Posts by Gregory Price11

Nicholas Harris10 said:Hey everyone!
I'm planning to host my wedding in Des Moines next year. Does anyone have any experience with the catering from Karamarko, Nikolin, or Mima? I think Preić might be my top choice, but their venue is a bit small, and I'm expecting a huge crowd.

Looking for impressions, pricing, etc...

Well, look... I actually have a wedding at Mima this year. In my honest opinion, the venue is fantastic; it can accommodate up to 550 people without feeling overly crowded or cramped. We went ahead and put down a deposit last June, and our price was set at $2,400. However, just two or three months later, a couple from my hometown went to book the same hall for this year, and they were quoted $2,200. So, if you want my advice, you really can't be certain about the pricing until you speak directly with the owner—it seems like the rates fluctuate constantly. I do know that the deposit is $200, though.🤷

Austin Hayes2 said:I actually used Elijah for my wedding a few months ago, and he was fantastic. The shots are stunning... truly beautiful. He shot my best friend's wedding too, and it was snowing that day, but her photos turned out even better. So, there you go. My DVD is totally fine. Look, I didn't make things difficult—that's just not who I am—but everything really depends on the vibe at the wedding. You can't produce something "wow" if the party is boring. In my case, it wasn't hard for him at all because he stayed until 5 AM filming. The crowd was so energetic that he managed to catch almost everything.

It seems everyone has their own mix of positive and negative experiences with him. I personally know a few people who actually voiced complaints last summer regarding both the photo quality and the DVD. Then again, I also have my own firsthand experience... Perhaps his work has improved over time? Still, when you're paying a premium price, you really don't want the end result to be a disaster. I simply wasn't willing to take that risk. I am genuinely happy to hear that everything turned out so well for you, but for others, it hasn't been such a smooth ride. In my opinion, the quality of the photos shouldn't be dependent on the atmosphere of the party; regardless of how much fun everyone is having, the photos themselves absolutely must be excellent.🙂

Angela Davis74 said:Listen. Nobody is going to say anything bad about who was satisfied. Personally, I found everyone to be fine, except for those Czech photographers. They are lagging behind in every single aspect, from photo editing to everything else. To make matters worse, their prices are higher than anyone else’s, yet they provide fewer shots. The most absurd part? When we were there, one of the women told us we wouldn't even get a wedding DVD, just some old video cassette.😲

Ilija took photos for my godmother, and the shots—as well as the DVD—are excellent. He shot my wedding too; everything was fine, but he missed several details that were quite important to me. I ended up getting married back in October, and the total cost for everyone was around $400. Even then, the premium photographers were charging more. $1333It isn't peak season yet, so prices are lower. During the high season, they hit $4,500. I realized that was a mistake, which is why I passed on them.

Why are you claiming Elijah isn't a good choice? I am merely curious. Real-world experiences could actually assist future couples during their selection process.

Well, I suppose everyone has their own opinion. For my part, Ilya produced a total catastrophe for my graduation photos (I know that's not a wedding, but still), and "catastrophe" is putting it mildly. Then, this past summer, I knew a few people he filmed, and they all complained. So, I decided to pass on him entirely based on both my own experience and what I heard from others. To me, the photos are absolutely vital, and I simply couldn't risk being disappointed all over again.😲

Angela Davis74 said:Neither Ilia nor Zoom are $1333. Unless they hiked their prices recently, I paid Zoom $3,000 plus extra for the thank-you card photos. Everyone is hovering around the $3,000 mark.
Generally speaking, everything is cheaper in a smaller Midwestern city than in a major hub like Chicago.

Regarding the rings—engraving, resizing, polishing—it's all included in their price.😉

As for Brzica, be careful who you actually negotiate with—the father or the son. You'll get two different stories. Also, if you don't direct the poses yourselves, the shots might end up monotonous. A friend used him, and every photo looked identical, like someone just walking past the lens. Not exactly creative. The editing is decent, but the compositions are boring. It’s better to stay involved so you aren't disappointed later.

