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BERKELEY WEDDING IN MAY
May, 2010 in Berkeley"We had a truly magical wedding in Berkeley this past May. I wouldn't change a thing. I hope some of our reviews can help during your planning process."
Ceremony: Ceremony & Reception Site: The Brazilian Room
Reception: Ceremony & Reception Site: The Brazilian Room
Vendors
- Florist: Floralisa
Venues
- Ceremony & Reception: Ceremony & Reception Site: The Brazilian Room
- Attraction: Crissy Field Marsh & Beach
- Hotel: Courtyard Oakland Emeryville
- Attraction: Downtown Berkeley
- Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
- Attraction: Golden Gate Bridge
- Restaurant: Bay Street: Shopping and Dining
- Attraction: Golden Gate Park
- Restaurant: Buena Vista Cafe
- Attraction: Pier 39 & Fisherman's Wharf
- Restaurant: Jupiter
- Bars/Pub Food: Beckett's Irish Pub & Restaurant
- Restaurant: North Beach aka Little Italy
- Bars/Pub Food: Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse
- Attraction: Alcatraz Island & Prison Tours
- Shopping: Marina Shopping District
- Attraction: AT&T Park: Home of the San Francisco Giants
- Shopping: Union Square - Downtown
- Attraction: California Academy of Sciences
Florist:
Floralisa
Berkeley, CA, USA"My fiance, (now husband) and I were SO very very pleased when we met Lisa. She is very professional and has worked in the business for a long time. She also doesn't just treat it like a job though, you can tell she genuinely enjoys what she does. She was so kind and easy to talk to. She wasn't pushy at all and let us discuss what WE wanted for our wedding. We had met with other florists that wanted to tell you more about what THEY thought your wedding should be like. My husband and I aren't that knowledgeable about types of flowers, and Lisa was really good at understanding what we were envisioning. She also really worked with us to stay in our budget. When we said that we liked peonies and ranunculas, she went over the cost comparison. I really appreciated her honesty. She was so flexible with us and always kept us in the loop if there were any changes in the season of the flowers we ordered. We had ordered ranunculas for our centerpieces, and she was notified by the farmer (she has established working relationships with growers) that the season was cut short due to the inconsistency in the weather. She offered to do our centerpieces in the peonies, which was more expensive and offered to cover the price difference. I thought this was such a courtesy- to even notify us of this possible change. And of course, it was out of her control, yet she still covered the cost difference. Also, she is very available- by email and phone. I think I called her the day before the wedding to ask if she could deliver our bouquets to the hotel, in a different location than the wedding- a last minute change in our schedule. Her response was "no problem" and just like that- with less than a day's notice, she had rearranged her schedule. She even made a very sweet comment for me to just enjoy my time and be sure to relax. Not to worry - the details will all come together nicely. The day of the wedding- oh my goodness! Our bouquets were absolutely beautiful!! So lush and clean looking- they were the prettiest flowers I've ever seen in my life. I just LOVED the way they came out! Even better than I had imagined. Everyone kept complimenting on how beautiful my bouquet was. The centerpieces were just gorgeous! They went beautifully with the venue and the overall look of our wedding. For not being very descriptive people, Lisa knew exactly the look we were going for. The centerpieces were so romantic and clean looking- exactly what we wanted! We still get compliments from our guests about how beautiful everything looked! If you are getting married at the Brazil Room (where we did), they are very strict, and she is one of their trusted vendors to work with. She knows all their rules and restrictions, so she knows the drill. Very important when working with this venue. We highly recommend working with Lisa for your wedding. She is so pleasant to work with, very reasonably priced and will work within your budget. She does a beautiful job and you can trust that she will have your day taken care of- one less thing for you to stress about!"
