Posts by Olivia Gomez2

Michael Mendoza15 said:Hey ladies! I'm looking for some feedback on Petra and Anna’s dessert service in the Suburban neighborhood. How are the cakes they provide? Specifically, those included in the menu price. Since their desserts are under Fratelli catering, I assume the quality should be high, but if anyone has actually tried them, please share your experience. Also, does anyone know anything about the band Essekeri?

Their menus are decent enough—the food itself tastes good—but I felt like there could have been more of it... the portions were a little on the small side, especially when it comes to the side dishes. As for the dessert menu, it wasn't my favorite, and honestly, the presentation wasn't exactly stunning either. That being said, the venue itself is really lovely, especially once they get the lighting just right...

The prices over there are honestly a joke—in a good way. It’s not exactly a hassle to bring some beer back across the border, though I know there’s a limit per person, and I can't quite remember the exact number... But even then, it's hardly a dealbreaker. You just make a couple of trips, or maybe head over with a few different cars, and you're still coming out ahead compared to what we pay here at home.
I’ve heard stories about people driving over just to stock up on pastries, too—apparently, the price per pound is ridiculous and they’re delicious, but I don't know... I wouldn't quite be brave enough to try that myself.

cosmictiger67 said:Has anyone here ordered pastries or a wedding cake from the Crown? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on whether the quality actually justifies the price tag.
Thanks!🙂

Personally, I wasn't a fan of their sweets—it feels like they're mass-produced, and the sponge cakes always seem way too dry for my liking. I definitely wouldn't pick them for a wedding... The pricing is pretty standard, though, but honestly, I think you can find some truly amazing desserts out there for that same amount of money.

Robert Moore86 said:Where are you guys picking up drinks—both sodas and alcohol—plus the desserts for hosting guests before heading out to church and the reception hall? Looking for spots around Indianapolis and the surrounding areas... also, are you planning on having pre-packaged treats to hand out to people as they leave the venue? How much should I actually get?

You can always grab your drinks at big retail hubs—like a Walmart or Target—and then just return whatever you didn't open later... that's our plan for the beer, anyway. As for the rest of the booze, we usually head over to Canada, or we're planning a trip to Mexico where, for example, a case of Coca-Cola is way cheaper $3.00.
We’ll definitely have sweets to pass out—usually about a third of a pound per little baggie—and we'll have exactly as many bags as we have thank-you notes.
I’d highly recommend Dundo iz Josipovac; she makes my desserts, and they are honestly delicious and look stunning.
They’ll actually pack them into little boxes for us, which is already included in the price.
Here’s the link:http://dundoslastice.com/index.php
If there's anything else you're wondering about, feel free to ask!

I remember there was this one jeweler from Washington, D.C. staying at the hotel last year—I can't quite recall which one, honestly—but I do remember those wedding bands being absolutely stunning.
See you all at the trade show!😍

electricbadger23 said:So, the plan is set: Hilton, Quattro, and Maja Peric for photography =))
And the date got pushed back by 9 months. Yay, life... =))

Thanks for all the help, everyone =)) 🙏🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍

Everything sounds wonderful—I actually have Maja booked too! 😍

electricbadger23 said:uhhh...you were a huge help...I didn't even know half of these places existed =))

And yeah, obviously I want to know about prices—if you happen to have any info, just let me know... and maybe a phone number too? =))

I want to know everything 😍🤷😉

Sent you a PM!

I did a little more digging for you—the Waldinger hotel can hold about 100 guests, then there's Villa Ariston, the Kugla ballroom, the Zeko wedding hall, and they can actually partition off a section of the ballroom at the Indianapolis hotel if you’re looking for something a bit more intimate...
Of course, the price range is pretty wide, but you really have plenty of options to work with. It all just comes down to what kind of vibe you're going for and how much you're willing to shell out. If you need more details on pricing or anything else, just let me know. Hope this helps a little!

electricbadger23 said:Hey everyone!

I could really use some advice based on what you all have been through... So, I'm getting married in November 2011, and we're looking at a pretty small crowd, maybe around 70 people if we're lucky... I've already locked in the entertainment (the Quattro band is absolutely killer) and a phenomenal photographer, Maj Perić. Now, the big headache is finding a venue... If you have any ideas or personal experiences, please let me know. I've been weighing a few different options... I definitely need to go check them out in person, but I'm holding off until "the one" finally makes it back home. =)))

Thanks for the help! 😍

Hey, I actually have Maj Perić too! 😍
Regarding venues, most of the standard halls might feel way too massive for a group that size.
Maybe consider the Mursa Hotel (really lovely space, they don't do round tables, but you can do squares), the Kopika restaurant, the Zoo Hotel, the Dora hall, Hotel Central, or maybe the Railway Hall over on Radičev... those are slightly larger spaces, but if you spread the round tables out a bit more or just seat fewer people per table (like 6 or 8), it won't look empty at all.
Have you thought about any restaurants? Maybe Galija, Karaka, Đeram, or Bendek...
If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to post!

