Vendor Reviews
The Empire Club - A-
The very first vendor I secured was the reception venue. I searched high & low to find a place that was reasonably priced and would accommodate our smaller guest list. Several years ago my cousin and a different friend were married here, so I thought I’d check them out. I’m so glad I did! The venue was renovated only a few years ago, so the décor is much more modern. The cocktail room is pretty basic and a decent size. The garden was the perfect place for our family photos. The main ballroom was just wonderful. The décor is neutral enough to go with many different styles. The dance floor is large and there is plenty of room for tables. The chandeliers and sconces added a wonderful touch. I loved that the room came equipped with uplighting that was free. I met with Chris several times who was very kind and accommodating to my long list of questions. I liked that they didn’t have any hidden fees such as extra gratuity, cake cutting fee, cork fee…etc. We were able to work out a price that fit our budget by choosing April, limiting alcohol to beer/wine and paying in cash. We were allowed to bring in our own cupcakes and were discounted the price of the cake. I was very concerned about the food since tastings aren’t done until about 2 weeks before your wedding and I am vegan. I certainly didn’t want dry/boring food. Chris and the chef were very kind and offered me a special tasting in order to accommodate my vegan requests. All of the food was fantastic and the 4 of us left stuffed. Our last meeting discussed every last detail from napkin colors to table numbers. The Maitre’D had it all under control along with my DOC and the Captain who served us was a doll. Overall, the event went beautifully. My only demerit would be regarding the bar. During our last meeting, I clearly stated that I did NOT want a cash bar. We chose to limit the alcohol for reasons other than monetary. Although Chris stated that guests may complain (which they did), he agreed to respect my wishes by placing a mobile bar in the other event if necessary. Several days later, I find out that there was a cash bar. After contacting the venue, Chris explained that the other event in the smaller cocktail room wanted to have a cash bar. Since they were too over packed, they could not fit a mobile bar in their room as I was promised. So, the cash bar was set up on their side of the bar in the hallway. Of course, my guests had no way of knowing that wasn’t for them and went there anyway. I was terribly embarrassed and felt slighted. There is nothing I can do about it now. I understand that the venue felt this was their only option, but I do wish that my wishes had been respected and that I had been notified (even if it was after the fact). If it wasn’t for that, it would have been perfect.
RyoNo Photo - A+
I originally heard of Ryon because an acquaintance that was featured on TLC’s “Four Weddings” used him and I thought her pictures were amazing. I assumed that he was way out of my price range but was pleasantly surprised. He is relatively new to the wedding photography scene and is still way underpriced. I received quotes for 2-3x more from comparable photographers. We hit it off instantly and signed on the spot. We chose the basic package which came with an engagement shoot. We had such a blast during our shoot. Ryon knew exactly where to bring us at the NJ Botanical Gardens and captured so many beautiful moments. He made my camera shy DH feel at ease and it was a really great experience. Our photos were so beautiful that we knew we made the right choice. When the day arrived, Ryon arrived a bit late, but did catch what he needed. He brought a second shooter & an assistant. I was so happy to see he printed my ‘must take’ list and checked each off as we went through the day. Ryon did an awesome job of coordinating my large extended family for all of the family group shots and made sure everyone was taken care of. He finished everything early & stayed to party with us the rest of the night! One week later we had 54 photos up on his Facebook page that my friends & family all raved for. I can NOT wait to see the rest. His style is so versatile & adjusts to the couple that I’d recommend him to every bride I meet.
GT Modern Creations - A+* (pending final video)
I had convinced myself that I had no need for a videographer because I’d never have the time to watch it. Well, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much it would mean to me & my overseas family to have a video of the day. So, about 2 months before the wedding I signed a contract with GT Modern Creations with my grandfather’s generous & early wedding gift. We ‘met’ via Skype and from the start I knew they were for us. They are a very popular duo lately and I totally see why. Gabriel was super nice, answered all of my questions and knew exactly what he was doing. Due to distance, we did our final meeting over the phone where he helped me to see that we may not have enough time for pics & to do change the timing to do the first look much earlier. That was one of the best moves we made. The whole day went so much smoother. On the day-of, Gabriel, Caritza and their assistant arrived early and were totally unobtrusive the whole day. They were all so incredibly kind and knew exactly what to do so that we finished on time. They even had us re-do walking over for the first look that way there was no one standing behind & messing up the background. They stayed until the end of the reception and captured everything. I absolutely would recommend them to others.
