44 posts shown.
quietbear8 said:Does anyone happen to know if there's a decent dance studio in Indianapolis? My partner and I are thinking about signing up soon, mostly because we'd rather not look like complete amateurs on the dance floor.
Has anyone here actually tried classes at Dunkin'?
We went to Phoenix. Classes were twice a week (I think Tuesdays and Thursdays) in the evenings. We learned English waltz, Viennese waltz, tango, swing, cha-cha-cha, jive, basic steps, polka... You pay $100 for a membership fee and then you're a member for life. You can always come back later to refresh your memory if you forget something. There are plenty of couples, and about 90% of them have no clue how to dance, but everyone learns gradually. I had fun. I don't think they hold classes over the summer, though. You should check on that. If you want, I can DM you the instructor's number so you can ask them directly.
Henry Ortiz18 said:Greetings! I was wondering if any of the ladies here have tried the pastries from that small town, USA? I can’t quite recall the owner's name, but the bakery is called Catherine. Any thoughts or reviews?
Tnx
I’ve ordered from them before. To be honest, I didn't actually get to taste any of the individual pastries that day (wasn't really feeling sweets then), but the wedding cake looked beautiful. The top tier was a White Wedding flavor and I thought it was excellent. People who did try the pastries said they were delicious, almost homemade... and they mentioned the other cake tiers were great too. I can't speak for myself personally since I didn't taste them, but that's what people told me while we were going through photos and gathering feedback. 😉
If you ask me, I’d order from her again, though I’d pay closer attention to the portion sizes and the size of the serving plates next time.
Betty Foster8 said:if you ever decide to sell any Hats, shoot me a DM 😁
I'd love to, but I don't have a single one left. The guests took everything—the hats, the decorated bottles, even the bourbon. 🙂
Bradley Wright said:Sunflowers, it really was lovely
did you ever try making flowers out of alstroemeria?
my church 😍
Yeah, Audrey Hepburn did the flowers. Everything looked beautiful to me. Hey, which church are you talking about? Is it that one... downtown in Chicago..?! 🙂
Betty Foster8 said:sunshine, you look incredible, seriously!!! I gotta ask though, where did you get those little bottle hats??
And that church looks so familiar to me!!!
Thanks so much. A woman from a small town in the US (maybe near a small town in the US, I can't quite remember...) made the hats for me. She's a family friend. They were wonderful and really sturdy. My dad also picked up about ten other pieces from a lady at a rest stop on the highway. But the ones from that small town in the US were much nicer.
The church is downtown in Indianapolis. It's the beautiful Holy Mary's name cathedral.
I’m not exactly an expert when it comes to using Imgur, so forgive me if I messed anything up, but you should be able to see some photos from my wedding at this link. If they aren't working, then I'm truly 🤷
http://img708.imageshack.us/g/dscf1562resize.jpg/
gentledriver92 said:Hey, huge congratulations! I'm so glad everything went smoothly for you... Could you please let me know about the band? (If I remember right, Victor was playing?) How were they? Did they take a lot of breaks, and what time did they wrap up? 😁 thanks so much!
Thanks a lot. 🙂
I haven't been on the forum in a while, so sorry it took me this long to get back to you. You know, marriage tends to decrease the need for computer time (at least for me). 😁
Hmm... Victor... well, here's the deal. My friends from St. Louis had already heard Victor play before, so they thought he was alright. For his guests from the Midwest, the suburbs, or even out of state, this was their first time seeing him, and they were absolutely thrilled. Rot knows how to set a mood. He’s a great entertainer and everyone had a good laugh. The setlist was strictly for fun—not a single country song in sight. Personally, I thought they were great, though (in my opinion) they took a few unnecessary breaks. I think there were about five in total, but don't quote me on that since I didn't have a camera to count them. They played until about 4:30 AM.
