Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

The Babylon band from Gradište and the Prijatelji crew from Jarmina are both absolutely fantastic! I actually had the pleasure of hearing Babylon perform at a few weddings where they didn't play any traditional folk music, which left such a wonderful impression on me—they even played some great international hits! They really are top-notch performers. I'm not entirely sure if they usually lean into the more traditional stuff, though...
As for the Prijatelji group, they have that quintessential, authentic local vibe. Honestly, both bands are incredible at getting the party started; I had such an amazing time at weddings featuring either one of them...

neonridge38 said:Does anyone have a recommendation for a top-tier wedding band from the Midwest? Also, does anyone happen to know what their typical rates look like these days? Thanks in advance!

I just sent you a DM with the rates for Sax

Hey,
has anyone ever tried those cookies from Buffalo? There’s this bakery over in Indianapolis, down in the South, and I was just wondering if anyone here actually has any experience with them.

Thanks,

Hey Veronika, May 16th.

Listen, I was at a wedding at a hotel in Rome last September, and if there’s one thing I learned, it’s that you absolutely HAVE to watch the catering. My sister-in-law actually had two whole pigs and about seven or eight cakes swiped right out from under her nose.
The next morning, she finally realized what happened and absolutely lost it—started a massive scene—but honestly? It was like shouting into the wind. No one cared, nobody took responsibility for the missing food, and they didn't even give her a discount on the bill. Total nothingburger.
My advice? Assign someone—a trusted friend or a cousin—to be your eyes and ears. Someone to make sure everything is going exactly according to your vision... otherwise, everything else was actually wonderful, and that’s my only real gripe.

So, here’s my question for the group: does anyone know where I can order dessert near Indianapolis or even a bit further out, specifically places that are guaranteed to be delicious?
See, I'm based in Washington, D.C., but the wedding is going to be held out in the Midwest, so it's a bit of a logistical nightmare trying to vet the bakeries from a distance... so please, I'm begging for some recommendations!

I am heading over to Savannah in a few days to visit an old lady I heard about. Word is her desserts are absolutely legendary. My godmother orders from her regularly, so I figure it's worth a shot. The best part is she packs them in a way that they stay chilled, so you don't have to stress about them melting during the drive. I will let you know if they actually live up to the hype once I try them.😉

And yes... she is fully certified...

Thanks a million...
Let me know once you’ve given it a shot—you absolutely have to tell me where to find that "little gem" of a spot. And, if you don't mind me asking, what’s the damage per pound? Just want to get a sense of the pricing so I know what I'm getting into...

The town is called Rustica... a bit clumsy of me. She prepares them by the tray; you get 30 pastries—15 varieties, two of each—weighing roughly 1.2 kg. A single tray costs $23. You can borrow her sturdy trays with lids and return them later, which is convenient since I have no use for extra Tupperware. They are available for purchase at $1.75 per unit. I'll report back on the flavor once I've sampled them, but my friend swears by them. She is incredibly picky, so I trust her judgment. I just want my sugar fix, so I'll head there 😬 😬

Hey, regarding that trade show in Indianapolis... anyone from Indy here who can walk me through how to get to Hall South 2?? Coming from the direction of the NBA arena
I don't want to end up wandering around aimlessly😢

So, basically, if you're looking for it near the Walmart, it’s right by that last overpass when you’re taking the bypass toward the suburbs. You know, once you get past the overpass near the Metro and the local park, you hit the entrance to Indianapolis, and it’s immediately on the right side, just before the Walmart and that pet shop—the one where that big white dog with black spots sits on the roof. haha 🙂

thanks a ton,,,, i should be good to go now, haha

Hey everyone!
Does anyone have the scoop on the wedding venue Melanie is looking at over by the Gate? I’m originally from Indianapolis, so it’s a pretty quick trip for me, and the menu prices don't look too crazy. My only real fear is getting hit with those "pay-to-play" DJs where the music quality depends on how much you tip. Since I'm just starting to dive into all this planning madness, any intel would be a lifesaver 🙏

God!

Can someone help me out? How do I get to South Hall II tomorrow (Feb 14th) if I'm driving in from Savannah?

Maria Nelson44 said:God!

Can someone help me out? How do I get to South Hall II tomorrow (Feb 14th) if I'm driving in from Savannah?

