Posts by Nicole Cox

swiftcrane31 said:Does anyone have any good makeup recommendations they could share with me? I’ve heard such wonderful things about Diana lately, but does anyone happen to have her contact information handy? To be honest, I’ve already sat through two different trial sessions with other artists recently, and I just haven't been happy with the results at all 🤷

You should try Ksenija Brkic. Look her up on Facebook under Ksenija Brkic to check out her portfolio. If you want her cell number, just shoot me a private message.
She’s actually doing my makeup for my wedding.

blueowl88 said:🙂 Hehe... lucky you, being bored. I honestly don't know which task to tackle first. We have dance classes twice a week (my fiancé and I are trying to learn how to move together so we don't look like total amateurs), pre-marital counseling twice a week (thankfully that wrapped up last weekend), plus making all the invitations... then the thank-you notes... then those little favor bottles... then shopping for his suit (we finally checked that off the list today)... my actual job... and now we start making phone calls this weekend. I am absolutely exhausted. I'm living for the day this is all over so I can finally get some decent sleep 🙂 Not to mention the constant nerves about how everything will actually turn out... 😢

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,

Nancy Fisher69 said:Wow, turns out there are plenty of us Midwest girls living in the city! Had no idea! 🙂

At the Admiral, I get $75, all-inclusive, drinks included, even Hunter 🙂)

I've heard nothing but good things about Jack too, so let me know how the meetings went, what the prices look like, and if he's actually any good!

Yeah, it seems there are plenty of us Midwesterners who moved to the city. For the record, I'm originally from the Dakota area—specifically a tiny but cute little town just outside of Dakota. 🙂
Here are my recommendations:

- Flowers: Palma, Stella, Iris --- near Dakota... Palma—I've heard they do miracles, though I never actually had the chance to sit down and talk numbers with them. Stella—she was lovely over the phone, but by then I had already booked Iris because their price was right and they had exactly what I wanted, and I'm really not one for making things complicated. 🙂
With Iris, you get 70 table arrangements, the sweetheart table, the bouquet, boutonnieres, car decor, home decor, etc., for about $1500

- Sweets: Slatkica from Russia, near Sl. Brod—Eros really knows her stuff. Her desserts blew me away and the price was totally reasonable. I ordered the wedding cake, cakes for the maid of honor and best man, 8 guest cakes, and treats for 70 tables (for 550 guests)—about $2667 (delivery, plates, etc., were all included)

- Dress: Sposa --- $1200

- Invitations, thank-you notes, table numbers, rings, etc.—I actually handle all of that abroad because it's way more affordable (luckily my husband has some connections... lol)

- Balloon decor: Stella from Dakota or 99 Balloons from Sl. Brod (they haven't sent me a quote yet, so I'm not sure what the damage will be)

- Photo & Video: Laus in Chicago ---- I loved them, and their pricing is significantly lower than others producing similar work)

Makeup - Ksenia Brkic - an incredible makeup artist—no words, just wow

Hair - I'll just figure something out at a local salon once we get closer 🙂

And that's pretty much it... the rest is minor stuff...

Cheers

Nancy Fisher69 said:Hey ladies!

So, I’m new here, just wanted to say hi and let you all know our big day is set for September 11, 2010, at the Admiral in Indianapolis.

We’re living in Washington, D.C., but I’m originally from Memphis, which is why we’re doing the wedding out in the Midwest. Honestly, organizing this thing is becoming a total nightmare because being based in D.C. means I can't exactly hop on a plane to the Midwest every time I need to check on something. 😢 I’m hunting for a florist near Memphis or Indianapolis—I'd even look around St. Louis. I saw some people recommending Palm, Stella, or Iris from Savannah; I already shot an email to Palm and Iris, but Stella hasn't gotten back to me... if anyone has her info, please let me know. Also, if anyone could dig up an email for Jack from Ivanov, that would be huge...

On top of that, I need a makeup artist and a hairstylist who can come to me. By "to me," I mean Memphis 🙂 where the groom is having his welcome party.

There’s definitely more stuff on my list, but this is the priority right now! 😁

The email for Stella at DJK is stella-djakovo@net.hr.
I totally feel for you, because I'm in the exact same boat—living in D.C. but originally from the Midwest. My wedding is at the end of July and I've already finished all the planning... now I'm just bored! 🙂

Hey everyone,
Has anyone here heard of or—better yet—actually hired Bear Photo Studio out of Copeland for weddings?
If you have, how was your experience with their work?
Thanks

rapidfox42 said:You can find those killer hair bows at Vigor in VK, but they're way cheaper out in the Canada Corridor. $2.75 It’s a 10-pack. Since I bought mine there, Vigor is really the only place I know about.

