Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Cure, thanks so much for all the help! :-)

Regarding the lighting, personally, I think color washes and some nice light effects for moments like the grand entrance or the cake cutting are more than enough. To be honest, those cheaper stage light setups look pretty pathetic to me... you know, just setting up a few red, blue, or purple PAR cans on the side and hoping for the best. Of course, when you go with a pro outfit like Lighting Effects, Smash, or similar high-end companies, everything looks absolutely stunning, but I’m talking about those basic kits some bands carry around. As for fog machines or bubble machines, I probably wouldn't bother with them—not because I dislike them, but because I just don't feel like I need them. It really just comes down to personal taste.
You can certainly mix and match whatever you like, but my advice would be not to overdo it; otherwise, the whole thing can end up looking a bit tacky and over-the-top. For instance, I’ve never been a fan of lasers for weddings.
Take a look at what these guys offer, though I'm not sure about their pricing:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...=photos&ref=ts

Hey everyone,

Does anyone know where I can pick up a decent white Hammer marker in Indianapolis?
I'm making my own invitations... checked Hobby Lobby and Walmart, but they're both out... 🙄

Thanks for the help! 😉

There’s plenty available at the local print shops... It might be worth doing a quick sweep of the area. If you can't find what you need in Indianapolis, I know several spots in the surrounding suburbs that carry it. I might be able to lend a hand if you reach out via DM... 😉)

Thanks for the tip! I'll swing by a few local print shops to see what they can do. If I hit a dead end, I'll let you know.. 🙂

Oops, I put the wrong date in the title... 😂 I guess I’m just a bit scattered today.. 😁

James Lopez8 said:Well, I’ve been doing some searching through the local Walmart, Kiki, IKEA, Home Depot, PepsiCo, Kroger, and even Buffalo Wild Wings over here in my area, but I haven't had any luck finding any green ribbons anywhere. The tiny bit I did manage to spot at Target was priced at about 8-$$3.00 per piece, which seems a bit steep. I haven't seen them anywhere in Canada either, mostly because I wasn't quite sure where to start looking—maybe in one of those massive supermarkets or perhaps at a local farmers' market? I eventually stumbled upon some near a vendor selling curtains and home decor, but I couldn't find any bows at all. It's a bit frustrating, so I might just try heading over to Canada again tomorrow.😁

Have you ever stepped foot in Art? Perhaps there might be something worth finding there. 🤷

Matthew Garcia9 said:Hey everyone,

Does anyone know where I can pick up a decent white Hammer marker in Indianapolis?
I'm making my own invitations... checked Hobby Lobby and Walmart, but they're both out... 🙄

Thanks for the help! 😉

hey... check the office supplies at JPMorgan Chase over on El Paso Street.... if they don't have it, try looking here... I make my own invites too and this is where I ordered my paper

All set! I managed to get everything yesterday. I actually found some bows while I was traveling through the Midwest—got a pack of 10 for just $2.50. I couldn't find any dark green ones anywhere, so I just grabbed white ones instead; I think I can probably make my own green ones using some ribbon I picked up there too. It was such a steal—the whole roll was only about $2, and if I recall correctly, there's at least 100m on it. For the rest, I headed over to that boutique right across from the Starbucks; they have absolutely everything you could need for a wedding, though it isn't exactly budget-friendly. For instance, I picked up some gorgeous fabric by the roll to use as a centerpiece runner, and 10m ended up being $23. I grabbed the candles at Walmart; the tall candle is $0.83, and the floating ones were around $4.25, but you get quite a few in a pack. I also stopped by IKEA and picked up those paper lanterns to hang around the bulbs in the tent, which I think will look absolutely lovely. Anyway, the shopping is officially done... the tulle, the bows, the ribbons, the candles, the dried flowers, the decorative gems (from Offertis), the candlesticks, the vases (wide and shallow ones), the tablecloth material, the runners, the paper lanterns, and even the fabric we'll use to drape the tables all the way to the floor... now I just need to order the flowers and I'm basically finished. 👍

I’m on the hunt for some candles—roughly 4 to 5 inches tall, preferably in white or cream. Does anyone happen to know where I might find a decent deal on those? Any leads would be much appreciated!

Is he on the heavier side?
I grabbed mine at the Sephora in the mall; they were the only ones that had the specific shade of green I wanted 🙂 and the price wasn't bad either. I'm sure they have white ones in stock too.

Are they actually thicker?
I headed over to the Target in downtown Chicago, hoping to find a few things, but honestly? It was a total bust. The only thing I actually managed to track down was that specific shade of green I’ve been hunting for. Everything else was just... nothing. 🙂 They weren't even that expensive, honestly. And I'm fairly certain there were white ones available too.

I have no idea why it didn't occur to me to ask you right away, especially since I know you'll be stuck dealing with them too... 🤷
Thanks. 🙂
Oh, please, I’m actually looking for the thicker ones—I probably need about 40 to 45 units total, though I haven't quite decided on the exact number yet. How tall are yours, roughly? And what did they end up costing you? I noticed they have them at the Democratic Party headquarters too, but I can't recall what the individual price per unit is there.

hey, sorry I didn't get a chance to reply sooner
100v/57h are $2.50 and 80v/50h are $1.50

can't remember exactly what they go for at the DP, but pretty sure they were pricier

Since most of you already know you can find basically anything in the mall corridor 🙂—I actually stumbled upon a shop just for ribbons! Satin, organza, textured stuff... it’s easily half the price of what we pay back home. Everyone’s always talking about those fancy bows, so since there's only one ribbon specialty shop in the corridor, I figured I'd share the intel.

