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January 6th, 2006 |
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| Broadmoor United Methodist Church - A+ |
While our church is not a vendor, I thought I'd list our church here because non-members are allowed to use the sanctuary for marriages. Broadmoor Methodist is the church where my brother and I grew up, the church where my parents were married, and the church where my entire family (including my grandparents) has worshipped for many, many years. Our senior minister, Reverend Wright, conducted our covenant marriage ceremony. More information on Louisiana's Covenant Marriage Law can be found under "Covenant Marriage" on the menu at left.
(photos by my mom)
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| Louisiana's Old Governor's Mansion - A+ |
I always dreamed of having my wedding reception at a historic site, so I was very happy to discover the Old Governor's Mansion was available on our wedding day! We were not disappointed... the facility is beautiful and the day-of coordinator there is wonderful! Here are a few sites to give you a glimpse of this beautiful venue:
  
  
 
(photos by my mom)
Official website
Tourism page |
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| Cheryl Buras / A French Garden LLC - F!!!!! |
This was a HORRIBLE experience. Despite 5 hours of phone calls to see where she was, Cheryl Buras did not arrive with our altar and candelabra sprays until literally minutes before the ceremony was to start. Then, our entire wedding was delayed while all our guests sat in the pews and watched her at the altar, in blue jeans, attempting to assemble the arrangements. Guests gasped and whispered to each other as she placed unattractive sprigs of asparagus fern on the candelabras and erected skimpy altar arrangements that looked nothing like the photos we had provided her with our order. None of the arrangements even remotely matched the pew decorations that had been placed by my mom (which were in the Black Magic roses that Cheryl was supposed to use in our altar arrangements and with our candles). I had to wait in the narthex of the church during this delay, shielded from view by my bridesmaids and listening to all this going on. It was unnerving, to say the least! The sanctity of the ceremony was compromised by Cheryl's extremely unprofessional behavior, and I consider this unforgivable. When she finally exited the sanctuary, the music began to play and our candlelighters went down the aisle. Could I enjoy the ceremony then? NO. Because we had a friendly relationship before the wedding day (she had even sent flowers for our rehearsal dinner as her gift to Jason and me), she was apparently oblivious to how her horrible behavior had upset me. Cheryl came over to the corner of the narthex where I was, moved through my bridesmaids as the ceremony began, started to talk, and hugged me. After just singlehandedly delaying the most important event of my life, she hugged me!!! It was surreal.
The bridal party flowers had arrived earlier in the day, and they were also a disappointment. While they were the correct colors and flowers, all the bouquets were MUCH smaller than what we were promised. They were also full of asparagus fern, which we had requested not be used in any of our order because it sheds so much. We had specified all the greenery for the bouquets, based on their Victorian meanings... yet Cheryl did not follow our prepaid order and substituted other things liberally. Even the corsages were skimpy and unattractive (for instance, the readers' corsages only had one rosebud and some greenery in them, with the wrist band fully visible). The reception flowers looked even worse, with oasis visible in many of the arrangements and asparagus fern dropping all over the food on the buffet table. Cheryl also forgot to deliver some items that were key to me, such as the throw-away bouquet. The majority of our flowers weren't even in our wedding colors, though she clearly designated our colors (platinum and wine) on her own work order!
Cheryl's explanation to my mom for this horrendous performance was that she had taken on extra work at the last minute (for a funeral), as if that was supposed to excuse her completely. I still do not understand how she could have done this! We looked at many recommendations before we selected Cheryl as our florist, she was so nice to work with, my mom provided her with very detailed photographs of what we were ordering, my bridal portrait bouquet was a perfect trial run for what I wanted, we delivered her the crystal picks and silver tussie mussies in a timely manner, we were courteous and communicative with her before the wedding, and we paid her on time. Everything was in place for a perfect night. Cheryl had told us at the bridal show when we met her that she never took more than one wedding a day, because she didn't ever want to overburden herself. So, why would she knowingly take on too much work like that?! Our minister later wrote to us that it was the most appalling and unprofessional performance by a florist he had witnessed in his 23 years of ministry. I will NEVER recommend her to another bride.
  
A few samples of Cheryl's work from our wedding -- We ordered that no asparagus fern be used (because it sheds) and that Black Magic roses be used for everything except my bouquet. Unfortunately, she did not follow our instructions. =(
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| Cameron Gillie, Photojournalist - A++ |
Rather than going with traditional posed wedding photos, we chose a photojournalist to document our wedding day. Cameron Gillie began his career as an award-winning photojournalist working for various newspapers throughout the nation. He's recently relocated to Houma, Louisiana, to be with his fiance, and now offers his services for wedding documentation. Bringing his award-winning style to his new field, Cameron has quickly gained recognition again... this time being named one of the top ten photographers in the NATION by the Wedding Photojournalists Association. We were very fortunate to be able to hire him for our wedding! Check out our photos, posted in the Photo Album, to see the wonderful quality of his work! You can also view some of his past work on the websites below. My best advice? HIRE HIM!