Thanks, rapidfox42. Honestly, though, I wouldn't bother with Vigor—I don't even get my balloon decor from them. I'll just send my mom to the Corridor since there isn't anything closer. 🙂
Hey ladies... just in case anyone needs this info—just an FYI.
I found some white tablecloths at the Subway that fit high, round bar tables perfectly—the ones I'm planning to have out in the yard when the groom arrives. They're $21 each.

Best,

Hey everyone,

Does anyone know where I can pick up those large white ribbons for car decor? I’m looking for the wide ones that just drape down the center, making them super easy to tie onto the rearview mirror. I remember seeing them at a shop in Indianapolis once, but that place closed down near $0.66. I checked the Subway in Chicago, but the cashier there told me they usually carry them leading up to Christmas, but never after. Does anyone know where I can find these types of ribbons—specifically around the Indianapolis area—and what the going rate is per piece?

Thanks and cheers,

David Torres8 said:I was actually just about to message you regarding that 99-balloon ship display... I used them once and they were absolutely fantastic. It really tied everything together, especially since I had guests arriving in just nine months!

Hey Mary,
Can you please let me know what you ordered and what the damage was?
To be honest, they seem better than Viggo Mortensen’s stuff—at least they're friendlier and easier to work with. 🙂
Best,

Christian Taylor8 said:You've got 99 balloons in St. Louis

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

A friend actually recommended Vigor for wedding balloon decor, so I reached out to them and set up a meeting at one of those big wedding expos. Well, when I showed up, things went south fast. Not only did the person there have absolutely no clue about their own pricing or service packages, but they didn't even have any actual samples or portfolios to show me. We had specifically agreed to meet at this expo so I could see their work in person before we decided how to move forward, but it was just a complete waste of time.
If anyone knows of any other companies that specialize in balloon decorations for weddings, please shoot me a DM with their contact info. Thanks in advance!

Bradley Wright said:I have a quick question if anyone here happens to know the answer
do I need to have an even or an odd number of bridesmaids, or is that
even not a factor at all?????

I don't think the even or odd thing matters to you at all. I've honestly never heard of such a rule.
I mean, sure, traditionally there’s a balance of bridesmaids and groomsmen on both sides—girls and guys, basically unmarried people. But things have changed so much from how they used to be. It really depends on what part of the US you're from, or even which specific town or neighborhood you grew up in. It varies wildly. 🙂

Since my future husband isn't American, we're having 5 bridesmaids at our wedding here in the States, one of whom is from his side. As for the groomsmen—either 3 or 5... 🙂 Personally, I think it looks nice if the numbers match, but that's just a thought. He actually chose to be a best man simply because he thought it was interesting, since they don't really do that where he's from; they just have witnesses for the civil ceremony, but we already took care of that beforehand.
I bought the bridesmaid dresses myself at a Trade store in Washington, D.C.; I thought it would be fun to dress them all. The dresses are the same style, just in different colors. I guess I've become a bit Americanized in that regard, but in the end, it doesn't really matter.

Just do whatever works for you; whatever makes sense to you. This is your and your groom's day, and everyone else is supposed to follow your lead. 🙂

Good luck!

rapidfox42 said:Not sure if anyone cares, but those heavy-duty car bowties are available in Vegas—plus a few other spots I’ve spotted from $0.43. They aren't crazy expensive, but honestly, if you're traveling through Canada—specifically along the corridor—it's actually cheaper there, even though it's the exact same manufacturer. I picked some up while I was out; a 10-pack was only about two bucks, so basically $2.75 or less.

So, if you happen to be passing through that area—since it's pretty close for us Midwest folks—it's a nice little way to save some cash!

rapidfox42! Thanks!
Can you believe I've never actually driven through that corridor? 🙂
What else can you pick up over there that's useful for wedding prep? thanks

casualbison8 said:I’ve been working in this industry for 11 years now, so I don't really feel the need to go out and price check professional printing equipment. Are you honestly suggesting that someone could just grab a $1,000 DSLR, snap some shots of their relatives, run them through a $45,000 printer, and somehow walk away with world-class photography? It just doesn't work that way. Especially if you lack the talent and the artistic eye to back it up.
Besides, I really feel like getting dragged into an argument at this level is just a complete waste of time....

unknown

🙂

Daniel King4 said:I think the photography service works great and is super professional, so maybe look at what you're paying musicians... you give them 1500 bucks and they play for five hours and head home, while photographers have five more days of work and gear worth at least 50k... people really shouldn't talk about stuff they don't understand, especially when you see how much worse people work in Washington, D.C. while charging $3333 basic rates for standard shots. If I were the photographer, I wouldn't give you anything for $1200 pennies, because honestly, it's not easy money and you're stuck with the consequences for life... peace

I’m not going to argue about the price point, because that’s their business and they set it themselves; like the girl mentioned above, it's their call. Besides, the amount you pay doesn't really matter because whether you pay a little or a lot, mistakes happen—we're all human. What actually rubbed me the wrong way here was their refusal to own up to the mistake and find a compromise. I'm not talking about renegotiating the whole contract, just finding a middle ground regarding the issue with the thank-you notes.
I haven't picked out my photographer yet, but I really like Alice. She handled all my ID photos and stuff previously, but I have no clue what her wedding team is like. If anyone could share their experiences or point me toward some photos (Facebook, Flickr, whatever), I’d really appreciate it.

