Posts by placidowl20

Maria Ramirez4 said:Maybe you guys locked in those prices last year, but obviously, inflation hit everything. 🤷🤷👎
As for the cabbage rolls, he said they don't do them because they don't want the hassle of dealing with cabbage. If we really want them, he said we can roll them ourselves 😲😲 and just bring them in for them to cook, which is totally 👎👎
ridiculous. We weren't feeling the beef stew at all and were hoping to pick something else for the second course, but that was the answer we got. 😂😂

Uncle Bob told us the exact same thing when we were asking around a couple of years back. 🤣

We gave up on GreenCrove pretty quickly because, on top of that price, he started listing all these extra things we'd have to provide ourselves, so it wasn't even that cheap in the end, plus everything else: our own drinks, the meat, desserts, certificates, store receipts, vet confirmations, and oh my goodness!!!

(He also told us he WON'T/DOESN'T WANT to serve stuffed cabbage because there isn't any good cabbage in May, so we'd just be stuck with the stew for the second dinner!)

Maybe someone else has had a better experience with them... but I guess that's just what we went through firsthand.

rustyviper17 said:Kimberly Kern2 says:
The musicians have names, and personally, I thought they were fantastic during those Midwest-style weddings back in the day—but hey, maybe go ask someone else if you're skeptical..
I’m not sure when your big day is, but I do know that most of these groups need to be booked well in advance.
Take some time to think about it, and if you decide you want them, I can try to track down their contact info for you.

Seriously, if you could manage to get that number, it would be a lifesaver. I've been hearing from several other people lately that they're top-tier... I just don't have the digits myself 🙄... You'd be doing me a huge favor if you could pull that off... 😛

I actually have the number for a band based out of Indianapolis; they play just about everything (except country music)—not that I want to sound like I'm advertising too much, but just shoot me a private message and I'll send the digits over. They're actually playing my wedding, and I remember seeing them perform at some big events in downtown Indianapolis, so they're pretty popular, though I suppose you'd need to check if they happen to be free on your date.😉

ruggedtrucker5 said:If you're looking for great desserts, Katarina's Bakery over in Ivankov is absolutely fantastic! Lately, I've noticed their treats being served at weddings over at the Admiral—they really know how to make an impression.

I actually know this couple out in St. Louis who makes some really incredible pastries. They're actually about to get their official certification and everything, so they'll be all set soon. I don't want to sound like I'm advertising them or anything... but just let me know if anyone happens to be looking.😉

Casey Hernandez21 said:Those prices usually cover just the $1167.
Keep in mind, that’s strictly for the suit itself—it doesn't include the shirt, the vest, or any other accessories.
I suspect those same price points apply in New York as well.

Thanks. I suppose the prices really are about the same... you'd find that in New York City too
A full set would probably run you around $750😲

Sandra Morgan7 said:I ended up filling my bin too... though I have to admit, I actually managed to track down a flower shop 😁

Plus, this guy from Savannah was super helpful and walked me through everything we needed to do... so, yeah... I guess our trip wasn't a total waste of gas. Still, it kind of sucks that the fair was such a tiny little thing.

Does anyone know what a reasonable price for a wedding suit would be in Brooklyn? Or maybe in Indianapolis?
They seem pretty pricey in NYC, but I'm thinking we might find the exact same suit in Indy for a better deal.. 😉

I was wondering if anyone here might have some experience working with Photo Inch or Mr. Korov? 🙂

Angela Davis74 said:The town is called Rustica... a bit clumsy of me. She prepares them by the tray; you get 30 pastries—15 varieties, two of each—weighing roughly 1.2 kg. A single tray costs $23. You can borrow her sturdy trays with lids and return them later, which is convenient since I have no use for extra Tupperware. They are available for purchase at $1.75 per unit. I'll report back on the flavor once I've sampled them, but my friend swears by them. She is incredibly picky, so I trust her judgment. I just want my sugar fix, so I'll head there 😬 😬

I'm also on the hunt for some delicious treats! 🙂
If you don't mind, could you send me the contact info via DM?

Honestly, after reading through everyone's comments on the site, I'm actually relieved I didn't go. I was seriously considering making the trip just for this expo! The one in NYC was decent enough, though it felt pretty overcrowded, and there were so many exhibitors coming all the way from the Midwest. Maybe that’s why things went a bit sideways back in the Midwest... such a shame.

By the way, does anyone know how much lead time you really need before the wedding to get a dress tailored perfectly to your measurements? Also, is it even possible to change your mind about a dress deposit a couple of months out? If anyone has dealt with that, I'd really appreciate the insight. 🙂

cosmicmarlin20 said:So, what’s the verdict on the band Standard Chartered over at VCG??? I’ve been hearing they’re actually pretty solid, but has anyone here actually seen them live or dealt with them??

