Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

I think I’m dealing with a slightly different kind of headache here. We’re planning our wedding for next July, but since we live outside the States, we’ve decided to host it back home in St. Louis. I’ll be heading back to the US at the start of this summer, and my goal is to get the venue booked then. We’ll have a band and a photographer lined up, and since my sister is handling all the floral arrangements, I don't have to worry too much about that side of things—I just need to coordinate with her. The plan is to stay in the US for a few weeks this summer and hopefully hammer out most of the big details. But the catch is, once I leave again, the next time I’ll actually be on the ground will be only two months before the wedding date. Honestly, I’m starting to panic a little about how I'm going to manage everything from a distance. I know my parents will step in to help as much as they can, but still... So, my question is: should I be looking to reserve anything else while I'm there this summer? And do you think two months is enough lead time to handle the remaining logistics? I'm really hoping this forum can give me some clarity on this.🙂😁

Christian Taylor8 said:St. Louis.
I’ve got some tips for my fellow St. Louis locals regarding certain prices, but I'll get around to writing that out tonight or tomorrow morning. Honestly, we managed to save a ton on quite a few things just by pure luck and running into some good people along the way.

There are still plenty of us here from St. Louis, so please, let's hear those tips! 😉

Jesse Morgan73 said:I think I’m dealing with a slightly different kind of headache here. We’re planning our wedding for next July, but since we live outside the States, we’ve decided to host it back home in St. Louis. I’ll be heading back to the US at the start of this summer, and my goal is to get the venue booked then. We’ll have a band and a photographer lined up, and since my sister is handling all the floral arrangements, I don't have to worry too much about that side of things—I just need to coordinate with her. The plan is to stay in the US for a few weeks this summer and hopefully hammer out most of the big details. But the catch is, once I leave again, the next time I’ll actually be on the ground will be only two months before the wedding date. Honestly, I’m starting to panic a little about how I'm going to manage everything from a distance. I know my parents will step in to help as much as they can, but still... So, my question is: should I be looking to reserve anything else while I'm there this summer? And do you think two months is enough lead time to handle the remaining logistics? I'm really hoping this forum can give me some clarity on this.🙂😁

I honestly think you should get ahead of the curve and lock down that venue and the band right now, because wedding season is absolutely kicking into high gear and everyone is scrambling to book their dates.🙂

I finally tracked down my go-to makeup artist 😁 😁 😁

rowdypanther16 Asks:
I honestly think you should probably get that venue and the band booked sooner rather than later. Wedding season is absolutely hitting everyone at once right now, and if you don't lock them down, you might find yourselves left out in the cold. It’s just my two cents, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to be proactive.🙂

Yeah, yeah... I'm definitely planning on booking all that. I'll get the DJ, the band, and a photographer too. I'm hoping that covers everything, though I suppose there’s always a chance it might not be enough. Maybe. 🙂

Matthew Foster66 said:Excuse me if I’m being a bit of a busybody here—I know, I know, 🙂—but I’ve finally picked out my wedding dress. It is, without question, the most stunning gown in existence, and honestly, probably the most expensive one in the shop, too. 😢 I’ve already made peace with the price tag—after all, you only do this once in a lifetime, right?—but now a little wave of panic has hit me. I realized I completely forgot to ask the consultants at the boutique: what happens if something actually happens to the dress? Like, if there’s a tiny tear or some unexpected damage... am I the one stuck footing the bill for repairs? 😢

From what I understand, you aren't supposed to pay anything extra if things get dirty or if there's an accidental tear somewhere. I mean, I’m assuming all of that should just be covered under the rental fee. For the kind of money we're shelling out, everything really ought to be included in the price.🙂

I suppose I should probably start by saying that I am just sharing my own little thoughts here, but I have been thinking quite a bit about the concept of a cure lately. It is such a profound and heavy topic, isn't it? Perhaps it is just me, but I find myself wondering about the various ways we define what a "cure" actually looks like in our modern world. Is it always a medical breakthrough, or can it be something much more subtle and personal? I guess there are so many layers to peel back there.