Plan it with Debs - A+
I didn’t intend on hiring a DOC but once I found out that there was an event in our ballroom that morning & I only had the 2h before our reception to set up, I realized I needed a DOC to set up. I contacted Deb who was priced way below the other DOCs I was looking at. I honestly feel she is grossly underpaid. The amount of time and effort that she devoted to my wedding is worth waaaaaay more than her fee. We met once in person for 1h to discuss what I needed and I signed on the spot. We corresponded several times via email regarding my questions and to give her more pictures and info on my day. Her worksheets were very helpful and she was a lifesaver for our rehearsal. She ran the whole event and really left me, my husband and all of our family totally at ease knowing exactly what to do. She is firm, but not pushy. She knows what to do & how to get people to do it. She gladly accepted my millions of lists, spreadsheets & diagrams. We met for another 2h meeting to go over a minute-by-minute timeline. I gave her my ceremony décor that she put up exactly to my specifications. I gave her pictures of my centerpieces that were all arranged perfectly (it was quite elaborate). On the day-of, she took care of coordinating all of my bridal party, vendors & payments. She even brought me my shoes when I was tired & gave the reception a list of foods for me to be served. Really, I can’t say enough good things about Deb. She was fantastic.
Entertainment Express Limo - A+
I met the CEO (Walter) at a bridal show and ended up winning an additional $75 off my order. After the show discount, prize discount & an additional discount for an error I noticed on their website, I was able to get a 10 passenger stretch Chrysler 300 for an incredible price. It was for 3 hours and I paid a small deposit to secure it. He was very accommodating in helping me figure out a timeline and making changes. Two weeks before the wedding he redid the contract to change the addresses for pick up and the timing. The drive on the day-of was very courteous and knowledgeable. We arrived at all of our destinations on time. The limo had a hard time getting down the hill to my ceremony venue due to the angle. After several attempts, the driver turned around & drove backwards down the hill to make it. Everything worked out well.
Park Ave Bridals in Verona - A
I went to Park Ave Bridals back in the summer of 2011. My consultant was very kind & respectful of my budget. She told me that every dress I brought a pic of was out of my budget, but she brought out 6 dresses of similar styles. I found the perfect dress, but still went to David’s Bridal in Springfield to try some less expensive styles. The experience was horrible (rude consultant who didn’t help me get dressed & opened the door while I was half naked), so I ran back to Park Ave Bridals and got my gown. My dress came on time & alterations were done well (bustle, waist and bust). My only gripe was the seamstress telling me that I need to lose another 5lbs for my dress to fit better. She was right, but not so tactful. I lost the weight & the dress was perfect.
Sweet Avenue Bake Shop - A
I absolutely love Sweet Avenue. They have the best cupcakes around. They are all vegan and also offer soy free and gluten free options. Since I’m vegan, I knew this is where I’d go. We ordered a 5 tier cupcake tower with 90 cupcakes, a 6” round cake on the top and 40 cake balls on the side. It was a huge hit! Our guests couldn’t believe they were vegan. They’re so tasty that you’d never know. The shop was very kind and let me change my order several times. They were set up beautifully. The only reason they didn’t get an A+ is because they don’t offer free tastings. We had to purchase almost a dozen cupcakes to decide which flavors we wanted. Not a huge thing, but something that is expected in the wedding industry. We saved our top tier & can’t wait to eat it later!
Biltmore Tuxedo in Rutherford, NJ - B+
We met Biltmore Tuxedo of Ridgewood at a bridal show and decided to go to the Rutherford location since it was closer. Their prices were competitive and selection was decent. We ended up going with something different than I intended, but it looked good. The staff was a bit insistent on going a more traditional route, but obliged to my requests. The suit fit my DH great and made him look extra special. I was very disappointed to see that the groomsmen were given the wrong tuxedos. The groom & groomsmen were supposed to be in the same gray Calvin Klein tuxedo. The groom with ivory vest/tie and the groomsmen with pink vest/tie. They were given black tuxedos with black vest/tie. Of course, none of the guys or my DH realized the mistake. I was the first one to catch it…on our wedding day. Obviously, there was nothing can could be done at that point. I really did NOT want any black since I felt that was more formal than called for. Again, there was nothing I could do.
