espill1's reviews

This custom-designed bridesmaid's and bridal jewelry was just what I was looking for. She used Swarovski crystal and pearls with sterling silver to make the simple and elegant look I was going for. Plus she was very reasonably-priced.

I decided to order flowers from Whole Foods Market b/c they have a fabulous selection and make my bridesmaid's (and my own) bouquets. I chose cala lillies, hypericum berries, seeded eucalyptus and baby light green hydrangeas. I was very pleased with the outcome. Extra supplies you will need are: floral tape, 2" satin ribbon to wrap some of the stems, pearl-headed floral pins, and stem cutters. This was a simple way to save money and still very beautiful.

Doug Olinde offers very reasonable and fair quotes on tents (many sizes), lighting, tables and chairs. He is especially reasonable if your wedding is in the town of Baton Rouge, but if it's out of town (for ex, mine is an hour's drive), you have to pay $250 delivery and take-down fee (vs. $100 in town fee).

Invitations were on the bottom of my list of where I wanted to allocate our budget. And after comparing prices, I found Carlson Craft to be the most reasonable option. You can order online or through vendors. Their most simple and cheapest invitation runs $0.77 per card. The most reasonable vendor I could find (even compared to printing them myself).

I have Celiac disease and must eat gluten free foods. This presents a problem with the typical wedding cake. However, in Baton Rouge, Jill Huber is a pastry chef who has Celiac disease herself and can make incredibly delicious pastries and cakes, all gluten free. She is a great find to anyone who must eat gluten free.

I found both the quality of food I was looking for and a vendor that was willing to offer our simple/casual taste within a reasonable budget. They are easy to communicate with and flexible.

I waited until J Crew had one of their big seasonal sales on their dresses and found a $250 dress marked down to $95 in a color that I wanted. Their designs are simple and classic. The wedding specialists are very accomodating and were willing to include returns and exchanges on the sale dresses, which were supposed to be final sale. All of the bridesmaids are thrilled with the quality and wear-ability of the dress. I chose the Lindsay dress in Rich Aqua.

Mike LeBlanc of LeBlanc Studios in Baton Rouge, LA, has been in business for around 20 years and incorporates expertise into all of his photography. His bridal packages are reasonable and can be customized to each bride's wishes. His style is both elegant and creative. His bridal portraits are timeless.

I found my dress at a smaller bridal shop in Baton Rouge first but then located it at Pearl's Place in New Orleans, LA for several hundred dollars cheaper, including free alterations and steaming. The sales associates are very helpful and aren't too persuasive because they don't receive commission. The selection of dresses is the best I've seen in south Louisiana. I recommend going on a weekday or getting there 15 minutes before they open on Saturday to beat the crowds.

This ceremony site, located between St Francisville, LA and Woodville, MS, is beautiful and simple. Perfect for the nature-loving bride and groom. The price is still reasonable because it isn't very well-known yet.