Posts by silentraven18

Well, let me give this another shot 🙂

Does anyone happen to know a rental company that carries round wedding tables? I’m looking for the standard banquet style—about 70 inches in diameter—not those tall cocktail or bar tables you see at lounges.

I'm pretty much open to anyone serving the entire Midwest area...😍

quietcobra52 said:Hey! Just got back from the mall in Arizona and finally scored all my decor for $100 (honestly, the red and white streamers—20 meters of them!, 10 rolls for making those wedding bows, 3 packs of heavy-duty ribbon, 200 balloons, some tiny floral bits for when they pick me up at my tent, 30 meters of twine for the rosemary, and 20 cookie boxes for about a pound each plus some satin ribbons for the tables)... I am seriously obsessed. Plus, at this one balloon shop, they gave me a business card for their site—ladies, you have no idea how stunning their bridal gowns are (I saw them in person at the mall), and they’re only like $60 to $90! If any of you can make it out to the mall, seriously go hunt for dresses there because they're cheap and gorgeous... Oh, and my guy found an amazing black suit for 37 miles (pants and jacket) plus a shirt and tie for just 12 miles. Also, since everything has to be strictly taxed now, a lot of shops are just closing down or having massive clearance sales 😍

If you're up for it, maybe send over a few photos from your shopping trip? I'm really curious to see what kind of sashes they have 🙂

It’s really just a little bit of his way and a little bit of mine—a nice blend of our habits and quirks. Everyone stays happy and content, I guess—hehehe.

I respect everyone's choices, but I'm perfectly happy doing my own thing.😍

Tyler Fox14 said:Exactly. In my house, it’s really just my mother-in-law who clings to these old-school traditions. It doesn't mean much to me personally, especially since many modern weddings skip these customs entirely, but I’m happy to let her have her way. She insists that we receive a cake from the wedding party and then give one back—of course, in a different style—but I don't mind either way, as I wouldn't know what to do with extra cakes anyway; I'll just share whatever is left over. I’m mostly asking because of my own maid of honor; neither she nor I have any clue what she is supposed to expect, and that's where the confusion lies. 😕

Personally, it doesn't bother me at all—if they want to follow certain customs, more power to them. Since we served as their godparents previously, and now they're doing the same for us (well, for my partner), we’ll just return the gesture the same way they did for us.
And yeah, that's the whole thing with the cake—they bring one, and then take another one back. It’s all the same to me, really; it seems to be an agreement between the two of them, a tradition or whatever, and I certainly won't step in or interfere. 🙂

I've already set aside most other traditional customs, and honestly, the thing I'm looking forward to most is NOT having to do that awkward dance with the bride. Bye-bye to that tradition! eheheheheh

Kevin Nguyen48 said:If you're looking for photographers, I’d highly recommend Artis by Jane Doe, Mary Peric, or the crew over at Coachella. People have already talked about the Zoom price on the earlier pages. Both the first two have Facebook profiles where you can check out their portfolios.

That sounds lovely—I actually really like their work too, so I’m thinking about grabbing a coffee with them sometime soon. I’ve already reached out to them via Facebook 🙂

They both seem absolutely wonderful, honestly.
Just feeling a bit playful today! 😂😂

Tyler Fox14 said:I really need to finalize my budget, but does anyone have any insight? Please help; I am completely in the dark regarding how everything typically unfolds.

--
So, my dear husband was a best man last year, and after the Sunday brunch, he basically brought home half the wedding gifts they had bought—it felt like a huge haul—plus he got presented with an entire cake at the reception itself. Later, I chatted with my mother-in-law about it, and she mentioned that for families who still hold onto certain traditions, that's just how it goes... and that we'll probably return the gesture to them down the road.
As for me, I was a maid of honor about three years ago, and I didn't receive anything at all. As the maid of honor, I was technically supposed to provide the cake, but her mother ended up paying for it and told me it was from me—though the bride mentioned that it wasn't really my tradition to pay for it, so I wouldn't be expected to.
Personally, I don't really dwell on these things—I don't feel like I need all that stuff—but since it's their custom, I try to be respectful of it.
Maybe you could just check in with your own family or the people you're standing in for—you know, see what they expect or what kind of traditions they personally follow.

Grace Kern55 said:Regarding the cold appetizers for the welcome, we went with Nutrition (Bulgarian) out of Indianapolis. I've heard nothing but praise for them; they're incredibly punctual and professional. They offer a bunch of different packages at various price points, so honestly, your best bet is to just reach out to them directly and they can email you their menus. When you book catering through them, they usually bundle in things like bar stools (one table per ten guests), servers, glassware, plates, and all that good stuff... Plus, when I spoke with them, they mentioned they handle catering services across the entire Midwest.
As for the flowers, check out the Facebook page for Mosaic Florals; they’ve done some work in that shabby chic style, so see if it matches the vibe you're going for...

Thanks 😍 so much
!

graniteridge6 said:😁

Anyway, just ask away if there's anything else on your mind.

