Posts by Ethan Wilson94

If you need hair and makeup done, StudioChic is the gold standard. For wedding bands, go see Luka over at the UL in the Republic.

Henry Harris5 said:Hey everyone,
Does anyone have some good recommendations for florists in Indianapolis or the surrounding areas?
I’d love to hear what kind of flowers or decor you guys went with for your big day, and more importantly, what kind of damage it did to your budget....

I DIY'ed everything—glass vases, decorations, candles, pebbles, bows, tulle, table runners, even those little bottle stoppers, plus some artificial flowers. Total cost came to about $600, and I'm dropping another 750 on the florist for the bouquet, boutonnieres, and church arrangements.

casualjackal20 said:Hey everyone—does anyone know if that little shop over in Canada near the border is still open? I’m looking for wedding decor—you know, things like cheap ribbons, organza, bows, and that sort of stuff. People usually suggest making DIY decorations for the aisle, but honestly, traveling all the way out there feels like a bit much.

I went to the corridor area and found absolutely nothing. But in Harkany? I found everything. There's a street right across from the market; take the second shop on the right. They've got plastic bins and stuff outside, but inside, they have everything you could possibly need. And everything is half the price of what we pay here.

By the way, my wedding is in two weeks, so I'll be selling my vases and anything else worth keeping. If anyone's interested, I'll post pictures of how I set up the hall.

Just a heads-up: the florist would've charged me around $1167 for what I wanted, but doing it this way is costing me $333. If I sell the vases, it'll be even cheaper. It's definitely worth doing it yourself because local florists are outrageously expensive. The only thing is, I'm using artificial flowers, and I know some people insist on strictly real ones.

Nicole Hill35 said:I had my event at Smith recently, and I couldn't be happier. There was way too much food—maybe it was the menu, but we ended up with a mountain of leftovers the next day. Almost everyone complained they couldn't try everything because there was just so much. They kept refilling everything constantly. I didn't eat many sweets, just a couple of kinds, but they tasted homemade. Their desserts are made by Sweetie from Ruscic, and in my opinion, they're worth every penny.
For me, Smith isn't just about a pretty venue; everything else was solid. The servers were lightning-fast and helpful, and things like different types of pizza were already included in the price. Food, desserts... it's all covered.

If I ever get married again 🤣, I'd definitely have the reception 🙂 there.

See? You can't trust anyone in the end. I've had pastries from Ruscica and they are seriously the best. Who knows, maybe when she wasn't there, they weren't the ones baking for the hall anymore. She mentioned she talked to a few other people about the desserts too; it wasn't just her opinion that they were bad.

Then again, nobody is going to say their own wedding food was bad or that they ran out of food. Plus, guests vary—everyone has different tastes and cravings.

The best move is to go somewhere you've vetted yourself. Everyone knows what they want, and everyone wants something different. I didn't listen to a soul when planning my wedding; I picked everything based on my own gut. We'll see how it turns out, haha 🙂

ruggedsailor said:Everyone keeps raving about Studio Chic (pretty sure that’s the name). I’m just starting my search, so I don't have a clue about pricing or anything yet—just out here gathering intel and reading reviews...

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on the Glass salon? Couldn't find anything about them on the previous pages.

I saw some work from that girl over at Chic Studio on Facebook, and honestly? It’s killer. Her makeup looks incredible in her photos, too.

I've heard Glasser is top-tier when it comes to service and food, but honestly? They’re probably not your go-to if you aren't hosting a massive wedding.

Olivia Thompson7 said:Quote:>

TaylorSwift says: Morning, ladies, I'm new here, so I was hoping you could give me some advice. We’re planning a wedding for next year, and honestly, we’re feeling pretty lost—we don't even know where to start. Just throwing ideas out there. I need recommendations for a decent restaurant or a banquet hall in the Des Moines/Cleveland area that can accommodate about 400-450 guests. Ideally, we'd prefer something on the TaylorSwift side of things. We’ve heard about the Sarah venue and the Smith catering service, but I haven't actually visited either. Also looking for a good band with a solid repertoire, a florist... stuff like that. Thanks in advance!🙂

Regarding the Cleveland area—the Smith and Crystal venues are plenty large enough for a crowd that size. They both have their own websites where you can check out the layouts, addresses, contact info, and everything else you'll need.

My cousin went to Smith's for her event and she was totally unimpressed. Apparently, the food portions were tiny, even though they charged extra for dessert—and she said those desserts were garbage. Just pure sugar and margarine. The hall itself is nice, but that's about it. On the other hand, Crystal—at least the one in Indianapolis—is a fantastic venue. I've heard nothing but good things, and it's pretty popular. Plus, the young director there is actually reasonable to work with.

