Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

rowdyviper13 said:Our big day is October 19th, and we actually started handing out invitations two months ago, yet we still haven't finished!
I don't know how many invites you have on your plate, but honestly, it takes forever. It’s like trying to coordinate a massive group project; you spend so much time trying to sync up everyone's schedules, driving to see people, and having those quick little chats—it really eats up your time. We had 120 invitations total, and we still have about 15 left to deliver...

I've got like 70 families to visit personally—definitely think it's better to get it over with early, both for our sanity and for the guests, since not everyone knows about the wedding yet and they need time to prep.

quietcobra52 said:I've got like 70 families to visit personally—definitely think it's better to get it over with early, both for our sanity and for the guests, since not everyone knows about the wedding yet and they need time to prep.

Man, I guess I’ll probably start sending mine out four months before the wedding... just so everyone can actually get organized and stuff.🙂

Could someone please tell me a bit about the Twister band from Indianapolis?

Tyler Fox14 said:They will be providing music for us as well, and my brother is actually playing the accordion, so it is going to be a very lively atmosphere! 🙂

Thank you all for the suggestions. I think we will ultimately go with the sparkling water bottles; I had been considering either those or small wine bottles, though those little wine bottles are hard to find everywhere, so water seems like the better option. Besides, I would much rather drink water than orange soda—I really don't care for it, nor do I enjoy carbonated drinks, and my husband doesn't drink anything except Coke. I will do a bit more searching, but if nothing else turns up, I'll just pick up a case of sparkling water. 🙂

Haha, awesome. 🙂

So far, I’ve dealt with Photo Inch from Indianapolis and Photo Click from Savannah. Honestly, I think Photo Inch is worth every cent. The guy genuinely loves his craft, and I get the feeling you’d walk away with way more than what you actually paid for.

Of course, looking back, I did wonder if $4 $0.00 was a bit much. Part of me thought maybe I’d rather spend that on a shopping spree in Italy or just keep it tucked away in my savings for a rainy day. But hey, if everyone else had a great experience with Click or Zoom, why shouldn't I? 🙂 🙂 Crazy.

quietcobra52 said:Can someone give me some advice? The invitations are finally here—wedding and reception is set for October 26th—so tell me, how early did you guys start sending them out? I was thinking about diving in this Sunday and just knocking a few out every week to get it over with... is it too early to start calling people?

I design wedding and reception invitations and thank-you cards for a living, and let me tell you: it’s never too early. 🙂 If you wait until ten or fourteen days before the big day to ask for RSVPs, you're cutting it way too close. If you only invite them a month beforehand, they don't really have much time to check their calendars, do they?

quietcobra52 As requested:
Could someone offer some advice? Our invitations have finally arrived, and since the wedding and reception are set for October 26th, I’m trying to figure out the best timeline for reaching out to guests. My plan is to start making calls this coming Sunday and then continue with a few more people each week so I can get everything checked off my list as soon as possible. Does that sound reasonable, or am I starting a bit too early?

Listen, dear, I actually received my invitations on July 15th. I started making calls around late July and early August. I still have two or three more physical invites to hand out, but since those guests have already been briefed on the location, timing, and details, the actual card is really just a formality at this point. The wedding and reception are set for October 12th, and everyone needs to RSVP by September 20th.

Keith Johnson9 As specified by:

Haha, wonderful. 🙂

I have had the pleasure of working with an Inch photographer from Indianapolis and a Click photographer based out of Savannah. In my opinion, the Inch photographer is worth every single penny. It is clear that he truly loves his craft, and I walked away with the impression that you receive much more value than what you actually pay for.

Of course, I later realized that the number was actually 4. $0.00 If I had a significant amount of money, I would likely face a bit of a dilemma: would I prefer to spend it all on an extravagant shopping spree in Italy, or simply let it sit in my bank account as a safety net for a rainy day? It really comes down to one's philosophy on wealth. If everyone else seems to have found success with stocks like Click or Zoom, there is no reason why I couldn't experience that same kind of luck. 🙂 🙂 I'm losing my mind.

