The Farmhouse AWe had both the ceremony and reception at The Farmhouse. I feel in love with it a first sight. It had that quaint country charm I was looking for. The staff was super helpful. Lori, the coordinator was super sweet and always returned my phone calls and emails. I thought the place looked gorgeous on my wedding day. Lori even came up to the bridal suite and asked if I wanted to use the leftover floral swags the bride from the previous wedding had left there. Sure, I didn't have to pay for them and they matched everything perfectly. The place where the outside ceremony was held was beautiful, except for the bugs flying around, but they couldn't help that. The food was delicious! They didn't really offer a food tasting, but everything turned out great. I even got an extra hour added on, for signing up last year. The only downside was that there really isn't a large dance floor, so when people would dance it was crowded. What I really liked most about the Farmhouse was that it included everything!Sweets to you...By Ginger AI loved my cake. I was so beautiful! I wish I coule have gotten some to eat, other than the little piece my DH fed me. Ginger was great to work with, so nice and easy to talk to. She even gave us free pastries when we dropped our cake topper off. I can't wait to use my gift certificate to get our free anniversary cake. I want to order it now. The Little Flower A+++++I decided to use silk flowers for all my flowers. The centerpieces on the tables were property of the Farmhouse, but everything else I had made by CeCe. I brought her pictures of bouquets that I liked, and she copied them exactly. She even made the mom's corsages, all the mens bouts, our spiritual readers bout at the last minute, and my sisters hair piece. CeCe was wonderful to work with, very energetic. She actually had my bouquets and bouts done months ago. I went to the stores with her to pick out all the flowers that I wanted and she has a great eye on what works with what. My BM's loved their bouquets too. CeCe was also very inexpensive. I paid less than $350 for all the flowers, and no one could tell they were fake, and they will last forever. Hallmark AI ordered my invitations from Hallmark, using Carlson Craft. Since I worked there part time, I was able to use my employee discount, and a coupon that I received in the mail. I loved my invites so much. They matched my fall theme perfectly. Everyone commented on how pretty there were. They also came in in less than a week.New Leaf Photography A+I loved my photographers Erin and Nicole. Erin is a friend of my brothers from school, and when he told me she started her own photography business I knew I was going to use her. They were wonderful to work with. I also booked them when they first started their business so I locked in at their lowest rate. From the teaser pics I got from them, I know my pictures will be great! Even though our ceremony started late and we had to rush the picture taking part during the cocktail hour, Erin and Nicole took us outside after we finished eating (and everyone else was still eating) to get more shots while the sun was starting to set. They even came to the salon to get getting ready pics. All in all, they were one of my favorite vendors to work with. Personal Touch Memories A+Joe Eucalano is the owner of PTM. I was refered to him by my boss. Her daughter used him as her videographer and I loved her video. Joe was so nice to work with. We met with him twice and even though he is a little more pricey than others, I knew he was the videographer for me. What I liked most about him is that he owns his business and it's just him. He came to our rehearsal to see where everything would be set up so he could get the best shot. And the best part, he put together a montage of our video and sent it to us while we were on our honeymoon, so we could enjoy it while we were in florida. He even dropped my finished videos off at my work my first day back (a week after the wedding). I love my video and it captures everything wonderful about the day. Steve & Company DJ's BWe hired DJ Chris DiNardo from Steve & Company DJ's after he was referred by my coworker. We really didn't meet with any other DJ's. Chris was very nice to work with but always seem pre-occupied with something else. He did respond to my emails in a timely manner though. All in all, I felt he did a good job, however, he did play the wrong song for the Father/Daughter dance after I specifically told him I what song I wanted, even right before the ceremony he confirmed it. Alfred Angelo AAll the gowns (bridal and bridesmaids) were ordered from Alfred Angelo in Lancaster. I loved my gown and all the bridesmaids loved theirs. I let them pick their own style as long as it was the same color. The staff at AA was very nice and helpful. The only problem was one day they overbooked themselves and it was very crowded but it all worked out. I would definitly say to go early on a Sunday because they are not that busy at that time. Saturdays are far more busy. THe only gown that was not ordered at that store was my SIL. She ordered her first gown there, but she became pregnant so a month before the wedding she decided to get another gown, still AA, but she ordered it from Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe. They were also very nice to work with. They actually had the AA Maternity Gown in the right color at their store. All she needed was a hem and the straps taken up. Other than that, it fit perfect. MW Tux AOur experience with MW Tux was a great. Their sales staff was very nice and helpful. None of the guys had a problem with their tuxes, except for DH's dad. The only problem was the legnth of the sleeves of his shirt, but they were able to give him a different shirt that day. Other than that, everything worked out great.Gloss A+I decided to use Gloss for hair and makeup, after my SIL used them for her wedding 2 years ago. That was before they had their own salon. I initially wanted them because they travel to you, but the Farmhouse would only let us get there an hour before the ceremony, so Gloss graciuosly opened their doors on Sunday (normally closed) to let us get made up. Jon did a fabulous job on all the girls makeup. He made us look so beautiful, and he kept us entertained with his jokes. Lauren, did an AMAZING job on all our hair. I did have reservations about how my hair would look, after a not so good hair trial a month before the wedding, but she knocked my up do out of the ballpark! Everyone loved their hair, even my sister, who did not like her hair at my SIL's wedding, but loved how Lauren styled it for my wedding. I really didn't want to comb my hair out afterwards because I loved it so much. Other stuffI made the programs (thanks JAX!!!!) and the escort cards myself. They were very easy to do. I did most of my planning at work in my downtime. I am known to procrastinate, but I'm glad I started early. I got most everything done before Christmas last year, except my gown which I ordered in February. We honeymooned in Orlando, Florida. We didn't go to any Disney Parks. My parents own a timeshare down there, since 1985, and my DH used to go down all the time, so we wanted to just chill out and relax. We went to Cocoa Beach one day, Aquatica (seaworlds new water park) one day, Tampa Bay one day, and Downtown Disney (to see Toy Story 1&2 3D) one day. We were able to relax and not spend a lot of money. Thank you to everyone on this board for all your help and advice and mostly friendship the past 17 months. It's all been invaluable.