Uh, I actually have quite a long list, so if you really insist... 🤣

The wedding and reception will be held in El Paso, so I'm mostly looking for things within the El Paso region—though for renting large tables, I might look anywhere across the Midwest.
If anyone has any recommendations or info, please feel free to drop a reply. Now that you're finally waking up from your slumber... 😂

So, here’s the list:

1. Round tables for rent, about 60-70 inches in diameter, seating 8-10-12 people. I mean actual round banquet tables used in halls, not bar tables.
2. Also some bar tables for at home, and maybe a tent in case it rains during the time we spend at my place.
3. A good caterer for cold appetizers and salads (for greeting guests at home) in the El Paso area—and, of course, someone whose presentation looks lovely.
4. A florist in the El Paso area who knows how to pull off a shabby chic decor style.
5. A photographer and videographer (not the $10,000 type, but nothing too cheap either—just a solid, classic middle-ground option. From what I've found so far, these seem okay: Exitus Productions, Artist, Emina Janković, or Oliver Art Studio)
6. A bakery or pastry shop that does dessert shooters, muffins, and similar treats.
7. Chocolate fountain rental.

graniteridge6 said:That’s pretty much all I know. 😁
His name is Domagoj Rebić—he’ll provide his own portfolio once you get in touch with him. He'll send over some samples showing how things look with just a single camera setup versus a two-camera shoot. 🙂

Well, aren't you just the best, haha...

Ooh, just you wait—I might have a few more questions for you later, so I'll have to double-check how much you actually know, heheheh

Give it up for graniteridge6 👏👏🙂

silentraven18 said:And who do you end up hiring for videography when working with Artis—since they mainly focus on photography?

Did they happen to recommend someone to you, or did you have to hunt for a videographer on your own?

Do you happen to know who that might be? I wonder if there's a way to actually see some of their footage online. 🤣 😍

And who do you end up hiring for videography when working with Artis—since they mainly focus on photography?

Did they happen to recommend someone to you, or did you have to hunt for a videographer on your own?

Hey everyone—does anyone happen to know where I might be able to rent some LARGE round tables around the Midwest? I'm looking for the kind typically used in banquet halls for groups of about 8 to 12 people. 🙂

Also, if you wouldn't mind sharing, I’d love to hear about your experiences renting those smaller, round bar-height tables—you know, the ones for home use or maybe small pop-up tents for when it rains or something.
Where did you guys end up getting them from? And just out of curiosity, how much space do they actually take up indoors?

Has anyone here actually worked with them before? I’m curious to know what your experience was like.
Based on what I've seen online, they seem pretty solid to me.

http://www.facebook.com/ExitusPro
http://vimeo.com/exitusprodukcija

graniteridge6 said:Look, at the end of the day, they’re people too—plus, a whole lot of variables have to align perfectly for a wedding to be truly great.
Take my friend’s wedding, for example; they had this band that is usually top-tier, but for me, it was pretty mediocre (way too many slow songs and a few other gripes), and then my friend explained that they specifically wanted 🤷
It isn't solely down to the band, either; so much depends on the overall atmosphere of the reception, which reflects off the guests onto the band and vice versa. No one can guarantee perfection, but it's the guests who ultimately set the mood—all those couples who rely entirely on the band to carry the energy often find things don't turn out quite how they imagined.

That’s actually what the photographers told us during our planning meeting—that the issue is most people don't see the behind-the-scenes mechanics of a wedding. They don't know what the couple was actually looking for, what kind of personalities the bride and groom have, or realize that every guest is essentially a "mirror" of the wedding itself; so you'll have certain groups absolutely killing it, while in others, you'll be left wondering, "wtf?"

I completely agree with you there. Everything turns out exactly how it's planned. Unfortunately, I haven't been to enough weddings to offer much expertise beyond knowing that the two I attended were decent and the music was great—though, like I said, I'm just passing along what I've heard.
All of this is coming my way soon, and I'm already starting to stress about making the right choices, haha..
I've narrowed my venue choices down to Laura (Ivankovo), Admiral ex, and Lucy (Indianapolis)—if you can even call that narrowing things down, lol... So, if you guys have any feedback or praise, please let me know since I'm not from around here 🙂

coastalbadger86 said:Abraham Lincoln is playing for us 👍 too. I also heard some rumors about them bringing on a female singer, though I don't know if it's official yet... but look, regardless of what people say, everyone has their own taste in music. You can find something to complain about with anyone, really. The bottom line is that they’ll be there on that day, they give it their absolute all, and they truly are the best at what they do 😁.

While I was checking out some venues and restaurants the other day, I overheard owners at two different spots mentioning that the Saxovac crew has started getting a bit sloppy lately. Apparently, they tend to get a little too rowdy at weddings; someone mentioned that on two separate occasions, one of the singers/musicians actually walked off the wedding entirely to head into town for a bit and then came back...
I first heard them about two years ago, and then again last year when we were part of the wedding party... To me, they seemed perfectly fine
. A dear friend of mine was at a wedding they played a couple of weeks ago (on a Friday) and said they were just mediocre—especially compared to how they used to be. Then, on Saturday, a buddy of his went to another wedding they played (he was actually with us at our wedding where they played too), and he said they were a complete disaster—like, they didn't handle the gig well at all
.
This really caught me off guard, given my experience with them. I guess everyone sees things differently and has their own tastes, so I don't know...

dustypanther12 said:I've attended quite a few weddings because my family is huge, 🙂 so I've had the chance to check out plenty of different venues...

