Everything you need for a California wedding

Hello, I have just joined the forum and was wondering if anyone could offer some advice regarding makeup and hairstyling for a wedding?

I see you all mentioning Anne Hathaway (though I wasn't particularly impressed by her; she comes across as somewhat arrogant and seems solely focused on finishing the job and getting paid) and Tina Fey,

as I have heard similar things about them... I am actually interested in hearing from anyone who has had experience working with Lucy Liu or Jane Doe 🙂 thank you very much

If you’re looking at venues in the rural outskirts, steer clear of Phoenix—everyone I know has had nothing but complaints about the food and service there. One friend asked about TNT, and honestly, her floral arrangements are stunning; I always go to her, and she was absolutely incredible for my wedding. When it comes to San Francisco venues, Bolero or The Pirate are definitely the top picks for food, service, and atmosphere. For weddings, Vesna Sposa does the most beautiful work; you just won't find anything more sophisticated. As for photographers, Studio Raos from the small towns really impressed me, along with Studio Yukica and Sinisa Serdarevic. Someone mentioned Marino Photo from the local area, and I have to admit they aren't bad at all, plus their pricing is much more accessible. I hope this helps anyone currently in the middle of wedding planning. Good luck!

Hey, anyone used studio lighting before? If you have, what kind are you rocking?

Chloe Ramirez55 said:Can anyone recommend a good vocal group to perform in front of a church and during dinner? I'm looking for someone to cover the slot from about 5:30 PM until 1:00 AM.

The Brooklyn Harmonics

cosmicraven33 said:Hello, I have just joined the forum and was wondering if anyone could offer some advice regarding makeup and hairstyling for a wedding?

I see you all mentioning Anne Hathaway (though I wasn't particularly impressed by her; she comes across as somewhat arrogant and seems solely focused on finishing the job and getting paid) and Tina Fey,

as I have heard similar things about them... I am actually interested in hearing from anyone who has had experience working with Lucy Liu or Jane Doe 🙂 thank you very much

Lucy did my makeup, and I honestly couldn't have been happier. She is incredibly sweet and down-to-earth. She doesn't just force her own artistic vision on you; instead, she actually takes the time to ask what you're envisioning and what your preferences are. She’ll offer her professional opinion on what might work best first, and then we go from there.

Does anyone happen to have any insight regarding the possibility of hosting a wedding at the Villa California, located in San Francisco? I have scoured the internet extensively, yet I find myself encountering remarkably little information on the matter...

Check out the Villa California usage policy. You can grab all the details through an agency in the Midwest (they handle the rentals too) or just hit up their website (www.sanfrancisco.gov)... look for official notice number 2 from 2011, it lays everything out—what they offer and the exact pricing. From what I know, you're looking at around 20 $0.00 plus food and drinks...
I was at a wedding there last summer, and honestly, it was pure magic.

Hey there! 🙂

I'm looking for a few recommendations here:

1) I’m having my makeup done by Katherine Graham from San Diego, so since I'll be traveling between Santa Barbara and San Diego, I'm also on the hunt for a hair salon—specifically a stylist who can handle formal updos without charging an absolute fortune... It seems like so many stylists out there are amazing at coloring and blowouts, but they really seem to shy away from those fancy occasion styles...

2) A reliable florist

3) For any ladies out there who took the DIY route with their wedding favors, invitations, and thank-you notes—where did you source all your supplies? Was it a total nightmare to pull off, and honestly... is it actually worth the savings?

Thanks so much for the help 🙂

rowdyraven14 said:Hey there! 🙂

I'm looking for a few recommendations here:

1) I’m having my makeup done by Katherine Graham from San Diego, so since I'll be traveling between Santa Barbara and San Diego, I'm also on the hunt for a hair salon—specifically a stylist who can handle formal updos without charging an absolute fortune... It seems like so many stylists out there are amazing at coloring and blowouts, but they really seem to shy away from those fancy occasion styles...

2) A reliable florist

3) For any ladies out there who took the DIY route with their wedding favors, invitations, and thank-you notes—where did you source all your supplies? Was it a total nightmare to pull off, and honestly... is it actually worth the savings?

Thanks so much for the help 🙂

I picked up everything I needed for the boutonnieres at Good Partner in Washington, D.C., and saved quite a bit of money. It takes a lot of time, though—it really just depends on whether you enjoy doing it and how much time you have left before the wedding.

Douglas Reyes3 said:Lucy did my makeup, and I honestly couldn't have been happier. She is incredibly sweet and down-to-earth. She doesn't just force her own artistic vision on you; instead, she actually takes the time to ask what you're envisioning and what your preferences are. She’ll offer her professional opinion on what might work best first, and then we go from there.

