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Gainesville

brimcleodbrimcleod
100 Comments
in Florida-North Florida
Just wondering if anyone's had their wedding in Gainesville and some vendors I should check out. I'm on a VERY tight budget, but it's going to be a very formal event. (Black Tie Formal)

Any venues, bridal stores, etc. would be awesome. I know there's an expo at the end of January, I just wanted to go to a few venues in the next couple of weeks. Thanks! <3
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Re: Gainesville

  • GatorDGatorD
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm a Gainesville bride! My venue is the Thomas Center downtown.  You can check out my vendors in my bio.

    There are a few past brides, too, like KatieK and Jagore.  They both got married at Sweetwater Branch Inn, which is also a beautiful location.

    I'm not sure about the cost of Sweetwater, but for the Thomas Center you pay by the hour for the location used.  You're also able to bring your own caterer.  Some other venues that come to mind are the Plantation Hall at Haile, Emerson Alumni Hall, and of course country clubs and hotels.

    What type of venue did you have in mind?
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  • jagore08jagore08 member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I was married at Sweetwater and it was amazing.  For about 80 people (and to get married there on a Sunday) it was about $6000.  I didn't hire a DOC because they handled everything there for me.  We used Prange's for our florist and they totally worked within my budget (which was not very big), and Chad Reed for our officiant.
    Ignorance is a poor defense. Image and video hosting by TinyPic
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  • brimcleodbrimcleod
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Awesome! Thanks everyone! :) I was looking at the Thomas Center. My first pick was Sweetwater, but living in this area, and driving by, it seemed like there wasn't much parking and that it was on a not-so-good side of town. (My fiance pointed that out).

    I'll tell my WP about these venues & try to visit them soon! :)

    What about bridal shops? I've heard that Jay's doesn't have very friendly people, and Solutions looks a little pricey.
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  • jagore08jagore08 member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I think you should check out Sweetwater.  Parking is across the street for weddings there and once you get "inside" the property, you won't notice where you are.  It's beautiful in there.

    As for Jay's, I used them and they were the most kind, helpful people I've encountered while dress shopping.  Maybe I was lucky, I don't know, but you should go because they have a good selection and great prices.

    I also didn't mention that I used Jay's entertainment for my ceremony and reception.  They were also great the day of the wedding.  Our DJ even fluffed out my train of my dress before I walked down the aisle.

    All of my vendor reviews are in my married bio.
    Ignorance is a poor defense. Image and video hosting by TinyPic
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  • brimcleodbrimcleod
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    thanks jagore!! i love your reviews. very helpful! :)
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  • stac12679stac12679
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married in Gainesville October 23rd. We are using Sweetwater and they have been amazing so far and they cater the event for you so that's one less thing to worry about finding. Also, you bring in your own alcohol which is going to save us a ton!. I am using Innovative Entertainment as my DJ, he has great reviews and is a lot cheaper than anywhere else in town. Rob Witzel is our photographer and we have a family friend performing the ceremony, if you or someone you know has friends in the business that can do things cheaper for you LET THEM!! Another expense we have avoided is not having a cake because of the cake cost as well as most venders charge a "cake cutting fee" which seems ridiculous to me, so we are just doing dessert. 
    Me: 33 DH: 36 History of left ovarian pain and cysts. Laporoscopy in 1999 and 2001 showed possible cysts and minor adhesions. TTC since May 2011. Day 3: TSH 1.60mIU/L FSH 6.8mIU/mL Estradiol 46 pg/mL Day 10: FSH 5.3mIU/mL Sperm motility and morph 80% (Normal). HSG on 3/23/12 shows bilateral mid-tubal obstructions. Laparoscopy 5/22/12 revealed 100% bilateral obstruction, IVF only option to conceive.
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  • GatorDGatorD
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I went to Jay's for my dress, bridesmaid dresses, and MOB dress.  Nothing but great things to say about them.  I worked with Amy, who is one of the managers, and she was amazing!
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  • bananafishfeverbananafishfever member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married in Gainesville in February so I can tell you my experiences with vendors so far.

    VENUE: We're doing the Thomas Center for both ceremony and reception.  You pay by each room you're using by the hour which is kind of confusing, but they let you bring in your own caterer and alcohol which was important to me.

    CATERING: Chef Brothers.  I'll write a review in a few weeks.  If you want top of the line food, there are caterers with better menus but this was the best value I found for our budget and I think we're getting a lot.

    MAKEUP: Laura Meffen.  You can look her up, she's been very sweet to work with so far.

    OFFICIANT: Chad Reed.  He is well known here and I knew I wanted him to be our officiant as soon as I met him. 

    WEDDING DRESS: I bought my dress at Jay's.  I always worked with Amy and she was helpful.  Sign up at their website and they will send you emails when they have sales, which is pretty often.  My MOH went here to look at BM dresses though and said the girl on that side was rude and basically no help. II found my BM dresses significantly cheaper online at Pearl's Place, and they were great to work with even though it was all over the phone.  The dresses only took like a month to come in.

    DJ: Innovative Entertainment.  Again, I'll have to let you know but they've been easy to work with so far and were pretty much the cheapest I found.

    PHOTOGRAHPER: I'm lucky in that my cousin is a professional photographer and has been doing weddings and stuff on the side for years.  She just opened a storefront in Newberry, let me know if you want her contact information.

    MUSICIANS: I found a violin-acoustic guitar duo on Craigslist.  They are not really in the wedding business per se, so they are significantly cheaper.

    That's all I can think of right now, I'm going DIY for most of the other stuff.

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  • brimcleodbrimcleod
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    awesome. you all are so helpful! i love my local knotties! <3
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  • Lizzy85Lizzy85
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I am also working on planning a wedding in Gainesville for May 2011. I think Sweetwater is beautiful, but does the ceremony have to be out doors? Also, is it very expensive? My fiance and I really like the Baughman center on campus, too. Has anyone had experiences with them? Thanks :)
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  • shayna_352shayna_352
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The Baughman center is beautiful!! I don't know anything about how to get in touch with the venue but I've been there and it is very pretty. I think it will only seat like 100 people comfortably, but I'm not positive about that number. 
    I also used Jays and they have been wonderful.  I agree that the girl over on the bridesmaid dresses side is not helpful and pretty rude, but you can find people like that everywhere. I definitely recommend them!!
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  • stac12679stac12679
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We looked into the Baughman center and it is pretty, but they do not allow you to bring in anyone for music, you can not hang anything up to decorate, and it only seats 90 people.

    We are on a very tight budget so we liked the fact that at Sweetwater the ceremony and reception are in the same location so there is no need to spend money on limos! I'm going to the wedding expo here on January 17th, anyone else going??
    Me: 33 DH: 36 History of left ovarian pain and cysts. Laporoscopy in 1999 and 2001 showed possible cysts and minor adhesions. TTC since May 2011. Day 3: TSH 1.60mIU/L FSH 6.8mIU/mL Estradiol 46 pg/mL Day 10: FSH 5.3mIU/mL Sperm motility and morph 80% (Normal). HSG on 3/23/12 shows bilateral mid-tubal obstructions. Laparoscopy 5/22/12 revealed 100% bilateral obstruction, IVF only option to conceive.
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  • Lizzy85Lizzy85
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I was going to go to the Solutions expo on January 31st at the HIlton. Which one is on the 17th?
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