Lucy is fine... nothing particularly special, just decent.
Johnson Estates is excellent... they have everything running smoothly, and the owners are truly top-tier—easily a five-star experience.
Laura is also very high quality.
Admiral is the most expensive option, but it offers an exclusivity that makes it completely flawless in my eyes 🙂.
Barun Trenk wasn't a highlight for me... the servers were mediocre, and you find yourself waiting forever just to be served.
Renic is also quite reliable and fair; they are well-established and everything went perfectly... it really just comes down to which location you prefer, whether it's near Ivankovo or Anderson 😉 GOOD LUCK!

Thank you so much. Honestly, so far—though I still need to check out a few more places—the ones that appeal to me most are Laura and the admiral (though my dear, at one wedding, he supposedly had some issues with the staff at the admiral, saying he practically had to tug on their sleeves just to get more food or drinks brought over, so I'm not sure how to take that, and if that's true, it's a major downside).
Also, do you happen to know anything about Kunjevac? I've eaten there a couple of times and it was perfectly fine, and I think the atmosphere is lovely (both the restaurant and the patio), but I haven't actually seen the banquet hall itself yet, so I have no idea how they handle weddings.

So, there really is quite a significant price gap after all.

Could someone maybe list the pros and cons for these specific venues (listed below)? I'm curious about things like food quality, anything missing from the service, extra fees for AC or heating, broken promises, or whatever else comes up...

Lucy (Zuki), Johnson’s Estate, Laura, Admiral, Baron Trenk, Renic (Andrijaševac)

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driftingjackal9 says: I'm also from Washington, D.C., and my fiancé is from Indianapolis... we're actually having our wedding there too. We ended up booking Ivan's Castle in Ivan on 10/04/2014, so that date is already taken.🙂 We looked at several venues around Dakota and Indianapolis, but in the end, this one was our favorite. We're planning on about 300 guests, and they have those nice round tables that work perfectly for a group that size. I haven't actually attended a wedding there myself, but I've heard nothing but glowing reviews. We booked our band as well—we went with the Gentleman musicians from Columbus, and everyone speaks so highly of them. They aren't just your typical traditional players; they play absolutely everything, so I'm pretty sure they'll put on quite a show...😘>

Hahaha, you've got to be kidding me... my fiancé and I were actually looking at that exact same date, and—as luck would have it—he's originally from Ivan! heheheh. Honestly, I wouldn't even consider looking anywhere other than the VK Hall, mostly because I have a huge chunk of family coming in from California, and I want to make things as easy as possible for them to stay nearby. I was actually there for a prom a year or so ago (just in the smaller section), and everything seemed fine. Everyone raves about it—they say it's a fantastic venue, and I've heard the food is amazing, too, so... yeah, it sounds super, super good. Bravo! 🙂 Would you mind asking what their pricing is like?

Hi ladies, I’ve been reading through your posts quite a bit lately—honestly, there is just so much helpful info here.

So, my fiancé and I have decided to get married next year in October, and everything would be fine if I were actually from around his area and knew a bit more about what’s available locally. 🙂

The thing is, I’m originally from NYC, but my fiancé is from Indianapolis, so we’ve decided to hold our VK Wedding in Indianapolis.
We’re planning to both leave from the same house because we really don't want anyone—especially since we're the first ones doing this—to have to drive 200 miles on the wedding day just to follow some old tradition where I have to leave my own home.

Since we’re expecting about 300 guests (around 200 of them are mine), I could really use some solid recommendations for venues, lodging, and music (and photographers too!). About 80% of my family is coming all the way from California, so I need somewhere to put such a large group at an affordable rate—though we'll probably try to split people up among various houses as well.
Regarding venues, I’m specifically curious about what you recommend and what you definitely wouldn't. I heard recently that over at Admiral, the food refills were pretty slow, and apparently, they didn't even get the heat turned on for people during certain months... which sounds a bit iffy. Since we'll have people traveling from everywhere—the Midwest, California, and DC—I’m really interested in hearing who offers a good, diverse menu. I noticed that Laura in Ivan underwent some renovations and looks nice enough, but unfortunately, they don't seem to offer round tables at all.

Gosh, I could ask you a million other things, but this is the most pressing stuff for now. Just imagine if you had to recommend the absolute best options to someone you cared about. 😛

And please don't forget to suggest music and a photographer (does anyone have experience with Leon production out of Columbus?). Ideally, the venue should be in Indianapolis, but everything else can be from the surrounding areas.
Thanks so much!

Hey ladies, I was wondering—has anyone here had any experience planning an outdoor wedding around the Indianapolis area or the surrounding suburbs?
I'm trying to get a sense of what we're looking at regarding tent rentals, catering costs, and all that good stuff.