Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Exactly, I only mentioned it so people would keep it in mind... it doesn't mean they'll necessarily have a bad experience... perhaps they could just look for a specific certification or something similar.😉It's really just about being a bit more cautious.🙂

Hey, my Midwest folks... anyone ever done a wedding at the Johnson estates over in Ivanhoe?
I'm trying to find some photos of just the ballroom, but I can't find anything online. I really want to get a look at the place, thanks 😍

Hey everyone!
I’m curious if anyone here has actually used sunflowers as the main centerpiece for their wedding...
My bridal party is obsessed with this gold-yellow vibe that reminds me of the Midwest... Since we’re planning an autumn wedding—probably sometime in September or October—I’m wondering is it even possible to get my hands on enough sunflowers then? I’m going to need them in massive quantities, so if anyone has any tips, hacks, or solid ideas regarding this, please hit me up!
On top of that, I want to lean hard into those rustic, autumnal vibes with things like zucchini, pomegranates, corn, wheat stalks, quince, pumpkins, apples, dried leaves, wildflowers... but the sunflower would be the star of the show...
The bouquet would be all sunflowers too... plus the invites, thank-you notes, confetti, and boutonnieres will all follow that gold-yellow theme using tiny artificial sunflowers and sprigs of wheat...
What do you guys think? Thoughts?

darkraven17 said:Hey everyone!
I’m curious if anyone here has actually used sunflowers as the main centerpiece for their wedding...
My bridal party is obsessed with this gold-yellow vibe that reminds me of the Midwest... Since we’re planning an autumn wedding—probably sometime in September or October—I’m wondering is it even possible to get my hands on enough sunflowers then? I’m going to need them in massive quantities, so if anyone has any tips, hacks, or solid ideas regarding this, please hit me up!
On top of that, I want to lean hard into those rustic, autumnal vibes with things like zucchini, pomegranates, corn, wheat stalks, quince, pumpkins, apples, dried leaves, wildflowers... but the sunflower would be the star of the show...
The bouquet would be all sunflowers too... plus the invites, thank-you notes, confetti, and boutonnieres will all follow that gold-yellow theme using tiny artificial sunflowers and sprigs of wheat...
What do you guys think? Thoughts?

Not exactly my favorite look, but why not? You can definitely get sunflowers then; actually, that's peak season for them (more like September than October). I did a sunflower wedding for my cousin once. And just this past Saturday in Chicago, I actually saw a bride carrying a sunflower bouquet 😉. Plus, I just got back from a big flower wholesaler in D.C. and they had plenty of imports in stock. No clue what the price tag was, though. 😉

darkraven17 said:Hey everyone!
I’m curious if anyone here has actually used sunflowers as the main centerpiece for their wedding...
My bridal party is obsessed with this gold-yellow vibe that reminds me of the Midwest... Since we’re planning an autumn wedding—probably sometime in September or October—I’m wondering is it even possible to get my hands on enough sunflowers then? I’m going to need them in massive quantities, so if anyone has any tips, hacks, or solid ideas regarding this, please hit me up!
On top of that, I want to lean hard into those rustic, autumnal vibes with things like zucchini, pomegranates, corn, wheat stalks, quince, pumpkins, apples, dried leaves, wildflowers... but the sunflower would be the star of the show...
The bouquet would be all sunflowers too... plus the invites, thank-you notes, confetti, and boutonnieres will all follow that gold-yellow theme using tiny artificial sunflowers and sprigs of wheat...
What do you guys think? Thoughts?

I think it's a great idea!👍👍
I'll look into it and send you a PM.

rustybison19 said:Not exactly my favorite look, but why not? You can definitely get sunflowers then; actually, that's peak season for them (more like September than October). I did a sunflower wedding for my cousin once. And just this past Saturday in Chicago, I actually saw a bride carrying a sunflower bouquet 😉. Plus, I just got back from a big flower wholesaler in D.C. and they had plenty of imports in stock. No clue what the price tag was, though. 😉

Honestly, roses just don't do it for me anymore... everyone uses them in one way or another, so I wanted something a little different.
Sunflowers are just so unique and gorgeous; that bright yellow totally hooked me.
I remember seeing fields of them by the highway back in May. I was feeling a little mischievous, so I actually plucked a few... so now I guess we'll see if there are any left this fall. If not, I'll just plant an entire field in the spring and hope they make it to autumn, haha...

darkraven17, they were handing out sunflower bouquets at the rally in Washington, D.C. yesterday. You can probably grab some in September, but you’ll have to look for imports since our local harvest is already wrapped up by then.

