Amanda and Scott, instead of writing traditional reviews, wrote us an AMAZING letter regarding how much they loved all of their vendors, with their reviews of each one. It was such a pleasant thing to wake up to, and we thought we'd share it (and their photos!) with you:
Thank you!!! We want to take a moment and thank all of you that helped make our special day the best possible. Each one of you touched our lives and we will always share in the memories. We are so lucky to look back and say "I wouldn't change a thing!" You all helped make that possible! Along with our sincere appreciation, we would also like to include a brief testimonial for each of your services. As small business owners, we understand the power of good reviews. We encourage you to read the testimonials of other businesses we used to help grow a connection among yourselves. We highly recommend each participant in this letter and hope that you can work together and continue helping other couples celebrate their wedding. Thank you again!
Photographer: magnolia fotos by Shawn Sawyer
We had a memorable day sharing it with Shawn sawyer as our photographer for our October 2012 Virginia Beach wedding. The three of us met a couple times to get to know each other, talk about ideas, and plan our special day. We found Shawn to be very attentive and intuitive regarding our wants and general requests for the different picture opportunities. A fellow photographer helped on our wedding day to have two cameras ready at all times. We were able to photograph the events leading up to the ceremony including getting ready, our first look and bridal party photos, the ceremony and reception, along with the efficiency of posted and candid pictures of our families. Both Shawn & Jessica were subtle with suggestions, clean in communication, fun in nature, and positively encouraging throughout the picture process. Our "First Look" in First Landing State Park was magical and the ceremony and reception have shown to be a good time according to our pictures. We highly recommend magnolia fotos by Shawn Sawyer to help you capture your wedding day!
Wedding Dress: Maya Couture
Once I realized that I was drawn to Maggie Sottero dresses, I found myself at Maya Couture and am so glad I did! It only took one day of searching to find the perfect dress for me. The women that helped were so accommodating and attentive to my needs. I scheduled my fitting so my mother could come see it and we did not feel rushed. My mother and entire bridal party were from out of town and they helped assist in my understanding of what would need to be done the day of the wedding. I did an additional fitting and they helped record the lacing and bustle so my bridal party could help the day of the wedding. They even allowed me to come in early as my work schedule did not correlate with their normal operative hours. The dress and service were fabulous! Thank you for helping make my wedding day a memorable success!
Contact: Ashley Alger
We were lucky enough to choose Holiday Inn & Suites - North Beach for the ceremony and reception site of our October 2012 wedding. Our experiences with management, customer service, staff, and restaurant personnel were all positive. The Holiday Inn was respectful and accommodating when assisting with special arrangements including food allergies and hotel reservations. We were well-informed regarding any changes or decisions that needed to be made. The day of our wedding, the staff was attentive and personable when interacting with us, our families and all other guests. We were able to relax and enjoy the day knowing that we were well-cared for and that there was professional guidance available at all times. The room decor and set up for both the ceremony and reception was classy and clean. The hotel service for sleeping accommodations was excellent. Our guests were happy with the rooms, the ease of checking in and out, amenities and beautiful view of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Entertainment: Astro DJ - Jon E. Flex
We were acquainted with Jon E. Flex prior to making our decision when choosing a DJ service for our wedding. We are so happy we chose Astro DJ and specifically Jon E. Flex! We utilized their services for both our ceremony and reception. The ceremony went smooth and the music choices were very appropriate for our short, but sweet style. The equipment and sound were great. Our introductions, speeches, first dance, and cake cutting all went smoothly and were well organized. Jon E. Flex kept the party going to the very end. His enthusiasm, song choices and fun-loving nature were the exact qualities we wanted to help celebrate our day. A big thank you to Astro DJ and Jon E. Flex!
Wedding Cake: Shockley's Sweet Shoppe
Our search for the perfect cake began by searching for bakeries that make Gluten Free wedding cakes. Shockley's Sweet Shoppe was at the top of the list and we were thrilled to find them. The Shockley's spent a lot of time getting to know us, find out of wants and needs, and guiding us toward a great cake for us. Jennifer's creativity and eye for design is flawless. We were thrilled with their ability to utilize the color and style of our invitations to tie the decor together. We requested 2 additional individual birthday cakes for family. They were happy to share in the birthday fun and provided delicious cakes that made everyone happy. The personable customer service and easy-going nature of the business allow for a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for making important decisions like your wedding cake and more! We highly recommend Shockley's for your personalized baking needs.
Flowers: Palette of Petals
Our experience when choosing wedding flowers couldn't have gone better! Luckily, Palette of Petals was our first and only stop. The first meeting was extensive and consisted of "get to know you" and "what do you like" questions. We planned out the number of people in the wedding party as well as centerpieces. Both Shannon and Mary were intuitive to our likes and dislikes and were perceptive with great recommendations. My husband and I really felt like they listened and did their best to make the process as easy as possible. The day of the wedding, they were timely with their delivery, everything looks beautiful, and helped with the cleanup and collecting their items after the reception. We utilized decorative columns for the ceremony, mirrors, and vases. Everything was beautiful and we couldn't have been happier with our choice in using Palette of Petals for our wedding day. Thank you for helping make our wedding a memorable success!
Salon Services: Picasso Salon & Spa
I am so happy I chose Picasso for all of our salon needs for our fall 2012 wedding! The day before the wedding, we booked manicures and pedicures in the morning. The ladies at Picasso were extremely accommodating. They allowed us to bring in food and drinks and take over their manicure/pedicure portion of the salon. My bridesmaids were all from out of town and they felt a warm sense of welcome and comfort from all of the ladies that helped us. The day of the wedding we utilized Picasso for our hair and makeup needs. They were yet again accommodating with our schedule and timely so there was no stress... hard to accomplish on a wedding day! Our hair was beautiful, make-up gorgeous and even my 4 year old niece was attended to. I'm so thankful I had such great service and women working with us for our wedding. Thank you for helping make our wedding weekend a memorable success!
Spray-tan: Sun Buni Brown
I am so thankful I had the opportunity to use Sun Buni Brown for my tanning needs for my wedding day! I met Melinda through business networking and felt comfortable with her instantly. We did a trial run a few weeks before the wedding and I was amazed at the results! The tan looked so natural and lasted for longer than I ever expected. There is most definitely an advantage to having custom tan... every body is different! We had the tan done 2 days before the wedding so it had time to settle and gave the opportunity to make changes if needed. It was perfect! I felt beautiful and confident the day of my wedding, just what every girl wants!
Jewelry: Cocolia Designs; Corey Yates
I met Corey at the 2012 Sandbridge Pig Pickin' as she had a booth displaying her beautiful creations. I am so glad I did! After getting to know me and meeting at the Michael's, Corey was able to get a feel for our style and classy, yet simple mentality. She was right on! Corey created necklaces and earrings for my 5 bridesmaids and necklaces, earrings and bracelets specifically for me and my sister, The Matron of Honor. The colors and designs were breathtaking and we had so many compliments throughout the day. My bridal party was thrilled and thankful as the pieces will be of use for any occasion. Corey's eye for color and imagination are innate gifts.
