Vendor Reviews
I had some amazing vendors and would hate for anyone to spend hours and hours like I did searching when they could just use these awesome professionals. Here are my vendor reviews:
Heidi’s staff was professional and easy to work with. We worked with Drew and he was so helpful. He even called me a couple times to make sure everything they selected for my wedding was just right. They handled so much for me and it was a huge stress relief. Their food was so delicious! All of our guests raved about how it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding and I felt so proud to have chosen such a good vendor. I highly recommend Heidi’s for any event requiring a caterer.
Piece of Cake –
Kevin was so easy to work with. He really put us at ease. The cake is absolutely delicious! It was so beautiful, too. Everyone loved it. My husband cannot wait until our 1 year anniversary so he can eat some more cake. Also, we contracted with Piece of Cake through Heidi’s Catering which made my life so much easier! It was less phone calls for me to make and I really appreciated their business partnership.
Honeymoon Sweets –
We went to a tasting at Honeymoon Sweets and the lady who helped us was so rude and unprofessional that we chose another vendor. They seemed like the cheaper choice, but in the end with delivery charges and everything that adds up, Piece of Cake was cheaper and much more professional. I would not recommend anyone waste their time contacting Honeymoon Sweets.
Butterfly Petals –
I absolutely loved the flowers at my wedding. Amanda was great about communicating with me through the planning process to make sure everything was how I wanted it and they turned out perfect! Over a week past my wedding, my bouquet is still in a vase looking great. Amanda was professional, easy to get a hold of, and very friendly. I highly recommend Butterfly Petals!
Jennifer Weems Photography –
Jennifer is so easy-going and fun to work with. She is professional and easy to get in touch with. She gave us a great deal – the best I could find and, believe me, we looked at a million photographers. We love our engagement pictures. We used them for our save the dates, thank you cards, guest book, and framed them and hung them in our house. I can’t wait to see all the pictures of our wedding. Even the sneak peek she posted on facebook is awesome. Her assistant Amy was very helpful and great with our fussy flower girl and ring bearer. I highly recommend Jennifer Weems!
The Waterfront –
The Waterfront is such a beautiful venue! I was so proud of how well my wedding turned out and it was mostly because of the gorgeous reception location. Jessica was very helpful and easy to work with. My mind was at ease knowing she was in charge the day of the wedding. She helped me with planning and even made sure I had some cheese and crackers when I was starving during pictures and a glass of wine waiting for me at the head table. The only issue we had was that our dj was a personal friend and was a little irked that they do not allow vendors to drink alcohol, a policy I can understand, but a staff member did become a little frustrated when I offered him a beer at the very end of the night.
Do-it-yourself invitations from Garner Studios (purchased at Michael’s) –
My invitations were beautiful and everyone commented on them. I saved a ton of money doing it myself, but it was a huge chore. If I had to do it over again, I would splurge and pay someone else to do it.
Save the Dates and Thank You Cards – Vista Print
I waited until Vista Print had free postcard offers and used engagement photos for the save the dates and thank yous. They are cute and unique. Postage is cheaper and there’s less pressure to write a novel in your thank you cards. It was definitely the way to go!
Guestbook – Shutterfly
We made a photobook and had guests sign it yearbook style. We used our engagement photos. It turned out so cute! Guests liked looking at it and now we have something we can display as a coffee table book instead of something to hide away on a shelf.
Registry – Macy’s and Bed, Bath, and Beyond –
The staff at Macy’s and Bed, Bath, and Beyond made registering easy. Their web sites are very user-friendly and it was easy to keep the registries up to date.
Makeup – Heather from Just for You Salon –
Brides – you do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on your makeup! Heather does airbrush makeup the day of your wedding and a trial for $65 dollars and she is great at what she does! I highly recommend using her. She is affordable, reliable, and really listens to what you want.
Dress – Azteca
While the staff at Azteca has a reputation for not being the greatest, my consultant was very nice and helpful. I got a great deal on my dress and it was beautiful! However, they did not contact me when my dress came in and it sat there for a month without my knowing. I wouldn’t recommend using them for alterations either. Janet Kirkman is way cheaper and she is a pro!
Alterations – Janet Kirkman
I cannot say enough about Janet Kirkman! She made my dress fit like a glove. She was sweet and professional. Her work is amazing and she was very reasonably priced. She includes steaming in her prices. I really enjoyed working with her and would highly recommend her!
Bridesmaid’s dresses – Suzanne’s Bridal –
I tried on wedding gowns at Suzanne’s. They were very helpful, but I found Azteca to be cheaper and have more selection. I did purchase bridesmaid’s dresses there by Pretty Maids/House of Wu. They were gorgeous and very affordable. We looked at several places for dresses and found these to be the cheapest and of best quality (even better than David’s Bridal). We used them for alterations and they only charged $25 for a hem. The girls looked stunning in the gowns, not your typical cheesy bridesmaid’s dress. The staff at Suzanne’s was always helpful and professional.
