I knew I would get around to these eventually!!
Reception Venue - Round Hill House: A+
Everything went extremely smooth when dealing with anyone at RHH while planning and on the day of the wedding. They always got back to me quickly with any questions and dealt with my via email mostly as that works best for me, but even when I did call there was always someone there. BP arrived early so we could take pictures there and they had drinks, including hot cocoa and hot apple cider, available as well as some cheese and crackers type snacks. They set everything up for me, including the centerpieces I made myself, all decorations for the mantles, escort cards, favors, you name it. They used the BMs bouquets so nicely around to decorate also by putting them in vases and arranging them in various spots. I never once went to the bar and they asked what DH and I both were drinking that night so they made sure to always have one ready when needed (I drank more water than anything and the Maître D always got it for me). The food was wonderful and so many guests raved how unique the place was and how much they loved that it was different from a traditional ballroom atmosphere. They only typically offer 2 wine options, neither of which I was fond of and being that I work for a wine importer I was able to bring all the wine I wanted (about 40 bottles of different types) to RHH and they reimbursed me for the cost. I get it cheaper from work than they could get it so it worked out well. They also brought in an additional type of beer then they typically carry also for us.
Cake - Pastry Garden: two grades: A+ for taste; C for appearance
This is the bakery that RHH contracts out to and we had no issue using them, I knew they were a great bakery. We had a tasting and chose carrot cake, which was considered an upgrade and we had to pay extra for. I only had a bite from when we cut the cake and it definitely tasted great, we received many comments that people loved and thought it was fun being a non-traditional flavor for wedding cake. I also paid extra for gum-paste leaves as decoration though, and whatever was all over my cake was not what I was showed I was buying. The leaves that were on it were so ugly!! LOL Really I am not that upset by it or anything because cake was not high on my priority list and luckily it was not on display until we were about to cut it (I’m thinking maybe RHH thought it was ugly too). It looked like tie-dye fondant leaves cut with a cookie cutter. I would have been happier with no decoration at all, but oh well.
Transportation – Cruise Control Limo: A+
They are based out of Long Island but they offer a white trolley which I just had to have! We paid extra for them having to travel the distance to OC but it still came out cheaper than it would have if we rented enough limos to fit everyone (26 people). They were so easy to deal with, very professional, and there isn’t one complaint I could even say at all. They arrived about a half hour early at least to get the guys at the hotel so there was no waiting around for them to get there. Then they came to get us girls at my parents house and the driver even took some pics of us in there with my BMs camera, he was the best – even helped pin my nephews boutonniere on. And they he poured champagne for all of us to have on the way to the reception. I would recommend them in a heartbeat to anyone! The trolley was so fun, I loved having it!
DJ – Victor Vargas: A+
We met with a few different companies and chose to go with Victor for several reasons. We went to a wedding they were the DJ for and it was a blast so we knew what to expect. Also when we met with him it wasn’t the sales guy pitch that seemed fake from some others. Dealing with them went very smooth and they kept the dance floor going for sure. I didn’t give a list of songs I had to hear or anything (other than providing the songs we chose for 1st dance, etc) and yet I heard so many that I wanted to dance to! They were great and I am very happy with our choice. We had guests tell us they never danced do much, which made my day!
Dress – Kleinfelds: A+
I had a great experience with them start to finish. It was the only place I went to try on dresses because they had so many of the designers I liked and I found my dress on my very first appointment. I met with my consultant, Rita, told her what I liked and showed her pictures. Within minutes my room was filled with most dresses I showed her and she also suggested taking a look at the trunk show designer they had there. I tried on a total of 6 or 7 max. I never felt rushed or pressured, and without even me asking they gave me a discount. It came in exactly when they told me it would (8 weeks before the wedding, I ordered it 18 months before the wedding btw), and when I wanted my veil early to have for my hair trial that wasn’t a problem at all. My alterations consultant was Anna, she was amazing! Such a sweet woman, she made my dress fit perfectly and I was thrilled with everything about it!
Photography - Jimi Ferrara – B
I knew right away I wanted to have Jimi photograph our wedding; I have seen his work and always loved everything about it. His albums are like no other and he is truly so creative. We still interviewed a few people because of the cost my husband was not ready to just jump on board and hire him without seeing what else was out there. He definitely agreed that Jimi might cost more than some others but that it was worth it. I don’t have an album yet, but the pictures we have I absolutely love. I didn’t give him an A + really because I felt like at times he was completely absent, there are no pictures of the cocktail hour (we were done with pics and at cocktail hour ourselves so I don’t know where he was), and none of our guests in the dining area except IL’s table during the Best Man speech. He just seemed annoyed during group photos because we had a lot of people and didn’t offer really any guidance so I am not very happy with the amount of photos we have with all of our bridal party. There are none of my husband with just his groomsmen because both Dads are in there and I really wish I had more of my family and with my parents. I feel like my mom is in almost none of them. I really wanted to not be a bridezilla and dictate everything so I left it up to the professionals figuring they knew how to do their job. I wish he recommended me doing bridal portraits and pics with my bridesmaids / parents before the ceremony but this never even came up. So there are none of just me that I like, and none at all of my husband alone. And he only got a couple of us on the back of the trolley (because I asked him too) and never recommended doing any shots inside of it or anything and I really wish we had some, I was so excited about the trolley. I also wish there were better shots of the details, there is only 1 of our rings, no great shots of the flowers, none of me in my blue shoes, and no shot of the pin I had on my bouquet that was my husbands late-Grandmother who was married on that day also. There are lot from the reception of people dancing and having a good time, but none of my dancing with my husbands Grandfather or important moments like that. I just really don’t know where he was, although at one point I came down from the bridal suite and saw him walking in with a girl who he introduced to me as his intern. Like I said I LOVE the pictures we do have, but feel like there is a lot missing that I would die to have pictures of.
Flowers – James Murray, Goshen (just for bouquets, bout’s) A +
I am so happy with the way the flowers came out! One of the flower types we originally were going to include was no longer available and there was nothing else I liked so he added in mini-mango calla lilies at no extra charge (I didn’t chose them to begin with only to keep us in budget), and they ended up better than they would have if it remained everything that was as planned. They went so perfectly with the bridesmaids and all of the other colors, the orange roses were so perfect and not too dark like I was worried about. He really had what I envisioned come to life to perfectly and I received SO many compliments on the flowers (still get compliments on them). I was extremely happy with them!