Gilbert Wedding
The Ultimate Gilbert Wedding Planning Resource
Shenandoah MillShenandoah Mill was disappointing.
My mom is an interior decorator and has a great eye for potential. She saw just that in Shenandoah Mill. When we found out that we could use our own vendors, it seemed like the place was perfect. The price seemed really high for what was provided but we were assured it was worth it by Patrick. I was too excited during the first meeting (which took place during an open house event) to notice the lack of professionalism exhibited by those whom we met with but it soon became apparent throughout our later dealings.
When we asked about how much time we would have for setting up, the answer was foggy. Then Patrick said that we would have to pay $400 per hour extra for decorating. With an already high price for just a venue this was outrageous. With a lot of persuasion, we convinced him to let us decorate outside as long as we wanted but we would only have an hour inside previous to the wedding. Needless to say, my mom gathered as many friends and family to help decorate with such a short amount of time to do it in. There were many complaints to my mom from the owners on the day of the wedding during set up that there were too many people helping decorate and that people were going to ruin the shrubs. This was not even a possibility because my mom stressed being respectful during the setup to those helping out.
Any questions I had were usually left unclear or even just unanswered. These questions were ones that should have been readily answered by this business such as, “How much would it be if I rented chair covers for the outdoor chairs?” Instead of a price, I got the response, “I would have to call around & see.” It almost seemed like he expected me to order them without even knowing the price & just paying whatever for it later. Anyone who is or has planned a wedding knows that the budget comes first!
My wedding turned out beautiful thanks to all my loving friends and family but I do not have Shenandoah Mill to thank for that. They were more of a headache than a help.
If you are looking for a rustic setting for your wedding, look elsewhere!
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Suzanne's Bridal Boutiquelove Suzanne and her girls! Talk about how to run a bridal shop....Iris D you should learn from them!! Suzanne's was my 1st and last stop for my wedding dress. Had the best experience. Made a horrible mistake to look elsewhere for my bridesmaid dresses. My mistake put me 2 months before my wedding with no bridesmaid dressed. Went crying back to Suzanne's, she said that no matter if she had to hand sew them herself she would make it work... (Not only does Suzanne own her bridal shop she does all the alterations herself, Can't top that) She held her word! 2 weeks after that meeting the most perfect bridesmaid dresses come in, AMAZING. So within 4 weeks, 4 bridesmaid dress were ordered, 5 alterations were done.... a pregnant girl and my wedding dress and the best looking bridal party was having a blast at my wedding! I cannot thank her and her girls enough!
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The PorticoThe good: The owners were accomodating by allowing a payment plan leading up to the event. Our daughter's quinceanera turned out great. The place was nice and in general everyone enjoyed themselves that night because it was a family event.
The bad: The day before our big event, we were not allowed to go there and setup because the owners were busy. The day of the event we also couldn't setup early because the owners were once again busy. So we ended up setting up as the reception started which was extrememly inconvenient and stressful for us. The owner, Kyle, was there the entire time of the reception looking around and seemed frustrated all night which made everyone feel very unconfortable and that really sucked! He made it obvious that this was "his home" since he in fact does lives there. He 1st indirectly told us the music was too loud - that "his servers couldn't hear if the guests wanted champagne or apple cider". Later he told the DJ to lower the music because it was too loud. Also, after you supply all the liquor, you are not allowed to have a "shot" - this was ridiculous! The owner Kyle was directing the parking as the guests arrived - this started the entire unconfortable feeling for everyone. The parking area is very small and the parking is extremely tight.
Even though the place was nice and the price was reasonable - it's not worth the hassle on your special day.
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Platinum Day EntertainmentEveryone loved the Dj and danced all night! They are very interactive and know how to keep the party going!
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Villa SienaThis is the attachment to the letter I'm filing with the BBB complaining about their service.
"They didn’t set-up centerpieces; the groom and best man did, despite this service being in the contract. Due to the groom setting-up before the ceremony he was not available for pre-determined errands, resulting in the ceremony beginning an hour-and-a-half late, receiving line being cut altogether, and formal portraits were not able to be taken due to time restrictions.
They lit the tea light candles too early, so they were burnt out before the reception began
They didn’t set-up the escort cards for guests take and find their seats
Our coordinator disappeared throughout the entire event as evidenced by:
• The caterer forcefully entered the bridal suite while the bride was getting dressed because he couldn’t find the coordinator
• There was no communication between the vendors which was supposed to be provided by the coordinator (eg: Caterer tried to refuse food the photographers; the DJ had no one to queue him on events)
• First dance, Posed photography, cake cutting, and garter/bouquet toss weren’t queued by the coordinator; bride and groom had to manage event timeline.
