Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Kevin Smith7 said:I am searching for something elegant and romantic—nothing with too many wrinkles, waves, or excessive lace, because I really don't want to look like I'm wearing a giant bow.

Where did you all go to rent your dresses?

Also, does anyone know a good makeup artist or hairstylist in the Indianapolis area who offers mobile services and can come to the house?

Thanks!

You should definitely check out the boutiques at Isabel's; they have some incredibly stunning and sophisticated pieces...
Unfortunately, I haven't found anything I actually love at Nicole's... It feels like everything there follows the exact same template: a sweetheart corset on top paired with a massive, huge crinoline skirt. Don't get me wrong, there are beautiful dresses in there, but they just aren't my style!

dustytinker58 said:You should definitely check out the boutiques at Isabel's; they have some incredibly stunning and sophisticated pieces...
Unfortunately, I haven't found anything I actually love at Nicole's... It feels like everything there follows the exact same template: a sweetheart corset on top paired with a massive, huge crinoline skirt. Don't get me wrong, there are beautiful dresses in there, but they just aren't my style!

If you decide to rent a gown from Isabel, my best advice is to pay the full rental fee upfront right away. If you don't, the price can jump significantly by the time you actually return the dress compared to what you originally agreed upon... yeah, it'll be more expensive. 🙂
A few of my coworkers and friends have already been burned by that exact situation, so I decided to steer clear of that shop entirely.

Look, like I already said—Nicole is hands down my go-to, and her prices are unbeatable. Her notary service is $833 plus I always score some extra baskets for rosemary and other bits along with it.

Hi everyone, has anyone here dealt with a bonus ban before? Also, I was browsing through some photos from Kelley Studio—if anyone has firsthand experience working with them, I would truly appreciate any insight you could share. Thanks! 🙂

Alright, let’s open up a discussion on photography locations... I have a question: where is the best place to take photos? 😁
Do any of you have suggestions, creative ideas, or personal experiences regarding spots around Columbus for a photoshoot—somewhere that isn't just the usual suspects like the downtown square, the historic district, or the main riverwalk?

dustytinker58 said:You should definitely check out the boutiques at Isabel's; they have some incredibly stunning and sophisticated pieces...
Unfortunately, I haven't found anything I actually love at Nicole's... It feels like everything there follows the exact same template: a sweetheart corset on top paired with a massive, huge crinoline skirt. Don't get me wrong, there are beautiful dresses in there, but they just aren't my style!

The collections at Isabel's include some lovely, elegant wedding gowns. Has anyone here actually rented from them? When you rent from Nicole's, they include certain accessories in the package. I wonder if Isabel's offers something similar? I think I'll have to visit an Isabel's location; they have shops in Des Moines, Indianapolis, and Columbus.

Walter Harris5 said:Hi everyone, has anyone here dealt with a bonus ban before? Also, I was browsing through some photos from Kelley Studio—if anyone has firsthand experience working with them, I would truly appreciate any insight you could share. Thanks! 🙂

My big day is May 11th, so if your wedding is after mine, I can definitely give you a heads-up. You're more than welcome to come by and listen in! 🙂

Kevin Smith7 said:The collections at Isabel's include some lovely, elegant wedding gowns. Has anyone here actually rented from them? When you rent from Nicole's, they include certain accessories in the package. I wonder if Isabel's offers something similar? I think I'll have to visit an Isabel's location; they have shops in Des Moines, Indianapolis, and Columbus.

Every single shop does that—you get extras.

Brandon Barnes said:Alright, let’s open up a discussion on photography locations... I have a question: where is the best place to take photos? 😁
Do any of you have suggestions, creative ideas, or personal experiences regarding spots around Columbus for a photoshoot—somewhere that isn't just the usual suspects like the downtown square, the historic district, or the main riverwalk?

If you actually have enough time for a shoot—head out to the Great Plains🙂 along with those typical tourist spots everyone's already seen.