Savannah’s Zoom Photo did a pretty amateur job back when my godmother got married three years ago. They finally delivered the printed photos intended for the thank-you cards, but half of them were totally distorted—specifically, the groom's face looked warped because they messed up the editing. When they brought those into the reception hall, the bride and groom sent them right back to be redone. The bride actually insisted that half the thank-you cards shouldn't be charged for since the work was subpar and everything was running behind schedule. We ended up assembling the thank-you favors right in front of the guests because they showed up so late, which caused us to delay giving out the gifts. Apparently, the photographers took issue with not being paid for those specific cards, claiming it was the bride's fault initially, and in the end, the couple didn't get a single photo—not even a digital copy on a DVD. Just a completely empty album.

Look, mistakes happen; I get that. But there has to be room for compromise and a little bit of good faith. Based on that terrible experience through second-hand info, I wouldn't dream of working with Savannah’s Zoom Photo. Maybe they’ve turned things around since then; who knows? But if they’re still operating this way, I’m certain they’re just driving business away.

John Ramirez10 said:I stopped by Zoom about two weeks ago because I'm looking for a photographer for September. They mentioned they have some kind of basic package $1167. I didn't bother asking what's actually included since they're already booked up during my dates anyway. Could someone please help me out and tell me what Bridget's studio in Savannah is like?

Bridget photographed my brother's wedding about two years back. We did some shots with the newlyweds in the church—just the immediate family, really. Later on at the reception, he was being so clumsy that he actually dropped his camera. The photos were ruined, so we had to try again in the hall, but by then everyone had basically cleared out; nobody was interested in posing anymore. So, my experience was pretty negative. I don't remember any weddings they shot before that; I guess I just wasn't paying much attention to the photography at the time.🙂

Bradley Wright said:I've been going to Marina for skin treatments for years, so when it came to choosing someone for my big day, I didn't hesitate to pick her. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure how her makeup skills were (I'd actually wondered myself!), so I'm really glad you brought her up. She truly is excellent.

Lady Dea,

There are way too many Marinas in DJK (it actually occurred to me that there were more back in the day, too; I remember one working up North), but I’m thinking of the one over on Satnicki Street (Starcevic), right above that other Marina's hair salon. 🙂)) Way too many Marinas... haha 🙂

ruggedtrucker5 said:If you're looking for photos and videos that are truly unique and stand out, I highly recommend Abbey Road Studios in Indianapolis. They are a bit pricier than others, but the shots look like they belong in a magazine and the video is incredible. They’ll even put together a nice highlight reel for you. For example, while they're filming outside, they might catch a bee landing on a flower or other little details and weave them perfectly into the edit.

Do they have a website? I tried searching on Google, but nothing is coming up... thanks.

lonepilot13 said:Ladies, I need some help here!
Does anyone have makeup artist recommendations? Looking for someone good... any leads?!

My godmother does amazing makeup, but she lives in Washington, D.C. (though she's originally from Jacksonville), and she’s actually the one doing my makeup for a wedding. She’s fantastic—you look like you walked out of a pro studio, yet her rates are totally reasonable. I’m just not sure if she’ll be in Orlando/Jacksonville around the time your wedding is happening. Shoot me a private message if you want her info. You can look her up on Meta under Ksenia Ivancic Brkic to check out her portfolio.
Also, there's a great esthetician in Jacksonville named Marina; both she and her assistant do incredible work. They've done my makeup several times now and I've never once regretted it.

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a wedding coming up on July 31st out in Dakota, and right now we’re looking at about 550 guests—unless my parents decide to surprise me with more last-minute changes and give me a literal heart attack, lol 🙂
Anyway, I could really use some help picking out a few things:

- Videographers and photographers—I’m looking for top-tier talent. I want people who are young, innovative, actually know their craft, and are open to ideas (because apparently, I have plenty). I don't want someone following a tired template where every single wedding looks identical 🙂 Okay, fine, maybe I am being a bit picky, but I want mine to be special. Also, the groom doesn't speak much English, so if the crew is comfortable communicating in English, that would be a huge plus.

- Car decorations, bouquets, boutonnieres, etc.

- Floral arrangements for the venue, centerpieces, and stuff like that

I’ve almost got the Mountain ceremony sorted, including most of what I need (should be finalized within a month), and the venue decor and band are already booked.

Am I forgetting anything major here?!
Please help!

Praise