• We had choreographed a Fencing show, which was completely scrapped due to coordinator not queuing it. Improv was substituted.
• There was no security managing the gifts. There are currently missing cards and possibly missing gifts.
• Outside alcohol was brought into the venue without consent from the bride and groom. Several members of the bridal party and wedding guests drove home drunk...
• The remainder of our wedding cake was left behind (as told to us by our caterer), but when asked if left-over items were at the location, we were told nothing remained at the venue.
• Red carpet outside was never laid out, despite being offered by venue.
• The bride had to organize with the caterer to present the surprise goat cake for her dad and birthday cake for groom's sister because the coordinator could not be found.
• Best man and Maid of Honor had to search for coordinator for 20 minutes, instead of eating their dinner, to place guestbook cards into the ballroom.
• Father of the Bride consistently looked for coordinator and found her in office with the door closed.
• We had an incredibly traumatizing experience with the caterer (A Savory Affair) because we were required to choose him through the venue:
o Food was frozen on part of the tables and burnt at the front tables where the families of the bride and groom sat including the head table
o Servers consistently forgot to serve the bride and groom
o Men were served before women (including the bride)
o Grandparents of the bride were forgotten until a guest pointed out they had no food
o Caterer only brought enough wine glasses to set table (guests during cocktail hour drank wine out of plastic soft drink cups)
o Bride and groom didn’t get any appetizers even though the caterer was supposed to provide a dedicated server for them prior to dinner
o Caterer did not provide final invoice to bride and groom until within the 14 day deadline where cash would be required to pay the remaining balance; and then insisted that the payment be made in cash, fought with the bride’s father, and threatened to not show up at the event."
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Beautiful, never been worn, Rachel Gilbert-Tash dress for sale. I ordered this dress online and my thighs are too big for it. It's the equivalent of a US size 4-6 (Australian size 1) The dress is currently on sale for $360 online, but I'm selling for $250.
See link below for pics:
http://www.rachelgilbertshop.com/productdetails.aspx?id=3245&category=DRS-SHORT
The color is a tad bit darker than ivory, a wonderful neutral. I desperately wish that the dress fit me, but my loss is your gain. I was hoping to change into this dress at the end of my wedding reception.
Contact if interested, want more pics, etc :)
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I am currently reading Elizabeth Gilbert's new book "Committed" which is a story about how she comes to terms with getting married for the 2nd time after she had vowed to never again get married when her first marriage ended in divorce.
Anyways, in the book she describes what sociologists call the "Marriage Benefit Imbalance" which basically says that marriage benefits men much more than it benefits women:
"Married men live longer than single men; married men accumulate more wealth than single men; married men excel at their careers above single men; married men are far less likely to die a violent death than single men; married men report
themselves to be much happier than single men; and married men suffer less from alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression than do single men....
There doesn't seem to be anything, statistically speaking, that a man does not gain by getting
married.
Dishearteningly, the reverse is not true. Modern married women do not fare better in life than their single counterparts. Married women in America do not live longer than single women; married women do not accumulate as much
wealth as single women...; married women do not thrive on their careers to the extent single women do... less healthy... depression... violent death... statistically speaking, the most dangerous person in the average woman's life is her own
man."
I thought this was interesting, although I don't know that I actually agree with it. Anyone else read this book?
Thoughts?
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Love knows no boundaries- including age! What a sweet story.
A life-long bachelor finally finds his soul mate.
Gilbert Herrick and Virginia Hartman tied the
knot just a few weeks ago and this was no ordinary wedding. He is 99 years old and she is 86.
Gilbert and Virginia are both residents at the Monroe Community Hospital Nursing Home on East Henrietta Road.
Gilbert was starting to
get a little lonely until he saw a collection of hand-painted china on display at nursing home. The china was Virginia's and the rest is history.
Gilbert Herrick has led a healthy and successful life in his 99 years on earth. He retired
from the postal service and courageously fought for our country during World War II. “I was on three invasions -- North Africa, Sicily and Southern France. “
Gilbert earned a Purple Heart for his bravery but there was always
something missing in his real heart. “I never found the right girl until I found her.”
She is Virginia Hartman. Her hand-painted China was on display at their nursing home. Gilbert used to do oil paintings and wanted to meet the
artist. “I kept going back to talk to her because there's nobody here who I can talk to. So I kept visiting her and it led to a romance.”
They talked and talked and started to realize they had been living parallel lives all
these years. Hartman said, “He worked at Sibley and I worked at McCurdy's. Strangely enough, my husband was in the service almost identically to him.”
Gilbert said, “She asked if we could have a room to share, but they
said you could only have one if you're married. So she said, ‘Let's get married!" and I said, ‘Yes!’"
