Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

It doesn't matter; that's exactly why we're here to help

swiftcrane31 said:Would anyone be willing to share Diana's number with me? My wedding is coming up this May and I honestly have no clue who might end up being my partner yet...
Does anyone happen to know a great florist around here, and does anyone have an idea of what the typical costs for wedding flowers look like these days? Thanks so much!

Oh man, can I get that makeup artist's number as well?? Seriously, I've got my big day coming up in just five months too, and I was totally banking on Helen from Walmart to handle my look... but that fell through completely. 😢 Now I'm starting to panic a little bit thinking everything won't come together the way it's supposed to. 😢

ruggedtrucker5 said:Personally, I’d suggest the bakery run by Katarina vl. Ljilja Medved Ivankovo in Vinkovci—their pastries are incredible, and the cakes are just as good. Honestly, everything they make is delicious to me. A massive three-tier cake in whatever flavor you fancy is $233 (you won't be able to stop eating it!)...

So, what kind of weight are we talking about when it comes to their dessert spreads? And do they actually handle the delivery right to the venue for you? Thanks! 🙂

And hey, just thought I’d throw a little tip out there in case anyone is looking for those little treat boxes to hand out to guests when they head out the door. I picked up $53 — a whole pack of 150—over at Subway, and honestly, I think it was a total steal. They’re just your standard, clear plastic 🙂

Bradley Wright said:I've been going to Marina for skin treatments for years, so when it came to choosing someone for my big day, I didn't hesitate to pick her. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure how her makeup skills were (I'd actually wondered myself!), so I'm really glad you brought her up. She truly is excellent.

Lady Dea,

There are way too many Marinas in DJK (it actually occurred to me that there were more back in the day, too; I remember one working up North), but I’m thinking of the one over on Satnicki Street (Starcevic), right above that other Marina's hair salon. 🙂)) Way too many Marinas... haha 🙂

So, anyone got a specific jewelry store they’d recommend for wedding bands? Or maybe some horror stories or good shoutouts about certain places... ???

From what I've seen so far, the prices on these ring models vary like crazy. Some jewelers claim they can easily add a rounded edge to a band—you know, making it way more comfortable and polished to wear—and swear the price stays the same. But then other shops start making excuses, saying it'll be harder to do or that the price is gonna jump up. Some even say it's impossible for certain styles. What's the deal? Has anyone actually dealt with this crap before? 😍😍😍

My advice is to steer clear of the jeweler located inside the General Mills in Columbus. They sell yellow gold rings that are coated in something meant to mimic white gold, only for you to end up with a multicolored ring a month later once the finish wears off. I'm writing this based on my own unfortunate experience.

Jason Howard5 said:So, anyone got a specific jewelry store they’d recommend for wedding bands? Or maybe some horror stories or good shoutouts about certain places... ???

From what I've seen so far, the prices on these ring models vary like crazy. Some jewelers claim they can easily add a rounded edge to a band—you know, making it way more comfortable and polished to wear—and swear the price stays the same. But then other shops start making excuses, saying it'll be harder to do or that the price is gonna jump up. Some even say it's impossible for certain styles. What's the deal? Has anyone actually dealt with this crap before? 😍😍😍

Here is my take. We bought our rings at Karat Jewelers just before Christmas. They have the biggest selection in town (speaking specifically about Columbus), and we managed to snag a 20% discount. Once we picked them out, we had to wait three days for them to be finished. One thing to note: the final price ended up being a bit higher than some $33 after they resized my ring to fit better. My verdict? Go with Karat.

My apologies if I've missed the mark on this thread, but I am in desperate need of a photographer recommendation (the wedding is being held in Indianapolis)... I'm looking for someone who actually knows what they're doing, but won't absolutely bankrupt me in the process (and since I'm no longer in a financial crisis 🙂
!

