Everything you need for a California wedding

Does anyone have a solid recommendation for a talented makeup artist in San Diego...? 😉

Keith Fox54 said:Hey ladies,

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good florist in San Diego?

Thanks in advance.

Honestly, go to Bloomers over by The Beatles—Auntie Rada there is an absolute legend. I was originally planning to go overboard decorating my wedding hall, but she totally shut me down and told me it’d look way classier with just a few vases, some candles, and minimal flowers... and man, she was right. It looked incredible. She basically had to talk some sense into me because I was ready to go full disco mode with way too much stuff.

Greetings, everyone. 🙂
We're starting to map out the wedding plans, though so far we've only managed to lock in a restaurant. The Russians' restaurant. Anyone have experience with them over in Greenwich? Specifically regarding the food? We checked out those sales at UPS, but once guests step outside, you’re just staring at warehouses and trucks. Honestly, for the same price, there's that spot run by The Russians ($32–$34 range) where the vibe is much more "homey" and they actually have a terrace. I prefer that setup—thinking about booking them in a day or two. 🙂
Anyone here actually used this? A DJ instead of a full band.Honestly, the prices for decent bands are getting a bit ridiculous. As for the DJ, I’m struggling—I have no idea how they manage to set that kind of mood. Does anyone know how their rates usually work or have a solid recommendation? Or maybe a good duo?
Photographer.We aren't looking for all those flashy videos and endless photo shoots. Honestly, we just want maybe 15 professional shots—some on the beach by the chapel, some inside the church, plus the godparents, parents, and that crowd. Everything else would just be candid shots of us and the guests during the reception. What do you guys think of that approach? Has anyone gone with a minimal package like this before? And what kind of pricing are we looking at? My dad has a high-end camera and knows his way around photography, so we’ll have decent shots, but he isn't a pro. Still, I really want a few standout photos worth framing. 🙂
That's all for now. 🙂 I don't worry much about the cakes. Either Mississippi Delta or Savage—they made cakes for my parents' 25th anniversary, and they were absolutely to die for. The clock tower.I'm planning to make the trek out to see Miles in the Bronx. How early can I actually pick up the wedding dress? I really don't want to grab mine only to have six other girls carrying it around before me—I'd rather not show up to find it completely trashed. 😢
Yeah, right... making those things. reveraSo, bout boutonnières? And for the ladies—I was at this gala once where they wore these little floral bracelets that matched the guys' lapel pieces perfectly. Does anyone know who makes those? Prices too, obviously. 🙂)
And I’d like to send out some thanks as well. Magnets. A little photo with our names and the date? Much better. It beats those tacky thank-you cards people just shove in a drawer and forget about. At least a cute magnet actually looks good on the fridge. 😁 If anyone knows someone who handles custom magnets, let me know. I swung by Live Nation, and their pricing is a joke. $3.25 Just a fragment... if anyone knows any other spots? I’m still in the early stages of hunting everything down. For now, all I've got is a restaurant and a few half-baked ideas. 😁

My apologies for the long post. I honestly don't even know where to begin. 🙂 Any guidelines would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. 😁

I went to one of The Russians' events once and, honestly, I wasn't impressed... the place was practically unkept... old tablecloths with stains everywhere, and the food was just a mediocre 3 out of 10.

With that kind of budget, you can definitely find better restaurants or venues around the California coast... Friends (went to two parties there and it was only $5), Pitomcija (was at a party there and it was actually great—decent hall, amazing food), Dioklecijan (excellent, I’ve been to three different parties there and it was always top-notch), or even George... in my opinion, all of them beat The Russians.

As for bands, there are plenty of good options... Miro Boem is awesome and won't break the bank, and there's this father-son duo that's fantastic—they charge about $800, though I can't recall their names offhand.

There's a hairstylist over in Greenwich who does incredible work—she specializes in wedding styles... she did my maid of honor's hair for her party and two others before that, and they looked stunning... they only paid about $33!!!! I think the salon is called Marilyn Monroe or something like that!!!
The Anamarija bridal salon in Greenwich, right behind the church... my maid of honor went there and the staff were really sweet... 😁

Anyway, hope that helps a little.

Friends was my first choice, but they’re asking $40 per person... I've heard the food at Dioklecijan's isn't great lately, and Pitomcija closed down, so no more mini pies. I haven't checked with George yet, but I'm guessing it'll be around $40 there too. What was wrong with the food at The Russians? I actually heard everything was fine there. As for decor, they do the whole thing with little vases of roses on the tables and chair covers, but honestly, I don't need all those bells and whistles right now.

You've been such a help with the other options 🙂) Thanks a million!

If anyone else has thoughts on The Russians, please let me know 🙂

I’ve noticed everyone on here keeps bringing up the Taxi band, but for some reason, I can't find a single mention of their asking price... Does anyone actually know the exact figure they're looking for?

Joshua Garcia said:I’ve noticed everyone on here keeps bringing up the Taxi band, but for some reason, I can't find a single mention of their asking price... Does anyone actually know the exact figure they're looking for?

$2,000.00

Does anyone happen to have a recommendation for a solid guitarist who could provide some accompaniment for me? I suppose I should specify that I am looking for someone based in San Diego.

