I decided to do something a little different here - I'm going to review every vendor I've had an appointment with in case I went to see someone or something you're interested in. :) Let me know if anyone has any questions.
Venues
Women's Club of Coconut Grove - This is really a little gem. I think it's a beautiful space for a small wedding, like mine. If you're having something over 75 guests it could get a little tight. The catering is done in house by Bill Hansen Catering and the base pricing is affordable. All packages come as a buffett, but for an extra $10/pp you can upgrade to a seated dinner. Erica, the venue's coordinator is really sweet, my fiance thought she was a bit too sweet and found her to be just a teensy bit annoying. The problem with this venue is when you start looking at the upgrades, there's really not much that they let you do with other vendors - you have to use their caterer or pay $5/pp. You have to get the chivaris, chargers, lighting, draping, etc all through them and it's not cheap. All in all it was a cool little venue and for someone who can spend the cash I think it would be GREAT!
Sky Terrace at Bank of America Tower - I fell in love with this place just by the pictures and when I got there, I just knew it was the one. When you rent the Towers you are renting both the inside space and the outter terrace. The inside almost requires that you get it draped because of the large directory and elevators, so we thought the outside would be easier to work with. It has a beautiful little mini lagoon type thing and lots of space, a panoramic view of downtown and a perfect space if you want to hold the ceremony, cocktail and reception in the same location. Because you can choose to use both spaces or if you have a small party you can just keep it all outside or all inside. Tresha the contact there is fabulous, very sweet, full of ideas and is great to work with. She doesn't get nervous with negotiations and is open to working with you. I'm so excited to be working with her!
Sky Terrace at Bank of America Tower - I fell in love with this place just by the pictures and when I got there, I just knew it was the one. When you rent the Towers you are renting both the inside space and the outter terrace. The inside almost requires that you get it draped because of the large directory and elevators, so we thought the outside would be easier to work with. It has a beautiful little mini lagoon type thing and lots of space, a panoramic view of downtown and a perfect space if you want to hold the ceremony, cocktail and reception in the same location. Because you can choose to use both spaces or if you have a small party you can just keep it all outside or all inside. Tresha the contact there is fabulous, very sweet, full of ideas and is great to work with. She doesn't get nervous with negotiations and is open to working with you. I'm so excited to be working with her!
Florists.
Fleur De Lis Designs - Raquel from Fleur De Lis, was so sweet. She made a piece right in front of my eyes. Her prices are great too. Granted I didn't request very many flowers, but it was still with in the range I expected. Although she was sweet and knew what she was doing, she didn't really have other ideas. She basically just knew which flowers wouldn't work under certain conditions, which I expect any florist to know. She just didn't give me that wow feeling when I left. She's great if you want something simple and you want exactly what you're picturing. She has great pricing and is beyond friendly.
Tosca Flowers - I met with Lazaro, the owner of Tosca Flowers. He was sooo great. He knew exactly what I wanted and was able to give me confidence. I asked for peonies, which are ridiculously expensive, for my bouquet only and he told me no problem - and when I got the quote everything came back under what I expected. He was also able to make more suggestions and was able to show me HIS creative side. I was really impressed.
Flowers by Vivian Colls - Vivian recently did the flowers for my FSIL's wedding this past September and my FSIL's bestfriend just this November. I loved her work, so I decided to meet with her. She's so cute and sweet it's hard not to love her right away. She's ridiculously creative. And I felt like she was going to really give me the bang for my buck. We talked about everything under the sun, from the ceremony to place cards, to my lamp shade centerpieces she had new ideas to spruce everything up. So although she was a bit more than the other two florists I originally was interested in, I decided to spend a little more and really feel WOWed the day of the wedding! We booked Vivian this past week.
Tosca Flowers - I met with Lazaro, the owner of Tosca Flowers. He was sooo great. He knew exactly what I wanted and was able to give me confidence. I asked for peonies, which are ridiculously expensive, for my bouquet only and he told me no problem - and when I got the quote everything came back under what I expected. He was also able to make more suggestions and was able to show me HIS creative side. I was really impressed.
Flowers by Vivian Colls - Vivian recently did the flowers for my FSIL's wedding this past September and my FSIL's bestfriend just this November. I loved her work, so I decided to meet with her. She's so cute and sweet it's hard not to love her right away. She's ridiculously creative. And I felt like she was going to really give me the bang for my buck. We talked about everything under the sun, from the ceremony to place cards, to my lamp shade centerpieces she had new ideas to spruce everything up. So although she was a bit more than the other two florists I originally was interested in, I decided to spend a little more and really feel WOWed the day of the wedding! We booked Vivian this past week.
Photography
Miami Taken Photographers - I met with Alicja and she was beyond sweet. She's from Georgia (where my Dad lives) and people tend to be extremely bubbly and sweet in that area. I was actually a bit taken a back by it, I guess I'm not as used to southern hospitality. Either way, I instantly felt comfortable with her, she speaks in such a way that is relaxing and I knew I wanted that in a photographer. Then we sat and looked at her work. I was already impressed by her blog and at first I was really set on Miami Taken. Until, the FI said he hated the client proof book she showed us. He said that there was strange lighting and too many blurry pics. I thought I had found my soulmate photographer, but this is not a category where my opinion trumps my fiances, so it was back to the drawing board.