Does anyone here happen to have any experience with applying makeup for... I was just thinking about Martimex earlier today. It seems like they’ve been quite a fixture in the industry for a while now, hasn't it? I suppose one could argue that their presence in the market is somewhat significant, though I don't want to overstate things too much without looking at the latest quarterly reports. Maybe they are expanding their reach more than people realize, or perhaps they are just maintaining a very steady, reliable course. Either way, it feels like there's always something interesting brewing around them if you look closely enough. So, I was looking into booking some makeup services over in St. Louis recently—I’m planning for a wedding where the ceremony starts at 9 AM, which is always such an early start! We actually checked out a place called Livius, and honestly, I nearly fainted from pure frustration when I heard their policy. Apparently, they told us that even if all three of us (myself, my bridesmaid, and the maid of honor) book together, they reserve the right to cancel on us up until just two weeks before the big day. Like, what on earth? I guess it's just how some places operate, but that seems incredibly risky for a wedding schedule.🤣

Christian Taylor8 Does anyone happen to know where Daria works as a makeup artist? If you have her contact info or a phone number, would you mind sharing it? I'd really appreciate it! 😉

And one more thing I wanted to ask you all... does anyone know where I might be able to rent some chair covers here in St. Louis? The wedding guests will be over at the Orešković residence—they just finished renovating the hall, so it has those nice round tables and everything—but they don't have any chair covers available.

What are your thoughts on the band Pulse and Tragedy Eternity (I'm not entirely certain if I have the name exactly right)?

I hope I haven't gone a bit overboard with all these questions! I might be asking a little too much at once, maybe?😁

So, here’s my latest thought... does anyone have a recommendation for a good barber in St. Louis? I was thinking about maybe checking out Martin or Dejan, but I'm wondering if there might be someone else worth seeing. Who would you all suggest?

James Lopez8 As specified by:
It seems we have reached a bit of a standstill, haven't we? A certain... stillness. One wonders if there is truly a remedy for this sort of inertia—a "cure," if you will—or if we are simply destined to drift through these discussions without a compass. Is it possible that what we seek isn't a solution at all, but rather a shift in perspective? Perhaps. But then again, one can never be entirely certain when the path forward remains so stubbornly obscured.

Does anyone here happen to have any firsthand experience with makeup application in... Regarding Martimex—one can’t help but wonder where their head is at lately. It seems like every time I turn around, there's some new development or a sudden shift in direction that leaves one scratching their head. Is it sheer incompetence, or perhaps just a lack of foresight? One really has to ask: where does this leave us? In St. Louis? I actually tried to book a makeup appointment there the other day—since the wedding is set for 9 AM, obviously—and we ended up heading over to Livius. Honestly, I nearly passed out right then and there when I heard their policy. Apparently, since there are three of us booking together (myself, my bridesmaid, and the maid of honor), they have this rule where they can just cancel on us up to two weeks before the big day. Two weeks! I mean, really... what kind of logic is that?🤣

So, I went to go book a makeup session with Livius—you know, thinking everything was straightforward—and it’s the exact same old story. Even though they clearly had an open slot on the calendar, they still wouldn't commit. They basically told me they'll just reach out two weeks before the wedding to let me know if they can actually fit me in. Honestly, is that even how a professional business operates? It feels like such a calculated way to keep people hanging... one wonders why anyone would bother with such uncertainty. 👎👎 It honestly leaves me quite incensed—I’ll be just two weeks out from my wedding, and I simply won't have the bandwidth or the mental energy left to be hunting around for a makeup artist at that stage.
I wasn't even aware that they were doing touch-ups over at Martimex... do you happen to know which brand of makeup they use—and more importantly—what kind of premium they're charging for it?

Oh, they definitely do some touch-ups over at Martimex, and the price is just $33... I honestly couldn't believe it when my wife told me how affordable it was; I just assumed it would be way more expensive. They even let you do a trial run for free 😁 (that's the Martimex location right by the Central Hotel).
A friend of mine actually went there to get her makeup done for her wedding guests last year, but I still wanted to gather a few more opinions on their work. She was actually quite happy with the results; they used a huge variety of brands on her... everything from Pupé to Chanel...
That said, the lady at Martimex mentioned to me that they tend to use brands like Pupé, Deborah, and Make Up Factory.

Over at Livius, she told me they use all sorts of things—Max Factor, Dior, Pupé—and the price is $50. I mean, it’s hard to tell who really does a better job. I've heard a real mix of both great and terrible reviews regarding Livius.

The three of us have already booked our appointments at Martimex, so I guess I'm just worried about what might happen if the person from Livius cancels on us. To be honest, that little detail really put me off when she mentioned it, and we instinctively decided to cross them off our list.

James Lopez8 said:I suppose I should probably start by saying that I am just sharing my own little thoughts here, but I have been thinking quite a bit about the concept of a cure lately. It is such a profound and heavy topic, isn't it? Perhaps it is just me, but I find myself wondering about the various ways we define what a "cure" actually looks like in our modern world. Is it always a medical breakthrough, or can it be something much more subtle and personal? I guess there are so many layers to peel back there.

