Everything you need for a California wedding

A quick recap of our little getaway:

The church service at St. Jude’s: everything went smoothly, and there wasn't much of a crowd or any distractions during the mass.
Dinner at The Pirate: honestly, the food and the atmosphere were top-tier. I’d highly recommend it—the service was great, the prices were fair, and they really treated us well.
Photographer, Ivan Miller: this guy is in a league of his own. He's worth every penny. He's approachable, down-to-earth, and just easy to work with. Definitely look him up.
Band, Rhythm Tide: since they're a trio, they sounded incredible, and the female vocalist was fantastic. They really set the mood, and they have a great way of picking and playing new tracks. Highly recommended.

wanderingbadger17 said:A quick recap of our little getaway:

The church service at St. Jude’s: everything went smoothly, and there wasn't much of a crowd or any distractions during the mass.
Dinner at The Pirate: honestly, the food and the atmosphere were top-tier. I’d highly recommend it—the service was great, the prices were fair, and they really treated us well.
Photographer, Ivan Miller: this guy is in a league of his own. He's worth every penny. He's approachable, down-to-earth, and just easy to work with. Definitely look him up.
Band, Rhythm Tide: since they're a trio, they sounded incredible, and the female vocalist was fantastic. They really set the mood, and they have a great way of picking and playing new tracks. Highly recommended.

batelant those are some stellar choices
if you'd just throw a few photos our way, we'll have the perfect 👍👍👍👍

William Cook35 said: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.

I don't know if I'd say that's okay or not... I mean, can they really not show a little bit of flexibility? It's ridiculous.

Honestly, I had a total nightmare experience dealing with St. Anthony's about four years ago when I was getting married...

Since I’m not getting any replies on the ring thread, I figured I’d try my luck over here! 🙂

Where is the best place in Los Angeles to go wedding ring shopping?
Specifically, where can I find the best selection and overall quality?

Thanks! 😍

Gerald Wright3 said:Since I’m not getting any replies on the ring thread, I figured I’d try my luck over here! 🙂

Where is the best place in Los Angeles to go wedding ring shopping?
Specifically, where can I find the best selection and overall quality?

Thanks! 😍

I'm actually looking for the same info myself.🙂

mellowsurfer34 said:I'm actually looking for the same info myself.🙂

Unfortunately, we aren't getting any answers here...😢

What do I know? Personally, my first thought would be The Pentagon Jewelry. They seem like the most modern option out there! 😁

The selection might be pretty solid, so I'm planning on heading there first. We'll see how it goes from there.

Hopefully, someone will eventually step up and help us out! 🙂

😍

Gerald Wright3 said:Unfortunately, we aren't getting any answers here...😢

What do I know? Personally, my first thought would be The Pentagon Jewelry. They seem like the most modern option out there! 😁

The selection might be pretty solid, so I'm planning on heading there first. We'll see how it goes from there.

Hopefully, someone will eventually step up and help us out! 🙂

😍

If you want the widest variety of rings, you should check out Vegas Jewelers; they're tucked away in that little alleyway right between the main plaza and the farmer's market. They specialize specifically in wedding bands, so if you have a unique vision in mind, you can pretty much custom order whatever you want. Most other jewelers in the city can make anything you desire, provided you actually have an idea of what you're looking for if you don't want the standard stuff. I ended up getting mine at MediaCorp near The Pentagon—it's right next to Tiffany & Co.—because I snagged a 20% discount at a bridal expo. Hopefully, that helps even just a little bit.😉

rustyfox25 said:If you want the widest variety of rings, you should check out Vegas Jewelers; they're tucked away in that little alleyway right between the main plaza and the farmer's market. They specialize specifically in wedding bands, so if you have a unique vision in mind, you can pretty much custom order whatever you want. Most other jewelers in the city can make anything you desire, provided you actually have an idea of what you're looking for if you don't want the standard stuff. I ended up getting mine at MediaCorp near The Pentagon—it's right next to Tiffany & Co.—because I snagged a 20% discount at a bridal expo. Hopefully, that helps even just a little bit.😉

