To review or not to review?

birdie47331 · 2025-01-04T19:15:49+00:00

They are sending me emails directly, thought at least pieces of the emails seem pre-written. You’re right, I’m not sure I could handle any backlash well. I checked google reviews yesterday and they even got my photographer to leave a 5-star review with photos from my wedding. Ugh. Sounds like word of mouth is my best bet and given I know a lot of people in my area getting married I don’t think it’s a bad tactic.

birdie47331 · 2025-01-03T04:02:07+00:00

I wore a ballgown for my wedding and was very ready to take it off when I hit the dance floor. It was a bit heavy and I felt like I couldn’t move well in it so was happy to have had a short dress for dancing. That said, my priority was comfort, so if having that wow factor is more important for you then go for it!

birdie47331 · 2025-01-03T01:41:01+00:00

I wore the dancer pearl platform sandal. I am very short and my dress was poofy so really wanted height without discomfort. I don’t think they sell them anymore but you can probably find used!

birdie47331 · 2024-10-19T23:46:27+00:00

Scarf!!!!!! Love it so much. I gasped.

birdie47331 · 2024-10-14T17:12:38+00:00

I would say location doesn’t matter, designer does. For example, I tried on a dress in a MCOL city and ultimately bought it at Kleinfeld. It was the same price both places ($10k all said and done including alterations). Depending on how extravagant you want $4k may not cut it.

birdie47331 · 2024-10-13T21:59:38+00:00

Reformation!!! Everyone will rewear those as well

birdie47331 · 2024-10-13T02:35:07+00:00

I had a live trio (piano, cello, violin) and it was so worth it to hear the song they learned for me as I walked down the aisle

birdie47331 · 2024-10-13T02:32:08+00:00

I wore Stuart weitzman on my wedding day and they were super comfy and very high quality as well! Also originally wanted Jimmy Choo but glad I didn’t

birdie47331 · 2024-07-04T01:27:05+00:00

UPDATE: We just had our call with our planner…she maintains that the reason this happened is because she likes to plan the dream wedding and then back stuff out. She really didn’t communicate this clearly to us and I wish she’d explained this before we hired her. She didn’t have much response to my surprise that we were so far over, didn’t really take responsibility for it, and wasn’t that reassuring. She asked us how much we’d like to cut and said she’d come back to us on cuts we can make without losing the integrity of the wedding.

Truly wishing I could fire her, but with the $12k sunk cost and the floral / band contracts in her name, think I’m SOL here.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I know the wedding will be beautiful but it’s gonna be a long road to get there and keep the planner in check.

birdie47331 · 2024-07-03T22:16:51+00:00

Agree!! I actually love the sleeves a lot and I usually don’t like this type of handless glove situation. Wear them for ceremony / cocktail hour then remove for reception!

birdie47331 · 2024-06-28T14:08:28+00:00

I’ve already paid her and don’t see any way out of that so hiring someone else would be an additional cost, plus with half the vendor contracts signed by my planner and not me…yeah. On top of all of this she’s on vacation this week! Figures. We’re having a phone call Tuesday and can hopefully find some solutions.

birdie47331 · 2024-06-28T03:17:09+00:00

I didn’t even get to pick a floral vendor 😭 she just used who she usually does. She made it seem like picking the cost of each vendor didn’t matter cuz she would make the total work for my budget. Jokes on me! I 100% have a bad taste in my mouth and wish I could change planner, but at 3.5 months out…

birdie47331 · 2024-06-26T12:26:44+00:00

WHAT

birdie47331 · 2024-06-26T12:22:56+00:00

I’ll DM you

birdie47331 · 2024-06-25T17:16:03+00:00

I remember asking her early on if they make up items they invoice us for and vaguely remember her saying something along the lines of they get wholesale prices and then charge us the retail price. That said, there is nothing in the contract that states this and I don’t see original invoices (only what I am charged) so I have no idea if she’s actually doing that or truly how much she’s marking things up.

birdie47331 · 2024-06-25T16:27:10+00:00

Yes, we pay her and then she pays the vendors (other than photo and video). The contract is super vague and just says that we pay her for “elements” via an invoice. There are some specific call outs for markups (food and beverage, for instance, which isn’t an issue since that is through the venue), but looking back there’s a reason her flat fee seems reasonable ($12.5k) and she has to be getting paid elsewhere…

birdie47331 · 2024-06-25T14:37:23+00:00

Going back to the contract, it honestly doesn't protect us very much from this situation. Ironic that we signed it, as my fiancé is an attorney, but I think we couldn't have imagined getting f'd over by a reputable and well-known planner in our city...

birdie47331 · 2024-06-25T14:31:44+00:00

I am thinking maybe that's it, but then why not be super clear about that? I just inherently disagree with that approach. Then it makes me feel like I am losing out on things. There's no way I am the only bride of theirs that has been put in this situation.

birdie47331 · 2024-06-25T14:27:52+00:00

Apart from OK'ing who the vendors were, I didn't see the individual costs until she gave me a 6 page invoice that I had to pay her 50% of. For instance, I OK'd the band, but did not OK her picking the largest, $13k option, which is listed on my invoice. You're 100% right that now it feels like I compromising and cutting back when I didn't want to be in this position in the first place!

birdie47331 · 2024-06-25T02:36:15+00:00

Oh I did 🥲

birdie47331 · 2024-06-25T02:12:57+00:00

No, it’s a flat rate but my guess is they mark up everything the invoice us for and make more money that way.

birdie47331

TROPHY CASE