for mid-June. Back then, I had my pick of the litter because everything was wide open. They offer four or five slots a day, so if you get there right at the start of the month, you should be fine. Or better yet, just head down to the monastery in person right now and try 🙂

Has anyone here been to a wedding at Velum? Just wondering what the food is like and what the overall vibe is like.

We really need some help picking out a venue... we're looking at about 100 to 130 guests, mostly younger folks who aren't really into that whole fancy-schmancy aesthetic, you know? We want more of a high-energy, party-hard vibe 🤣 We're hoping for a space that looks decent—maybe a little above average—but nothing too "budget" or run-down, like those cheap community centers in the outskirts of Chicago where it feels like you're just there for the ceremony 🙂 but we absolutely need the service and the food to be top-tier... We were looking at the area around Orange County or maybe somewhere near San Diego... There's this one restaurant in Irvine that seems okay, everyone raves about it, but people say it's right next to a gas station and stuff like that, which isn't ideal, so if anyone has any ideas

Sandra Miller5 said:We really need some help picking out a venue... we're looking at about 100 to 130 guests, mostly younger folks who aren't really into that whole fancy-schmancy aesthetic, you know? We want more of a high-energy, party-hard vibe 🤣 We're hoping for a space that looks decent—maybe a little above average—but nothing too "budget" or run-down, like those cheap community centers in the outskirts of Chicago where it feels like you're just there for the ceremony 🙂 but we absolutely need the service and the food to be top-tier... We were looking at the area around Orange County or maybe somewhere near San Diego... There's this one restaurant in Irvine that seems okay, everyone raves about it, but people say it's right next to a gas station and stuff like that, which isn't ideal, so if anyone has any ideas

In-N-Out👍 👍👍👍 honestly, can't complain about them...
Check out Amigos, George, San Antonio, or Dioklecijan in the suburbs.
Maybe take a quick scroll through the previous threads? You'll find plenty of answers there.

Nancy Sanchez11 said:Hey, I need some help here. I'm pretty new to this forum.
I'm looking for a hall to host an event for about 200 people. Has anyone here actually used the Lav Le Meridien or that Velum restaurant? What was your experience like?
Also, I heard through the grapevine that Arkada does those fancy mashed potatoes served on colored plates—does anyone have any actual info or firsthand experience with that?
Thanks so much! Cheers.

Le Meridien is pricey. I’m seeing chair prices around $50 to $60. Velum and I are trying to figure out if the quality is actually any good, but I guess nobody seems to have any real experience with them. 🤷
Have you checked out Castello, Dolis, and Phoenix? Or maybe Kokolo in San Francisco?

I guess I should start by saying that most people just don't get it. They look at the situation and see one thing, while the reality is something else entirely. It's easy to jump to conclusions when you aren't looking at the full picture, but maybe that's just how people are. I don't know. I just think we need to be more careful about what we believe without checking the facts first.

Raymond Brooks7 said:Look, I've actually worked with everyone you just mentioned...
My son shot my goddaughter's wedding... the photos are seriously top-tier. 😁
As for Papaya (Nikola Smernić), I've been to two weddings he shot... the shots are excellent there, too. 😁
Then there's George, part of the Victor family duo... they shot my baby's photos and they are great. Both George and Vanessa work together, so you basically get two photographers for one. 👍 Even though they're young, they have tons of fresh ideas. I'd definitely vote for them.
Honestly, you won't go wrong with any of these names... just trust your gut when you reach out. For me, it's all about the vibe. If I don't feel comfortable with the photographer, it doesn't matter how good they are. You don't need extra stress on the big day.

Man, thanks a million! 🙏 Finally, someone actually gave an answer! 🙏
And of course, the bigger guys are the only ones without any photos online for me to actually look at! 🤣 Hey kfragu!
Thanks a ton. Once I get the hall and the church booked, I'm planning to touch base with all three photographers.

William Cook35 said:Hey, I’m a local here in San Francisco—does anyone know if this is just how things work at other churches, or is it specific to them? I called the parish office at St. Francis today because my partner and I are dreaming of getting married at St. Stephen's Church in Manhattan next year. I wanted to lock in a date immediately so I could finally confirm everything with our venue; you know, get those two big pillars of wedding planning out of the way so I can actually breathe. But they told me they don't even start taking reservations for next year until the beginning of January. Honestly, I was floored. I can't exactly sit around waiting on the church when the restaurant is already booked solid and I’ve got nothing to show them to secure our spot. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of thing before? Is there any way to cut through the red tape and make a deal with them early? We’re really set on that specific church!