I wasn't a big fan of the guitarist (the band leader)... he seemed a bit indecisive. But the singer was awesome; he's perfect for keeping the party going and always has wild ideas to entertain the guests. From guest sing-alongs to dancing with people in his arms, to eating cake without using hands... at our place, he asked if any retirees wanted to join in, and one of my mom's friends rushed over thinking she might win a prize. She ended up having to dance in the circle all by herself. We were dying laughing. 😂
To wrap it all up, my overall take on their performance was 👍
mistywalker5 said:Congratulations! 😉 I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time and that you're happy with everything! You must be from Indianapolis if you had your reception at the Sphere. 😉 We're getting married on May 8th at the Zoo Hotel... I really hope everything goes as smoothly as yours did 😉 and that there's enough food for everyone... ours is an all-inclusive package where everything is covered. Would you mind posting a few photos so we can see you and your groom, the vibe, and the flowers? 😉 Mark is making my wedding bouquet, so I'm sure it's going to be gorgeous!😉
I’d love to post some pictures, but I honestly can't figure out how—it keeps telling me the file size is too large. 🤷 I have one shot where the table looks great. I should get the professional photos next week. There's one specifically where the bouquet looks amazing. If you can explain how to upload them, I'll gladly share a few so you guys can see. 🙂
Hey ladies!
As promised a while back, I wanted to share my experience here—hopefully it helps some of you out.
I got married last Saturday. 🙂 It was exhausting, but beautiful in the end, and we both loved it.
We ordered desserts from Ivanov’s at Catherine’s bakery. To be honest, I didn't try a single one, but my sister-in-law swore they were great. My only gripe was the packaging. I was expecting large platters, but they came in small boxes, so we actually ran out of dessert. That was on us, though; we misjudged the amount needed. The cake itself was stunning. Each tier had a different flavor. The top tier was a lemon breeze, and it was easily my favorite. Highly recommend. 👍
Dinner was held at the Sphere bistro, right across from Anheuser-Busch. We were pretty skeptical about the restaurant because of the price point, but everything was handled professionally and went smoothly. For $50 per person, we got two courses. The first course included a beef ragu soup that everyone raved about (it was delicious, too), plus pork and chicken prepared however we wanted (3 pieces of meat per person), 2 sides of our choice, and a mixed salad. The second course was either a hearty stew or stuffed cabbage rolls. We went with the cabbage rolls, and I think we made the right call because everyone said they were tasty. We did upgrade the first course with extra pork and lamb, which was a smart move since we wanted leftovers for lunch the next day. I should mention that the portions aren't small; people ate well because everything tasted so good.
The waitresses were top-tier. Honestly, nothing but praise for them. They were cheerful, warm, smiling, and always available. They were so accommodating with every request. They even rearranged the table decorations the next day for lunch so everything still looked festive. They were truly wonderful! 👍
The flowers were done by Alstromeria, and they did a fantastic job. Our table was indescribable. Everyone kept coming over just to look at the arrangements. Even the other tables were beautifully decorated.
All in all, we were really skeptical about this venue, but I can say we would do it all again there. It wasn't expensive, and the service and atmosphere were excellent.
P.S. I'm a bit picky when it comes to the WCA, but all our guests mentioned that both WCA facilities were very clean, tidy, and smelled fresh.
Anyway, I hope this helps anyone searching for wedding vendors.
Best!
neonridge38 said:Just in case anyone is curious, here in St. Louis, renting a wedding dress usually runs you about $2,000, while buying one can go up to $1333... You get everything included just like it is here, from the basket to all the little extras..
Oh man... This info came a little too late for me. I’m heading out to try mine next Friday, and the big day is only 13 days away. 🙂 Anyway, thanks. I'm sure this will be helpful for someone else.
By the way, I noticed this forum is pretty quiet lately. Maybe everyone is just swamped with Easter prep and everything else, or maybe there's just nothing left to say..
