My husband established a relationship with the owner (Shash) of Direct Diamonds when he bought my engagement ring. Very small, independent diamond distributor and jeweler in downtown Norfolk VA, very professional and customized service, very patient and willing to work with the customer to make sure you’re happy. A++++ rating, we are customers for life now!

The Paper Wagon is independently owned by a military-wife and brings the invitation/paper samples to your home. She was VERY patient – spent more than 4 hours with me – was prompt with all communications and emails, and made sure I was satisfied with all of the elements of the invitation. Very convenient, though not any cheaper than traditional print/stationary shops.

Awesome driver, service, very prompt to pick up, and very patient with our directions and needs. Very friendly and willing to go the extra mile – make extra stops, be accommodating, etc. Helpful in showing us how to work all of the “gadgets” in the limo!! Even allowed a free ride from the hotel to the reception for some family members and was great with pictures, inside and outside of the limo. Prompt, attentive customer service and very highly recommended due to price and accommodations.

Very quick shipping, customized magnet (they let us alter a pre-designed format to fit our needs) – proof came promptly and we received the magnets and envelopes within 2 weeks of approving the proof! High quality, very professional, great customer service, great price. Very highly recommended.

This was a last-minute addition to our wedding, and they were awesome in accommodating, making a “viewing” appointment for my husband, as well as faxing over contracts and being responsive to our questions and concerns. They set EVERYTHING up and took everything down at the end of the night. VERY affordable compared to local competition, very professional and great customer service.

Shorebreak is a local pizza/bar that is VERY popular on Friday nights (the night of our rehearsal) but they accommodated a group of about 40 people VERY well, they dedicated servers just to our section, and they were happy and willing to confirm reservations and make sure we were taken care of. The food was actually set out a little early though, so it was cold when we arrived. It took a while to cash out the final bill. They told us we’d have 2 pool tables for our group, but we ended up only getting 1. Otherwise, great atmosphere and fun times.

After reviewing and interviewing MANY photographers in our area, we chose Charlie because he has very artistic photos, very unique perspectives, great references, and very importantly, gives the bride/groom the rights to the photos (so we can get them reproduced anywhere, publish them anywhere – WE own them). He was very attentive, patient and willing to be flexible. He had great ideas and our pictures look awesome. It takes a while to get proofs/digital prints back through, and album design is a long wait too. Otherwise, wonderful, customized photos for a very special day.

Good appointment for fitting, but didn’t offer much advice, opinions…expected me (bride) to know what I wanted and what would look good for our event. Tuxes were all in when promised, and pick-up was easy. Returning was also easy. Affordable and convenient.

I had my hair cut many times at this place before scheduling a 2-day bridal party event there. I was assured, many times, that ample staff would be available for nails/pedicures on Friday, and hair on Saturday. Friday was a complete mess – we were there 2 hours longer than planned, the staff was late/unprofessional/complaining/grouchy. Saturday was absolutely my worst nightmare – my bridal party arrived on time (8am) but NO ONE was there to start styling…some of the stylists even came in at 10am and were complaining that “they” were rushed!! We intended/scheduled/were told we would be done at 11am…at 12:30, we left in a RAGE and had to leave one bridesmaid behind, just so we could get to the house and get changed. My hair was a mess, and I regret it, because that MESS is captured in pictures forever. We had to go back on Monday, meet with the owner (Michelle) and demand money back. It was completely and utterly the worst experience of my life at a hair salon, when it should have been a relaxing, FUN morning before my wedding.

We arrived at 8am for makeup, she wasn’t ready until 9am. Despite describing a “look” for myself (bride) and others, she did what she wanted. I have a picture of me with dark plumb lipstick, before I made her change it into light pink, as I requested. Very inexperienced make-up artist, was “experimenting” for my WEDDING!!! I would never, ever go back there again.

The staff at the Cavalier was very accommodating, helpful and patient in all of the communications we had as we scheduled and booked everything. The catering/event manager changed (old one was fired, new one took our account) during the planning, so it was somewhat difficult to re-hash all of the old details and get everything straight. Food tasting was free, though we had to haggle to get that comp-ed. Food was quite salty at tasting, but at our request, the chef prepared it better for the actual event. The ballroom is great, the event manager was very helpful the nights before and the night-of the wedding, and the actual space is great (right on the beach/Atlantic Ocean). Rooms could be updated and decorated more contemporary, but accommodations were overall nice. They did NOT comp our honeymoon suite, despite spending $10,000+ on the reception alone, however.