Jesse Watson40 said:My advice is to steer clear of the jeweler located inside the General Mills in Columbus. They sell yellow gold rings that are coated in something meant to mimic white gold, only for you to end up with a multicolored ring a month later once the finish wears off. I'm writing this based on my own unfortunate experience.

Ugh, that is honestly terrible! Some lady at one of the jewelry stores actually tried to tell us that it was some kind of "new technique" they were using. Like, really? They probably do that if they're mixing yellow and white gold... Whatever. I am definitely going to have to grill them about that before I even think about buying a ring.

So, I actually had some rings custom-made at that jeweler over at General Mills using white gold, and we’ve been wearing them every single day for about a year now. Honestly? Everything is holding up perfectly. We’re super happy with how they turned out. I even ended up taking one of the rings to a local jeweler just to double-check that the white gold hallmark was legit, and yep—everything checked out fine. Just wanted to share my experience! 🙂

If you're looking to pull together a wedding and need tents, coolers, or refrigerators, I've got you covered. I can also handle the catering side—think slicing and styling all those deli meats and roasts for a buffet, plus setting up the whole spread. I’m happy to decorate the buffet, the tents, and the tables using my own gear, too... we're talking white drapery, whatever color scheme you're feeling, floral arrangements, and other decor pieces.

Tyler Brown4 said:Since we're talking about photographers, I should probably weigh in. My fiancé and I visited Shutterfly in Savannah today, and to put it mildly, the experience was an absolute disaster. I have never encountered anything more unprofessional or rude in my life. First, we asked if we could see a few samples of their work to get a sense of their style. They told us they had no idea where those were kept and suggested that whatever was displayed in the shop was all there is. We were stunned. Then we asked about invitation options, and they handed us this ancient, battered album that was literally falling apart. Everything inside was torn and crushed; it looked older than time itself. As for the guy working there, he made it clear he didn't want to be bothered, let alone help customers. He was incredibly rude and unpleasant. A total catastrophe. I honestly don't understand how anyone can run a business with that kind of attitude.

THEY ARE TOP-NOTCH FOR ME

cosmicdriver12 said:THEY ARE TOP-NOTCH FOR ME

THEY WERE AMAZING FOR ME. THEY DID MY SHOOTS LAST YEAR AND THE PICTURES HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER.
I saw the video and it’s killer. They’re cheap because prices in Indianapolis are just like that, but the quality is a solid 10. You probably acted uninterested, which is why they were rude to you, but get this: they are total pros. Honestly, it was likely your mistake... maybe you were nickel-and-diming them or acting like a window shopper, checking every photographer's price list just to find the cheapest one. When you act like that, they don't treat you like a real Customer. Peace.

Has anyone here actually been done up by a stylist working at Stephanie’s bridal boutique over in Columbus? I'm trying to get a feel for her makeup skills—is she actually any good, or am I just wasting my time?

granitemoose7 said:THEY WERE AMAZING FOR ME. THEY DID MY SHOOTS LAST YEAR AND THE PICTURES HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER.
I saw the video and it’s killer. They’re cheap because prices in Indianapolis are just like that, but the quality is a solid 10. You probably acted uninterested, which is why they were rude to you, but get this: they are total pros. Honestly, it was likely your mistake... maybe you were nickel-and-diming them or acting like a window shopper, checking every photographer's price list just to find the cheapest one. When you act like that, they don't treat you like a real Customer. Peace.

First off, stop yelling. Turn off the caps lock.😉 And maybe use a comma or a period; it's hard to read like this.

How would you even know how they worked, how they behaved, or if they were actually going from photographer to photographer asking for prices? 😕
And even if they were, what's weird about that? Everyone does it.🤷
Even if they were being cheap, that's their right. People pay for a service, and they have every right to haggle and ask for every single detail.

Kate Murphy said:Does anyone here know anything about Smart Photo over in Vinkovci? Like, what’s their vibe?
I am seriously struggling over here—please, please, please recommend the absolute best wedding photographer or videographer out there. I am totally lost on this one, just spiraling a bit🤷
Help!

