Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

silentraven18 said:While I was checking out some venues and restaurants the other day, I overheard owners at two different spots mentioning that the Saxovac crew has started getting a bit sloppy lately. Apparently, they tend to get a little too rowdy at weddings; someone mentioned that on two separate occasions, one of the singers/musicians actually walked off the wedding entirely to head into town for a bit and then came back...
I first heard them about two years ago, and then again last year when we were part of the wedding party... To me, they seemed perfectly fine
. A dear friend of mine was at a wedding they played a couple of weeks ago (on a Friday) and said they were just mediocre—especially compared to how they used to be. Then, on Saturday, a buddy of his went to another wedding they played (he was actually with us at our wedding where they played too), and he said they were a complete disaster—like, they didn't handle the gig well at all
.
This really caught me off guard, given my experience with them. I guess everyone sees things differently and has their own tastes, so I don't know...

Look, at the end of the day, they’re people too—plus, a whole lot of variables have to align perfectly for a wedding to be truly great.
Take my friend’s wedding, for example; they had this band that is usually top-tier, but for me, it was pretty mediocre (way too many slow songs and a few other gripes), and then my friend explained that they specifically wanted 🤷
It isn't solely down to the band, either; so much depends on the overall atmosphere of the reception, which reflects off the guests onto the band and vice versa. No one can guarantee perfection, but it's the guests who ultimately set the mood—all those couples who rely entirely on the band to carry the energy often find things don't turn out quite how they imagined.

That’s actually what the photographers told us during our planning meeting—that the issue is most people don't see the behind-the-scenes mechanics of a wedding. They don't know what the couple was actually looking for, what kind of personalities the bride and groom have, or realize that every guest is essentially a "mirror" of the wedding itself; so you'll have certain groups absolutely killing it, while in others, you'll be left wondering, "wtf?"

Hi ladies,
I’ve been hearing nothing but rave reviews lately about John Doe’s makeup work... does anyone happen to know if she's still taking clients, and if so, could you share her contact info?
Thanks

graniteridge6 said:Look, at the end of the day, they’re people too—plus, a whole lot of variables have to align perfectly for a wedding to be truly great.
Take my friend’s wedding, for example; they had this band that is usually top-tier, but for me, it was pretty mediocre (way too many slow songs and a few other gripes), and then my friend explained that they specifically wanted 🤷
It isn't solely down to the band, either; so much depends on the overall atmosphere of the reception, which reflects off the guests onto the band and vice versa. No one can guarantee perfection, but it's the guests who ultimately set the mood—all those couples who rely entirely on the band to carry the energy often find things don't turn out quite how they imagined.

That’s actually what the photographers told us during our planning meeting—that the issue is most people don't see the behind-the-scenes mechanics of a wedding. They don't know what the couple was actually looking for, what kind of personalities the bride and groom have, or realize that every guest is essentially a "mirror" of the wedding itself; so you'll have certain groups absolutely killing it, while in others, you'll be left wondering, "wtf?"

I completely agree with you there. Everything turns out exactly how it's planned. Unfortunately, I haven't been to enough weddings to offer much expertise beyond knowing that the two I attended were decent and the music was great—though, like I said, I'm just passing along what I've heard.
All of this is coming my way soon, and I'm already starting to stress about making the right choices, haha..
I've narrowed my venue choices down to Laura (Ivankovo), Admiral ex, and Lucy (Indianapolis)—if you can even call that narrowing things down, lol... So, if you guys have any feedback or praise, please let me know since I'm not from around here 🙂

Does anyone happen to know where I could track down one of those clusters of colorful helium balloons? (The kind you see in the movie UP 🙂). I’ve seen pictures of them online and they look pretty cool; I think I’d want to grab about ten of them 🙂

Uber, I actually have a discount at a boutique in LA from $333 that would let me sell them for $33, so if anyone is interested, just shoot me a DM 🙂

Jason Rivera2 said:Grace Kern55
You could also look into the catering from Peter and Anna’s—they used to run Fratelli. A friend of mine recently ordered from them through Kevin Smith7 and couldn't stop raving about the food. I've heard their prices are even better than Nutrition's, so maybe it's worth a look? 🙂

Honestly, those guys are a complete disaster. A buddy of mine went all in with them for a party—booked everything through their catering service—and he was left totally disappointed. It was a joke. The guests ended up starving because they served a much smaller menu than what was actually agreed upon. To make matters worse, they tried to pocket the lamb and pork that were supposed to be part of the main spread just for themselves. Total amateur move.

So, the catering from Sam's Deli was an absolute disaster—just completely dried out. They decided to prep everything a few days too early instead of sticking to the plan, and instead of the high-quality prosciutto we actually ordered, they swapped it out for some cheap fig slices. To top it all off, the cheese had already gone bad. Just a total mess.

Honestly, things have gone downhill fast over the last few years—it’s not just me noticing, either. This isn't some isolated incident, either; I've seen plenty of people voicing the exact same frustrations lately.

Melissa Grant69 said:Does anyone happen to know where I could track down one of those clusters of colorful helium balloons? (The kind you see in the movie UP 🙂). I’ve seen pictures of them online and they look pretty cool; I think I’d want to grab about ten of them 🙂

Uber, I actually have a discount at a boutique in LA from $333 that would let me sell them for $33, so if anyone is interested, just shoot me a DM 🙂

There’s a shop over in Chicago on Zrinjska Street that does sets of 99 balloons.

Where can I find those specific towels that the best men and bridesmaids use for their traditional dances at Midwest weddings?

Borrowing it from somewhere else?

Melissa Grant69 said:Does anyone happen to know where I could track down one of those clusters of colorful helium balloons? (The kind you see in the movie UP 🙂). I’ve seen pictures of them online and they look pretty cool; I think I’d want to grab about ten of them 🙂

Uber, I actually have a discount at a boutique in LA from $333 that would let me sell them for $33, so if anyone is interested, just shoot me a DM 🙂

I picked up some helium balloons once over on Republic Avenue, at that wedding supply shop—I think it was called Vigor.

I called Sweetness in Ivankov to order a cake, and she just told me over the phone to hurry up and make a decision. I guess I’ve never experienced such rudeness before. How frustrating!

The Sax guys just don't have it in them anymore. You can really feel it, that old energy and vibe they used to bring is just gone. I guess since they're getting paid so much now, they can't be bothered to actually play. Toward the end of the night at weddings, they just let the DJ or the local crew take over because they've checked out, and even when they do step back up, they just play some slow filler just to get people to leave. They used to be my absolute favorite, but now 🙄

Hey everyone, finally jumping in here. 🙂
We’ve locked in Crystal Hall over in Slough for October 4th next year—booked the Vagabond Band from New Gradiska based on a friend's tip. Haven't caught them live yet, just listened to some clips online and liked what I heard. Everything I've gathered about them seems solid.
Has anyone actually seen them perform?

Just need to track down a photographer and then I can breathe easy for a while... still plenty of time before the wedding, though. :-)

crimsonpuma22 said:Yeah, I’ve heard the buzz about them too, but honestly, it all comes down to personal taste. We listened to everything available online, and in our opinion, the sax band still comes out on top in terms of both sound and performance. They get a lot of praise. Also, regarding what you mentioned about him being missing lately—I think that’s why there’s a formal contract in place. It goes without saying that the catering should be standard since he’s technically on the clock, but a contract really needs to spell out every single detail, from break times down to the smallest thing. If those terms aren't met, the job isn't being done right, and that’s a breach of contract.

And what’s the word on photography and video? Everything I hear feels like hearsay, and don't even get me started on the pricing... it’s enough to make my head spin.

I actually spotted someone on a forum sharing a link to Samir’s photo portfolio. http://fotozine.org/?omen=samir His shots are fantastic. Does anyone know if they operate out of their own studio or something?

Samir was our photographer, and he was wonderful. Plus, his rates aren't nearly as steep as the other guys. You can find his portfolio page over on Facebook.

My parents just got back from a wedding last night, and they are absolutely obsessed with the Viva Box! The singer hits every single note perfectly—it was such a blast! 🙂

Larry Martin9 said:Where can I find those specific towels that the best men and bridesmaids use for their traditional dances at Midwest weddings?

Try the local farmers market in a town like Des Moines... specifically near the stalls that sell the handmade crafts...

Can someone please send me Jane Doe's phone number?

Has anyone here actually worked with them before? I’m curious to know what your experience was like.
Based on what I've seen online, they seem pretty solid to me.

http://www.facebook.com/ExitusPro
http://vimeo.com/exitusprodukcija

silentpanther83 said:Samir was our photographer, and he was wonderful. Plus, his rates aren't nearly as steep as the other guys. You can find his portfolio page over on Facebook.

Can I get his contact info? Also, how many of you actually showed up? Shoot me a PM if you want.

Kevin Smith7 said:She told me, "No," and then she just shows me a photo instead of actually doing the hair so others can see the style, which isn't helpful at all. Plus, since I was attending a wedding that Saturday, I asked her if we could do a trial, but she wouldn't agree to it. You had such a smooth experience with your stylist, but I'm definitely not having that luck with mine. 🙂 She just dismissed me by saying my hair is "simple." Honestly, though, I'm terrified that even with this "simple" style, she’s going to mess it up completely.
I want big, voluminous curls with something like a braid swept up in the front.
I've been browsing online, and I'm really not feeling those overly fussy, decorated hairstyles.
Does anyone know a good website or maybe a Facebook group where I can see photos of actual wedding parties?

Also, does anyone know a good makeup artist in VK-ZU?

I need a recommendation for hair and makeup—anyone got leads? 🙂

Has anyone here ever actually bought wedding bands made from surgical steel?

The pitch is always that they’re rust-proof and hold up forever, plus they usually run about $500$200, which would be a massive win for my wallet if it's true.

A close friend of mine wears this necklace made from the stuff because she’s super allergic to gold and silver; she’s had it for a decade now and it looks just as good as the day she got it—not a single scratch or sign of wear, even though she never takes it off.

So, what’s the verdict? Is this legit or am I just falling for the marketing?