a_a0703's reviews

After getting rid of our first wedding planner, we needed to look for another one. With 3 months before our wedding, I was freaking out! I mean, we had learned our lesson. We needed to find someone with a lot of experience and actually know what they’re doing. After a few interviews with many wedding planners, we finally hired Sandy Liang, from Aquafuzion. She was a lifesaver. She picked up where my ex-wedding planner left off right away. She was very flexible, responsible, smart, and amazing. Her price was very reasonable too. She also helped me design our wedding program, menu, and place cards in 1 week within a reasonable price. The design was so beautiful. Especially the menu, I loved it so much. On my wedding day, she was so helpful and everything went so smoothly. I just woke up and just worried about being beautiful the whole day and not worrying about anything else. I don’t even know what was happening outside. That’s how good she was. She can handle every single thing. The first time I saw my ceremony and reception, I was so happy. She did all the decorating and planning. Whenever I need her, she came right away and solved the problem right away. I heard some very good compliments from my guests about her too. At the end of the night, I was a little too drunk. She even took me to our honeymoon suite and checked everything before she left, making sure everything was alright. She was just too thoughtful and sweet. The next day morning, we got her email about what happened behind the scenes. A couple days after the wedding, she even called to check on us. My husband and I have no regrets hiring Sandy. She made our wedding beautiful, as she planned and gave us a very memorable wedding. Sandy, we only have one word for you, INCREDIBLE!

I decided to have my wedding at the Fairmont Newport Beach because the Garden Gazebo was gorgeous and the Bamboo Garden was breath taking. The first time I saw the Bamboo Garden, I told my husband, "This is it. This is just what we are looking for." We booked with the Fairmont that next week. The food was DELICIOUS! That was extremely important to us because wedding meals usually don't taste good. Fairmont's chef was amazing! All my guests LOVED the food, especially the mushroom soup and filet mignon. The service was also GREAT. I felt as if I always had someone there waiting on me hand and foot. On my wedding day, everything went smoothly and stress-free. Our honeymoon suite was HUGE . Everything at the Fairmont Newport Beach is WONDERFUL. If you were looking for a nice outdoor gazebo and huge outdoor reception, go to the Fairmont Newport Beach. You will fall in love with the wedding location.

I can’t say enough about Theresa. She is a very sweet, kind, talented, and thoughtful make-up artist. I almost lost the opportunity to have her as my make-up artist because I almost booked someone else. She is the ONE! After our first meeting, I told my husband that I have to book her. Her working attitude is focused, honest, and responsible. She even helped me look for my evening dress and matching heels. She was just like my personal shopper. On my wedding day, she got there on time with her 2 assistants. When I got into my dressing room she was already set up and ready to work. She made me look like a princess. All my guests were very impressed. I got A LOT of compliments that day even after the wedding. In addition to working on me on my wedding day, she also helped my 3 bridesmaids, mother-in-law, grandmother, 3 aunts, and 1 cousin touch up after her assistants left for the day. They all looked BEAUTIFUL. Even my picky mother-in-law liked her work. Theresa was a superwoman and VERY professional on my big day. Theresa saw that I was nervous before walking down the aisle so she made me laugh by telling me a joke and helped me relax by telling me that I looked gorgeous. Having Theresa around really made me feel calm and beautiful. She is worth every single penny. I have already referred 2 brides to Theresa. Once you set your date, make an appointment with Theresa, and book her because she is VERY VERY popular!

For those that are considering hiring Michael Baldenebro as their florist, here are 12 reasons why you should reconsider.

Our Ceremony

1. We requested for only pink roses on our gazebo and to make it look like the gazebo was covered in roses (e.g. the roofline, the columns, etc.).

Instead, Michael Baldenebro used an assortment of flowers instead (e.g. carnations, lilies, etc.) and only bordered the top roofline with flowers. Imagine how the bride felt, while walking down the aisle, when she saw that the gazebo decorations were not what she requested.

2. We requested for the sides of the ceremony aisle to be covered in various shades of pink rose petals. We specifically requested that the rose petals should not be white or light pink because those colors would not photograph well in an outdoor setting.