Well, I'll kick things off. Like I mentioned, my wedding is right around the corner, and honestly, the panic is starting to set in... from the logistics to how the actual day will go. Sometimes I just look around my room and think: What idiot convinced me to leave my comfort zone in the first place?! Where am I supposed to go with all this girl stuff? What does life actually look like outside of a "safe zone"? We haven't found that perfect little apartment for the two of us yet, so I'm also stressing about where we'll live during those first few months together. 😕
Gosh, my head is spinning with a million different things and I haven't been sleeping. I'm already having nightmares about the wedding, the guests... everything. I hope you guys are holding it together much better than I am. Phew... 🤦
Gregory Price11 said:Well, I finally managed to get my registration sorted out too... I’ve been sitting here reading through all your comments and advice, and there is one thing I’m really curious about. I have my wedding coming up in just four months, and we need to head out to pick up our wedding bands soon. Does anyone know if it’s better to shop for them in Indianapolis or maybe somewhere like Columbus? It might be a little off-topic, but I’m genuinely wondering...🤷
..
We got ours at a small, unassuming jeweler near an IKEA. I think his name is Baumann. He doesn't really keep models on display; instead, you show him a photo of what you want. If you're stuck for ideas, he’ll let you look through a catalog. You can negotiate the thickness, shape, and gold color of the rings however you like. We checked around for the price per gram, and he was by far the most affordable option.
That's just my experience. It might be worth checking out. 😉
Hey,
I know this might be a bit out of left field for this forum, but it’s about a wedding—specifically a bachelorette party...
Does anyone have any leads on how to book a decent stripper for a bachelorette bash? 🙂
I really want to hire someone so we can let loose a little, but my maid of honor isn't exactly the entrepreneurial type. So, if anyone happens to know something... 😉
quietbear13 Could you let me know how much you paid for that Kara setup at home?
mellowjackal1 said:Hey,
what do we think about the whole fake bouquet thing? like, I make one real one and one that looks just like it. I keep the real one for myself, then just toss the fake one out there...
Honestly, I’m not really feeling that version. Maybe I’m just more of a practical guy, but I can't help thinking—where am I going to put it later, and how much dust is it just going to collect? But hey, that’s just me. Everyone’s entitled to their own preferences. If that's what you want to do, go for it.👍
Chloe Evans6 said:I’m still having a hard time bringing this up... but does anyone know where I can pick up some invitation envelopes? I’m looking for the best selection out there—ideally somewhere with really good prices...
It would be so cute if I could find some sparkly ones or maybe something in a fun color, if you guys have any leads on where to look or what they cost🙂
lady dee—I actually grabbed that same cardstock from Staples, so we're using the exact same stuff 😉
What kind of envelopes did you end up getting? Just the standard ones, or did you go with something more specialty 😍
I bought mine at a local bookstore (right by the entrance to the shopping center in Indianapolis). I think they had white, red, champagne, yellow... I can't remember if there were more colors. Most of them have that pearlescent sheen. They aren't anything fancy, but they get the job done. They pair nicely with that cardstock from the USPS. Honestly, I only bought them for the invitations I'm mailing out. You'll find a much bigger selection in Washington, D.C. at a bookstore near Times Square by the old cinema (I think that was its name... I'm not positive). I just know you enter through a different door and head down to the basement. They have better shapes there and they cost $1.00, whereas the ones in Indianapolis are about $1.25 and are standard shape (like those old blue ones). I'm not saying you should travel all the way to D.C. just for them, but keep it in mind if you happen to be in the area. 🙂
rowdypanther16 said:I’ve been wondering, how far in advance do you guys usually start sending out wedding invitations? Honestly, I’m starting to get a little bit of anxiety thinking I might run out of time to get them all in the mail...
Here’s my experience...
Our wedding is April 17th. We started handing out invites the weekend before last (so, right at the start of March). We visited his relatives on Saturday and mine on Sunday. I spent one day seeing my friends and another day visiting family friends. He finished up the rest of his list this past weekend since that was his only free time. For anyone living far away or just scattered across the US, we'll be sending those invitations by mail.
