Posts by Morgan Stewart50

Matthew Foster66 said:Just wanted to drop a quick tip here—this might be useful for someone! There’s this little boutique over in Kansas run by a lovely woman where you can find absolutely everything at incredible prices. For instance, those large satin bows they have? You can grab $6.75 10 pieces for a steal. And the decorative rose accents for cakes are just $0.83 a piece. They also carry ribbons, floral accents, and pretty much any other embellishment you could dream up. It is definitely worth making the trip!

If you head down to the main aisle, everything is even more affordable. The bows are down to just $1.20, and pretty much everything else follows suit. Plus, if you need something custom-made in a specific color just for you, they will happily whip it up!

Joshua Brown2 said:Adding my two cents about the ballroom at Patriotism Inc. I was there last weekend for a wedding and man, that hall is stunning. Honestly? The rooms were even better. 😍

Seriously, this might be one of the most gorgeous event spaces I have ever had the pleasure of seeing! I am completely blown away!!

cosmicmarlin20 said:Well, I actually did reach out to some people in Rockville. That guy is slightly cheaper than the rest, but I can't even remember his name. Besides, they don't really have much of an inventory for tents anyway, and their prices are just... ugh, yikes...

Now I'm seriously worried about this whole >mold< situation,,, man, what a mess...😢

Guess I'll just have to keep looking ☕

Having Vigus, I believe they offer a pavilion for about $233, though it doesn't come with any cutlery, benches, or tables included. If you happen to have someone you can borrow dishes from (assuming you're hosting lunch at home!) and can source your own tables and benches, then that Vigus option would actually be wonderful for you... even if it isn't the absolute newest model on the market, it is certainly a step up from that one in Rockville... honestly, I wouldn't touch that one even in my wildest dreams. I went through such an ordeal with it; in the end, I ended up buying white and red fabric and had my dear aunt hang it all across the "ceiling" of the tent to camouflage everything a bit. I even used some tablecloths lent to me by my mother-in-law's sister to cover the benches, which finally made the whole thing look somewhat presentable. By the time we realized it was moldy, it was already too late to cancel because we had already paid the $33 deposit... In the end, it didn't just cost me 600, it ended up being $300 once I factored in all the fabric and extra supplies...

cosmicmarlin20 said:Where are all my Midwest girls at??? Does anyone know someone who rents out tents for a decent price???? I need them on a daily basis for both sides 🙂

If I can offer one small piece of advice, please DO NOT rent from that guy over in Bunardžija from Rockville. His tents are absolutely covered in mold—honestly, the only thing about his service that's actually "cheap" is the quality!

She was absolutely spoiled by those legendary Twinkies from the local bakery back in Memphis. 😁

neonpanther15 said:stormyraven46 ( or anyone else who might have an answer ); what kind of base does Charlotte use for those cakes? Is there a specific platter or something similar involved? I really wouldn't want to be stuck transferring a cake from a scrap piece of cardboard onto a more elegant serving tray 🙄

😂 Oh, you are just too sweet! Honestly, it never even crossed my mind that a professional pastry chef would ever present a cake on a scrap of cardboard... hehe... First of all, when someone crafts and sells a masterpiece worth anywhere from $1,200 up to $2333, surely they can afford to gift, lend, or even rent out a proper cake stand to display it properly... and secondly, I actually ended up making a custom stand myself and brought it straight to the bakery. The baker loved it so much she actually bought it from me! She mentioned she already had a new client requesting a similar style for an upcoming order.
So, neonpanther15, if you're feeling anxious about it, just come visit me in Chicago; I'll take you straight to my glass specialist, and he can whip up a custom stand just for you (it could even be made of mirror!).
And here is a quick look at my little cake (which had melted just a tiny bit 🤷....)