If you're coming through the outskirts, don't head into the city center. Instead, near the gas station before the overpass, take a right onto the beltway. Take the second exit, turn right again, then hit the roundabout. You'll end up right in front of the hall. At the first exit, you'll see the subway station and the stadium on your left—just pass those. At the second exit, you'll see the hall on your left side; it’s yellow, located right next to a Kroger and a pet shop.

So, what's the word on Jeremiah over in Tennessee? Anyone heard anything lately?

swiftsurfer97 said:Hey Veronika, May 16th.

Listen, I was at a wedding at a hotel in Rome last September, and if there’s one thing I learned, it’s that you absolutely HAVE to watch the catering. My sister-in-law actually had two whole pigs and about seven or eight cakes swiped right out from under her nose.
The next morning, she finally realized what happened and absolutely lost it—started a massive scene—but honestly? It was like shouting into the wind. No one cared, nobody took responsibility for the missing food, and they didn't even give her a discount on the bill. Total nothingburger.
My advice? Assign someone—a trusted friend or a cousin—to be your eyes and ears. Someone to make sure everything is going exactly according to your vision... otherwise, everything else was actually wonderful, and that’s my only real gripe.

So, here’s my question for the group: does anyone know where I can order dessert near Indianapolis or even a bit further out, specifically places that are guaranteed to be delicious?
See, I'm based in Washington, D.C., but the wedding is going to be held out in the Midwest, so it's a bit of a logistical nightmare trying to vet the bakeries from a distance... so please, I'm begging for some recommendations!

Maybe consider Kruna Bakery? They have some photos of their pastries and wedding cakes here...I was really impressed by what they offer. We ended up going with a local lady who rented us our venue instead because they talked us into it, and while her treats were wonderful, she didn't quite nail the wedding cake design I had in mind.👎
I've had Kruna's treats at weddings a few times and they were excellent... you can definitely negotiate the cake design to fit what you want... they seem reliable and have all the right certifications, so there's a decent guarantee.🤷 I don't have any connection to them, just sharing my experience.😛

Kim, thanks a million! Fingers crossed I can actually track it down. 🙄

Honestly, I have to admit that I walked away feeling quite disappointed after visiting the wedding expo in Indianapolis. The absolute highlight of my day—the one thing that truly brightened my spirits—was that singing competition they held for the couples! They were all such charming, lovely people, weren't they? But as for the expo itself, I feel it was somewhat doomed from the start, primarily because they decided to mash together wedding planning with baby gear and children's products... It felt so disjointed! On top of that, there were so few vendors to browse through; the whole affair just seemed rather lackluster and underwhelming to me...😢

Paul Taylor4 said:Hey everyone!
Does anyone have the scoop on the wedding venue Melanie is looking at over by the Gate? I’m originally from Indianapolis, so it’s a pretty quick trip for me, and the menu prices don't look too crazy. My only real fear is getting hit with those "pay-to-play" DJs where the music quality depends on how much you tip. Since I'm just starting to dive into all this planning madness, any intel would be a lifesaver 🙏

The venue is really spacious and lovely, though I did hear from some friends that the owner quoted one price initially and then changed it when it came time to pay... I can't say much more than that, but overall it's a beautiful spot that holds a good amount of people. Maybe you could try to find a number to call or just stop by to chat with her in person; I think you might want to book it sooner rather than later.

Hello, I’ve been lurking here for quite a while without really having anything to ask, but since we should probably start locking in our reservations soon, I wanted to see if anyone has any insight regarding the Sphere arena in Indianapolis (I'm not even sure if that's the right name).
Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

Morgan Stewart50 said:Honestly, I have to admit that I walked away feeling quite disappointed after visiting the wedding expo in Indianapolis. The absolute highlight of my day—the one thing that truly brightened my spirits—was that singing competition they held for the couples! They were all such charming, lovely people, weren't they? But as for the expo itself, I feel it was somewhat doomed from the start, primarily because they decided to mash together wedding planning with baby gear and children's products... It felt so disjointed! On top of that, there were so few vendors to browse through; the whole affair just seemed rather lackluster and underwhelming to me...😢

Yeah, tell me about it. I’m disappointed too... there were literally three booths! And two of them were just wedding dresses 😁
I have no clue why they organized it like that... I was actually hoping to browse some jewelry and maybe snag a discount... what a complete waste of time 😠😕