I don't have nearly enough time for that. Besides, I'm not looking to head out to the Midwest; I’d much rather just stick around Indianapolis. 😬
Is there anyone else out there? Anyone at all?

Brandon Barnes said:I don't have nearly enough time for that. Besides, I'm not looking to head out to the Midwest; I’d much rather just stick around Indianapolis. 😬
Is there anyone else out there? Anyone at all?

I suppose there's actually plenty of options in Indianapolis. I haven't given it much thought yet, but honestly, I probably won't even be able to decide, so I'll just let the photographer handle it. 😛
I don't know, what kind of shots are you going for? There are tons of parks in Indianapolis if you want nature, or you've got the Mississippi River, the old airfield... I think everything is covered. Downtown is great for photos, too, or maybe some abandoned building or open fields... I'd say just talk to the photographer, tell them roughly what you're thinking, and they'll probably know exactly where to find it. 🙂

Thanks, loneridge93. 🙂
I’m sure the photographer will have plenty of ideas, but I wanted to throw a few suggestions out there myself.
Personally, I find Old Town absolutely charming, but it feels a bit worn out—we saw so many wedding parties posing there while we were scouting photographers, so maybe we should skip it. 😁 I also suspect he might be worried about it being a weekday with people milling about everywhere (assuming the weather behaves 🙄 ).
What came to mind was that park near the clinic—you know, the one by the YMCA with the fountain. Or perhaps The Village. And maybe that little spring along the walkway...
Oh, I just remembered the National Archives building with those beautiful arches—that could look really striking in the photos.

Brandon Barnes said:I don't have nearly enough time for that. Besides, I'm not looking to head out to the Midwest; I’d much rather just stick around Indianapolis. 😬
Is there anyone else out there? Anyone at all?

The MLS team, AMC Theatres, the boardwalk...

jadeotter10 said:My big day is May 11th, so if your wedding is after mine, I can definitely give you a heads-up. You're more than welcome to come by and listen in! 🙂

That sounds perfect!! Just shoot me a DM with the time and location whenever you can. Thanks so much 🙂))) and best of luck with everything! 🙏

You’re honestly better off just heading up to Portland...🙂

Has anyone here actually hired a DJ for a wedding before? I'm curious about what the overall vibe tends to be like and what kind of price range we should realistically expect to see? Thanks

Hey, since you guys were talking about where to go for photos... I’d love some suggestions for the Memphis area. I used to take shots near the memorial cross, but honestly, it’s getting a bit played out. :/ I'm open to anything. 🙂 Also, has anyone heard about that Marma lighting company from Indianapolis? I was scrolling through some photos on Facebook and now I'm curious about their pricing... thanks!

Mark Flores47 said:Hey, since you guys were talking about where to go for photos... I’d love some suggestions for the Memphis area. I used to take shots near the memorial cross, but honestly, it’s getting a bit played out. :/ I'm open to anything. 🙂 Also, has anyone heard about that Marma lighting company from Indianapolis? I was scrolling through some photos on Facebook and now I'm curious about their pricing... thanks!

I actually know people from Marma personally. They used to be $1167, but I've heard lately they're more available—though it really just depends on what you need.
If you've got the time, swing by Indianapolis; there are some killer spots for photos there.
Which venue is the wedding at?

Anyone know a girl who rented a wedding venue in Canada? Like maybe near Omaha or Bridgeport? What’s the vibe like and how much are we talking? I pass by this salon in Omaha all the time—but honestly, am I just gonna get stuck dealing with customs if I go through with her?

I actually know people from Marma personally. They used to be $1167, but I've heard around here they're more now, depending on what you're looking for.
If you have some free time, swing by Indianapolis—there are some really great spots for photos there.
Which hall is your wedding party in?

Yeah, I'm hoping to save up over the next year and start checking places out slowly after Easter. Honestly, the admiral hall is what interests me most 🙂 because the space itself is so nice, I doubt I'll need much extra stuff. I'll also need guest rooms, so it's not like it's insanely expensive; it'll probably land around 4... thanks for the heads-up 😍