Thank you so much!!! 😍😍
You didn't just help a little; you were a lifesaver!!! 😁

Thanks again! I'm going to go check them out as soon as possible!

rustyfox25 said:If you want the widest variety of rings, you should check out Vegas Jewelers; they're tucked away in that little alleyway right between the main plaza and the farmer's market. They specialize specifically in wedding bands, so if you have a unique vision in mind, you can pretty much custom order whatever you want. Most other jewelers in the city can make anything you desire, provided you actually have an idea of what you're looking for if you don't want the standard stuff. I ended up getting mine at MediaCorp near The Pentagon—it's right next to Tiffany & Co.—because I snagged a 20% discount at a bridal expo. Hopefully, that helps even just a little bit.😉

I actually bought my set at Meta Jewelers as well! I hit up that same bridal fair, and man, they really did have the widest variety. My partner and I even ended up doing this little DIY mashup using parts from two different pairs 🙂—see, he wasn't crazy about the men's band I picked out, and I wasn't totally feeling his, but since they were super similar styles, we just combined them into one perfect set.
Here are some photos!
http://public.fotki.com/acivadel/vere/vere-1.html

I did fall in love with the pieces at Cleveland Jewelers, but—oof—they are just way out of my budget.

Hey everyone,

Finally decided to stop lurking and actually post :-) I’ve been reading this board forever, but I finally pulled the trigger on making an account.😁
So, my partner and I are planning a wedding for next year—hopefully in September if we can actually snag a venue in time. We're looking at a massive bash, probably 250-300 people in San Francisco, so finding a hall that won't break the bank or cram us in like sardines is driving me crazy. I’ve never even stepped foot in one of these big banquet halls, so I have zero clue which ones are actually decent (maybe Phoenix, Dolores, or Fable?). I saw Phoenix Dugopolje is still around $35 a head, which sounds like a steal to me. Has anyone actually had a party there? How was the service and the food? Please help me out ASAP before all my dates get snatched up. 🙏

Thanks 😍

Quincy:

Malamut I can't even deal with this right now. It's just ridiculous. Hey girls, I wasn't sure if there was an actual thread for finding good salami for a BBQ around the San Francisco area, so I figured I'd just ask here. 😁 I'm looking for some solid mashed potato catering for a crowd of about 200 to 300 people out here in the San Francisco area. I already know about Dolores and Phoenix Dugopolje, but I need more options! 😁 Anyone ever stayed at the Medena Resort out in San Francisco? I heard they can cram up to 450 guests in there. Is that actually true, or is there some kind of capacity limit I should know about? 🤷 Does anyone actually know what the prices are like over there? Is the food any good, or just overpriced junk? And please tell me they have an ocean view. 😁 Does anyone know of any halls around San Francisco or the surrounding area that can fit at least 200 people? I need somewhere right by the water—or at least a place with a terrace facing the ocean. Looking for that view! 🙂 Something like this. San Antonio is a total mess. Honestly, I can't stand driving through there anymore.Look, I'm telling you, that place can hold up to 150 guests! 😬

I'm also hunting for a hall that can actually fit this many guests. Which venue did you end up picking? 😉

rustyfox25 said:If you want the widest variety of rings, you should check out Vegas Jewelers; they're tucked away in that little alleyway right between the main plaza and the farmer's market. They specialize specifically in wedding bands, so if you have a unique vision in mind, you can pretty much custom order whatever you want. Most other jewelers in the city can make anything you desire, provided you actually have an idea of what you're looking for if you don't want the standard stuff. I ended up getting mine at MediaCorp near The Pentagon—it's right next to Tiffany & Co.—because I snagged a 20% discount at a bridal expo. Hopefully, that helps even just a little bit.😉

Yeah, thanks a ton.
Most of the good spots seem to be clustered around The Pentagon or the fruit market, so I'll probably end up scouting something around there.🙂

Can anyone point me toward a good florist in San Francisco for decorations and bouquets? Looking for something that won't break the bank.