Cameron, in the middle of the action!
Cameron's wedding photojournalism website
Award-winning wedding photos
Wilderness photography
Other images
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| Island Getaways - A++++++ |
Nancy and Tom Finn own this travel agency, which is located in Wisconsin. They booked our honeymoon at Couples Swept Away, located in Negril, Jamaica. We are SO glad we used these agents, because they truly made our honeymoon a great success! We found them by looking through reviews on the honeymoon forum of TheKnot.com.
Because they are long distance from us, we conducted all our business through email or on the phone. After Tom and Nancy gave us their best suggestions, we booked an all-inclusive honeymoon at Couples Swept Away for a price that was way below what everyone else wanted for the same package. From the beginning, Tom and Nancy went above and beyond for us, rolling with the bumps in the road as finances and everything else went awry post-Katrina. They got us a GREAT beachfront suite for a modest price, as well as added amenities like a honeymoon couples massage and an extra spa credit. But, we truly realized how lucky we were to have them as our agents when we had some problems with the flight over. We missed the first day of our stay in Jamaica because another passenger had a heart attack, delaying the plane from New Orleans to Miami. This caused us to miss our connection from Miami to Jamaica, so we spent the first night of our honeymoon in a Comfort Inn at the Miami airport. Tom and Nancy heard about this, and even though we hadn't purchased the trip insurance, they negotiated with both the airline and the resort for us to have an additional night added onto the end of our honeymoon free of charge! This would have cost us well over $600 if we had tried to do it on our own ($75 each to change our flight reservations plus $450 for the extra night at the hotel plus taxes and gratuities). I am very impressed with the personal service and true caring that Island Getaways gave us. Here is their contact information:
Tom and Nancy Finn
Island Getaways
16915 Ridge View Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005
Phone 262-781-1748 or 800-592-7178
email: honeymoons@wi.rr.com
Web link
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| Complete Music Service - A+ |
We hired Brandon with Complete Music to provide the entertainment for our reception and were VERY happy with his performance. He was a true Master of Ceremonies and kept our reception running smoothly. What I like about Brandon is that he is willing to be as involved or uninvolved as you request. We had specific ideas about the music, and so we provided Brandon with four CD's full of all the songs we wanted... everything from oldies for my grandparents to favorite line dances to rap. We wanted to include a few of our favorites from every style. We asked Brandon to stick to just those CD's (no requests), but also asked him to judge which of these particular songs to play when, based on crowd reaction. He did an excellent job of ordering our selections to create a good flow between styles, while still maintaining the schedule of activities (first dances, cake cutting, dollar dance, etc., etc.) with the requested music. He didn't hesitate to jump in the middle of the action to encourage dancing and interaction, and he kept us well-informed about when we needed to move to each new activity. I recommend Brandon highly!
Brandon, leading another line dance!
Web link
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| Heather Ramirez / Flawless Bride - A+ |
I loved my hairstyle and makeup for the trial... they truly were flawless. Unfortunately, after I got back the photos from the wedding, I realized the crystal headpiece that surrounded my hair was crooked the entire night. Heather was so careful styling my hair (not an easy task... I have a LOT of hair!), so I didn't recheck it in the mirror after she placed my veil. Our photographer was waiting to take our pre-wedding formal portraits, and the florist was still not there, and it was just crazy! So, I trusted when Heather said everything was perfect, and went on with the photos without a final glance. Ah well, live and learn. Heather did beautiful work for my grandmother, my mom and my cousin, and I love the hairstyle she created for me. The makeup she applied was very light and natural, so I felt beautiful rather than cakey or fake. She was also a very tranquil influence in the bridal room, which was especially welcome with all the florist stress. Overall, I was extremely happy with her services and I recommend her highly. My best advice? Contact Heather AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOUR WEDDING DATE (she books up quickly)... and take one last glance in the mirror before you leave the bridal room!
Heather, putting the finishing touches on my hair
Web link
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| Beverly Noble / Noble's Catering - A+ |
Located in Prairieville, it's a little difficult to find Beverly's kitchen, but attending one of her tastings is worth the trek! Beverly offered us a varied and well-priced menu with wonderful service and a cheerful demeanor. Our main serving table featured a generous presentation of Seafood Noble with rotini pasta, beef brisket, stuffed mushrooms, hot crab dip with pastry shells, hot spinach dip with pastry shells, a centerpiece of fruit and vegetables, meatballs, fresh fried catfish and chicken tenders, seven layer dip with chips, cold shrimp mold with crackers, and finger sandwiches. A sideboard displayed sweet confections that are popular in the South: pralines and pecan fudge. The food was delicious, plentiful and presented beautifully, and we received many compliments. Beverly was also a true joy to work with... one of our favorite vendors. My only complaint was that, because of the active pace of our reception, I never had a chance to eat on our wedding night. I kept making a plate, but then would be called away to an activity. Every time I would come back to my table, the efficient wait staff had already cleared my plate! Arrrggghhh! =P
One of my many attempts to get food at our main serving table!
