PerfectMoment2007 Reviews 05.24.09

My wedding was absolutely what I had dreamed it would be and more! Everything came out beautifully and my vendors really were amazing to work with! (All pics credited to Domino Art)

Venue – Jungle Island: A+:
At first I was a little disappointed with JI because I had a total of 3 different coordinators and was not informed the last time my coordinator had left…However, Steve – my last coordinator – was really on top of things and did an amazing job! Steve assigned a waitress who helped me/followed me around all day to make sure I was always happy, and she really was awesome! The food was INCREDIBLE! We had cocktail hour before the ceremony and I got a lot of compliments on having it that way - At cocktail hour we had a paella station, a Mediterranean station, a sushi station, a crudités station, and 10 or so passed hor dorves! I got to try some of the hor dorves and they really were amazing! Everyone kept talking about how good the cocktail hour was. For dinner we gave a choice of Churrasco Steak, Mojo Chicken, or Maple Glazed Salmon, each with black beans, rice, and plantains – I asked Steve to bring me a sampler platter with 1 of each so that I could taste what everyone else was eating and he was happy to! I couldn’t believe how AMAZING everything was! I actually thought that they had made my steak better than everyone else’s (LOL), so I went over to my Man of Honor only to find out his was as good as mine lol. It all tasted like restaurant food… not at all like I was eating crappy wedding food lol! Everyone said the food was amazing! Originally we were supposed to have the ceremony outdoors, but it had been rainy all week and so we were anticipating the possibility of moving it indoors early on….All along, Steve was really nice and not pushy at all about making a rain call (as I expect others may be in that situation) - I asked that he give me until the afternoon to decide, and he was more than happy to, and left it totally up to me. I finally made the call to move inside because I realized that even if it wasn’t raining, it would be humid/muggy/uncomfortable outside and I was really happy I did move it in, because I think the ceremony décor and lighting looked beautiful indoors in the ballroom. We kept the cocktail hour on the balcony/veranda which is covered and JI brought out parrots for our guests to take pictures with there! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Jungle Island! The service was amazing, the food was outrageous, and everything looked beautiful there!

Photographer/Videographer – Domino Art: A+:
Plamen and his wife Paolina were INCREDIBLE – Paolina took photos along with 2 other photographers, and Plamen took video along with another videographer! My mom was really set on having a company that did both photo/video, and I’m so glad we chose Domino Art. What I loved about them most is that they were ALWAYS THERE! Every time something fun/cute was going on, I would turn around to get a photographer’s/videographer’s attention, only to see they were already there! Unfortunately, we had to start shooting late cause 3 of my BMs (my cousins) were late to their makeup/hair L…BUT Paolina was determined to get EVERY shot, and she really tried her best to do it all! I just got the pictures and am SO happy with how they turned out! Plamen told me they took about 6000 photos, and he edited about 1200 for me to give me a reasonable number to choose from! I LOVED Domino Art, and highly recommend them! They are sweet and so easy to work with, and the photos they took are truly amazing! I can’t wait to see the video! Visit www.domino-art.com. To see my pictures visit http://www.domino-art.com/Elena_and_Andrew/index.htm

Florist – Petal Productions: A+:
Petal Productions was incredible! I was a little nervous because I didn’t love my trial, but after I sent Raffi some pictures of what I wanted and that changes I was interested in, he assured me he would create exactly what I was envisioning…and he did more than that! My bouquet was gorgeous…Raffi included beautiful crystals and I couldn’t get over itl!! The acrylic chuppah with hanging orchids and crystals was absolutely beautiful! The centerpieces were HUGE (someone counted over 100 roses) and absolutely incredible! They also did uplighting, lighting for the rooms, pink lighting underneath the tables, and fireworks from some of the centerpieces when we entered the room – all were amazing! He also draped the room for the ceremony (which he had to do last minute because of the move inside due to the rain) and draped the room for the reception – both looked beautiful! He added garden doors with hanging roses in the back of the room for the ceremony, which really added drama for the entrance! Petal Productions was INCREDIBLE…Everyone complimented the décor and I have them to thank for that! LOVE THEM! Visit http://petalproductions.com/

Band – Tal Productions - Shalom Band: A+:
I saw Shalom Band at another wedding a few years ago and knew I wanted them at my wedding! We kept adding more and more pieces and ended up with an incredible 13 piece band, thanks to the manager Yael! I have never seen more people on the dance floor at any wedding like at my own! My family and I love the Jewish tradition of the Hoorah and wanted a long, fun hoorah – But we did not expect the hoorah to be as CRAZY and FUN as it was! The dance floor was packed…there were times where I found myself outside of the dance floor pushing my way back in because of how crazy it was! I found out later that the power in the band’s side of the ballroom actually went off at some point in the hoorah (the fuse blew or something), but the band kept beating the drums and singing and everyone just thought it was part of the show (including me)..that’s how good and entertaining they were! Besides the hoorah, they really did an amazing job at playing a diverse array of music – I was slightly worried that they wouldn’t be able to play more modern songs because it was a band and not a DJ…but sure enough we were dancing from everything latin music, to Sweet Home Alabama, to Justin Timberlake, Pink, and Miley Cirus lol. They really were incredible and had everyone dancing the entire time! They are an AMAZING band! Visit http://talproductions.com/

Ceremony Music – Tal Production’s String Quartet: A:
I hired the String Quartet through the same company through which I hired my band. The string quartet played beautifully! They played every song I requested and it was really beautiful hearing them play! I also asked them to play Beauty and the Beast when I walked in, and they did an amazing job!! My cousin sang a few songs during the ceremony itself, and they played along with his singing (having only practiced the day of the wedding), and it really sounded beautiful.

Hair – Dina Acle: A:
Dina is a sweetheart and just a pleasure to work with! She did a great job with my hair, my moms hair, and some of the BMs, and it lasted the whole night! We actually paid her to stay around for after the pictures (which were before the ceremony and outdoors) ceremony to retouch my mom and I up…and despite being rushed at times by others, you could tell she really cared about making sure our hair looked beautiful! I would highly recommend Dina!!!

