I really appreciated everyone's thoughtful reviews so I wanted to take the time to do the same.
Ceremony and Reception both took place at The Twentieth Century Club - A
I know there were some comments about the clubs possible closure earlier this fall, but from what I know they are turning things around which is great. The atmosphere was amazing, the food delicious and the staff excellent. The TCC gave us the exact feel we were looking for.
Our Officiant was Larry Goyda from Meaningful Marriages - A +
Guests are still taking about what a great job Larry did with our ceremony. He took his time incorporating planning the ceremony and the result was amazing!
DJ - Houserockers DJ - A++
Again a huge win! Jamie is a true professional and provided the music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. He provided the mics and uplighting that made our space glow! Jamie is a bit more pricey than others I saw but he is well worth the investment and one I did not second guess at ALL!
Flowers - Pete Donati & Sons - A+
We ended up slightly overbudget because my mother added on some additional pieces but Pete and his crew are true professionals. I had confidence in their team to create what I was looking for and they came through. They even called to check in to see if I was satisfied with their set up! That is service!
Cake - Bethel Bakery - A++
I will admit that at first I did not want to go with BB becasue I heard they were pricey ad I was fearful that they would not fit in our budget. This was heartbreaking because BB is our family's special cake place. I was wrong and their price was comparable to other bakeries. Better yet, we had the cake of our dreams, the owner's sister did our consultation and it was beautiful and tasted amazing. Lesson learned, investigate don't rely on rumors and hype!
The Dress - The White Orchid - A
The White Orchid was the only place that we visited and we (my mom and I) found our dream dresses. I loved that it is a locally owned family business. They let us stay well over our appointment and we were there for hours. I had a wonderful experience - unlike many that you hear of when you get the old bait & switch. We also purchased the Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaid dressed there.
Alterations and Accessories - Clarissa Boutique - A++
I did not have my alterations done at the White Orchid although I have had other gowns for special occasions done there and they did a great job. My mom got a tip on Clarissa and it was well worth it. We had a TEAM working on my dress which needed a few changes. Earldean custom made my veil and I purchased a head piece, earnings and bracelet from Clarissa. Best of yet, they made my grandmother's brooch into a piece I could wear in my hair. You should be able to see it in my profile pic. They also made our ring bearer pillow and we rented the card box from Clarissa.
Tuxes - Joseph A Bank Mt. Lebo - D
The experience was pretty terrible. They came through in the end but I would not recommend their services.
Hotel - Holiday Inn University Center Oakland - C-
Booking our block of rooms was easy and they were fine to work with before the wedding. However, you can't check in until 4pm, they treated many of our guests poorly, goofed up my order for the suite, etc. If they were not within walking distance from the TCC we would have gone elsewhere. It is too bad because the hotel is in a great location.
Photographer - James Campbell - B+
It is too soon I guess to see proofs I guess but I will say that James was pleasant and easy to work with. Our engagement session was decent but I suspect that had more to do with us and not James.
Best of luck to all!! I am happy to answer any questions!