Ceremony & Reception:
Ceremony & Reception Site: The Brazilian Room
Shasta Rd & E Wildcat Canyon RdBerkeley, CA 94708, US
"You couldn't ask for a better backdrop for your wedding! Beautiful, natural setting with redwood trees and large grass area with flowers and a cherry blossom tree that's in bloom if you're there in April. Later when the fog rolls in over the hills in the distance, it's such a serene sight. We still get compliments from guests talking about how breathtaking the view was during our ceremony. We have a video our family took during the ceremony and you can hear birds singing/chirping in the background. Just heavenly! I was nervous about having guests drive down the windy road ay night, especially after drinking. But I think everyone was careful, and it really wasn't as big of a deal as I was thinking. The Brazil room is owned and run by the East Bay Regional Parks District, so your money is going towards a great cause. However, because it's run by EBRPD, there are also a lot of restrictions and paperwork that come along with it. Quite a few deadlines too. It seemed really daunting when we were first signing up for it, but they are really good about keeping you on task and checking in with you to make sure you are getting the forms turned in on time. I HIGHLY recommend you work with Serves you Right Catering for your caterer. They are pros with the Brazilian Room and know all the restrictions, deadlines, etc. They really helped me stay organized and were there whenever I had questions or needed advice. The restrictions really aren't that big of a deal either. Price is reasonable, especially for the bay area. Definitely one of the more affordable venues I looked at. So like I said, at first the process looks daunting, but really it's not that bad AND it's definitely so worth it. There really is no other venue like it. The inside has a lodge/cabin feel, but in a good way. Full of huge windows so lots of light comes through. It really is just the perfect venue. Just remember to book early! They book up fast so they take reservations way in advance. You'll look back on your wedding or event and LOVE your choice - I promise you!"
Hotel:
Courtyard Oakland Emeryville
5555 Shellmound StreetEmeryville, CA 94608, United States
(510) 652-8777
"Courtyard Emeryville offered the best rates for the room block I booked for friends and family coming in from out of town. It's a good location next to shopping, movie theatre, restaurants and right next to the freeway for easy access to your wedding venue. Clean, affordable and comfortable."
Hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
1800 Powell StreetEmeryville, CA 94608, United States
(510) 658-9300
"Hilton Garden Inn offered reasonable rates, especially during a really busy week for them. They were so great to work with. I booked a room block for our wedding for our friends and family that were coming in from out of town. It's a good location next to shopping, movie theatre, restaurants and right next to the freeway for easy access to your wedding venue. Also, it's right on the bay, so you can get great views of the city and the bay!"
Restaurant:
Bay Street: Shopping and Dining
5616 Bay StEmeryville, CA 94608
"You can walk across the street from the Courtyard Marriott to Bay Street. Encompassing three city blocks, Bay Street is home to more than 65 shops, 10 restaurants, a 15-screen plus 1 IMAX AMC theatre and over 1,000 residents who live in the 400 residential units. Its retail line-up includes Apple, Sephora, Pottery Barn, J. Crew, and H&M. These fashionable retailers combined with delicious restaurants, weekend concerts and street performers create an active nightlife and popular downtown alternative."
Restaurant:
Buena Vista Cafe
2765 Hyde StreetSan Francisco, CA, United States
"This is a historic cafe with an amazing view of the bay. Right next door to Ghiradelli Square. They have great eggs benedict and they are famous for their Irish Coffee!"
Restaurant:
Jupiter
2181 Shattuck AvenueBerkeley, CA 94704, United States
(510) 843-8277
"Another one of our favorite places to go. Jupiter has a beautiful courtyard and they serve delicious pizza and brew their own beer. Order the Summer Solstice if they have it. It's the best!"
Restaurant:
North Beach aka Little Italy
Columbus Ave & Green StSan Francisco, CA 94133
"North Beach- such a wonderful neighborhood to stroll. Bring your appetite; there are so many delicious Italian restaurants to choose from...after all, this is Little Italy! Be sure to check out Washington Square at Columbus and Union. Beautiful cathedral and great spot to have a picnic or take a nap."
Attraction:
Alcatraz Island & Prison Tours
Alcatraz Island, US
"This is the official site to purchase tickets to tour Alcatraz. A ferry takes you over to the island. The trip plus tour is about 2.5 hours and tickets are $26. It's best to purchase tickets in advance, as they do sell out."