I reached out to Zoom as well, but in the end, I decided to go with some local professionals who had availability. Their pricing was fairly reasonable, too. As far as the inch measurements go, they seem to be doing a great job—they’ve actually been over at a colleague's place and a friend's house within the last three weeks.

Now, I’ve been wondering about something... what exactly are the traditional roles and responsibilities of the best man and maid of honor? Specifically, what is expected of them during the wedding and reception? Also, is it customary to gift them a cake to take home?

If anyone is willing to lend a hand, I would be incredibly grateful—it would mean a lot to me 🙂
The wedding and reception is set for September 26th in Indianapolis—just a small, intimate family affair since I'm originally from Boston.
We’re planning to head up there next week to book everything and try to nail down the basics, like
1. cake recommendations—any favorites?
2. a hair stylist—also looking for suggestions 🙂
3. makeup artists—once again, any leads? 🙂
4. a photographer—we just want someone for a specific location for some nice shots—does anyone have a preferred spot or photographer? Also, what's the typical rate for a session like that around here?
5. And a recommendation for a lovely little restaurant for dinner... somewhere decent and nice where the family can sit down together 🙂
By the way, I haven't read through this entire thread yet—I'm just starting from the very last page—but if anyone doesn't mind helping out, I’d truly appreciate it.
Also, since we're looking at late October and keeping things small, I'm not exactly thrilled about the idea of a courthouse wedding. Where should I look for evening dresses that would fit the occasion?

Hey there 😁

Anyone know a solid restaurant in or around New Orleans or maybe St. Louis that has a semi-private area? I’m looking to host a wedding reception for about 20 people. No live band or anything.
I don't need a literal wall dividing the room, just somewhere tucked away to the side so we aren't all mixed in with the random crowd.
Thanks 🙂

We haven't been particularly active lately 😢

silentheron15 said:If anyone is willing to lend a hand, I would be incredibly grateful—it would mean a lot to me 🙂
The wedding and reception is set for September 26th in Indianapolis—just a small, intimate family affair since I'm originally from Boston.
We’re planning to head up there next week to book everything and try to nail down the basics, like
1. cake recommendations—any favorites?
2. a hair stylist—also looking for suggestions 🙂
3. makeup artists—once again, any leads? 🙂
4. a photographer—we just want someone for a specific location for some nice shots—does anyone have a preferred spot or photographer? Also, what's the typical rate for a session like that around here?
5. And a recommendation for a lovely little restaurant for dinner... somewhere decent and nice where the family can sit down together 🙂
By the way, I haven't read through this entire thread yet—I'm just starting from the very last page—but if anyone doesn't mind helping out, I’d truly appreciate it.
Also, since we're looking at late October and keeping things small, I'm not exactly thrilled about the idea of a courthouse wedding. Where should I look for evening dresses that would fit the occasion?

1. Sweet House—Nancy Pelosi makes amazing desserts.
2. Nora's hair salon near Central Park; ask for Ivan.
3. John Smith
4. Kruno Sršić
5. Maplewood area, the hotel restaurant at Waldinger, White-Blue, or Blue Basement (Ravlić).
6. Dresses at Unique
..if you want their contact info, I'll send it via DM.😉

Does anyone know where I can find some cheap rentals for martini glasses or just standard red wine glasses around Savannah?
Any leads?

Betty Thompson4 said:$233 Is there a deposit, or what? And how much are their dresses these days? I got mine from them four years ago and was beyond happy with it; their gowns really are one of a kind...

