Everything you need for a California wedding

I need some advice from my fellow Asheville locals... I'm looking to pick up some local cakes and those signature pastries. So far, I've heard the cakes are around $67 and the pastries go for $1.25 per piece. If anyone knows a spot that’s actually affordable but still tastes amazing, please hit me up...

Everything is great
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Walter Collins6 said:Greetings. My partner and I have officially booked the venue, but now we’ve hit our first major roadblock... we are completely stuck when it comes to picking a band. I’ve been leaning toward Krivi Smjer after catching their set back in San Diego, so I’m curious if anyone here has seen them live or has any solid recommendations. On top of that, we are struggling with photographers. We’ve sent out several inquiries, and in most cases, the standard package only includes one photographer and one videographer. Apparently, adding an extra specialist costs $1000 :/ :/ I honestly don't see how that would even work logistically. Would the photographer be with me while the videographer stays with him? xD
I should mention that I have zero interest in those cookie-cutter, cliché wedding photos; I want something truly unique and artistic. So, if anyone knows a talented pro, please drop their info 🙂 🙂

I actually went to a wedding where they were playing, and they were awesome. You really can't go wrong with them. They've got such a great vibe. They're originally from Boise, I think.
As for the photography and video setup, it really depends... I ended up going with Kodak from Boise, and the pricing was solid and their work was great. In my case, it was also just one photographer and one videographer. Basically, they'll show up at your place first to take photos, then they'll be with him the whole time, and the best part is definitely when they come to get you. I feel like all those shots of people hanging out in the yard aren't even that necessary. To be honest, paying for a second photographer felt like a bit much for me.

William Chavez10 said:I actually went to a wedding where they were playing, and they were awesome. You really can't go wrong with them. They've got such a great vibe. They're originally from Boise, I think.
As for the photography and video setup, it really depends... I ended up going with Kodak from Boise, and the pricing was solid and their work was great. In my case, it was also just one photographer and one videographer. Basically, they'll show up at your place first to take photos, then they'll be with him the whole time, and the best part is definitely when they come to get you. I feel like all those shots of people hanging out in the yard aren't even that necessary. To be honest, paying for a second photographer felt like a bit much for me.

Kodak is an excellent choice
they handled my shoot and the guys were absolutely wonderful
hats off to them

Ladies from San Francisco, where did you guys order your wedding cake from? Was it actually worth it?

Paul King5 said:Ladies from San Francisco, where did you guys order your wedding cake from? Was it actually worth it?

Godiva 😉
They made this "cake" for us: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=3&theater

The camera used was nearly half a meter wide—the craftsmanship was just phenomenal. Honestly, hats off to them; they’ll always have my recommendation.
Since I was feeling far too lazy to deal with any of the wedding planning (I truly don't understand why there's such an enormous hype surrounding it), I didn't bother shopping around for different prices. I went straight to them instead. In the end, I am so glad I hired them because they executed exactly what I wanted perfectly.

I feel like I’m constantly struggling with this whole cake situation, and honestly, it’s the last thing we actually need to order. I tried a cake from Godiva once, and while it was absolutely perfect, their pricing is just completely out of line... For instance, if I wanted a five-tier cake, I’d be looking at $433, $333 just for the stand deposit plus $167 in delivery fees all the way to Asheville! Seriously? $167! It’s not like they’re driving it into Washington, D.C.! Companies like Bobs, Mississippi, and Viacom have much more reasonable delivery rates, usually around 150-$83, with cakes ranging from 800 to $367, and the stand deposit stays between 250-$167. I realize you get that deposit back once you return the stand, but you never really know what might happen, and it’s not like I want to be stuck without $333 just because of some rental equipment... so I’ve pretty much crossed Godiva off my list.
I also gave the stracciatella cake from Mississippi a shot, but it was terrible—so artificial and tasteless that I dropped them immediately.
I ended up passing on Bobs too, mostly because they told me they couldn't customize a cake to my liking; they insisted I pick something straight from a catalog that looks like it hasn't been updated in ten years.
So now I’m left deciding between Viacom or just finding a local baker here in Asheville who works privately... Has anyone here actually tried the cakes from Viacom?

Hey everyone! 🙂
I figured I’d drop my questions here too.
I'm currently on the hunt for a wedding band, so I really want to hear about your personal experiences. I've been looking at a few specific groups: Calypso (San Diego), Tempo (San Diego), Cabaret (Savannah), Lido (San Francisco), The Band (San Francisco), and Rebel (Savannah).
What are they actually like? What kind of vibe do they bring to the party? And how long are their breaks during the set?