Arthur Phillips12 said:Quincy:

Malamut I can't even deal with this right now. It's just ridiculous. Hey girls, I wasn't sure if there was an actual thread for finding good salami for a BBQ around the San Francisco area, so I figured I'd just ask here. 😁 I'm looking for some solid mashed potato catering for a crowd of about 200 to 300 people out here in the San Francisco area. I already know about Dolores and Phoenix Dugopolje, but I need more options! 😁 Anyone ever stayed at the Medena Resort out in San Francisco? I heard they can cram up to 450 guests in there. Is that actually true, or is there some kind of capacity limit I should know about? 🤷 Does anyone actually know what the prices are like over there? Is the food any good, or just overpriced junk? And please tell me they have an ocean view. 😁 Does anyone know of any halls around San Francisco or the surrounding area that can fit at least 200 people? I need somewhere right by the water—or at least a place with a terrace facing the ocean. Looking for that view! 🙂 Something like this. San Antonio is a total mess. Honestly, I can't stand driving through there anymore.Look, I'm telling you, that place can hold up to 150 guests! 😬

I'm also hunting for a hall that can actually fit this many guests. Which venue did you end up picking? 😉

hey

I wouldn't recommend Honeycomb Hotel—I've been to two weddings there and wasn't a fan. The hall is pretty dark and feels cramped once you hit 300 people.

Two weeks ago, I was at a wedding at the Presidential Hotel in San Francisco and it was great. They had about 250 guests. The hall is phenomenal and the food is excellent. That was my third wedding there and honestly, they’re top-tier.

The hall at the Atrium Hotel is also major league. I was at a wedding there with 200 guests and it was beautiful.

There's this new venue in San Francisco, can't remember the name... the owner is the same guy who owns the Alka Hotel in a small town out west... the hall is great, I think it holds up to 350...

Phoenix is just hit or miss for me... the food isn't always the best...

Pirate's Cove has a really nice, large hall too!!!

Good luck😁

I had my wedding in San Antonio with about 110 people, and if there had been any more, it would have been way too tight. For smaller weddings under 100, they are seriously my absolute favorite...

mellowsurfer34 said:Can anyone point me toward a good florist in San Francisco for decorations and bouquets? Looking for something that won't break the bank.

Keti's Florist over in Puyallup🙂

mellowsurfer34 said:Can anyone point me toward a good florist in San Francisco for decorations and bouquets? Looking for something that won't break the bank.

Ira's Florist over by the shopping center does solid work and the prices are fair enough😉—a friend used them once and everything was great... from the car, the church, the table settings, all the way down to the bouquet😉—😁

Arthur Phillips12 said:Hey everyone,

Finally decided to stop lurking and actually post :-) I’ve been reading this board forever, but I finally pulled the trigger on making an account.😁
So, my partner and I are planning a wedding for next year—hopefully in September if we can actually snag a venue in time. We're looking at a massive bash, probably 250-300 people in San Francisco, so finding a hall that won't break the bank or cram us in like sardines is driving me crazy. I’ve never even stepped foot in one of these big banquet halls, so I have zero clue which ones are actually decent (maybe Phoenix, Dolores, or Fable?). I saw Phoenix Dugopolje is still around $35 a head, which sounds like a steal to me. Has anyone actually had a party there? How was the service and the food? Please help me out ASAP before all my dates get snatched up. 🙏

Thanks 😍

Arthur Phillips12 said:Quincy:

