Treasure Island
Accomodations: A+
TI was an awesome place to stay-- and really gave us the central location we were hoping for. The rooms are newly renovated, and fully equipped with the most comfortable bed of all time!! We had a really nice view of the strip from the room, and although it was normal-sized, it didn't feel too overcrowded when me, my bridesmaids and ring maid were getting ready the morning of the wedding.
TI Chapel: A++
Everything was beautiful, and so well taken care of. It started when they told me the officiant I really wanted didn't work Fridays (my WC pulled some strings and we got him!). The flowers were gorgeous and waiting for us in the bridal suite. The WCs helped the boys pin their boutonnieres on. I was so happy with our flowers, and felt like we made off like bandits with what we ended up paying for 3 additional bouquets and boutonnieres. The WCs who were working the day of our wedding were amazing— I ended up dropping the ceremony music off the day of the wedding and unbeknownst to me there was something wrong with our copy. Instead of bothering me with it, the ladies took care to burn a new copy and everything worked seamlessly. I HIGHLY recommend TI for any future Vegas Brides!
Cashman Photography: A
After seeing a bunch of other reviews and pics from Cashman, I wasn't sure what to expect-- but I figured I wouldn't be that impressed. I think since I went into it with such low expectations I was actually pleasantly surprised when I saw our photos the day after the wedding. They are all just simple and lovely, and of course getting them so soon afterward was a huge bonus. It wasn't very hard to resist the sales pitch, because frankly we just didn't have the money to buy everything— but I think I would have if we did. We ended up with the 12 4x6 prints included with our package, a small soft cover coffee table album and the DVD of the wedding (which I've watched about a bajillion times already).
TI was an awesome place to stay-- and really gave us the central location we were hoping for. The rooms are newly renovated, and fully equipped with the most comfortable bed of all time!! We had a really nice view of the strip from the room, and although it was normal-sized, it didn't feel too overcrowded when me, my bridesmaids and ring maid were getting ready the morning of the wedding.
TI Chapel: A++
Everything was beautiful, and so well taken care of. It started when they told me the officiant I really wanted didn't work Fridays (my WC pulled some strings and we got him!). The flowers were gorgeous and waiting for us in the bridal suite. The WCs helped the boys pin their boutonnieres on. I was so happy with our flowers, and felt like we made off like bandits with what we ended up paying for 3 additional bouquets and boutonnieres. The WCs who were working the day of our wedding were amazing— I ended up dropping the ceremony music off the day of the wedding and unbeknownst to me there was something wrong with our copy. Instead of bothering me with it, the ladies took care to burn a new copy and everything worked seamlessly. I HIGHLY recommend TI for any future Vegas Brides!
Cashman Photography: A
After seeing a bunch of other reviews and pics from Cashman, I wasn't sure what to expect-- but I figured I wouldn't be that impressed. I think since I went into it with such low expectations I was actually pleasantly surprised when I saw our photos the day after the wedding. They are all just simple and lovely, and of course getting them so soon afterward was a huge bonus. It wasn't very hard to resist the sales pitch, because frankly we just didn't have the money to buy everything— but I think I would have if we did. We ended up with the 12 4x6 prints included with our package, a small soft cover coffee table album and the DVD of the wedding (which I've watched about a bajillion times already).
Meet and Greet Bowling Party
Orleans Hotel & Casino: A++
I am so glad we did this! I knew we didn't have the budget for a full on rehearsal dinner, but 2 1/2 hours of bowling, pizza and booze were all we needed to kick off our wedding weekend :) We walked into the bowling alley, and we had the first 8 lanes all to ourselves. the tables were decorated with balloons (in our wedding colors), and refreshments were set out on a bar that was central to our space. The customer service was also amazing. The staff were so attentive and it was very easy to find someone whenever we needed help with something. This was truly an activity that all age groups enjoyed, and it was nice to be able to have a party like this that was so reflective of our personalities. Yay.
Retro Bakery: A++
I cannot say enough about how insanely delicious our Meet and Greet cupcakes were. First off, I should say that I strolled into Retro Bakery about an hour before they closed and requested 3 1/2 dozen cupcakes. Instead of looking at me like the crazy person I clearly was, they just said "can you give us an hour?" Brilliant! I went for a random variety, and it did not disappoint. I would fly back to Vegas tomorrow just for one of these cupcakes :)
I am so glad we did this! I knew we didn't have the budget for a full on rehearsal dinner, but 2 1/2 hours of bowling, pizza and booze were all we needed to kick off our wedding weekend :) We walked into the bowling alley, and we had the first 8 lanes all to ourselves. the tables were decorated with balloons (in our wedding colors), and refreshments were set out on a bar that was central to our space. The customer service was also amazing. The staff were so attentive and it was very easy to find someone whenever we needed help with something. This was truly an activity that all age groups enjoyed, and it was nice to be able to have a party like this that was so reflective of our personalities. Yay.