On June 4, surrounded by friends, family, and the nursing home staff, the two made it official. “It was a
beautiful day. We had a beautiful wedding. A lot of people.”
The two are living proof that love has no age and they say they're going to make the most of the time they have together.
Gilbert said, “She makes me feel happy.
I love her.”
Now Gilbert and Virginia finally get to share a room that they wanted but Gilbert joked, "It's too small!"
The two had a special guest at their wedding -- Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks -- who
presented them a proclamation declaring June 4 -- Gilbert and Virginia Herrick Day.
As for honeymoon plans, they joked they wanted to elope to Fiji with nothing but the clothes on their backs but then they realized it wouldn’t be so easy to
leave the nursing home without permission.
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Ah, true love is always possible. Even when you're 99 and you met your bride in a nursing home. Some would have given up hope, but gladly they didn't. :)
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43510937/ns/us_news-wonderful_world/
Now 99, the World War II veteran and retired postal worker from western NewYork recently married 86-year-old Virginia Hartman, a widow who raised five children.
Gilbert tells the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester that their first encounter was in 2010 in a hall at Monroe Community Hospital, the nursing home where they both live. After that, he started visiting her every day.
And check out the little extras at the bottom, like the "Unique" wedding pictures.
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Hello everyone! We have 4 group owners:
myself (aggiebride), starbux, Silverstar2011, and beccabride
If you have any questions, one of us should be able to answer, or feel free to ask the group on the group message board.
Please feel free to introduce yourself here, and let us know what your favorite book is (if you can manage to choose just one! :D)
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We all have a list of things we want to accomplish in this lifetime!! Let's hear em'!
1. Swim with sharks
2. Go to a Breaking Benjamin concert
3. Learn the guitar
4. Experience the NASCAR racetrack
5. Jet skii on the ocean
6. Go dancing!
7. Sky dive
8. Meet Brantley Gilbert :)
9. Get a Swedish massage
10. Own a handgun
11. Take a self defense class
12. Learn to kayak
13. Get toned abs like Audrina Patridge LOL
14. Finish school
15. Save somebody's life
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Gilbert Wedding Bios
Hello! I am getting married at Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert, AZ on Friday June 12th. My fiance and I are planning a black and white wedding...we're even asking guests to only wear black and white. We are hoping to do lots of DIY projects and have suceeded so far by making our own invitations and wedding programs.
Recently, I started painting plain white candles that I got a great deal on from ikea with our design. I had some trouble finding paint that was compatible with the wax, but I've got it down to a science now. I think our guests will be impressed with the hand-made touches in our wedding.
My fiance and I also worked out our boutonnieres which have guinea hen feathers, small silk white cherry blossoms, and a few black beads. They will look great with the boys in black on black tuxes. I also made matching corsages and boutonnieres for the parents. They are made with black organza and look great!
We keep pretty busy interviewing as many vendors as we can when my fiance is in town (he is currently living in Colorado!) Wish us luck in the last major planning steps.
Update: I just got the ring bearer pillow and tie done! They look amazing and match my hand made table runners all in "Dandy Damask".
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Whether you hire Holly Addy as a pianist, vocalist, organist or Catholic Cantor for your special event, Holly is ever the consummate professional providing elegant music and well as a warm, outgoing personality who takes great care in making sure that each client has just the right music that is needed and wanted for each occasion.
Holly plays for Weddings, Parties, Funerals, and Corporate Events in the greater Los Angeles area and has an extensive repertoire of music ranging from * Classical * Standards * Pop * Latin * Swing * Music of the 20's - 30's 40's to today's hits * Jazz * Celtic/Italian/German/French/Tagalog * Christian * and then some! ……Holly is always willing to accommodate special requests.
Holly also performs themed solo shows ranging from 30 minutes to an hour that can be customized for your event or group. SIMPLY GRAND, for example, is a show of piano favorites with wity commentary about the music - and sing-alongs are very popular at any time of the year (sing along sheets with custom covers for the occasion are provided at no additional charge to the client).
Holly can be booked in any combination - pianist, pianist/vocalist - organist/soloist - and can play and Cantor a full Catholic wedding or funeral Mass as well as any Protestant denomination.
Holly specializes in singing THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER and sings in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Tagalog.
For venues without keyboards, Holly has a Kurzweil SP 76 stage piano and sound system - a digital keyboard with a grand piano sound.
Among the venues that Holly has appeared at……
The Richard Nixon Library -The City Club of Bunker Hill - L'Orangerie - The Hotel Bel Air - The Beverly Hills Hotel - Beau Rivage Malibu - The Virginia Robinson Gardens - The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles – The Netercutt Collection - The Jones Victorian Mansion- Traxx @ Union Stationas well as many other fine venues and homes through the greater Los Angeles area.