Tuxes – Men’s Warehouse –
The tuxes looked great and fit all the guys. We had a last minute switch in our groomsmen group and they were very accommodating. I don’t know that they were the cheapest, but the guys looked great!
Mom’s dresses –
My mother-in-law got a gorgeous dress from Nordstrom’s and my mom got her dress from Dillard’s in Scottsdale. Both stores had a nice selection of appropriate dresses that were not too matronly.
Crimson’s Baby Boutique –
I didn’t find out about this place until a week before the wedding. We already had a flower girl dress from somewhere else, but we needed a petticoat. My mother-in-law raved about the beautiful, affordable dresses and said they had a huge selection! My sister-in-law will be getting married soon and we’ll probably use them for her wedding.
Bridesmaid’s gifts – Etsy –
I got my bridesmaids each a different gift, which they appreciated, from the following Etsy shops:
Mycellardoor – awesome
Caughtredhanded – beautiful
Misunbridal – I used them for my hair flower for the reception. It was perfect!
Delicatecreations – probably my personal favorite necklace I bought.
Modagefloral – not the greatest quality
PurplePeonyCouture – Stunning! Beautiful stuff!
Guest and wedding night Accommodations – Courtyard Marriott in downtown Tempe
The courtyard was a very nice place for our guests to stay and had everything they needed. It is a great location near lots of things to do in walking distance and it’s close to the lightrail. They also offer a shuttle to the airport. I heard no complaints.
Centerpieces – Ikea
Centerpieces can get really expensive. Ikea has a ton of inexpensive plants, vases, and lanterns (which we used) that you can use for centerpieces and resell or use for home décor later on. * I bought my pillar candles at Kirkland Home. They were the cheapest I could find and I searched high and low, let me tell you. The cheapest votives I could find were at Hobby Lobby.
Best Budget Tool –
Wedding Wire
Best checklist – The Knot
Best vendor finding tool – Wedding Wire
Best inspiration – Classic Bride blog and Green Wedding Shoes
Heidi’s staff was professional and easy to work with. We worked with Drew and he was so helpful. He even called me a couple times to make sure everything they selected for my wedding was just right. They handled so much for me and it was a huge stress relief. Their food was so delicious! All of our guests raved about how it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding and I felt so proud to have chosen such a good vendor. I highly recommend Heidi’s for any event requiring a caterer.
Piece of Cake –
Kevin was so easy to work with. He really put us at ease. The cake is absolutely delicious! It was so beautiful, too. Everyone loved it. My husband cannot wait until our 1 year anniversary so he can eat some more cake. Also, we contracted with Piece of Cake through Heidi’s Catering which made my life so much easier! It was less phone calls for me to make and I really appreciated their business partnership.
Honeymoon Sweets –
We went to a tasting at Honeymoon Sweets and the lady who helped us was so rude and unprofessional that we chose another vendor. They seemed like the cheaper choice, but in the end with delivery charges and everything that adds up, Piece of Cake was cheaper and much more professional. I would not recommend anyone waste their time contacting Honeymoon Sweets.
Butterfly Petals –
I absolutely loved the flowers at my wedding. Amanda was great about communicating with me through the planning process to make sure everything was how I wanted it and they turned out perfect! Over a week past my wedding, my bouquet is still in a vase looking great. Amanda was professional, easy to get a hold of, and very friendly. I highly recommend Butterfly Petals!
Jennifer Weems Photography –
Jennifer is so easy-going and fun to work with. She is professional and easy to get in touch with. She gave us a great deal – the best I could find and, believe me, we looked at a million photographers. We love our engagement pictures. We used them for our save the dates, thank you cards, guest book, and framed them and hung them in our house. I can’t wait to see all the pictures of our wedding. Even the sneak peek she posted on facebook is awesome. Her assistant Amy was very helpful and great with our fussy flower girl and ring bearer. I highly recommend Jennifer Weems!
The Waterfront –
The Waterfront is such a beautiful venue! I was so proud of how well my wedding turned out and it was mostly because of the gorgeous reception location. Jessica was very helpful and easy to work with. My mind was at ease knowing she was in charge the day of the wedding. She helped me with planning and even made sure I had some cheese and crackers when I was starving during pictures and a glass of wine waiting for me at the head table. The only issue we had was that our dj was a personal friend and was a little irked that they do not allow vendors to drink alcohol, a policy I can understand, but a staff member did become a little frustrated when I offered him a beer at the very end of the night.
Do-it-yourself invitations from Garner Studios (purchased at Michael’s) –
My invitations were beautiful and everyone commented on them. I saved a ton of money doing it myself, but it was a huge chore. If I had to do it over again, I would splurge and pay someone else to do it.
Save the Dates and Thank You Cards – Vista Print
I waited until Vista Print had free postcard offers and used engagement photos for the save the dates and thank yous. They are cute and unique. Postage is cheaper and there’s less pressure to write a novel in your thank you cards. It was definitely the way to go!