Make up – Hilda Blacher: A:
Hilda did my make up for my bat mitzvah almost 10 years ago (lol) and after a trial with her for the wedding, I knew she would do an amazing job! She also did a great job doing the makeup for my mom, and some of my BMs, and it all definitely lasted the entire night! It was important to me that the make up wasn’t too strong, because DH HATES make up, and she really worked with me to keep it natural but still perfect for pictures! She also stayed around for after the pictures and ceremony, and even followed me around touching me up for some of the pictures without even being asked to – since she also really cared about keeping my make up fresh! Visit www.hildamakeup.com

Day of Coordinator – Leyani: B+:
Leyani was my DOC; we also ordered invites/thank you notes from her, as well as Chairs, Chair Covers/sashes. I had a few really small issues with Leyani along the planning process….For example, she put the wrong size crystals on my invitations (which she had to remove/re-do), and she ordered my thank you notes without sending me a proof (which I had requested)…Overall not a huge deal. However, I felt that my wedding was a little too much for her to handle. We had about 300 people, and she just brought herself and one other girl to do it all. She seemed a little overwhelmed and I felt that she wasn’t there for me. Overall I was not unhappy with her work, I just think it was more than she could handle.

One great thing that came out of working with Leyani was our white chiviari chairs for the ceremony! The week of the wedding we gave Leyani our final number for the garden chairs that she was renting for us for the ceremony. The final number – 300 – was more than we had originally told her (which was about 250), so the company she was renting from didn’t have enough reserved…so, they offered white chiviari chairs with white pads for the same price (which was about $2)! They looked beautiful…especially since we had to move the ceremony indoors!

Cake – Cake Designs by Edda: A-:
My package at JI included a choice of a buttercream cake from either Ana Paz or Edda. I chose Edda because they told me they could do a flat white buttercream (which I really wanted), and also because they upgraded me to a fuchsia buttercream scroll design at no cost! They get a B+ because when the cake arrived, the fuchsia scrolls were more like a maroon or burgundy color (and they had a swatch of the color I wanted, and this was nowhere near it)! Thankfully it was early enough in the afternoon that they were able to pick it up and drop it back off later with the color exactly how it was supposed to be! The cake tasted great and it looked beautiful once it was the right color!

Mini Donuts – Donut Divas: A:
We hired Donut Divas to make donuts outside the ballroom give out little bags of Donuts as people were leaving. We gave them stickers to put on the bags which said something like you: Love is delicious, Your presence was sweet, Now please enjoy this little treat. I didn’t get to try the donuts, but I heard they were great!!! People were raving about how delicious they were! Visit http://www.donutdivas.com

Chocolate Fountain – Amazing Chocolate Cascades: A:
We got a milk chocolate and dulce de leche fountain from Amazing Chocolate Cascades!The milk chocolate fountain used Ghirardelli chocolate and dipping choices offered were great! I heard both fountains were amazing! Visit www.AmazingChocolateCascades.com

Coffee Station – Aroma Espresso: A:
Another station I didn’t get to visit/try, but looked great and guests loved it! Visit www.aromaespresso.net

Bridesmaid Dress Store: Happy Bride – Hallandale, FL: A:

I ordered my Bridesmaid’s dresses from Happy Bride because they offered me the best pricing for the Bridesmaid’s dresses from Impressions Bridal. I also loved that they were very willing to help me with the alterations I wanted done to the dresses. They really did a great job too! The dresses came in on time, and the alterations were great and done on time as well! I had 11 Bridesmaids, and they took great care of each and every one of them. My MIL also got her dress there and complimented their service and pricing! Happy Bride is a great store with great, quick, and friendly service!!! Visit http://happybrideonline.com

Bride Dress Store: Leggenda – Coral Gables, FL: A:
I saw my dress as I was walking by Leggenda’s window and went in, asking to try it on…I knew it was “the one” before it was even fully zipped up, and when it was, it fit me like a glove! I ordered my Blue by Enzoani dress from them, as well as my veil from the store, which is located on Miracle Mile. They also did my dress alterations and made my blusher veil. I also got my crystal hair comb from them. The staff was friendly and very helpful…Not pushy like a lot of other bridal shops that I went to, but still helpful and willing! My mom also bought her dress from Leggenda, and had her alterations done there, and was very happy with their service! I would definitely recommend them for their great service and nice selection.

Ties: Alter Ego - Coral Gables, FL: A:
I bought extra material from the BM dress material and took it to Alter Ego to make into ties for the Groom and Groomsmen! They did an amazing job and the ties looked great and matched beautifully!

Vanessa&Eddie's Reviews - 7.24.09

Letty, LMG Events A+++++
Letty was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! I would like to point out that I won her day of services in a contest and boy did I luck out! I feel blessed to have met Letty. Eddie and I cannot stop raving about her and how she completely blew us away. She was on top of everything, there is NOTHING she cannot do! She took care of everything single detail for us. I had such an incredible, worry free day thanks to her constant attention to everything! If something went wrong I did not know about it. Everything she does, she does 100% and this is what makes Letty so special. I can truly say that she is professional, generous, sweet, and hard working. I can go on for days about Letty! If you are thinking of hiring a planner please consider Letty!!! Girls if you already have her rest assure you are in great hands. Letty will make sure everything on your wedding day goes as planned!

Coral Gables Congregational A
From the first time I stepped into this church I knew I wanted to get married there. The church is absolutely gorgeous and overall very easy to deal with. Rev. Milan was great to work with as well. He delivered a wonderful ceremony. I was crying from the isle all the way to the end of the ceremony! The soloist they provided also had an amazing voice!

Jungle Island A+
I had 3 different coordinators with Jungle Island,and about 6 months prior to the wedding I was assigned to Jessica. At first I was not 100% satisfied with the service, but 2 months prior to the wedding they kicked it up a few notches! Jessica was on top of everything. She made sure everything was exactly how I wanted. The day of the wedding Eddie and I felt like royalty. The service was outstanding and the food was very tasty. We used Prime Card, so their prices cannot be beat. They were very accommodating in allowing me to bring in my own liquor, which most venues did not allow. Overall I was very happy with Jungle Island.

Studio by Carmen Wedding Pics A+ (Pending Pics)
After seeing Carmen's pictures on The Knot I knew I wanted her to be my wedding photographer!! Carmen and Favio were great to work with the day of the wedding. Eddie and I were super excited to work with them again after a wonderful engagement shoot back in October. Carmen is super professional and has a great eye. I was able to see one teaser from the wedding and it came out great! They were there on time and started taking pictures right away. I can't wait to see the outcome of our day I'm positive they did an amazing job! LOVE CARMEN!!

