Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Grace Kern55 said:Hey there, all my future brides out in Indianapolis,

I’m curious—what kind of experiences have you guys had dealing with local caterers for those pre-wedding send-offs at home?
So far, I’ve looked into an offer from Nutrition (Bugarin), but I’m wondering if anyone else has some solid recommendations. I’m looking for a full-service setup where they handle everything—think buffet style with meat platters, plus the tables, silverware, glassware, and actual servers to run the show...

Honestly, Bugarin is the gold standard! We used them for our thing and they absolutely crushed it.

Grace Kern55
You could also look into the catering from Peter and Anna’s—they used to run Fratelli. A friend of mine recently ordered from them through Kevin Smith7 and couldn't stop raving about the food. I've heard their prices are even better than Nutrition's, so maybe it's worth a look? 🙂

thanks so much, ladies!!!

Hey everyone! I’ve been scrolling through the forums for a bit, and I’m curious—who are you all using for your flower girls? Are there any good options in Columbus, Indianapolis, or the surrounding areas? I was reading some stuff about those girls out of Pittsburgh, specifically the ones from Iris Ivankov... what have your experiences been like with them? 🙂

ruggedsailor said:Victor used to play at the Old Bridge pub... I thought they were killer, but Legica said she was totally let down, so I guess it’s all subjective. Best bet is just listen for yourself before deciding it's a skip...🙂

Cheers, Corrin🙂)The Vigor band never actually played at the Old Bridge pub. I'm the frontman for Vigor, and I've cycled through several singers for still banda over the years. Maybe she got her wires crossed because of that.🙂Best,🙂

Hey, does anyone happen to know what the damage is for cakes and pastries over at Katherine's in Ivankov? Thanks

coastalbadger86 said:Hey everyone! I’ve been scrolling through the forums for a bit, and I’m curious—who are you all using for your flower girls? Are there any good options in Columbus, Indianapolis, or the surrounding areas? I was reading some stuff about those girls out of Pittsburgh, specifically the ones from Iris Ivankov... what have your experiences been like with them? 🙂

So, look, I actually sat down for consultations with both the crew from Pittsburgh and Iris... and I ended up going with Iris. Honestly? For the exact same budget, you get way more bang for your buck with Iris than you do with those Pittsburgh girls. I haven't actually seen their work in action yet since my wedding is in three weeks 🙂 but I've heard nothing but amazing things about them and seen their portfolio. I know people rave about Jaku too, but honestly, I didn't even bother trying to book her because I jumped on Iris immediately. 🙂

Greetings,

Does anyone happen to know where I might be able to rent some long bar tables, chairs, and tablecloths? I am looking to host something at my house here in the VK-ZU area.

Thank you!

Paul Fisher34 said:So, look, I actually sat down for consultations with both the crew from Pittsburgh and Iris... and I ended up going with Iris. Honestly? For the exact same budget, you get way more bang for your buck with Iris than you do with those Pittsburgh girls. I haven't actually seen their work in action yet since my wedding is in three weeks 🙂 but I've heard nothing but amazing things about them and seen their portfolio. I know people rave about Jaku too, but honestly, I didn't even bother trying to book her because I jumped on Iris immediately. 🙂

Once the wedding is over, please let us know how it went!🙂 I still have plenty of time to weigh my options,😉 but I've been looking at her portfolio and her work is stunning. I also heard about Fantasy Floral Atelier out in the Midwest—though I have no clue what their pricing looks like lately since everyone seems to have a different story to tell. Anyway, definitely report back after the big day! Good luck!🙂

Kevin Smith7 said:Greetings,

Does anyone happen to know where I might be able to rent some long bar tables, chairs, and tablecloths? I am looking to host something at my house here in the VK-ZU area.

Thank you!

Check out Vigus, or maybe go see Jack over in Ivankov... honestly, Jack usually gives much better deals! 😁

Hi everyone,

I could really use some help. My makeup artist's schedule is completely packed, so I won't be able to book a trial session with her. Does anyone know of a talented, high-quality makeup artist located in the VK-ZU area or the surrounding towns? Please let me know if you have any recommendations!

Also, could someone explain how hair trials actually work? Is the stylist just showing you a rough idea of the look and then letting the hair down?

My stylist suggested she would just show me a preview and then immediately undo the style. Is that really how the process usually goes?

Thanks so much!