Don't panic. In my opinion, you can get it all done in a week or two, depending on your guest count and how much free time you actually have. If you spend about 10-15 minutes per person, you'll make it. 🙂 Seriously, there's no reason to stress. 😉
quietbear8 said:I’ve been reading that wedding dress rental prices have shot up significantly this year. I haven't even started my search yet, so I was wondering if anyone has gone looking this season and what kind of pricing they're seeing for brands like Saint Patrick or Pronovias in Indianapolis or the surrounding areas. 🤷
I suppose I should probably prepare my fiancé so he doesn't pass out from the shock, since he's expecting to pay around $1000, though that probably isn't even a realistic figure anymore. 😲
I went during the first month. I hit every salon in Indianapolis. Prices generally range from $2,500 up to $1.75. They mentioned that the initial rental fee is $1.75, and then the price drops by $167 for subsequent uses. Pronovias has the same pricing structure. If you want something truly custom, the price climbs higher, but for their standard selection, those are the numbers. As for your fiancé, mine felt exactly the same way. To me, the number of times a dress was worn didn't matter—it just had to be beautiful and fit well. I actually liked one of the $0.93 dresses, but the last one I tried on was the winner, so I'll be paying $1.50 for it. 🙂 My guy nearly passed out, but what can you do? I did manage to get a 10% discount since I went during one of their promotional windows. Honestly, I don't feel guilty about the cost. His suit, shirt, shoes, and vest cost as much as my dress combined. He gets to keep everything, while I have to return mine. In the end, I think he actually got the better deal. Don't you? 😉
Chloe Evans6 said:Actually, I'm even more curious about where to find those Orange bottles themselves...
We even asked at a local coffee shop, but they told us they barely sell them—they don't even think we'll manage to scrape together 20 by September, and I need closer to 70. I'm not entirely sure yet...
If anyone knows anything... please let me know 🙂
And one more thing... maybe even more important....
I wanted to ask, do you all actually have written contracts for everything you've booked?....
With us, it seems like everywhere we go, we reach an agreement and pay the deposit...
but we never get any actual paperwork or a contract...🤷
It’s always just a verbal deal—price, deposit, date... and then "trust"... but no contract.
For example, we paid a deposit for flowers—no contract.
Paid for the cake... still nothing...
So I'm wondering how you guys are handling this... do you have a signed contract for everything you've reserved? And if you don't—do you ever think about what happens if...😲
I'm starting to feel a bit of panic setting in—I just hope people won't screw us over... I really don't want the worst to happen... oh my goodness...😲
Honestly, I think you're overthinking it. A cafe in downtown D.C. will collect them way faster than one out in the suburbs. Maybe try asking at a few different spots. Besides, once the weather warms up, people will start drinking Coca-Cola again. It’s just a bit too chilly for that kind of thing right now. 🙂 I managed to get mine all in one month last summer. Don't worry. Just try asking several different cafes.
As for the paperwork... we looked everywhere for confirmation, so we have documentation for everything.
Sandra Campbell9 said:I find myself wondering if anyone might have some insights regarding the pastries from the bakery in Ivankov (specifically the one run by Katarina and Lynda Bennett). I suppose I am also in need of a solid recommendation for a hair stylist or perhaps someone specializing in makeup over in the Indianapolis area.
Look, I have no idea how their pastries taste, but I'll let you know once my wedding guests are gone. We ordered both the sweets and the wedding cake from them. If you don't mind, just bear with me until after April 17th and I'll get back to you. 😉
Nicole Cox said:Hey ssuncica,
It's great that you guys are doing the dance lessons. My partner and I just can't find the time, and honestly, we aren't really feeling it either. 🙂 But regarding that marriage prep course—our priest is so chill about it that we don't even have to do it. He doesn't speak much English, so he said he won't insist on it. Also, our best man and maid of honor don't need to bring any paperwork—like baptismal records or anything. Even if the best man isn't religious, or the groom isn't Catholic, it's fine. We haven't had any complications at all, though I was actually worried that might happen. I wonder what other couples have experienced.
