Posts by Mark Nguyen11

velvetcanyon4 said:Hey ladies, dropping in here super fast because I need some intel ASAP—don't have time to scroll through all these pages... Which liquor store in Memphis has the best prices on beer?

We went with Amadeus over on Main Street. It was the most affordable option for us, even though everything is pretty much priced similarly everywhere else. Honestly, the guys there were great; they handled all our little requests without any issues and were super punctual with the delivery and pickup too.

rapiddriver6 said:Has anyone here actually worked with Focus in Zupanje? I’ve been scouring the entire Forum, but I can't seem to find anything concrete.

Maybe there's a reason for that... 🤷
I don't have first-hand experience, but I haven't heard anything good about them.

nimblebadger57 said:🤷 Honestly, my head is spinning. I'm getting hit with information from every direction here.
A few days ago, I was totally lost, but thanks to you guys,
I've finally started to figure things out through this forum. I see there are some bands online with promo clips... do they actually have anything decent to show for it??

Honestly, I'm not sure... but they have a Facebook profile—Sax Band. You might want to check there.
They actually played for the New Year's celebration in Indianapolis at the town square, so you might have heard them.

nimblebadger57, did you hear about that sax band out of Columbus? I think they play exactly the kind of music you're looking for...
You should probably book them as soon as possible. They’re in high demand, so I'm not sure how much time you have left.

Who says older crowds don't dig a sax band? It’s actually the exact opposite. They know all those classic hits—even the international ones—that really take people back to their glory days.

Robin Chase7 said:Well, I guess it really just depends on what you’re looking for and what your specific taste is,
The bouquet itself usually runs about $167
And if you want those arrangements for the church, you’re probably looking at somewhere between $200 and $167, and honestly, the car decor is pretty much the same thing
As for the table settings, those start at $6.75 and go up from there, and the pew decorations follow that same kind of pricing
Personally, I just gave them a maximum number that I was comfortable with, paid a deposit upfront, and let them know which flowers I generally liked, basically telling them to just work their magic, though the contract does mention that the final price could fluctuate by maybe another 10 percent

Just for comparison...

I hired a high-end florist who actually surprised me with how reasonable the initial quote was. I don't have the exact final breakdown yet, but the package included the bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, car decor, our bouquet, two bouquets for the wedding party, a toss bouquet, and full hall decor—about 35 large centerpieces plus the head table. I also rented bar stools and chairs, a balloon arch for the house, and helium balloons for the buffet area. Everything featured roses, lilies, organza, ivy, and candles... all for $1000. She mentioned the price might shift by about $100-$$67 depending on market rates for flowers, but nothing more than that.

I'm happy with the choice. I think they'll do a great job since I was very specific and brought plenty of reference photos. It’s hard to go wrong when you provide a clear vision.

frozenangler87 said:No way! I was actually just there two weeks ago and they told me the exact same thing! It’s right near those coffee shops, too, in the first section. Hmm... Hmm.... 🤷

Prices there tend to fluctuate depending on the day of the week. It’s more expensive on weekends or during holidays, but they drop them on weekdays. At least, that's my experience. So, the price changes aren't really surprising at all.

Harold Hayes9 said:maza116, what’s the deal? You aren't a fan of that hall??? Seriously... my mother-in-law and my groom wouldn't even suggest it to me.... our only options left are the hall at Hotel Blaz and that LEA venue out in Malibu...... so yeah, I wouldn't do Hotel Blaz either..... wait, actually, I went to check it out myself. They just repainted everything yellow like ten days ago, and the owner showed us around the kitchen and the walk-in fridge—everything was so clean and spotless.... plus the bathrooms were great...🙂 maybe he just finished the renovations, or maybe you haven't been there in a while? I was just there a week ago and it looks gorgeous, totally fresh since they painted.... I actually have a photo..... not sure if we're allowed to post pictures here though....

Well, it's one thing if you didn't have much choice because of the date and other venues being booked...
I was in that hall last summer, the last time I visited, and it was also painted yellow, just like it was five or six years ago. There were even those sunflower pictures on the walls... I suppose some people might like that. About two years ago, there was a shooting during a wedding reception there. Word is some thieves tried to rob someone through the kitchen, and the owner pulled a gun, just like the robbers did, and things went south. I heard there were injuries. I don't think there are a hundred halls in Miami Beach; I assume we're talking about the same place. But fine, as far as the food goes, it's decent.

Harold Hayes9 — I’ve been to that venue near the outskirts of town for weddings a few times and... how can I put this... I’d give $100 per chair to an Admiral just to avoid hosting a wedding there. It’s all subjective, much like your take on Tiffany & Co. Personally, I was thrilled with them. Out of all the bridal boutiques I’ve checked out across the Midwest—and I’ve seen them all (okay, I haven't been to the one in Indianapolis, but the girls at the one in VK are phenomenal, service and everything)
Regarding flowers, I’d recommend a heavy hitter from the local florist in suburban Ohio, not the one from Jarmine)

And it might not be a bad idea to take Mayo’s advice.