I don't know, I heard some things regarding $1333... but generally speaking, I've heard nothing but glowing reviews about the photographer. When I went to discuss the details, I spoke with a woman. Regardless of how it turns out, I've already paid the deposit. Honestly, as long as the quality isn't worse than what Iliya provides, I'll be perfectly satisfied.☕

swiftcrane722 said:I've heard of Vinko Photography out of Springfield. $1500, they're actually great. We didn't end up hiring them for our big day, but a friend of mine whose partner works in the industry did

Greetings... honestly, if you look at photographers in the Chicago area, their rates tend to be much more affordable than what you'll find in St. Louis. For instance, Photo Brzica is $1333, though keep in mind the deposit is $167. Personally, I found them to be fantastic since I hired them myself. You might also want to look into Photo Zoom; their pricing is hovering right around the $4,000 mark, which is pretty similar to Photo Ilija. It really pays to just reach out and ask some questions first...😲

Angela Davis74 said:They aren't smooth. There's a half-millimeter rim on each side that's polished, while the center has an icy matte finish. You can find a photo of it on the wedding ring page... just look there. If you need anything else, let me know.🙂

Ah, I see what you mean. I follow your logic there. 🙂 Thank you so much...👍 Does engraving come included in the price, or is that an additional charge? I know they offer free resizing, but I wasn't quite sure about the engraving part.🤷

Angela Davis74 said:White gold is the standard. I've never had any interest in the look of yellow gold. 😬

Well, it isn't my personal preference either, which is why I am asking. 🙄 Oh, one more quick question—are the most basic ones smooth, or do they have an engraved design? 🤷

Aaron Lee2 said:Gregory Price11, thanks for the heads-up. I definitely learned way more than I actually bargained for, haha! That singer guy seems to be acting all... well, you know. He only gave us the lower price point, maybe because they don't even need us until 4 PM. Do you happen to remember from those weddings you went to—did they play the whole day long, or was it just an afternoon gig?

Oh, don't mention it at all... I think it was somewhere around 10:00 AM $0.00..I do know they are among the more budget-friendly options..and yes, they typically play the entire day..at every single wedding they do..👍

Aaron Lee2 said:Hey everyone, just popping in as a new face around here! Has anyone actually caught TS Slavonski Soul performing at weddings, or even just heard the word on whether they’re any good or total skips? I'm honestly down for whatever info you can toss my way...

Well, I have actually attended a few weddings where they were the live band, and I can tell you they are quite talented. However, there is one thing to keep in mind: the lead singer—a larger gentleman they call "Sladjo"—has a very specific stage persona. He certainly knows how to entertain a crowd, but he can be a bit of a "wild card," if you know what I mean. Some people might find his antics a little much. On the bright side, their pricing is very reasonable; I believe they are around $1,000 $0.00. Plus, if you want a full male ensemble at that price point, they can make that happen. They even bring in a keyboardist upon request, so they can cover just about any genre. They really know how to set a great mood. We actually considered booking them ourselves, but I personally wasn't quite sold on the singer's style. Anyway, I hope that helps you out a bit!🤷

Angela Davis74 said:We bought our bands at Nikoline in Indianapolis, right by the gallery. I don't know how many shops you've checked yet, but ours are 7mm and have a comfort fit so they don't dig into the finger $667. They had the best selection I found after checking all of Indianapolis and the surrounding areas
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Thank you... I actually looked around there as well, and I ended up being most satisfied with their collection. Because of that, I think I'll be getting mine from them too. I really did try to shop everywhere, but their selection is truly massive and just superior to the rest. Did you decide on white gold or yellow gold? Personally, I'm leaning toward white gold—I just find it much more aesthetically pleasing. 😵

mellowjackal1 said:Hey everyone... my big day is getting closer... just over a month out now... we already sent out the invites, mostly because I just couldn't stop thinking about them. Between the actual sending and all the complaining we've dealt with, I'm a bit frazzled. We went with a pretty playful vibe for the wording and didn't mention our parents at all. The text makes it clear that *we* are the ones inviting you, not them (honestly, they haven't lifted a finger, and we're footing the entire bill and doing all the planning ourselves)... but now the relatives are starting to chirp because apparently, since our parents are the ones "giving us away," they have to be listed. It really stung... I'm wondering if you guys included your parents on your invites, or if we totally messed this up?

I truly don't think you made a mistake, especially considering that you are organizing this entire wedding yourselves without any parental assistance. I personally see nothing wrong with that. At the end of the day, this is your moment, and you should be able to celebrate it exactly how you wish. You really shouldn't let the comments of others weigh on you; there will always be someone with something to complain about, no matter what you do.👍

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...🤷
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