Maybe you just caught them during a bad shift. I went twice in a single year and it was always clean and well-stocked... 🤷

Yeah,$233 it's just a deposit that gets deducted from the dress price later on. My dress ended up being $1667 after the discount, so $333 🙂 which basically means 4000 minus the $233 deposit 🙂
I don't know, I guess I just liked Nicholas the most. Plus, I love that you can still change your mind about the dress over the last week or so, you don't have to commit to the first one you see immediately.
😍

Keith Johnson9 said:Haha, awesome. 🙂

So far, I’ve dealt with Photo Inch from Indianapolis and Photo Click from Savannah. Honestly, I think Photo Inch is worth every cent. The guy genuinely loves his craft, and I get the feeling you’d walk away with way more than what you actually paid for.

Of course, looking back, I did wonder if $4 $0.00 was a bit much. Part of me thought maybe I’d rather spend that on a shopping spree in Italy or just keep it tucked away in my savings for a rainy day. But hey, if everyone else had a great experience with Click or Zoom, why shouldn't I? 🙂 🙂 Crazy.

Personally, I think photographer Click from Savannah is solid. You aren't gonna find anyone cheaper for that quality... They shot a couple of weddings for my coworkers and everyone was stoked, which is why we ended up booking them.

mellowsurfer41 said:Personally, I think photographer Click from Savannah is solid. You aren't gonna find anyone cheaper for that quality... They shot a couple of weddings for my coworkers and everyone was stoked, which is why we ended up booking them.

What’s their pricing look like and what's included in the package? Any way to check out their portfolio online?!

So, I was honestly pretty floored today when I found out that the catering companies around here don't actually provide dessert plates. Like, seriously? Has anyone else dealt with this, or did you guys end up having to buy or rent your own little dessert stands and plates? Does anyone happen to know if there's a rental spot near a place like Des Moines where I could grab some? Thanks so much!

Betty Thompson4 said:1. Sweet House—Nancy Pelosi makes amazing desserts.
2. Nora's hair salon near Central Park; ask for Ivan.
3. John Smith
4. Kruno Sršić
5. Maplewood area, the hotel restaurant at Waldinger, White-Blue, or Blue Basement (Ravlić).
6. Dresses at Unique
..if you want their contact info, I'll send it via DM.😉

If it isn't too much trouble—and if you have a spare moment—could you please share some contacts? Even just a Facebook link would work...
And thank you so much, truly. This is such a huge help since I'll only be in town for one day before the wedding.

Elizabeth Adams19 said:What’s their pricing look like and what's included in the package? Any way to check out their portfolio online?!

For $1333, you get a massive leather album containing about 400 to 450 photos, a DVD featuring 4 hours of edited footage (a few different versions), plus a DVD containing all the digital photos, and so on.
If you want a specific photo for a thank-you card, that’s an extra charge. A 4x6 inch print is $1.75, while a 6x6 is $2.25. If you want the footage on a Blue Ray instead, add $167 to that price if you're looking for Full HD quality.

It isn't anything groundbreaking, but they do a solid, honest job. Once you see the results, $1333 plus the cost of the prints at midnight, it ends up being a pretty fair deal. 🙂

Just reach out via Facebook. The guy is very easy to talk to. 🙂

Elizabeth Adams19 said:What’s their pricing look like and what's included in the package? Any way to check out their portfolio online?!

Also, I actually sat down with the guy. He brought a physical photo album along, so you can see everything firsthand. I grilled him on every single detail, and honestly, everything checks out. 🙂 The deposit is 300 bucks—$133.

Elizabeth Adams19 said:What’s their pricing look like and what's included in the package? Any way to check out their portfolio online?!

Just look up Click Photography on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/foto.click.5?ref=ts&fref=ts

The guy is pretty chill, I guess.🙂

Is anyone actually doing dance lessons before the wedding?? I basically forced my guy to go because there’s no way I’m letting us embarrass ourselves out there. I used to dance back in my D&D days, but yeah, that was a lifetime ago... I checked out Leon Dance School, but man, they're pricey $27 just for an hour or so. A friend of mine ended up paying $600 for a package that included two outings—the first dance and then one at midnight... honestly though, feels like a lot to me. I mean, maybe they could just whip up some choreography for us... I don't know, I'm probably overthinking it 🙂🙂🙂🙂🤷🤷