Everything you need for a California wedding

Angela Martin10 said:Good evening, everyone.
My wedding is set for May in Zadar.
From what I can see, photographers in Zadar don't really have much of an online presence, except for SuzyNewLife and Nadio.
I could really use some help choosing because I am dead set on having a beautiful album.
I noticed Studio G was recommended, so I'm curious why that is, what their pricing looks like, and what their process is.
I haven't started interviewing photographers yet, but I'm hoping to have everything sorted by the New Year.
I saw someone mention that Suzy offers certain packages, so if anyone knows the details, please fill me in.
I took a look at her website and it seems decent enough.
Right now, my focus is strictly on photography; the music is hopefully handled and the venue is booked, so I'm tackling the photo situation next.
Please help!

Olivia Adams71 said:Well, look who's calling for backup.😉
I’d personally vouch for Studio G, but let me wait a few days so I can post some actual photos for you to look at.😉
Studio G offers both photography and video. I'm not 100% certain on the exact pricing, but everything together usually runs about $1,100: that includes the shoot, the video, 3 DVD copies, a massive album with nearly 200 shots (depending on the package), thank-you cards (which they charge extra for this year), plus a CD with all the digital photos...
We went with them because we saw footage and photos from a wedding they did three years ago and loved the style. We also stopped by their studio to flip through one of their physical albums before making the call.
The biggest reason I recommend them, though, is how they treat the couple. They are incredibly easygoing and, for the most part, they stay so low-key you barely notice them, even though they're always there when needed.👍

Angela Martin10 said:I want to extend my sincere thanks to Olivia Adams71 for the incredibly prompt assistance. I was actually grabbing coffee with an acquaintance this morning, and she was venting about her recent experience with Studio G. She hired them about two months ago, and now she’s telling me that the final results are nowhere near the quality they initially promised during their consultation. It's honestly quite disappointing when things don't live up to the pitch.
Everyone kept telling her she should make sure the photo actually featured Ivica working on the project, yet somehow, some other guy ends up in the shot instead. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
She told me straight up that the photos lack inspiration—they just don't have that "something" special, you know? She said she’s perfectly content just having an album to look back on when she's older so she can see how young and beautiful she once was. That’s really it. Honestly, her point was that any friend with a slightly better camera could have snapped those same shots.

Can someone tell me what the actual cost of these thank-you plaques is? And I’m also wondering about the setup—does the text come printed directly on the acrylic, or is that part handled separately?
How much is that photo CD going for?

She actually mentioned Suzy too, but since both of them were completely swamped with work over at the office, she just brushed it off—claiming she’ll never even miss it.
I can’t quite recall the exact price point, but apparently, it isn't breaking the bank. Still, I have this nagging feeling that we should be aiming for something truly top-tier. I refuse to settle for mediocrity! Someone, please, lend me your wisdom—help me out here!

Zachary White9 said:I had a total disaster with a tenor I hired for a church service once. He was just awful—super forced and amateurish. He ended up charging me $100, even though our initial agreement was somewhere between $200 and $100 depending on how many songs were played (plus he was playing the organ). Honestly, asking for that much right before the service started felt like such a rip-off! My husband and his buddies were just finishing up a game at his place and were supposed to swing by to pick me up—thank goodness his dad was there to lend him some cash so we weren't stuck!

Zachary White9 said:I had a total disaster with a tenor I hired for a church service once. He was just awful—super forced and amateurish. He ended up charging me $100, even though our initial agreement was somewhere between $200 and $100 depending on how many songs were played (plus he was playing the organ). Honestly, asking for that much right before the service started felt like such a rip-off! My husband and his buddies were just finishing up a game at his place and were supposed to swing by to pick me up—thank goodness his dad was there to lend him some cash so we weren't stuck!

redviper17 said:Honestly, that is just predatory. People who pull stunts like that on newlyweds know exactly what they're doing. They know you’re likely to get ripped off right before or after the big day because, let's face it, you're basically losing your mind from the stress! You aren't exactly in a state to think rationally in that moment...
And once the dust settles a week or two later and you realize you've been taken advantage of, what can you even do? Nobody ever gives the money back, and half the time, those people won't even pick up the phone when you call them! 👎

Kevin Jones39 said:Help me out here

Did anyone catch what was being said during the meetings, or does anyone actually have some intel on the Best Buy group...........?????????🙏

Raymond Brooks7 said:Thanks,

I picked up the fabric at a HomeGoods over in a suburb outside of Phoenix—just one of those shops that specializes in curtains. I think the width was about $6.25 feet, but I grabbed 20 yards of it. I ended up trimming it and making the runners myself. Honestly, I can't remember if it was polyester voile or organza—don't judge me, my textile knowledge is non-existent—but anyway, it’s basically just curtain fabric.

By the way... I still have everything. If anyone's interested, you can buy it or rent it from me.

James Brown46 said:Small8, if you could, I'd really love to see how it all turned out...

Kevin Jones39 said:Thanks, thanks... honestly, I’ve just heard people saying they're good, but since they're probably the new kids on the block, they might not be fully polished yet.

Raymond Brooks7 said:

You only fall in love once, they say.
So, I settled on a photographer from California—because getting an appointment with Smith was impossible, and frankly, I don't trust anyone else. As for the Bravo band, I’ve been to two parties where they played, and I’m still traumatized. 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 The first time, the sound system was so abysmal that everything else just became background noise. The second time, the lead singer—I think his name is Peter—was so hoarse he sounded like he was screaming at a cat. At one point during the night, his voice just gave out completely, so they ended up just playing low-key instrumentals. Regarding Topnotch, I've heard conflicting reports; some say great, some say terrible... depends on whose party you're at.
I’m incredibly picky about music. I want a group with a female vocalist who actually knows how to sing, someone who doesn't step on people's toes or crowd the dance floor like Victor and Wilma did (they practically shoved me aside at a wedding where I was the maid of honor). I want pop-rock-latin vibes. Absolutely zero country twang or anything remotely similar. Just danceable stuff, foreign repertoire is fine too. I know I'm demanding, but what can you do?

I have to weigh in here... Smith isn't the only option. In fact, Ivica Lisjak and his son do equally good—if not better—work (photo and all), mainly because they're much more approachable and pleasant to deal with. But hey, if you've set your heart on California... fine. Just be careful about which crew you hire. There are plenty of options out there. You probably already know, but a little extra warning never hurts.😁)

I actually hire the Bravo band, so let me defend them a bit. It’s all subjective. To me, they’ve been fantastic at every single event I’ve attended. If someone's voice cracks, well, nobody can predict that. They hire a vocalist based on what you want, and she usually backs singers like Ivana Kindl and Luka Nižetić... so the girl can definitely sing. My second choice would have been Viva, but BB was my top pick, so I booked them first.

Have you looked into Major League? They have a female vocalist and they are stellar.

The music is a headache, the venue is a headache, the photographer is a headache... even the church. Honestly, getting married these days has become a massive ordeal. Or maybe it's better to just panic and do it all in a month? Fewer choices means less stress.😂 😂 😂

Good luck. Let me know when you find a band. And if you need a contact number or anything else, just reach out.
I think we have the best vendor list in the country right here!

Raymond Brooks7 said: