HI everyone,
So I am just starting to feel back to "normal"
Today is my second day back at work.
Our wedding was fantastic. Just really really really HOT!
Here are my review: ( based on a-f rating)
DOC-Sarah Fairbairn-One Fine Day- A+++++++++++
this was the best thing I did for myself. Sarah is wonderful. I hired for just Day of but she helped me anytime I needed it. She is so calm and patient and gets the job done.
I would recommend her to everyone hands down.
She really helped me with the vendors
Ceremony and reception site-Crosley Estate: AWhat can I say about this place- it is beautiful.
Though we waited a year and a half to get a Sat that wasn't in July or Aug
It was worth it. I still can't get over that I actually got married there.
Everyone that works there and the staff at Manatee county were wonderful.
They are soooo nice. We did just beer and wine hosted. They allowed us to bring our own soda and water. So that saved a bundle.
Everyone commented on how beautiful the site was. It is right on the water so we got a nice breeze even though it was almost 90 degrees
Caterer-Catering By Design: D-
I am so throughly frustrated with the catering piece of my wedding. This was the only disappointment the entire day. A very expensive disappoinment! When I met with them last June everything was wonderful! I went to a public tasting and everything was spot on: the food and the service.
Fast forward to March of this year:
I saw a bad review on wedding wire - so I contacted CBD. And we met again.
Lauren, the owner, assured me everything would be okay.
Then she would respond to our e-mails. And we would always get an excuse like it went to her junk file.We modified some things on our menu- nothing major. We are talking coffee station vs no coffee station. I had a few specialty items on the menu that were there from the start. We went to another tasting in april- the food was awful and the service was awful. The wait staff had no idea what they were passing around and would jsut shove the tray in your face. also, they were supposed to have 2 of the special items on the menu that day. Once never came out after us being there for two hours and the other none of the wait staff knew what it was.
Fast forward again to a week and half before my wedding. I am crying in the offices of CBD because I am so scared that they are not going to come through for me.
The brought the person back that I had originally met with to run my wedding the day of.
So now it is the day of my wedding- the service was excellent. One of the specialty passed hors;devres that I specifially asked for a year before isn't there. The salad was great.
The entree- which was chicken and steak duo with veggies.
The steak was supposed to have Bernaise sauce on it. It literally had a piece of melted Kraft single. Some the cheese pieces weren't even melted. The chicken was rubbery and the veggies tasted and felt like they were straight out of a bag.
I spoke to my florist today and he said the wait staff from CBD were taking the floral arrangements off the table to take home before the reception was even over and hadn't even asked. It was enough that even our florist was bothered by it.
Florist- Apple Blossoms A+++++++
Scott is my hero. He made our wedding. He took a few of the pictures I gave him and put his own touches on it and made my dream a reality.
He really does work with budgets to. He goes above and beyond anything you could imagine. He was always available if I had questions.
He can do the most amazing things with flowers. My bouquet was beautiful. The floral design on the table was out of this world.
Photographer- Kenzie Shore A+++++++++++
I haven't seen the final pictures yet. But our engagement picts were amazing and she has a sneak peek on her blog from our wedding.
Kenzie and her husband John are true professionals. They are so much fun to be around. I had a blast with them. I am so ecstatic I chose them as our photographers. I will keep you posted on the picts
Cake- Chocolate Pi A++++++++++++
our cake left me breathless. when they delivered it- I was blown away at how beautiful it was. I wanted something simple and delicious. Kim went one step further and made it fantastic! Kim is a bit hard to get a hold of but well worth it
Plus the cake was delicious. I had 3 tiers - each a different flavor:
The exotica-pineapple passion fruit and mago with vanilla cake
The Champagne Celebration-champagne scented cake with strawberries and mimosa cream
The Vanilla bean. They were all so yummy!
Favors: Photo booth- shutterbooth A
This was one of everyone's favorite things. It was a blast and got people really involved. We created our own prop box. I love all the pictures from it.
It was definitely money well spent.
DJ- Keith with Sword Sounds A
Keith was awesome he kept the dance floor busy. even though it was hot. Most of our guests left really sweaty
He really kept the recpetion moving and was great at directing people on the next thing to do.
Awesome!!! He also gave me so clues as to how to save some money
Officiant: Georgeann Butler A+++++++
Georgeann was so sweet and worked with my fiance and I on our vows. She wrote vows that really reflected our lives.
She is a true professional. Her husband Rich performed the ceremony. He was awesome as well. They make a wonderful team.
They both made our ceremony so beautiful and perfect.
Rich was an expert at giving the cues at the right time
Dress- CC's st pete A
I loved it there. They always made me feel so special when I was there. And I was completely in love with my dress. Which was Pronovias
Make-up and Hair- Kylelynn - Erika A+++++
Erika was wonderful. My make-up stayed all day even though it was hot and humid. And my hair stayed as well. Which was a miracle because I have long curly hair that likes to frizz in the humidity.
She did my hair and make-up. My stepdaughters hair and make-up. THe make-up for my two matrons of honor and my moms.
She did fantastic!
Decor- Affairs in the Air A
they did the lanterns over the dance floor and the canned lights for the dinner.
They were wonderful and made the room look completely different.
I felt truly blesses that the majority of my vendors were wonderful. My day went off perfectly except for the whole catering thing.
I haven't posted non pro picts yet. Still working on my Shutterfly account.
But will keep you posted.
Are you happy Gina?