Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Andrew Lee15 said:Yeah, that’s definitely the move—I think they even offer trial runs there. My godmother couldn't do it during the week since she lives in NYC, so she swung by on Friday to set everything up for a Saturday hair session. It's gonna be sweet, haha.
There you go...
Ugh, me and my hair drama—can't even pick a date, let alone decide on a style!🙂 😂
Hey!😁

🤣 Same here. I spent forever looking at options before finally just picking a date.🙂

Since everything is already behind us, I feel like I can actually give you some honest recommendations based on our experience
We held our reception at a big venue in rural Pennsylvania, but since we just rented the hall itself, I can't really speak to the catering menu, though I think the cost started around $60 per person and went up from there
The rental included chair covers and two guest rooms for overnight stays, and the hall rental itself was roughly $33
Personally, I was pretty happy with how everything turned out; the only real downside was that it got incredibly hot inside, but that might have been because we were packed to the rafters with 400 people, so it was tough to keep things cool

As for the music, we had this saxophone band called VK play for us
When we were booking them, their price was 1250 euros without any extra accompaniment, but if you want the full setup, it'll be another 150 euros
They didn't play any old-school country hits—we actually cut out artists like Garth Brooks or Alan Jackson—and honestly, the guys did such an incredible job that it felt more like being at a live concert

Our photographer was Ivan Mijic, who is originally from Pittsburgh but is studying in New York, so if you're in that area, you should definitely try to connect with him
We haven't actually received the photos or the video yet, so I won't go into too much detail, but he definitely has a very modern style
His total fee for both photo and video was $2867, though keep in mind that thank-you gifts are extra

The floral arrangements were done by an exclusive wedding decorator from El Paso, and the girls did a decent enough job, I guess
I wasn't exactly blown away by my bouquet, and to make matters worse, when it came time to settle the bill, they charged me $143 in travel expenses that nobody had even mentioned during the initial pricing discussion. It probably happened because I used a gift voucher they gave me worth $167, so they likely used that as an excuse to charge me. Plus, I actually had to drive to a restaurant about 12 miles away from my house just to pick up the bouquet because they couldn't figure out how to get off the highway when they were supposed to deliver it

The desserts and the cake were from Babina Greda, and I have nothing but praise for them

My hair was done by a stylist from the Midwest, and for makeup, I ended up going to Sujeda because that famous Victoria person didn't respond or show up on the wedding day

So, that's all I have to share! If I can help with anything else, please just send me a private message

Nicole Hill35 said:I know where Martimex is, I'll swing by sometime to check it out.

I ruled out Studio BB immediately. I went once and the vibe was just completely off, 🤷

I need to do some digging. I've been putting it off forever, acting like I have all the time in the world. 🙂

So, I went to see Albert for my hair and honestly? I was so happy with the results! I go there pretty regularly, but I specifically look for him. He did both me and my bestie, and he was super quick, gave us exactly the look we wanted, and it didn't break the bank either. So yeah, highly recommend him.
Right after that, I headed over to the villa at Martimex to get my makeup done, and seriously, total thumbs up for them too! 👍

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?

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?

velvetcanyon4, my advice: just head straight to the big discount stores and ask them. That’s how you’ll get the real deal—grab price lists from three or four places, decide, and call it a day. We picked ours up in Memphis, so I can't be more specific than that.

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.

Now that our big day is finally over, I’ve got some serious recommendations for everyone!!!
The Classic venue was incredible—the chefs pulled off a world-class dinner, and the servers were total pros, immediately jumping on board when I suggested rearranging the room layout (based on Noah's idea).
The flowers were done by the Wedding Decor crew from Memphis. They killed it. The second I saw those little bouquets for the flower girls, I knew my own bouquet would be flawless. And it was
Noah was our Photographer—I don't even need to say much about him, just that he is worth every single penny 🙏 🙏!!! His crew is absolutely insane and I’m honestly thinking I'll have to hire him again for something else!!!
Quattro band—hands down the best band ever!!! They set such an amazing vibe; we had a blast, and all our guests did too. A real band for a real party!!! 🙂
My hairstylist did a stunning job—Mattea from Studio L in Chester!
Victoria was perfect—twice!! Seriously, she came out on Friday to do my makeup, and then again on Monday for the photo shoot!! I am officially done trying to do my own makeup for formal events!!!

Let me just provide a quick summary of everything that went down. Our reception was held at the Marriott downtown, and honestly, I have nothing but praise for how perfectly everything was executed. Every single guest was thrilled with both the food and the service, not to mention how stunning the ballroom looked.

We had a Saxophone Band from VK perform. These guys were fantastic; most importantly, they didn't play any cheesy wedding classics. We tailored the setlist to our specific tastes by cutting out anything we weren't interested in hearing. For the most part, the dance floor stayed packed until 5 AM 🙂, and everyone—from the kids to the grandparents—had an absolute blast.

The floral arrangements were handled by the team over at Exclusive Memphis, and frankly, I’m quite disappointed. My bouquet was literally wilting by the time I received it, let alone the boutonnieres which were falling apart, or the ribbon colors which bore absolutely no resemblance to the actual flowers. To top it off, the final bill ended up being $100 higher than what we initially agreed upon, but I was so exhausted by their incompetence that I didn't even have the energy to argue with them. I certainly wouldn't hire them again; it seems like they've lost their touch, perhaps because they're spread too thin or something. I have no idea why my bouquet cost $233, but fine... I'll just put it behind me.

