There's only a few vendors left, can you believe it?
The Mobile MInister (Rev. Roland August)I completely understand why Rev. Roland is a favorite on these boards. If I thought Bri from Brianna Michelle Beauty was passionate about what she does, it's nothing compared to Roland August.
Honestly, based on the reviews on this board, I didn't even bother looking at anyone else. I dropped him an email to ask what his availability was for our date, and he's just full of joy and enthusiasm for what he does. I booked, I paid, I called it a day (in February, for our October wedding).
I got an email every 6 weeks or so, just reminding me of my booking and saying how excited he was to participate in our wedding. At the end of August, there was a glitch with the web site, and all of a sudden my name was Becky and my ceremony was on Saturday. I emailed Roland, he apologized for the mix-up, and confirmed my Tuesday ceremony was still a go.
About a week before the wedding, I got an email from his assistant asking me if I could move up my wedding time by 15 minutes, because there was another one booked after me, and what day I was arriving in Vegas for my Saturday wedding. Wait, what? So I called, I spoke to her (I think her name is Emily but I can't remember; it's saved in my phone.) She was super nice, realized that the glitch had resurfaced, apologized and said not a problem. I'm a web developer, so I know how these glitches can resurface, so as long as it's all good, I'm happy.
An hour or so later, Roland called me to apologize about the mix-up and wanted to see when we were arriving, if we wanted to meet in advance, what we wanted to do, and just chat. Again, he's obviously so very, unbelievably passionate aboutn what he does and he's so full of joy when you talk to him. I let him know that I'd text him when we landed on Sunday and give him the room information, and that we were good with just chatting with him quickly before the ceremony, no need for anything fancy. He did mention that we were his only wedding that day, so there was no need to worry about timing.
Here's where I get
really impressed.
When we booked, we booked the "Gold Elvis" package that was 15 minutes before the ceremony to get to know us, a 15 minute ceremony, and 15 minutes after for photos and first dance. We figured that would be enough, because we're both atheist and neither of us are from families that are "big wedding" families.
Rev. Roland came dressed as Elvis 45 minutes earlier than expected. He had a sound system with him, which he then promptly set up on the balcony at the Skyline Terrace suite and immediately began to start entertaining guests as they arrived. He did a couple of songs, took some photos, and just generally entertained everyone before the ceremony.
At 6:30, he got my husband and asked him our story and signed some paperwork, came upstairs and asked me some questions and signed some paperwork with me, and gave a rundown of the ceremony. He was prepared to sing/perform all music for the ceremony, which I said it's OK, because we did have 2 songs already prepared (Mirrors by Justin Timberlake for my husband and our Best Lady/Maid of Honor, and Summertime by My Chemical Romance for my walk down the aisle). That wasn't an issue.
He ushered everyone outside to start the ceremony, had an amazing little ceremony broken up with a couple of songs to make it fun (and jokes, too). When I started to cry during one of the songs, he stopped the song and sang a different one.
Immediately after the ceremony, he did our first dance, and then let everyone know he was going to lead us in some photos but for everyone to just mingle and eat and enjoy themselves, which was awesome. He lead the poses, which was great because both myself and my photographer had no idea what to expect.
All in all, I could not have been more thrilled with the experience we had with Rev. Roland. It's so very obvious why he's a favorite, and I cannot fathom why you would book with anyone else. If anyone wants video of the ceremony as a reference, let me know, as I do have that, too!
Freed's Bakery
No wedding can go without something going wrong. Freed's Bakery was our "something wrong."
We chose two dozen cupcakes to be delivered to the MGM Grand in lieu of a cake. We did red velvet (my husband's favorite) and chocolate buttercream, because who can say no to chocolate & buttercream frosting? I ordered online to be delivered on our wedding day between 3pm and 6pm. I had chosen those times because it would mean that we would have our room number ready by that time, and it would arrive before our ceremony at 7 (guests arriving at 6:30). I clearly put the following instructions, which was listed on my receipt:
Delivery Date: 2016/10/11
Delivery Time: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Special Instructions - Writing on Cake:
*** PLEASE CALL FOR THE HOTEL ROOM NUMBER *** We will not have that information until the day of. Alternate phone (phone number went here)
At about 1:30, after we had gotten our room number and were in the suite, I called Freed's to provide the room number. It was especially important because my name was listed on both the Skyline Terrace suite as well as our regular hotel room, and I didn't want the cupcakes being delivered to the empty room.
First, they couldn't locate my order and I was put on hold, at which at some point 30 seconds in, I got disconnected. So I called back, and they tried to find my order again. I was told "oh, well they're already out for delivery, we organize that in the morning." Which, ok, fine. I get that, that makes sense, getting organized in advance. I'm sure they deliver a lot and I get planning in advance. I asked if there's any way they can get the message to the driver, so he knows how to deliver it when he gets here. They told me they didn't know who had our cupcakes, and if the message doesn't get there, they'll leave it with the bell desk who will throw it out. At this point, it's like, okay, eye roll, let's prepare a credit card chargeback and I'll just send someone downstairs to buy some cupcakes from the cupcake store in the casino. Whatever.
This is where my husband saved the day. He called down to the bell desk to let them know about the package coming. At about 5:30, when the cupcakes still hadn't been delivered and I'm putting on my dress, I'm debating getting someone organized to go buy some cupcakes. Dan called down to the bell desk, confirmed that the cupcakes were delivered there and that there was no attempt to bring them up to our hotel room according to the bell desk (the guy just dropped them there and left), and arranged for them to be delivered up to our suite. Our tip for delivery of the cupcakes went to the bell guy who delivered it to the room.
I didn't have any of the cupcakes until the following day. We ordered 2 dozen for 25 guests, knowing that some wouldn't get eaten but knowing that we have a number of guests with a sweet tooth. I think we were left with about 8 cupcakes, which we ate for breakfast and then handed out to our Best Lady to eat/distribute.
I will say this: buttercream frosting is an excellent cure for a hangover.