Malamut I can't even deal with this right now. It's just ridiculous. Hey girls, I wasn't sure if there was an actual thread for finding good salami for a BBQ around the San Francisco area, so I figured I'd just ask here. 😁 I'm looking for some solid mashed potato catering for a crowd of about 200 to 300 people out here in the San Francisco area. I already know about Dolores and Phoenix Dugopolje, but I need more options! 😁 Anyone ever stayed at the Medena Resort out in San Francisco? I heard they can cram up to 450 guests in there. Is that actually true, or is there some kind of capacity limit I should know about? 🤷 Does anyone actually know what the prices are like over there? Is the food any good, or just overpriced junk? And please tell me they have an ocean view. 😁 Does anyone know of any halls around San Francisco or the surrounding area that can fit at least 200 people? I need somewhere right by the water—or at least a place with a terrace facing the ocean. Looking for that view! 🙂 Something like this. San Antonio is a total mess. Honestly, I can't stand driving through there anymore.Look, I'm telling you, that place can hold up to 150 guests! 😬

I'm also hunting for a hall that can actually fit this many guests. Which venue did you end up picking? 😉

I haven't picked one yet! 😁

Dolis has plenty of options! In Dolis Lesnina, they have two identical square halls, and each can hold 300 people. They’re nice halls. There's plenty of parking... and you won't hear the music from the other hall!
They charge $37 per person. The food is great, and the manager is excellent! You should go check out those halls in Lesnina and set up a tour.

At Phoenix, they have a smaller room for 210 people and then a larger one... though I'm not sure how many the bigger one holds. Honestly, the food at Dolis is better.

There’s also Castello in the suburbs; they have two rooms. The bottom one is bigger and fits about 300. To be honest, the top room is way nicer and has a better layout, but you couldn't fit even 250 people up there. I didn't really vibe with the manager there, 😬 and apparently, the food isn't anything to write home about! 🤷 At least, that's what I've heard from others.

A friend of mine went to Fabula once. I haven't been myself... but word on the street is it's nothing special. 🤷
Kokolo over on Kotex can take 300 people, but they're $40 a head... and it's all renovated.

Bolero over on Victa also takes quite a few people, but they're more expensive.

I don't know what else. 🤔

Justin Bennett61 said:hey

I wouldn't recommend Honeycomb Hotel—I've been to two weddings there and wasn't a fan. The hall is pretty dark and feels cramped once you hit 300 people.

Two weeks ago, I was at a wedding at the Presidential Hotel in San Francisco and it was great. They had about 250 guests. The hall is phenomenal and the food is excellent. That was my third wedding there and honestly, they’re top-tier.

The hall at the Atrium Hotel is also major league. I was at a wedding there with 200 guests and it was beautiful.

There's this new venue in San Francisco, can't remember the name... the owner is the same guy who owns the Alka Hotel in a small town out west... the hall is great, I think it holds up to 350...

Phoenix is just hit or miss for me... the food isn't always the best...

Pirate's Cove has a really nice, large hall too!!!

Good luck😁

I had my wedding in San Antonio with about 110 people, and if there had been any more, it would have been way too tight. For smaller weddings under 100, they are seriously my absolute favorite...

The President Hotel has ridiculously high prices! 😬

Gusar is great in terms of the vibe and the layout, but the hall itself is small! You can't fit 300 people in there.🤔

We are hosting a reception at the Atrium... expecting about 200 guests... I find the venue itself to be top-tier, and the coordinator is nothing short of exceptional. My confidence in choosing the Atrium came from recommendations by several bands who have performed there—including my own taxi band, which offered nothing but praise—and that was the deciding factor for us. 🙂 When we dropped off the deposit, the room was already set up for an event and looked absolutely stunning. I’ve heard the catering is excellent, and the manager even went so far as to invite us to come by and sample the wine and prosciutto if we wished, though he was so persuasive that we didn't feel the need to try anything. So, I offer my warm recommendation for the Atrium... the reception is scheduled for February, and I will provide further updates on our satisfaction after that. 😉

One more thing... before making our final decision, we visited the Radisson, the former San Francisco Grand Hotel, and it didn't exactly blow me away. The ceilings are somewhat low, though they do have a lovely terrace. As for Le Meridien, it's rather mediocre in my opinion; the hall feels like a standard banquet room, the atmosphere is quite cold, and the decor consists of plain white tablecloths that are too short and yellow chair covers...

darksailor2 said:I haven't picked one yet! 😁

Dolis has plenty of options! In Dolis Lesnina, they have two identical square halls, and each can hold 300 people. They’re nice halls. There's plenty of parking... and you won't hear the music from the other hall!
They charge $37 per person. The food is great, and the manager is excellent! You should go check out those halls in Lesnina and set up a tour.

