Hello ladies! I got married on September 14th and I thought I'd post my vendor reviews for you.
Mike Briggs Photography - http://www.mikebriggsphoto.com/ - A+
I cannot tell you how wonderful this man is! We had already booked our wedding photographer when I won a free engagement photo session with Mike at a local bridal show. He was very accommodating to our wants and needs as a couple, and was very respectful when we asked for his opinion on certain things like time of day and outfit choices. He spent an hour with us in our location of choice, letting us pose however we wanted, and after the session was done, we received a DVD in the mail of all of our photos (which turned out so beautiful), along with a letter of support and guidance AND a free gift. I was blown away that he not only did all of this for free, but that he was so friendly and supportive to a couple he had just met. I could not recommend him more! If you'd like to see some of his photos, check out my profile page!
Beauty Services by Courtney & Caren - http://www.facebook.com/courtneycosmo - A+
Courtney and Caren did hair and makeup for myself and my one bridesmaid. They were very accommodating, coming to my house for the hair trial and then coming to my bridal suite to do our hair and makeup. They ran a little late with their time but the end result was AMAZING! I got so many compliments and I felt amazing. Please check out their Facebook page for their portfolio. These girls are decently priced, sweet, and talented.
Thelma Brathwaite - http://www.invitationtoawedding.com/ - A
I searched high and low for a wedding coordinator who would not charge me thousands of dollars for their services! I came upon Thelma from word-of-mouth and I'm glad I did. She charged me just a couple hundred dollars for 6 hours of her time, which included setting up and breaking down my reception area, putting the food out in a timely manner, and serving my wedding party their food. She was accommodating and easy to reach. I definitely recommend her if you're having a DIY wedding and are on a budget!
APRONS @ Publix (Lorna Beazer) - http://www.publix.com/aprons/ - A
When you book an appointment for cake taste-testing, you get three small cakes of your choice to taste. That in itself kind of blew me away. After tasting them, there was no doubt that I was going to go with Publix! My cake only cost $200 for a 3-tier, and it was a beautiful cake. We did have a bit of miscommunication about how it would be stacked, though, so when the cake was delivered, it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. Lorna (the lady I was corresponding with the entire time) was very understanding and gave me a partial refund. We also had our catering done through Publix and there are absolutely no complaints about the food. I definitely recommend Publix for these services, especially if you're having a small wedding and are on a budget.
Cypress Grove Estate House (Kimberly Boyd) - http://www.cypressgroveestatehouse.com/ - B
Let's start with the positives first: Cypress Grove as a whole is beautiful and I am glad we had our wedding there. I corresponded with Kim via e-mail and she was very accommodating -- whenever I wanted to come see the venue, or when I had specific questions about the size or availability of something, she responded with the answers right away. However, they do a bit of "false advertising" when you come in to look at the venue. They told me that for my ceremony, I would be having a day-of coordinator, who would help make sure I got down the aisle on time, etc. That was a complete lie, because the only person who was there was the person in the office, and she was on her computer most of the time. She did grab some waters for my bridal party, and she set up a table outside with beverages for my guests, but that was it. There was no one there greeting my guests or reminding me of the time, which is what was explained to me when I was booking the venue.
David's Bridal - http://www.davidsbridal.com/ - B
I don't really have anything bad or good to say about David's Bridal. My dress was beautiful, and decently priced, but the alterations cost as much as my dress and I find that a little bit ridiculous. However, they have a layaway service that is great if you're on a budget, and everyone there is very friendly.
Windermere Flowers & Gifts - http://www.windermereflowersandgifts.com - B
I did not use flowers at my wedding because I made my own bouquets, however I did hire Windermere flowers to decorate my gazebo with fabric. It was pretty pricey for just one color and it wasn't done exactly how I wanted. I will say that the girl I was corresponding with, Rebecca, was really helpful in that when I had questions, and she contacted my venue to ask them questions that I couldn't answer. I really, really appreciated that, because it took extra stress off me! However, after they received my payment, I couldn't get a hold of her again. I never received a receipt, which I wanted to be sent in the mail, and when I wrote to Rebecca, she said she would get around to it. As an OCD bride, I didn't exactly appreciate that.
Jennie Rudburg - http://www.orlandoviolinmusic.com/ - C
I hired Jennie to play solo violin at our ceremony and unfortunately, I wasn't too pleased with her services. We corresponded via e-mail the entire time and when I sent her my song selections, she told me to "remind" her about it closer towards the ceremony date. I did just that, and she still didn't play the exact part of the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to. The song was supposed to be a gift for my dad, but because she played a different version and not the exact parts I wanted, no one recognized that song it was. I was pretty bummed. She is a nice lady, but I don't recommend her services.