Venue - Texas Old Town
texasoldtown.com [email protected] (512) 396-1800
So far, all I can say is they've got a beautiful location and the price can't be beat. $3K and you get the place all day and can even decorate the day before. Also, the owners and Danny, their son, seem like real nice people. Honest. Not just trying to sell you something. But we'll wait til after the Big Day for full review.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
It was great, very few things wrong. There was one issue - they had put up a chain to prevent guests driving through the ceremony. However, we needed to get through that gate to park in front of the dressing rooms. No one had told us the chain was going to be up, nor had they informed us that it wasn't even locked. So there I was, late, 2 hours before the wedding, freaking out because I didn't know how I was going to carry a 20 lb dress and 8 boxes of decorations a distance of a football field. Martha was not in the office, and she didn't answer her cell phone until the 3rd call. Unnecessary stress 2 hours before the wedding.
Also, we noticed several active wasp nests at the ceremony site during the rehearsal. We informed Martha about them, and she said they would be taken care of. I don't know if they did or not, because I wasn't looking up during the wedding.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
It was great, very few things wrong. There was one issue - they had put up a chain to prevent guests driving through the ceremony. However, we needed to get through that gate to park in front of the dressing rooms. No one had told us the chain was going to be up, nor had they informed us that it wasn't even locked. So there I was, late, 2 hours before the wedding, freaking out because I didn't know how I was going to carry a 20 lb dress and 8 boxes of decorations a distance of a football field. Martha was not in the office, and she didn't answer her cell phone until the 3rd call. Unnecessary stress 2 hours before the wedding.
Also, we noticed several active wasp nests at the ceremony site during the rehearsal. We informed Martha about them, and she said they would be taken care of. I don't know if they did or not, because I wasn't looking up during the wedding.
Catering - Pok-E-Jo's Smokehouse
pokejos.com/catering-austin-area [email protected] (512) 388-7578
As of now, I can only vouch for their very reasonable prices and their good BBQ. For $15/head, you get a whole lot of food and there's no hidden charges. Price includes staff, gratuity, plates and cutlery, and even the cake-cutting. Also, Alexis is a really sweet lady. Again, seems like a very honest person, listens to what you're saying rather than just try to make a buck. I did have to remind her to e-mail the contract, though. No biggie. But until the Big Day, this is all I can say.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
Not only was the food amazing, but the service was too. We bought snack trays from the grocery store, and Pok-E-Jo's arranged it all on the platters we rented, served it with their plates and napkins, with no complaints! They even put our plates together for us so we wouldn't have to stand in line at the buffet. They cut the cake for us at lightning speed. Everything was great, I have no complaints.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
Not only was the food amazing, but the service was too. We bought snack trays from the grocery store, and Pok-E-Jo's arranged it all on the platters we rented, served it with their plates and napkins, with no complaints! They even put our plates together for us so we wouldn't have to stand in line at the buffet. They cut the cake for us at lightning speed. Everything was great, I have no complaints.
Dress - David's Bridal (D+)
davidsbridal.com
Ok so I registered on their website to set up an appointment. When I was finished putting in all my info, it said I would be contacted within 48 hours to schedule an appointment. I was contacted on day 3, just before I was about to give up and just call them (which makes you ineligible to win your gown). A little disappointing, but it wasn't that big of a deal.
When we got to the store, the lady said there was no (Ms. Margarita) down for 2 pm. There was no me put in the appointment book at all! So what the heck, I wait three days for your 1-800 number to schedule my appointment and then it doesn't even get put down? And don't tell me I never scheduled, lady; I've got an e-mail confirmation of the date, time and place.
So after writing down all my wedding info (again), we were shown where the size 2's and 4's were located and left to fend for ourselves. Because we supposedly didn't have an appointment, the consultant was busy with other brides and we only saw her two or three times. My MOH had to help me get dressed. Not cool, but I'm not blaming the consultant for DB's shoddy scheduling.
The reason David's Bridal did not receive an F from me was because of my consultant. She was juggling three brides at once and in between running to and fro, she was able to clue in what I did and did not like about certain dresses (just from walking by!) and was able to pull THE dress for me. It was a dress I put back on the rack because I had my heart set on a ballgown and this was a mermaid style. It also looked ugly on the hanger. But once my MOH laced me up and I looked in the mirror...the rest is history!
I'm not buying my gown from the store, though. I found the exact style, never worn, from someone on ebay for $150. I'll need to get it altered from a size 4 to a size 2, but even with the alterations, it will still come out cheaper than retail.
So overall, my experience was less than perfect but I got what I was looking for. Also, the skill that my consultant possessed made up for the incompetence of DB's scheduling and online registration.
