Everything you need for a California wedding

So, now that I’ve finally checked the venue, the photographer, and the band off my list, I’m staring down the barrel of floral arrangements—and honestly, I could use some help. Does anyone have a solid florist they’d actually recommend? Also, if you know what the going rate is for decorating the hall or the church, let me know. I'm trying to get a sense of the damage before I commit.

The price for flowers seems to hover right around $1333 everywhere you look, especially if you’re aiming for that full look where every single table in the hall has a bouquet, plus the sweetheart table, the car decorations, the church arrangements, and individual bouquets...
There’s Mis and TNT over in San Francisco which are pretty well-known names, though personally, I wasn't ever huge on Mis, but hey, maybe you'll actually love them. It really just comes down to personal taste, I guess.

Oh, and guys, I seriously need some advice 😁
So, I’ve decided I’m going to try making the boutonnieres myself, partly because I love being hands-on and partly to save a little cash.
I went ahead and bought some ribbons in this pale pink shade and tried to fashion a little flower, but honestly, it looks terrible because I just can't get any kind of shape or expression out of it... :-( Thank goodness I haven't actually bought the flowers in that color yet.

What do you all prefer more—pink or cyclamen? Though lately, I've been leaning toward the darker tones, like an old rose... paired with white, I think that would look lovely. What colors are mostly showing up at your weddings? What do your boutonnieres look like?

Timothy Fisher50 said:The price for flowers seems to hover right around $1333 everywhere you look, especially if you’re aiming for that full look where every single table in the hall has a bouquet, plus the sweetheart table, the car decorations, the church arrangements, and individual bouquets...
There’s Mis and TNT over in San Francisco which are pretty well-known names, though personally, I wasn't ever huge on Mis, but hey, maybe you'll actually love them. It really just comes down to personal taste, I guess.

Oh, and guys, I seriously need some advice 😁
So, I’ve decided I’m going to try making the boutonnieres myself, partly because I love being hands-on and partly to save a little cash.
I went ahead and bought some ribbons in this pale pink shade and tried to fashion a little flower, but honestly, it looks terrible because I just can't get any kind of shape or expression out of it... :-( Thank goodness I haven't actually bought the flowers in that color yet.

What do you all prefer more—pink or cyclamen? Though lately, I've been leaning toward the darker tones, like an old rose... paired with white, I think that would look lovely. What colors are mostly showing up at your weddings? What do your boutonnieres look like?

Mine were ice gray with tiny white dots, a bow in that same shade, and a pearl on top
I actually gave up on that white and pink combo because literally EVERY wedding uses it
Why don't you just stick with the pale pink?
And what kind of flowers were you trying to work with that didn't turn out right?
I made bows for the girls—this is just to give you an idea and for the guys, it was more like this those ones were way too sweet, but I couldn't find that specific mesh ribbon anywhere...

They took our pirate... honestly, we couldn't be happier with the crew we met at the pirate outfit. They were incredibly professional and just a pleasure to work with...

On another note, I'm curious—is it actually worth it to DIY these favors? What kind of price range are we looking at? I'll need enough for about 160 guests...

Timothy Fisher50 said:The price for flowers seems to hover right around $1333 everywhere you look, especially if you’re aiming for that full look where every single table in the hall has a bouquet, plus the sweetheart table, the car decorations, the church arrangements, and individual bouquets...
There’s Mis and TNT over in San Francisco which are pretty well-known names, though personally, I wasn't ever huge on Mis, but hey, maybe you'll actually love them. It really just comes down to personal taste, I guess.

Oh, and guys, I seriously need some advice 😁
So, I’ve decided I’m going to try making the boutonnieres myself, partly because I love being hands-on and partly to save a little cash.
I went ahead and bought some ribbons in this pale pink shade and tried to fashion a little flower, but honestly, it looks terrible because I just can't get any kind of shape or expression out of it... :-( Thank goodness I haven't actually bought the flowers in that color yet.

What do you all prefer more—pink or cyclamen? Though lately, I've been leaning toward the darker tones, like an old rose... paired with white, I think that would look lovely. What colors are mostly showing up at your weddings? What do your boutonnieres look like?

