While they do have a large number of gowns (few of which are unique), I would not recommend shopping at this bridal boutique. My experience with the sales staff was less than desirable. While no single person was rude, they were hardly accommodating. I was offered no help with choosing gowns and re-hanging gowns, nor any assistance while trying dresses on. My mom, bridesmaids, and I were literally left to our own devices. Hours and hours and 30+ dresses later (WAY too many for one day, as anyone who has tried on gowns before knows), sales consultant finally said, "I'm not letting you try on any more." Thank GOODNESS she did that, but had the staff actually HELPED select a gown and assisted in getting the gowns on properly, my search would not have taken so long and wouldnt have been so extensive.

Something else that "rubbed me the wrong way"-- Towards the end of my dress-trying-disaster, sales woman asked me what my desired price range was. (A few gowns at Catan's were 500/600, but most were 800-2000) She then proceeded to say, "We have a lot of gowns that are similar to what you're looking for, but they're upstairs in couture room... And prices start at $1300."

First: Unless a bride is on a VERRRRY strict budget, if she finds a gown she loves, in most cases, she'll buy it & cut back elsewhere. It irks me that they keep these gowns hidden away and hide from customers the fact that they even exist. (based on demographics, or what?) They should have figured out my budget from the beginning and marched me up there... There is NO good that is done by keeping the couture room a secret.

Second: It was not very classy or professional to bring this up after I had tried on TONS of gowns and was close to tears with frustration and disappointment. I was at the end of my search, the SA knew this, and then said, "Oh, by the way, couture, trunk shows, expensive, upstairs." Had she mentioned it in the beginning, perhaps I would have found a gown. Jim Hjelm is to-die-for, and they keep 'em locked away from the "regular-looking" shoppers, apparently.

There are far better bridal shops in NE Ohio, or better yet- Travel 1.5 hours to Minerva to Henri's Cloud Nine (A true, professional, helpful, classy bridal salon) Don't get sucked in by the size of Catan's-- the dresses aren't unique and the help, for lack of a better word, stinks.

ETA: Still can't beat their selection of maids' dresses, though. Definitely a "plus"

My engagement ring was purchased from Hyde Park in Denver, CO, and had lead to this mixed review.

The good: My ring was custom made & I really, truly love it. Most everyone was helpful to my fiance during the designing and purchasing process, and he never felt and extreme pressure. Plus- ALL of their diamonds are conflict-free, and many are Canadian mined using economical, sustainable mining processes.

The bad: Though my ring was custom-made, the jeweler had it made without confirming the size with my fiance (it was 2 sizes too small!), no sales associates could find the ring for 10+ minutes when I went in to pick it up, the center stone came loose within three weeks, when I returned to have the center stone fixed they couldn't find my or my fiances name anywhere in the system (though we still get weekly mailings from them?) & a SA asked, "Are you SURE he bought your ring here?!"

The ugly: After the fact, a month or so after I had the ring & got the GIA report in my hand, realized that similar stones sell for a minimum of $600 less than what HP charged. Talk about overhead cost...

Though it doesn't seem worth it to pursue, my fiance and I are seeking out an independent appraisal & plan to return to the store to see if they will remedy the situation at all. Unlikely, of course...

Moral of the story: Beautiful but costly jewelry, and absent minded sales associates.

I stopped by this local florist in NE Ohio to check out their bridal portfolio. Granted, it was during the holiday season, but rather than explain to me that they were busy, that they preferred having scheduled bridal appointments, and rather than provide me with contact information for the future, the two florists on duty said, "We can't help you now." LITERALLY.

My father and I turned around, walked out, and agreed not to take any other business there. It was completely unprofessional, regardless how busy a shop may be.

From prior (non bridal) experience with this florist, I can say that the flowers and prices are average. Apparently, however, customer service is lacking quite a bit.

For those not interested in an overly religious ceremony, for those who want a ceremony to be personal and unique, and for those who value pre-wedding counseling, Mr. Enck is for you. Creative, innovative, and willing to customize a ceremony to the couples specific wants and needs- he does it all. With an extensive background in public speaking, teaching, counseling, and strategic planning (It is what he does for a living!), you're sure to have an engaging, memorable, and meaningful ceremony.

(Side note: He lives in Colorado, but will travel)

I ordered 75 invites/envelopes & 75 response cards/envelopes. For brides & grooms who want simple invites & don't mind ordering offline, WeddingPaperDivas.com is for you. We're very pleased with the finished product, and the price CANNOT be beat! We got 10% off, free shipping, and no sales tax. Extra envelopes waste paper, ribbons and embellishments add to shipping costs, and while letterpress is beautiful- its WAY too expensive (& who remembers that your invites were letterpress? Though for the discerning bride: Weddingpaperdivas.com DOES offer letterpress invites)

For brides on a budget who want sleek, modern invites & don't have time for DIY endeavors, WeddingPaperDivas.com is the way to go.

Wild Flour's cake is part of the Windows on the River wedding package, so I do not know the exact cost... But- I can say that their cake's are beautiful and taste WONDERFUL. I'm thrilled to have a Wild Flour cake. While mine is yet to be baked (Wedding is impending...), I have been to other local weddings with cakes from Wild Flour Bakery. Not only are they beautiful, but they're absolutely delicious!

Judy at Henri's is THE BEST!! After a horrible experience at a massive Ohio bridal salon (Pat Catan's), Henri's helped me find the perfect gown. Numerous times Judy told me and my mother to relax, have fun, and enjoy the experience. They literally took care of EVERYTHING. We did not need to lift a finger, worry about hanging gowns, or any other laborious work. She made sure that we had enough but not too many gowns. At no point did I feel overwhelmed or pressured. It was an awesome day. Henri's is also an all-enclusive salon- You can buy a gown, have it altered, and get any accessories you need. I found both my prom and wedding dresses and Henri's, and would recommend that ANY Ohio bride make the trip to Minerva to see what Henri's has to offer!

TKO was THE MOST professional DJ company that I spoke with. At first, over the phone, I thought the DJ I spoke with seemed unenthusiastic, but after a few more moments I realized that he was SINCERE and very straight forward about cost, services, and expectations. They do not push or pressure- AT ALL. Not that this is "everything" but TKO is comprised of white-collar, college educated, professional business owners. With them, you don't have to worry about cheese or "hokey" entertainment.

The $81/pp includes tax and is for a sit-down dinner, 4 hours of open bar, wedding cake, dessert, coffee, appetizers, three entrees, wine with dinner, a champagne toast and MORE. The staff at windows is a pleasure to work with and very accommodating. The atmosphere is a bit industrial-- If you want a romantic, classic look this place isn't for you. But if you'd like a great, open space with awesome views that can provide you with an "All Inclusive" wedding- Windows is the place! Plus, most of their bridal packages include free fresh flower centerpieces. You can't beat that!

This husband-wife duo is the BEST. Not only do you always get two photographers for the price of one, but their talent is extraordinary. All of their new packages include a High Res CD with rights, in addition to albums, prints, engagement sessions, and more. A lot of Cleveland area vendors told me, "Oh... We've never heard of them..." But don't let this discourage you! They're truly phenomenal and incredibly creative. They'll definitely be one of the most coveted photographers in Cleveland within the next year or so.