It feels like this subforum is slowly fading into oblivion, so I thought I’d take a moment to share a quick list of the wonderful people who helped make my wedding absolutely perfect, from the photo studios to the florists...
-The family-run photography studio, unknown, which did such an incredible job capturing everything!
-The florist, unknown, whose work I was beyond thrilled with—though honestly, the bouquet was hands down the star of the show!
-The venue, unknown, where the manager put in so much heart and effort, and the chef, unknown, who became like family to me over time!
-My lovely hairstylist, unknown, from my hometown
-Makeup by Studio 54—thank you so much, Doris!
-Oh, I almost forgot—the LEGENDARY unknown from Indianapolis—unknown, unknown, unknown, and the rest of the guys—you all were absolutely amazing! Thank you so much!!!
The wedding cake was from unknown—I was just so happy with it—huge thanks to unknown!
And the pastries were from unknown

I’m certain I’ve missed someone, but I’m sure they’ll come back to me eventually...

Brian Murphy7 said:Are you telling me nobody was at Rene's wedding? Come on, ladies, please...

The last time I was there was about three years ago, so I honestly find it quite difficult to offer any real feedback right now since I’ve heard they’ve done a massive amount of renovations lately. It wouldn't feel right for me to criticize things that have likely already been fixed up! I will, however, offer one little word of caution—and I think I might have mentioned this to someone else before—just make sure you double-check everything at the venue. You know, verify that the restrooms are in good shape, ensure the AC is going to run smoothly all night without them hitting you with an extra fee like they did to my bridesmaid, and confirm they won't charge you $67 just because two glasses got broken or a plate was chipped... Just a little heads-up...🙄

Chloe Sanchez26 said:this was our little cake...

It looks absolutely lovely and so wonderfully simple—exactly my kind of thing! 😍

Brian Murphy7 said:Hey ladies, I need some help! I’m originally from Des Moines, but I'm getting married in Columbus next year (aiming for September or October if we can snag a date at the right venue). Honestly, my fiancé and I are totally clueless about the wedding halls in the Columbus area—he's just not the planning type. I checked out the Admiral venue and it’s stunning, but the price tag is a bit much. We’re starting our venue tours in about two weeks, so if you have any recommendations, warnings, or leads on good spots around there, please let me know. We're expecting about 300 guests. Morgan Stewart50, if I remember correctly, you have a list of venues or restaurants somewhere? If you could send that my way, I would be incredibly grateful. Thanks in advance!

Well, I don't recall actually putting a formal list together, but I can whip one up for you in a heartbeat since I'm pretty familiar with almost all the venues in Columbus and the nearby suburbs.
First off, there's the Admiral venue, which you've already seen. It truly is stunning, though I should mention it's probably the most expensive option in town.
Then you have the "Lucy" hall, also known as "Zuki," which is also absolutely lovely and a bit more budget-friendly than the Admiral. Take a look here: www.zuki.hr
Since I'm not quite sure of your exact guest count, I should also mention the Kunjevac restaurant tucked away in the woods just outside of town. It holds a maximum of 300 people and the pricing is fairly mid-range. For instance, just a couple of years ago, it was around $5000.
There's also the Bosina sale "Barun Trenk"—it's actually three different halls within one building, and the largest one can accommodate up to 1,000 people. I'm fairly certain it's the only venue in our neck of the woods that can handle a crowd that massive.
Next, you have the "Elegant" hall located between Island and Komletinac, which is also very beautiful, and you can find menu options starting from as low as $57. It comes highly recommended by many!
Then there's our local venue in Cerna, the "Blue Lagoon," which is also wonderful; I might even upload some photos because we took some shots there recently.
You also have the "Renić" hall over in Rokovac toward Bazjaš, but they've done some renovations lately, and since I haven't been inside since then, I can't tell you for certain how it looks, but it's definitely worth a visit.
Over in Ivankov, you'll find "Ivanov Manor," which is another gorgeous venue; I suppose it really just depends on your personal style. The exterior is stunning, and the interior is quite solid and lovely as well. In that same little town, there's also the "Đukin stan" hall, though I think that's the only one on this list I haven't personally stepped foot in. You might want to ask around if that one interests you.
There is one smaller venue over in the Midwest area called "Valentino," but it caps out at maybe 200 or 250 people. The price point is quite reasonable.
And in Privlaka, there's a venue that holds about 400 to 500 people—I believe it's called "Prkačin." I can't give you an idea of the pricing, though.

