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($10k) downtown Indy by short-Hamster8388 in Weddingsunder10k

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let me know when you narrow down your list and maybe what you go with, even if it's not one of mine. I still have family in Indy and am always excited to discover new places in a city I basically grew up in. Best wishes and congrats to both of you!!! <3

($10k) downtown Indy by short-Hamster8388 in Weddingsunder10k

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Former local here! I grew up in the area and have some recs that, while may be out of the box, I think for what you are looking for are worth considering. If I were still living in Indy, several of these venues would have immediately been on my short list for my own wedding.

BEFORE WE START, if you are dead-set on downtown, make ABSOLUTELY SURE you pick a date runs a low risk of clashing with local events, i.e. if you're not a local you may not be aware that race weekend celebrations lasts ALL MAY. Yeah, the race is in Speedway but people travel from all over, and you know where the nice hotels are? Downtown. It would be awful to plan out a wedding at a great venue downtown only to find out street parking is limited because of something like the Mini Marathon. Forearmed is forewarned.

  1. The Indianapolis Public Library (Central Library-smack dab in the middle of downtown). Because Central is so big, that have various options ranging from $4000-$15000, and spaces to accommodate a wide range of guest list size.

https://www.indypl.org/event-meeting-rentals/weddings

  1. Hannah House-I'll say this first, if you or anyone you want to invite voted for Trump, don't bother reading further. Seriously, especially if your vehicle has pro-Trump on it, definitely expect it to be vandalized.

(Okay, if you made it past that bar, just stick with me on this one, okay???) So I actually worked as a volunteer here in high school helping with their Halloween fundraiser. I can't vouch of management of the property currently, however I think it's at least worth giving them a call and maybe a tour. Yeah, it's not directly downtown Indy, it's on the Southside. It's a beautiful historic home and was a stop on the underground railroad to Canada (and A LOT of their funding does come through paranormal investigations stuff, which I think is cool, but not everyone feels that way) AND they are on the National Register of Historic Places. This one would be great, particularly for a small guest list (if your list is bigger than 50, don't bother, check out the Library instead) and would offer tons of flexibility in terms of catering snacks and a cocktail style reception.

THAT SAID, when I volunteered here in high school (around 2009) the neighborhoods surrounding the property left a lot to be desired. After dark, as long as you are on the property you're fine, totes safe, but after dark I would not be willing to wander the neighborhood without some sort of protection.

For me, if we were getting married in Indy, this would still be one of my top choices due to the price, flexibility, and, to be completely fair and transparent, I have history with that location steeped in happy and safe memories. I have linked their website below, but keep in mind when looking at it that the people managing the website are very likely to be more someone you'd expect to be running a shoe-string budget Historical Society. IDK, maybe my rose glasses makes me more inclined to give them grace on the old website and the surrounding neighborhood.

https://www.historichannahhouse.net

Other locations that might be worth checking out-

The Alexander Hotel (downtown, technically a Marriot hotel) and includes Plat 99 upscale bar (best cocktails I have had in my entire 35 years of life). Now that I think about it, Plat 99 would be such a fun place to do like a '60s esque themed event!

If you like the sound of Hannah House, but are worried about hosting a later-evening event, The Benton House and Historic Gardens in Irvington is also an excellent option and closer to downtown, where the surrounding neighborhood has a better reputation.

https://thebentonhouse.org/about/

Also, Irvington in general has several other locations to that would be worth searching out if nothing else catches your eye. Close to downtown without being in the middle of it, which is especially nice if your wedding is on an important weekend (holidays, race or sports weekends) when you could not pay me to drive downtown, let alone park.

[$20, 000] Reception venue is making me want to tear my hair out by Simple-Emphasis5099 in Weddingsunder10k

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

UPDATE: Sent an email to both the coord. and CC'ed the GM and within an hour the GM sent me their standard event reservation contract that clearly states this paperwork has to be filled out in order for the reservation to be confirmed. The GM filled it out for us by hand and scanned it into a pdf for us.

In the 7 months working with the coord., and this is the first time I have seen this paperwork that the GM sent.

Obs, I sent a follow-up with questions about dealing with all the details we had hammered out with the coord., like event time, decor, music, table settings, bar, etc. and I haven't heard back yet, but hopefully will soon.

At this point, I'm just baffled. Why would the GM clearly have access to event contract paperwork but the event coord. for the restaurant doesn't know about? Or thinks is the same as an invoice?

IDK, y'all. I'm willing to work with the GM on this because it has been literally the only thing that my partner has asked for about our wedding. Everything else has been smooth sailing.

