So it's been a week since we got back from the wedding and I'm finally back into feeling normal again. It was a great weekend - but more partying than I think any of us were used to. I am putting together more coherent thoughts, but prelim: Venders: ----- Steve Klaver (photographer) - A+ - we already have the pro pics from getting ready, formals, and the ceremony! ----- The Lavender Goose (flowers and chair covers) A+ - great price and great products ----- Easton Coach (guest shuttle) - C - Great price but the driver was a b!tch. Mind you, people (my parents included) were DRUNK, but there is no reason to be rude. I had a great experience with their office, but the driver wasn't very nice. ----- Merry's Custom Cakes (cupcakes) - B - great price again, but 1/2 of the cupcakes had the right color lavender frosting and half was much more blue than purple. I know it's not a big deal, but blue was certainly not one of my colors.. ---- Ehrhardt's Waterfront Resort (ceremony and reception site) - A+++++ - WONDERFUL! I cannot rave enough about this place! Ceremony was great (and it ended up raining and the indoor setup was beautiful too), food (they even did all vegetarian for us!!) was amazing, great place for the reception, and we did an unhosted afterparty upstairs in their bar which was so much fun! ----- Frankie Carll Productions (DJ) - A - Great to work with, good price, had everyone up and dancing. Only complaint was that they kept adding "karaoke" to our contract - didn't add the fee but every time I talked to them they asked "wait, you're not doing karaoke?" ----- Comfort Inn Hotel (Lake Ariel hotel) - A - Really accomodating, handed out items at the front desk, etc. ----- Twin Rocks Restaurant (where we held a brunch on Sunday) - A++ - We told them we wanted their back room from 9-11am and we would pay the whole bill. They let us decorate the room, had the full menu ready for our guests to order from, let people come and go when they wanted, and just made everything relaxed and great. It was a great way to end the weekend. ------ Fairview Cafe (rehearsal dinner) - A+ - Great food, gave us our own space, BYOB (but they will set up a bar for you that you stock), made a wonderful vegetarian option, and were very easy to work with. Things I wish I had thought of/would have changed: - Put a nice looking hanger in your bag to hang your wedding dress on if you want pictures of your dress not on you. I only had a dry-cleaner plastic one and the photos would have been much nicer otherwise - put a note with the table disposable cameras to remind people to put on the flash - apparently people forgot how to take non-digital pictures! - Not do so many "must-play" songs - the DJ knows when to make the music upbeat or slow it down - we had like 8 songs and it seemed like they were forced. Pick 1 or 2 if you want. Things I would recommend: - Snapfish cards were GREAT! We made business cards on vistaprint and used them as our placecards which we stuck in the favors - it forced people to take them home! - Bathroom baskets - I know they're not neccessary, but a lot of people seemed to need them and we got complements on them - Take most of the formals before the ceremony - we got to enjoy the cocktail hour which was really nice. We did all the group ones before so it was just the just-the-two-of-us pics that were like 10 minutes after the ceremony. - dance and drink and enjoy it - and go to your own after party!