Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

hehehe.... but you guys aren't even making it rain 😍

Hey everyone,

I’m currently in the middle of planning a wedding for this coming June over in St. Louis—which is going to be a whirlwind, I'm sure—and I was wondering if anyone here has actually worked with Kay photo studio? I'm not exactly looking for anything groundbreaking or over-the-top; I took a quick peek at their portfolio in the window and asked about their rates, and everything seems reasonably priced enough, I guess... but I’d really value hearing some actual, firsthand experiences from someone who has been through it. Thanks!

Robin Chase7 said:Hey girls, I thought I'd jump in and help out a little too!
Regarding the photographer, I feel like choosing someone based on just the first option might be a bit tight for you; it's definitely not impossible, but you'll probably end up limiting your choices way more than you should.
It really all comes down to what kind of vibe you're going for, and honestly, most photographers are pretty willing to go the extra mile if you ask them nicely.
I could recommend our usual guy, but he’s actually quite pricey this year—his rate is sitting around $1,000$0.00—and the big question is whether he's even available on your date.

As for the Exclusive crew from El Paso, we actually used them once. They’re pretty expensive because they're so popular, but I have to say, I had quite a few issues with them.
For instance, they did my table arrangements with pink flowers when I specifically asked for purple ones.
The bouquet was this weird lilac color and didn't really have all the specific blooms I requested, plus the ribbon started falling apart right after the wedding ended, and $167 I still had to pay full price for it.
The centerpieces were about $10 per table, and the main one was $300, if I remember correctly. It honestly makes me a little upset because they charged me about $160 in travel fees that were never even mentioned during our initial talks—they only brought it up right when it was time to settle the bill.
I can't help but think they tacked that on because I had a gift voucher worth $167, so I guess it all balanced out in the end anyway.

On a totally different note, I actually made my own church bows using that clear plastic sheeting they use to cover salad greens at the grocery store, and they looked surprisingly great! If my memory serves me right, it cost me about thirty bucks for a 10-meter roll.

I actually wanted to ask you, did they actually honor that gift voucher? It was incredibly rude of them to charge you those travel fees. I've heard plenty of bad things about them myself, which is why I passed on them. I ended up using a woman who runs a stall at the local farmers market, and I was absolutely thrilled with everything. She works from home with her husband, and their prices are quite reasonable! Everything was easy to coordinate with her. On another note, I wanted to mention something about the makeup artist, Victoria. I was extremely unhappy with her service. First off, she was an hour and a half late. I was calling her constantly, and she kept giving me the "I'm on my way" routine. When she finally showed up, there were seven of us waiting to get our makeup done. She spent literally three minutes on each of us because, naturally, she was running late for the next bride she was supposed to visit. She rushed through all of us in twenty minutes... not to mention, during our trial, we agreed on lashes, but she completely forgot to apply them because she was insistent that I had told her I didn't want them. All in all, a huge negative for me.

Hey, I need some help here 🙂

I’m looking for a solid photographer recommendation out in the Oakland area. I’m actually based in NYC, but I'm going to have a Midwest-style wedding, so I honestly have no clue who to call... 🤷

Hey, can anyone help me out?

Has anyone here ordered cigarettes from Belić before? I'm trying to figure out if getting Jeremiah is actually worth it through them. I heard prices in Mexico are about the same as they are here in the States, and apparently, they're slightly cheaper in Canada. It might make the most sense to just go through Belić... also, if you have any tips or info on any other brands, let me know. Thanks! 🙂

Richard Baker72 said:Hey, I need some help here 🙂

I’m looking for a solid photographer recommendation out in the Oakland area. I’m actually based in NYC, but I'm going to have a Midwest-style wedding, so I honestly have no clue who to call... 🤷

My best friends all used Zoom and they were all thrilled with the results—and while I personally think Click looks decent, I don't actually know anyone who has hired them. One of the top-tier photographers in the Oakland area is Andrew Carter; he used to work with Zoom back in the day, but now he's gone independent. You should probably take a look at their portfolios on Facebook 🙂

I'm looking for some advice regarding airbrush tanning—you know, that spray tan method. Does anyone know which salons in Indianapolis offer this service, what kind of pricing I should expect, and more importantly, does anyone have actual experience with it? I'm really not a fan of the tanning beds; I don't want to end up looking as pale as a sheet on my vacation next week.🙂

Can anyone recommend a catering service that provides their own tents and full equipment? I'm based out of Indianapolis... I'm also looking for floral recommendations—does anyone know a budget-friendly florist that handles wedding decor?