As for the guitarist, I’m not entirely sure yet... we are actually thinking about bringing in a vocal group instead Kraken—they have four members playing mandolins and guitars. They are really talented musicians, and I honestly believe they’ll provide some fantastic harmonies. One of their members actually hangs out here on the forum, chunky, so maybe you could reach out to him if you want to get more specifics.
I hope that helps a little bit...

swiftstag23 said:Friends was my first choice, but they’re asking $40 per person... I've heard the food at Dioklecijan's isn't great lately, and Pitomcija closed down, so no more mini pies. I haven't checked with George yet, but I'm guessing it'll be around $40 there too. What was wrong with the food at The Russians? I actually heard everything was fine there. As for decor, they do the whole thing with little vases of roses on the tables and chair covers, but honestly, I don't need all those bells and whistles right now.

You've been such a help with the other options 🙂) Thanks a million!

If anyone else has thoughts on The Russians, please let me know 🙂

What was wrong with the food... absolutely everything. The black risotto was bland—just color and sticky rice, and the stuffing was terrible... the salad was so wilted it wasn't even green anymore... the prosciutto was bone dry and the cheese (I think it was leftover from some other event) was questionable... and the lamb was cold and incredibly greasy...
I basically just came home and ate a real meal after that...

So yeah, that's the verdict on Russ...

Maybe check if they have a wedding going on and just swing by to see for yourself...

Personally, I’d rather pay $10 more and actually know the wedding will be great... you only do this once, and you really don't want to regret your choice...

Either way, whatever you decide, I wish you nothing but the absolute best 😉

Hi,

Does anyone have experience working with Bora Photo Studio? We're hunting for a photographer and stumbled upon them, but I noticed they don't come up much in searches. If anyone has any insight, I'd really appreciate it.🙂

What’s the deal with Phoenix Restaurant—is it actually worth the price for what you get?

The price was fair and the service was decent—solid 4 out of 5, I guess 😉. But man, the look of this venue... everyone I talked to at the party said the exact same thing. It honestly felt like being in a cafeteria 🙂. Maybe that’s just how they set things up, but my fiancé joked that all they were missing was a lady with a serving tray handing out food rations 😂. You really should try to make a place actually look like a venue. The floor tiles were hideous, and the tables were arranged in this weird "fishbone" pattern 🤷. At first, I thought it was just me, but so many people agreed..
Anyway ladies, quick question... does Mila's Bridal Boutique in San Diego let you take photos while trying on gowns? Some shops are super strict about it, and since I'm still narrowing down my favorites, I want to be able to show my best friends 😕

I am asking here as well: does anyone have experience with Gastro-San Diego? Or perhaps another wedding venue in San Diego capable of hosting about 200 guests?

Terry Morales5 said:The price was fair and the service was decent—solid 4 out of 5, I guess 😉. But man, the look of this venue... everyone I talked to at the party said the exact same thing. It honestly felt like being in a cafeteria 🙂. Maybe that’s just how they set things up, but my fiancé joked that all they were missing was a lady with a serving tray handing out food rations 😂. You really should try to make a place actually look like a venue. The floor tiles were hideous, and the tables were arranged in this weird "fishbone" pattern 🤷. At first, I thought it was just me, but so many people agreed..
Anyway ladies, quick question... does Mila's Bridal Boutique in San Diego let you take photos while trying on gowns? Some shops are super strict about it, and since I'm still narrowing down my favorites, I want to be able to show my best friends 😕

If nothing has changed since back in March, then yeah, you should be able to snap some photos over at Mila's without any issues.🙂

Bryan Turner4 said:I am asking here as well: does anyone have experience with Gastro-San Diego? Or perhaps another wedding venue in San Diego capable of hosting about 200 guests?

I was at a wedding there last year, and honestly, all 5 👍

So, I’ve been scrolling through this thread reading all your stories and advice... and honestly, you guys might be able to help me out even more than I thought! =]

I'm actually helping organize a wedding for some friends who aren't even from the States—they're visiting—because they really want to have a huge party out in California, and I'm basically their main point of contact right now...

As of this moment, the plan is to host the guest welcome at the Michelangelo Museum, then the ceremony will be at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and we'll wrap everything up over at the Pirate. I know a ton of people go with a similar setup, so I'm dying to hear about your experiences—like, what should we be looking out for or any red flags? =)

Also, how far in advance should we be booking a band? Right now, finding the perfect band and a photographer is our absolute top priority...

Any help at all would be amazing... =)

It all really comes down to how much cash you have ready when you start planning. Some people get ahead of the game and book everything a full year in advance! For my own wedding, which is in four months, I already locked in the band and the photographer months ago. My cousin is getting married in nine months and she booked her photographer just a few days after I did.

feralcrane10 said:So, I’ve been scrolling through this thread reading all your stories and advice... and honestly, you guys might be able to help me out even more than I thought! =]

I'm actually helping organize a wedding for some friends who aren't even from the States—they're visiting—because they really want to have a huge party out in California, and I'm basically their main point of contact right now...

As of this moment, the plan is to host the guest welcome at the Michelangelo Museum, then the ceremony will be at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and we'll wrap everything up over at the Pirate. I know a ton of people go with a similar setup, so I'm dying to hear about your experiences—like, what should we be looking out for or any red flags? =)

Also, how far in advance should we be booking a band? Right now, finding the perfect band and a photographer is our absolute top priority...

Any help at all would be amazing... =)

The Michelangelo venue is $15 $0.00 plus cleaning fees...

gentlefox2 said:If nothing has changed since back in March, then yeah, you should be able to snap some photos over at Mila's without any issues.🙂

That’s a relief, honestly. There just aren't enough good ones out there lately. :/