I think that covers the main ones! If I've missed anything, I'm sure it'll come back to me and I'll add it in. If you have any other questions at all, please feel free to shoot them my way!
Please forgive me if any of these details are slightly off; the prices and capacities are just my best estimates. 😁

stormyraven46 said:Only that little?! You people are living the dream! 😉
Can I come over to your place to get my makeup done? 🤣

😁 Oh, absolutely! Of course you can! Just say the word and you're on the schedule!

Somewhere in the ballpark of 100-$67, though I suppose it really depends on where you happen to be...

You should really take a look over at freehouse.biz and vigus.com

You can actually find a bulk pack of 25 boxes, measuring 190x125x66, over at Amtrak for just $9.25!!!

Hannah Bailey6 said:Since we're coming from Memphis, it would definitely be more convenient if everything was located in one single city...

By the way, how many guests are you all expecting to host?

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...

Honestly, there is just no comparison between the Bess ballroom and the arena over at the State Fairgrounds; they aren’t even playing the same game. The venue at the Fairgrounds is absolutely breathtaking—I mean, when I first walked through the doors, I was practically floored by how stunning it is. It features these soaring, floor-to-ceiling ceilings and a gorgeous interior balcony on the side that looks like it could comfortably hold a hundred people. Plus, they have these elegant round tables paired with dark brown faux-leather chairs that just scream class. But... if I’m being perfectly honest with myself (and I always try to be!), my standard go-to meal, ranging from basic chicken to lamb, is just... $77Honestly, that’s just way too much to ask of my little community of 400 followers!
Now, I have to mention this particular Bess banquet hall—though to be fair, they actually have three different halls all located on the same property—because, frankly, the interior design is an absolute disaster in my humble opinion! It’s just such a chaotic mess; you’ll see every single color of the rainbow splashed across the walls, mismatched beams here, clashing textures there... it’s all over the place and lacks any sense of cohesion whatsoever. We visited them last summer, and oh boy, we were absolutely sweltering! Almost everyone had retreated outdoors because the air conditioning was practically non-existent, struggling just to keep up with the heat. On the bright side, though, I will say that the service was quite pleasant and the food was actually pretty good.
Honestly, if you’re heading out to the Fairgrounds, you really have to be the kind of person who simply doesn't mind dropping a small fortune on everything from a high-end designer gown to a second evening dress! $50Honestly, I feel like Boston is really more geared toward people who are working with a tighter budget. It’s a bit of a stretch if you aren't looking to break the bank, though thankfully, those aren't the only two venues we have to choose from in the country! If those were truly our only options, goodness knows I would be absolutely stumped trying to make a decision.
If you happen to be on the hunt for other sales where the pricing is actually reasonable and the service is genuinely high-quality, please don't hesitate to shoot me a private message! I have put together quite an extensive list of recommendations that I would be absolutely delighted to share with you.

stormyraven46 said:Would anyone be so kind as to share some photos of simple, single-tier, just plain "rectangular" cakes??
Thanks!

This one is mine—is this really the kind of thing you were looking for?

Any skilled pastry chef you encounter would be able to whip those up for you without any trouble at all... just make sure to bring along a photo for inspiration...

I actually heard a rumor about that guy Peric—apparently, he tried to charge a group of newlyweds for a broken toilet, even though that thing was already busted at one of the wedding receptions!
Anyway, if I could offer a little unsolicited advice, I’d highly recommend doing a quick inventory check of your venue's facilities before the big day arrives. It’s just much better to have a general idea of what kind of shape everything is in before your guests—and let's be honest, sometimes they act like a herd of elephants—come stomping through the halls... (I mean, you aren't going to go poking around in every dark corner, obviously, but a broad overview certainly wouldn't hurt!)

dustypanther12 said:Does anyone know where I might be able to find some Maggie Sottero wedding dresses in the Indianapolis area?

Oh, I’m afraid it’s just not possible... none of the bridal boutiques here in Indianapolis actually carry Maggie Sottero. You're probably going to have to make a bit of a road trip out toward Warsaw, St. Louis, or maybe even Savannah if you want to find that specific designer...