For example, 1 yard of narrow ribbon in Vegas (or even at other shops) usually goes for $0.33, but I picked up a 100-yard roll over there for just 10 bucks = $13

A 2cm wide organza ribbon costs $0.73 a yard here, but they were selling 45-yard rolls for 8 bucks = $11.

I’m planning on getting married about a year from now—and everyone keeps telling me I need to start hunting for bands immediately just to secure a decent date... 🙄
I was thinking of picking a date exactly one year from today to host the wedding reception. Could anyone point me toward some good live bands for a wedding? 😉
Thanks

And where are you located? Personally, I think the Spice Girls are absolutely wonderful, though they don't really travel outside of the immediate metropolitan area. I actually sent them an email to see if they’d be willing to come down to New Orleans to play, but unfortunately, the answer was no. As for local talent here in New Orleans, I’ve always found The Beatles to be great—they create such a fantastic atmosphere (at least from my experience attending weddings). They’re actually playing a joint bachelor/bachelorette party for my boyfriend's brother this Tuesday, and then they have a wedding on Friday. The total cost is about $2,200; I imagine it might be around $650 for the Tuesday festivities and maybe $1,550 for the wedding on Friday.
I suppose you could look into Kurt Cobain, The Beach Boys (I think they might even have a female vocalist now), Pulse, The Blitz, Onyx, or Valentino... though it really depends on what kind of vibe you want for a wedding. To be honest, some of those aren't quite my style—like Onyx or Valentino. In my opinion, they play a bit too much country-pop, and it just doesn't sound right to me. Of course, that's just my take; others might love them! You might want to check out the Still band online; they're based out of Indianapolis and seem pretty solid. There is also Sax, The Four, and Vigus. I imagine they wouldn't mind traveling from somewhere like Indianapolis down to New Orleans. 😉

James Wilson16 said:Anyone know someone who rents out chillers for weddings around Warsaw or Columbus? And what’s the damage gonna be like on price?

..Well, about three years ago, we used a service from out in rural Illinois, and it was $267...though I suppose you do get to keep the equipment for a full week....

James Lopez8 said:And where are you located? Personally, I think the Spice Girls are absolutely wonderful, though they don't really travel outside of the immediate metropolitan area. I actually sent them an email to see if they’d be willing to come down to New Orleans to play, but unfortunately, the answer was no. As for local talent here in New Orleans, I’ve always found The Beatles to be great—they create such a fantastic atmosphere (at least from my experience attending weddings). They’re actually playing a joint bachelor/bachelorette party for my boyfriend's brother this Tuesday, and then they have a wedding on Friday. The total cost is about $2,200; I imagine it might be around $650 for the Tuesday festivities and maybe $1,550 for the wedding on Friday.
I suppose you could look into Kurt Cobain, The Beach Boys (I think they might even have a female vocalist now), Pulse, The Blitz, Onyx, or Valentino... though it really depends on what kind of vibe you want for a wedding. To be honest, some of those aren't quite my style—like Onyx or Valentino. In my opinion, they play a bit too much country-pop, and it just doesn't sound right to me. Of course, that's just my take; others might love them! You might want to check out the Still band online; they're based out of Indianapolis and seem pretty solid. There is also Sax, The Four, and Vigus. I imagine they wouldn't mind traveling from somewhere like Indianapolis down to New Orleans. 😉

I'm from Des Moines, so thank you for providing such a massive amount of detail...
The real issue I'm facing is that my family and his are essentially two different worlds—mine loves the old-school classics, while his isn't really into that sort of thing. It's making it difficult to even envision a setlist that keeps both sides of the guest list happy...🤷

I honestly think the best approach is to just agree on playing a little bit of everything—a diverse mix where there’s something for everyone, and then everybody stays happy. Personally, I’m all for those classic old-school folk songs, but maybe skip the newer stuff. You know, just keep things fun with some traditional acoustic sets, maybe some line dancing, the old classics, and even a little bit of rock... In my opinion, that's the sweet spot. It doesn't really work if it's strictly just acoustic instruments or nothing but folk music. A good mix is definitely the way to go.👍

James Lopez8 said:I honestly think the best approach is to just agree on playing a little bit of everything—a diverse mix where there’s something for everyone, and then everybody stays happy. Personally, I’m all for those classic old-school folk songs, but maybe skip the newer stuff. You know, just keep things fun with some traditional acoustic sets, maybe some line dancing, the old classics, and even a little bit of rock... In my opinion, that's the sweet spot. It doesn't really work if it's strictly just acoustic instruments or nothing but folk music. A good mix is definitely the way to go.👍

I couldn't agree more...👍
thanks for the input...😉

Taylor Kelly2 said:I’m planning on getting married about a year from now—and everyone keeps telling me I need to start hunting for bands immediately just to secure a decent date... 🙄
I was thinking of picking a date exactly one year from today to host the wedding reception. Could anyone point me toward some good live bands for a wedding? 😉
Thanks

I’m getting married next year too, though mine is in May. We actually booked The Beach Boys to play. They played a New Year's Eve set at the downtown plaza in Indianapolis recently—they're great and really know how to set the mood. 👍 😉