We work with some genuinely powerful women, who know what they want. I am constantly amazed by their depth and thoughtful design ideas. Sometimes we work with brides who aren't able,  who for whatever reason,  can't to speak up and voice their opinions or can't envision the two very different styles and color palettes blending. The worst thing that can happen, is a bride isn't heard and is disappointed on her wedding day. I think this is sadder than a cat with no meow.
Rely on these tips to ensure success.
01.  Hire a professional who is an expert in reading people and can recognize when a bride seems unfulfilled 
​02. #1 really is the only solutions. A professional will help   you navigate all of it                                               

"Don't panic, there is always a solution.
We'll help you find it."

Realistically you will never be able to fully research, each vendor and must rely on reviews and advice. Despite your first impression and "good feelings", you may end up hiring one that you find particularly hard to deal with over time.
What do you do? Refer to the Chinese proverb  “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Since you cannot go back in time, look closely at the terms and conditions portion of the contract you signed, typically there is a non refundable portion. Here is where you have to decide, is it worth being out $200-$1000 to preserve your sanity..or is the loss too large for you? Don't put this off because as more time lapses you could enter into the cancellation period, where excessive fees come into play.  Like I always say...(don't shoot me) DO YOUR HOMEWORK! We may not be planting a tree, but we ARE planning a wedding. It is already too late to do more research, you're now in damage control. This may very well be the first financial crisis that you both can tackle together. Make a list of pros and cons. Decide together,  is the "loss" really a loss or a small fee for a valuable lesson? I like to think positively about any situation so chalk it up to lesson learned and do your due diligence the next time. We'll be here for your anniversary planning. ​

Oh no, You've finally paid deposits for the venue, the caterers, your planner, . Some vendors are so specialized, offering items and services you just can't get from other vendors. What now?
    Knowing the area and familiarizing yourself with every vendor is even more  overwhelming and unfamiliar. 
​    How do you discern who is right for you? Does it just come down to price? Don't mind the french but we've seen weddings take the unfortunate turn to a shit show because the couple just wanted to save a few hundred dollars. Is it really worth the savings? 
   An experienced, certified, planner is not just a wise investment, it is most certainly your best investment...unless you have a rental company with a full time designer/planner at the reigns. We can help you DIY without the woes. Don't be fooled by "professionals" who re-create our looks but don't understand the venue rules, set up criteria or who haven't even taken the time to know your vision.

I am writing this as a result of receiving my FIRST one star review since opening our doors, It was like a knife in my chest! I read it over 10 times trying to make sense of the incident. We believe bad reviews are a teachable opportunity, so we take them seriously, but this was a total bash fest.

How do you know when a review is biased? The honest answer is, we never really will. The best advice I can give, is to do your homework. I know I say that ALL the time. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.

If you're like me, when deciding where to eat, see a show, find a place to crash... (especially when traveling) I look to yelp, the bbb, trip advisor and other sites dedicated to business reviews. For the most part, I look at the pictures and the first 3 or 4 reviews. If a review intrigues me, I dig in, so to speak, Narrowing down my choices to 3 or 4 helps me decide. Then all that's left is to experience it myself.

Testing the waters is not an option when it's your wedding. Reviews become our window into a company's soul. Having said that, reviews tell us three things, 1-who the consumer is, 2-who the business is and 3-what customers SAY they have experienced. It is your job to find out if the gripe is real, perceived or was handled satisfactorily.

I say... TRUST that you can find intel from reviews. Prepare your questions and contact the business. Express your concern over negative reviews and listen to what they have to say. Sometimes a business won't even know the review exists until you tell them about it. Like in my case. 

For the record I disputed that review and it was subsequently taken down by the blog it was submitted to. It was determined that the reviewer was never a customer of ours, nor did they have proof they ever contacted us. They also mentioned in their review how wonderful our competitor was and that everyone should go to them instead. OUCH!