Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Thanks everyone! I was thinking about swinging by Smith or Baghdad's places to pick out some drinks... still undecided on desserts, but those folks from Smalltown, USA looked pretty good at the fair yesterday... I just need stuff for the get-together at my place since the hall has everything covered, and my husband is stuck out in Pittsburgh again, so he'll probably grab something for them while he's out there...

cosmictiger67 said:Has anyone here ordered pastries or a wedding cake from the Crown? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on whether the quality actually justifies the price tag.
Thanks!🙂

The Crown was handing out cookies at the fair yesterday... $22 Per pound, or say if you're from a small town, USA or out in Vigor... $18 Per pound...

Robert Moore86 said:Vigus from Indianapolis was at the Wedding Expo today. They have a branch in Indianapolis behind the Super store too, and they have a 5x7 tent for $233, not sure if they carry other sizes...

vigus@vu.t-com.hr

Indy: 031/202-105
Indy: 031/332-915

Thanks so much, I'll definitely look into that. I guess you could tell me, roughly how much would fit in a 5x7 space? 🙄 We're planning on putting some tables and benches inside, plus a buffet setup, so we really need enough room for people to sit down and eat comfortably..

cosmictiger67 said:Has anyone here ordered pastries or a wedding cake from the Crown? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on whether the quality actually justifies the price tag.
Thanks!🙂

Personally, I wasn't a fan of their sweets—it feels like they're mass-produced, and the sponge cakes always seem way too dry for my liking. I definitely wouldn't pick them for a wedding... The pricing is pretty standard, though, but honestly, I think you can find some truly amazing desserts out there for that same amount of money.

Robert Moore86 said:The Crown was handing out cookies at the fair yesterday... $22 Per pound, or say if you're from a small town, USA or out in Vigor... $18 Per pound...

Man, those prices at Crown seem kinda wild to me! 🤷
I mean, how many cookies actually fit in a pound? Like, just regular sized ones, nothing tiny or huge?
I heard some places let you grab them by the piece or by weight. I already placed an order, but I'm just curious! Purely out of curiosity, I guess!!! 😁

Maybe around thirty... you know, just your standard wedding classic...

Has anyone here actually gone through the process of hosting a wedding in a marquee out in the Midwest?? I’m looking into doing something near Memphis, specifically wondering if the cost-benefit ratio actually makes sense... and how people usually handle the restroom situation

Has anyone actually worked with Foto Joe before? I swung by their booth at the expo on Friday and was honestly pretty impressed. Their website leaves a lot to be desired, but what they were showing off at the fair really caught my eye...

thanks 🙂

..The hall and band have been picked 🙂 we're going with John Doe's venue, and the group As.. I guess we won't need any more photographers or planners until fall 😁

Hannah Bailey6 , regarding that idea of having a tent wedding—as far as I know, you can rent those massive white ones that come complete with stages, flooring, and even restrooms.. I'm just not sure if they have those available out in the Midwest, maybe near Vigus!.. I imagine they might be pricey, but they look absolutely stunning!

electriccyclist89, we're right there with you in John Doe 🙂

What date were you thinking?

Jeffrey Walker3 said:electriccyclist89, we're right there with you in John Doe 🙂

What date were you thinking?

👍 ..we actually put down a deposit for next year, May 19th. We had considered Indianapolis as an option, but after doing our homework, this venue just felt like the best fit. Given the price point, it made sense, plus we’d already been there for some weddings and seen how they operate firsthand. It felt like a safer bet than picking somewhere completely unknown.. 😁 when is your big day?

Hannah Bailey6 said:Has anyone here actually gone through the process of hosting a wedding in a marquee out in the Midwest?? I’m looking into doing something near Memphis, specifically wondering if the cost-benefit ratio actually makes sense... and how people usually handle the restroom situation

We spoke to a vendor at a trade show—a company called Altera based out of Cleveland, they service the entire US. They quote by the square foot, roughly $10/sq ft, assuming about 1.5 to 2 square feet per guest. That rate supposedly covers the restroom units and climate control, depending on the season. You also get basic decor like curtains included in that footprint, though anything more upscale comes at an extra premium. I wasn't sure if crystal chandeliers were part of the base price...
But all in all, it isn't cheap. At that price point, you still have to source the tables, chairs, cutlery, linens, and so on...