Maria of MSLooks - A-
I’ve known Maria for well over 15 years and she is my hair stylist. I knew immediately that she would do my hair, makeup and eyebrow threading for the day-of. We did a trial a few weeks before that went wonderfully. She tweaked my look until I was satisfied, then took a plethora of pictures so she could easily recreate it. On the day-of, she arrived on time & did my hair/makeup, my mother’s hair/makeup and my MOH’s makeup. She did a fantastic job on us all. She did run overtime in getting us ready, which meant that we had to rush to get my dress on & I never got to open my DH’s gift for the video. Not the end of the world, but I wish we weren’t so behind. Absolutely everyone complimented our makeup.
Etsy vendors
SimplyLoveHangers – A+
Less than 1 month before my wedding I decided I couldn’t live without a ‘bride’ hanger. I found this vendor who made simply & pretty personalized wooden hangers. She was able to rush the order to me and it came super fast. I selected the color of the wood, color of the metal wire, and wording. The hanger was perfect and I received plenty of compliments on it.
Davita – A+
Instead of a large favor, I did a donation in lieu of favor and then purchased seed bombs as a little memento for my guests. They are small paper mache hearts with wildflower seeds embedded. You throw them on the ground, water and the flowers grow. Super cute! I purchased 100 pink & 100 yellow seed bombs that the seller custom made for me. I paid a small deposit to secure it and then the balance once it was done. They came on time & were perfect.
YesterEra – veil – B+
I purchased a custom made 60” ivory drop veil with rhinestones from this vendor. I provided her with the length I wanted and she shipped it out quickly. The rhinestones were attached well & no glue was apparent. I asked for a small metal comb to be attached in the center so it would be easier to secure to my hair. To my dismay, the comb fell off the veil at the exact moment my hair stylist went to attach it on my wedding day. Fortunately I had safety pins & we used that to reattach the comb and then continued. It wasn’t catastrophic, but definitely not good. I contacted the vendor explaining what happened and within 24h she issued me a 60% refund. Hey, everyone makes a mistake.
The very first vendor I secured was the reception venue. I searched high & low to find a place that was reasonably priced and would accommodate our smaller guest list. Several years ago my cousin and a different friend were married here, so I thought I’d check them out. I’m so glad I did! The venue was renovated only a few years ago, so the décor is much more modern. The cocktail room is pretty basic and a decent size. The garden was the perfect place for our family photos. The main ballroom was just wonderful. The décor is neutral enough to go with many different styles. The dance floor is large and there is plenty of room for tables. The chandeliers and sconces added a wonderful touch. I loved that the room came equipped with uplighting that was free. I met with Chris several times who was very kind and accommodating to my long list of questions. I liked that they didn’t have any hidden fees such as extra gratuity, cake cutting fee, cork fee…etc. We were able to work out a price that fit our budget by choosing April, limiting alcohol to beer/wine and paying in cash. We were allowed to bring in our own cupcakes and were discounted the price of the cake. I was very concerned about the food since tastings aren’t done until about 2 weeks before your wedding and I am vegan. I certainly didn’t want dry/boring food. Chris and the chef were very kind and offered me a special tasting in order to accommodate my vegan requests. All of the food was fantastic and the 4 of us left stuffed. Our last meeting discussed every last detail from napkin colors to table numbers. The Maitre’D had it all under control along with my DOC and the Captain who served us was a doll. Overall, the event went beautifully. My only demerit would be regarding the bar. During our last meeting, I clearly stated that I did NOT want a cash bar. We chose to limit the alcohol for reasons other than monetary. Although Chris stated that guests may complain (which they did), he agreed to respect my wishes by placing a mobile bar in the other event if necessary. Several days later, I find out that there was a cash bar. After contacting the venue, Chris explained that the other event in the smaller cocktail room wanted to have a cash bar. Since they were too over packed, they could not fit a mobile bar in their room as I was promised. So, the cash bar was set up on their side of the bar in the hallway. Of course, my guests had no way of knowing that wasn’t for them and went there anyway. I was terribly embarrassed and felt slighted. There is nothing I can do about it now. I understand that the venue felt this was their only option, but I do wish that my wishes had been respected and that I had been notified (even if it was after the fact). If it wasn’t for that, it would have been perfect.
