Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

George Bishop72 said:Honestly, this whole search is starting to get under my skin 😬 so I’ve decided to go with Studio 54. Given how close the date is, the girl there told me to call back in two months to get on the books. I might have mixed them up with another salon, but I think she mentioned makeup was around $120 or $150, which sounds like a total steal to me. I’ve been scrolling through their Facebook photos, and I really love their work. My plan is to go all out—makeup, hair, and lashes.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me, and I really want to look my best.
If $167 everything goes smoothly, I'll actually be happy with the result. Right now, I'm looking around Washington, D.C., because I'm a bridesmaid in a wedding, and over there, they charge upwards of $300 just for the makeup alone 🙄

That's what I heard too, and nobody's really complained about them yet—at least not that I've heard. They're known as one of the pricier spots, but like you said, I don't care about the cost 😁 I'm only getting married once 😂 plus they do both hair and makeup there, so it's super convenient for me.

Mark Flores47 said:That's what I heard too, and nobody's really complained about them yet—at least not that I've heard. They're known as one of the pricier spots, but like you said, I don't care about the cost 😁 I'm only getting married once 😂 plus they do both hair and makeup there, so it's super convenient for me.

I feel the same way...😬
By the way, that salon I mentioned earlier is Studio Kodak... what are your thoughts on them?
I sent them a request on Facebook, but they haven't accepted me yet, so I can't see any of their photos

Alex Ross32 said:What kind of prices are we talking about for rings and flowers? 🙂

I actually went with diamond rings—ten of them, in fact—so I didn't really bother looking at other styles, but I do know that mine ended up being way cheaper than what they’d charge me back in Washington, D.C.

As for the flowers, that's going to be my big expense $1333 because I am going all out and have absolutely everything planned out..
So, honestly, it all just comes down to the specific type of blooms you want and how much volume you need.

You really have to look at your guest count and table setup; I have 25 tables to cover
and then you have to decide if you want full arrangements on those tables (what style are you thinking?!) or maybe just those little floating candles in glass pebbles or water, or whatever vibe you're going for...
For my wedding, I'm doing those big, gorgeous round arrangements sitting in martini glasses on every single table

Then there's the sweetheart table.. you'll need to decide if you want one massive centerpiece, or maybe a long floral runner along the edge, or even some low spheres like the ones on the other tables...

And don't forget the church! Do you want an arrangement there too? I'm planning on doing both a main piece and some pretty bows for the pews...

The bridal bouquet will naturally be the priciest part, especially if you go for an all-rose design

Oh, and boutonnieres—how many people are we talking about there?!

One last thing, if you happen to have a good group of bridesmaids, they can play a huge role in the floral situation; if you're having the wedding in June, you're in luck because that's when everything is in full bloom

But hey, there's that florist on Facebook where you can check out their portfolio and just send over an inquiry to get a solid quote...
All I can say is they do an incredible job

In the end, they're quoting me about $4,000 for everything, whereas the places in Washington, D.C. were asking me for $10,000 for the exact same thing!

George Bishop72 said:I feel the same way...😬
By the way, that salon I mentioned earlier is Studio Kodak... what are your thoughts on them?
I sent them a request on Facebook, but they haven't accepted me yet, so I can't see any of their photos

Try looking up the owner, Anthony Cook, on Facebook. He has plenty of pictures posted there!

Dear brides,

What are your thoughts on traveling a bit further afield to get married—perhaps all the way from Appalachia? 😁
To whom am I even speaking? Everyone tells me it’s madness, but I’m originally from Appalachia and I feel a profound connection to my roots. My family back home doesn't really factor into the groom's side of things, but I’ve never actually spent much time in the Midwest, and their local wedding traditions seem quite foreign to me. So, I was considering having a morning ceremony, then heading out from Appalachia around 1:00 or 2:00 PM so we arrive just in time for dinner at his family's place in a small town in the American South.
It feels as though I might be the only one convinced that this is actually a brilliant plan! Haha. Naturally, my guests would need to depart early in the morning to make it to the Midwest in time.
I have heard plenty of stories about people in the Midwest traveling long distances for weddings. I was thinking the groom and some of his relatives (most of his circle is from my neck of the woods) could stay at my place, and then after the ceremony and lunch the next day, we could head back up north.