Blueshore Productions A++
I booked Jeremy about 1 month prior to my wedding, after deciding we really wanted a video. I am so glad we made this decision and even more happy we chose Jeremy! After showing Eddie a few samples of his work we instantly decided his style fit us perfectly. Jeremy has gone above and beyond!!! He truly takes pride in the work. If you're considering a video, please contact Jeremy! You will not be disappointed!!! :)

Ubi (DJ and Up lighting) A++
Woah did I have a party! Ubi had EVERYONE on the dance floor the entire night. I hired him based solely on recommendations, and boy did he live up to his reputation! I didn't provide Ubi with a playlist and basically just told him to play whatever he thinks would work. He's a true professional..super nice..introduced himself and made sure we were happy with the music. I highly recommend him. The hot pink uplighting was spectacular as well!

Elsa, Elegant Bodas A++++++
After meeting with about 7 florists. I finally came across someone who's work was impressive! Not only was she the only florist that actually got my vision, but she came in under my budget! The day of the wedding I was IN LOVE with my flowers. Everyone could not stop raving about how beautiful they were. I still have people calling me about my flowers! Elsa has awesome taste and really does spectacular work! She's pretty well known in the wedding business and has been doing this for years. Give her a try you will NOT be disappointed!

Leyani A+ Linens and Draping
They did an incredible job on the draping and the linens. The draping really helped to transform the room! Leyani and her staff are super sweet and really helpful. We were super impressed with the final product!!!

Ana Paz- C-
I had a very good experience with Ana Paz up until a week before the wedding. I had Ana Paz's assistant contact me letting me know that my cake would be 4 ties instead of 5 b.c my guest count had dropped to 144 people instead of 150. I was not happy about this considering that the 5 tiers was in the contract and didn't really understand how 6 people would constitute removing a full tier. Well lucky Letty resolved this issue for me, but the day of the wedding my cake was dry, had sugar flowers on each tier which I did not request, and was TINY! I literally started laughing when I saw the size of my cake. Thank God I got a cake stand, which brings me to my next complaint. The assistant also asked me if it was OK to charge the credit card on file $350 for the cake stand. I asked her what it was for and why there were CHARGING the card. She said they would refund me as soon as the stand was returned. I told her it would be OK to place a hold, but not to charge it. They obviously had my credit card on file and if it was not returned they can go ahead and process the $350 they claim the stand it worth. Well Letty took care of that issue for me as well. My third and final issue with them was my ribbon. I had dropped off a full roll of 100 yard ribbon at Ana Paz in coral gables a couple of days prior to my wedding for them to use on my cake, well I called them back (Doral location, which is where they prepare the cakes) after my wedding to see when I can pass by to pick up my ribbon and they had NO CLUE what I was talking about. They told me that they cannot guarantee that my ribbon would still there and that they usually only keep it if the bride requests for it back (which obviously I did). Plus who tosses 100 yards of ribbon?!?! Luckily I complained so much that they miraculously found it. The only reason I do not give them an F is b.c I had a pleasant experience prior to my wedding.

Hitched A+
Luis is super easy to deal with and a total sweetheart! He has the best prices around. I highly recommend him!

Meilan- A
Pleasure to deal with. The driver was on time and super sweet. The only reason why I do not give them a plus is the drivers side window was broken and didn't go up. Good thing it wasn't a super hot day in July! I actually enjoyed the breeze..lol.

Gloria Pelo- A
Gloria is super sweet and was there right on time. B.C she is pretty expensive she only did my mom, sisters and myself. She did a good job on my hair and makeup, but it was falling out a lbit after the reception started. Granted I have a lot of hair and it's very heavy, so I guess this was bound to happen. Overall I was very happy with the way everything came out. My mom and sister looked beautiful.

Jorge A+
Jorge did everyones makeup. He was there on time and did a wonderful job! He's reasonably prices and very talented!

EliStar's Reviews 06.09.07

Venue
Parrot Jungle Island - A+++++++++++++++++++
I cannot say enough nice things about Parrot Jungle. Everyone on their staff is consistently attentive, the room was perfect, the drinks and food were superb, and they did everything I asked of them and more. My catering manager was Mercy Acosta, and she was just an absolute joy. Every time I called to ask a question, she patiently answered and explained any necessary details, and every time I called to make sure we were on the same page, she always was. They took care of all the materials for my signature drinks, they accommodated all of my requests, and they made sure my room looked beautiful. When I couldn’t get in touch with one of my vendors, Mercy personally called and sorted out details for me. If you are looking for a place that is reasonably priced at a beautiful location with wonderful service, I highly recommend Parrot Jungle Island.

Granada Presbyterian Church - B+
The church itself is beautiful and all of the staff is incredibly nice, but a bit irresponsible. Every time I called to check up on things, they had usually completely forgotten our last conversation, but the reason I gave them a high score is because they always did their best to catch up and make amends. I was also a bit upset about not being informed that my wedding coordinator at the church had been switched the week of the wedding, but fortunately I KNEW the coordinator that they replaced her with and she was very sweet and detailed. Also, they started the prelude music super late and messed up the processional music, which kinda peeved me, but it was not that big of a deal. Out pastor, Pastor Phil Binnie, is one of the nicest men I have ever met. He conducted our pre-marital courses, which were VERY helpful and I think My DH and I both gained a lot from them.

Richard Miller Photography, Maja Miller - A++++++++++++++++++++++ (If I could fill up a whole page with pluses, I would. )
I will preface this review with a very important fact - We have not received our wedding photos yet. But I am grading Maja on her absolutely wonderful demeanor and of course on the amazing engagement pictures she took of us. She was so easy to get along with and is so incredibly professional. DH and I had a BLAST with her and her staff, who were all cracking jokes and they made us feel completely comfortable. When Maja arrived at the hotel and started my bridal shoot, she whispered to me “ I can tell this is going to be one of the weddings where we take over a thousand pictures - there are just so many wonderful things to photograph!” And boy did she hold up to her side of the bargain. The woman did not stop shooting for one second!! She kept showing us the pictures while she was taking them, and my mouth dropped every time. I am so incredibly excited to see them.
Update - I got my wedding photos back and I am THRILLED. I knew they would be beautiful but she surpassed my expectations. I stand by my grade!


