Posts by James Smith43

lonerider12 said:So, I was down in Tennessee for my cousin's wedding once—and honestly, the servers were top-tier, and the chef? Absolute legend. He’s basically my neighbor too, if you want to get technical about it...

Tennessee isn't bad either, but it doesn't compare to somewhere like Admiral..

What date were you at those weddings in Tennessee? Maybe we were there at the same 😁

When a friend of mine got married, they hired double the usual amount of servers that the owner of Tennessee recommended, and it actually worked out well. If they had stuck to the standard staffing, it wouldn't have been pleasant (one server for 60-70 people 👎). The wedding itself was excellent because the band kept the energy high for five hours straight. As for the venue, it’s pretty much average compared to other halls. The main perk is its location right in town, making it the easiest choice for most local weddings since there's no long drive, allowing guests to enjoy themselves without worry
.
Also, the couple ended up paying for several extras themselves. Because they were covering those additional costs, they practically had to beg the owners to provide them, as the management was really trying to save the couple money 😬
Why bother with late-night snacks? It adds so much to the bill... Why hire more servers? Why even bother with extra cream for the coffee? $667 :😵

Overall, it required some negotiating with the venue owners, but everything turned out exactly how the couple wanted
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Gary Fox89 said:Hey everyone,
I’m pretty new to this forum and also totally new to the whole wedding planning chaos. I’ve read through this entire thread from the very beginning, and while you guys have been super helpful, I still have a few things on my mind...😁

First off, we’re planning to hold the wedding at the Admiral Hotel in Columbus. We're looking at one of their smaller banquet rooms since we're capping the guest list at about 100 people. I was wondering if anyone here has hosted an event there or attended a wedding in that space? What were your impressions?

Also, if you wouldn't mind sending me a private message with contact info for any photographers or florists you’ve used—and maybe even a ballpark idea of what they charged—that would be amazing.

I’ve started talking to the band Twist Off, and I'm curious to know what you all think of them or if you've heard anything about their performance style.

And last, but definitely not least... my dress... 🙂
So, I actually found this really simple, elegant dress online that I absolutely love. I want to get married in something just like it, so I’m planning to have it custom-made. I visited a few different bridal boutiques in Indianapolis, but so far, only The Spot on Main Street said they actually do custom sewing; everywhere else just seems to rent dresses out. At The Spot, getting a simple design like mine made would cost $1167, so if you happen to know of any good seamstresses or boutiques in Indianapolis or Columbus that handle custom work, please let me know!

Thanks in advance, cheers!!

Welcome, 🙂
I can go ahead and open this up with some answers. I have a wedding at the Admiral in 17 days 😲 😁
The venue recommended the florist Valentina from Springfield (Jack) and I actually went to meet her this past Sunday to finalize things. For table arrangements, the head table, centerpieces, entrance decor, and napkin rings, they’re charging us about $667. Honestly, I have no idea if that's high or low, but my friends paid the same amount, so I assume that's just the standard rate.
My photographer is Video Focus from Savannah (Mark 😍)
The band is Crystal.

Regarding the dress, if it isn't overly complicated (you mentioned it's a simple style), then this price might be a bit steep. I know a seamstress near the Black River that my friends really like, though I haven't used her myself.
Also, there's Anne's Bridal Salon in Savannah (the owner does all the sewing herself)—I suspect she would charge you less than The Spot..