At Phoenix, they have a smaller room for 210 people and then a larger one... though I'm not sure how many the bigger one holds. Honestly, the food at Dolis is better.

There’s also Castello in the suburbs; they have two rooms. The bottom one is bigger and fits about 300. To be honest, the top room is way nicer and has a better layout, but you couldn't fit even 250 people up there. I didn't really vibe with the manager there, 😬 and apparently, the food isn't anything to write home about! 🤷 At least, that's what I've heard from others.

A friend of mine went to Fabula once. I haven't been myself... but word on the street is it's nothing special. 🤷
Kokolo over on Kotex can take 300 people, but they're $40 a head... and it's all renovated.

Bolero over on Victa also takes quite a few people, but they're more expensive.

I don't know what else. 🤔

The President Hotel has ridiculously high prices! 😬

Gusar is great in terms of the vibe and the layout, but the hall itself is small! You can't fit 300 people in there.🤔

Just dropping in quickly... seriously, when you finally get married... (password: pralines 😂)

Justin Bennett61 said:hey

I wouldn't recommend Honeycomb Hotel—I've been to two weddings there and wasn't a fan. The hall is pretty dark and feels cramped once you hit 300 people.

Two weeks ago, I was at a wedding at the Presidential Hotel in San Francisco and it was great. They had about 250 guests. The hall is phenomenal and the food is excellent. That was my third wedding there and honestly, they’re top-tier.

The hall at the Atrium Hotel is also major league. I was at a wedding there with 200 guests and it was beautiful.

There's this new venue in San Francisco, can't remember the name... the owner is the same guy who owns the Alka Hotel in a small town out west... the hall is great, I think it holds up to 350...

Phoenix is just hit or miss for me... the food isn't always the best...

Pirate's Cove has a really nice, large hall too!!!

Good luck😁

I had my wedding in San Antonio with about 110 people, and if there had been any more, it would have been way too tight. For smaller weddings under 100, they are seriously my absolute favorite...

Look, I’m incredibly picky when it comes to food, but honestly? The meal there was actually great. 🤷

"Quote:"

darksailor2 said:I haven't picked one yet! 😁

Dolis has plenty of options! In Dolis Lesnina, they have two identical square halls, and each can hold 300 people. They’re nice halls. There's plenty of parking... and you won't hear the music from the other hall!
They charge $37 per person. The food is great, and the manager is excellent! You should go check out those halls in Lesnina and set up a tour.

At Phoenix, they have a smaller room for 210 people and then a larger one... though I'm not sure how many the bigger one holds. Honestly, the food at Dolis is better.

There’s also Castello in the suburbs; they have two rooms. The bottom one is bigger and fits about 300. To be honest, the top room is way nicer and has a better layout, but you couldn't fit even 250 people up there. I didn't really vibe with the manager there, 😬 and apparently, the food isn't anything to write home about! 🤷 At least, that's what I've heard from others.

A friend of mine went to Fabula once. I haven't been myself... but word on the street is it's nothing special. 🤷
Kokolo over on Kotex can take 300 people, but they're $40 a head... and it's all renovated.

Bolero over on Victa also takes quite a few people, but they're more expensive.

I don't know what else. 🤔

The President Hotel has ridiculously high prices! 😬

Gusar is great in terms of the vibe and the layout, but the hall itself is small! You can't fit 300 people in there.🤔

I think that’s not even Kokolo anymore, if I’m not mistaken.