Live Band
Continental Brass - C
I was very disappointed with my band. They kept taking long breaks in between songs, they never appeared like they had it together, and both Jesus (the band leader) AND his son (the assistant band leader) disappeared ten minutes into the reception. Their DJ, DJ Billy kept mixing up songs, and the singing was not that great. I have been to several weddings where they’ve played and they were MUCH better, so I was definitely let down. Don’t get me wrong, there were people on the dance floor and everyone had a great time, but I can’t whole-heartedly recommend them.

Polynesian Show - A+
Marcee Rodriguez
What a blast! I think that the Hawaiian show was the highlight of the party - it was so much fun! Marcee put on such a great show, and the fire dancer just WOWed everyone! What was great is that they brought everyone up to learn how to hula, and the hunky fire dancer individually brought up some older ladies and taught them how to dance which was HILARIOUS. I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in my life. I HIGHLY recommend them, you will NOT regret hiring them!

Petunia Flowers - A++++++++++++++++++++++++
Eduardo did a fantastic job on my flowers. I almost cried when I saw my bouquet and the reception room. The centerpieces were beautiful, the bouquets and boutonnieres were perfect, and even though he called to tell me that most of the ranunculus we had planned on using had died, he saved 8 of them for my bouquet and threw in a box of peonies for my centerpieces. On top of being extremely meticulous about my flowers, Eduardo is one of the most wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I loved him the moment I met him, and knew I HAD to have him as my florist no matter what!! HIGHLY recommend!!!

Meilan Limousine - A+
They were responsible, on time, and the car was perfect. The AC was great, the car was beautiful. The driver was very polite and sweet, and personally made sure that no one saw me before the ceremony. He even told Anthony that he’d married “the prettiest of them all” in Spanish though, so I had to translate. LOL, it kind of lost the magic, but oh well! Highly recommend.

AB Cover Designers - D+/C
I am very upset with AB Covers. Every time I tried to get a hold of Ana I was put on hold and told she’d call me back. My mother and I must have called 20 times and we never got one single call back. The day before the wedding I had no idea whether I was going to get draping behind my sweetheart table. If my DOC and Mercy hadn’t called her to hound her about the draping, I WOULDN’T have gotten draping, although I had been personally reminding her about it at every one of the three meetings I had with Ana. What’s worse is that she had no recollection of me ever wanting draping behind the sweetheart table. On top of that mess, I paid almost $800 for draping, which included draping the entire air wall which separates the ball rooms. When I got to my reception, the HUGE air wall, which is maybe 300 feet long was not draped. Instead, they had draped behind the band, which was maybe a quarter of the size. I did not pay $800 for draping behind the band. Needless to say, I will be getting in contact with them about that. The only reason they did not get an F- is because the draping behind my SW table was gorgeous and everything else was perfect and in place. So, I only recommend them if you are willing to go through hell and back to get beautiful linens, and even then, still risk them fugging up what you want. Revision - When I got back from my HM, my mom told me that she had called Ana to complain about what happened and that she had apologized profusely and refunded a portion of the draping cost. I upgraded her to a C for her behavior AFTER the fact, but I stand by my D+ for prior to the wedding.

Invitations
Smashing Cards - A++++
I emailed Ashley from Smashing Cards the same day I came across their webpage. OMG. My invites were to die for. I got SO many compliments on them, I even had friends and family calling me and asking me to send another for their albums and scrapbooks.. It really was incredible. Cake, Favors, take home pastry boxes - A+++++++ times infiniti

Delicioso Bakery A++++++
My dad made my wedding cake. I almost cried when I saw it. Although the table they put it on was a little crooked, the cake was so beautiful that it took my breath away. It was EXACTLY what I wanted, I could tell my dad had broken his back to get it just perfect. It was six layers and DELISH. Thank you Daddy!! Oh and he also made my cookie favors, which unfortunately must have melted a bit during the transportation process, but they were still pretty!

Biltmore Hotel A+
Bridal prep, night of the wedding hotel, and day after brunch
WOW, is all I can say. We got the HM suite which was sooooooo awesome!! Anthony almost died when he saw our room and ginormous balcony. The bed and pillows were like cotton covered marshmallows. The service was impeccable and the hotel is gorgeous. We took many pictures around the hotel, and I can’t wait to see how they come out. Highly Recommend.

Seamstress for Bridesmaids gown - Sylvia - F-------
She made my life a living hell two weeks before my wedding date. Thank GOD I told her my wedding date was two weeks before the actual date, or some of my BMS would have gotten their dresses on the actual day of the wedding. The dresses were gorgeous, but I seriously think any seamstress could have made the dresses I picked out with the material I also picked out and went to BFE to buy just as nice or better. Several of my BMs had to get their dresses altered because they had problems with they way they fit. She was so incredibly rude to me and my BMs that I felt bad about even asking them to come for their final fittings. She dumped my FG dresses on another seamstress the “week of the wedding” who tried to charge me more than double than the price I had agreed on with Sylvia. Seriously, this was where Bridezilla Eli came out. If you’re going to have your dresses made FIND a RESPONSIBLE seamstress!!!

Rosa Fabrics - Material for BM dresses A
When I went to Ultra Fabrics on Bird Road they were selling the same green material I chose for my BM dresses for almost $8 a yard. I got it for $3 a yard at Rosa Fabrics and it was JUST AS NICE!!! Although it is in a kind of scary neighborhood if you go at the wrong time of day (My mom and I literally saw a lady getting mugged on our first trip there - although her posse chased down the mugger and beat him down with their own purses) it is still worth it to get such a great price on material. The service is great and HAGGLE with them. They will lower their price, especially if you are buying a lot.

My dress
Bridal City- A+
The women there were an absolute joy. They were so nice and helpful, every time I came they just gushed over me and went out of their way to make sure I felt comfortable in my dress. Although Anthony broke my bustle as we were walking into the reception, I kind of knew that was going to happen and just danced the night away holding my dress. I hear they are closing their location, but if they ever open up somewhere else, I highly recommend them.

Hair
Tania Fiandor - A+
Tania has been doing my hair since I was 13 years old. She is no longer just my regular hair stylist, but a very close friend of my family. She did FOUR trials to make sure my hair came out the way I wanted it. Although my waves did eventually fall out towards the end of the night, my hair was beautiful and she really did a wonderful job throughout the wh0ole process. I was very happy with her.

