I don't post much but when I was planning I came here at least once a month to see reviews and get ideas and ask a couple of questions as well. We also did a very UN-traditional wedding with a lot of DIY/family help so I included a link to our photos so you can see how it turned out. I hope this helps w/ planning your dream day - trust me, all the planning and stress is worth it. (some of our vendors are from out of state so I'm sorry if those reviews aren't helpful)Link to our photos:
http://blog.lingfoto.com/2009/10/31/brian-and-ngocs-wedding/Ceremony/Reception: The Barn - Ackerhurst Dairy Barn, Bennington, NE This was a very unique place and the couple renting it out are older and so VERY NICE. The cost to rent is $800 ($200 deposit and the remaining the day you pick up the key). They have tables and chairs we didn't end up renting anything as far as tables or chairs so it can save you money - if you want a more polished look chair covers work I am sure. They actually let us in as early as Weds before the wedding to decorate and drop things off, and had no problems with us using the space for the rehersal. They were very flexible and even let us set up a firepit outside on the cement area of the barn. If you want a barn wedding I HIGHLY recommend going with them - the only downfall is they do not have a kitchen so you would have to cater the food in. Catering/cake: The chef and cooks at Dixie Quick's catered our wedding. My husband is a sous chef there so they kind of hooked us up but the food was outstanding. I know they have catered other events. It was set up buffet style but they also had canopy's and other hor d'hourves since the wedding and ceremony was at the same place. They did a great job with the food and our guests raved about the food.
I might be biased but they're great! The cake was AWESOME and decorated so organically - I couldn't have asked for more from them.Flowers: our flowers were wholesale ordered and put together by a friend. If you have a crafty/artistic friend who can do this it can save you money. He decorated the space beautifully with the flowers and no one knew the difference.Hair & Make up: Turning Heads Salon (Cherry Hills)I get my hair done here normally but they were wonderful. Katie B. did my hair and it stayed all night, I didn't worry about a thing and Mary did my make up. Their team there did such a great job making all of us glam and the atmosphere there is so easy and comfrotable. They have a lot of wedding packages as well and discounts if you have your entire wedding party there - for the four of us girls, we had hair, make up AND manicures done for about $80 each. Such a steal.Invitations: Paperthick Ink (web-based)(Not all of our paper goods are in the link but if you want to see the rest let me know i can email photos to you) My sister actually owns an invite company and so another hook up - but my invites were boxed invites. They were amazing. She also did our guestbook - printed on canvas and can be turned into an art piece now that we're married. My sister also did our escort cards and programs. Again I feel biased but I have been told our invites were the most unique they've ever seen. :)Photography: Ling PhotographyOriginally I wasn't going to need a NE photography bc we were doing a destination wedding so we took E-Pics in my hometown of MN and used a MN based photographer. Ai Ling did such a great job taht when we changed our minds and had a home wedding I compared rates and styles with the photographers from Omaha and I went with Ai Ling. She does such amazing work and has a very quick turnaround. She also gives you a cd of all your photos (processing includied) so you can print your pictures and not worry about having to purchase photos at inflated prices. I couldn't be happier with out photos and I am SO happy & lucky that she was willing to travel down for out wedding. We got so many things in our package it was a steal of a deal - she did a photobooth type station at our cocktail hour with props and it was a HUGE hit - hilariously done. She literally was our best friend for a day watching out for you and so easy to be around, she really calms your nerves.I couldn't imagine anyone else doing our photos. (Really, the pictures speak for themselves!)DJ - Oscar DuranHe played the music for our wedding ceremony and throughout the cocktail hour, dinner and reception. He was a great value and has an expertise in house music - but our wedding was more laid back, we didn't have much dancing and he is able to accomodate every style. He was very easy to get a hold and easy to be around. Wedding Dress: The Wedding ShoppeAnother MN based store - I wanted to save a little money and they don't have taxes on clothes so I went home and bought my dress. The consultants there really knew what would look good and was more than patient. They really know how to do wedding dresses. They also have a website and you can now order your dress directly from them online as well as bridesmaids dresses and you can see some of the dresses they offer - they have the largest selection I have seen yet. I looooved my dress.Alterations: The Wedding ShoppeI also had my dress altered there - they have an alterations shop right across the street from the salon. I am going to go ahead and say if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone elsewhere. My dress was gorgeous but there were a couple things I wasn't happy with - there was a ribbon on my dress and they did not secure the ribbon - it was barely tacked on. It looked a lil awkward and not as sharp as it did on the sample dress.
Also when they altered my dress it created a crease in my dress that I was constantly trying to smooth out, for the amount i paid for the alterations (half the cost of the dress!!!) I expected a little more.Wedding Party Attire: Macy's/Kohl's/Famous FootwearThe bridesmaids all got dresses at Macy's - I wanted to be different and the dresses were perfect to what I had envisioned. The groomsmen outfits were a mixture of macy's and kohls - i was careful to monitor their sales in the end I got an entire outfit for the guys for about the same cost as renting their tuxes and were able to gift them the outfit and they can wear it however they pleased. We got the shoes at Famous Footwear during their sales and the boys wore Converses. The girls wore some t strapped wedges. A majority of what we purchased was online and you can find some killer deals online shopping.From the blog post link at the top there were a lot of DIY things that REALLY added a lot of punch to our wedding - and though some of them take a lot of time, most of them of were relatively easy. If you have any questions let me know I will try to answer them for you.