Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Gregory Price11 said:I don't know, I heard some things regarding $1333... but generally speaking, I've heard nothing but glowing reviews about the photographer. When I went to discuss the details, I spoke with a woman. Regardless of how it turns out, I've already paid the deposit. Honestly, as long as the quality isn't worse than what Iliya provides, I'll be perfectly satisfied.☕

Listen. Nobody is going to say anything bad about who was satisfied. Personally, I found everyone to be fine, except for those Czech photographers. They are lagging behind in every single aspect, from photo editing to everything else. To make matters worse, their prices are higher than anyone else’s, yet they provide fewer shots. The most absurd part? When we were there, one of the women told us we wouldn't even get a wedding DVD, just some old video cassette.😲

Ilija took photos for my godmother, and the shots—as well as the DVD—are excellent. He shot my wedding too; everything was fine, but he missed several details that were quite important to me. I ended up getting married back in October, and the total cost for everyone was around $400. Even then, the premium photographers were charging more. $1333It isn't peak season yet, so prices are lower. During the high season, they hit $4,500. I realized that was a mistake, which is why I passed on them.

Why are you claiming Elijah isn't a good choice? I am merely curious. Real-world experiences could actually assist future couples during their selection process.

Angela Davis74 said:Listen. Nobody is going to say anything bad about who was satisfied. Personally, I found everyone to be fine, except for those Czech photographers. They are lagging behind in every single aspect, from photo editing to everything else. To make matters worse, their prices are higher than anyone else’s, yet they provide fewer shots. The most absurd part? When we were there, one of the women told us we wouldn't even get a wedding DVD, just some old video cassette.😲

Ilija took photos for my godmother, and the shots—as well as the DVD—are excellent. He shot my wedding too; everything was fine, but he missed several details that were quite important to me. I ended up getting married back in October, and the total cost for everyone was around $400. Even then, the premium photographers were charging more. $1333It isn't peak season yet, so prices are lower. During the high season, they hit $4,500. I realized that was a mistake, which is why I passed on them.

Why are you claiming Elijah isn't a good choice? I am merely curious. Real-world experiences could actually assist future couples during their selection process.

Well, I suppose everyone has their own opinion. For my part, Ilya produced a total catastrophe for my graduation photos (I know that's not a wedding, but still), and "catastrophe" is putting it mildly. Then, this past summer, I knew a few people he filmed, and they all complained. So, I decided to pass on him entirely based on both my own experience and what I heard from others. To me, the photos are absolutely vital, and I simply couldn't risk being disappointed all over again.😲

What do I know? Based on the photos I saw from both Ilya and Zoom, they looked excellent. Zoom only gained the edge because of his reputation with MM.

One should visit everyone and see how they operate. Not everyone shares our taste.🙂

Thanks, ladies! Even though I’ve still got a year and five months to go, time really does fly by when you aren't looking! 🙂

Does anyone happen to have the number for Pop-top?

Hey girls, I need some serious help! 😁 Does anyone know a killer lash technician in Indianapolis who can do a really clean, beautiful job with extensions? I’m looking for someone who actually knows what they’re doing and won't mess up my face. A solid recommendation would be amazing right about now. 🙂 Thanks so much in advance! 😉

Angela Davis74 said:What do I know? Based on the photos I saw from both Ilya and Zoom, they looked excellent. Zoom only gained the edge because of his reputation with MM.

One should visit everyone and see how they operate. Not everyone shares our taste.🙂

What can you tell me about Studio M?

Is that the guy from the pizzeria in the Midwest?

Hey there!
Does anyone happen to have any experience with the Termia hotel over in the Springs area? I attended a wedding there once and absolutely loved the vibe—apparently, you can reconfigure the space to fit about 300 guests, assuming you go with the round table setup. Does anyone know what the pricing looks like or how the service holds up? I'm definitely planning to head out there to check it out in person, but any little bit of info or firsthand experience would be so helpful...

mellowjackal1 said:What can you tell me about Studio M?

