Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

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 🙂

Hey there.

Can anyone recommend a solid recipe for those crescent rolls you see at high-end buffets? Also, who actually bakes decent pastries in SB? I tried Boheme, but honestly... everything tastes exactly the same. No real difference...

Hey there!

I've been scrolling through the forum for a bit, but I’m having a hard time finding much info on the Visnjica restaurant near Slatina. Has anyone here actually hosted a wedding there? I'm curious what the approximate price per person looks like, what exactly is included in that rate, and how flexible they are when it comes to negotiating or making tweaks to the plan. Any insights would be amazing!

Hey guys, could anyone recommend a decent hair salon in Djako?

velvetscout432 said:Nicole Hill35 Can anyone give me some recommendations for makeup, nails, or hair in NYC? 😉

If you're looking for makeup, I’d definitely suggest Livia, and for hair, you really can't go wrong with Vesna’s salon. Honestly, I had such a great experience with them—they didn't go overboard with anything. My makeup and my hair both turned out looking effortless and romantic, which is exactly my vibe. It wasn't one of those "too much" situations, just perfectly laid back.

Jerry Perez76 said:Hey there!

I've been scrolling through the forum for a bit, but I’m having a hard time finding much info on the Visnjica restaurant near Slatina. Has anyone here actually hosted a wedding there? I'm curious what the approximate price per person looks like, what exactly is included in that rate, and how flexible they are when it comes to negotiating or making tweaks to the plan. Any insights would be amazing!

There are a few pages of discussion right above this, so do yourself a favor and scroll back through the thread! 😉

Melissa Grant69 said:Hey guys, could anyone recommend a decent hair salon in Djako?

If you're looking to get pampered in Indianapolis, I honestly can't recommend Art Hair Studio enough! It’s right there on the main downtown strip near the Click coffee shop... Seriously, this place is incredible. I’ve been going there for years now, and I walk out feeling like a whole new person every single time.
The owner, Zdravka, is such a talented, driven woman with so many creative ideas... she actually competes in all sorts of national and even international styling competitions, so you know you're in expert hands and won't end up with a disaster!
I think they have a Facebook page if you want to browse their work, or you can just give them a call at 031/811-918 to book an appointment...
definitely let us know how it goes!

Ladies, I am begging for some advice here...
My fiancé and I have finally decided to pull the trigger on a wedding for two years from now. Initially, we settled on Crystal Hall in Indianapolis since I’m local (and honestly, I was absolutely floored by the venue and their service there). But then his family started getting philosophical about "tradition," claiming the wedding festivities should take place in the groom's hometown area. So, they're pushing for a venue near Županja instead... 🙂
Well, here's the thing... we recently went to check out Ivanna's venue (owned by Džinić), and I can tell you right now, I wasn't impressed at all. In fact, the service was nothing short of a disaster... 🙂
The hall itself isn't terrible—it's relatively new and the restrooms are actually clean and well-maintained—but the service? Absolute nightmare. They didn't even bring out the appetizers until almost 9:30 PM. Then, at 10:00, they finally served the main course: veal cutlets in hunter sauce and risotto (just three little scoops per person). There were eight of us at our table, and I don't even need to tell you that the food was stone cold. On top of that, the side salad was pathetic. For the second course, they served pork and lamb—and I can't stand lamb—but both were freezing, and the meat looked hideous; it was basically just scraps around the bone covered in heaps of fat with barely any actual meat left. The only decent part was the appetizer spread on the buffet before everything started, but even that was insufficient because people from 8:00 to 8:30 PM cleared it out completely since everyone was starving...
By the end of the night, I was still hungry and practically parched because after midnight, finding a waiter to refill the drinks on the tables was impossible. To make matters worse, the coffee was brewed terribly, and if you dared to ask for a second cup, it was a whole ordeal. I am utterly disappointed with that venue; I wouldn't dream of booking them. Now I'm stuck wondering what my other options even are... 🤷
I told my fiancé straight up: if neither of these venues works for us, we are either hosting the wedding in Indy or we aren't having one at all. 😁

Does anyone have any solid band recommendations around $2000... maybe some local groups, anything with a mandolin or folk vibe, or even international acts? Just please, nothing with heavy country music... ☕

Jerry Perez76 said:Hey there!

