Weddingbee boards

Just wanted to share some vendor reviews with the crowd since these boards were so helpful to me in wedding planning! Please feel free to send me a note if you have any more questions. We did a lot of research on our vendors and searched for folks who were highly recommended and reasonably priced (some stolen directly from Mrs. Bell Pepper). I think it paid off. We only have raves for all of them and would hire each again in a heartbeat.  Will post about photographer once we see our proofs.

Date: January 9, 2010

VENUE Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

Gorgeous venue! We were surprised that PAFA was available for weddings. Who wouldn’t want to get married in a beautiful museum? The ceremony location, on the landing of a grand staircase, was both traditional and out of the box. Aside from the setting, we were impressed with the professionalism of the staff.  Although it’s not a typical wedding venue, if you pick PAFA you don’t need to do much yourself.

Only drawbacks are that Duffy’s is the only caterer you are allowed to use (that was absolutely fine with us), the venue is pricey compared to others and the maximum guest count if you want dancing is about 130.

CATERING Jim Duffy’s Catering

Food was delicious and well presented. Staff were attentive, friendly and professional. During the planning process Christianne was helpful and responsive. She worked with us on a few items we wanted that they didn’t have (passed vegetarian sushi during cocktail hour, which they didn’t make but found an outside vendor to provide it at a very reasonable price). Plus, they really ran the show for us. We had originally thought we might need a day of coordinator but Duffy’s did everything! Not just setting things out for us the way we wanted them but also running the rehearsal and coordinating the ceremony. Christianne was on vacation for our wedding but her colleague, Helene, jumped in and took care of everything seamlessly.

MAKEUP Emily at Cheekadee (www.cheekadee.com)

Emily was so much fun at the trial. She listened to what I wanted, gave me good advice and changed things as I requested. She was exactly what you want in a professional makeup artist – not pushing a particular look or idea but also making sure you don’t make silly decisions you’ll be unhappy with later. I was so happy with the way I looked for the wedding and even happier that my makeup stayed on all night!  She gave all the mothers (MOB, MOG and step mother) appropriate looks for their ages (50s, 60s and 70s). I didn’t dictate a particular look for the bridesmaids, they got to choose. That made her job more difficult, but she made the bridesmaids look beautiful and individual. Plus, she was a pleasure to have around for the 5 hours it took to do 3 moms, 6 bridesmaids, 1 bride and 2 flower girls!

HAIR Hair by Meghan (Hairbymeghan(at)aol(dot)com)

Meghan was awesome. She is so fast and professional and very versatile. She did everything! I had a loose, curly bun, one of my sisters had a tight, slick bun, another a 40s pinup look, another had very curly hair that needed straightening, etc. etc. Everyone had great looking hair and Meghan switched from one look to another without blinking. Aside from making us look great, she was also wonderful to hang out with (and was very easygoing when the little bridesmaids climbed all over her chair and got into her stuff).

FLORIST Flowers by Mary Elizabeth (www.flowersbymaryelizabeth.com)

Mary made our bouquets and took the gold Manzanita branch centerpieces I had made and arranged them with orchids. Everything looked so much more expensive than it was and she was so easy to work with. She was the only florist who didn’t laugh at my budget and was willing to work with me to give me the look I wanted without breaking the bank. She also went out of her way to pick some stuff up from us not once but twice. 

JAZZ QUARTET Bob Whitt

When I heard them playing Someday My Prince Will Come as the groomsmen walked in I thought I would cry! They sounded great and were friendly and professional. We asked them to play for the ceremony, cocktail hour and the beginning of the reception. A little untraditional to have jazz for the processional and recessional but we loved it. They arranged a version of Pachelbel’s Canon in D for part of the processional so guests wouldn’t be totally thrown off.

DJ  Jeffrey Taylor (jmtaylor108(at)hotmail(dot)com)

He came recommended from the Indiebride boards and we were so happy to have him. Just the right balance – not too in your face but energetic enough to get the crowd going. We didn’t really have a “no play” list. At my sister’s insistence we did ask him to play the Electric Slide and it filled the dance floor! He seemed really astute at reading the crowd and the guests danced and seemed to be having a lot of fun.

HOTEL Radisson-Warwick

We had about 40 out of town guests to accommodate and chose the Radisson-Warwick on 17th Street. We had a few hiccups with the hotel, mostly related to our Sunday brunch. However, the rooms were comfortable, the price was very reasonable (negotiate!) and the staff was super-duper nice to all of our guests and family.