RyoNo Photo - A+
I originally heard of Ryon because an acquaintance that was featured on TLC’s “Four Weddings” used him and I thought her pictures were amazing. I assumed that he was way out of my price range but was pleasantly surprised. He is relatively new to the wedding photography scene and is still way underpriced. I received quotes for 2-3x more from comparable photographers. We hit it off instantly and signed on the spot. We chose the basic package which came with an engagement shoot. We had such a blast during our shoot. Ryon knew exactly where to bring us at the NJ Botanical Gardens and captured so many beautiful moments. He made my camera shy DH feel at ease and it was a really great experience. Our photos were so beautiful that we knew we made the right choice. When the day arrived, Ryon arrived a bit late, but did catch what he needed. He brought a second shooter & an assistant. I was so happy to see he printed my ‘must take’ list and checked each off as we went through the day. Ryon did an awesome job of coordinating my large extended family for all of the family group shots and made sure everyone was taken care of. He finished everything early & stayed to party with us the rest of the night! One week later we had 54 photos up on his Facebook page that my friends & family all raved for. I can NOT wait to see the rest. His style is so versatile & adjusts to the couple that I’d recommend him to every bride I meet.
GT Modern Creations - A+* (pending final video)
I had convinced myself that I had no need for a videographer because I’d never have the time to watch it. Well, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much it would mean to me & my overseas family to have a video of the day. So, about 2 months before the wedding I signed a contract with GT Modern Creations with my grandfather’s generous & early wedding gift. We ‘met’ via Skype and from the start I knew they were for us. They are a very popular duo lately and I totally see why. Gabriel was super nice, answered all of my questions and knew exactly what he was doing. Due to distance, we did our final meeting over the phone where he helped me to see that we may not have enough time for pics & to do change the timing to do the first look much earlier. That was one of the best moves we made. The whole day went so much smoother. On the day-of, Gabriel, Caritza and their assistant arrived early and were totally unobtrusive the whole day. They were all so incredibly kind and knew exactly what to do so that we finished on time. They even had us re-do walking over for the first look that way there was no one standing behind & messing up the background. They stayed until the end of the reception and captured everything. I absolutely would recommend them to others.
Plan it with Debs - A+
I didn’t intend on hiring a DOC but once I found out that there was an event in our ballroom that morning & I only had the 2h before our reception to set up, I realized I needed a DOC to set up. I contacted Deb who was priced way below the other DOCs I was looking at. I honestly feel she is grossly underpaid. The amount of time and effort that she devoted to my wedding is worth waaaaaay more than her fee. We met once in person for 1h to discuss what I needed and I signed on the spot. We corresponded several times via email regarding my questions and to give her more pictures and info on my day. Her worksheets were very helpful and she was a lifesaver for our rehearsal. She ran the whole event and really left me, my husband and all of our family totally at ease knowing exactly what to do. She is firm, but not pushy. She knows what to do & how to get people to do it. She gladly accepted my millions of lists, spreadsheets & diagrams. We met for another 2h meeting to go over a minute-by-minute timeline. I gave her my ceremony décor that she put up exactly to my specifications. I gave her pictures of my centerpieces that were all arranged perfectly (it was quite elaborate). On the day-of, she took care of coordinating all of my bridal party, vendors & payments. She even brought me my shoes when I was tired & gave the reception a list of foods for me to be served. Really, I can’t say enough good things about Deb. She was fantastic.
Entertainment Express Limo - A+
I met the CEO (Walter) at a bridal show and ended up winning an additional $75 off my order. After the show discount, prize discount & an additional discount for an error I noticed on their website, I was able to get a 10 passenger stretch Chrysler 300 for an incredible price. It was for 3 hours and I paid a small deposit to secure it. He was very accommodating in helping me figure out a timeline and making changes. Two weeks before the wedding he redid the contract to change the addresses for pick up and the timing. The drive on the day-of was very courteous and knowledgeable. We arrived at all of our destinations on time. The limo had a hard time getting down the hill to my ceremony venue due to the angle. After several attempts, the driver turned around & drove backwards down the hill to make it. Everything worked out well.