Makeup
Anna Noriega A+
She did a GREAT job on my makeup, JUST what I wanted!! It looked soo natural and pretty, and she was so nice and easy to get a long with. She also was willing to work with me until I was satisfied which was very important to me.

Gms and Anthony’s tuxes
Ace Tuxedos - B+
They were wonderful and the tuxedos were perfect and gorgeous, but they lost Anthony’s measurements and we didn’t find out until two days before the wedding. We had to rush over there to make sure they had the tux he had ordered in his size, which thankfully, they did. Other than that, the service was great and I recommend them.

Day of coordinator
Carmen Becerra - A++++
I hired Carmen two weeks before my wedding Day. Thank GOD I did. She was wonderful, professional, and knew I was a control freak so she cleared EVERYTHING with me first. I could not be more happy with her service. Alessandra recommended her to me after she had rented a seating chart from her. I needed an easel for the large engagement picture I had ordered, and so I met Carmen and hired her on the spot. She took EVERYTHING to Parrot Jungle for me and set up everything just the way I wanted. My candy buffet was soooo cute!! Carmen had made sure it came out like I had set it up in my brain, and she did a perfect job. I HIGHLY recommend her

Oyepooh's Reviews 06.13.08

Blessed Trinity Catholic Church - A+
We had a little trouble booking our date when we first got engaged because the Pastor was on vacation and they wouldn't write us in the calendar officially until we had met with him. However, since my cousin works there, she penciled us in and set up the appointment so we could sit down with him upon his return. This was easy and painless. We met with the Deacon and his wife to take our FOCCUS test and then went to the Marriage Retreat on a Saturday in November. They allowed us to bring in our own priest because he is a good friend and it was important to us to have a priest that was bilingual so Ray's mom and my dad (and some other guests) could understand the ceremony. On the day of, everything went perfectly and since my cousin works there, we were not rushed during our pictures.
Contact Information - (305)871-5780

Ceremony Music - A+
Our organist was Sal Rendina. He is the Church's organist so he was easy to reach. He does work at other venues.
Contact Information - (305)652-7282

Our vocalist was Sara Andreu (my cousin). She also works at the Church so this was a no brainer. Her voice gives us chills and we worked directly with her to choose all of our music. She does sing at other Churches/venues as well.
Contact Information - syandreu@hotmail.com

Jungle Island - A+++
Our contact person there was Jannette Alix. She was easy to work with and made us feel like we were her only event. She remembered details from previous conversations and her years of experience made us feel at ease. Unfortunately, she no longer works there. Their packages were the best we could find anywhere and included lots of extras. We used the Prime Card and received a 25% discount on our food and beverage bill. On the day of, we were assigned our own staff member from the moment we arrived. They prepared and served us a tray with all the yummy food from the cocktail hour and brought us drinks right away. Our guests raved about the variety of food during the cocktail hour and most were so stuffed that they couldn't finish their entrees. That was music to our ears! We also heard a lot of good things in relation to the staff and our guests liked that they could park their own cars and didn't have to wait (and pay) for valet. Believe it or not, that was a factor in our decision to begin with. Our guests also loved the parrots that visited during the cocktail hour. We would recommend JI for any event.
Contact Information - (305)400-7239

Video - Digital Video Concepts - A
We booked them before I knew about the knot and didn't meet with any other vendors because I felt very comfortable around Luciano and Jesus. They do the filming of many of the events at my school and although they are a small company, I felt I could trust them. We had 2 cameras and the footage is wonderful. He was great at working with us after the wedding as we chose our songs and did the final editing. He understood my desire to have the whole Mass be a part of the video - I didn't want any of it cut out. Ray felt his work was a little cheesy and I can see that but it's a WEDDING video. They're all cheesy, aren't they?? Anyway, now that I know the variety of videographers and styles that exist, I might have made a different decision but I love our video nonetheless.
Contact Information - (305)207-0722

Photography - Gort & Sandor - D
Where do I begin??? We hired Sandor Glez of Gort & Sandor nearly 10 months out because we liked his style and clicked with him. We knew of a couple of people who had used him for other events. His album designs were done by his wife, Martha, and we really liked her work. She even sat and let us watch her work on someone else's album so we could see different options, etc. We were scheduled to take our first engagement pictures a few days after Thanksgiving. We received an email a few days prior to the shoot saying that Sandor would not be able to shoot our pictures but that another photographer would be there. She included his name (Polo) and number. We thought this was weird but went along with it (see review below). That same night there was a link in my email to the online gallery and we were very happy. Ray and I chose the picture we wanted to enlarge and emailed and called Martha multiple times. Days and days went by with no response. We eventually got a reply telling us that Polo would be handling our package from now on. We really liked working with Polo but that's not who we hired. I was miserable!! We met with Polo and he explained that Martha and Sandor were actually moving in a new direction career-wise. We were also told that apparently Sandor never backed up the high-resolution images from our engagement pictures so we would need to re-shoot them. At this point, we chose to move forward with Polo because we were only 4 months away from our wedding. Polo helped us out by making sure that Sandor compensated us - he paid for the Vizcaya fee the second time, the framing for our enlargement, etc. This is the only reason he gets a D and not an F.

Photography - Polo Sivori - A+++
So Polo was the photographer we never actually hired but ended up working with. We LOVE him to pieces! It's extremely funny how life twists and turns things on you and in the end, it's all okay. He is extremely laid back but full of energy. He isn't afraid to lay down on the floor or climb some rocks to get the right shot. He shot our engagement pictures both times and we met with him so many times before the wedding that we were already convinced he was like family by the time the wedding day came. As a result of everything that happened with our first engagement pictures, he agreed to give us the high-resolution images right away. So after leaving the 2nd shoot for our e-pics, we went to his office and downloaded all the images onto a portable drive. We had a friend do this for us with the wedding pictures while we were on our honeymoon and the day after the Bridal Portraits, I was at his office again. He wanted us to feel confident that it wouldn't happen again. We were compensated in a few other ways as well because Polo stuck his neck out for us and made sure Sandor took care of us (read above). He was incredibly good at keeping me calm (which takes a lot) and helping both of us relax in front of the camera. He even called me the day of the wedding to check on me. Seriously, he is our photographer for life!!! When we eventually chose all the pictures for our album, he and another designer worked on our album design. He then called us in to review it and make changes before sending it off to print. He kept telling us that he just wanted us to be happy and we definitely are.
Contact Information - email me for his phone #