Where do you guys grab your sweets? Does anyone know if the pastries from Evin in Valpovo are actually any good? I found them online, but we have zero clue what to expect.

Check out Inch Photography and Click Photography from Savannah. They both have Facebook pages where you can browse their work. Regarding Click, I’ve actually done some shoots there myself and caught the guy putting together a wedding album—the shots were honestly stunning. They opened back in 2010, so their gear is still pretty modern, which matters, and since they aren't some legacy studio with decades of overhead, I don't think they're overpriced. As for Inch, I've heard good things, but I haven't personally worked with them yet.

Matthew Brown76 said:Thanks! 😁 Honestly, none of my massive extended family have gotten married there, so I'm flying blind. Most of them used venues in Greencreek or the Hotel Indianapolis, but neither really hit the mark for me. Greencreek just had a weird vibe, and the Hotel Indianapolis had issues with the hall—low ceilings, awkward layout, all that jazz 🙂
Since I'm a musician, the Acoustics are a huge deal for me. I need them to be top-tier 🙂)
That sounds great, which means I should probably put down a deposit ASAP.
One more thing: would it be incredibly rude to just swing by someone else's wedding for five minutes just to see the setup? Would the bride and groom find that annoying?

Well, Crystal Dynamics has some pretty low ceilings too, but apparently, that’s actually great for live music. At least, that's what our local bands told me.

Showing up uninvited isn't exactly standard procedure. Personally, I'd be annoyed if people did that at my wedding. 😁 Just hunt down some videos or photos online. 🙂 Or just ask the guy you're booking through; he seems like a decent dude. 🙂

swiftraven59 said:Oh, thanks 🙂...but real talk, how early or late is too late to start looking? My wedding is in 14 months, and I'm wondering if it's too soon to start hitting the shops. Also, did the lady at La Sposi or the other boutiques mention what happens if you pick a gown from this year's collection? I assume they'll rent it to others too, so what happens if I come to pick mine up and some girl returned it in bad shape? It feels like a long time to expect them to hold onto a dress just for me...

Look, I think you're jumping the gun if you go this early, but hey, some brides just can't help themselves. Personally? I’d say aim for about a year to nine months out. I’ve got my wedding coming up in nine months, and every bridal boutique I've visited told me that while I wasn't exactly cutting it close, I definitely could have started the process sooner. It really depends on which shop you're hitting up. Like I said before, at Stephanie’s, you definitely want to get in there earlier.

I wasn't even asking about the dress getting worn out. My guests aren't exactly going to be tearing it apart anytime soon, though I guess that's always a gamble. A woman told me a horror story about her experience at Nicholas's boutique—she was just a week away from the wedding and her dress still hadn't arrived in Indianapolis from St. Louis. It’s a total lottery. Honestly, it also depends on the fabric you pick; some materials show wear much worse than others. And obviously, you want something newer. You can't beat an old, used gown like you can a fresh one. 🙂

Matthew Brown76 said:Hey everyone. Big news—I’m getting married! Apparently, telling my entire extended family wasn't enough, so now I have to share it here too, even though I don't really know anyone in this group yet. 😁
Quick question: what’s the vibe like in the Crystal Ballroom? Also, does anyone happen to know if they have any openings for June 2013? 🙂 Thanks.

Congrats. 😁 Look, there might be one or two openings left for June. Back when we used to do this every year, we’d only see one single slot available for September. May and June are prime wedding months—it's always a scramble. 🙂 Hurry the lard. 🙂 The venue is killer. 🙂 Hands down one of the best acoustics I've ever heard in a hall.

swiftraven59 said:I might have missed this already, but I don't want to scroll through every single thread—could you guys share your experiences with La Sposa in Indianapolis?

I dropped in the other day. Got greeted by this young, sweet girl without even an appointment. She let me browse on my own terms, then once she caught my vibe, she brought over a huge pile of dresses. Really pleasant. She didn't nag me to pick something specific and wouldn't try to sell me a dress that clearly wasn't my style just to close a deal. Super sweet, and she actually listens to you instead of pushing junk on you like those other boutiques 😁

Look, I didn't pull the trigger on a final dress there, but they seriously have some beautiful pieces. 🙂

I went for the first time this week. Hit up every bridal shop in Indy over two days and honestly? My experience was stellar. All the ladies at every shop were great and really trying. In my opinion, the best service is at Stephanie's. Their gowns are miles ahead of everyone else, but you need to get there early because they won't let you touch any dresses that some other bride has already put a deposit on. Basically, if you grab something from the new collection, you're the first one wearing it, and they guarantee nobody else gets to try it on. I know this firsthand because while I was still debating, the lady called me the next day to ask if she could show that exact dress to another woman booked for the same slot. I didn't end up buying that specific one, but I highly recommend them. The staff even stayed late because I showed up right at closing time to try things on. They’re top-tier. Most gorgeous, most elaborate, most pristine dresses ever—just phenomenal. If I hadn't shown up so late, I would've bought one right then and there. But since they wouldn't let me try the ones already reserved, my options were pretty limited.