When we got to the store, the lady said there was no (Ms. Margarita) down for 2 pm. There was no me put in the appointment book at all! So what the heck, I wait three days for your 1-800 number to schedule my appointment and then it doesn't even get put down? And don't tell me I never scheduled, lady; I've got an e-mail confirmation of the date, time and place.
So after writing down all my wedding info (again), we were shown where the size 2's and 4's were located and left to fend for ourselves. Because we supposedly didn't have an appointment, the consultant was busy with other brides and we only saw her two or three times. My MOH had to help me get dressed. Not cool, but I'm not blaming the consultant for DB's shoddy scheduling.
The reason David's Bridal did not receive an F from me was because of my consultant. She was juggling three brides at once and in between running to and fro, she was able to clue in what I did and did not like about certain dresses (just from walking by!) and was able to pull THE dress for me. It was a dress I put back on the rack because I had my heart set on a ballgown and this was a mermaid style. It also looked ugly on the hanger. But once my MOH laced me up and I looked in the mirror...the rest is history!
I'm not buying my gown from the store, though. I found the exact style, never worn, from someone on ebay for $150. I'll need to get it altered from a size 4 to a size 2, but even with the alterations, it will still come out cheaper than retail.
So overall, my experience was less than perfect but I got what I was looking for. Also, the skill that my consultant possessed made up for the incompetence of DB's scheduling and online registration.
Dress 2 - Belle Saison Bridal - C
I liked Signature Bridal much better. The only reason why I didn't buy from there was because their sample Decadence was satin. Belle Saison Bridal had Decadence in taffeta. That's the only reason I gave them my business.
They lack personal assistance at Belle Saison Bridal. Despite having an appointment, my consultant was helping me and one other bride. I picked out my dress, I put it on by myself, yadda yadda yadda. It was the same experience I had at David's Bridal, but with designer gowns. I was disappointed in the service, or lack thereof.
Signature Bridal was stellar. They gave you all the personal attention you could possibly want, just like how it is on Say Yes to the Dress. The consultant stays with you the whole time, helps you into the dress, showers you with compliments, the whole 9 yards. If they had Decadence in taffeta, it would've been a done deal.
They lack personal assistance at Belle Saison Bridal. Despite having an appointment, my consultant was helping me and one other bride. I picked out my dress, I put it on by myself, yadda yadda yadda. It was the same experience I had at David's Bridal, but with designer gowns. I was disappointed in the service, or lack thereof.
Signature Bridal was stellar. They gave you all the personal attention you could possibly want, just like how it is on Say Yes to the Dress. The consultant stays with you the whole time, helps you into the dress, showers you with compliments, the whole 9 yards. If they had Decadence in taffeta, it would've been a done deal.
LinenTableCloth.com (A-)
linentablecloth.com
All my tablecloths
This is an online store, not really a vendor, but I'm still reviewing them anyway. Many brides will drop hundreds on tablecloths alone, so you should know who's good out there.
So first off, I'll talk about the prices. Incredible. I found early on that I could buy these tablecloths for half the price of renting them. Here's what I bought, where they're going, and how much I paid (prices current as of 06/30/2011)
I also had a coupon code for 15% off. I spent a total of $111.73
Maneuvering though the site is very simple. You can sort by shape (round, rectangle, square), size, material, and color. The hardest part is deciding what you want! One of the reasons I dinged their score is because, at this time, the only round satin fuchsia tablecloths they had were 90 inch. These drop halfway to the floor on a 5 ft table, exposing the fold-out legs. After having a poll on theknot.com, I decided to get them (48 in favor, 6 opposed).
The package was shipped the same day (I ordered them at 10am). I also got free shipping since my order was over $100. Communication is really good; they emailed me with every minute detail with my order I was expecting a larger box for some reason, but they were all tucked nicely in there. Each one is wrapped with plastic (perfect, since I'm storing them for a while) and labeled. They also sent me a cleaning guide, which is great since I plan to sell them afterwards.
The quality is wonderful! You can tell it's a somewhat cheaper satin, but for less than $8, what are you expecting? The colors are very vivid and bright. I was concerned about the 90inch fuchsia ones because the picture on the website looks like a bubblegum pink, not fuchsia. But once they arrived, I was relieved to see the right color (see picture above). There aren't any stains, discolorations, or unfinished hems. Everything is just as I wanted, and for such a great price!