Thanks for the heads-up. I was actually planning on making the boutonnieres myself too, though I might still sleep on the idea 😁. As for the colors, I'm still stuck in limbo. I have plenty of time, but I'm tossing ideas around between a delicate lavender, then there's fuchsia—though that feels a bit cliché at this point. I also had this thought about using grey, maybe in some kind of combo.
I am being completely indecisive about this whole thing 😁

I honestly think it’s totally worth just making your own reverbs
You can pick up parts for around $2.00 and up
That way you end up saving some cash—plus, you actually get to build something that fits your specific taste
There are so many cool ideas floating around online, and there's plenty of variety if you hit up those specialized gear shops
I'm planning on getting my hands on about $0.67 units
...

You can definitely find them for less money, though it really just comes down to what you're looking for... There are those big-name companies out there selling them for $2.00 or even more, but plenty of people will do the job for a bit less if you ask. Douglas Green7, if you've got the patience and the time—and if you're feeling a bit crafty—you could always try making them yourself...

gentlewolf69 said:You can definitely find them for less money, though it really just comes down to what you're looking for... There are those big-name companies out there selling them for $2.00 or even more, but plenty of people will do the job for a bit less if you ask. Douglas Green7, if you've got the patience and the time—and if you're feeling a bit crafty—you could always try making them yourself...

Betty Davis93 said:I honestly think it’s totally worth just making your own reverbs
You can pick up parts for around $2.00 and up
That way you end up saving some cash—plus, you actually get to build something that fits your specific taste
There are so many cool ideas floating around online, and there's plenty of variety if you hit up those specialized gear shops
I'm planning on getting my hands on about $0.67 units
...

I found some sashes online for about 3 or 4 bucks—any style you want. They look pretty great, too. Now I'm sitting here wondering if I should just make them myself... I've got the time and the drive, but as for my actual dexterity? Let's just say it's probably better if I don't attempt it. 😛

It’s been almost two years since I got married, but honestly, it feels like it happened just yesterday. There was so much stress and nerves involved in trying to make everything absolutely perfect, yet somehow, you still find yourself enjoying every second of it. Everything turned out so beautifully that I actually toyed with the idea of doing this professionally, though I suspect there might not be enough demand for wedding planning here in California... I guess I'm just not sure.

I haven't stopped by here in quite a while, and when I finally did, I was greeted by a mountain of messages! So, I figured I should probably circle back and share some details:

1. We used a photographer based in California, and we were absolutely thrilled with the results. Just a heads-up, though—we waited four months for the photos and even longer for the album, but keep in mind the photo session itself lasted about seven hours. If you're chasing perfection, I suppose you have to invest the time. One part of the crew that handled our prints is now working independently under the name Beep pictures; you can find them on Facebook. Those guys are fantastic, and the fact that it's incredibly hard to book a slot with them says it all.

2. Our band (a trio consisting of two guys and a female vocalist) was incredible. They were total pros, and the dance floor was packed until 4:00 AM. People just didn't want to leave! Our reception had more of a rock vibe, so instead of the usual traditional wedding hits, we leaned into a more classic rock style.

3. The venue was the upper level at Castell, and it was simply top-notch. The food was wonderful according to everyone, and nothing was missing. The desserts and cakes were homemade; specifically, the cake was a croquant from the Mediterranean bakery over in the Marina (I think I ate two slices of cheesecake the entire night, it was delicious, and a piece of that croquant the next day was just perfect). The wine was locally sourced, so we managed to get a great deal on it. As for the kids, we paid full price for their seats, though there were only two children at the wedding because my husband's first family is from Switzerland (we asked the other guests not to bring kids along—there will be plenty of chances for birthday parties later!). We kept the reception at a medium size—about 140 people including the photographer and band—as we wanted an elegant affair rather than a huge backyard bash.

4. The flowers were done by Pero from the "Potočnica" florist in San Francisco... they were flawless, really, what more can I say? We had orchids, peonies, lisianthus, ranunculus, and freesias in the bouquet, plus two small arrangements and one massive floral centerpiece on our table, accompanied by candles. For the guest tables, there were various floral spheres in matching colors (white, pink, green, and yellow; our theme was springtime, as the wedding was on May 19th).