I’ve heard that a few times now, and I guess it might actually be true. But then again, a friend of mine booked there for this year and didn't run into any issues at all! 🤷

darksailor2 said:Le Meridien is pricey. I’m seeing chair prices around $50 to $60. Velum and I are trying to figure out if the quality is actually any good, but I guess nobody seems to have any real experience with them. 🤷
Have you checked out Castello, Dolis, and Phoenix? Or maybe Kokolo in San Francisco?

I guess I should start by saying that most people just don't get it. They look at the situation and see one thing, while the reality is something else entirely. It's easy to jump to conclusions when you aren't looking at the full picture, but maybe that's just how people are. I don't know. I just think we need to be more careful about what we believe without checking the facts first.

Man, thanks a million! 🙏 Finally, someone actually gave an answer! 🙏
And of course, the bigger guys are the only ones without any photos online for me to actually look at! 🤣 Hey kfragu!
Thanks a ton. Once I get the hall and the church booked, I'm planning to touch base with all three photographers.

I’ve heard that a few times now, and I guess it might actually be true. But then again, a friend of mine booked there for this year and didn't run into any issues at all! 🤷

Since they don't have 🤷Judy has some photos from the wedding on her Facebook profile... just add her as a friend. She doesn't really post much, but she keeps the good shots for people she actually knows.👍

Oh, one more thing. For the church, you might hit a wall because they haven't released next year's calendar yet. They usually get it around November... so try asking then. They probably don't want to be scribbling everything down on scraps of paper; these are massive parishes with huge crowds. Once it's written in the official ledger, it's set in stone.

Greetings,

Has anyone here ever hosted or worked a wedding at the Fortune restaurant in San Diego? We’re looking at a guest list of over 100 people, and honestly, the space feels a bit cramped to me.

Any feedback or firsthand experience would be appreciated.

Thanks.

So, we’ve got our eyes on that restaurant in Florida! Does anyone actually have the scoop on them 😕? Like, what are we looking at for prices—is it an all-inclusive kind of vibe or what? Also, how big is the place? Is the owner cool and friendly or just strictly business? I'm looking for any and all info you guys might have! 🙏

William Cook35 said:Hey, I’m a local here in San Francisco—does anyone know if this is just how things work at other churches, or is it specific to them? I called the parish office at St. Francis today because my partner and I are dreaming of getting married at St. Stephen's Church in Manhattan next year. I wanted to lock in a date immediately so I could finally confirm everything with our venue; you know, get those two big pillars of wedding planning out of the way so I can actually breathe. But they told me they don't even start taking reservations for next year until the beginning of January. Honestly, I was floored. I can't exactly sit around waiting on the church when the restaurant is already booked solid and I’ve got nothing to show them to secure our spot. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of thing before? Is there any way to cut through the red tape and make a deal with them early? We’re really set on that specific church!

Look, just letting you know I'm actually acting as a bridesmaid for a wedding at Manhattan right now, and honestly, everything went exactly how you're fearing. Like, the party was for maybe 30 people and the hall felt tiny... if you catch my drift. Everything was basically a last-minute scramble.

Hey everyone, I need a quick hand here.

Regarding the Hilton in San Diego—has anyone actually stayed there or organized a wedding on-site? I'm trying to figure out the actual capacity for their event space.

I’ve heard every rumor under the sun; some people claim it tops out at 95, while others say you can cram up to 190 people in there if you really push it.

We’re looking at an expected guest list of about 140 to 150, plus the band, the photographer, and the rest of the crew.

Benjamin Hill10 said:Look, just letting you know I'm actually acting as a bridesmaid for a wedding at Manhattan right now, and honestly, everything went exactly how you're fearing. Like, the party was for maybe 30 people and the hall felt tiny... if you catch my drift. Everything was basically a last-minute scramble.

Right. So, I swung by the local parish office earlier. They told me straight up they aren't booking dates for next year yet—only for the current one. Apparently, they don't open up the calendar until December. So, I'm planning to head back there first thing on December 1st to get my name on the list. In the meantime, I went ahead and snagged the reservation at Graso anyway, just so I'm not left hanging when it comes time to eat.