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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! Because no one can say it better than Country Living Magazine
10 Things Wedding Guests Absolutely Hate Favors Our momma's and momma's friends all had them. We fondly remember opening the sweet little treats, as if they were our own personal gifts. The trend seems to be making a comeback in the form of homemade and organic. This translates into costly. "Gifting" your guests, is not just an added expense, it is an added chore. Don't get us wrong, we ADORE favors, done tastefully and of course if the budget allows. Unnecessary Decor How many candles and little trinkets do you really need on the tables to make it really pretty and uniquely yours? Surprisingly not as much as you're told... or should I say...up sold? RSVP Cards Include a phone number, email or evite. Designate someone from your bridal party or your planner to receive the electronic rsvps and calls. The paper trail is not necessarily worth the additional cost. Especially since we have all this technology at our fingertips. Save The Dates Ditto on the evites for this one. Menus A nice touch in lieu, would be to have the chef give you a quick table side presentation on his wonderful meal. It's interactive and may cost you a lot less than the printed pretties. If you DO have the means to add this to your wedding collection Programs Let it flow! Personally, I don't like programs. Your guests could become anxious with with expectation if something is out of order or not on time. You could become a slave to a script that almost never goes off without a hitch. Rehearsal Lunch/Dinner Sure you need practice, we understand. A big hoopla is not the way to go. Spend the money on your big day. Your wedding party and compulsory staff need be present. Keep it informal. Hit a trendy sandwich shop and go Dutch. Even if you want to pay for everyone, it still won't cost you as much as another event. Venue Get the right size space. Don't go big and then struggle to make it intimate. Sure you LOVE that one location and have always dreamed of having your wedding there, but with a smaller guest list it will put a strain on the budget and force you to add decor items and details you wouldn't need with the right size venue Signature Drinks His and Her special cocktails are the rage. A good chocolate martini is not only expensive but doesn't go a long way. I'm salivating just thinking about it! If I were at your wedding, you could pay me over $200 to drink up all that Godiva chocolate, multiply that by 50-60 people. Ouch. Small Cake-Big Dessert Table Not so new idea, great savings. With a smaller cake you can opt for a prettier design without the price tag. Your caterer usually has a dessert selection your guests will love. Cupcakes are also a nice alternative to cake slices.  Perfectionist or Control Freak?If you are planning your own wedding, you just might be a perfectionist. Striving for perfection is a commendable virtue, but, when does your quest for perfection cross the line into a control issue?
The down side of being a perfectionist, while planning your wedding:
That being said, hiring a planner who is also a perfectionist, might just be your saving grace! Call us for our insiders recommendations for planners that we think is your perfect fit. The short answer is YES! Not everyone can afford a really good one. So make a list of what you have the capacity to do yourself and what you need help with. Next, make some calls. You should check the reputation of your planner. Read posts about them, check their Facebook and Pinterest pages. See what education they have or years in the biz. The Better Business Bureau can give you insight as well. Look at photos of actual weddings. I attended a planning session with a bride and her family a while back, and overheard the bride say (as she walked away), "they just don't get it". Can't say no? A strong planner will help you smooth ruffled feathers and step in to tactfully deny or accept "help". Unfortunately there was no planner and the wedding night ended with a lot of regret. Today's planners offer a whole lot more than they used to. Chances are you can tailor a package to fit your needs. Enough said.  |
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Gorgeous shots seen on this website were provided by some very talented photographers, Mark Hinwood, Toby Hoogs, Fletch Photography, Rebecca Arthurs, James Rubio, Piko Piko Photography, Karen Louden, Bob Brown, David O Baldwin, Bikini Birdie, Jose Villa, Techy 3, Couple Cups, Julie Harmsen, Chelsea Abril, Sunlight Studios and more. We retain the right of ownership of the works contained therein. Photos of such, may not be reproduced without our express, written consent. Photos taken from this or any of our other websites, blogs or social media, and/or email is strictly prohibited.