Michael Baldenebro did not take our request into consideration and used white and light pink rose petals.

3. We requested for rose petals to be placed in cone-shaped holders so the guests could toss the petals as we walked down the aisle after the ceremony. We thought it would be easier for guests to grab the rose petals from an open-topped object.

Instead, Michael Baldenebro put rose petals in little pouches that were tied on top. This may have led to a little confusion as the guests may have thought that the pouches were just a part of the overall decor.

4. We requested for six (6) pomander balls to include a black bow on top.

Michael Baldenebro did not include the black bow. After the wedding, one of our guests mentioned that she saw Styrofoam portions of the pomander balls which were not covered well.

5. We requested for a bouquet of roses and a bouquet of lilies to give to the groom?s mother and grandmother during the ceremony.

Michael Baldenebro provided bouquets that were only wrapped with a pink ribbon around the center of the stems. It did not look presentable as the stems were scattered on the bottom. It was even more challenging to hold the bouquet because it would fall apart if you did not hold it with two hands. Also, not all of the thorns on the roses were taken off. It could have been very easy for the bride to prick her finger and stain her wedding dress.

6. We requested to have a boutonniere for the ring bearer (4-year old child).

Michael Baldenebro did not provide a boutonniere for our ring bearer.

Our Reception

7. We requested to have eleven (11) centerpieces:

- Five (5) would be pink roses in a short vase (4 - 5 inches tall);

- and six (6) would be three (3) large tube-shaped vases -- each vase is a different height -- filled with white stones, water, pink orchids, and a floating candle.

A couple days before the wedding, we tried to contact Michael Baldenebro to change our request from eleven (11) centerpieces to ten (10) because we lost a table of guests. Michael Baldenebro did not follow our specifications of the three (3) tube-shaped vases. Michael Baldenebro provided three (3) large square-shaped vases that were all the same height. Michael Baldenebro charged us to rent the large vases and charged us for the 11th centerpiece because he "did not" receive the message.

8. We requested to have one (1) rose placed on the seats of the bride and groom.

Michael Baldenebro did not satisfy this request.

Other

9. As a token of our appreciation, we hosted a dinner table for all of our vendors.

We were later told that Michael Baldenebro drank a bit too much alcohol from our open bar and requested to have another meal. The groom did allow the vendors to drink; however, it should be to the discretion of the vendors to still act in a professional manner.

10. One of the responsibilities of Michael Baldenebro and our wedding coordinator was to collaborate on decorations.
Our wedding coordinator pitched some fantastic ideas; however, Michael Baldenebro would not work with her to bring those ideas out into the event on the day of our wedding.

11. We purchased and requested to have 50 paper lanterns hung from a string of lights provided for by the venue. We also requested to salvage some of the lanterns so that we could decorate our patio area. This was also us being mindful that these paper lanterns cost nearly $300.

Michael Baldenebro charged us a separate "setup" fee for this service. This "setup" fee did not include Michael Baldenebro's "take down" fee. As for salvaging the paper lanterns, Michael Baldenebro did not even make an attempt to recover any of them. We watched as he unhooked the lanterns from the string of lights and recklessly dropped them about 10 feet onto the ground.

ON OUR WEDDING NIGHT, AT 12:00 AM, OR POSSIBLY MUCH LATER, MICHAEL BALDENEBRO CALLED OUR HOTEL ROOM TO SETTLE THIS FEE? TWICE!!

12. Before this experience, we referred Michael Baldenebro to a friend of ours that will also be hosting a wedding in December 2009.

Unfortunately, our friend cancelled their wedding plans. Of all of their other vendors, Michael Baldenebro was the only one that would not return their deposit.

Based on our experience with Michael Baldenebro, I would strongly not recommend him as a florist. Michael Baldenebro?s services lacked honesty, heart, professionalism, and cooperation. Michael Baldenebro's actions revealed his selfish, irresponsible, and ill-mannered character. Again, for those that are considering hiring Michael Baldenebro. I would strongly recommend that you find someone else!!