Attraction:
AT&T Park: Home of the San Francisco Giants
24 Willie Mays PlazaSan Francisco, CA 94107
"One of Troy's favorite places to be! We hope to enjoy a game with you over the weekend. We will have to check their schedule. It's a gorgeous ball park with beautiful views of the bay. Games are always a good time! LETS GO GIANTS!"
Attraction:
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse DriveGolden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
(925) 379-8000
"The new Academy of Sciences museum brings the whole universe under one roof - an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum and more! The 412,000 square foot structure is not only physically impressive, but it just may be the greenest museum on the planet, with a 2 ½ acre Living Roof, an expansive solar canopy, an extensive water reclamation system, and walls insulated with recycled blue jeans. A very cool place to check out in Golden Gate Park."
Attraction:
Crissy Field Marsh & Beach
Old Mason StSan Francisco, CA, United States
"This is definitely one of my favorite spots in San Francisco. Crissy Field Beach is so beautiful and serene with amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge. I could sit there and take it all in for hours."
Attraction:
Downtown Berkeley
Shattuck Avenue and Allston StreetBerkeley, CA, United States
"One of Troy and my favorite places to go hang out: Downtown Berkeley on Shattuck Avenue. There are tons of restaurants, bars and brew pubs along Shattuck Avenue. Some of our favorites, we have noted on this map. There are also several movie theaters along this street. UC Berkeley is also 2 short blocks east from Shattuck Avenue. GO BEARS!!"
Attraction:
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco, CA, United States"This link provides details for how you can see the Golden Gate Bridge. One of our favorite things to do is walk across the bridge. Just make sure you're prepared with layers of warmth! It can get pretty windy, but the views are so worth it."
Attraction:
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CASan Francisco, California, US
"This is the park where this journey began: Troy proposed in Golden Gate Park! Golden Gate Park is a large urban park consisting of 1,017 acres. It is 20% larger than Central Park in New York. With 13 million visitors annually, Golden Gate is the third most visited city park in the United States. There are so many beautiful spots to take in here, as well as 2 museums and tons of different gardens. You could get lost for hours seeing the sights or just having a picnic in the sunshine. This park stretches all the way to the ocean."
Attraction:
Pier 39 & Fisherman's Wharf
The Embarcadero & Beach StreetSan Francisco, CA 94133, United States
(415) 705-5500
"A great place to sightsee and people watch on the water. This is also where you would catch the ferry to Alcatraz. Grab a warm bread bowl of clam chowder at one of the food stands in the outdoor fish market!"
Bars/Pub Food:
Beckett's Irish Pub & Restaurant
2271 Shattuck AvenueBerkeley, CA, United States
"Beckett's is another one of our stomping ground spots. They serve traditional Irish pub food as well as drinks. Some nights they have live bands play. It is a very cool 2 story old school style pub in an old brick building. Worth checking out."
Bars/Pub Food:
Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse
1920 Shattuck AveBerkeley, CA 94704, United States
(510) 843-2739
"This is by far our favorite place to go in Berkeley! They have a great and yummy selection of pub food (best wings & burgers) and they brew their own beer. If you get the chance to be here on Thursday night, this is their famous Monkey Head brew night. Great beer. Great crowd. Lots of fun!"
Shopping:
Marina Shopping District
1864 Union StreetSan Francisco, CA 94123
"A fun and upscale neighborhood to stroll and shop. Ambiance is one of my favorite stores. If you're feeling like you need a refreshment from shopping, stop in at Bar None and play a little beer pong if you dare!"
Shopping:
Union Square - Downtown
Union Square, San Francisco, CASan Francisco, California, US
"Experience the unique character of San Francisco's Union Square District, where the best names in fashion, dining and theater have resided for over a hundred years. You can catch a cable car here and head over to Fisherman's Wharf, or you can sit on a bench and people watch. Just a short walk up from Powell Street BART Station."
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