I really like how they have a rewards system. You get one point for every dollar you spend, plus points for adding tags and reviewing products. Soon enough, I'll have enough points to order table runners for the guest table for just the price of shipping! (I'll update how that goes)
One major factor that dropped them from an A+ to an A- is that they were out of stock of nearly everything I wanted! Maybe it was a good thing, since it ended up saving me about $50, but still. I don't blame them, though. Lots of people are using that coupon code, which is only good for 2 months. I happened to order at the butt-end of the promotion.
So there you have it! LinenTableCloth.com has fantastic prices, very good quality products, an easy-to-use website, and a cool rewards program. The only problems I had with them were they didn't carry the size I wanted, and they were out of stock of other things I wanted. I would highly recommend this company.
So first off, I'll talk about the prices. Incredible. I found early on that I could buy these tablecloths for half the price of renting them. Here's what I bought, where they're going, and how much I paid (prices current as of 06/30/2011)
- Guest Tables (5ft tables) - FUCHSIA 90inch round satin $7.89 each
- Head Tables (2 6ft tables) - WHITE 90" x 132" polyester - $11.79 each
- Head Tables - FUCHSIA 108inch organza table runner - $2.09 each
- Cake Table (3ft table) - 1x LEMON 70inch round satin - $7.49
- Gift Table (8ft table) - 1x LEMON 60" x 126" rectangle satin - $9.99
I also had a coupon code for 15% off. I spent a total of $111.73
Maneuvering though the site is very simple. You can sort by shape (round, rectangle, square), size, material, and color. The hardest part is deciding what you want! One of the reasons I dinged their score is because, at this time, the only round satin fuchsia tablecloths they had were 90 inch. These drop halfway to the floor on a 5 ft table, exposing the fold-out legs. After having a poll on theknot.com, I decided to get them (48 in favor, 6 opposed).
The package was shipped the same day (I ordered them at 10am). I also got free shipping since my order was over $100. Communication is really good; they emailed me with every minute detail with my order I was expecting a larger box for some reason, but they were all tucked nicely in there. Each one is wrapped with plastic (perfect, since I'm storing them for a while) and labeled. They also sent me a cleaning guide, which is great since I plan to sell them afterwards.
The quality is wonderful! You can tell it's a somewhat cheaper satin, but for less than $8, what are you expecting? The colors are very vivid and bright. I was concerned about the 90inch fuchsia ones because the picture on the website looks like a bubblegum pink, not fuchsia. But once they arrived, I was relieved to see the right color (see picture above). There aren't any stains, discolorations, or unfinished hems. Everything is just as I wanted, and for such a great price!
I really like how they have a rewards system. You get one point for every dollar you spend, plus points for adding tags and reviewing products. Soon enough, I'll have enough points to order table runners for the guest table for just the price of shipping! (I'll update how that goes)
One major factor that dropped them from an A+ to an A- is that they were out of stock of nearly everything I wanted! Maybe it was a good thing, since it ended up saving me about $50, but still. I don't blame them, though. Lots of people are using that coupon code, which is only good for 2 months. I happened to order at the butt-end of the promotion.
So there you have it! LinenTableCloth.com has fantastic prices, very good quality products, an easy-to-use website, and a cool rewards program. The only problems I had with them were they didn't carry the size I wanted, and they were out of stock of other things I wanted. I would highly recommend this company.
Officiant - Charmed Weddings
So far, communication is excellent, and the husband/wife team seem very nice. Their prices are great ($100-$150 packages) and Johanna has been very informative in the few emails that I've sent her so far.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
Johanna and John were great to work with. They're both very nice, very friendly, and very easy to talk to. John officiated our wedding, while Johanna did a wedding up in Georgetown. They were both at the rehearsal, telling people where to go, what to do, when to do it. John did an amazing job at our wedding, despite us picking a very difficult-to-recite poem (Oh, the Places You Will Go - Dr. Seuss)! I couldn't have asked for more.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
Johanna and John were great to work with. They're both very nice, very friendly, and very easy to talk to. John officiated our wedding, while Johanna did a wedding up in Georgetown. They were both at the rehearsal, telling people where to go, what to do, when to do it. John did an amazing job at our wedding, despite us picking a very difficult-to-recite poem (Oh, the Places You Will Go - Dr. Seuss)! I couldn't have asked for more.
Photography - New Road Productions
Found Wes on Craigslist. He's very easy to get along with, bossy enough to get people to move, but in a nice way. He has a good eye for the perfect shot, for much less than other photographers charge. Will update with pictures once we get them.
Florist - HEB Blooms - D-
The flowers were pathetic. I gave Julie very specific instructions, with pictures, and she gave me something totally different.
.
Complaint 1: Bridesmaids bouquets. I told her I wanted a dozen yellow roses, with very full, open roses. She gave me very sad, very cheap, very tiny roses that had barely begun to open. I was embarrassed to give them to my bridesmaids, and appalled that we spent $80 on each one of them. Also, instead of putting pins down the whole ribbon wrap, she only put 3 where the ribbon ended. VERY cheap.
