Everything you need for a California wedding

Ugh, thanks for all the replies, everyone! I really appreciate the advice :-)
I'm going to set up some meetings in Dolis and Phoenix first. I went to a party at Kokolo (not sure what they call it now) once, and even with just about a hundred people there, it felt packed. It was a blast, but there's no way they can fit 300 people in there! Maybe I'll swing by there to book a date and just talk it out...
I emailed Feniks and they told me the price is $35 per person, if anyone's wondering..

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 was actually at Pirate's for a party recently, and it was great. Food was fine, service was good... but yeah, there is absolutely zero chance you're fitting anywhere near 300 people in that space.
And darksailor2, thanks for the massive response, it helps a ton!😍

Man, I literally just started looking for venues and figuring out what needs to be done, and I'm already freaking out with excitement!😂

Lawrence Wells said:Keti's Florist over in Puyallup🙂

Wait, where exactly is that located?

mellowsurfer34 said:Wait, where exactly is that located?

It’s right by that little farmers market over at the Pujanko area. You can actually find her on Facebook—just search for Keti Florist to see photos of all the stuff she makes.

The venue at Dolis Lesnina was just... wow. Seriously, the food, the service, everything was absolutely spot on. I mean, I had guests constantly coming up to me saying how they’d give the catering and the whole setup a perfect 10 out of 10. Even the parking situation was a breeze, which is always such a relief.
As for the Kocka Band... oh my god, they were beyond incredible! You seriously cannot go wrong with them. They brought their own light show and that fog machine, which really leveled up the vibe. Honestly, I think I’d marry my husband all over again just to have them play one more set...
Now, about Marko Photography—well, I guess I'll see the actual photos in about a month, but I have to say, I am pretty disappointed with the shot we used for the thank-you cards. It just wasn't what I expected.🙂 🤣
The catering from Baković? Absolutely flawless. Everything was perfect.
And a huge shoutout to Keti Florist over at the local market... thank you so much to Miljenka for that stunning bouquet and for being so wonderful with everything else!

My personal recommendation for a venue:
"The Riverside Grill" at the Radmanov Mills... they can host up to 240 people, and honestly, it’s this stunning spot right on the banks of the Cetina River. The food is just incredible... I mean, you can't get more romantic than that. I'm actually getting married there in a month! 🙂)))
Here is the link if you want to check it out:

Sandra Miller5 said: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! 🙏

We just booked the bolero venue ourselves. It’s about a month away, so I’ll be able to give you the full scoop then. From what I’ve gathered so far, though, the food and service are top-notch (which is exactly why we pulled the trigger). They're looking at $40 per chair.

frozentiger2 said:We just booked the bolero venue ourselves. It’s about a month away, so I’ll be able to give you the full scoop then. From what I’ve gathered so far, though, the food and service are top-notch (which is exactly why we pulled the trigger). They're looking at $40 per chair.

I attended a wedding at the bolero venue about two weeks ago. The space is quite nice, perhaps even better than some of the other venues being discussed here. It’s air-conditioned, the dance floor is a decent size—neither too large nor too small—the lighting is fine, and they allow smoking. As for the food, I didn't eat much myself, though I heard it was alright, with the exception of the lamb, which I suspect was actually goat. The servers were good enough.

says:
The Doris Day venue was incredible... the food, the service, everything was spot on. Every single guest kept telling me how much they loved the setup and the catering. Plus, parking was a breeze.
The Beatles were beyond amazing—you seriously can't go wrong with them. They brought their own light show and smoke machine; honestly, I’d get married all over again just to hear them play one more set.
Annie Leibovitz—I have to wait a month for the photos, and frankly, I'm pretty let down by the shot they used for the thank-you cards.🙂 🤣
Catering—Baković was absolutely perfect.
The local florist at the downtown market... huge thanks to Millie for the stunning bouquet and everything else.

Can someone please give me some actual details on Doris Day? I'm heading there this Saturday to talk business and I'm dying to know... How's the service? Was there enough food? What's the vibe of the room like? Can you hear the music from the other hall? Anything specific I should watch out for when signing the contract?