THEY AREN'T GREAT. THEY DID MY BROTHER'S EVENT AND IT WAS TERRIBLE—THE VIDEO WAS A TOTAL DISASTER. SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT PHOTO STUDIO IVAN OUT IN THE SUBURBS IS AMAZING. TOP-TIER WORK. HE HAS THESE COOL TRACKING RIGS THAT MOVE AROUND THE ROOM AND EVEN CEILING CAMERAS, all controlled by remote so there aren't cables everywhere. I'm just not sure if that's included in the price or an extra fee. Check out their site at www.fotostudio-ivan.com and see for yourself. Cheers

Kate Murphy said:Does anyone here know anything about Smart Photo over in Vinkovci? Like, what’s their vibe?
I am seriously struggling over here—please, please, please recommend the absolute best wedding photographer or videographer out there. I am totally lost on this one, just spiraling a bit🤷
Help!

Zachary Booth3 said:First off, stop yelling. Turn off the caps lock.😉 And maybe use a comma or a period; it's hard to read like this.

How would you even know how they worked, how they behaved, or if they were actually going from photographer to photographer asking for prices? 😕
And even if they were, what's weird about that? Everyone does it.🤷
Even if they were being cheap, that's their right. People pay for a service, and they have every right to haggle and ask for every single detail.

Look, it’s our right to choose whoever we want, but I know these people are top-tier professionals. At that price point, they aren't playing around. Go check out the rates in Indianapolis or talk to my colleague in the Midwest—John's studio there does incredible work, too, but he charges three thousand dollars more... Cheers.

granitemoose7 said:Look, it’s our right to choose whoever we want, but I know these people are top-tier professionals. At that price point, they aren't playing around. Go check out the rates in Indianapolis or talk to my colleague in the Midwest—John's studio there does incredible work, too, but he charges three thousand dollars more... Cheers.

What does "top-tier" even mean? And what do you mean by "criminal" (as in criminally bad)?
Everyone has different tastes and different standards. Just because something is "top-tier" to you doesn't mean it's the same for me or anyone else.

As for the price, that’s also subjective. What one person thinks is expensive, another might see as a steal. Quality justifies the cost. Some people won't cut corners on the wedding dress, some on the band, some on the honeymoon, and others on photo and video. In most cases, a low price just means lower quality.

cosmicmarlin20 said:Yeah, I actually highly recommend Krizmanić too. I've heard nothing but good things, even though I didn't end up using them... we went with someone from Savannah because they were the cheapest option, but they did a solid job, at least based on my friend's wedding. But honestly, Krizmanić was our second choice right after the guy from Savannah.🙂

If you ask me, I'd say you should just go for it... Check out John's photography site... http://www.smartphotography.com You should honestly just head to his site and check him out... he’s not exactly a big name yet, but his work is killer. His videos are solid and the photos are top-tier—probably the best you'll find around Indianapolis, they just have this different vibe to them, plus he doesn't charge an arm and a leg. I actually caught one of his weddings recently where he was doing those drone shots, flying the camera through cranes and stuff, and the thank-you clips were just so high-quality and unique... My cousin told me she was beyond happy with everything, said the whole experience was pretty seamless... $2500 I mean, she shouldn't feel bad about it, he absolutely crushed it even though the weather was total garbage...

I heard Krizmanić tends to jack up the price way higher than what you actually agreed on... plus, from what I've seen, their photography is pretty amateurish. It’s not terrible, but for the kind of money they're asking, you could find someone way better. Half the stuff doesn't even get filmed, and while the photos are okay, they have this tacky, old-school vibe, and the video is just straight-up bad—way too much for those prices... As for Studio 69, they're actually solid, but the guests aren't really there for them; it's more like the couple tries too hard to make everything revolve around the photographer and videographer, so the guests don't really feel connected to their work... I don't know the others, but if they were any good, I definitely would've known... cheers.