I’ve been told the trade shows will be pretty much the same as this year. I'm still a bit unsure about the hotel situation—it should be booked for January—but since the expo at the Steakhouse always happens right around Valentine's Day, I assume it'll follow that same schedule again.

David Ramos25, I feel the exact same way about the dress... I haven't done a deep dive yet, just a quick glance here and there online, but nothing has really jumped out at me. Maybe it’s just me—I feel like I know exactly what I want, but it feels like everything out there is just slightly "off"... finding that perfect one is going to be such a challenge.

I have a quick question regarding the invitations: how far in advance should we actually order them? We’re planning to start handing them out around April, so I'm wondering what the lead time looks like... also, does anyone know where to find really nice ones? We were thinking about checking with FedEx in Des Moines, but I’d love to see if there are any local printers in Columbus who specialize in custom invites. I took a look at Vigor, but honestly, nothing they had really caught my eye.
I also heard you can find them at bridal boutiques, and I happened to spot some at Nicholas the other day... I was wondering if anyone here has used them? Specifically, can you buy them there without getting your dress from the same shop, and does anyone have an idea of the price range?

I’d definitely suggest looking into Maya or Helen—their work is just stunning!
Maya actually photographed a close friend of hers, and honestly, I didn't even hesitate to give her a call right away. 😍
Now, if you’re willing to shell out a bit more cash (meaning, if you're ready to splurge...), here are my top picks:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leon-p...a/291016240973
and maybe even:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/INFINI...81008?v=photos
Beyond those, I wouldn't really dare make a recommendation...

boldlynx24 said:Does anyone happen to know any good wedding caterers in Columbus or the surrounding areas? We aren't looking to pay per head—that just isn't how we're doing things—and we have everything else locked in except for the food... please help me out here 😢

http://classifieds.columbus.com/detail.php?id=15453
http://classifieds.columbus.com/detail.php?id=16089

I haven't personally vetted these—just found them online—so you might want to browse some local ads or check the papers... or honestly, just ask at the venue itself. They usually know which caterers they work with, and they can give you a solid recommendation...
If you don't mind me asking, which venue did you book for the wedding? And does that place provide their own chefs and servers?

David Ramos25 said:Mosaic, perhaps... I suppose I'll have to deal with those details eventually. Thank you.
The problem is my venue is in Indianapolis, so that might impact both the logistics and the budget... though I have a habit of leaving everything until the last minute... the flowers, the wedding dress...
I don't think it's strictly necessary to have it all settled this early... yet it is. Seeing how much you've already organized, I must say, well done.

We might even know one another 😉 you never truly knows...
But for me, the portrait of the deer 🙂

Oh, so we don't know each other—I was thinking of a different girl.
I don't think having what you guys have in Indianapolis would drive the price up, and have you thought about getting your flowers there instead?
A friend of mine in Cleveland paid for $2333 her flowers, and she had 45 tables to cover. It wasn't even close to what we're discussing, though she did have a gorgeous bouquet. So, you can pretty much piece things together however you want.
And I haven't actually organized everything—we've only knocked out the big stuff: the band, the photographer, the flowers, and the venue. I've put a lot of effort into the flowers because I just love them, it's more important to me than, say, the dress.
I haven't even started looking at wedding dresses yet, nor do I plan to before March... I'm waiting for the bridal shows and for the new collections to come out, plus I'm currently on a diet 😍

David Ramos25 said:Olivia Gomez2 if you don't mind me asking, which florist are we talking about?
exactly, that's my fear... those numbers might end up being impossible to walk away from...
I'm looking at peonies, ranunculus, and things of that nature...
and I want plenty of it; I need six arrangements for the church, fifty centerpieces for the reception, plus our own table, and I'd love a large floral sphere in the middle of the dance floor... though I suppose I'd be scaling back the whole production...😢

p.s. a photographer, oh yes😍

Yeah, it could end up costing you quite a bit—you have so many tables, and when you add everything up, especially since you want that lush, high-end look.
The florist I used is Mosaic, run by Susan. They're located near the Ivan Meštrović Wedding Chapel, right by the Inine Gas Station—they actually moved there once they started building Eurodom.
She photographs pretty much everything she does, so you can browse through her albums and maybe pick up a few ideas... She also provides all the stands—tall ones, low vases, martini glasses, wrought iron stands, little vases in every shape imaginable—so that's all included in the price for me.
She even sets up a big curtain backdrop behind the head table and decorates the pillars... basically, she handles the entire setup. I didn't have to lift a finger.
I went to see her with some pictures from the internet—things closest to what I wanted—and in the end, I was just so happy with how everything was arranged.

