Posts by coastalbadger86

Hey ladies... We’re all officially in that frantic pre-wedding warm-up phase, aren't we? Honestly, the bridal expo in Indianapolis this year was a total letdown. I mean, don't get me wrong, we actually managed to score our rings at a great price over at Sardoniks Jewelry—seriously, major props to them for the service and the deals! But everything else? Just depressing and underwhelming. We mostly showed up hoping to find some decent cakes and pastries since we've already checked most of the big stuff off our list, but man, it was a bust. The treats from Grandma's Ridge looked decent enough, but now I'm wondering—has anyone here actually ordered a wedding cake or dessert spread from them?
Oh, and while I have you, does anyone know anything about hall decor? I'm looking at hiring Iris from Ivankov for the floral arrangements, but I was wondering if any of you girls who used her recently—or maybe even before the rush started—know what she charges for candle rentals?

casualbison8 said:There is this younger guy named John who is honestly great. The only real details I can give you are that his name is John and he's tall with dark hair, so I'm not being much help there. He's quite fun to be around, very laid back, and best of all, he really knows how to keep everything under control.

Haha, well, hold on—my future husband better be a John! Tall, dark, and handsome? Sadly, he hasn't popped up yet! 😂
But seriously, that's exactly the kind of guy I need. You basically just described my dream man... 😁
Johnnnnnnn, where are you hiding?! 😁 😁 Seriously though, someone get me his info or something...

Ladies, does anyone have a recommendation for a decent tea that isn't way too heavy? 😁 Honestly, I feel like I’m going to lose my mind. I really wanted to avoid this, but apparently, it's just how things are... especially with this sweltering heatwave hitting the greater Indianapolis area! 😉

Andrew Hill4 said:Ladies, I need some help here! :-) Does anyone know any good musicians near Vincennes who can play? My only requirement is that they can handle modern pop hits too! :-)

You should check out the Coca-Cola band from Old Charleston... 🙂
We hired them for a year-long gig, and honestly, those guys are incredible—they can play absolutely anything you throw at them! 😁

Alexander Rodriguez2 said:Hey everyone,

So, I'm a future bride here, and honestly, I'm struggling so much with picking a photographer.
Artis, my top choices are already booked for our date 😢

Right now, I'm just gathering quotes, so I've sent emails over to Marina Franov, Emina Janković, Danijel Soldo, and Andrew Car.

Does anyone have other suggestions??
I'd also love to hear about your own experiences or what you think of the ones I mentioned.

We ended up booking Marina Franov for next year... 🙏 Honestly, this guy is a total genius. We went with him based on a recommendation too, and once we actually sat down to meet him—we were blown away! His photos are incredible, and the video work is top-tier. He is 100% dedicated to the couple and making sure their vision comes to life. I can't recommend him enough. I am seriously counting down the days until our shoot! 😁

Hey everyone, I could really use some help here... Does anyone know of a folk ensemble that performs both traditional string music and vocal harmonies? I think I saw someone mentioning a group from the Savannah area on a forum once, but I need the actual details—specifically the band's name and how to get in touch with them... 🙂

Ladies, does anyone happen to know where I can track down some Orangina bottles to repurpose for my homemade spirits? I’ve been searching everywhere but have zero luck. I need about 30 of them... 🙂

silentraven18 said: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...

Look, everyone has their own vision and their own taste, so there's no telling... personally, I think people might be overhyping the decline, but it seems like that band has definitely hit a plateau, even though they were one of the better groups I've ever heard... These days, folk bands are making more of a comeback, but honestly, if someone plays traditional folk music all night long, it just doesn't make sense to me—it's all about preference and what you agree on beforehand. For the money I'm paying, I want them singing without stopping, and I don't want to see them drinking or snacking on the job... 🤣 🤣

graniteridge6 said:BlackRock went for $1,500 (for now 😁), and the latest news is they recently started looking for a female vocalist—though I'm not entirely sure if they've found her yet—so they might be an even "upgraded" version soon 🙂. They're playing mine in a year, but honestly, I didn't have to think twice once I heard them; they were exactly what we both were hunting for. 👍

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 😁.

Kevin Smith7 said:Greetings,

Does anyone happen to know where I might be able to rent some long bar tables, chairs, and tablecloths? I am looking to host something at my house here in the VK-ZU area.

Thank you!

Check out Vigus, or maybe go see Jack over in Ivankov... honestly, Jack usually gives much better deals! 😁

Paul Fisher34 said:So, look, I actually sat down for consultations with both the crew from Pittsburgh and Iris... and I ended up going with Iris. Honestly? For the exact same budget, you get way more bang for your buck with Iris than you do with those Pittsburgh girls. I haven't actually seen their work in action yet since my wedding is in three weeks 🙂 but I've heard nothing but amazing things about them and seen their portfolio. I know people rave about Jaku too, but honestly, I didn't even bother trying to book her because I jumped on Iris immediately. 🙂

Once the wedding is over, please let us know how it went!🙂 I still have plenty of time to weigh my options,😉 but I've been looking at her portfolio and her work is stunning. I also heard about Fantasy Floral Atelier out in the Midwest—though I have no clue what their pricing looks like lately since everyone seems to have a different story to tell. Anyway, definitely report back after the big day! Good luck!🙂

Hey everyone! I’ve been scrolling through the forums for a bit, and I’m curious—who are you all using for your flower girls? Are there any good options in Columbus, Indianapolis, or the surrounding areas? I was reading some stuff about those girls out of Pittsburgh, specifically the ones from Iris Ivankov... what have your experiences been like with them? 🙂