Maria Ramirez4 said:Alright, here’s how it goes...
One day, my partner and I found ourselves over at VK. Since we were already in the area, I figured I might as well try on some wedding dresses just to see what's out there—to figure out what actually looks good and what doesn't. So, we walked into... Stephanie Everything's empty. Not a soul in sight. You look left, you look right, just scanning the void to see if anything actually exists out here. Maybe. About 50 wedding dresses and a few formal gowns laid out. Then, barely two minutes later, she walks in. You can practically read it on her face:Just when I thought things couldn't get any more exhausting, you guys show up.We said hello and I asked if we needed to book a tasting ahead of time. She told us no. Then she goes, "Do you have a wedding date set yet?" We just looked at each other and laughed. We told her we had a rough idea, but nothing official. She says:Then no. You won't dare try anything.I told her straight up: I’m not putting down a deposit or making a reservation right now. I don't want to snatch a slot from some other bride who actually has her act together. I just wanted to try things on, see what works, and get a feel for their inventory. She gave me this "I can't, let me ask my manager, but probably not" routine. Honestly, when she said that, I was ready to turn around and walk out right then and there. My husband, being the saint he is, just sat down and suggested we wait since we were already there. Then she comes back with a kicker: apparently, I can't even try anything on because we don't have a wedding date set yet. At that point, I just pivoted toward the door. No goodbye, no thank you—why bother? My husband tried to play it cool, acting like it was no big deal, but I was done. She actually had the nerve to suggest I "look through the catalogs." I looked her dead in the eye and told her I wasn't interested because I already have more than that sitting in my house, and then I stormed out. I was absolutely livid.
I’m no businessman, but common sense tells me you actually have to attract customers if you want to move inventory. Instead, she’s just driving people away with that attitude. She didn't even bother to pull a single wedding dress out of the closet to show what she's got. Nothing. It’s like she thinks she owns the last bridal boutique in America and we should all just be grateful she’s letting us look at her. Never. I’m done with them. I wouldn't give them another dime, and I have zero intention of ever stepping foot back in that lounge. I haven't encountered that level of rudeness and arrogance in a long time.
Well, at least now I know. Consider this my lesson learned.

👎 Honestly, just unprofessional. Maybe they're trying to steer away high schoolers or girls who are just bored and testing things out. But you have to be pretty oblivious not to recognize a "real" bride when she walks in. Especially when you're with your guy. How many guys do you know who actually enjoy going shopping with women, let alone wedding dress fittings?! Besides, if you run a business and live off your customers, I don't see why I'd have to justify anything to anyone regarding my wedding date. Does that mean I can't try on gowns unless I have some hiking trip 🤣
scheduled?
She just couldn't get it right and did everything possible to make sure things went wrong 👎

Maria Williams55 said:Around my neck of the woods—we’re talking the Midwest area, local folks only—we don't really do that whole "bride sale" thing. I always figured that was more of a tradition from over in Canada, though I heard from a friend near Slavonski Brod that they do it there too. Basically, at midnight, the maid of honor takes off the bride's veil or whatever headpiece she's wearing, puts it on a tray, and then sits there with it in her lap. Then they put a scarf on her head—well, lately people just wrap it around her neck—which is supposed to signal she isn't a girl anymore, but a woman. It's because back in the day, once women married, they started wearing scarves. After that, guests line up to put money on the tray or leave gifts on a special table, and then you have the male guests dancing with the bride and the female guests with the groom. We don't do that thing where you gift the groom's family, and we definitely don't announce out loud who bought what or how much they gave. Oh, and another custom that's sadly dying out is when the guys all get together and beat the groom with their belts. It was like some kind of lesson so he'd know what to expect if he wasn't good to his wife. Obviously, nowadays it's mostly symbolic, but back then, they used to leave some pretty serious bruises. 🙂

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here is actually from the Požega area? I’ve been looking at hosting the wedding at Stanišić Villa, Schon blick, or maybe that Fisherman's House in Lukač. It's still a bit early for me to pull the trigger on a reservation, so if anyone here knows anything about their pricing or what's actually included in the package, I'd love to know. Or even suggest another spot like that—a hotel or a restaurant. That Grgin Dol place looks kind of tacky to me because of those dark orange walls... I mean, how am I supposed to coordinate a two-tone wedding with orange? It's just... meh. Maybe they repainted? The photo I saw online is from two years ago.

I'm not sure what you mean by "original." 🙄 Both my parents and their parents before them were born in the Midwest, so this custom is deeply rooted in our family traditions. I have nothing but respect for Joe Smith, but there isn't a single Joe Smith in my lineage. So, claiming that selling off a bride is some specific Joe Smith tradition just doesn't hold water for us.

Thanks for the input, ladies. 😉
I’m planning to get the guys some gold-etched bottles featuring Midwest motifs, filled with local bourbon. I'll probably grab my best man a nice shirt, too. Still deciding on the rest.

Samuel Gomez312, check Facebook. Freedom. i Vigor.Here are the links. They include pricing and contact info, so hopefully, this helps you out. I'm just not sure if any of them are actually Bozino.