If you’re willing to shell out the full price, they’ll basically build your hairstyle from the ground up, covering every single detail...
Last Saturday, I headed out to a wedding, and I actually went to see my stylist beforehand to get my hair done—she was handling mine and the rest of the bridal party's looks too. Since this was just a trial run, I made sure to mention that, so we ended up going through everything step-by-step, commenting on every little part of the process as we went...

Otherwise, you’ll probably just end up with something halfway decent at best—nothing truly finished.

So, what kind of look were you actually dreaming of?

redwolf262 said:If you’re willing to shell out the full price, they’ll basically build your hairstyle from the ground up, covering every single detail...
Last Saturday, I headed out to a wedding, and I actually went to see my stylist beforehand to get my hair done—she was handling mine and the rest of the bridal party's looks too. Since this was just a trial run, I made sure to mention that, so we ended up going through everything step-by-step, commenting on every little part of the process as we went...

Otherwise, you’ll probably just end up with something halfway decent at best—nothing truly finished.

So, what kind of look were you actually dreaming of?

She told me, "No," and then she just shows me a photo instead of actually doing the hair so others can see the style, which isn't helpful at all. Plus, since I was attending a wedding that Saturday, I asked her if we could do a trial, but she wouldn't agree to it. You had such a smooth experience with your stylist, but I'm definitely not having that luck with mine. 🙂 She just dismissed me by saying my hair is "simple." Honestly, though, I'm terrified that even with this "simple" style, she’s going to mess it up completely.
I want big, voluminous curls with something like a braid swept up in the front.
I've been browsing online, and I'm really not feeling those overly fussy, decorated hairstyles.
Does anyone know a good website or maybe a Facebook group where I can see photos of actual wedding parties?

Also, does anyone know a good makeup artist in VK-ZU?

Kevin Smith7 said:She told me, "No," and then she just shows me a photo instead of actually doing the hair so others can see the style, which isn't helpful at all. Plus, since I was attending a wedding that Saturday, I asked her if we could do a trial, but she wouldn't agree to it. You had such a smooth experience with your stylist, but I'm definitely not having that luck with mine. 🙂 She just dismissed me by saying my hair is "simple." Honestly, though, I'm terrified that even with this "simple" style, she’s going to mess it up completely.
I want big, voluminous curls with something like a braid swept up in the front.
I've been browsing online, and I'm really not feeling those overly fussy, decorated hairstyles.
Does anyone know a good website or maybe a Facebook group where I can see photos of actual wedding parties?

Also, does anyone know a good makeup artist in VK-ZU?

Is it really a disaster if you see the hair before the wedding day itself? 😁
I'm not quite sure why she wouldn't agree to a trial, especially since she had such a perfect opportunity to do one. 🤷

The only real option left is to book her early enough so that you actually have a buffer for any tweaks or changes if the look doesn't turn out exactly how you pictured it the first time.

If I'm reading you right, you're looking for a half-up style.
Try Googling "wedding half updo"—you might find some great inspiration there.

As for a makeup artist, I can't really help you out there—that's just not my area of expertise. 🙂

Hey everyone... I'm officially in wedding planning mode with my fiancé, and honestly, we're losing our minds a little bit over all the details. :-)

Can anyone who got married this year or last tell me if BlackRock bands are still holding up in terms of quality? Also, if you wouldn't mind sending me a DM with what they charged you, I’d really appreciate it—I’m trying to make sure I don't get absolutely ripped off.

🙂

I'm also looking for photographer recommendations in the Chicago area or nearby. It seems like everyone raves about Artis, saying they're amazing, but does anyone know if Focus Studio out in the suburbs is actually any good? I checked out their portfolio and the work looks pretty solid. If anyone knows their rates, please shoot me a private message.

Thanks in advance for the help!

crimsonpuma22 said:Hey everyone... I'm officially in wedding planning mode with my fiancé, and honestly, we're losing our minds a little bit over all the details. :-)

Can anyone who got married this year or last tell me if BlackRock bands are still holding up in terms of quality? Also, if you wouldn't mind sending me a DM with what they charged you, I’d really appreciate it—I’m trying to make sure I don't get absolutely ripped off.

🙂

I'm also looking for photographer recommendations in the Chicago area or nearby. It seems like everyone raves about Artis, saying they're amazing, but does anyone know if Focus Studio out in the suburbs is actually any good? I checked out their portfolio and the work looks pretty solid. If anyone knows their rates, please shoot me a private message.