Retro Bakery: A++
I cannot say enough about how insanely delicious our Meet and Greet cupcakes were. First off, I should say that I strolled into Retro Bakery about an hour before they closed and requested 3 1/2 dozen cupcakes. Instead of looking at me like the crazy person I clearly was, they just said "can you give us an hour?" Brilliant! I went for a random variety, and it did not disappoint. I would fly back to Vegas tomorrow just for one of these cupcakes :)
Firefly* Tapas Kitchen and Bar
Firefly*: A++
The food was superb, our room was set up beautifully and the staff was just phenomenal. Our event coordinator, Valerie, (who was not the coordinator I was in contact with over the past 6 months) made sure every little request was taken care of quickly and our guests were really given the royal treatment. I have to say, I don't know if I could have gotten this value anywhere else in Las Vegas. We had an all-you-can-eat tapas banquet, and full open bar (incl top shelf brands) for $60 pp. It was A-MA-ZING.
Our banquet included:
First Course:
Bread, olives, almond butter
Passed stuffed dates
Second Course:
Bacon-wrapped, stuffed dates
Spicy Potatoes
Chicken skewers
Crispy duck rolls
Filet mignon sliders
Empanadas
Spicy shrimp
Garlic Shrimp
Third Course:
Our delicious wedding cake!
*Side note: while our event was perfection, I did have some issues with our original coordinator's responsiveness early in the planning process. I don't think they are used to people organizing events months in advance, but that's the way I had to work it since I was planning this from DC. Thankfully, during the month leading up to the wedding the coordinator was much easier to get in touch with.
Photo Courtesy of www.fireflylv.com
The food was superb, our room was set up beautifully and the staff was just phenomenal. Our event coordinator, Valerie, (who was not the coordinator I was in contact with over the past 6 months) made sure every little request was taken care of quickly and our guests were really given the royal treatment. I have to say, I don't know if I could have gotten this value anywhere else in Las Vegas. We had an all-you-can-eat tapas banquet, and full open bar (incl top shelf brands) for $60 pp. It was A-MA-ZING.
Our banquet included:
First Course:
Bread, olives, almond butter
Passed stuffed dates
Second Course:
Bacon-wrapped, stuffed dates
Spicy Potatoes
Chicken skewers
Crispy duck rolls
Filet mignon sliders
Empanadas
Spicy shrimp
Garlic Shrimp
Third Course:
Our delicious wedding cake!
*Side note: while our event was perfection, I did have some issues with our original coordinator's responsiveness early in the planning process. I don't think they are used to people organizing events months in advance, but that's the way I had to work it since I was planning this from DC. Thankfully, during the month leading up to the wedding the coordinator was much easier to get in touch with.
Photo Courtesy of www.fireflylv.com
Cake Designs LV
Cake Designs: A++
Speaking of wedding cake... all the wonderful things I heard about Cake Designs LV were completely accurate. Our cake was simply gorgeous! I had a chance to run around the room and taste all three layers, and I am so happy with my choices... we had: lemon cake w/ lemon mousse, fudge cake w/ chocolate mousse and red velvet w/ cream cheese filling. It was all under their deliiiicious whipped icing which was so light and fluffy I could have gone for a swim in it. Or taken a nap :)
Photos Courtesy of Dott Photography
Speaking of wedding cake... all the wonderful things I heard about Cake Designs LV were completely accurate. Our cake was simply gorgeous! I had a chance to run around the room and taste all three layers, and I am so happy with my choices... we had: lemon cake w/ lemon mousse, fudge cake w/ chocolate mousse and red velvet w/ cream cheese filling. It was all under their deliiiicious whipped icing which was so light and fluffy I could have gone for a swim in it. Or taken a nap :)
Photos Courtesy of Dott Photography
BellaBrides
BellaBrides: A+++
I have never felt more beautiful in my life. Period. My hair and makeup were absolutely flawless... and I seriously felt like a supermodel for the entire day. Michelle and Blanca showed up on time the morning of the wedding and got right down to business. Their personalities are so charming, and we spent a lot of time laughing and socializing. They made us feel so comfortable. There were 4 of us getting makeup (all airbrush), and 3 of us getting hair done. I was especially impressed with Michelle's skills with all types of hair textures. My wedding party was the United Colors of Bennetton, but she didn't flinch and we were all fabulous. They really took their time and made us each look distinctive and sassy. Their prices were so incredibly reasonable that even with a tip, I felt like I still hadn't paid enough for their amazing service. We all felt like a million bucks.
Photo Courtesy of Dott Photography
I have never felt more beautiful in my life. Period. My hair and makeup were absolutely flawless... and I seriously felt like a supermodel for the entire day. Michelle and Blanca showed up on time the morning of the wedding and got right down to business. Their personalities are so charming, and we spent a lot of time laughing and socializing. They made us feel so comfortable. There were 4 of us getting makeup (all airbrush), and 3 of us getting hair done. I was especially impressed with Michelle's skills with all types of hair textures. My wedding party was the United Colors of Bennetton, but she didn't flinch and we were all fabulous. They really took their time and made us each look distinctive and sassy. Their prices were so incredibly reasonable that even with a tip, I felt like I still hadn't paid enough for their amazing service. We all felt like a million bucks.