What kind of gifts are you all picking out for your husband’s extended family? I'm struggling because his side is huge—sisters, brothers-in-law, parents, both sets of godparents... it adds up to a massive shopping list.
I have some ideas for the men, but I'm totally stuck on what to get the sisters and godmothers.🤷I thought about getting everyone a little jewelry box, but I've been Googling for two hours and can't find anything decent online. Yesterday, I spotted some tiny jewelry boxes over on Main Street in Chicago. They were cute, but they're incredibly small and cost more than $67 each, so now I'm back at square one.
Does anyone have any good ideas, or have you already finished your shopping?

I'm originally from Memphis, so I can't speak for what people do in Richmond, but here is how we usually handle things:

The Groom gets ready, then heads out with the wedding party and some live musicians to pick up the Best Man. After that, everyone circles back to the Groom’s place to hang out for a bit. At a set time, the group heads over to the Bride’s house. The Groom and his crew—usually just a smaller group than the full guest list—are greeted by her family and guests. The Bride doesn't just walk out immediately. Usually, her brother or a male cousin "sells" her to the group. The Best Man and the Groom haggle over the price, and once they settle on a number, the brother goes in to get the Bride and hands her over to the Groom. I think it's a great tradition. It doesn't serve much of a practical purpose anymore, but it lets the brother make a little cash and gives the guests a good laugh. 😁

The Bride decorates the Groom, his family, and the Best Man with boutonnieres and presents them with ceremonial towels. These aren't cheap; they cost a decent amount. This is the Bride's way of giving gifts to the Best Man, the elder guests, the groomsmen, the father-in-law, and so on. I mention this because people don't really grasp the significance of these towels anymore, but to me, it's one of those rare traditions that truly makes a wedding feel like it belongs in the Midwest. 😍

During the dinner, there isn't any formal ceremony stuff right away. The first part of the evening is mostly just dancing to folk music. I'm not sure exactly when it happens, but the Best Man sits near the dance floor with a basket. People who want to dance with the Bride line up, drop something in the basket, dance with her for a minute, and snap a photo. The last person in line to dance with her is the Groom. That's when she tosses her bouquet, and then he (if he's able 🙂) picks her up and carries her out of the hall. They disappear for a quick change and a breather, and then the party goes on until morning.

Oh, and regarding the presentations—some couples still opt for a formal introduction where everyone's roles are announced. 👎 I personally decided to skip that custom. The Master of Ceremonies leads it, making noise and cracking jokes to keep everyone entertained. 🙂
But before the presentations start, the Bride typically gives gifts to the Groom's family. For my wedding, I'll be buying gifts for my father-in-law, mother-in-law, their siblings, and the Best Man's party. Honestly, the Bride ends up spending an insane amount of money on this, but I intend to honor the tradition and buy everything.

I didn't mention the standard stuff like cutting the cake, so I won't ramble on. Sorry if I missed anything or got a detail wrong.

Hope this helps. 👋

Hey my Midwest girls, my maid of honor suggested we head to VFX Studio 54 for hair and makeup. Has anyone actually used them before? I’m looking for someone with professional kits, high-end gear, and real experience..
The main thing is that I don't want some basic daily look that won't hold up against 😁 whatever weather we deal with during an outdoor wedding..

So now I'm diving into research, hunting for the right makeup artists and stylists..
My friends went to Blaž's salon in Memphis for their looks and they were happy, but I haven't personally tried them out yet.. 🤷

I was just at my cousin's wedding two weeks ago—the Players were performing 😁

To be honest, I wouldn't say the guys are bad, but they just weren't my style. They supposedly play folk music too, though thank God we didn't have to deal with that here. While we were over at the bride's place, the Players played very quietly and, in my opinion, poorly; there are plenty of much better bluegrass bands out there. Once we moved to the reception hall, however, they really stepped it up and there were several things I actually enjoyed. For instance, they barely took any breaks and kept the energy high all night long. Plus, the singer did a great job managing the flow of the evening—when guests arrived, he called the best man and maid of honor to the dance floor and introduced them by name. Later on, they played "You Are in My Blood" and invited everyone to gather around the newlyweds on the floor. It was quite romantic...
What I didn't like was the setlist. They started off with some Memphis blues, which is a classic, but once they transitioned into Suad, and then went a bit overboard with Fahreta 😬 and that Haris Đinović fellow 🙈—well, my partner and I decided to head out. It was getting late and there wasn't much reason to stick around the dance floor, so 👎... though I assume the repertoire can be customized...