Complaint 2: My bouquet. I went up to her store during prom season to check out the orchids. The tag on the corsages said "pink", but they looked very purple to me. I told her, "These are purple. Here's a picture of the orchids I want, they are pink. Can you put these in my bouquet?" She said yes, of course. Come wedding day, lo and behold, the orchids are purple. The roses were also the wrong color, a deep magenta, almost red, not hot pink like I asked and showed to her. The magenta roses were also very damaged, with broken petals and brown spots. And again, she only put 3 pins at the end of the ribbon.
Complaint 3: There were supposed to be magnets on the corsages and bouttoneires to attach them to clothing with minimal damage. There were no magnets, nor were there any pins! Thankfully my coordinator had safety pins with her. Also, my mom's orchids were purple.
I would not recommend HEB as a florist unless you have very low expectations. I could've done a much better job myself, for at least a third of the price.
Complaint 2: My bouquet. I went up to her store during prom season to check out the orchids. The tag on the corsages said "pink", but they looked very purple to me. I told her, "These are purple. Here's a picture of the orchids I want, they are pink. Can you put these in my bouquet?" She said yes, of course. Come wedding day, lo and behold, the orchids are purple. The roses were also the wrong color, a deep magenta, almost red, not hot pink like I asked and showed to her. The magenta roses were also very damaged, with broken petals and brown spots. And again, she only put 3 pins at the end of the ribbon.
Complaint 3: There were supposed to be magnets on the corsages and bouttoneires to attach them to clothing with minimal damage. There were no magnets, nor were there any pins! Thankfully my coordinator had safety pins with her. Also, my mom's orchids were purple.
I would not recommend HEB as a florist unless you have very low expectations. I could've done a much better job myself, for at least a third of the price.
Baker - Cakes by Val - A+
facebook.com/cakes.by.val [email protected]
I found Valerie on craigslist. She is charging very little for my cake, since she is somewhat new to the industry. From what I've seen of her previous work, she's got skill. Very good work, considering she's self-taught. And since my cake is fairly simple, I don't have much to lose. From our consultation, she is very nice and honest and easy to get along with.
Will update with a picture of our cake after the wedding!
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
Valerie completely exceeded our expectations. Our cake was beautiful, and delicious. Absolutely incredible. Our guests thought we spent at least $800 on our cake. I totally recommend Valerie to anyone in the Austin area (except she doesn't do cakes very often anymore - boo!)
Will update with a picture of our cake after the wedding!
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
Valerie completely exceeded our expectations. Our cake was beautiful, and delicious. Absolutely incredible. Our guests thought we spent at least $800 on our cake. I totally recommend Valerie to anyone in the Austin area (except she doesn't do cakes very often anymore - boo!)
DJ - "A" DJ Services
So I found Chad on Craigslist. He typically posts his ad once or twice a week. Here's a link to his "commercial". What prompted me to contact him was, not only his low rates, but the fact that people seem to enjoy themselves with his music selections. In his "commercial", you'll see all generations out on the dancefloor, which is important to me.
What I like most about him is that he gets back to your emails VERY quickly. I've gotten responses in as little as 3 minutes. Like, woah! So FI and I met with Chad at a local Starbucks to discuss his skill, options, and how we can book him. We really liked how professional, yet personable he is. He's easy to get along with, but he isn't conceited like most DJ's.
What's very cool about Chad is that he charges what an amateur would, yet he's got 9 years experience. He knows what he's doing, but doesn't charge anywhere near what big-name companies do. Very honest guy, and his references are solid.
Again, we'll wait until his performance for full-scale review.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
He did a pretty good job. Can't say much, though, since our reception didn't last anywhere near as long as I thought it was. But he played all the songs I requested, and in a good order.
What I like most about him is that he gets back to your emails VERY quickly. I've gotten responses in as little as 3 minutes. Like, woah! So FI and I met with Chad at a local Starbucks to discuss his skill, options, and how we can book him. We really liked how professional, yet personable he is. He's easy to get along with, but he isn't conceited like most DJ's.
What's very cool about Chad is that he charges what an amateur would, yet he's got 9 years experience. He knows what he's doing, but doesn't charge anywhere near what big-name companies do. Very honest guy, and his references are solid.
Again, we'll wait until his performance for full-scale review.
UPDATE AFTER WEDDING
He did a pretty good job. Can't say much, though, since our reception didn't last anywhere near as long as I thought it was. But he played all the songs I requested, and in a good order.