Look, I haven't heard anything bad about Bess, honestly. I’ve never actually set foot in Bess, nor have I ever been to that venue at the Fairgrounds, but I have heard the food at the Fairgrounds place is pretty mediocre—you end up paying a fortune for basically nothing. In my opinion, if they're charging that much per seat over $67, they better deliver, because word travels fast when a place is disappointing.
I think the price at Bess is roughly $50 if you're looking at a crowd of over 200-250 guests, but if you're running a smaller group, it's probably closer to 180 or $62. I don't know the exact dollar amounts off the top of my head, but that's the gist. That said, you also have that other hall over in Memphis or Richmond—someone from the local area could definitely give you the specifics, but it'll be way cheaper than Bess. It doesn't look fancy, but it's decent, and if I remember correctly, it holds 200 people, maybe even more.
And what about the Hilton? Have you confirmed if the Lion can actually handle a max of 180 people? If you need it, I have their price list right here.
Hannah Bailey6 said:Does anyone happen to know what the pricing looks like at that new hall over in Memphis by the Fairgrounds? If anyone’s actually held a wedding there recently, I’d love to hear your thoughts... how was the food, the layout, the overall vibe...
If I recall correctly, it’s a bit north of $67 for the seating alone, but when it comes to the service and the food... 😱
ruggedtrucker5 said:Leon Productions out of Indianapolis—their shots are fantastic, and they even do light effects if you’re looking for that extra touch...
Does anyone happen to know where I can rent stands, vases, or candelabras for restaurant decor (minus the flowers, obviously) around Columbus, Indianapolis, or the surrounding areas?
ironrider20 said:Well, that's a different story entirely—you guys actually have a ton of traditions. From the two weddings in the Midwest I've been to, there wasn't anything super specific or out of the ordinary, everything felt pretty much like any other part of America, but people were constantly going on about how Midwest weddings are the absolute best.
Though, it feels a bit silly for me to claim Midwest weddings are always massive affairs with 300 or 400 guests, because let's be real—that’s not the case for everyone.
I don't even know 200 people well enough to invite them to my wedding, let alone a giant bash. 🤷
But hey, being from the Midwest, I’ll always be biased toward saying our weddings are the absolute best, haha.
ironrider20 said:So yeah, basically nothing different than any other wedding in America. And here I was thinking it was something special, like these super old-school traditions or something.
I’m not entirely sure which "ancient traditions" you're referring to, but honestly, there are still plenty of old-school customs hanging on around here. You've got the whole bride price thing, gifting towels to the best man and the bridesmaids—and if the wedding is traditional enough, they do that at the reunion celebrations too, depending on the family. Some brides still have the best man lead them up to the altar; if the house is close to the church, they walk there in a procession accompanied by a brass band playing and singing all the way. The best man covers the church fees, there's roasting meat for the newlyweds' table, the maid of honor leads the wedding party, and when the bride starts her first dance with the guests, the best man pays to kick it off with the sponsor, and then he also pays for her to keep dancing until she finally closes the set with the groom.
I don't know how they do it in other parts of the country, but around here, the groom goes to pick up the best man first, and then he goes for the bride.
ironrider20 said:Can one of you ladies explain what a legendary Midwest wedding actually looks like? I keep hearing everyone claim that Midwest weddings are the absolute best, so now I’m curious—what makes them so special?
The last one I went to—it was for a close friend—went something like this: After getting my hair done, I headed over to her place around noon. We spent some time catching up and grabbing a bite to eat while she got ready. Then the photographer and videographer showed up for the pre-ceremony shots. Eventually, the wedding party arrived to pick her up—the best man handled the logistics for her—and there was a little bit of a celebration at the house before everyone headed to the church. After the ceremony and all the congratulations, they were met outside the church by a live band playing folk music, which was a nice touch. They did a few more photos, took a little drive around town, and then headed to the reception hall. From there, it was non-stop energy: dinner, dancing, cake, gifts, the formal dance with the bride, and finally the couple’s exit. Later on, the party just kept going. That's basically the drill.
redraven98 said:Warm regards! Just so you know, I'm originally from Memphis. If you don't mind a bit of a drive, I really have to tell you about this one shop called Anna. It's right near the Mississippi River hotel, and their prices are actually pretty reasonable compared to most other places. Plus, they carry those Sposin dresses you like—they aren't actually an ISABELLE shop. She's really just the distributor for certain brands across the Midwest and Napa Valley. Honestly, make the trip down to Memphis; I don't think you'll regret it! Cheers!🙄
I just caught your post—and yeah, regarding the prices, I totally agree; I've heard that boutique is quite affordable. But could you please explain what you mean about Isabelle? 🙄, I actually went ahead and checked out her website, and there isn't any mention of Sposin anywhere. In fact, they specifically highlight that they carry Demetrios, Maggie Sottero, Pronovias, San Patrick, and CosmoBella. 🙂
Go girl, at the end of the day, all that matters is if you're happy with it. From what I can gather by reading through your posts, you're from somewhere out in the Midwest, right?
To be honest, I wasn't really feeling that neckline style when I saw it on models before—it just didn't click for me—but on you? It actually looks amazing. How much did it set you back, and how's the comfort level throughout the day?
I haven't actually had a chance to test out how their photo features work yet, but man—if I'm going to be picking one, choosing between them is going to be a nightmare. Quality is such a huge deal for me, so I can't just wing it,
An acquaintance of mine dropped about 5,000 or 5,500 on them—so, compared to what I’ve seen from someone like Miller (though, honestly, I haven't checked his recent work in months)—they didn't exactly lose out on value. But hey, that’s just my two cents; I'm sure someone else might see it differently.
Sandra Morgan7 said:I’ve heard through the grapevine that wedding dresses are way cheaper if you head out toward the Midwest or places like Indianapolis... though honestly, I don't have a specific shop in mind. If you haven't already, take a look at this link:
Honestly, every time I drive past, I just have to stop and stare—🙂 Nikolin, you never know when there might be something actually pretty in the window.
Morgan Stewart50, where did you end up renting yours?
Now, correct me if I’m wrong here—I think Cibalia Photography has a shop somewhere over near Glagoljaska in Indianapolis or somewhere close by, right? Honestly, whatever they had out in the window didn't do much for me—though that might just be the result of looking at way too many photos online, both local and international 🤣.
In the Indianapolis area, if you ask me, Cibalia Photography gives you the best bang for your buck.
Look, every wedding is its own unique thing—and yours will be just as special when that day finally rolls around. It’ll be one-of-a-kind because it’s centered entirely around the two of you and the love you share, so honestly? Let the guest count climb if it has to; as long as everything goes off without a hitch, that's all that matters. 😁
cosmicmarlin20 said:Around 300 people... I’d call that a mid-sized crowd. Where I grew up in the Midwest, weddings are always massive operations. We already booked the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza, which is easily the best venue around...
What about you? 🙂
Well, we haven't actually locked in a final date yet, but we're looking at somewhere in the next two years or so. We talk about it constantly, and we've settled on a rough guest list of about 150 people.
Sure, weddings around here can easily hit 300 or 400 guests, but **honestly, I don't even know that many people.
If you want my two cents, the headcount doesn't really matter—whether it's 50 or 800, what matters is that it turns out exactly how the couple envisioned it. For me, the priority is just making sure my friends and I throw an incredible party that everyone will remember. 🙂
B. Mary, I see you’re getting hitched next summer—so, what’s the plan for the guest list? Are we talking a massive blowout or just a small, intimate thing? Have you guys even scouted out a venue yet?