Olivia Gomez2 said:You can always grab your drinks at big retail hubs—like a Walmart or Target—and then just return whatever you didn't open later... that's our plan for the beer, anyway. As for the rest of the booze, we usually head over to Canada, or we're planning a trip to Mexico where, for example, a case of Coca-Cola is way cheaper $3.00.
We’ll definitely have sweets to pass out—usually about a third of a pound per little baggie—and we'll have exactly as many bags as we have thank-you notes.
I’d highly recommend Dundo iz Josipovac; she makes my desserts, and they are honestly delicious and look stunning.
They’ll actually pack them into little boxes for us, which is already included in the price.
Here’s the link:http://dundoslastice.com/index.php
If there's anything else you're wondering about, feel free to ask!

I heard that herbal liqueur in Mexico is around $12!! Which is more than half the price compared to here!!
How does transporting alcohol across the border actually work?

Also, I was just at Metro, and those pastry boxes... I looked at the two-dimensional ones, priced at about $0.34, and $0.44/each. If anyone needs them, they're quite affordable...

The prices over there are honestly a joke—in a good way. It’s not exactly a hassle to bring some beer back across the border, though I know there’s a limit per person, and I can't quite remember the exact number... But even then, it's hardly a dealbreaker. You just make a couple of trips, or maybe head over with a few different cars, and you're still coming out ahead compared to what we pay here at home.
I’ve heard stories about people driving over just to stock up on pastries, too—apparently, the price per pound is ridiculous and they’re delicious, but I don't know... I wouldn't quite be brave enough to try that myself.

In Mexico, a pound of cake costs $13! And you can bring a liter of alcohol per person... sodas are way cheaper too, like a case of Coca-Cola with eight 2-liter bottles is only $22..

David Ramos25 said:We spoke to a vendor at a trade show—a company called Altera based out of Cleveland, they service the entire US. They quote by the square foot, roughly $10/sq ft, assuming about 1.5 to 2 square feet per guest. That rate supposedly covers the restroom units and climate control, depending on the season. You also get basic decor like curtains included in that footprint, though anything more upscale comes at an extra premium. I wasn't sure if crystal chandeliers were part of the base price...
But all in all, it isn't cheap. At that price point, you still have to source the tables, chairs, cutlery, linens, and so on...

Thanks, though we actually ended up deciding on the Admiral in Indianapolis. It's that new hall... I'm not entirely sure what their food situation is like. We were originally thinking about just bringing our own catering and drinks and simply renting the hall and the staff from them...

I don't believe that's an option at Venue: Admiral Music... you only have those two choices... fifty-fifty, or all-inclusive... I believe I mentioned this to you previously...
we were there as well 🙂 that lounge is lovely 🙂 and I am looking forward to 🙂
any sign of you, Flower?

Does anyone happen to know a good makeup artist who could travel out to Memphis? I’m looking to get myself, my mom, and a few other girls done... also, what does the going rate for services even look like around the Midwest lately?

Hannah Bailey6 said:Thanks, though we actually ended up deciding on the Admiral in Indianapolis. It's that new hall... I'm not entirely sure what their food situation is like. We were originally thinking about just bringing our own catering and drinks and simply renting the hall and the staff from them...

Wait, is this that Exclusive hall?!
Man, now I'm curious! Did you guys actually go in for a consultation yet?
I'm asking because I'm wondering what the rental price is like. I heard the only way they do it is $83 per person, but apparently that doesn't cover everything (not sure what exactly is included).
And honestly, I haven't seen many weddings there lately! I only know of one wedding, and that was maybe late August or early September. I pass by there every weekend, and I haven't noticed any other wedding parties.

The Admiral Hotel, right in the heart of downtown, is booked solid a year in advance... we made our reservation back in June last year, and there wasn't a single opening left in any of the city hotels. This new hall just opened up this past June. That’s likely why you aren't seeing many wedding parties; besides, the space is massive, even larger than the downtown location.
There are essentially two ways to handle this, as Hannah Bailey6 mentioned—it's a fifty-fifty split. You pay $145$52(I don't have the exact figure handy; our contract was set at $47, though we signed it before January 1st) per guest, and then you provide your own appetizers, roasts—think pork, lamb, desserts—and spirits like Jagermeister, whiskey, or bitters. Alternatively, you can go with option $75, or perhaps something slightly more expensive now following the January 1st changes, which is all-inclusive. Everything from starters and main courses to sides, cakes, and drinks... everything is covered.
Renting the hall by itself isn't an option; they operate as a hotel, after all.