Nancy Fisher69 said:I haven't even picked out the menu yet, but I've got this massive list of dishes staring me in the face. It's huge. Honestly, I have no clue what I'm going to go with. 🙂 We can probably sort this out toward the end. We actually booked that hall back in August last year... you can find photos of the place online if you want to check it out. I’ve been there myself, and honestly, it’s gorgeous. How many guests are you expecting? When's the big day? Man, there are plenty of us in NYC-V. 🙂
We're looking at roughly 250 CCAs right now. We’re still in the very early stages of this, so I’m just doing some initial digging to see what the landscape looks like... It seems like there are quite a few of us Zg-Vs out there... 🙂 I tried emailing them to get a look at the menu and pricing, but I haven't heard a single word back... looks like I'll just have to give them a call. As for that detour toward Petrovac, I’m a bit skeptical; I've heard the food there isn't all that great, whereas everyone seems absolutely thrilled with the service over at Admiral. I was originally hesitating because of the drive out to Indianapolis, but honestly, I think that's going to be my move anyway...
Nancy Fisher69 said:Hey everyone! I feel like I’ve pretty much tackled all the big stuff already, so I figured I’d drop some advice for you all.
So, I live in Washington, D.C., but the wedding is happening in Memphis and Indianapolis on September 11th, 2010. I know firsthand how much of a headache the travel logistics can be if you aren't living right where the party is.
The reception and church are both over by me in Memphis. We've got a bus and a few cars coming up from D.C. filled with friends and the groom's family (we haven't booked the bus yet, so I can't give you a price quote). For food, we're going with catering from the Lion hotel because we want at least two hot meals for the folks traveling all the way from D.C.
The venue is the Hilton in Indianapolis. We actually looked at the Lion, but they topped out at 130 people with round tables, which just wasn't enough for us. Plus, we didn't vibe with the manager and it was way too pricey (around $45 a head). On the other hand, I've heard nothing but great things about the Hilton—tons of servers who stay on top of everything, great food, drinks, the whole nine yards. In $75 per person, everything is included: unlimited drinks (including Hunter!), desserts from Catherine’s bakery in Ivankov, and the wedding cake. Honestly, seems like a fair deal. I was a little skeptical about the sweets, so I sent my mom down to Ivankov a week before to check them out in person. She loved it—said the bakers were working like crazy in this huge space, all super professional in their uniforms and hats. The pastries are amazing, so I'm betting the cake will be too, even though she couldn't taste that part.
As for music—we're going with a DJ (DJ Neno, he works with iHeartRadio and plays sets over at George’s on Thursdays). We picked him because we want a mix. Everyone keeps asking if there's gonna be techno—NOPE! It'll be a mix of folk, some local hits, some international tracks, a little Latin rhythm here and there, and some classic old-school rock. I mean, seriously, what kind of band can pull all that off well? To keep things traditional, we'll have a folk group accompanying the bride the whole time; the guys are just buddies from D.C.
The light show is being handled by SMASH Light out of D.C.
Finding the dress was a total nightmare. I fell in love with this Maggie Sottero gown that none of the boutiques in America carry. I even tried calling someone in New York City, but the woman wanted a $500 deposit and said the dress wouldn't arrive until August 15th, which is way too late and way too much money upfront. So, after a massive search, I decided to just have it custom-made right here in D.C. at Salon Marry me. I'm still in the early stages, but the seamstress is incredible—she really knows her fabrics and she's super chill and easy to talk to. She actually has the original Maggie Sottero designs 🙂. It might be a bit pricier ($2000), but that's basically what you pay for brand-new gowns in high-end boutiques anyway, and honestly, who knows if those "new" ones are actually new? You never know if you're getting ripped off. This one is being made specifically for me, so I know for a fact it's brand new. Once it's done, I can just take it home and tuck it away in my closet until the big day.
Flowers: we booked Exclusive Studio in Memphis. I really connected with the girls when we talked, saw some of their work, and just knew. They're affordable and you can tell they're hungry to prove themselves since they're relatively new under this name. Plus, they're two young, talented women with tons of ideas. Total win! 🙂
We're actually making the invitations ourselves, which is going to be a surprise 😁
I'll probably get my makeup done by Eve at the Gallah salon in Memphis. I haven't done a trial run yet, but I've heard great things, so I'm feeling good about it. Now I just need to find a hairstylist...
I don't know what else would be helpful to say... If you guys have any questions, just ask! ☕ 👍
Hey, I'm actually based in Washington, D.C., but I'm getting married in Memphis. I've been checking out venues, and while the Lion is alright, it feels pretty cramped, and honestly, I wasn't expecting the price tag to be that high. Could you let me know which menu you went with at the Hilton? It seems like a surprisingly good deal. Also, if you happen to have any photos of the hall, I'd love to see them. How far in advance did you put down the deposit? Thanks.😉
Thanks so much, ladies!!! I'm currently living in New York City, but we’re planning a wedding for next year around April, May, or June, so I'm just doing some preliminary digging... We're originally from Memphis, and honestly, that hall over at the Fairgrounds isn't really my style. The Hilton can accommodate up to 180 guests, so I'm looking into other options... I'm not sure what the availability is typically like there... and on average, how much do people usually put down for deposits?
rapidfox42 said:My wedding is at the Admiral on September 25th, 2010. Since we’re going all-in with their package, it's costing me $75 per person—decor isn't included, but honestly, the space looks amazing since they just finished repainting and refreshing everything a couple days ago. If you bring your own stuff, the price drops to $50 per head. Seems like a better deal to me, but... If your guest list is under 200, you can just stick to their full package, but if you're hitting over 200, you can mix and match things—like bringing in your own dessert or whatever.
I actually work right nearby, so if anyone wants me to swing by and check something out because you can't make it, just let me know!
Where did that Stradivarius end up? I didn't spot it at Westgate. What kind of models are they actually looking at? Have you happened to see if Zara has anything decent on sale...
My brother just got married at the Lion, and honestly, it was stunning... though I don't think they can handle more than about 200 guests. We haven't actually picked a date yet, so I'm just doing some preliminary digging to get a rough idea of what the pricing looks like...
What’s the big deal, really? I don't think the nightlife there is all that bad. Honestly, I love staying at the Lion hotel, though I think it caps out at maybe 180 people...
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...