Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Laura Morris4 said:I have plenty of ideas swirling around in my head... but the real question is whether they’re actually feasible from a budget standpoint.
My partner and I handle all our own expenses, which is exactly why I’ve been diving headfirst into DIY projects lately.
Today, I spent hours scouring the city—literally checking dozens upon dozens of shops—looking for those specific glass globe vessels
that you use for floating candles... but I came up empty. To make matters worse, the local glassware boutiques are charging $40 a piece.$17There is just no way I can justify that cost!

Nary, I actually found those glass bowls at Target (they have locations everywhere, from Indianapolis to much larger cities, and their ads are impossible to miss). I grabbed the smallest size—there are three options—and it was only about $3.25. That's a steal; you won't find anything like that at a local boutique!
I'm doing 25 centerpieces for the tables, and I shouldn't be spending more than $4.25 per arrangement! I'm thinking floating candles, maybe a rose petal or two, or some colored pebbles... You can always dress up the bowl with tulle, bows, or glitter if you want to get fancy...

Thanks so much, dear...
But honestly, I gave up on that idea a long time ago... it just wasn't in the budget at the time.
I have my moments of regret, I guess... but it is what it is.
The wedding is only six days away now
and I have a feeling the tables are going to look lovely regardless.
I’ll be using daisies and roses in the arrangements (shout out to my girls for helping me out with those)
plus some small tea light holders I picked up at Target
and plenty of rose petals and glass gems scattered around
so it should turn out really pretty...

I thought I’d jump in here and join the conversation, even though I’m coming at this from somewhere out near the Midwest...
-Our big day is set for September 13, 2008.
-We actually already traded rings for our wedding bands!
-The reception is going to be held at the Smith Hall in Small Town, USA—it’s absolutely gorgeous.
-I found my wedding dress on the very first try at the Johnson boutique.
-I've picked out the invitations and thank-you notes, but I'm planning on doing some DIY touch-ups myself once I actually get started.
-We have officially locked in the ceremony time.
-The whole vibe, both at the venue and our house, is going to be white with little pops of red... we even went ahead and reserved white chair covers, which wasn't cheap since we're expecting about 300 guests.
-Anyway, I could really use a little bit of advice... I'm struggling a bit with deciding on boutonnieres for the groomsmen, brothers, sisters, and parents (everyone else in the wedding party will just have small sprigs of rosemary with a white ribbon). If anyone has any examples of boutonnieres or just some general tips, I'd love to hear them!

Samuel Gomez312 said:Quick question for the group—has anyone here ever brought their own food to the venue? I’m talking about the whole setup where you drop off the ingredients and have the catering staff prep, cook, or grill everything for you. If you’ve pulled this off, could you give me a rough idea of what the total damage was and how many guests you were feeding? Please, I’m desperate!
I'm just trying to figure out if this is actually a smart move or if it's even worth the hassle!

I wouldn't recommend it because when we were looking at venues like the local community center, the math just didn't work out. You might break even, but it’s a huge gamble$167 and honestly, you'll go crazy trying to store all that food (especially if the wedding is during a hot summer month)

My family wanted to bring everything themselves, but once we actually sat down and crunched the numbers, it wasn't worth it at all... I would have had to rent a storage unit before the wedding just to keep everything safe, especially if you try to buy stuff on sale ahead of time... it just doesn't pay off...

The only thing that ended up being cheaper was the dessert... we could get way more treats for the price they were quoting us for catering...

At first, we were looking at an option where it was $53 per person + maybe around $15 $0.00 for the venue and chefs—which was the most expensive route—but after we wrote everything down and picked our specific menu, it turned out that doing it for 120 guests with some small add-ons was actually a great deal.

So, my advice is to put everything on paper... weigh all your options and you'll see what works best....