DOC - Justine of Fabulous Fetes & Events - A+++
I never knew what a DOC was but as we got closer and closer to the wedding, I kept wondering who would pick things up after the Ceremony and Reception, etc. I didn't want my mom to worry about all of this on the day of so I suggested a DOC to Ray and my mom. They both thought it was worth looking into. My mom and I met with Justine about a month before the wedding and my only regret was not having hired her sooner in the process. After signing with her, I literally felt 500 pounds lighter. She called me the morning of and a few other times throughout the day to be sure I was okay and give me updates. She set everything up perfectly and packed things up for my mom to take home as well. She was on top of things yet very calm. She even helped me go to the bathroom. LOL I'm convinced my mom enjoyed the reception as much as she did because she knew Justine would take care of everything. I have to mention that we asked her to pack up a slice of wedding cake for my aunt who was hospitalized the week of the wedding and couldn't make it at the last minute - she even brought a little container from home. And to top it all off, my guests accidentally started a fire during our sparkler send-off and her husband, Alexis, put out the fire right away. We thought it was hilarious but he had a bucket of water ready to go and kept things under control. She is great at communication and I'd recommend her with my eyes closed.
Contact Information - info@fabulousfetesandevents.com

DJ - The Party Players - A+
Again, another vendor I went straight to and booked without looking elsewhere. They had DJd events for my school in the past and the parties they worked had always been the best ones. I called, went in to meet, signed the contract and wrote a check. Our MC was Johnny Caride and our DJ was Andy. They even brought a third guy on the day of. Their online system for song selection was easy to use. They were VERY responsive to emails and phone calls. We chose songs for introductions, first dance, garter removal, etc. and then left a lot of the music selection to them. We asked for a few songs but asked them to read the crowd for the most part. They did a great job at keeping everyone dancing all night!
Contact Information - (305)225-5267

Transportation - Meilan - A+
They seem to be the go-to company and now we know why. They were easy to work with before the wedding and excellent on the day of. We hired a Town Car to take Ray's mom to the ceremony and back home, the Rolls Royce Phantom for my dad and I to go to the Church and for us to go to the reception, and another Town Car to take us to our hotel after the reception. Humberto was our driver in the Phantom and he was wonderful. He helped me with my dress and was very sweet.
Contact Information - (305)665-7284

Flowers - Lazarus Flowers - A+++
Benny was awesome to work with!! When I first told him I was thinking of going "tropical," he was in heaven. He told me that sometimes brides forget to take their venue into consideration. I think he was excited to do something a little different. I even called him the day after the wedding and left hm a message thanking him for my beautiful flowers. He took my ideas and went 100 times beyond. I was sold on using Benny when I saw his wrought iron bases for our centerpieces and the columns that coordinated with them. We used those behind the cake and sweetheart tables. He was also able to bring in the areca palms to liven up the ballroom. All the flowers were very fresh and lasted for days after the wedding. I'd use him again without hesitation!!
Contact Information - (305)860-4203

Linens - Leyani Linens - A+
I kept things pretty simple as far as linens. I used JI's tablecloths for the guest tables but used Leyani for chair covers/sashes, brown napkins for the guests, brown linens for the cake and sweetheart tables, and ivory napkins for us. As far as I know, everything was on time and ready to go.
Contact Information - (305)668-0208

Espresso Station - Aroma Espresso - A+
Ray wanted to add this after seeing another wedding set up at JI. Their station looked great (others we saw looked kind of cheap) and they gave us a great deal. They were easy to book and showed up according to plan on the day of. The guests loved it!
Contact Information - (786)546-8173

Cake - Artistic Cakes - B+
We went to meet with Cilly because they were the only cake vendor on the JI list that included fondant. I wanted the clean look of fondant and a fairly simple design. We chose the orange flavored cake. On the day of, the cake was great but not exactly what we had designed with her. The piece we ate on the wedding day tasted great to us but when we ate it again on our 1st anniversary, not so good. Oh well.
Contact Information - (305)229-1005 or (305)262-5273

Invitations - Stylish Invitation Designs - A+
A friend of mine that has worked with Chantal and Aledia in the past sent us their way. My mom and I first got quoted on pocketfolds and they added up to more than we wanted to spend. I called them and they suggested we come up with a different design. They worked very diligently to come up with something simple and elegant. I was in love with the final product - they were awesome to work with!!
Contact Information - (954)237-7694

Suits - Manny's Formalwear - A-
We went with Manny's because they had the brown suits we wanted and we would be the first to wear them. He was also able to get the orange ties I wanted for the boys and Best Man. He let me come in a few times and play with different shirt and tie combinations without complaining. I also appreciated the fact that their store is very clean and everything seems much more organized than other places I went. They get an A- because two of the boys didn't fit very well into their jackets on the day of despite having been fitted. One of the boys' mom's called the shop a few hours before the wedding and they scrambled and got him a new jacket in time. The other mom didn't call but I'm sure if she had, they would have resolved the issue for him as well. We've already been back to get tuxes for Ray for other events.
Contact Information - (305)264-5516

Dress - Alfred Angelo - A
We had been to the shop in the Gables but there was a specific dress I wanted to see and since they didn't have it, we went to the store in Deerfield. The service was excellent from the moment we got there. They found the dress I wanted to see but when I tried it on, I was not happy. They kept pulling dresses and we found the one - my mom and godmother both started crying so that's it, decision made. We left the deposit and expected to get a call in a few months but I got a call 3 days later. They were about to ship the dress to another store when my order came in. We headed back up to Deerfield the next weekend and took the dress home. We took it to the Gables store for alterations because it was a lot closer for us. Thankfully, I didn't need many and the process was easy. They had the dress ready to go when promised and steamed it (and the veil) really well. I also purchased my head piece and veil from them.
Contact Information - (305)529-5822

Hair & Make-Up - Dina Acle - A+++
After a trial with someone else, Dina was an angel! Dina is the sweetest person I've ever met. She did my hair and make-up and also did my mom's make-up. She had a wonderfully calm demeanor. She came to my home for my trial, the day of the wedding, and the day of my Bridal Portraits. She was on time each time. She was very patient and listened to my concerns. My hair lasted all night looking great and so did my make-up despite all the dancing. I felt like a princess thanks to her. If I ever need professional hair/make-up again, I'd call her in an instant.
Contact Information - (786)514-1678

Wedding Rings - Rotunda Jewelers (mine) - A+ . . . and Sam's Club (Ray's) - A+
Ray had my engagement ring and wedding band custom made by Dana at Rotunda. Flawless work!!
Contact Information - (305)255-6162

I shopped around for Ray's ring with him and he finally decided that he wanted Tungsten. We had a problem finding a place that could order his ring in his size (he's a big guy - LOL). My mom spotted a Tungsten ring at Sam's Club (of all places) so we went to check it out. They had exactly what he had wanted and could order it. The best part was that if it didn't fit properly, we wouldn't have to take it. They called about 2 weeks later, it fit perfectly, and was a great price.