Joshua Brown2 said:darkraven17, they were handing out sunflower bouquets at the rally in Washington, D.C. yesterday. You can probably grab some in September, but you’ll have to look for imports since our local harvest is already wrapped up by then.

so I figured it was kind of like that... 😢 well... I'll just ask my mom to harvest the whole field later than everyone else so they're actually ready by September.😁

Honestly, that sunflower idea sounds great on paper. But just a heads-up: the sunflower harvest in the Midwest is already over by this time of year. If you aren't planning on importing them, you’ll need to find somewhere to plant them, and you really need to do your homework on the timing. The flowering phase can shift by as much as ten days depending on the conditions. You also have to account for the different varieties and their head sizes. If you plant them too densely, the heads will end up smaller. You might want to look specifically for "ornamental" varieties—they'd likely be more cost-effective. The ones grown for industrial use usually have tiny heads and thick, heavy stalks meant to prevent them from falling over, which totally kills the aesthetic.
Good luck...

Hey everyone—has anyone here ever picked up a wedding dress over in Memphis, maybe near the Mississippi River hotel area?
If you have, please spill the tea! I'm dying to know what the selection is like, how the pricing holds up, and any other little details you can share... help a girl out!

nimblegardener33 said:Hey, my Midwest folks... anyone ever done a wedding at the Johnson estates over in Ivanhoe?
I'm trying to find some photos of just the ballroom, but I can't find anything online. I really want to get a look at the place, thanks 😍

I have been to the Johnson Estates quite a few times. Unfortunately, all I have are videos from one particular wedding, as I don't have any actual photos of the venue. To be honest, the hall isn't my favorite, especially when you consider all the other options in the area. It feels a bit narrow, and because all the tables are lined up in one continuous row, the layout is somewhat awkward. The chairs are heavy and wooden, which creates an issue; if someone sitting at the end of the hall needs to get up—say, to use the restroom or step outside for a moment—they have to squeeze past everyone else. Because of that, it wouldn't be at the top of my list.🤷

boldcrane143 said:I have been to the Johnson Estates quite a few times. Unfortunately, all I have are videos from one particular wedding, as I don't have any actual photos of the venue. To be honest, the hall isn't my favorite, especially when you consider all the other options in the area. It feels a bit narrow, and because all the tables are lined up in one continuous row, the layout is somewhat awkward. The chairs are heavy and wooden, which creates an issue; if someone sitting at the end of the hall needs to get up—say, to use the restroom or step outside for a moment—they have to squeeze past everyone else. Because of that, it wouldn't be at the top of my list.🤷

I don't know when you were last there... I was there like two months ago. The tables are oval now, and the chairs have white covers, kind of like our hall 😍... it's just a small room 🙄... looks like our guests will be in the same hall 😍 , ours right 5 spots before 😉

nimblegardener33 said:I don't know when you were last there... I was there like two months ago. The tables are oval now, and the chairs have white covers, kind of like our hall 😍... it's just a small room 🙄... looks like our guests will be in the same hall 😍 , ours right 5 spots before 😉

Oh, man, the last time I was there was back in November of last year. I don't get out to Memphis very often, so I honestly haven't kept up with what's changed lately... and regarding that hall, even having oval tables isn't going to save the vibe 😉.

Are you hosting your wedding at Lucy's Place too? Please, 😉😍

Hey everyone,
I’m pretty new to this forum and also totally new to the whole wedding planning chaos. I’ve read through this entire thread from the very beginning, and while you guys have been super helpful, I still have a few things on my mind...😁

First off, we’re planning to hold the wedding at the Admiral Hotel in Columbus. We're looking at one of their smaller banquet rooms since we're capping the guest list at about 100 people. I was wondering if anyone here has hosted an event there or attended a wedding in that space? What were your impressions?

Also, if you wouldn't mind sending me a private message with contact info for any photographers or florists you’ve used—and maybe even a ballpark idea of what they charged—that would be amazing.

I’ve started talking to the band Twist Off, and I'm curious to know what you all think of them or if you've heard anything about their performance style.

And last, but definitely not least... my dress... 🙂
So, I actually found this really simple, elegant dress online that I absolutely love. I want to get married in something just like it, so I’m planning to have it custom-made. I visited a few different bridal boutiques in Indianapolis, but so far, only The Spot on Main Street said they actually do custom sewing; everywhere else just seems to rent dresses out. At The Spot, getting a simple design like mine made would cost $1167, so if you happen to know of any good seamstresses or boutiques in Indianapolis or Columbus that handle custom work, please let me know!