😍 😍

The Beatles 👍

I really need some help here!!
Does anyone happen to have an email address for Nikola Samernic or Sinisa Srdanovic???
Help me please!!!

Nancy Sanchez11 said:I really need some help here!!
Does anyone happen to have an email address for Nikola Samernic or Sinisa Srdanovic???
Help me please!!!

I saw some contact info on Facebook, but I'm not sure if I should post it here publicly. I'll shoot you a DM instead.😉

Arthur Phillips12 said:

says:
The Doris Day venue was incredible... the food, the service, everything was spot on. Every single guest kept telling me how much they loved the setup and the catering. Plus, parking was a breeze.
The Beatles were beyond amazing—you seriously can't go wrong with them. They brought their own light show and smoke machine; honestly, I’d get married all over again just to hear them play one more set.
Annie Leibovitz—I have to wait a month for the photos, and frankly, I'm pretty let down by the shot they used for the thank-you cards.🙂 🤣
Catering—Baković was absolutely perfect.
The local florist at the downtown market... huge thanks to Millie for the stunning bouquet and everything else.

Can someone please give me some actual details on Doris Day? I'm heading there this Saturday to talk business and I'm dying to know... How's the service? Was there enough food? What's the vibe of the room like? Can you hear the music from the other hall? Anything specific I should watch out for when signing the contract?

😍 😍

The Beatles 👍

The service was honestly amazing, and the manager at Dover is just such a pleasant guy to deal with—you can pretty much settle everything with him easily. The waiters were constantly circling the tables, always topping off drinks, and man, there was an absolute abundance of food. I mean, I didn't just want lamb; I asked for cold roast pork on the side too, which turned out to be a total hit, and since they were serving pot roast, I requested veal medallions in sauce as well. I know that's a bit unusual, but they pulled it all off! There was barely any risotto or pot roast left; they even packed some up for us to take home. You bring your own desserts, but they have to have a certificate (my top recommendation would be Smith Bakery; they are incredibly professional and actually suggest what would work best. I just gave them my guest count and let them handle everything, and the cakes and pies were delicious—the orange cake was my absolute favorite. Seriously, there were literally just crumbs left on the table; the cakes were almost entirely devoured, and people were taking the pastries home in those little plastic containers I grabbed). As for the setup at Dover, the hall decor is great. I only really needed to bring an arrangement for my own table, but I guess I was feeling a bit extra, so I ordered some balloon decorations too. They had white tablecloths, and I could pick the overlays—mine were lilac. The chairs had white covers with colored bows to match, mine were lilac, and we had silver candlesticks with candles. The band lit up the whole hall so well that some of the extra decor felt almost unnecessary, but it all looked so beautiful... I was beyond satisfied, and my guests kept telling me how perfect everything was... I'm not someone who goes for huge demands or complications; I basically just told everyone what I wanted for the reception, and without any hassle or pushing back, I got everything I asked for and then some... Honestly, it wasn't just my reception; everything was just perfect...😉 And you won't hear music from the other room because they have these lead partitions that are soundproofed... seriously, you can't hear a thing...

🙂 You really made my day with those awesome comments. Thanks so much for such a detailed breakdown! I’m heading out there this Saturday, so fingers crossed I love it as much as you do. It’s either them or Phoenix, but I’ve got a feeling I’ll prefer the first option.

As for Smith’s Bakery, I am absolutely obsessed with their bread 🙂. If their pastries are even half as good... I'm in love. :-)

I have never actually been to Phoenix myself, though I have heard nothing but great things about them. From what I gather, they seem to offer more variety, the pantry selection is supposedly excellent, and the service from the staff is... well, top-notch.
Moreover, if my understanding is correct, their pricing is quite a bit lower than the average downtown spot.