I didn't quite catch you there—do we have the same photographer? I know a girl who Maya is photographing on May 28th, so maybe we've met before!

David Ramos25 said:Fantasy Flowers in Columbus, does anyone have an idea of how much everything actually costs? I mean the full scope—wedding party, car decorations, bouquets, boutonnieres, the house, the church, the hotel...

I picked up two different bouquets for my mother's birthday recently, one from an Alstroemeria shop and one from Fantasy Flowers. $33 Each was fine. But the one from Fantasy was larger, more lush, and personally, much more beautiful...
What would you consider a reasonable maximum budget for flowers?

Since I'm apparently hopeless and completely forgot how multi-quote 😵 works, here I am again...
I’ve heard that Fantasy can be pretty pricey—someone mentioned a quote running as high as $20 $0.00 😕😕—though I don't quite believe that myself, so your best bet is probably just to head over there and ask.
Prices really vary wildly; it honestly all comes down to what you're looking for. Your best move is to decide on a hard maximum budget for the florals first, then pick out the types of flowers you want... a good florist will work within those numbers.
That’s how I handled it—I told mine exactly which flowers and colors I wanted and how much I needed (number of tables, number of boutonnieres, etc.), and she mapped out the whole vision, noted down the quantities, and gave me a total. I told her not to go over $2000. It ended up landing right around there, even though I went pretty big with my arrangements. I wanted them to look really full. I visited her shop, she walked me through her entire plan, and I was just thrilled with it... so yeah, that was it.

David Ramos25 said:Are we using the same photographers here? 😁

It's possible... we ended up booking Maya Perić!
I was over at Miller earlier this morning, and they didn't have any wedding albums in stock—I mean, they have a huge selection of photo albums in general, but nothing like those big, leather-bound ones you typically see for weddings...

David Ramos25 said:Our album won't be ready until 🙂... I really need to update my signature with the date 🙂
I suspect it's nearly identical to the one from Photo C, just larger.
However, I opted for the package included with the photographer. I'm convinced I couldn't replicate their work quite as well... besides, those extra $233 would have ended up being wasted on something trivial anyway...

Did you manage to go take a look?

I haven't been to Photo C myself, but I did stop by that photo studio downtown—they have those large leather ones for around $500$217, though they have different styles too, I think some materials go up to $100, and there was one specifically lovely one for about $87. I'll probably browse through Walmart tomorrow to see what's available. We still have plenty of time to pick up those supplies...
We actually told our photographer that we'd likely go with her album, though we might change our minds later. She mentioned that even if we buy one somewhere else, she’d love for us to give it to her so she can arrange the photos herself—she’s really particular about everything looking neat and orderly. Honestly, I wouldn't even dream of trying to arrange them all by myself... I know I couldn't make it look nearly as organized as she would...
I happened to notice while passing by that you can actually buy these albums separately, so I'm just checking things out. My main priority is quality—if the cheaper options turn out to be flimsy or poorly made, we'll just stick with hers and call it a day...

David Ramos25 said:latest 🙂
I needed one just like this for a christening gift, and I managed to find an identical version at Photo C over in the county seat, $130 a large beige edition with beige pages, and the same beige style but set against black pages $97. You should go take a look.
There is also something in the photo shop window, for $66, white with a zircon heart centered on the cover... it is quite lovely, though significantly smaller than these.

p.s. I simply took mine as part of the photographer's package.

Thanks so much! I'm really leaning toward the one with the black pages, and honestly, the price is great. If we had gone through the photographer, it would've been around $233. I'll definitely head out and check them out.
How much did your album end up costing, and do you think it's better quality than the ones you can buy separately? For me, the most important thing is that it feels high-quality and sturdy... but if they're basically the same thing, then there's a huge difference in price...

I have a quick question for everyone—when you were putting together your wedding albums, did you just stick with your photographer, or did you end up sourcing them from somewhere else entirely? I’m also curious if anyone knows where I might find some of those larger, high-end wedding books around Indianapolis, and maybe a ballpark idea of what the pricing looks like these days...

Nancy Cook51 said:Hey everyone! Does anyone happen to know what the prices are like for sales at the local FBI department store, and how are their menus generally? Also—if anyone’s been to the Joe hall near the stadium—what was your experience like there?

From what I gather, renting a hall at the FBI building is roughly $2333, which usually covers the space and the staff... though you'd have to handle all the other details yourself. As for the food prices, I'm honestly not too sure about those options.
I actually attended a wedding there once, and the food was pretty tasty—nothing fancy, but decent enough... my only gripe was that to get to the main hall, you have to walk through this hallway right by the restrooms.👎
If you're looking for something a bit more budget-friendly, Ben is a good shout, or maybe the Hilton—they have a really lovely ballroom, and the rental starts around 14 $0.00; I suppose it all really depends on how many guests you're planning to invite...