Also, has anyone worked with Papaya (San Francisco) or Kodak (San Francisco) for photography? I'd love to know what you thought.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Adam Cruz47, I can tell you from experience—Papaya studio does some really beautiful photography🙂

Thanks for the heads-up, Lawrence Wells! 🙂 Does anyone here know if they pull off video work as well as they do everything else? 🙂

I can't recommend them enough, whether you need photography or video work. You honestly won't go wrong with these guys. 🙂

I’ve heard the video quality isn't exactly anything to write home about, but those photos... they're absolutely legendary.

Hey ladies,
Has anyone heard anything about the Radisson? I’m totally digging the location and the overall vibe, but I can't find a single soul who’s actually hosted a party there, let alone attended one.
If you've got any intel at all, please share. Thanks!

Henry Hill26 said:Hey ladies,
Has anyone heard anything about the Radisson? I’m totally digging the location and the overall vibe, but I can't find a single soul who’s actually hosted a party there, let alone attended one.
If you've got any intel at all, please share. Thanks!

An acquaintance of mine is getting married there this November... though I don't know much beyond that. Word on the street is the food is solid, but I'm a bit thin on the actual details...

casualviper36 said:Hey everyone! So, I’ve been daydreaming about doing something a bit more modern—you know, that classic American vibe with a guest list of maybe 100 people... does anyone have any advice or maybe some experience with a wedding like that?? I’m really leaning towards getting married outdoors, like just a beautiful ceremony out in a meadow or a field—totally inspired by those dreamy American weddings where you bring a minister out to the site and everything is just perfectly styled with ribbons, flowers, and all that aesthetic goodness. Now, the big question is, how much does it actually cost to have an officiant come out to a remote spot? And what kind of locations should I even be looking at? The only thing popping into my head right now is somewhere like Manhattan 😕
.
Also, can anyone suggest some venues or restaurants that can host up to 100 people and have either a pool or just a gorgeous garden without a pool?
A few girlfriends were telling me about the President in Atlanta, right near the pool—it sounds like it has a killer atmosphere and scenery, but I’m wondering how much they charge per seat... I’m guessing it’s pretty pricey 😲??

Look, here's the deal: under the rules, a priest isn't allowed to perform weddings outside of the parish church. So, if you’re dead set on having a priest marry you, forget that "outdoor wedding" dream entirely. They won't even let you use some tiny little chapel just because it isn't the official parish building 🤷
with that setup, your only real option is a civil ceremony with an officiant. And man, getting an officiant to travel is pricey. They charge you for the trip plus the distance from the courthouse, so by the time you're done, you're looking at a bill running several thousand dollars

Henry Hill26 said:Hey ladies,
Has anyone heard anything about the Radisson? I’m totally digging the location and the overall vibe, but I can't find a single soul who’s actually hosted a party there, let alone attended one.
If you've got any intel at all, please share. Thanks!

It’s all perfectly fine. The atmosphere is pleasant, the service holds up, and the food is decent enough...

rustywalker34 said:It’s all perfectly fine. The atmosphere is pleasant, the service holds up, and the food is decent enough...

Thanks!

Does anyone happen to know where I can pick up or rent a little suit for a five-year-old boy around San Francisco? I need something sharp for my little ring bearer... :P

So, there’s another newly engaged couple on the scene 😍
. The venue (Dolis Dugopolje) is all booked for June 14th—now I’m just stuck thinking about the band...
. Basically, my top picks were Viva, Major League Baseball, and Taxi.
Viva is way out of my budget, Taxi is available but still a little pricey (I really thought they’d be more affordable 😕), and then I ended up listening to Major League Baseball on YouTube, which was honestly a bit disappointing. I saw them live at a party recently and remember having a good time, but after listening back... 🙄 well, then I stumbled upon the group Best, and they totally blew me away—plus, their price is actually the same as Major League Baseball.
Has anyone here worked with the group Best lately? Like, have you seen them play at a wedding or something recently?
Thanks!

gentlewolf69 said:Does anyone happen to know where I can pick up or rent a little suit for a five-year-old boy around San Francisco? I need something sharp for my little ring bearer... :P

I think you could check out La Perle; they might have something in the ballpark of $100...🙂 if you're looking to rent, but honestly, you could probably just head over to H&M and pick up something similar for that kind of money...