What are your thoughts on florists? Is it a good idea to go with Jack? I had assumed he was a true professional, but honestly, a few bouquets I've received from him lately haven't been up to par. The stems aren't even cut to a consistent length, so some of the flowers don't even reach the water, and then the whole arrangement wilts within a day or so despite the hefty price tag. Does anyone have a recommendation for a reliable florist?

Bradley Jones9 said: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...

Can you please tell me how much that chair in the atrium costs? 😁

I haven't seen anything from meli2 lately. Maybe they're just staying quiet. says:
Just wanted to jump in here... so, when exactly are you getting married? (password: pralines) 😂)

🤣
Stop lurking around. 🙂
Maybe next year! 😬 I guess if I actually make some decent pralines, she might just decide to claim me. 🤣

Gregory Ramirez7 said:Look, I’m incredibly picky when it comes to food, but honestly? The meal there was actually great. 🤷

"Quote:"

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

I heard they switched owners about three months ago and did a total overhaul. I think they even changed the name, but I haven't actually checked. 🤣

I don't know. Maybe it’s just me, but I can't get behind this. It feels off. I guess I'm just looking for something a bit more substantial here. says:
Here’s my take on what you should get for the lounge:
"Kaštil slanica" over at Radmanov's mills... it holds up to 240 people, sits right on the banks of the Mississippi, and the food is actually great. It doesn't get much more romantic than that, I guess. I'm getting married there in a month. Here's the link: I can't make sense of this link. It looks like some broken URL leading to a dead end on a website that doesn't exist anymore. I guess it's just a junk link, maybe? I don't see anything here worth reading.

Wait, isn't the limit there only 200 people? 🤔

Jeremy Anderson8 said:The service was honestly amazing, and the manager at Dover is just such a pleasant guy to deal with—you can pretty much settle everything with him easily. The waiters were constantly circling the tables, always topping off drinks, and man, there was an absolute abundance of food. I mean, I didn't just want lamb; I asked for cold roast pork on the side too, which turned out to be a total hit, and since they were serving pot roast, I requested veal medallions in sauce as well. I know that's a bit unusual, but they pulled it all off! There was barely any risotto or pot roast left; they even packed some up for us to take home. You bring your own desserts, but they have to have a certificate (my top recommendation would be Smith Bakery; they are incredibly professional and actually suggest what would work best. I just gave them my guest count and let them handle everything, and the cakes and pies were delicious—the orange cake was my absolute favorite. Seriously, there were literally just crumbs left on the table; the cakes were almost entirely devoured, and people were taking the pastries home in those little plastic containers I grabbed). As for the setup at Dover, the hall decor is great. I only really needed to bring an arrangement for my own table, but I guess I was feeling a bit extra, so I ordered some balloon decorations too. They had white tablecloths, and I could pick the overlays—mine were lilac. The chairs had white covers with colored bows to match, mine were lilac, and we had silver candlesticks with candles. The band lit up the whole hall so well that some of the extra decor felt almost unnecessary, but it all looked so beautiful... I was beyond satisfied, and my guests kept telling me how perfect everything was... I'm not someone who goes for huge demands or complications; I basically just told everyone what I wanted for the reception, and without any hassle or pushing back, I got everything I asked for and then some... Honestly, it wasn't just my reception; everything was just perfect...😉 And you won't hear music from the other room because they have these lead partitions that are soundproofed... seriously, you can't hear a thing...

thanks for the detailed breakdown 🙏
just one question: how much did you end up paying per person since you customized the menu? And what exactly was on it? Was it just the standard stuff with the pork and veal, or did you change more than that? 😁

darksailor2 said:Can you please tell me how much that chair in the atrium costs? 😁

I haven't seen anything from meli2 lately. Maybe they're just staying quiet. says:
Just wanted to jump in here... so, when exactly are you getting married? (password: pralines) 😂)

🤣
Stop lurking around. 🙂
Maybe next year! 😬 I guess if I actually make some decent pralines, she might just decide to claim me. 🤣

I heard they switched owners about three months ago and did a total overhaul. I think they even changed the name, but I haven't actually checked. 🤣

I don't know. Maybe it’s just me, but I can't get behind this. It feels off. I guess I'm just looking for something a bit more substantial here. says:
Here’s my take on what you should get for the lounge:
"Kaštil slanica" over at Radmanov's mills... it holds up to 240 people, sits right on the banks of the Mississippi, and the food is actually great. It doesn't get much more romantic than that, I guess. I'm getting married there in a month. Here's the link: I can't make sense of this link. It looks like some broken URL leading to a dead end on a website that doesn't exist anymore. I guess it's just a junk link, maybe? I don't see anything here worth reading.