Park Ave Bridals in Verona - A
I went to Park Ave Bridals back in the summer of 2011. My consultant was very kind & respectful of my budget. She told me that every dress I brought a pic of was out of my budget, but she brought out 6 dresses of similar styles. I found the perfect dress, but still went to David’s Bridal in Springfield to try some less expensive styles. The experience was horrible (rude consultant who didn’t help me get dressed & opened the door while I was half naked), so I ran back to Park Ave Bridals and got my gown. My dress came on time & alterations were done well (bustle, waist and bust). My only gripe was the seamstress telling me that I need to lose another 5lbs for my dress to fit better. She was right, but not so tactful. I lost the weight & the dress was perfect.
Sweet Avenue Bake Shop - A
I absolutely love Sweet Avenue. They have the best cupcakes around. They are all vegan and also offer soy free and gluten free options. Since I’m vegan, I knew this is where I’d go. We ordered a 5 tier cupcake tower with 90 cupcakes, a 6” round cake on the top and 40 cake balls on the side. It was a huge hit! Our guests couldn’t believe they were vegan. They’re so tasty that you’d never know. The shop was very kind and let me change my order several times. They were set up beautifully. The only reason they didn’t get an A+ is because they don’t offer free tastings. We had to purchase almost a dozen cupcakes to decide which flavors we wanted. Not a huge thing, but something that is expected in the wedding industry. We saved our top tier & can’t wait to eat it later!
Biltmore Tuxedo in Rutherford, NJ - B+
We met Biltmore Tuxedo of Ridgewood at a bridal show and decided to go to the Rutherford location since it was closer. Their prices were competitive and selection was decent. We ended up going with something different than I intended, but it looked good. The staff was a bit insistent on going a more traditional route, but obliged to my requests. The suit fit my DH great and made him look extra special. I was very disappointed to see that the groomsmen were given the wrong tuxedos. The groom & groomsmen were supposed to be in the same gray Calvin Klein tuxedo. The groom with ivory vest/tie and the groomsmen with pink vest/tie. They were given black tuxedos with black vest/tie. Of course, none of the guys or my DH realized the mistake. I was the first one to catch it…on our wedding day. Obviously, there was nothing can could be done at that point. I really did NOT want any black since I felt that was more formal than called for. Again, there was nothing I could do.
Maria of MSLooks - A-
I’ve known Maria for well over 15 years and she is my hair stylist. I knew immediately that she would do my hair, makeup and eyebrow threading for the day-of. We did a trial a few weeks before that went wonderfully. She tweaked my look until I was satisfied, then took a plethora of pictures so she could easily recreate it. On the day-of, she arrived on time & did my hair/makeup, my mother’s hair/makeup and my MOH’s makeup. She did a fantastic job on us all. She did run overtime in getting us ready, which meant that we had to rush to get my dress on & I never got to open my DH’s gift for the video. Not the end of the world, but I wish we weren’t so behind. Absolutely everyone complimented our makeup.
Etsy vendors
SimplyLoveHangers – A+
Less than 1 month before my wedding I decided I couldn’t live without a ‘bride’ hanger. I found this vendor who made simply & pretty personalized wooden hangers. She was able to rush the order to me and it came super fast. I selected the color of the wood, color of the metal wire, and wording. The hanger was perfect and I received plenty of compliments on it.
Davita – A+
Instead of a large favor, I did a donation in lieu of favor and then purchased seed bombs as a little memento for my guests. They are small paper mache hearts with wildflower seeds embedded. You throw them on the ground, water and the flowers grow. Super cute! I purchased 100 pink & 100 yellow seed bombs that the seller custom made for me. I paid a small deposit to secure it and then the balance once it was done. They came on time & were perfect.
YesterEra – veil – B+
I purchased a custom made 60” ivory drop veil with rhinestones from this vendor. I provided her with the length I wanted and she shipped it out quickly. The rhinestones were attached well & no glue was apparent. I asked for a small metal comb to be attached in the center so it would be easier to secure to my hair. To my dismay, the comb fell off the veil at the exact moment my hair stylist went to attach it on my wedding day. Fortunately I had safety pins & we used that to reattach the comb and then continued. It wasn’t catastrophic, but definitely not good. I contacted the vendor explaining what happened and within 24h she issued me a 60% refund. Hey, everyone makes a mistake.