Sorry if I'm repeating myself... I read somewhere that this was discussed, but I can't find the thread anymore 😢 over by the local Sephora, they offer spray tanning. Does anyone know what the going rate is for that? Please help 🙄

Maria Ramirez4 said:Sorry if I'm repeating myself... I read somewhere that this was discussed, but I can't find the thread anymore 😢 over by the local Sephora, they offer spray tanning. Does anyone know what the going rate is for that? Please help 🙄

There's a salon right at the edge of Indianapolis in Laramie, I can't remember the name, but it's $40. I know some girls who have used them, one even went there for her wedding and it turned out fine. That's pretty much the standard price you'll see everywhere else...

Does anyone have any solid recommendations for photographers or videographers? And honestly, what kind of price range am I looking at here—is everyone just charging whatever they feel like? Thanks! 😉

wanderinghawk99 said:There's a salon right at the edge of Indianapolis in Laramie, I can't remember the name, but it's $40. I know some girls who have used them, one even went there for her wedding and it turned out fine. That's pretty much the standard price you'll see everywhere else...

Salon Perla is right by Central Park. I gave them a call the other day about full-body spray tanning $40. They suggest coming in 1-2 days beforehand, wearing comfy black clothes in the evening. They spray you down, and honestly, it's best to just relax for the rest of the night. Shower it off the next morning and you're good to go. It sounds alright, but I'm a little nervous about ending up looking blotchy... 🤷 The manager at Salon Perla mentioned they work with brides all the time and it's totally fine. I think it would be smart to try it now; if it works, I'll do it for the wedding party, and if not, I'll never go back—and I'll definitely report back to this forum... 🤣 I'm still weighing it. I'd only commit to it if it means I don't have to spend hours in a tanning bed ten times over... 🙄

That salon in Laramie—I think it's called "Ona," if that's the one—I've heard nothing but great things about them! Their nails and facials are top-tier.

If you're planning a facial before a wedding, aim for at least two weeks out so your skin has time to settle. You really need to stay hydrated and stick to clean, veggie-heavy meals. My skin is temperamental, so I've had to put together a whole survival plan... 🤣 😂 That's actually why I'm hesitant about the spray tan—what if my skin has a bad reaction? Total disaster, right? 😕 😕

wanderingpilot8 said:Does anyone have any solid recommendations for photographers or videographers? And honestly, what kind of price range am I looking at here—is everyone just charging whatever they feel like? Thanks! 😉

Prices fluctuate quite a bit—you might see quotes for $4.00 but you can find options for as low as $1.75.
When I was looking for my own, I focused on finding the right balance of price, quality, and vibe. It really depends on what you're after, whether you want traditional shots or something a bit more unique...
I ended up hiring a guy from Reading—he gave me 3 DVDs, 150 photos organized in an album, plus 150 thank-you cards for $2.00. Included in those were about 20 large prints of the couple (A4 size). If I want extra prints later, he only charges me about $1.30 per $0.50. You also get a CD with all the wedding photos.
You can actually see some of his work in Ashley's signature; try searching through some older posts, though I don't think she's been active on the forum lately.
Anyway, hope that helps... 😉

Adelina and Auntie, thanks 🙂
Honestly, spraying sounds way better to me than hitting a tanning bed. I can't deal with those UV lamps anyway—my doctor said they're a bad idea after my surgery. And you're right, there's no need to go ten times before seeing a difference. The boutique over in Chicago is much closer to me than the one in Seattle, so I think I'll just head there to ask some questions and try it out. I'll definitely let you know how it goes 😍

Hey ladies—does anyone happen to know a great florist in Indianapolis or maybe somewhere just outside the city? Thanks so much in advance! 🙏

I can point you toward this florist in a small town in the Midwest, just outside of Indianapolis. I haven't visited her shop myself, but some girls from my hometown have, and they swear by her work. It’s right in the Columbus area 😉. If you want, I can shoot you her number via DM?