🙏
They actually played at my sister's wedding about six months ago, and honestly—they were fantastic. I’m not sure what everyone else's experience has been, but that night they really managed to hit the right note for everyone, from the older crowd to the kids, whether they were feeling that Midwestern vibe or more of a Floridian energy...
After the wedding wrapped up, everyone was basically just talking about the band; the singer had this knack for reading the room, switching things up between folk, rock, some classics, and those upbeat songs that get everyone moving at the end. 👍
They even bring their own backup musicians—some local acoustic players—and they aren't nearly as pricey as you might expect..

cosmicmarlin20 said:Where's it being held?

I guess nobody really knows yet, believe it or not, since it all depends on what the local city officials decide to do. They were originally planning to hold the fair over in San Antonio, but since they're busy renovating everything for the National Archery Championships, I suppose it's still up in the air where the fair will end up. I might have heard a little rumor through the grapevine that it could potentially move to Central Park... at least, that's what one of the vendors who signed up mentioned to me, though nothing has been officially confirmed by the organizers just yet! ☕

As for GrafoArt, we actually placed an order with them for some cookie boxes—$1.00 pieces. They're honestly quite affordable, and the lady running it is just incredibly sweet and easy to talk to. They have some lovely invitations and thank-you notes too, but I think we had already ordered ours from somewhere else...

I guess you might be right about me needing to head out of Washington, D.C., and maybe swing through places like Indianapolis or Columbus to scout out flower shops, but since I’m based here, I really only make it back home to visit family once a month on the weekends, so it just feels a bit more practical to set everything up while I'm already in the Midwest... 🤷
I suspect there are some smaller, local florists in Indianapolis that aren't quite as high-end or pricey as the big names, yet they'd probably be happy to work out the same kind of deals for $1.00

I have to say, you both came in way under budget! I spent yesterday calling about five or six different florists in Indianapolis, and every single one of them was quoting me anywhere from 5,000 to $2.75!!!!! ☕
I mean, seriously... Fantasy was asking for 7,000-$2.75, and Mosaic won't even talk to me unless it's at least 5 or 6 million, and Althea isn't any better off either.. 😢
I'm honestly thinking I might just decorate the house and the cars myself (garland is only $12 a meter at Walmart, plus I already have all the bows and flowers!), though I guess I'll still need to hire someone for the hotel..
I heard you aren't even allowed to decorate the cathedral, though a woman over at Chloe keeps trying to convince me otherwise (she claims she has a connection with the priest!?) so I wonder what your experiences have been with that sort of thing?

Chloe Collins34 said:Honestly, it’s not any different anywhere else... a friend of mine had her wedding in Indianapolis back in September 2007 and only paid 1,700 euros, but I put my deposit down just a few months after that and we're looking at 2,000 euros, and now my neighbor is booking for next year and he's being quoted 2,200 euros... and don't even get me started on how much the bands are charging these days!!👎👎👎

Prices just keep going up constantly!!!
I guess you really should just get married quickly 😁

Brundica said:Hey there, I'm pretty new to this forum. It seems really interesting so far, and after reading through everything, I thought maybe I might join in and potentially help some of you out... so if there's anything you need to know, just ask! Best wishes!

Well, since you offered... 😉
Do you know any good hair stylists or makeup artists in the Midwest? Or maybe a reliable florist who actually shows up on time to handle the church and venue decor, sets up the table arrangements, and does the car decorations too? (I’m asking because, honestly, I don't think everyone realizes that kind of service isn't always a given).

Do you have someone you can recommend, or maybe a go-to person?

Just a quick heads-up for anyone thinking about booking a venue like the Hilton in Chicago for a wedding—they seem to be hiking up their prices constantly! I’d really suggest hunting down every single email they send you and printing out all those quotes with the specific dates included. If you have that paper trail, they can't really wiggle out of what was promised. It’s super important to know exactly what price was on the table when you first sat down to talk, paid the deposit, or grabbed any info.

The one who learns from her own mistakes 😢

Angela Davis74 said:Check out Isabelle's boutique on Michigan Avenue.. near the Magnificent Mile..
They have a great selection and the prices aren't bad.. if I hadn't been set on Maggie Sottero, I would have gone there for sure..

Hey Amaryllis—I actually have to ask you something! I ended up putting a deposit down on a Maggie Sottero gown at Isabelle's too, though now that I think about it, it feels like it might have been worn a few times already, so I'm feeling a little unsure. Which one did you end up getting? Are you happy with it?

I guess I should probably introduce myself as just another Midwestern girl joining this forum 🙂
hi everyone! I mainly popped in because I'm looking for some info that seems to be all over these threads, and maybe I can share a bit about my own journey trying to track down everything for a wedding. I'm actually having my big day in Indianapolis in a few months, so I was wondering if anyone might have heard anything about the band Coca-Cola or any photographers from Photo Inch.

thanks so much 🙏