I’ve been seeing quite a few negative comments about Victoria lately, yet she still seems to be in high demand... I wonder, what does she actually charge for bridal makeup? And does she really take on more brides even though she has to travel all over the country to reach them?!

Jacob Grant said:I’ve been seeing quite a few negative comments about Victoria lately, yet she still seems to be in high demand... I wonder, what does she actually charge for bridal makeup? And does she really take on more brides even though she has to travel all over the country to reach them?!

It was $50 $120 for makeup with lashes, or just $120 without... one of my buddies went to her studio to have Victoria do her makeup, and she ended up waiting for an hour because, naturally, she was running late. When she finally showed up, she had the nerve to claim she was behind schedule because some fashion show they were at ran late on hair... blah blah blah... anyway, once everything was wrapped up, she actually said, "Ugh, I totally messed that girl up." I mean, seriously, you can't say something like that right in front of the client you're currently working on!!!

Jacob Grant said:I’ve been seeing quite a few negative comments about Victoria lately, yet she still seems to be in high demand... I wonder, what does she actually charge for bridal makeup? And does she really take on more brides even though she has to travel all over the country to reach them?!

well, she didn't even show up for me on my wedding day, so I can't really speak to her being reliable.

I was actually thinking about booking an appointment with Victoria, too—but honestly, once you hear the stories about her running an hour late or just straight-up ghosting people, I’m out. There is absolutely no way I'm spending my big day getting stressed out just because my makeup artist can't manage a schedule...

Hey there!
I always tend to just drop in out of nowhere, but does anyone happen to have a recommendation for an affordable jeweler for wedding rings?! 🤷

Anyone know a solid flower shop in Indianapolis? Or maybe somewhere in Houston? thanks☕

Denis Florist 👍
I’m not personally from Indianapolis... though I have heard nothing but glowing reviews about him—so, depending on what you're actually looking for... 😉

Taylor Kelly2 said:Denis Florist 👍
I’m not personally from Indianapolis... though I have heard nothing but glowing reviews about him—so, depending on what you're actually looking for... 😉

So, everything one by one, I guess🙂 small table decor, a bouquet, car arrangements... And a makeup artist? (I'm not from around here either, so finding stuff like this is kind of a struggle)🙂

loneorca16 said:Hey there!
I always tend to just drop in out of nowhere, but does anyone happen to have a recommendation for an affordable jeweler for wedding rings?! 🤷

I'm not entirely sure what specific details you're looking for. My boyfriend and I spent some time walking around downtown Indianapolis, checking out a few different jewelry stores. In the end, we decided to go with Glamour, located right across from the St. Peter's cathedral, to pick up both wedding bands. $467Honestly, that’s a steal compared to everything else out there. We just went with classic white gold bands—nothing fancy, just a nice mix of polished and matte finishes. Plus, engraving is free everywhere you go.

We were actually aiming for something simple. All those plain bands without any extra gems or fancy details end up costing around $2,000. Since the one we liked wasn't particularly bulky, it actually turned out to be even more affordable.

The jeweler gave me some advice today. They mentioned that if I choose a ring with a side stone, there’s a risk it could fall out. Sure, getting the stone reset isn't a huge deal, but the real issue is sizing. If the stone comes out, you can't easily resize the band later if your finger changes.
It’s the same story with any ring that has fancy engravings or extra decorations. Over time, all those details just wear down. They smooth out until they eventually look just as plain and simple as this one.

Gold is basically currency at Glamour. $100 They don't offer any cash discounts here, even though you can get them at other places. $117 You can snag a 10-15% discount if you pay in cash. That brings the total right back to where you started. At that point, it really just comes down to your personal taste.

Some friends of mine headed down to Mexico because they thought it would be cheaper. They ended up paying for it. $933 It’s a bit unconventional, but if you’re leaning towards something simpler, your best bet is to just scout around town. Honestly, the price mostly comes down to the weight—basically how chunky you want that ring to be. Just hit up a few local jewelers and see what fits.

Well, I hope that helps! 🙂

Does anyone have a ballpark figure on what the total cost of your wedding ended up being? Also, I’m looking for some honest advice—where can I actually cut corners without making everything look cheap?

Ana77777 thanks so much 🙂
we’re actually looking for something simple too, maybe without any rhinestones or extra bling.

redgull65 honestly, the best way to save money would be to just skip the wedding altogether, wouldn't it?😂
But really, it all comes down to what kind of wedding you're actually dreaming of planning!