5. During the church ceremony, they played Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" on electric guitar, so I really can't say much more about the choirs or soloists beyond that!

6. I sourced all the boutonnieres and extra decorations through eBay and at the IRE in Dugopolj. Our invitations were printed by Mađor in San Francisco, and our thank-you gifts were bottles of rosé (my dad makes world-class wine, you know) featuring our own caricatures.

7. Finding those lanterns was a real struggle at the time, but nowadays you can easily find them through the Lanterna Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/lanternalights).
We had 80 white ones and four red hearts (for us, the godparents, and the parents). People were absolutely delighted because they had never seen anything like it before.

To any brides-to-be out there: I wish you endless patience and good spirits; you're going to need it. On the big day, just have a little something strong to drink, take a deep breath, and ENJOY yourselves.😍

I already posted this little dilemma over in the band discussion thread, but I figured I'd drop it here too just in case.

So, our band just swapped out vocalists, and honestly? We aren't feeling the new guy at all—it’s been a total nightmare trying to get on the same page. There’s just zero chemistry there, so we finally decided to pass on him. Now we're back to square one, hunting for a new group. We've got our eyes on Phoenix from San Francisco, Rocatansky from Zadar, and Volar from Split... though I’m leaning heavily toward Phoenix right now.
The catch is, the only way we've heard them is via YouTube.
Has anyone actually seen any of them live? What was the vibe like??? Thanks!

7. We had such a hard time tracking down those lanterns back then, but honestly, you can just grab them easily now through the Lanterns page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lanternalights)
We ended up with 80 white ones and 4 red hearts (for us, the godparents, and the parents)... people absolutely loved them because they’d never seen anything like it before.

To all the big spenders out there: you're gonna need a ton of patience and some serious goodwill... seriously. And on the big day? Just pour yourselves a little heavy whiskey, take a deep breath, and JUST ENJOY IT. 😍

Do you actually need some kind of special permit or paperwork for the lanterns? Like, where did you guys set them off—right in front of the church or at the reception hall?

Sky lanterns aren't actually classified as pyrotechnics, so you shouldn't need any special permits for them. We used to release them right outside our venue, though since our hall was pretty close to the airport, we always made sure to wait until the last plane had cleared out before sending them up. Generally speaking, you aren't supposed to release them 3.1 miles near an airport or in high winds (otherwise they won't catch enough lift, or the wind might blow them straight into a tree, which is a recipe for disaster). It might be a good idea to give the local fire department a heads-up regarding the location and timing if you're doing this during the peak summer season, just to be safe... although, I don't think I've ever heard of a lantern causing an actual fire. People have released them in places like Zadar, Washington, D.C., Krk, Pag, Šibenik, and Split without any issues at all, even in the middle of summer... and then there's Poland, where they launch 30,000 of them all at once 😉

Anyone here actually dealt with Kuca or that star brand before? Any real experiences?

Olivia Lee5 said:Sky lanterns aren't actually classified as pyrotechnics, so you shouldn't need any special permits for them. We used to release them right outside our venue, though since our hall was pretty close to the airport, we always made sure to wait until the last plane had cleared out before sending them up. Generally speaking, you aren't supposed to release them 3.1 miles near an airport or in high winds (otherwise they won't catch enough lift, or the wind might blow them straight into a tree, which is a recipe for disaster). It might be a good idea to give the local fire department a heads-up regarding the location and timing if you're doing this during the peak summer season, just to be safe... although, I don't think I've ever heard of a lantern causing an actual fire. People have released them in places like Zadar, Washington, D.C., Krk, Pag, Šibenik, and Split without any issues at all, even in the middle of summer... and then there's Poland, where they launch 30,000 of them all at once 😉

Thanks for the info. Our party isn't until October 18th, so we should be fine, I guess...

cosmicsurfer17 Asks:
I actually posted about this little dilemma over in the band discussion thread, too... so here it is again just in case...