Parent gifts - My Publisher - A+
We ordered books with our engagement pictures to give to our parents at the RD. The books came out awesome and were a huge hit. I found the software easy to use. Although I don't remember exactly what we paid, I know we found coupon codes online. After the wedding, we used My Publisher again to create books with our wedding pictures while waiting for our real album to be ready. All of my aunts and uncles even ordered a copy for themselves.

Fabric for Bridesmaid Dresses - Rex Fabrics - A
Since we couldn't find dresses we liked, we opted to have them made. We bought the raw silk for the dresses at Rex Fabrics. Their selection is like none other and their service was good but they aren't cheap. The FG dress was made by her great-aunt who only sews for family. The MOH and Jr. BM dresses were made by a lady my MOH had used before (I don't have her information) but this time around, she was a total disaster so I could never recommend her.
Contact Information for Rex Fabrics - (305)448-7651

Registry - Bed, Bath & Beyond - A+
We only set up one registry and found it to be enough variety. I felt that they had a lot to choose from and liked the idea that the guests could use coupons. They also wrap the gifts for free. On our first day setting up the registry in the store, one of the associates walked through the store with us and made some suggestions. We went back another day to finish up and then did the rest of the changes from home. Their website was very easy to use. They were WONDERFUL about shipping gifts for those who chose that option. We did opt to take some things back when we realized what we really needed and had space for. They didn't give us a hard time about it. When you return items from your registry, you get cash. Overall, a great experience.

Signature Platter - Say Anything Ceramics - A+
I REALLY wanted a platter as our guestbook but couldn't find what I wanted locally. I searched the Internet and compared prices, options, etc. I called Say Anything a couple of times with questions and they were very responsive. It wasn't cheap but we loved the end result.
Contact Information - www.sayanythingceramics.com

Muddilicious's Reviews 03.21.09

We had a great wedding! It rained, but it was a-ok. In the end, I think all our guests had a great time and they ate, danced, and partied all night. However, my husband and I have very opinioned reviews of our vendors. We have included them since knotties were so intregal to us when chosing ours.



Ceremony and Reception
Jungle Island - We have to break this down into parts to give an accurate review.

(A) Service (Day of) B : The waiting staff and bartenders were wonderful and were plentiful. Our guests felt well taken care of. However, the head person bowed out at the middle of our event and had to be replaced, then at the end of the evening, she magically reappeared for her tip - weird.

(B) Catering Management Staff (Planning) D+: I could go on and on, but to be brief, they promised things that they didn't do. Namely, they said that no event would start to the same time as us, nor would they be located near us. A wedding and a 1000 person corporate event all started within 30 minutes of our wedding. All our guests ran into each other. Plus, we had bass and steel drums that we could hear from the other events that we had to tell them to quiet down. There were many other issues here, involving them having problems following our contract (dates, times, etc), not being informed of our new coordinator (my emails were just unanswered), excess folded tables and trash being left out in full view of our guests during the reception, and planning staff being extremely rude on several occasions (the head honcho actually said "I wonder how much money I am going to lose on your wedding"). They caused me alot of stress that I never expected from a relatively all-inclusive venue. If you book them, make sure you understand that they are all in it for the money, so if another big ticket event wants to book on your wedding day - you will be bumped. We actually got kicked out of our cocktail hour space 1 week before the wedding, because the 1000 person event needed to walk through it. Email me for more details.

(C) Food B: The entrees themselves were eh and some of the dishes were under-seasoned. Passed appetizers were good (some much better than others). Salad was good, but had very few hearts of palm. The seated appetizer crab cake was much too spicy for a broad audience - it was disappointing. It was a bit of a letdown compared to our tasting.


Cake
Cakes by Edda: B-. Service and quality vary by location. I definitely had a rocky start with the Doral and Coral Gables locations, but Coral Gables and their fresh cake tastes great. That being said, I would not have booked them if they weren't included in our package. My advice is to avoid the weekends and make an appointment (get their name!) for FRESH cake and the fillings you want.

I dislike that they charged us extra for (1) making the buttercreme a color and (2) for filling to be added in between the layers (is there someone that has no filling in their cake?). I feel that this is something that should be included in our package cake. However, this might be more of something to bring up with the venue instead.

Our cake itself was gorgeous and the perfect color, the buttercreme was so smooth and looked just like fondant! However, the orange flavor was much too intense and the texture wasn't so good. It was coarse. The strawberry filling also did not taste the same as the tasting and was a really thin layer. Overall, I was quite disappointed in the taste, but happy with the appearance. I recommend that you look elsewhere and go with a smaller baker that isn't so hit-or-miss.


Officiant
Eddie Rodriguez A: So wonderful that we pretty much booked him on the spot, without interviewing anyone else. He is a very structured person, which I find to be a great quality for someone in this field. He constructed a great ceremony for us that was very personal and relevant. Everyone has been raving about it. He gave us great advice and pointers for the ceremony that we needed. I am so glad we had him marry us.


Day of Coordinator
Stylish Events by Karla A+ Wow, I feel so lucky to have have won her contest. About 1.5 months out she came on board and helped us out tremendously. Before the wedding, she helped construct our timeline and recommend the remaining vendor we needed. The day of the wedding, she was a God-send! We had to go to Plan B b/c of rain and she was there acting as an intermediary to our venue and us and set up. She did a great job, especially since everything changed from our original design. Her husband was also behind the scenes working the entire time.