I've been scrolling through the forum for a bit, but I’m having a hard time finding much info on the Visnjica restaurant near Slatina. Has anyone here actually hosted a wedding there? I'm curious what the approximate price per person looks like, what exactly is included in that rate, and how flexible they are when it comes to negotiating or making tweaks to the plan. Any insights would be amazing!

So... I went ahead and booked my wedding with them for next May.
Word on the street is that the current crew holding the restaurant concession is out after October—and apparently, Visnjica is moving in to take over. Honestly? I can only hope they actually know how to run a business, because things desperately need to improve around here. 🙂
It all feels a bit sloppy and half-assed to me now—honestly, they’re just charging a premium for the vibe, because you definitely aren't getting that kind of service for those prices.
So, that's where your price stands right now—capped at about 200 people. $50 So, they're heading to NYC—no food provided, mind you—with over 200 people expected. Just great. $40...
They’ve even got some menus made of... $67 do $83 Personally, if you’re paying extra for their drinks, you’re just asking for trouble—it’s a total scam. They'll basically charge you full price for a 2-liter Coke. $12Strava... seriously?
I still haven't locked in a price with them—mostly because I’m playing hardball, but also because I'm waiting to see if the administration changes first. You know how it goes. 🙂)

The Forum Band for weddings in the Midwest has shut down, so I’m asking here if anyone knows what the current going rate is for the Slavonia Band and how they actually perform, since they've become pretty well-known lately.

Hey, just a heads-up, tickets for the Slavonia Band are going for about $2,700 right now... I actually reached out to a buddy of mine who plays drums for them to get the inside scoop. Apparently, they might even hike the price up to around $3,200 starting next year.

rustyjackal26 thanks, but honestly, it’s just a bit too much for my budget right now 😢. If it were $4000, I’d probably grit my teeth and make it work, but for $7000, I’ve already got the band, the venue, the photographer, and the flowers covered, so...

Haha, I hear you... it’s definitely way too much for me, too.😁 And honestly, what can you say? Now that they’ve finally made a name for themselves, these guys think they can charge whatever they want.😉 As for $3333, you could find plenty of incredible bands out there—there are thousands of them. You’d be much better off putting that money toward a decent photographer and a wedding venue instead.😍

I wanted to hire them too, but they were just way too much for me... I ended up going with the local musicians instead and it was ooodlično! Especially once I made it clear what the ground rules were. I heard those guys from the Midwest are absolute legends at weddings, plus they're basically the Friends of the party!! 🙂

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....

Anyone got a lead on some folk musicians??
I just need someone for background music...but they've gotta be high-energy and know all the classics—maybe even a good vocal group 🙂

Nancy, what happened to the rest of the catering options in the area? How large is the wedding guest list? As for the musicians, my friends, I can't recommend them enough—specifically the group from the Bosut area, the Kristals, or that local folk band; even the Midwest ensemble is legendary... though I suppose the guests' energy will vary depending on who shows up.

I could really use a little help or even just some quick advice here.

Has anyone actually pulled the trigger on a wedding at that eco-estate out near Eagle Path in the Midwest? It’s got this incredible scenery and shaded spots that I can't get enough of, and honestly, my whole crew is already leaning toward picking it. The only catch is that I don't really know anyone who has actually done a wedding there before.😛

Melissa Grant69 said:Victoria did my makeup once. She was about ten minutes late, I guess, but she actually did a pretty great job. 🙂

Actually, I take it back. A recent bad experience with her pretty much cancels out that one good memory.