Look, if this helps anyone out, I stopped by Nicholas's place today. The lady there is incredibly sweet—super chatty, patient, and just genuinely lovely. If you change your mind about your wedding dress, they let you swap it for another one anytime right up until the big day. Their most expensive gown is $1667, and they offer some really solid discounts too. All in all, a great experience.

rustyheron7 said:Hey there.
Can someone give me the lowdown on The Dave Brubeck Quartet?
From what I’ve been watching in these clips, they look absolutely incredible to me.
What's the vibe like during their sets—do they take many breaks, and how is the overall atmosphere?
Thanks.😉

Two years ago, they only took breaks for dinner—first and second courses. Other than that, they play non-stop, and honestly, they're pretty solid. As for the price, I think it was around $1,300 or $1,400, but I'm not 100% sure.

Regarding that General Electric band, I've caught them at a few weddings and they’re solid, but they tend to take way too many breaks.

Hey, do they charge extra for printing or is everything included in the price?
Thanks 🙂

Anyone know where I can find the cheapest place for invitations? I just want something super basic, but I really don't have the patience to DIY them myself.

Anthony Hall83 said:Regarding the floral arrangements, I actually swung by the flower market in Indianapolis recently, and one of the vendors there mentioned that they all run their own independent businesses and handle wedding contracts as well. For twenty-five tall daisy vases, a bridal table setup, the bouquet, boutonnieres, and two church arrangements, we're looking at roughly $833. Honestly, I think that’s quite a steal!

Not really that much. Did you forget to include the car decorations, or is that not part of the deal?

Taylor Kelly2 said:Where are you based? And more importantly—what kind of flowers are you dreaming of for the wedding?

I'm near Indianapolis. Honestly, I don't know the first thing about floral arrangements, and I haven't bothered to check what's actually in season. I was just thinking something classic—roses, maybe some carnations if they have them. For the venue decor, I pictured those tall martini glasses with candles inside and maybe a single rose tucked in there. Nothing fancy. My main issue is that I have zero clue about pricing. Like, what does $3,000 actually get me? Nobody online lists prices, and frankly, I'm too lazy to go door-to-door checking every shop in town. 😁

Jack Lee5 said:Arizona or that corridor area... you know, that massive market district... they have everything there from a needle to a locomotive.

My man is going to be hunting for his suit at Martin Arbanas because he needs sleeves that are twice the standard length—and he doesn't even know what color he wants yet. He's leaning toward a high-shine black, though; that's his dream look. 😁

So that's basically what the corridor is. Didn't know that, thanks 🙂

Still waiting on a florist recommendation 😁 Max $1000. Haven't even had the chance to ask around yet. And how early did you guys go wedding dress shopping? I'm getting married in September and haven't even stepped foot in a bridal boutique yet.

I still haven't figured out where I'm going to pick up flowers and stuff. Nobody is giving me any decent recommendations, and I have zero clue what prices are looking like lately. I’m trying to keep it under $1000. Is there anywhere in Indianapolis running any sales right now?

Jack Lee5 said:Just wanted to drop a quick note to say... if you're in Arizona, you can find absolutely everything. Seriously, you can pick up every single wedding essential under the sun—whatever your heart desires is right there. I practically bought out half the store myself. We’re talking wide ribbons, thin ones, bows, fabric for the flower girls, cookie boxes, all sorts of decorative trimmings... honestly, even if they don't have a specific item in stock, they'll just 😁
for you.

Where on earth is this Arizona located?

Where are you guys looking for groom suits? We checked out Galileo, and while they have some decent options, nothing really stands out. Plus, there isn't anything affordable $667. We’re debating if he should go with a matte suit instead of those super shiny, silky formal ones, since he won't be able to wear those anywhere else later. What do you all think?

Anyone have any idea what the general price range is at Stephanie? I heard their most expensive gown is $1667 for a first-time rental—not sure if that's actually true. Is $1667 way too much for a wedding dress?