Does anyone here happen to have any experience with applying makeup for... I was just thinking about Martimex earlier today. It seems like they’ve been quite a fixture in the industry for a while now, hasn't it? I suppose one could argue that their presence in the market is somewhat significant, though I don't want to overstate things too much without looking at the latest quarterly reports. Maybe they are expanding their reach more than people realize, or perhaps they are just maintaining a very steady, reliable course. Either way, it feels like there's always something interesting brewing around them if you look closely enough. So, I was looking into booking some makeup services over in St. Louis recently—I’m planning for a wedding where the ceremony starts at 9 AM, which is always such an early start! We actually checked out a place called Livius, and honestly, I nearly fainted from pure frustration when I heard their policy. Apparently, they told us that even if all three of us (myself, my bridesmaid, and the maid of honor) book together, they reserve the right to cancel on us up until just two weeks before the big day. Like, what on earth? I guess it's just how some places operate, but that seems incredibly risky for a wedding schedule.🤣

Christian Taylor8 Does anyone happen to know where Daria works as a makeup artist? If you have her contact info or a phone number, would you mind sharing it? I'd really appreciate it! 😉

And one more thing I wanted to ask you all... does anyone know where I might be able to rent some chair covers here in St. Louis? The wedding guests will be over at the Orešković residence—they just finished renovating the hall, so it has those nice round tables and everything—but they don't have any chair covers available.

What are your thoughts on the band Pulse and Tragedy Eternity (I'm not entirely certain if I have the name exactly right)?

I hope I haven't gone a bit overboard with all these questions! I might be asking a little too much at once, maybe?😁

So, here’s my latest thought... does anyone have a recommendation for a good barber in St. Louis? I was thinking about maybe checking out Martin or Dejan, but I'm wondering if there might be someone else worth seeing. Who would you all suggest?

Tragedy Eternity actually goes by Blitz band now—from what I gather, they had to "part ways" with their guitarists, so they just kept the name. We are actually in negotiations with them right now; they seem like decent guys, they have top-tier gear, and they can play just about anything. Plus, they're relatively affordable, so I suspect we'll be putting down a deposit very soon.🙂

As for the barber, I've been seeing Albert over in the downtown area for quite some time, and I couldn't be more satisfied with his work.👍

James Lopez8 said:I suppose I should probably start by saying that I am just sharing my own little thoughts here, but I have been thinking quite a bit about the concept of a cure lately. It is such a profound and heavy topic, isn't it? Perhaps it is just me, but I find myself wondering about the various ways we define what a "cure" actually looks like in our modern world. Is it always a medical breakthrough, or can it be something much more subtle and personal? I guess there are so many layers to peel back there.

Does anyone here happen to have any experience with applying makeup for... I was just thinking about Martimex earlier today. It seems like they’ve been quite a fixture in the industry for a while now, hasn't it? I suppose one could argue that their presence in the market is somewhat significant, though I don't want to overstate things too much without looking at the latest quarterly reports. Maybe they are expanding their reach more than people realize, or perhaps they are just maintaining a very steady, reliable course. Either way, it feels like there's always something interesting brewing around them if you look closely enough. So, I was looking into booking some makeup services over in St. Louis recently—I’m planning for a wedding where the ceremony starts at 9 AM, which is always such an early start! We actually checked out a place called Livius, and honestly, I nearly fainted from pure frustration when I heard their policy. Apparently, they told us that even if all three of us (myself, my bridesmaid, and the maid of honor) book together, they reserve the right to cancel on us up until just two weeks before the big day. Like, what on earth? I guess it's just how some places operate, but that seems incredibly risky for a wedding schedule.🤣

Christian Taylor8 Does anyone happen to know where Daria works as a makeup artist? If you have her contact info or a phone number, would you mind sharing it? I'd really appreciate it! 😉

And one more thing I wanted to ask you all... does anyone know where I might be able to rent some chair covers here in St. Louis? The wedding guests will be over at the Orešković residence—they just finished renovating the hall, so it has those nice round tables and everything—but they don't have any chair covers available.

What are your thoughts on the band Pulse and Tragedy Eternity (I'm not entirely certain if I have the name exactly right)?

I hope I haven't gone a bit overboard with all these questions! I might be asking a little too much at once, maybe?😁

So, here’s my latest thought... does anyone have a recommendation for a good barber in St. Louis? I was thinking about maybe checking out Martin or Dejan, but I'm wondering if there might be someone else worth seeing. Who would you all suggest?

Got any PMs?

Gregory Price11 said:Well, I finally managed to get my registration sorted out too... I’ve been sitting here reading through all your comments and advice, and there is one thing I’m really curious about. I have my wedding coming up in just four months, and we need to head out to pick up our wedding bands soon. Does anyone know if it’s better to shop for them in Indianapolis or maybe somewhere like Columbus? It might be a little off-topic, but I’m genuinely wondering...🤷
..