Dana Gomez89 said:Anything and everything. Lucko 😉

They even have an online store 🙂

I really like this little figure:

Let me weigh in on the Midwest portion of this discussion for a second. 🙂
The hotel hosting my wedding (Admiral, VK) actually recommended I reach out to Jack from Cherokee. She handles all their wedding decor work, so they say she knows the venue inside and out—exactly how much floral arrangements we'll need and all those little details. I gave her a call, and she mentioned it would be fine if I just dropped by about a month before the big day. Has anyone here worked with her? I'd love to see some photos of her work. She seemed incredibly sweet and helpful over the phone...

Ladies, if anyone has discussed this elsewhere, please point me in the right direction. Regarding Memphis, Indianapolis, and that general area... where do you go for makeup? I’m looking for someone truly professional with high-quality products and such. As far as I know, there are only two "pros" in Unknown/Invalid entity, but I know their work and honestly... 😕 one of them uses the exact same eyeshadow on every single bride. I'm at a loss as to who to trust.

I'm not sure. It’s just part of their standard package. They do offer more expensive versions, but based on the quote we received at this price point, there's no way the guests will leave hungry. I actually attended a wedding there once, and the food spread was incredibly generous...

David Brooks4 said:Branka, James Smith43, and my crew are all set at Admiral. What dates are you guys looking at? Regarding the seating, I checked out those new chairs and they’re top-tier. They have those new covers available too, but honestly, I’m going without them—you really need to see them in person to compare the two. We went ahead and booked the Art Band from VK. They seem alright to me. Have any of you caught them live before? As for "Wedding Song," it feels a bit early for that, doesn't it? I'll be picking up the invitations in Djakov...

My date is October 3, 2008.
I was actually at Admiral this past Saturday with Drag to sign the contract. The lady who has been handling everything so far was wonderful. Unfortunately, from now on, a guy will be taking over the coordination (the planning with the couple and such). I just hope everything stays at the high standard she maintained.. 🤷

By the way, the menu is $68 per person, all-inclusive. That seems fair to me. Looking at what's included—all the drinks, desserts, the wedding cake, appetizers, main course, the whole nine yards—the selection looks excellent..
When are yours?

Also, the folks at Admiral recommended Mrs. Jaka for flowers. Apparently, they work together most often. She knows the hall and the color schemes perfectly, and word is she's one of the most affordable options, so I think I'll reach out to her..
Has anyone heard of her?

Thomas Miller8 said:We’ve officially locked in our wedding party at the Admiral—they are hands down the best in the business. The dress is already booked over at Nikolin (I actually snagged 200 invitations as part of the deal, plus there's a 10% discount if you book by November, and they let you change your mind about the gown later on). We've got a Sax player lined up for the music, and we went with Boto from Ivankov for photography—though I'm actually curious if anyone knows what his rates look like? We only booked him just to make sure we didn't lose the date, so we haven't sat down to talk numbers yet, but I've heard he can be pretty pricey... I haven't settled on flowers yet, but I have a feeling that Jaka from Ivankov would be a fantastic choice.......

Branka, mine are at the Admiral too. 😍
My fiancé's sister had her wedding there last year, and the venue is absolutely brilliant. The only thing I heard is that they don't use those chair covers anymore, just some sort of "designer" white chairs... I really wanted the covers, but I still need to ask the owner (my mother-in-law handled the booking since I'm over in Chicago 😁), but my partner and I are heading there to sign the contract in a week or two, so I'll ask for all the specifics then..

Donna Garcia75 said:Hey Tyler Wright2,
I actually had a party at a hall in Indianapolis recently, and honestly, with a little effort and some decent ideas, you can really make a space look great. Plus, they just put in new tiling in the hall, so it actually looks halfway decent now.
I used Photo Specialists too, and I was pretty happy with them. I agree with you—you just have to be very specific about what you want, and they'll make it happen.

Personally, the hall in Stittsville is a disaster. Everyone I know who went there for weddings had nothing but complaints. First off, it's all gravel outside; you'll break an ankle just trying to reach the building. The entrance and the parking situation are terrible. And inside the hall, they have BENCHES 👎
I'm not entirely sure if they changed it, but that's how it was before and nobody liked it. I mean—benches?!
Out of all the wedding venues near the Zoo, my favorite was Admiral in Indianapolis. Plus, when you add up all the costs, it ends up being cheaper than Natalie's place in Grades..
I heard they are actually building two new halls in Jupiter, but I have no idea what they will look like..