Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Of course 🙂 thanks, Joshua Brown2!

Now I’m on the hunt for the phone number for unknown—she does makeup (feel free to just DM me if you have it!)—and I also need another recommendation for a hairstylist in Indianapolis. Thanks so much, ladies!

Brian Murphy7 said:Are you telling me nobody was at Rene's wedding? Come on, ladies, please...

The last time I was there was about three years ago, so I honestly find it quite difficult to offer any real feedback right now since I’ve heard they’ve done a massive amount of renovations lately. It wouldn't feel right for me to criticize things that have likely already been fixed up! I will, however, offer one little word of caution—and I think I might have mentioned this to someone else before—just make sure you double-check everything at the venue. You know, verify that the restrooms are in good shape, ensure the AC is going to run smoothly all night without them hitting you with an extra fee like they did to my bridesmaid, and confirm they won't charge you $67 just because two glasses got broken or a plate was chipped... Just a little heads-up...🙄

It feels like this subforum is slowly fading into oblivion, so I thought I’d take a moment to share a quick list of the wonderful people who helped make my wedding absolutely perfect, from the photo studios to the florists...
-The family-run photography studio, unknown, which did such an incredible job capturing everything!
-The florist, unknown, whose work I was beyond thrilled with—though honestly, the bouquet was hands down the star of the show!
-The venue, unknown, where the manager put in so much heart and effort, and the chef, unknown, who became like family to me over time!
-My lovely hairstylist, unknown, from my hometown
-Makeup by Studio 54—thank you so much, Doris!
-Oh, I almost forgot—the LEGENDARY unknown from Indianapolis—unknown, unknown, unknown, and the rest of the guys—you all were absolutely amazing! Thank you so much!!!
The wedding cake was from unknown—I was just so happy with it—huge thanks to unknown!
And the pastries were from unknown

I’m certain I’ve missed someone, but I’m sure they’ll come back to me eventually...

Does anyone have any solid recommendations for a salon in Des Moines? I’m looking for someone who can handle both hair and makeup at the same time. 🙂

copperhawk said:Hey, fellow Slavonkas! I need some serious help here—can anyone give me the lowdown on photographers and videographers in Pittsburgh? Who’s actually legit and worth the money, and who should I definitely steer clear of?

I've attached a link with a few shots from a wedding captured by photo Dan under Lightshow. Just a heads up, I've blurred out the faces to respect everyone's privacy.

Does anyone happen to have any firsthand experience working with Getty Images based out of Des Moines? I would appreciate any insight.🙂

I might have missed this or maybe someone already asked, but I’ve been scrolling back through about ten pages and couldn't find anything on this specific topic... and honestly, I didn't want to dig any deeper because I feel like I'm cutting it a bit close at this point...

Seriously though, does anyone know where—or even if it's possible—to order chair covers online? I'm based out in the Midwest, and I've got this wedding coming up... The chairs themselves are actually really pretty... they're wooden and well-crafted... but now I'm torn between buying actual seat cushions or just trying to go with chair covers... Covers feel a bit more formal, I guess, but whatever is faster and won't break the bank is what I'm leaning toward...

Can anyone please help me out here?? 😉😉

Thanks a million!!

analoglynx18 said:Does anyone happen to have any firsthand experience working with Getty Images based out of Des Moines? I would appreciate any insight.🙂

I'm not sure if they've updated their gear lately... because just a few years back, their photos looked like they were taken in a different century.👎

Jesse Murphy76 said:I'm not sure if they've updated their gear lately... because just a few years back, their photos looked like they were taken in a different century.👎

I suspect he hasn't changed one bit. While I will concede that his photographic quality surpasses anyone else in the local area, his level of creativity is, quite frankly, non-existent. It leaves much to be desired. I find myself wondering where exactly he resides these days. And as for his arrogance? There is truly no point in discussing it; it is quite overwhelming. Still, I suppose one must take what they can get. He is certainly an improvement over the rest of them, most of whom produce nothing but dark, blurry shots taken from the most bizarre angles imaginable.