We bought our bands at Nikoline in Indianapolis, right by the gallery. I don't know how many shops you've checked yet, but ours are 7mm and have a comfort fit so they don't dig into the finger $667. They had the best selection I found after checking all of Indianapolis and the surrounding areas
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Hey everyone, just popping in as a new face around here! Has anyone actually caught TS Slavonski Soul performing at weddings, or even just heard the word on whether they’re any good or total skips? I'm honestly down for whatever info you can toss my way...

I’m honestly pretty torn here... is it a thing where the bride wears a necklace gifted by her mother-in-law at the wedding?? So, I actually received one, and everyone keeps telling me that in the Midwest, it’s just what you do—that it's tradition to wear it... but I already planned out a totally different look for myself. I mean, if it really is a standard tradition, the piece is beautiful and it's not like it won't look good on me, but... 🤷

Angela Davis74 said:We bought our bands at Nikoline in Indianapolis, right by the gallery. I don't know how many shops you've checked yet, but ours are 7mm and have a comfort fit so they don't dig into the finger $667. They had the best selection I found after checking all of Indianapolis and the surrounding areas
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Thank you... I actually looked around there as well, and I ended up being most satisfied with their collection. Because of that, I think I'll be getting mine from them too. I really did try to shop everywhere, but their selection is truly massive and just superior to the rest. Did you decide on white gold or yellow gold? Personally, I'm leaning toward white gold—I just find it much more aesthetically pleasing. 😵

Aaron Lee2 said:Hey everyone, just popping in as a new face around here! Has anyone actually caught TS Slavonski Soul performing at weddings, or even just heard the word on whether they’re any good or total skips? I'm honestly down for whatever info you can toss my way...

Well, I have actually attended a few weddings where they were the live band, and I can tell you they are quite talented. However, there is one thing to keep in mind: the lead singer—a larger gentleman they call "Sladjo"—has a very specific stage persona. He certainly knows how to entertain a crowd, but he can be a bit of a "wild card," if you know what I mean. Some people might find his antics a little much. On the bright side, their pricing is very reasonable; I believe they are around $1,000 $0.00. Plus, if you want a full male ensemble at that price point, they can make that happen. They even bring in a keyboardist upon request, so they can cover just about any genre. They really know how to set a great mood. We actually considered booking them ourselves, but I personally wasn't quite sold on the singer's style. Anyway, I hope that helps you out a bit!🤷

Betty Foster8 said:I’m honestly pretty torn here... is it a thing where the bride wears a necklace gifted by her mother-in-law at the wedding?? So, I actually received one, and everyone keeps telling me that in the Midwest, it’s just what you do—that it's tradition to wear it... but I already planned out a totally different look for myself. I mean, if it really is a standard tradition, the piece is beautiful and it's not like it won't look good on me, but... 🤷

People asked me the exact same thing—why didn't I wear the necklace and bracelet set I got during my engagement? Because I didn't want to! It just didn't go with my outfit. I had a specific vision in mind, and that's that. Nobody gets a say in what I wear or what I put on. ☕
There will be plenty of other occasions to wear that jewelry later on. 👍

Gregory Price11, thanks for the heads-up. I definitely learned way more than I actually bargained for, haha! That singer guy seems to be acting all... well, you know. He only gave us the lower price point, maybe because they don't even need us until 4 PM. Do you happen to remember from those weddings you went to—did they play the whole day long, or was it just an afternoon gig?

Aaron Lee2 said:Gregory Price11, thanks for the heads-up. I definitely learned way more than I actually bargained for, haha! That singer guy seems to be acting all... well, you know. He only gave us the lower price point, maybe because they don't even need us until 4 PM. Do you happen to remember from those weddings you went to—did they play the whole day long, or was it just an afternoon gig?

Oh, don't mention it at all... I think it was somewhere around 10:00 AM $0.00..I do know they are among the more budget-friendly options..and yes, they typically play the entire day..at every single wedding they do..👍

Betty Foster8 said:I’m honestly pretty torn here... is it a thing where the bride wears a necklace gifted by her mother-in-law at the wedding?? So, I actually received one, and everyone keeps telling me that in the Midwest, it’s just what you do—that it's tradition to wear it... but I already planned out a totally different look for myself. I mean, if it really is a standard tradition, the piece is beautiful and it's not like it won't look good on me, but... 🤷

I am aware of the tradition, but I certainly won't be wearing mine. First of all, I don't actually like it; I would much rather exchange it for something else. That said, I intend to be polite and gracious, so perhaps I will wear it when visiting her for birthdays or other occasions—but otherwise, absolutely not. 🙄
And secondly, it simply does not match any of my attire, so... no way. I am getting married once, and things will be done according to my own decisions—if anyone wants to be upset about it, they can be.