YouBet21's reviews

My experience with Ilex was the best part of the wedding planning. The floral designer met with me and showed me photographs of their work and discussed the “look” that I wanted to achieve for my wedding. Our next meeting was onsite at the reception site so that he could get a feel for the room and provide input on the general set-up. I had a very specific vision of the floral arrangements that I wanted for my reception and for my bridal bouquet. Ilex listened to my every detail and kept me in the loop througout the planning process to make sure we were still in synch. The day before the wedding I was able to stop by the shop and look at the arrangements to make sure they were right (I was even allowed to make a last-minute change to my bouquet). The flowers were exquisite, and the service was unparalleled. Ilex is by far Nashville’s best florist.

Patty Russell, owner of Patty Cakes (http://pattycakes-tn.com/) is wonderful! My husband and I went to Patty’s house for a tasting to choose our cake flavor and design. We were there quite awhile, and Patty was very professional, warm and friendly, and patient with us. We wanted a cake that tasted like true “wedding cake”, and Patty’s cake fit the bill far better than many of the pricier and fancier shops that we visited. We also chose one of her most elaborate designs but asked for a few custom changes. The design on our cake was exquisite thanks to Patty’s artistry. Patty Cakes is surprisingly affordable too. The delivery was prompt and professional (no mishaps!) and Patty took extra care to protect our buttercream icing during the summer heat. All in all, she was as delightful and the cake was divine! The drive to Patty’s house is quite out of the way from Nashville (she lives in Gallatin) but so worth it!

Reverend Griggs is a pro at weddings. He serves a great niche in the Nashville community for couples who want a minister-led ceremony but who do not belong to a church or personally know a minister. My husband and I met Rev. Griggs at his home to get acquainted and discuss our wishes for the ceremony. He is very flexible and will conduct religious and non-religious ceremonies. He will write the ceremony himself or if you choose to write the ceremony yourself, he will read what you have written. He does offer a marrige counseling outline and workstudy for you and your fiance to do privately and at your own pace, but he does not require it. My only complaint with Rev Griggs is that he charges extra to attend the wedding rehearsal. Because my wedding had some unique elements, I found it important for him to attend the rehearsal and paid for him to be there. But on the wedding day, there were several missed cues dispite the rehearsal.

Wightman Chapel is beautiful, and it is no wonder why it is one of Nashville’s most popular wedding venues. My parents married at Wightman Chapel in the 1970’s, but to compare stories with my mother, the management of the chapel has changed dramatically over the years. The chapel is rented out months in advance and hosts 5 weddings per weekend (1 on Friday, 2 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday). Therefore, rental of the chapel is expensive ($1650 for 4 hours when I got married), the staff is very strict about your time allotment (you are not allowed to get there early or stay late), and the overall vibe from the staff is very business-like. There are some reception areas available for rental on the same campus but require you to use the onsite catering which is not good. Nonetheless, the chapel is stunning and for me, worth all of the restrictions and the price tag.

The sylists at Trim are the best! Trim is a beautiful salon that will make any bride feel instantly pampered. The salon is ultra-feminine, decorated in pink and white, and every detail is given to the client. My make-up was done by Joseph, and my hair was styled by Mary. They both listened to my wishes and did an excellent job of making me look my best without over-doing the makeup or hairstyle. Included in the wedding package, I had a run-through of hair and makeup a week before the wedding which really helped to put my nerves at ease. And because the salon is open 7-days a week (my wedding was on a Sunday), I was able to save a little by going to the salon instead of having the stylists come to my location.

My husband and I wanted to find an antique wedding band to compliment my antique engagement ring. Walton’s Antique & Estate Jewelry has one of the best selections of antique and estate jewelry in the Middle Tennessee area. (Walton’s is located in Franklin, TN just south of Nashville). Walton’s is a small shop whose staff is not exceptionally warm, but they are experts in their field and can be trusted, which is of upmost importance when selecting a jeweler. Unlike our experience at chain stores with commissioned staff, Walton’s did not try to direct us to the most expensive rings but rather helped us to find the ring that best complimented my engagement ring, which I especially appreciated.

My husband and I had a great experience with Men’s Wearhouse selection and staff. My husband is not very tall and often has a hard time finding clothing to fit him properly. We were not satisfied with the tuxedo rental shops that we had visited, so we decided to purchase a suit/tux instead. The salesman who assisted us was very helpful in the selection of the suit and all of the accessories but was not overbearing. All of our visits to the store were handled by the same associate who remembered us each time. The tailoring was very professional and well done. Overall Men’s Wearhouse had the best customer service and selection.

The “Weddings the Bridal Show” event was a large, comprehensive event with vendor showcases for every aspect of planning a wedding. It was well-organized and spacious enough to accommodate the large crowd. The floral and cake displays were the most helpful, but I found that many of Nashville’s most reputable vendors were not present. It was through the bridal show that I located my cake vendor, but otherwise, I found that most of the vendor displays were not applicable to my needs. This was the only bridal show that I had ever attended, and while I cannot say that it was not well done, it was a bit of a disappointment. The fashion show and many of the displays did not seem professional.

I was relunctant to visit Arzelle’s because I thought it would be intimidating and over-priced (based on its West End location and beautiful storefront). But after several discouraging visits to other bridal shops, I gave Arzelle’s a try. It was wonderful!!! My experience there was a night and day comparison to some of the bigger brand stores that had offered little-to-no personal attention and to some of the smaller shops that had poor selection. Arzelle’s staff was helpful, patient, and enthusiastic without being smothering or hovering. Their selection of gowns and veils is beautiful, and most are quite affordable. Arzelle’s also altered my gown. Every encounter with their staff was friendly and professional.