Right. Let me be blunt. If you enjoy those cliché shots—sunbeams streaming behind you, kissing while heart-shaped bubbles float overhead—then they might be for you. Otherwise, skip them. You'll walk away with about 100 fewer photos than any other photographer would give you, and you'll pay more for the privilege. Out of everyone we visited, they were easily the worst.

Greetings to everyone, I thought I might contribute my own experience to this discussion... I spent the weekend in Chicago and found that wedding dress rental prices there are roughly three to four times more affordable than what we see here. I managed to secure mine for about $300 for a first-time wear at Demetrios, with a $50 deposit, and naturally, all the necessary accessories are included. There is a formal contract signed as well, and I haven't encountered any issues with customs or unexpected fees... I just need to return a week before the wedding for a final fitting, at which point they will tailor the gown perfectly to my measurements. Everywhere I visited was quite reasonably priced, and the staff mentioned that people travel from all over the US to shop there without any complications, so I thought I would share that information... 🙂

Joshua Anderson11, I actually picked out my wedding dress in Chicago! I went in for a fitting about a week ago—after already putting down a deposit two months back—and now I’m heading back for one last fitting just a week before the big day. It’s all happening so fast, less than two weeks to go until I finally pick it up! 😉 A friend recommended I check them out, and honestly, the selection is massive. Plus, the prices are easily more than half of what you'd find here—like, if you were looking in Indianapolis, for example. I even ran into a bunch of girls from around the Indy area who were there too... so yeah, definitely worth the trip. It's only about a two-hour drive, the variety is huge with maybe 10 to 15 different boutiques, and given the savings, it's a total no-brainer. I ended up finding mine at Sposi, and I can't even begin to tell you how kind and helpful the staff was. You just don't really get that kind of service around here... anyway, that's my experience. 😉 If anyone wants more details, feel free to shoot me a DM! 😉

Help, please! I’ve got weddings lined up this July and I really need a solid makeup artist in Indianapolis. Shoot me their info via DM. Thanks! 🙏

Hi everyone. Has anyone here ever had a wedding at Salisbury or hosted guests in Cherry Valley? I need the real story. Does the actual service match what’s promised on their website? I've heard rumors that the portions are tiny and people leave feeling hungry.

The Blitz band from Richmond actually managed to land a gig today—these guys are truly top-tier 👍

I just had to share the news; I am absolutely thrilled 😁

Hey ladies!
As promised a while back, I wanted to share my experience here—hopefully it helps some of you out.
I got married last Saturday. 🙂 It was exhausting, but beautiful in the end, and we both loved it.
We ordered desserts from Ivanov’s at Catherine’s bakery. To be honest, I didn't try a single one, but my sister-in-law swore they were great. My only gripe was the packaging. I was expecting large platters, but they came in small boxes, so we actually ran out of dessert. That was on us, though; we misjudged the amount needed. The cake itself was stunning. Each tier had a different flavor. The top tier was a lemon breeze, and it was easily my favorite. Highly recommend. 👍
Dinner was held at the Sphere bistro, right across from Anheuser-Busch. We were pretty skeptical about the restaurant because of the price point, but everything was handled professionally and went smoothly. For $50 per person, we got two courses. The first course included a beef ragu soup that everyone raved about (it was delicious, too), plus pork and chicken prepared however we wanted (3 pieces of meat per person), 2 sides of our choice, and a mixed salad. The second course was either a hearty stew or stuffed cabbage rolls. We went with the cabbage rolls, and I think we made the right call because everyone said they were tasty. We did upgrade the first course with extra pork and lamb, which was a smart move since we wanted leftovers for lunch the next day. I should mention that the portions aren't small; people ate well because everything tasted so good.
The waitresses were top-tier. Honestly, nothing but praise for them. They were cheerful, warm, smiling, and always available. They were so accommodating with every request. They even rearranged the table decorations the next day for lunch so everything still looked festive. They were truly wonderful! 👍
The flowers were done by Alstromeria, and they did a fantastic job. Our table was indescribable. Everyone kept coming over just to look at the arrangements. Even the other tables were beautifully decorated.
All in all, we were really skeptical about this venue, but I can say we would do it all again there. It wasn't expensive, and the service and atmosphere were excellent.
P.S. I'm a bit picky when it comes to the WCA, but all our guests mentioned that both WCA facilities were very clean, tidy, and smelled fresh.
Anyway, I hope this helps anyone searching for wedding vendors.
Best!