Wait, isn't the limit there only 200 people? 🤔

thanks for the detailed breakdown 🙏
just one question: how much did you end up paying per person since you customized the menu? And what exactly was on it? Was it just the standard stuff with the pork and veal, or did you change more than that? 😁

The menu prices range from $97 -$207, plus drink packages are available at 140, 185, and $75
. I believe their spirits are only served during the welcome reception before everyone enters the main hall.
As for cakes and desserts, you're expected to bring your own, though they do need to have an official vendor certification.

If there is anything else you might need, I suppose I am available to help. 🙂

I’m looking for some intel on venues, photographers, florists, and all that good stuff for a wedding in Santa Barbara. Does anyone have a ballpark idea of what the pricing looks like lately? I’d be so grateful for any recommendations from people who’ve recently tied the knot... help! 🙂

Bradley Jones9 said:The menu prices range from $97 -$207, plus drink packages are available at 140, 185, and $75
. I believe their spirits are only served during the welcome reception before everyone enters the main hall.
As for cakes and desserts, you're expected to bring your own, though they do need to have an official vendor certification.

If there is anything else you might need, I suppose I am available to help. 🙂

I don't get these massive price gaps. 😲
What's the actual difference between paying 290 and 620? And what does a standard menu even cost? 😁

darksailor2 said:I don't get these massive price gaps. 😲
What's the actual difference between paying 290 and 620? And what does a standard menu even cost? 😁

The menus vary and the prices reflect that, depending on individual preferences, I suppose. The $29 option includes ham, cheese, French onion soup, beef stew, beef consommé, lamb or pork, and a salad.
The next tier is $35, which adds a Cobb salad to that list. Then at $42, you get everything plus carpaccio or sea bream, maybe some truffle fusilli, and so on. That covers the dinner menu, excluding pizza.

$20 A salad bowl from Hobie? 🙄 That's way too much!
And that doesn't even include a drink! I guess that's just overkill for me. 😁

darksailor2 said:$20 A salad bowl from Hobie? 🙄 That's way too much!
And that doesn't even include a drink! I guess that's just overkill for me. 😁

Of course it's expensive...

The Pirate is hands down the best spot in town for food and value. It was 42 bucks for four courses. Almost everything we had was seafood-based—only two meat dishes out of the eight options served. You pay 42 dollars regardless of what you pick... and naturally, drinks are included...

We had some Napa Valley wine and a decent Cabernet...
For beer, you can choose Miller, Budweiser, or Coors.
Sodas like Coke, Sprite, or Fanta...
Coffee, tea, and all that stuff is available any time of day or night.
Everything is unlimited...
The food spread was massive; they packed everything up neatly in containers for us to take home...

They didn't even ask for payment on the desserts. We only paid for the cheesecake; everything else was homemade...

The manager and owner were flawless—super friendly and accommodating. They even gave us extra crackers to take home just so we could make our own charcuterie boards...

Honestly, hats off to them. I won't even mention how lenient they were about half the hard liquor we knocked back at the bar after appetizers... And whatever they didn't charge us for, I'd probably just go buy a bottle myself and bring it in, since they don't tack on the restaurant markup...

I guess I feel bad about the drinks because I know they're being consumed...

But you can always bring your own hard liquor if you want.

Parking isn't great—not quite as easy as finding a spot near a local dive bar—but you get a view of the ocean. The patio is incredible...

I'll be giving them my full recommendation.