👍Bradley Gray2, could you shoot me your number? Thanks! Also—does anyone have any good leads on florists in Columbus? I’d love some firsthand recommendations if you guys have them

When it comes to flowers, I honestly think Alstromeria is hands down the best! 🙂

I’ve heard the buzz about Alastomeri too, but if you really want proof, just head down to the local farmers market out in the Midwest! There are a few stalls there, and I’ve actually picked up some birthday bouquets from them a couple of times. Honestly, they were great—modern, stylish, and way cheaper than anything you'd find at a high-end florist. I worked with Attila Gašpar; his little shop is called "kala".

So, I’ve got a solid recommendation for you—there's this bakery called DELICIJE over in Detroit, right by the old water tower. They make killer cakes and wedding treats... honestly, if anyone actually cares, I can dig up some photos I have. To me, their wedding cakes are just special—they look amazing and taste even better. I still need to double-check the pricing, though, so I'll post more details once I know. They do the classic wedding stuff—you know, the tiered cream ones—but also those modern, square-cut designs too. Anyway, if it helps anyone, there's a really great spot in Detroit, so if you're in the area, you don't need to waste time wandering around looking! Cheers

Nicole Garcia7 said:I thought I’d jump in here and join the conversation, even though I’m coming at this from somewhere out near the Midwest...
-Our big day is set for September 13, 2008.
-We actually already traded rings for our wedding bands!
-The reception is going to be held at the Smith Hall in Small Town, USA—it’s absolutely gorgeous.
-I found my wedding dress on the very first try at the Johnson boutique.
-I've picked out the invitations and thank-you notes, but I'm planning on doing some DIY touch-ups myself once I actually get started.
-We have officially locked in the ceremony time.
-The whole vibe, both at the venue and our house, is going to be white with little pops of red... we even went ahead and reserved white chair covers, which wasn't cheap since we're expecting about 300 guests.
-Anyway, I could really use a little bit of advice... I'm struggling a bit with deciding on boutonnieres for the groomsmen, brothers, sisters, and parents (everyone else in the wedding party will just have small sprigs of rosemary with a white ribbon). If anyone has any examples of boutonnieres or just some general tips, I'd love to hear them!

My godmother actually had her wedding held over at the Smith center in Small Town, USA, and honestly, I couldn't find a single thing to complain about; the atmosphere was wonderful and we were truly impressed by everything in that hall... 👍👍👍

Bradley Gray2 said:I’ve heard the buzz about Alastomeri too, but if you really want proof, just head down to the local farmers market out in the Midwest! There are a few stalls there, and I’ve actually picked up some birthday bouquets from them a couple of times. Honestly, they were great—modern, stylish, and way cheaper than anything you'd find at a high-end florist. I worked with Attila Gašpar; his little shop is called "kala".

I ended up placing an order with him for a wedding—the bridal bouquet and some car decorations. I handled the table arrangements myself, though. My go-to florist is actually Mrs. Lucy from the same market. She keeps a full catalog of bouquet styles, and she's such a sweetheart that she often gives me a bit of a discount... My husband's family really wanted to go through Attila, so, being the good daughter-in-law that I am, I gave in. And honestly? Everything turned out just fine.🙂

Let me weigh in on the Midwest portion of this discussion for a second. 🙂
The hotel hosting my wedding (Admiral, VK) actually recommended I reach out to Jack from Cherokee. She handles all their wedding decor work, so they say she knows the venue inside and out—exactly how much floral arrangements we'll need and all those little details. I gave her a call, and she mentioned it would be fine if I just dropped by about a month before the big day. Has anyone here worked with her? I'd love to see some photos of her work. She seemed incredibly sweet and helpful over the phone...

Listen, I’m asking for a huge favor here—could you please give me a rough, ballpark estimate of what your wedding actually cost? I'm looking for a general breakdown: the venue, the band, the floral arrangements, just... everything. I'm trying to get a sense of the budget for the Indianapolis area and surrounding suburbs.