blueowl88 said:Hey ladies!
As promised a while back, I wanted to share my experience here—hopefully it helps some of you out.
I got married last Saturday. 🙂 It was exhausting, but beautiful in the end, and we both loved it.
We ordered desserts from Ivanov’s at Catherine’s bakery. To be honest, I didn't try a single one, but my sister-in-law swore they were great. My only gripe was the packaging. I was expecting large platters, but they came in small boxes, so we actually ran out of dessert. That was on us, though; we misjudged the amount needed. The cake itself was stunning. Each tier had a different flavor. The top tier was a lemon breeze, and it was easily my favorite. Highly recommend. 👍
Dinner was held at the Sphere bistro, right across from Anheuser-Busch. We were pretty skeptical about the restaurant because of the price point, but everything was handled professionally and went smoothly. For $50 per person, we got two courses. The first course included a beef ragu soup that everyone raved about (it was delicious, too), plus pork and chicken prepared however we wanted (3 pieces of meat per person), 2 sides of our choice, and a mixed salad. The second course was either a hearty stew or stuffed cabbage rolls. We went with the cabbage rolls, and I think we made the right call because everyone said they were tasty. We did upgrade the first course with extra pork and lamb, which was a smart move since we wanted leftovers for lunch the next day. I should mention that the portions aren't small; people ate well because everything tasted so good.
The waitresses were top-tier. Honestly, nothing but praise for them. They were cheerful, warm, smiling, and always available. They were so accommodating with every request. They even rearranged the table decorations the next day for lunch so everything still looked festive. They were truly wonderful! 👍
The flowers were done by Alstromeria, and they did a fantastic job. Our table was indescribable. Everyone kept coming over just to look at the arrangements. Even the other tables were beautifully decorated.
All in all, we were really skeptical about this venue, but I can say we would do it all again there. It wasn't expensive, and the service and atmosphere were excellent.
P.S. I'm a bit picky when it comes to the WCA, but all our guests mentioned that both WCA facilities were very clean, tidy, and smelled fresh.
Anyway, I hope this helps anyone searching for wedding vendors.
Best!

Congratulations! 😉 I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time and that you're happy with everything! You must be from Indianapolis if you had your reception at the Sphere. 😉 We're getting married on May 8th at the Zoo Hotel... I really hope everything goes as smoothly as yours did 😉 and that there's enough food for everyone... ours is an all-inclusive package where everything is covered. Would you mind posting a few photos so we can see you and your groom, the vibe, and the flowers? 😉 Mark is making my wedding bouquet, so I'm sure it's going to be gorgeous!😉

Hey, sunnygirl, huge congrats! 😍

Who actually does good makeup in Pittsburgh?
I've got a wedding to attend in May, and the only artist I know is already fully booked. 🙂

Anthony Wright2 said:Who actually does good makeup in Pittsburgh?
I've got a wedding to attend in May, and the only artist I know is already fully booked. 🙂

When it comes to getting your makeup done in Pittsburgh—assuming you actually want someone who knows what they’re doing—people tend to point toward Livia’s salon. At least, that's the word on the street... though I personally gave up on them quite some time ago, but that is a whole other story entirely. Then there is the Grainger perfume shop, which is another reliable option. You could also look into Valentino, Line, or Jane for services, but frankly, I wouldn't dream of booking a makeup appointment with them myself. It is all a bit inconvenient, isn't it? You rarely have much breathing room because most women book their slots months in advance—it's a bit of a logistical headache—but I suppose you could try asking.
Where exactly were you—I mean, where could you have possibly wandered off to—that allowed things to get this filled up?