So, we’re hosting the wedding reception at a restaurant in a suburb outside of Chicagohttp://www.ktc.hr/ugostiteljstvo/ugo...20Kutjevo.html
Price point:$33
For the menu, we’re doing our own thing—roasted meats, lamb, some desserts, and a cake
The price doesn't cover drinks, but once we factor those in, we're looking at roughly $130 per person$47

They aren't open on Sundays, so we won't be able to do lunch there. Most likely, we'll just host the meal at the community hall back in our small town (it's a dedicated event space, by the way) if it happens to be free—if not, we'll just keep things low-key at the house

That’s all the updates I have for now. I'll let you guys know when I hear anything else

Has anyone actually used the catering services over at Freedom Hall for a wedding before????

Morgan Stewart50 said:It feels like this subforum is slowly fading into oblivion, so I thought I’d take a moment to share a quick list of the wonderful people who helped make my wedding absolutely perfect, from the photo studios to the florists...
-The family-run photography studio, unknown, which did such an incredible job capturing everything!
-The florist, unknown, whose work I was beyond thrilled with—though honestly, the bouquet was hands down the star of the show!
-The venue, unknown, where the manager put in so much heart and effort, and the chef, unknown, who became like family to me over time!
-My lovely hairstylist, unknown, from my hometown
-Makeup by Studio 54—thank you so much, Doris!
-Oh, I almost forgot—the LEGENDARY unknown from Indianapolis—unknown, unknown, unknown, and the rest of the guys—you all were absolutely amazing! Thank you so much!!!
The wedding cake was from unknown—I was just so happy with it—huge thanks to unknown!
And the pastries were from unknown

I’m certain I’ve missed someone, but I’m sure they’ll come back to me eventually...

Could you send me the number for the cake maker via PM? 😍
How much did it cost? And did you bring your own design, or were you stuck choosing from what she already offered?

Just an idea, though I’m not sure if the mods will even let me post this...
It might be useful if someone uploaded some shots of the ballrooms we managed to snap. It would help people get an idea of the layout, and honestly, I could use to see a few more myself.
What do you guys think? 😍

One more thing...
Does anyone have recommendations for a wedding makeup artist?
I heard there’s a great spot at Macy's, right across from the cathedral, that does killer work. I once visited a studio on Broadway where an older lady works—she spent years in Berlin doing makeup for high-end models. Honestly, I was floored; she knew exactly how to highlight my best features. The only thing I remember clearly is that a single session cost $40.

But does anyone know a pro who will actually come to the house? And more importantly, someone who won't mess up the job when it counts 😁

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some serious input here. What are your go-to wedding traditions? I want to know everything—from the ceremony itself to the groom's entrance all the way down to the bouquet toss. Also, which photo studio should I actually trust with my big day, and what kind of music is a must-have? I'm based out of Columbus, so any local advice would be a lifesaver. 🙂

Robin Cruz16 said:Hey everyone! I’m looking for some serious input here. What are your go-to wedding traditions? I want to know everything—from the ceremony itself to the groom's entrance all the way down to the bouquet toss. Also, which photo studio should I actually trust with my big day, and what kind of music is a must-have? I'm based out of Columbus, so any local advice would be a lifesaver. 🙂

Since I live right near you, let's go for it:
So, let’s talk traditions—because if you think weddings are just about white dresses and overpriced catering, you haven't seen anything yet. The whole thing usually kicks off with the groom heading out to pick up his best man first. They grab some drinks, have a little pre-game celebration, and then he heads over to the bride's place. When he actually shows up at her house, there’s this whole bit where everyone dances around her before the party officially gets moving. Then comes the "negotiation" phase once the wedding party enters the house—they basically haggle over the price of the bride. It sounds wild, I know, but they sometimes even use decoys to drive the price up before the actual bride finally makes her appearance. Once the deal is struck, she starts pinning boutonnieres on the groom, the parents, the best man, and the bridesmaids. There’s more dancing at the house, and then it’s off to the church. If the church is close enough, the whole procession walks there, usually led by a live band keeping the energy up. Inside the church, the entrance varies depending on who's walking with whom—some brides walk with their fathers, some with the best man, and some go straight to the groom. After the ceremony, it’s all about the congratulations and the photo ops, while the band keeps things lively outside the church doors until the newlyweds emerge. From there, it’s straight to the reception hall, and you know how that goes: dinner, endless dancing that lasts half the night, cake, opening gifts, those traditional dances with the bride, and finally, the bouquet toss to wrap it all up.