Thanks in advance for the help!

BlackRock went for $1,500 (for now 😁), and the latest news is they recently started looking for a female vocalist—though I'm not entirely sure if they've found her yet—so they might be an even "upgraded" version soon 🙂. They're playing mine in a year, but honestly, I didn't have to think twice once I heard them; they were exactly what we both were hunting for. 👍

graniteridge6 said:BlackRock went for $1,500 (for now 😁), and the latest news is they recently started looking for a female vocalist—though I'm not entirely sure if they've found her yet—so they might be an even "upgraded" version soon 🙂. They're playing mine in a year, but honestly, I didn't have to think twice once I heard them; they were exactly what we both were hunting for. 👍

Abraham Lincoln is playing for us 👍 too. I also heard some rumors about them bringing on a female singer, though I don't know if it's official yet... but look, regardless of what people say, everyone has their own taste in music. You can find something to complain about with anyone, really. The bottom line is that they’ll be there on that day, they give it their absolute all, and they truly are the best at what they do 😁.

coastalbadger86 said:Abraham Lincoln is playing for us 👍 too. I also heard some rumors about them bringing on a female singer, though I don't know if it's official yet... but look, regardless of what people say, everyone has their own taste in music. You can find something to complain about with anyone, really. The bottom line is that they’ll be there on that day, they give it their absolute all, and they truly are the best at what they do 😁.

While I was checking out some venues and restaurants the other day, I overheard owners at two different spots mentioning that the Saxovac crew has started getting a bit sloppy lately. Apparently, they tend to get a little too rowdy at weddings; someone mentioned that on two separate occasions, one of the singers/musicians actually walked off the wedding entirely to head into town for a bit and then came back...
I first heard them about two years ago, and then again last year when we were part of the wedding party... To me, they seemed perfectly fine
. A dear friend of mine was at a wedding they played a couple of weeks ago (on a Friday) and said they were just mediocre—especially compared to how they used to be. Then, on Saturday, a buddy of his went to another wedding they played (he was actually with us at our wedding where they played too), and he said they were a complete disaster—like, they didn't handle the gig well at all
.
This really caught me off guard, given my experience with them. I guess everyone sees things differently and has their own tastes, so I don't know...

silentraven18 said:While I was checking out some venues and restaurants the other day, I overheard owners at two different spots mentioning that the Saxovac crew has started getting a bit sloppy lately. Apparently, they tend to get a little too rowdy at weddings; someone mentioned that on two separate occasions, one of the singers/musicians actually walked off the wedding entirely to head into town for a bit and then came back...
I first heard them about two years ago, and then again last year when we were part of the wedding party... To me, they seemed perfectly fine
. A dear friend of mine was at a wedding they played a couple of weeks ago (on a Friday) and said they were just mediocre—especially compared to how they used to be. Then, on Saturday, a buddy of his went to another wedding they played (he was actually with us at our wedding where they played too), and he said they were a complete disaster—like, they didn't handle the gig well at all
.
This really caught me off guard, given my experience with them. I guess everyone sees things differently and has their own tastes, so I don't know...

Look, everyone has their own vision and their own taste, so there's no telling... personally, I think people might be overhyping the decline, but it seems like that band has definitely hit a plateau, even though they were one of the better groups I've ever heard... These days, folk bands are making more of a comeback, but honestly, if someone plays traditional folk music all night long, it just doesn't make sense to me—it's all about preference and what you agree on beforehand. For the money I'm paying, I want them singing without stopping, and I don't want to see them drinking or snacking on the job... 🤣 🤣

Yeah, I’ve heard the buzz about them too, but honestly, it all comes down to personal taste. We listened to everything available online, and in our opinion, the sax band still comes out on top in terms of both sound and performance. They get a lot of praise. Also, regarding what you mentioned about him being missing lately—I think that’s why there’s a formal contract in place. It goes without saying that the catering should be standard since he’s technically on the clock, but a contract really needs to spell out every single detail, from break times down to the smallest thing. If those terms aren't met, the job isn't being done right, and that’s a breach of contract.

And what’s the word on photography and video? Everything I hear feels like hearsay, and don't even get me started on the pricing... it’s enough to make my head spin.

I actually spotted someone on a forum sharing a link to Samir’s photo portfolio. http://fotozine.org/?omen=samir His shots are fantastic. Does anyone know if they operate out of their own studio or something?