Ivan Apfel Photography - What a dream boat! He's so sweet, nice, and fun! We met with Ivan at a local Starbucks and he came so well prepared. He brought huge prints, black and whites, proofs and two albums. The Fi was already impressed, until we started looking at his work, then we were BOTH really impressed. He was fabulous, he's both creative and classic which is really what I wanted. I love odd angles and cool shots, but I also wanted a photographer that was able to make my images look timeless. I don't want my grandkids to look at these albums and say "Oh, what a 20-10 wedding, grandma." I don't want them to even know what year it was, until they ask of course. This is really what Ivan delivers. And I was happy to have plenty of knotties that have already shot their engagement pictures with him and have been extremely happy with the results. Ivan asked us towards the end of the meeting, "do you want me to write you up a contract for you to view?" I paused, looked at my FI and we both were like "YES! PLEASE!!" Done deal, photographer is booked :)
Ivan Apfel Photography - What a dream boat! He's so sweet, nice, and fun! We met with Ivan at a local Starbucks and he came so well prepared. He brought huge prints, black and whites, proofs and two albums. The Fi was already impressed, until we started looking at his work, then we were BOTH really impressed. He was fabulous, he's both creative and classic which is really what I wanted. I love odd angles and cool shots, but I also wanted a photographer that was able to make my images look timeless. I don't want my grandkids to look at these albums and say "Oh, what a 20-10 wedding, grandma." I don't want them to even know what year it was, until they ask of course. This is really what Ivan delivers. And I was happy to have plenty of knotties that have already shot their engagement pictures with him and have been extremely happy with the results. Ivan asked us towards the end of the meeting, "do you want me to write you up a contract for you to view?" I paused, looked at my FI and we both were like "YES! PLEASE!!" Done deal, photographer is booked :)
Officiants
Weddings by Frank - Tresha recommended Weddings by Frank. I called him and his prices are amazing! $250 for officianting the wedding and it includes the rehearsal. I really loved him, and he was so sweet but he wasn't available. He has an associate, Odi that he works with and she was available but Danny and I weren't really wanting a female officiant. I know it sounds a little anti feminism, but I just don't picture it happening that way.
Father Ricardo Rivera - My family is very, very Catholic, so just the mere fact that I wasn't getting married at the Little Flower was shocking to them. So on another recommendation from Tresha, I decided to call Father Ricky. He's so genuine and funny. IF you're his friend on facebook you'll see just how "cool" he really is. He was a little over our budget but he was really helpful and was able to bring his price to a more reasonable range for us. My family was thrilled that we were going to have a Catholic feeling at the ceremony so we booked Father Ricky :)
Father Ricardo Rivera - My family is very, very Catholic, so just the mere fact that I wasn't getting married at the Little Flower was shocking to them. So on another recommendation from Tresha, I decided to call Father Ricky. He's so genuine and funny. IF you're his friend on facebook you'll see just how "cool" he really is. He was a little over our budget but he was really helpful and was able to bring his price to a more reasonable range for us. My family was thrilled that we were going to have a Catholic feeling at the ceremony so we booked Father Ricky :)
DJ
DJ Mike - I really don't have much to say about Mike, other than he's FAMAZING! He's a friend of Danny's and has DJ'ed a lot of our friends weddings. He's super reasonably priced and does an amazing job. He is doing both the MCing and the DJing for the cocktail hour and reception.
Bridal Gown Shopping
Bellissima Bridals - I honestly wish I could remember how to spell or just pronounce the name of my consultant there. I want to say Yahaira? Anyway, she was so nice! The only thing I didn't like was that she kept showing me the same style over and over and over. I totally get that it was a style that complimented my overly big hips and small waist, but it was kind of boring. None of the dresses there, at least that were in my price range spoke to me. They were all missing something or would be great after a ton of alterations. So although they're nice, it wasn't my store.
J. Del Olmo Bridal Gallery - I visited J. Del Olmo with my MOH, we had made an appointment and Rocio was our consultant. She was sooo sweet and found my dress right away. When I saw it, I told her no way because I assumed it was not going to be in my price range. But it was actually $700 under budget. Amazing! It was there for a trunk show and it was beautiful. But then things got ugly. The dress that I was absolutely ready to buy was backordered. So the owner, Vivian, came out to talk to me. They were so nice to me and even called the designer to see what they could do. But, there is some Chinese holiday in January and they close down shop for a month so there was no way to get my dress on time. :( They did however offer to make it for me, but it would then put me $200 over budget. All in all, they were extremely sweet and helpful.
Seamstress: VIctoria Marisela - What can I say... Marisela has made dresses for me in the past and they've always come out spectacular. So knowing that it was now something that had to be done this way, I knew just who to call. Her prices are very reasonable when you go to her at her home. She now also works at "Rex Fabrics" Couture division as a seamstress, and there the store sets the price so it's not as reasonable. But since I've known her for so long she offered to let me do it at her house, therefore making the price much much more affordable. I can't wait to see it done!!
J. Del Olmo Bridal Gallery - I visited J. Del Olmo with my MOH, we had made an appointment and Rocio was our consultant. She was sooo sweet and found my dress right away. When I saw it, I told her no way because I assumed it was not going to be in my price range. But it was actually $700 under budget. Amazing! It was there for a trunk show and it was beautiful. But then things got ugly. The dress that I was absolutely ready to buy was backordered. So the owner, Vivian, came out to talk to me. They were so nice to me and even called the designer to see what they could do. But, there is some Chinese holiday in January and they close down shop for a month so there was no way to get my dress on time. :( They did however offer to make it for me, but it would then put me $200 over budget. All in all, they were extremely sweet and helpful.
Seamstress: VIctoria Marisela - What can I say... Marisela has made dresses for me in the past and they've always come out spectacular. So knowing that it was now something that had to be done this way, I knew just who to call. Her prices are very reasonable when you go to her at her home. She now also works at "Rex Fabrics" Couture division as a seamstress, and there the store sets the price so it's not as reasonable. But since I've known her for so long she offered to let me do it at her house, therefore making the price much much more affordable. I can't wait to see it done!!