The band swapped out their singer, and honestly, the new guy just isn't hitting the mark. It’s been a struggle trying to get on the same page with them—there's just no chemistry there. We eventually decided to pass on them entirely. Now, we're back on the hunt for a new group. We've had our eyes on Phoenix from San Francisco, Rocatansky from Zadar, and Volar from Split... though I have to say, Phoenix is definitely our top choice right now...
But at the end of the day, the only way we actually got to hear them was through YouTube...
Has anyone actually caught them live? I'm curious to know what the experience is really like... Thanks in advance.

Hey, how's it going...
I was at a wedding in Washington, D.C. this past summer, and they had this group called Rocatansky playing. They’re actually from Zadar—the bride was originally from there—and man, they were incredible. The energy in the room was just perfect. Everything was played live, and honestly, the sound quality was top-notch...
I remember catching a Volar set once at a bonfire... the guys were decent enough, I guess, but honestly? They don't even come close to these guys. It’s just the three of them playing to a backing track, unless they've changed things up recently...
Well, I hope that was actually helpful...
Hey there...

rustyfox25 said:

cosmicsurfer17 Asks:
I actually posted about this little dilemma over in the band discussion thread, too... so here it is again just in case...

The band swapped out their singer, and honestly, the new guy just isn't hitting the mark. It’s been a struggle trying to get on the same page with them—there's just no chemistry there. We eventually decided to pass on them entirely. Now, we're back on the hunt for a new group. We've had our eyes on Phoenix from San Francisco, Rocatansky from Zadar, and Volar from Split... though I have to say, Phoenix is definitely our top choice right now...
But at the end of the day, the only way we actually got to hear them was through YouTube...
Has anyone actually caught them live? I'm curious to know what the experience is really like... Thanks in advance.

Hey, how's it going...
I was at a wedding in Washington, D.C. this past summer, and they had this group called Rocatansky playing. They’re actually from Zadar—the bride was originally from there—and man, they were incredible. The energy in the room was just perfect. Everything was played live, and honestly, the sound quality was top-notch...
I remember catching a Volar set once at a bonfire... the guys were decent enough, I guess, but honestly? They don't even come close to these guys. It’s just the three of them playing to a backing track, unless they've changed things up recently...
Well, I hope that was actually helpful...
Hey there...

I think you might be mixing Volar up with some other group. If I recall correctly, they're a quartet plus a female singer, and they actually play everything live... 🤷

And what about Phoenix? Has anyone actually heard them live?

I’m posting this here following the moderators' instructions—my previous attempts actually kept getting deleted by the staff.

So, here’s the deal: a friend of mine had to break off their engagement, and they’re looking to pass along their reserved date at a really stunning, highly sought-after wedding venue near San Francisco (it can hold up to 300 guests). The date is a Saturday in May.

If you're interested, please just shoot me a private message for the details—I'll pass along his contact info directly since I know we aren't allowed to post phone numbers right here on the forum.

cosmicsurfer17 said:I think you might be mixing Volar up with some other group. If I recall correctly, they're a quartet plus a female singer, and they actually play everything live... 🤷

And what about Phoenix? Has anyone actually heard them live?

You're right about there being four of them back in the day—there definitely wasn't a singer then. It was just two guitars, some keys, and I think one of the guys handled the vocals. They've gotten really good at playing live now, though. Honestly, the sound quality at those shows is usually great, so you probably won't be disappointed regardless. But for me, those guys from San Diego were definitely the better act.😉
Good luck either way...

rustyfox25 said:You're right about there being four of them back in the day—there definitely wasn't a singer then. It was just two guitars, some keys, and I think one of the guys handled the vocals. They've gotten really good at playing live now, though. Honestly, the sound quality at those shows is usually great, so you probably won't be disappointed regardless. But for me, those guys from San Diego were definitely the better act.😉
Good luck either way...

Well, that settles it then! Thanks for the help. 😉

Anyone know a good duo or trio—maybe accordion and guitar—who could swing a few hours of music at a pre-wedding party near Savannah? It’s happening in just a couple of hours. Hit me up in the DMs if you have leads.