Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Does anyone have any recommendations for some good folk musicians or a live band to provide background music? 😁

Olivia Gomez2 said:Yeah, I feel like that’s mostly just a thing people do out in the Midwest—some folks go all out, while others just hand out simple invitations. Personally, I think this whole idea is pretty cool...
Oh, right—I totally blanked on the flag, thanks for pointing that out! I didn't realize you could just stick to one type of drink, which honestly makes things so much easier. I was picturing a bottle of bourbon with some gold filigree or maybe some lace detailing—nothing too over-the-top, though. Usually, when people have invited us over like this before, they’d show up with a basket filled with two or three different kinds of spirits, along with those little tasting glasses...
But yeah, if there's a larger group, then we're looking at bourbon, cherry brandy, and maybe some wine...
Thanks, ladies!

We used to bring whiskey, cherry brandy, and chocolate liqueur! 🤣 Everyone ended up drinking the liqueur! 👍

Olivia Gomez2 Asks:
Hey ladies, quick question for you. We’re about to start making our rounds for the door-to-door visits soon, and we’ll be carrying that gift basket along with us. I’m a bit stuck on what actually goes inside. Should we stick to the classics like bourbon or maybe some cherry brandy? What are you all thinking?🤷
Is there actually a set order for sending out invitations, or do we have to prioritize the best man and maid of honor first?

We used to carry around both bourbon and wine. It was a predictable ritual. The men would almost always toast with their bourbon, while the women stuck to wine.

Betty Foster8 said:😲 I don't know a single person who drinks red wine 🤷
around here it's strictly white; you might see some red if someone's got a homemade batch 😕

Anyway, over here we talk about industry standards, so you might want to do some digging

I guess I'm not sure... I see someone had a similar standard before. The difference is really just the liqueur and the bourbon. Basically, when we were checking things out at the camp, Amazon was the one that showed up like this. People probably know because everyone buys from them!
Oh well! 🤷

Around here, you’re expected to show up with some whiskey or wine—and honestly, if you can swing both a red and a white, even better.
If you want to go all out, bring some decorated bottles or those little little decorative caps, but if you're feeling lazy, just grab some patriotic bunting to spruce things up.

Raise a glass to the newlyweds! You can stick to the old-school way and take a swig straight from the bottle, or if you’ve become one of those picky modern types, just ask the host for some glasses and pour yourself a drink properly.

A single liter should be plenty to cover the whole wedding party since most people are just sipping for the sake of tradition anyway.

Olivia Gomez2 said:Hey ladies, I have a quick question for you all: we’re starting our visits soon and we'll be bringing along those gift baskets, so I’m a little unsure about what actually goes inside... should it be bourbon, cherry brandy, maybe some other spirits?🤷
Is there a specific order we should follow when making the rounds—like, do we need to visit the godparents first?

Yeah, first you have to give it to the best man. That’s non-negotiable.

Around here, people usually bring bourbon—specifically the good stuff meant for the wedding reception. It’s like a preview for the guests. Everyone shares from the same bottle, too. I know, I know, it's alcohol, but we always make sure everything is sanitized first. Usually, it comes in a decorative flask. If you can, bring extra to top off. We had to sprint back home just to refill a bottle after visiting the second house, and by the third stop, we could barely walk. That's what happens when everyone wants a heavy pour and the whiskey is actually decent. 😂

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!!!

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.

There aren't really any set rules here—it's more about whatever feels right to you!
I tend to bring my whole crew along to everything—family, close friends, everyone...

fadedgardener said:For Studio 54, I heard the starting price for this year is around 11 $0.00.

It's true... we actually booked them for October 8th!!!!
And honestly, I don't even regret spending the money. 😍

Jesse Morgan73 said:It's true... we actually booked them for October 8th!!!!
And honestly, I don't even regret spending the money. 😍

I actually put my reservation in a few months back. They quoted me $11,000, but said if I wanted their full photo album included, it would be $12,000. Did you guys get some kind of official confirmation or anything, since they aren't asking for a deposit upfront?

I’m new here, so I have a quick question about bridal shops in Pittsburgh. I heard there’s one over by the local colony that carries dresses for $500, and I was wondering if anyone knows the name, address, phone number, email, or anything else about it... Also, for those who have checked out venues in Pittsburgh or the surrounding areas—which one is the most budget-friendly for a guest list of 150-200?

I ended up booking a hall in a small town near Pittsburgh—it's called the Patricia Wedding Hall. Some people call it "The Tin Shed" because of the roofing, but honestly, the inside is gorgeous and really spacious. I’m hosting 180 guests and the pricing is actually great. I think their base menu starts around $25 per person, though that obviously changes depending on what extras you add... definitely worth checking out though. They include table decor and flowers for every table except the head table, plus the wedding cake and desserts are all covered. Even all the drinks and alcohol, and even the chair covers... definitely give them a call.

Robert Moore86 said:I ended up booking a hall in a small town near Pittsburgh—it's called the Patricia Wedding Hall. Some people call it "The Tin Shed" because of the roofing, but honestly, the inside is gorgeous and really spacious. I’m hosting 180 guests and the pricing is actually great. I think their base menu starts around $25 per person, though that obviously changes depending on what extras you add... definitely worth checking out though. They include table decor and flowers for every table except the head table, plus the wedding cake and desserts are all covered. Even all the drinks and alcohol, and even the chair covers... definitely give them a call.

Thanks! I actually attended a wedding there once. The venue itself looked lovely, but since that group was much larger than yours, it felt a bit cramped when people were trying to move around. For your guest count, though, you'll have plenty of room to breathe.

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

Fun????

hmmm 😕

Does anyone happen to know a baker who makes truly, exceptionally stunning wedding cakes? I was originally thinking about picking up some pastries from a place in a Small Town, USA, but I have to admit, I wasn’t exactly blown away by the look of their wedding cakes. I suppose I'm looking for someone who is a genuine wizard when it comes to cake design. Thanks!

Keira, you really ought to take a look at this: http://dundoslastice.com/index.php
They are located right over in the Suburban Neighborhood.
I have personally ordered everything from individual pastries to full cakes and even wedding tiers from them, and they truly are stunning; besides, every single guest I've ever had has raved about how delicious they taste. 😉

cosmictiger67 said:Keira, you really ought to take a look at this: http://dundoslastice.com/index.php
They are located right over in the Suburban Neighborhood.
I have personally ordered everything from individual pastries to full cakes and even wedding tiers from them, and they truly are stunning; besides, every single guest I've ever had has raved about how delicious they taste. 😉

Thanks for the tip, I guess I'll look around a bit more—hopefully something turns up!!! I heard about this guy who makes cakes; he’s actually a chef over at the Hilton in Chicago, but baking is just his hobby. I think his name is Robert and he lives somewhere down South, so I was wondering if anyone here has ever heard anything about him!!!

Jesse Morgan73 said:Does anyone happen to know a baker who makes truly, exceptionally stunning wedding cakes? I was originally thinking about picking up some pastries from a place in a Small Town, USA, but I have to admit, I wasn’t exactly blown away by the look of their wedding cakes. I suppose I'm looking for someone who is a genuine wizard when it comes to cake design. Thanks!

Not sure where you're located, but we were told to go to Sweetie in St. Louis for our cake! 🙂

Does anyone else in the Midwest know a Sweetie, or is there only one famous one out in Philadelphia?

My future mother-in-law is the designated baker in the family, and she keeps hearing everyone rave about Sweetie... so I figured I'd check here and see what you guys think! 😁