Honestly, I never thought I needed a DOC. My catering coordinator at my venue assured me I didn't. However, I believe, that they deliberately try to get away from DOC's so that they don't have someone annoying them making sure that they are doing things the way that they are supposed to.

I highly recommend having a DOC and Karla. She saved us!


Wedding/TTD Photographer
KLK Photography TBD: Kristi is super sweet and creative, I can't wait to see what our pictures look like.


Videography
Blue Sky Videos A: Paul was super nice and accommodating. We love our long and short length videos. The audio selections were spot on too.


Engagement Pictures Photographer
Uplift Photography A+: Only the most awesome girl in the world! Jade took stunning pictures of us under crazy time constraints. And when we had no idea what to do, she gave us great direction. She is the best! Everyone raves about our pictures. Just stunning work!!! Highest recommendation!


B-Pic Photographer
Danielle Fletcher (Petaluma, CA) A: I am so happy with my pics and album. She was such a pleasure to work with and really made me at ease. Let her know when you need your album and you are good to go. Highly recommended!


DJ
Visions DJ Steven B+: Their online selection system and professionalism sealed the deal for us. Steven was super nice and played all the songs we suggested, however he technically wasn't the greatest DJ. His mixes weren't that good and he cut out ALOT of the best parts of songs. In his defense, dinner took so long, that we were left with little dancing time and he probably wanted to fit in as much of the music that we chose.


Cocktail Hour Musician
Deborah Fleisher A: She is a quirky, but talented harpist. She has a huge repertoire. I didn't hear too much of her music, but what I did was lovely.


Florist
DIY - I do not recommend DIYing your flowers unless you have experience with doing someone else's and/or have lots and lots of help. It could be a very unneeded last minute stress event. For me, it was truly relaxing arranging them the Thursday before our wedding. I loved it!
The Flower MegaStore. A: I bought my flowers from here. Giselle is great and was very honest with what she could and couldn't get (and what she might get). She has amazing prices and a great selection. She will keep you updated on her stock if it is something you are interested in. She really helped me alot and stayed in good contact.

Invitations
DIY - A pain in the booty, but I like them well enough. They weren't perfect, but I love the way that the envelopes came out. I would have done postcard RSVPs, had I had to do it all again. Some people had difficulty with doing the online RSVP.
Paper & More A+: Liner paper and thank you card envelopes were bought here. They have very fast and reasonable shipping. They also have inexpensive samples.
Paper Presentation B- : My cardstock had tears in it. They shipped a replacement in an envelope with no protection and therefore the replacement cardstock was bent. You also have to shell out $35 for samples and their shipping is expensive. However, the cardstock is beautiful.


Favors
DIY - I do not recommend DIY-ing food favors to everyone either, but I make these cookies in bulk every year, so I knew what I was tackling. I knew it would take me a whole day to do these. They went over very well.
PaperMart A: Bags were shipped quick and they have good prices.


Transportation
Meilan Limo A: Great service, easy to book. They made my life much easier and even brought the cake that was left behind in the truck back to my mom. I was extremely happy with their service day of.


My Dress
Amy Kuschel A+: They might not be the least expensive shop in town, but the quality of the dresses, the custom alterations, and the amazing customer service make this place a great deal, especially if you are a petite or tall woman. It was a wonderful experience every step of the way.
Adalgis Bezanilla A: Ada is a professional Bridal Valet and retired bridal gown consultant. If you need someone to come and take care of you the day of your wedding, this is your lady. For me though, she just pressed my dress and my mother's, when no other bridal shop in Miami would. She was quick and SOOO nice. I highly recommend her if you are an OOT bride in Miami and need your dress taken care of. She will even come to you. I just could not bring myself to entrust it to just a dry cleaner. Her contact numbers are 305.260.4421 and 305.969.4491


Tuxedos
Black Tie on the Circle A-: Great service and lovely tuxes. It may not be the cheapest in Miami, but it is a locally owned business that owns all of their tuxes. FI said it was the best feeling tux he ever had on. They treated all of us very well during the initial fitting, but DH felt a bit slighted on the day of pickup. I highly recommend them.


Jewelers
Shane Co. A+: My E ring & band. Absolutely wonderful. The only place that treated my FI well. They have taken great care of my rings.
West Coast Jewelry A: FI Band. Great selection and has a wonderful return policy. Quick shipping too. Highly recommended.


Hair/Make-up
Josey from MAC South Beach Macy*s B-: She did a great job on my trial at the counter. My mom wasn't so happy with hers so she offered to re-do her eyes, which she did a great job. However, she went on vacation and never contacted me until I hounded her down 3 days before our wedding. She made us an appointment with another girl, but I would have appreciated some more notice.
Fliberto from Bobbi Brown South Beach Macy*s A: I did both my trial and day of at counter. He did an amazing job and is a super nice guy. I highly recommend him and he is willing to travel for bridal parties.
Van Michael Salon Geer: B+ I learned my lesson and didn't tell them I was the bride, only that I wanted an updo. I found that there is a difference in price with salons for "Bridal" hair. This place is not cheap, but has a great rep, so I saved $ by not having a trial. Although, I did like my hair, I felt like she rushed it by the end when she was the one that started late. I had tons of frizzies and hair popping out that I had to tell her to fix over and over again. It was very unfinished looking when she was rushing me out. I immediately needed more hairspray as soon as I got back to my hotel. For $100 for a regular updo, I expected better service.
My mother did get an amazing cut and style there with Levi. I highly recommend him for a great affordable cut. If I lived in Miami, he would be my stylist!


Rehearsal Dinner
Monty's A+: Great food and amazing service for a wonderful price. Everyone loved the ambiance and food. One of the best choices we made.

Wedding Hotel Block
Indian Creek Hotel A- : I found them on Hotelplanner.com. They had great service and great rooms for the price, however they were so booked that they couldn't grant my then fiance late check-out on our wedding day. So he got kicked out of his hotel room 3 hours before he was scheduled to leave for our wedding. It was an oversight on our part, but I thought they might work with us. Staff at the hotel resturant were very high on drugs and had all their party friends hanging out there all day. Resturant was overpriced considering all this.



Guestbook
Blurb A-. Their software is relatively easy to use and upload to site. Prices are great for the quality. Great production and shipping time. My only complaint is that one of my books had black fingerprints and marring on it. Customer service was quick to answer and required me to take pics. They overnighted my new book in time. I will use them again for other albums.