I had my Wedding Dress custom-made at La Sposa in the Midwest, and that was easily the highlight of my day. For anyone debating between renting versus having something custom-made, my advice is to go with a proven professional for tailoring. When you see your brand-new, pristine gown sitting next to those rental dresses that are masquerading as "first-wear," you can't help but smile to yourself. The difference in color vibrancy and material quality is simply incomparable.

Daria from VK did my makeup, and I am very pleased. She executed the look exactly as I envisioned, and she is such a lovely person!

As for my hair, the unforgettable David from VK was the one. He is such a consummate professional that you could hand your hair over to him without a second thought or a shred of anxiety.

So, that's pretty much the rundown.

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?

amadeus

Andrew Lee15 said:Hey everyone🙂
Got a ton of questions on my mind🙂 but I'll take them one by one.. 😉

Is anyone here familiar with the Matić Center in a small town in the Midwest?
Also, any other venue recommendations for about 150 people? ☕

I checked out the venue over the weekend. This new hall is spot on. They had 20 tables set up for about 160 people, which is the sweet spot. Any more than that and you’re just packing people in like sardines; this way, there was actually room to get up from your seat or hit the dance floor.
The head table sits right in the middle, though the layout is a bit of a mess. It’s tucked back too far, so guests end up with their backs to the couple—but honestly, that kind of thing happens all the time anyway. 🙂

The chairs are high-backed and white—no need to waste money on covers. But you definitely need a chandelier, or maybe two.🤷They're perfect. Honestly, they look way better than my old ones, but they’re just too small for me.

The calendar is basically slammed through the end of October. Every single slot is pretty much spoken for.
If you have anything else on your mind, just ask. 🙂

Has anyone actually been inside this new banquet hall in Memphis—specifically the Crystal? I have a wedding party hosting there next year, and I’m trying to get the lay of the land regarding their catering, service standards, and general vibe. I want to be fully prepared so I can call them out on any slip-ups immediately if things aren't up to par.🙂

Everyone—from my folks in the Midwest to my friends from NYC—was raving about the music. That band from Memphis was absolutely killer!

Everything else went off without a hitch too (the Peric banquet hall in Chester and the florist, Palma), but those musicians seriously deserve a shoutout.

Has anyone here actually dealt with Crystal catering over in Memphis?

I’ve been scouring the web, but I can't find a single decent website or review page for them.

I'm trying to get the lowdown on the service, the food quality, the pricing... everything.
I gave them a call, and honestly, they sounded super polished—talking a big game about how professional their organization is, the vibe they create, the menu... all that stuff. I definitely need to swing by and see the setup in person, but before I do, I really want to hear what you guys have actually experienced!

placidsurfer15 said:Has anyone here actually dealt with Crystal catering over in Memphis?

I’ve been scouring the web, but I can't find a single decent website or review page for them.

I'm trying to get the lowdown on the service, the food quality, the pricing... everything.
I gave them a call, and honestly, they sounded super polished—talking a big game about how professional their organization is, the vibe they create, the menu... all that stuff. I definitely need to swing by and see the setup in person, but before I do, I really want to hear what you guys have actually experienced!

I’ve tried calling them a few times and honestly, nobody ever picks up.

It’s basically the same deal as Maticevic, just one dollar more expensive. Their basic menu is around $25, which covers pizza, desserts, cake, champagne, and the Wedding Decor.
That price is based on a guest list of 300. If you have fewer people, the price bumps up—maybe an extra buck for 250 guests, two bucks for 200, and so on.
They have two halls, a large one and a smaller one. As far as the food and service go, they're actually pretty solid.

Hey everyone! Just joined the group 🙂 I've been lurking for a bit, so if anyone could help me out with a quick question, I'd really appreciate it 🙂
We put down a deposit on a photo studio, but now we're looking at some other options 🙂 Do you think they can give us any trouble over that? Also, does anyone here have experience working with the Bristol group?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

I’m pretty much a novice when it comes to wedding planning myself... but generally speaking, deposits are non-refundable—and if everything else is squared away, you really shouldn't run into any issues. 🤷

Taylor Kelly2, thanks for getting back to me... I feel a little better now. I honestly knew they wouldn't give my deposit back anyway. 🙂 So, when's the big wedding? Are you starting to get everything ready?

1.9. 😍
But honestly, I didn't even lift a finger 🤷
they sorted out the band, the photographer, and the venue—so now I’m just coasting until mid-November, when I finally get back to it...

Hey there! I've been lurking here for a little while now, just soaking everything in, so I figured it was finally time to jump in and join the conversation... My wedding is set for May 12th—I've already got the venue, the photographer, and the music all locked in—so right now I'm just sort of... exhaling? Taking a breather? But honestly, I'm stuck on what to tackle next. Is it way too early to start hunting for a wedding dress? Or maybe I should be thinking about the cake menu? I guess I'm just feeling a bit adrift!

We’re looking at the exact same timeline 🙂—I’ve already put my deposit down on mine 🙂
I have everything set up in the hall, but I’ll be starting on the rehearsals pretty soon... I'm planning to handle the whole thing myself 🙂