Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Kimberly Kern2 said:Alright, I’m jumping in here to join the conversation. I’m getting married this year in August, right in the middle of Des Moines. I’ve already checked off the big stuff—got the venue, the photographer, the videographer, even the dress—and now I’m staring down the barrel of wedding invitations. Does anyone know where I can pick some up around town and what kind of damage I should expect to take on the wallet? Also, how far in advance do I actually need to get these things ordered? Like, how much lead time do I realistically need before they're ready to go?

Check out the local boutique on Strossmayer Street right next to the Walmart (yes, that's actually what's on their sign!!). I saw some seriously cute stuff there; they have girls who handcraft all their own invitations, RSVP cards, and all that good stuff.

Justin Martinez3 said:and the prices have gone through the roof 😠

I wouldn't know about that...

cosmicmarlin20 said:I wouldn't know about that...

Personally, I think a price hike of 100%—or even more—is just straight-up delusional.

I'm with you on that one...

B. Mary, I see you’re getting hitched next summer—so, what’s the plan for the guest list? Are we talking a massive blowout or just a small, intimate thing?
Have you guys even scouted out a venue yet?

ruggedtrucker5 said:Well, there's the Trend hair salon—right underneath it, you'll find Zrinka's beauty parlor (they do makeup, nails, the whole nine yards). If you want everything under one roof, you should check out Studio 54, or maybe Visage or Esenka. They've all got you covered!

Wait, isn't Essence closed now? 😕

I’d also highly recommend Studio 54 🙏 for pretty much anything—hair, nails, makeup, spray tans... Tom really nails it, and Anita does great work too. 🙏

Christian Taylor8, thanks a million! That’ll definitely come in handy, especially since I’ll probably end up DIY-ing the lapels myself. As for the invitations and thank-you notes, I heard about a print shop over in Des Moines that sounds like a real steal—good quality without breaking the bank. I’m assuming that little cabinet is located on the same street as the bridal boutique Lisa runs; I actually swung by last month and ended up getting turned away a couple of times because they were running on reduced hours for summer vacation. Honestly, I live out on the coast, so I’m usually only making the trip to the city every other month or so. I don't have much time to wander around aimlessly, so any intel you can drop is gold.

Besides Grafoart, we also ran into Stella over in Des Moines; they've got great prices and a solid selection.
I feel bad for Lisa, but honestly, just give them a call before you head into the USA to set up an appointment because they definitely aren't on your way. The girls there are awesome and you can work everything out with them directly.
As for the cabinet, once you leave Lisa's, head east, follow the road for about a mile, and you'll see a little cabinet sitting on the right side.

😁

Christian Taylor8 said:Besides Grafoart, we also ran into Stella over in Des Moines; they've got great prices and a solid selection.
I feel bad for Lisa, but honestly, just give them a call before you head into the USA to set up an appointment because they definitely aren't on your way. The girls there are awesome and you can work everything out with them directly.
As for the cabinet, once you leave Lisa's, head east, follow the road for about a mile, and you'll see a little cabinet sitting on the right side.

We totally misunderstood each other 😁, I actually thought that cabinet shop might be on the same street as Lisa since I saw a little boutique across from the bakery that sells wedding stuff. But I never really saw their inventory because the place was closed every single time I passed by. Anyway, I ended up getting my wedding dress at Lisa's, and the girls there are seriously👍

Justin Martinez3 said:B. Mary, I see you’re getting hitched next summer—so, what’s the plan for the guest list? Are we talking a massive blowout or just a small, intimate thing?
Have you guys even scouted out a venue yet?

Around 300 people... I’d call that a mid-sized crowd. Where I grew up in the Midwest, weddings are always massive operations. We already booked the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza, which is easily the best venue around...

What about you? 🙂

Anonymous said:Wait, isn't Essence closed now? 😕

I’d also highly recommend Studio 54 🙏 for pretty much anything—hair, nails, makeup, spray tans... Tom really nails it, and Anita does great work too. 🙏

Nah, definitely not,,, I actually passed by there today,, looks fine to me,,, we'll just have to see if the service actually sucks or not...

cosmicmarlin20 said:Around 300 people... I’d call that a mid-sized crowd. Where I grew up in the Midwest, weddings are always massive operations. We already booked the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza, which is easily the best venue around...

What about you? 🙂

Well, we haven't actually locked in a final date yet, but we're looking at somewhere in the next two years or so. We talk about it constantly, and we've settled on a rough guest list of about 150 people.

Sure, weddings around here can easily hit 300 or 400 guests, but **honestly, I don't even know that many people.

If you want my two cents, the headcount doesn't really matter—whether it's 50 or 800, what matters is that it turns out exactly how the couple envisioned it.
For me, the priority is just making sure my friends and I throw an incredible party that everyone will remember. 🙂

I mean, I'm with you on that... the young crowd matters, along with what they actually want to see, plus having a solid group there to set the right vibe on the dance floor... honestly, we were thinking around 200 people at first, but that number keeps climbing... 🙂

Look, every wedding is its own unique thing—and yours will be just as special when that day finally rolls around. It’ll be one-of-a-kind because it’s centered entirely around the two of you and the love you share, so honestly? Let the guest count climb if it has to; as long as everything goes off without a hitch, that's all that matters. 😁

Hey everyone, quick question—does anyone know where I can pick up some decent, budget-friendly candles around Indianapolis? I’m not looking for those little floating ones either; I need the thicker, standard pillar types... kind of like these:

http://www.freefoto.com/images/90/18...Yahoo.jpg

Thanks!

cosmicmarlin20 said:Nah, definitely not,,, I actually passed by there today,, looks fine to me,,, we'll just have to see if the service actually sucks or not...

It looks like some misinformation definitely got out there.😁

They’re decent—super friendly, at least—and from what I can tell, they do good work. I haven't been there enough times yet to give a definitive verdict, though.

Sandra Morgan7 said:Hey everyone, quick question—does anyone know where I can pick up some decent, budget-friendly candles around Indianapolis? I’m not looking for those little floating ones either; I need the thicker, standard pillar types... kind of like these:

http://www.freefoto.com/images/90/18...Yahoo.jpg

Thanks!

All I know is you can find every color and style at CVS, but their prices aren't exactly great...

but if you hit up a Walgreens, you can grab the big ones for like a couple of bucks

Sandra Morgan7 said:Hey everyone, quick question—does anyone know where I can pick up some decent, budget-friendly candles around Indianapolis? I’m not looking for those little floating ones either; I need the thicker, standard pillar types... kind of like these:

http://www.freefoto.com/images/90/18...Yahoo.jpg

Thanks!

check out http://www.svijece.com they were at the trade show and they're based out of Indy. Way cheaper than hitting up the mall... 🙂

Thanks so much, ladies! 😁

I was wondering if anyone here has experience attending weddings at the banquet hall in downtown Chicago? Specifically, I'm looking for some honest feedback on the quality of the food, how attentive the service staff tends to be, and—most importantly—how that attic-level event space actually holds up when you've got about 180 guests packed in there.