Thanks in advance, cheers!!

Gary Fox89 said:Hey everyone,
I’m pretty new to this forum and also totally new to the whole wedding planning chaos. I’ve read through this entire thread from the very beginning, and while you guys have been super helpful, I still have a few things on my mind...😁

First off, we’re planning to hold the wedding at the Admiral Hotel in Columbus. We're looking at one of their smaller banquet rooms since we're capping the guest list at about 100 people. I was wondering if anyone here has hosted an event there or attended a wedding in that space? What were your impressions?

Also, if you wouldn't mind sending me a private message with contact info for any photographers or florists you’ve used—and maybe even a ballpark idea of what they charged—that would be amazing.

I’ve started talking to the band Twist Off, and I'm curious to know what you all think of them or if you've heard anything about their performance style.

And last, but definitely not least... my dress... 🙂
So, I actually found this really simple, elegant dress online that I absolutely love. I want to get married in something just like it, so I’m planning to have it custom-made. I visited a few different bridal boutiques in Indianapolis, but so far, only The Spot on Main Street said they actually do custom sewing; everywhere else just seems to rent dresses out. At The Spot, getting a simple design like mine made would cost $1167, so if you happen to know of any good seamstresses or boutiques in Indianapolis or Columbus that handle custom work, please let me know!

Thanks in advance, cheers!!

Welcome, 🙂
I can go ahead and open this up with some answers. I have a wedding at the Admiral in 17 days 😲 😁
The venue recommended the florist Valentina from Springfield (Jack) and I actually went to meet her this past Sunday to finalize things. For table arrangements, the head table, centerpieces, entrance decor, and napkin rings, they’re charging us about $667. Honestly, I have no idea if that's high or low, but my friends paid the same amount, so I assume that's just the standard rate.
My photographer is Video Focus from Savannah (Mark 😍)
The band is Crystal.

Regarding the dress, if it isn't overly complicated (you mentioned it's a simple style), then this price might be a bit steep. I know a seamstress near the Black River that my friends really like, though I haven't used her myself.
Also, there's Anne's Bridal Salon in Savannah (the owner does all the sewing herself)—I suspect she would charge you less than The Spot..

Emily Allen7 said:Does anyone have some good recommendations for a photographer and videographer? Also, has anyone here dealt with a photography fail before?

I’d definitely suggest checking out Digital Studio Manic over in the Midwest area.

Gary Fox89 said:Hey everyone,
I’m pretty new to this forum and also totally new to the whole wedding planning chaos. I’ve read through this entire thread from the very beginning, and while you guys have been super helpful, I still have a few things on my mind...😁

First off, we’re planning to hold the wedding at the Admiral Hotel in Columbus. We're looking at one of their smaller banquet rooms since we're capping the guest list at about 100 people. I was wondering if anyone here has hosted an event there or attended a wedding in that space? What were your impressions?

Also, if you wouldn't mind sending me a private message with contact info for any photographers or florists you’ve used—and maybe even a ballpark idea of what they charged—that would be amazing.

I’ve started talking to the band Twist Off, and I'm curious to know what you all think of them or if you've heard anything about their performance style.

And last, but definitely not least... my dress... 🙂
So, I actually found this really simple, elegant dress online that I absolutely love. I want to get married in something just like it, so I’m planning to have it custom-made. I visited a few different bridal boutiques in Indianapolis, but so far, only The Spot on Main Street said they actually do custom sewing; everywhere else just seems to rent dresses out. At The Spot, getting a simple design like mine made would cost $1167, so if you happen to know of any good seamstresses or boutiques in Indianapolis or Columbus that handle custom work, please let me know!

Thanks in advance, cheers!!

Honestly, Twisties is a top-tier band.

You looked absolutely stunning! Seriously, where did you find that wedding dress? It was just perfect.👍

boldcrane143 said:Oh, man, the last time I was there was back in November of last year. I don't get out to Memphis very often, so I honestly haven't kept up with what's changed lately... and regarding that hall, even having oval tables isn't going to save the vibe 😉.

Are you hosting your wedding at Lucy's Place too? Please, 😉😍

honestly, true....that hall is pretty cramped, nothing special...yeah, we do have weddings in Lucy 😍 ...but that hall is way better 😍 👍

Does anyone know who rents out bubble machines? Is there anything available in Vegas and what's the going rate...