TESTIMONIALS
"You have a beautiful voice and a lot of charisma...our 50th Wedding Anniversary party was a great success thanks to you Mr. and Mrs. Weingarten "Our Christmas party wouldn't have been the same without you and your playing – our friends are still talking about how wonderful it was. Save December 13th for us this year." Jim and Julie Gilbert
"Thank you for all of your beautiful music and all of your hands-on help in planning the music for our wedding. Our guests were so impressed that you played and sang for our Catholic ceremony and then "switched gears and played wonderful pop and standards for our cocktail reception..." Julie and Kent Hepburn
"Thank you Holly for a job well done. Your melodious voice made our father's funeral more memorable." The Tan Family
"We want to thank you for making "Our Day" so beautiful...we loved your singing and your organ playing. You were so helpful to us in planning our music...we can't thank you enough for recommending our minister, Aiden Comeford." Diane and Ed Goodrich
Your music was just magnificent. I will definitely keep you in mind for future projects and referrals .Jesus Lucas Pedro Principal Florist
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Banfi Zambrelli, size 5 in amethyst. Orig $200
Nina- Gilbert Summer (purple size 6) Brand new / never worn.
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I did ask some very special ladies to be a part of our wedding. If I could I would have up to eight important people in my bridal party but as I have come to find out you have to limit stuff and make choices, two things I am not good at!
Yikes!
Calling the girls up and asking if they wanted to be a part of our wedding was not something I wanted to do; I wanted to do it in a fun and more creative way! I found these wonderful calendars (check out the website, very inspirational)
http://www.intrinsiconline.com/
at a book store and they were my inspiration to ask… not only because of the cover but also because they can be used to keep track of all the upcoming important
dates :)
The front cover of the calendar says:
Journey
Life is more beautiful when we share the journey
So for each of my girls I wrote a message of the journey we have had together and told them… It would give us more joy and more pride to have you there walking by our side and I would love
for you to continue to be apart of OUR new Journey together!
Adriane
My absolute beautiful, irreplaceable, exceptional, and amazing sister will be my Maid Of Honor! This Tomboy (in her younger years) wore wrinkled shirts down to her
knees and did not give two sh*** about what anyone else thought. She continues to be the same confident, now extremely stylish woman today and I am honored that she will be my main woman as I marry my main man!!
And my Bridesmaids are:
Lindsey and I at her Graduation Party
Lindsey
I was in Lindsey’s Girl Scout troop as a kindergartner (1989) but we did not begin our infamous sleepovers until second grade (1991). Shortly after we
began playing soccer together until our final soccer days at Chandler Gilbert! She was there the night I met the man I am going to marry, Mr. Brian West. Lindsey is a very dedicated person…not only to our friendship but to Austin, her family, and
her work and she shows it passionately! She has a very kind heart and always has an open ear to listen to anything and everything. I am extremely excited for to be a part of our wedding.
Jessica was there for those infamous sleepover as well…we also went to junior high dances together, played badminton together in high school :) and she was always with me during
our many Chandler Gilbert extravaganzas! Brian reminded me of this so I had to share…The next time I wanted to meet up with Brian (second date if you will…) I informed him I already had plans with Jessica, I never really broke plans
with my ladies for a guy! However; this was the beginning of something and I told Brian to call Jessica and ask if it was ok
to cancel plans of making cookies so I could hang out with him…Who would have ever guessed blowing off a friend date to make cookies would lead to me being with the love of my life!! Thanks for understanding Jessica! :) Jessica is an exceptional woman who has a heart of gold! Jessica will say something that will make you double take and then you will crack up! She has a way of brightening your day and can always get the
party started! I cant wait for you to sing us a little something...Lets Get It On...Haha! :)
Lydia and I: The Dodge Ball Tournament at The Sand Bar
Lydia
I met Lydia in our 7th grade science class at Shepherd Junior
High. You know me…loud and outgoing and Lydia was a bit more relaxed and hip! We were opposites if you will but I would call it more of a balance! There was not a day that went by that we did not spend together. I mean that literally…We
went to school together, went home from school together, rented movies and spent the night at each others houses every weekend! As Lydia I have grown so has our friendship…she is a kind and sophisticated woman and I am grateful that she
continues to be a part of my life and I am excited to have her by my side throughout the wedding adventure!
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I'm super excited! I made the cutest cards for my bridesmaids and flower girl & ring bearer :
I took the pics on my cell so they aren't the best But anyways - The front says "Gilbert & Co." just like Tiffany & Co. Its the theme of our wedding! (Ps - Craig found the paper, the color is perfect! Good job baby) And then the inside says "Will you be our... flower girl" Also made one for our ring bearer and all my bridesmaids :)
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