Photo Courtesy of Dott Photography
Dott Photography
Olga Wilson (Owner & Primary) Shawn, Second Shooter: A++++
Olga is so special, I don't even know if I can describe how excited I am about my wedding photos (and I don't even have them yet)! First of all, she was the sweetest and most calming presence the entire day. Before we even snapped the first picture, I managed to drag my dress across pavement and get soot/dirt all over it (of course I had a minor freakout), but she assured me that PhotoShop works wonders lol. How could you not love that? After a couple glasses of champagne, and my bridesmaids bustling the hell out of my dress, all was well— and we started on our photo journey for the day. We went all around the strip before the ceremony— including: the Vegas sign, inside/outside Bellagio, inside/outside Aria, and the casino in TI. We hit up Freemont street and downtown afterward. We took photos for hours and I know we're going to have some AMAZING shots. I'm all about the conceptual and editorial photos Olga produces, so I am extremely happy. During the planning process I discovered photography was incredibly important to me, and I'm so thankful we had Olga and Shawn with us on our special day!
Love Loove Looooove them!
*Our photos are in and there are no words for how much I love them. Couldn't be happier!
Graphic courtesy of dottphotography.com
Olga is so special, I don't even know if I can describe how excited I am about my wedding photos (and I don't even have them yet)! First of all, she was the sweetest and most calming presence the entire day. Before we even snapped the first picture, I managed to drag my dress across pavement and get soot/dirt all over it (of course I had a minor freakout), but she assured me that PhotoShop works wonders lol. How could you not love that? After a couple glasses of champagne, and my bridesmaids bustling the hell out of my dress, all was well— and we started on our photo journey for the day. We went all around the strip before the ceremony— including: the Vegas sign, inside/outside Bellagio, inside/outside Aria, and the casino in TI. We hit up Freemont street and downtown afterward. We took photos for hours and I know we're going to have some AMAZING shots. I'm all about the conceptual and editorial photos Olga produces, so I am extremely happy. During the planning process I discovered photography was incredibly important to me, and I'm so thankful we had Olga and Shawn with us on our special day!
Love Loove Looooove them!
*Our photos are in and there are no words for how much I love them. Couldn't be happier!
Graphic courtesy of dottphotography.com
Presidential Limo
Presidential Limo: A-
Our Best Man's wedding present to us was the limo for the photo tour before the ceremony. Very generous! He went with a party bus from Presidential which was absolute perfect for carting 11 of us (9 in the wedding party and 2 photogs) around town. The driver was really nice and the bus was very clean and comfy. The only reason he's downgraded to an A- is because when the aforementioned dress ruining was happening, I asked him to keep Andrew (who hadn't seen me yet) away from the bus. Well to my shock, I see him allow Andrew and all the groomsmen to walk toward the bus entrance as I'm getting bustled up— so my groom's first look at me in my dress was basically me telling him to turn back around and come back in 5 minutes. SERIOUS BUMMER. Oh well!
Our Best Man's wedding present to us was the limo for the photo tour before the ceremony. Very generous! He went with a party bus from Presidential which was absolute perfect for carting 11 of us (9 in the wedding party and 2 photogs) around town. The driver was really nice and the bus was very clean and comfy. The only reason he's downgraded to an A- is because when the aforementioned dress ruining was happening, I asked him to keep Andrew (who hadn't seen me yet) away from the bus. Well to my shock, I see him allow Andrew and all the groomsmen to walk toward the bus entrance as I'm getting bustled up— so my groom's first look at me in my dress was basically me telling him to turn back around and come back in 5 minutes. SERIOUS BUMMER. Oh well!
Bell Trans
Bell Trans: C
We used two 24-passenger shuttle buses to transport our guests from the ceremony to the reception. The actual driving part of the trip went well, but Bell Trans pickups left a bit to be desired. We scheduled and confirmed VERY specific pickup times on purpose. They arrived early, and proceeded to get annoyed with us for having them wait until the pickup time that we specified. They actually did this on the return trip as well. I'm not sure why they felt the need to be so surly about the whole thing, but as you can see, they were my least favorite vendor of the weekend.
We used two 24-passenger shuttle buses to transport our guests from the ceremony to the reception. The actual driving part of the trip went well, but Bell Trans pickups left a bit to be desired. We scheduled and confirmed VERY specific pickup times on purpose. They arrived early, and proceeded to get annoyed with us for having them wait until the pickup time that we specified. They actually did this on the return trip as well. I'm not sure why they felt the need to be so surly about the whole thing, but as you can see, they were my least favorite vendor of the weekend.