Guestbook – Shutterfly
We made a photobook and had guests sign it yearbook style. We used our engagement photos. It turned out so cute! Guests liked looking at it and now we have something we can display as a coffee table book instead of something to hide away on a shelf.
Registry – Macy’s and Bed, Bath, and Beyond –
The staff at Macy’s and Bed, Bath, and Beyond made registering easy. Their web sites are very user-friendly and it was easy to keep the registries up to date.
- However, I registered for a ton of stuff, as per online recommendations, and got mostly checks and gift cards. I could have saved time registering for less stuff.
Makeup – Heather from Just for You Salon –
Brides – you do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on your makeup! Heather does airbrush makeup the day of your wedding and a trial for $65 dollars and she is great at what she does! I highly recommend using her. She is affordable, reliable, and really listens to what you want.
Dress – Azteca
While the staff at Azteca has a reputation for not being the greatest, my consultant was very nice and helpful. I got a great deal on my dress and it was beautiful! However, they did not contact me when my dress came in and it sat there for a month without my knowing. I wouldn’t recommend using them for alterations either. Janet Kirkman is way cheaper and she is a pro!
Alterations – Janet Kirkman
I cannot say enough about Janet Kirkman! She made my dress fit like a glove. She was sweet and professional. Her work is amazing and she was very reasonably priced. She includes steaming in her prices. I really enjoyed working with her and would highly recommend her!
Bridesmaid’s dresses – Suzanne’s Bridal –
I tried on wedding gowns at Suzanne’s. They were very helpful, but I found Azteca to be cheaper and have more selection. I did purchase bridesmaid’s dresses there by Pretty Maids/House of Wu. They were gorgeous and very affordable. We looked at several places for dresses and found these to be the cheapest and of best quality (even better than David’s Bridal). We used them for alterations and they only charged $25 for a hem. The girls looked stunning in the gowns, not your typical cheesy bridesmaid’s dress. The staff at Suzanne’s was always helpful and professional.
Tuxes – Men’s Warehouse –
The tuxes looked great and fit all the guys. We had a last minute switch in our groomsmen group and they were very accommodating. I don’t know that they were the cheapest, but the guys looked great!
Mom’s dresses –
My mother-in-law got a gorgeous dress from Nordstrom’s and my mom got her dress from Dillard’s in Scottsdale. Both stores had a nice selection of appropriate dresses that were not too matronly.
Crimson’s Baby Boutique –
I didn’t find out about this place until a week before the wedding. We already had a flower girl dress from somewhere else, but we needed a petticoat. My mother-in-law raved about the beautiful, affordable dresses and said they had a huge selection! My sister-in-law will be getting married soon and we’ll probably use them for her wedding.
Bridesmaid’s gifts – Etsy –
I got my bridesmaids each a different gift, which they appreciated, from the following Etsy shops:
Mycellardoor – awesome
Caughtredhanded – beautiful
Misunbridal – I used them for my hair flower for the reception. It was perfect!
Delicatecreations – probably my personal favorite necklace I bought.
Modagefloral – not the greatest quality
PurplePeonyCouture – Stunning! Beautiful stuff!
Guest and wedding night Accommodations – Courtyard Marriott in downtown Tempe
The courtyard was a very nice place for our guests to stay and had everything they needed. It is a great location near lots of things to do in walking distance and it’s close to the lightrail. They also offer a shuttle to the airport. I heard no complaints.
Centerpieces – Ikea
Centerpieces can get really expensive. Ikea has a ton of inexpensive plants, vases, and lanterns (which we used) that you can use for centerpieces and resell or use for home décor later on. * I bought my pillar candles at Kirkland Home. They were the cheapest I could find and I searched high and low, let me tell you. The cheapest votives I could find were at Hobby Lobby.
Best Budget Tool –
Wedding Wire
Best checklist – The Knot
Best vendor finding tool – Wedding Wire
Best inspiration – Classic Bride blog and Green Wedding Shoes
Invitations: Michael's
Below are the pictures of our invitations. Below that is a picture of the stamp we will be using instead of the monogram that is pictured.
Jennifer Weems Photography
We looked at a million photographers until we found Jennifer. She's awesome. We took our engagement pictures May 2nd and we're so excited to see them. Here's a sneak peek!
http://www.jenniferweems.com/
http://www.jenniferweems.com/
Catering
Heidi's Events and Catering will be providing the food for our wedding day. Their staff has been very professional and wonderful to work with thus far. The food is yummy, too!
Cake
We are contracting through Heidi's, which is so nice for us. The vendor, though, is called Piece of Cake Desserts. The cake is going to be beautiful and delicious! Kevin, the owner, was so helpful when we went for our tasting and we highly recommend using them.
* Caution: Stay away from Honeymoon Sweets. I have never worked with anyone so unprofessional and rude in my life!
* Caution: Stay away from Honeymoon Sweets. I have never worked with anyone so unprofessional and rude in my life!
Flowers
We are using Butterfly Petals. Amanda has been great to work with and she totally sees my vision! I am so happy to have found her. Below is a picture of a bouquet she created that I love!