Thank you so much🙂

rowdyraven14 said:Hey there! 🙂

I'm looking for a few recommendations here:

1) I’m having my makeup done by Katherine Graham from San Diego, so since I'll be traveling between Santa Barbara and San Diego, I'm also on the hunt for a hair salon—specifically a stylist who can handle formal updos without charging an absolute fortune... It seems like so many stylists out there are amazing at coloring and blowouts, but they really seem to shy away from those fancy occasion styles...

2) A reliable florist

3) For any ladies out there who took the DIY route with their wedding favors, invitations, and thank-you notes—where did you source all your supplies? Was it a total nightmare to pull off, and honestly... is it actually worth the savings?

Thanks so much for the help 🙂

Katherine did my makeup twice, she's awesome and super sweet. I ordered my boutonnieres through a local boutique and grabbed rhinestones on eBay. By my math, I saved a ton, wasn't too much work, but my boutonnieres were pretty basic...

Thanks for all the help... I’ll definitely keep your advice regarding the banquet hall in mind 😉))

I’ve been doing a bit of digging online, and this venue out in Malibu is looking like a definite "yes" for me... It seems pretty legendary... though, honestly, it feels like they haven't even hosted a single wedding there yet
. j😍Does anyone actually have the inside scoop? (The venue itself is absolutely stunning; I just need to know if the food is actually any good)

this food is straight out of an arcade

cosmiclynx18 said:Thanks for all the help... I’ll definitely keep your advice regarding the banquet hall in mind 😉))

I’ve been doing a bit of digging online, and this venue out in Malibu is looking like a definite "yes" for me... It seems pretty legendary... though, honestly, it feels like they haven't even hosted a single wedding there yet
. j😍Does anyone actually have the inside scoop? (The venue itself is absolutely stunning; I just need to know if the food is actually any good)

It just opened up... go there this Sunday, they're having some kind of festival and a raffle, I think it starts around 6:00 PM...

Wait, about that giveaway... I think I read somewhere there’s gonna be a dance contest, and then they just pick winners from the entries? So, like, who's actually competing in the dance part?

Paul King5 said:Check out the Villa California usage policy. You can grab all the details through an agency in the Midwest (they handle the rentals too) or just hit up their website (www.sanfrancisco.gov)... look for official notice number 2 from 2011, it lays everything out—what they offer and the exact pricing. From what I know, you're looking at around 20 $0.00 plus food and drinks...
I was at a wedding there last summer, and honestly, it was pure magic.

Thank you so much for the assistance; I managed to track it down. The venue fee is 20 $0.00, and for everything else, I imagine I'll need to source some catering services. Looking at the photos, it really does seem quite magical 😍

Everything ends up being way pricier than other spots, but hey, if you've got the cash, go for it! The vibe was incredible though. We were just a few feet from the stage with the ocean waves crashing right there, and we ended up just crashing out on some pillows at the end of the night. The lighting really set the mood... that courtyard with the fountain in the middle looks amazing under all those different lights. Only downside was the heat was absolutely brutal since it was August, and there wasn't any AC anywhere 😁

Hey everyone, what’s the verdict on the Wine & Unspecified band?
There isn't much video footage online, but I've heard they're pretty decent and their rates are reasonable enough... so I'm wondering, has anyone here actually hired them before?

cosmiclynx18 said:Hey everyone, what’s the verdict on the Wine & Unspecified band?
There isn't much video footage online, but I've heard they're pretty decent and their rates are reasonable enough... so I'm wondering, has anyone here actually hired them before?

So, here’s my take... I was at a wedding recently. They created a great atmosphere—the entertainment was solid—but there wasn't a single bit of local music or any classic American hits, nothing like some old-school folk stuff. For me, it was a bit much. And honestly... it was just overkill. A friend of mine went up to the singer—who spent most of the night just swaying in place—and asked for a few classics. She just gave him this sweet little look and said, "Oh, no, no..." 🤷
Maybe that style works for some people, but I think you really have to be specific when booking them. To be fair, I was just there as a plus-one and didn't really know the couple—they probably requested that specific setlist 🤷—but that look she gave when someone asked for a little more traditional music? I just didn't get it. 🤷

I originally signed on with the band, everything was set in stone, only to find out they swapped out the lead singer and the whole lineup without telling me. Total joke. I canceled them on the spot—if I’m paying the bills, I deserve to know who's actually performing at my party. Look, entertainers can be great, but like Arthur Ruiz86 said, the girl in this band is just straight-up arrogant.