Olivia Gomez2 said:I mean, what does "cracked foundation" even mean? I know my way around cosmetics and makeup pretty well, but I've never actually heard that term used before...

Maybe it was some kind of glass or ceramic-based powder... 😂

frozenangler87 said:Does anyone have a recommendation for a solid hair salon in Indianapolis? I'm looking for something other than Style or Douglas!
Also, I was wondering how far in advance I should probably book an appointment!

Same here...

Anybody got leads? 🤷

Thanks, anamaria0811. I'll look into some of those spots you mentioned; they hadn't even crossed my mind.

frozenangler87 said:I'm trying to brainstorm some cool interior spots that would look good for a painting, but honestly... I'm totally stumped. Like, nothing is coming to mind at all!
Everything feels way more focused on the outdoors lately! 🤷

True... other parts of the country have amazing spots for painting. In places like New England, almost every town has a beautiful manicured estate. Down south or along the coast, you've got those historic forts, old cities, and museums. But out here in the Midwest, it's just fields, woods, pumpkins, a creek, or a river. That's really it.

cosmictiger67 Asks:
Mark Nguyen11My dear friend is from Des Moines. He says the castle looks beautiful on the outside, but the interior is a total letdown. 🤷

Well... where am I even supposed to take a photo now?

Are you all actually planning on taking photos?

I have one big question...

Basically, I’m completely lost on where we should go for our wedding photos. I’m actually considering doing a session a few days before the big day for two reasons: first, it gives us more breathing room on the actual wedding day, and second, it allows us to travel somewhere a bit further out. But I just don't know where to go...

Can anyone recommend some great photo locations in the Midwest? I'm from near the LLC area, but I'm open to traveling further afield. Honestly, I'm leaning toward indoor settings—think castles, museums, galleries, or anything with decent scenery that could serve as a good backdrop.

I was even thinking about heading out to Des Moines to shoot at that beautiful castle there. Does anyone happen to know if they allow photography there, and how the process works?

Carl Clark said:Quick question about baking. ☕
Where I live, it’s common for family to drop off all the ingredients—margarine, chocolate, the whole works—for my parents to make cakes. Does anyone know an auntie with a registered small business or something similar so we don't get slapped by the health inspectors, because god knows we’re a bit too naive for our own good, 🤣 or maybe a local bakery that would work with us on pricing based on what we provide? The ones around here aren't licensed; they're all just operating under the table

Maybe I shouldn't be posting this, but here goes...

That's mostly how it works. You pay for a portion of the cakes on the receipt—those are the ones served in the hall and such—while the rest is made at home or by someone working off the books using those ingredients people brought you (these cakes are usually served at home and handed out to family later). If an inspector ever shows up, you have a receipt for the cakes, and nobody is going to come counting individual pieces to see if there's exactly as many as the receipt says.

frozenangler87 said:I've tried them too, and they were fine until I found out how they actually operate. Now that I know what kind of stuff they're putting in there, I probably wouldn't eat them again..
Same goes for Figaro, which is super hyped up in Indianapolis, but it's total garbage. They actually served old, frozen pastries at a recent wedding, and once they got to the venue, people noticed they were starting to mold, so they ended up not even putting them out on the tables!
So yeah, a reputation doesn't always mean quality! And I'm not complaining about Boss just because he's the boss. As for his quality, the fact that he's slowly closing down his shops speaks for itself.
That's just my two cents!

Never heard of that Figaro place... 🤷

frozenangler87 said:Honestly, I'd probably just bake the cake myself rather than buy it from Bos!
I'm not saying it didn't look pretty or anything, but I just can't get behind the quality of Bos and his stuff again...

I don't want to get into a debate about Bos's stores or him personally, but their cakes and pastries really are good. I've been convinced more than once... (and if you ask me, that's due to the women making them, not him). Personally, I like that the sweets are actually well-made, unlike most store-bought stuff that's just pure sugar. I suppose tastes differ on that point, but when it comes to the actual quality of the cakes and pastries, I don't think anyone can find fault with them. People can say what they want...

user said:Basically—the guy is absolutely insane and fun to the extreme!!!!

Fun????

hmmm 😕

frozenangler87 said:So, how are you guys planning on handling wedding invites? Like, who are you actually bringing along with you?
How are you even approaching the whole family invite thing? Are you going with your partner, your best man/maid of honor, or maybe your parents...???

I guess I’m thinking about inviting my relatives with either my cousin or my maid of honor, and then probably bringing either my dad or my mom along, and then obviously my friends and godparents will be there with me and my partner???

It’s definitely not following the old-school traditions, but I honestly don't know any other way to pull this off!!!

My partner and I just went and invited the wedding party ourselves, same as we did with our friends. For family, everyone went with their own people—some of my parents might even go on their own without me, sometimes I went solo, or we sent out mailers... stuff like that.
Honestly, I think it doesn't matter much. As long as everyone gets an invite, it's fine.