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| Zoe's Bakery - A+ |
It might be a bit of a drive to go to Covington for a wedding cake from Zoe's, but the taste definitely makes it worth the trip! Where else would we be able to find such delicious fillings as White Chocolate Strawberry, Pineapple Supreme, Almond Amaretto, and White Chocolate Cognac... all prepared by European pastry chef Shane Gorringe? Yummmmmmy!
We did have a slight problem with the cake, but it was absolutely delicious and we got many compliments. The problem was that Chef Gorringe called on the morning of the wedding to tell us that he couldn't use our cake design with our heavy topper. So, he redesigned the cake to support the topper we had ("Happiest Day" by Lladro), improving stability by taking out all the clear pillars that were supposed to be between each layer. Chef Gorringe also anchored the porcelain in a white chocolate base. The cake wasn't nearly as tall, so it wasn't quite as grand in the foyer. However, the cake was still quite beautiful. I guess that's the kind of thing that happens when you get married close to Christmas. If the bakery hadn't closed for the two weeks prior to our wedding (for Christmas break), then I'm sure we would have been able to solve the problem, either by reworking the design somewhat or finding a new topper. Regardless, I was still very happy with our cake and I highly recommend Chef Gorringe and Zoe's Bakery. Our cake was WONDERFUL!
Our cake!
Web link
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| Other Vendors |
Alterations - Golden Needle, Florida Boulevard location (Baton Rouge) - A+ - We had a few minor problems with Danny, but he made them right free of charge and you couldn't even tell my gown had been altered when he was done. His work is exceptional!
Beverages - Catering Kegs and Marcello's Wine Market (Baton Rouge) - A+
Bridesmaid Dresses, Going-Away Dress, and Rehearsal Dinner Dress - Ballin's (Baton Rouge/New Orleans) - A+
Bridesmaid Gifts - Princess Bride Tiara (online) - A+
Cake Pulls - Sterling Trends (online) - A+
Cake Stand and Tussie Mussies - Sweet Soiree (online at http://store.sweetsoiree.com, but had virus on site) - A+
Cake Topper - "Happiest Day" by Lladro - Swedish Artglass (online) - A+
Chocolate Fountain - Chocolate Fountains and More (Baton Rouge) - A - Instead of a groom's cake, we chose a chocolate fountain. We provided fresh strawberries and fat pretzels for dipping. Guests followed the fantastic fragrance to the family dining room to satisfy their sweet tooth at the reception. It was fun to see people's faces light up when they realized there was a fountain... and we received lots of compliments about the fountain from our guests.
Gown - Pearl's Place (New Orleans) - B - They didn't have a seamstress employed when I picked up my dress, but alterations were supposed to be included free with my purchase. I had to take it elsewhere and pay for alterations.
Invitation Inserts and Paper - Baker Printing (Baker) - B - They cut the cardstock the wrong size, so we had to recut it all by hand with a Fiskars rotary blade.
Jewelry - Givenchy crystal from Marshall Fields and Dillard's (Baton Rouge) - A+
Premarital Preparation Seminar - Christian Counseling Center (Baton Rouge) - A - While this seminar was not as useful as it could have been, we did learn quite a few strategies that I am certain we will use within our marriage. This experience also met the requirements for premarital counseling to enter a covenant marriage in Louisiana.
Rose Petals - FlyBoy Naturals (online) - A+
Second Line Handkerchiefs - Szabo's (Gretna/New Orleans) - A+ - Check out their site... our handkerchief design is now their sample when you click on "Fleur de lis"! =)
Second Line Umbrellas - The Southern Store (New Orleans-online) - A+
Shoes - Gotham City (online) - A+
Table/Chair Rental - Doug Olinde (Baton Rouge) - A+
Tablecloths, Candles and Takeout Boxes - InstaWares (online) - B - They charged our original order but never shipped it... we had to call a month later to let them know it never arrived. However, they have quality products at a good price, so it was worth the aggravation.
Tuxedo and Limo Rental - Squire's Formalwear (Baton Rouge-Corporate location) - B - Everything fit well when it was picked up, but some of the tuxedos were in poor condition. Considering the $125 rental fee, they should have been free of obvious wear and tear. However, Jason was afraid to wear the cufflinks I gave him as a wedding gift, for fear that they would fall out of the frayed openings. Despite the condition of the tuxes, there was one big plus to using Squire's... the limo they provided free with our tux rentals. The limo for our attendants was quite nice, the driver was courteous and prompt, and having this service made the wedding day schedule flow smoothly.
Veil - Princess Bride Tiara (online) - C - My mom had to completely remake the veil because it didn't look at all like the picture when it came in. But, the tulle they use for their veils is softer and finer than any I've seen elsewhere, and the edges were beautifully done.
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