Oh, please help me decide—is this truly an exhausting ordeal for everyone involved, or is it something worth organizing?

Michelle Harris27 said:I actually went with diamond rings—ten of them, in fact—so I didn't really bother looking at other styles, but I do know that mine ended up being way cheaper than what they’d charge me back in Washington, D.C.

As for the flowers, that's going to be my big expense $1333 because I am going all out and have absolutely everything planned out..
So, honestly, it all just comes down to the specific type of blooms you want and how much volume you need.

You really have to look at your guest count and table setup; I have 25 tables to cover
and then you have to decide if you want full arrangements on those tables (what style are you thinking?!) or maybe just those little floating candles in glass pebbles or water, or whatever vibe you're going for...
For my wedding, I'm doing those big, gorgeous round arrangements sitting in martini glasses on every single table

Then there's the sweetheart table.. you'll need to decide if you want one massive centerpiece, or maybe a long floral runner along the edge, or even some low spheres like the ones on the other tables...

And don't forget the church! Do you want an arrangement there too? I'm planning on doing both a main piece and some pretty bows for the pews...

The bridal bouquet will naturally be the priciest part, especially if you go for an all-rose design

Oh, and boutonnieres—how many people are we talking about there?!

One last thing, if you happen to have a good group of bridesmaids, they can play a huge role in the floral situation; if you're having the wedding in June, you're in luck because that's when everything is in full bloom

But hey, there's that florist on Facebook where you can check out their portfolio and just send over an inquiry to get a solid quote...
All I can say is they do an incredible job

In the end, they're quoting me about $4,000 for everything, whereas the places in Washington, D.C. were asking me for $10,000 for the exact same thing!

Can we get the name of this florist? And what kind of flowers are you planning to use?!

Apple Studio is totally booked up for the year—they’ve barely got anything left before the holidays.

Should I look somewhere else for my makeup?
I'm not sweating the hair situation, I'll figure that out later, but honestly, finding a good makeup artist is killing me. 🙂

I'm also really interested in makeup and hair styling, maybe somewhere around Chicago?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Has anyone been to a wedding at that venue in a small town in the Midwest? (inside the hall, specifically?) I'd love to hear some impressions.

Can I get that famous Jane’s number via DM? 🙂

I swear this makeup situation is driving me insane 🙂 is it even possible for everyone to be booked up on my one day off? 🙂🙂🙂

Kevin Smith7 said:I'm also really interested in makeup and hair styling, maybe somewhere around Chicago?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Well, let me share what I managed to dig up. There’s this stylist, Victoria from Orlando, who is absolutely wonderful—honestly my top pick—but there's a catch. You have to coordinate strictly to ensure she's the one showing up... she actually requires a minimum of five women to book her services. Now, I really don't feel like trying to talk people into spending $100 (if I remember correctly) just for makeup for my bridal party, and I certainly don't want to risk an arrangement where she doesn't show... 🙄 instead, you might get stuck with her assistant.
Personally, that whole setup felt like a bit too much hassle, so I passed.
My backup in Orlando was Studio 54, but they are fully booked through the end of the year—I think someone mentioned a few posts back that they might have openings late December.
Over in Memphis, it might be worth adding Studio 54 on Facebook just to browse their portfolio and see if their style clicks with you. I was torn between them and Studio 54 (you'll have to search "hair salon" on FB to find them, otherwise you'll be hunting for days like I was)... though, to be perfectly honest, they don't quite provide that "wow" factor. I'm actually pretty decent at doing my own makeup and I know my way around a brush, but I have zero intention of messing around with eyeliner on my wedding day... 😍 When I called them, they mentioned having availability until October 14th, but for anything later, I should call back two months in advance. I believe she said makeup was around $120 or maybe $50, and I assume hair is similar or perhaps a little more.
What I was truly interested in, however, was seeing work by Susan Cook, but their Facebook page is lacking photos. The owner, >, mostly posts shots of extensions and hairstyles—though I do know one bride he did who looked phenomenal, so it's a shame I can't track down some actual wedding shots.
So, my current leading choice is Studio 54... for now. 😁
There is also a makeup artist named Jane Marjanovic, but I haven't been able to track down her number yet.