Look, forgive me if I accidentally missed something—I’m probably forgetting a detail here or there—but that should pretty much cover the basics. Honestly, I can't even remember exactly where in the ballroom they set up that whole "stolen shoe" thing, so don't hold me to that. And as for the gift-giving? Usually, the bride handles the gifts for her parents, the godparents, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen. That's just how it goes.

So, she’s asking which photo studio is the best—but honestly, that’s a pretty loaded question. It really all comes down to how you define "best." Are we talking about the absolute top-tier quality where the lighting and editing are flawless, or are we just looking for someone who won't charge us an entire month's rent for a single session? Is "better" defined by the artistry or the price tag? It depends entirely on what you actually need out of the shoot. 🤷
I feel like I could probably go on forever about a lot of things here. 😁

Music... honestly, where do we even start? It’s one of those things that feels like it should be simple, but once you actually sit down to talk about it, everything gets complicated fast. There's nothing quite like getting lost in a specific sound—that feeling when a track just hits right—but then you have people trying to turn it into some high-brow academic debate or a way to gatekeep what's "real." I’ve always felt that music is deeply personal, yet everyone wants to argue about genres like they’re defending territory in a border dispute. You've got your purists who think anything made after 1975 is garbage, and then you've got the folks who think if it doesn't have a heavy bass drop, it isn't worth listening to. It’s a bit much, isn't it? Personally, I just want something that doesn't make me want to pull my hair out after three listens. Give me something with actual soul—something that feels like it was written by a human being and not an algorithm designed to maximize Spotify engagement. That's the real struggle these days. 🤷

copperheron79 said:Does anyone have any solid recommendations for a salon in Des Moines? I’m looking for someone who can handle both hair and makeup at the same time. 🙂

My friend and I used the makeup services at Cosmoderm for her wedding party. The results were beyond words. They specialize in a natural look using high-end products. Despite the sweltering heat that day, my makeup didn't budge. It was actually difficult to wash off the next morning. I am usually skeptical about these things, but the quality was undeniable. As for hair, I can't speak to their work. I stick to my regular stylist at a local salon—someone I'd never visit if she weren't there—and my hair stays perfect despite being unmanageable. However, I have heard the hair stylist sharing space with Cosmoderm is excellent.

Hey guys, I need a quick favor—does anyone happen to remember the name of that lady from Small Town, USA who does all those amazing baked goods for the local fundraisers? I know her treats go for about $18 a pound, and she’s not just some hobbyist; she actually runs a legit registered business out of her kitchen or shop. I'm in a bit of a rush to track down her name so I can grab her number...

please help me out here

Angela Davis74, thanks a ton for getting back to me 🙂

Here’s a little something actually useful for once
restaurants and event halls around the Topeka area
I can also list some other venues in my neck of the woods (Topeka)
The new Linden-Svecan wedding hall--
pricing
-up to 250 guests-$25 per head
-over 250 guests-$20 per head
that includes a classic menu (soup, boiled chicken and beef + gravy and horseradish sauce, cabbage rolls, roast meat + two types of salad, lamb + salad, all drinks included) but no desserts or cake
-plenty of parking guaranteed
I have their number too—if anyone is actually interested, just shoot me a private message (unfortunately, I'm just scouring the web here and don't have any photos to upload for you)

White House-Blacko (near Lancaster) http://www.destinacije.com/datum_nav...&cp=112&s=Next
it's a massive hall, I think it fits about 500-600 people
parking is sorted
I'm not sure about the prices, but here's the link so you can contact them yourselves

Honda-Jaksic
http://www.portir.com/america-poslov...DA-Jaksic.html

Small Business Center-Topeka
http://www.portir.com/america-poslov...OM-Pozega.html
http://www.destinacije.com/datum_nav...8.&cp=1&s=Next

Stanisic Villa Restaurant
personally, I think it's a really lovely spot for a smaller wedding
it's located right in the heart of downtown

Grgin Hotel--Topeka
http://www.destinacije.com/Slike/Hrv..._Grgin_Dol.JPG
http://www.croatiahotelsguide.com/details.php?id=2033

honestly, nothing else is coming to mind right now
but if I remember anything else, I'll add it to the list