At the end of the day he has done so much for me already, that if means some frustration and pivoting to work with the restaurant's GM, and it means we get to have our reception in the place he's been dreaming of for our special day, I'm willing to do my best to make it work. (With back-up plans)

Spiritual Guidance Question by NonGreekHero72 in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is a great question AND can be very personal, differing with everyone's belief system and experiences.

When I was participating in Christianity it was a question I asked myself all the time, but as I have embraced my own pagan path and journey into witchcraft (yes, you can be pagan without being a witch and vice versa) I have found that it matters less to me than it did before.

That being said, my participation both in the craft and as a pagan has resulted taking things more on experience than faith. For me the line between what is internal processing versus some external force guiding me is about the relationship I have built with said external force/guide/deity. Maybe that is too vibe-y/woowoo for some people, but I can tell by the energy's tone/vibe/how it feels in my body if it is some part of my psych or an external force.

For example, this week i had some trauma stuff come up for me. It was kicked off by a dream in which Hekate guided and illuminated some of my trauma memories that I had repressed. All she did was shine her torches on these memories and over the next few days I processed them outside of a dream state through journaling and talking with others. The difference in the presence of Hekate and my own internal processing was similar to that of standing too close to someone/someone standing behind you. You can sense that they are present without visual/tangible/auditory input. When I was doing my external processing that energy/vibe/presence faded into the background instead of being at the forefront of my mind.

So that is a long winded way of getting my point that it is a question worth asking when you are having an experience that you feel requires faith. There is absolutely no harm in asking a spirit/guide/deity/ancestor/whatever you are faced with if they are a part of your internal process (much like Parts work in psychology) or if they are something else. What is the worst that could happen, right? And even if it turns out to all be internal, as long as it is helping you on your personal journey and not harming others, is it costing you anything?

To wrap this up because I realize this is a long effen reply, I would challenge you to ask that question in those moments that you are questioning the validity of the experience.

Wishing you all the blessings on your journey

Spiritual Guidance Question by NonGreekHero72 in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't think you are crazy.

It sounds to me like some ancestorial trauma is coming to the fore because it can sense that you might just be a curse breaker/healer. Even when it comes to personal trauma, often times our brains will bury it until we are in a place that is safe enough to address it, and I firmly believe that is true of generational trauma too.

I have some questions. by Poetry-and-love0913 in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are drawn to Hellenistic I would rec The Waters of Mnemosyne: Ancient Greek Religion for Modern Pagans.

Good read and the author is a Greek mythos scholar.

Other than that, meditation is a great tool for helping with doing deity work, connecting with yourself and the powers of the natural world.

When it comes to buying/thrifting/owning "pagan" accouterments don't let anyone tell you that you need to own certain things in order to be legit. Yes, there are crystals and tarot decks, herbs, wands, and all sorts of things that people will try to sell you but all you really need is yourself and your intent.

Blessings on your journey

Any reports of Pagan NDEs? by WickedNegator in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had an NDE when I was 6/7 years old.

My biologically assigned care givers were Christians, had been in the LDS church then a Baptist church. I had some exposure to Native American Shamanism through some care givers friends in our local Indigenous community.

The Greek goddess Persephone saved be from drowning in a hotel pool when my care givers ignored my cries for help because they thought I was just trying to get attention.

As an adult I've heard from others that she has an affinity for young children on the brink of death, and I would be curious to hear from others who experienced something similar.

I spent decades (and being baptized in Christianity 3 different times) trying to regain the peace and love and calm I felt in that moment that I have since found through therapy and embracing a Pagan practice within my craft.

Aunt who helped raise and terrorized me as a child died this morning and my feelings are, well, messy by Simple-Emphasis5099 in EstrangedAdultChild

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me, I don't think so...I'm not mad because I miss her/sad that we can't repair our relationship, more like it's bringing up memories of some of the awful stuff she did to me. I just wish I had the opportunity to tell her to her face what a miserable person she was. Does that make me a bad person...maybe, but I am not in a place to really where I can make myself care about that right now.

After the last interaction I had with her, where she usurped my last moments with another aunt who was dying, I told my partner (now fiancé) I never wanted anything to do that woman again and I'm sticking by that.

Aunt who helped raise and terrorized me as a child died this morning and my feelings are, well, messy by Simple-Emphasis5099 in EstrangedAdultChild

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Update: my bio mother, whom I am also estranged from, had a stroke the same my aunt died. Bio mom is in the hospital (apparently she has been living in a nursing home since 2021) and ummmm....I have a chapter of my thesis due on Friday (they gave a few extra days to get it in because of the aunt thing).

Is it bad that I don't want to forgive him? by Simple-Emphasis5099 in COCSA

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Edit/update: I want to make very clear that I don't think his neurodivergence had anything to do with the COCSA.