Michelle Thomas77 said:Can I get that famous Jane’s number via DM? 🙂

I swear this makeup situation is driving me insane 🙂 is it even possible for everyone to be booked up on my one day off? 🙂🙂🙂

What have you been looking at so far?
Maybe you could drop a few suggestions for the rest of us while you're at it 😍

darkowl74 said:Dear brides,

What are your thoughts on traveling a bit further afield to get married—perhaps all the way from Appalachia? 😁
To whom am I even speaking? Everyone tells me it’s madness, but I’m originally from Appalachia and I feel a profound connection to my roots. My family back home doesn't really factor into the groom's side of things, but I’ve never actually spent much time in the Midwest, and their local wedding traditions seem quite foreign to me. So, I was considering having a morning ceremony, then heading out from Appalachia around 1:00 or 2:00 PM so we arrive just in time for dinner at his family's place in a small town in the American South.
It feels as though I might be the only one convinced that this is actually a brilliant plan! Haha. Naturally, my guests would need to depart early in the morning to make it to the Midwest in time.
I have heard plenty of stories about people in the Midwest traveling long distances for weddings. I was thinking the groom and some of his relatives (most of his circle is from my neck of the woods) could stay at my place, and then after the ceremony and lunch the next day, we could head back up north.

Oh, please help me decide—is this truly an exhausting ordeal for everyone involved, or is it something worth organizing?

I once drove from one side of the state to the other for a wedding, and honestly, it was one of the worst guest experiences of my life. My feet were so swollen it was painful, and I ended up skipping most of the evening festivities because of it. 😢 I think it’s just too much driving for a few cars, especially when you consider the police stops and all the chaos you run into on those long stretches of highway...

George Bishop72 said:What have you been looking at so far?
Maybe you could drop a few suggestions for the rest of us while you're at it 😍

Studio Chic, Mary

I’ll probably check in with Anne Coric since getting hold of Deer's number is basically impossible!

Michelle Thomas77 said:Studio Chic, Mary

I’ll probably check in with Anne Coric since getting hold of Deer's number is basically impossible!

Which Mary?
As for Anne Coric, I heard the same thing about Victoria... you really have to make sure you coordinate so she shows up personally.

If anyone is looking for custom painting for their brandy or cherry liqueur bottles, I highly recommend this artist from Ernest. She's located just outside of Indianapolis, about a 15-minute drive. Her work is stunning—she can do anything from classic Midwestern patterns to custom text or any design you can dream up.

You can check out some of her work at this link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oslika...23789581000422

George Bishop72 said:I feel the same way...😬
By the way, that salon I mentioned earlier is Studio Kodak... what are your thoughts on them?
I sent them a request on Facebook, but they haven't accepted me yet, so I can't see any of their photos

I honestly have no clue, but I'd love to hear if anyone knows. It never hurts to get a second opinion.🙂 😂

George Bishop72 said:Which Mary?
As for Anne Coric, I heard the same thing about Victoria... you really have to make sure you coordinate so she shows up personally.

Mary Simosic😉

So, the venue for July 20th is officially locked in... that's a win. It includes the chairs and the cake too, so one less headache for me.🤣

Photo: We're heading out this week to put down the deposit; everything is pretty much set.🤣

The Band and the flowers are on my list for this week as well... plus the wedding dress and the invites. Probably the hair and makeup too, if I can actually find someone who isn't booked solid!🙂

What's left? Honestly, I've totally lost track. I haven't written anything down yet, so I really need to start making a list.😁

Henry Harris5 said:Can we get the name of this florist? And what kind of flowers are you planning to use?!

It's Aloe Florals
http://m.facebook.com/home.php?__use...user=655798605