Also, I've seen a lot of comments about those little favor bottles. Doesn't the venue where the wedding is held usually handle providing those? Or is that something you specifically want as an extra detail to tie the whole theme together?
Good luck with the guest list and calls—I know that's a massive chore; it's my turn in a few months. Luckily, my parents are taking care of a lot of it themselves, so I'm pretty relieved about that.
Do you have any advice on shoes? Is there a specific bridal shop for wedding footwear? I've noticed there are plenty of those abroad, but I haven't found anything quite like that here in the States.
Best,
Hey there!
As far as I know, no venue provides them automatically. My guess is they don't handle it because the spirits inside are homemade, which is usually based on what the couple wants. At least, that's my take. Regardless, it's already done. Everything is set. 🙂
Nicole Cox said:Hey ssuncica,
It's great that you guys are doing the dance lessons. My partner and I just can't find the time, and honestly, we aren't really feeling it either. 🙂 But regarding that marriage prep course—our priest is so chill about it that we don't even have to do it. He doesn't speak much English, so he said he won't insist on it. Also, our best man and maid of honor don't need to bring any paperwork—like baptismal records or anything. Even if the best man isn't religious, or the groom isn't Catholic, it's fine. We haven't had any complications at all, though I was actually worried that might happen. I wonder what other couples have experienced.
Also, I've seen a lot of comments about those little favor bottles. Doesn't the venue where the wedding is held usually handle providing those? Or is that something you specifically want as an extra detail to tie the whole theme together?
Good luck with the guest list and calls—I know that's a massive chore; it's my turn in a few months. Luckily, my parents are taking care of a lot of it themselves, so I'm pretty relieved about that.
Do you have any advice on shoes? Is there a specific bridal shop for wedding footwear? I've noticed there are plenty of those abroad, but I haven't found anything quite like that here in the States.
Best,
Well, we started yesterday. So far, so good. We hit eight families in one afternoon. On Monday, my best man and I are visiting my girlfriends, while my parents will visit our family friends. 🙂 You know, I don't let them get too involved, otherwise they just make things complicated. It’s much easier when I handle it myself. 😉
Nicole Cox said:Hey ssuncica,
It's great that you guys are doing the dance lessons. My partner and I just can't find the time, and honestly, we aren't really feeling it either. 🙂 But regarding that marriage prep course—our priest is so chill about it that we don't even have to do it. He doesn't speak much English, so he said he won't insist on it. Also, our best man and maid of honor don't need to bring any paperwork—like baptismal records or anything. Even if the best man isn't religious, or the groom isn't Catholic, it's fine. We haven't had any complications at all, though I was actually worried that might happen. I wonder what other couples have experienced.
Also, I've seen a lot of comments about those little favor bottles. Doesn't the venue where the wedding is held usually handle providing those? Or is that something you specifically want as an extra detail to tie the whole theme together?
Good luck with the guest list and calls—I know that's a massive chore; it's my turn in a few months. Luckily, my parents are taking care of a lot of it themselves, so I'm pretty relieved about that.
Do you have any advice on shoes? Is there a specific bridal shop for wedding footwear? I've noticed there are plenty of those abroad, but I haven't found anything quite like that here in the States.
Best,
Ugh, I don't really have any advice regarding shoes. Even in Indianapolis, finding white shoes can be a struggle. One thing I remember seeing was a shop in Essex, on the upper floor. They had the same models available in two different heel heights. That's really all I recall. As for whether you can buy shoes exclusively for weddings somewhere, I honestly don't know. I'd probably just head over to the bridal salon where I got my dress to try some on, since I have a credit for accessories there. I wouldn't want to buy a brand-new pair just for one day only to hide them in a closet. Maybe there's a specialty shop in Washington, D.C., but I really couldn't say. 🤷