Vendor Review

PHOTOBOOTH
Goodtime Photo Booth Rental
www.gtphotobooth.com
Ph: (858)-967-5770
Review: Without a doubt you HAVE To get the photo booth! There was a line the entire night and they gave Nate and I an awesome scrapbook of all the pictures where people had written some sweet and funny messages! The couple that was there was so kind, funny and had a great tie dancing at the booth as they showed people how it worked.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Mariah Baddas Photography
www.mariahbaddasphotography.com
Ph: (760)519-7530
email: mariahbaddas@gmail.com
Review: I met Mariah through work about 5 years ago, she has always been an inspiration, helpful and creative. It was a no brainer when I needed a photographer for our wedding. She not only worked with our budget but kept me in the loop through the 10 months of planning of what to expect and didn't hesitate to return my emails speedily answering my neurotic questions.

LOCATION
Maderas Golf Course
www.maderasgolf.com
Ph: (858)451-8100
email: skhania@maderasgolf.com
Review: We were blown away start to finish. Susan Khania the meetings and special events director helped us plan the wedding, when I was a nervous wreck! Not only did she constantly calm my nerves but guided us with great suggestions and advice. All the staff at Maderas were very accommodating, polite and helpful, not to mention a bundle of fun! Our wedding day was more beautiful than we could have ever dreamed for, where there were a few mishaps on my part, Maderas worked quickly to help alleviate any stress and fix the snuffus. Besides the gorgeous exterior the interior design was classy and we had over 8 guests including a chef come to us complimenting them on how delicious the food was!

LINENS
Raphaels Party Rentals
www.raphaels.com
Review: After searching high and low through the list of San Diego linen vendors I was starting to lose hope. All I needed was 13 table clothes in a copper/rust color. I was shown anything from brick red through to brown and pricing was out of the ballpark. I knew since our tables were all cream/white I HAD to have colored clothes but we weren't ready to settle for less. A friend told me about Raphaels off El Camino Real. I went there one Saturday morning, as soon as I walked in I was assisted, when I told the lady what I wanted she showed me what they had and it was perfect! They also let me rent a napkin to take back to the troupes for verification! Their prices were right on target and I got the tables I had imagined.

FLOWERS
Mae Chan Floral Designer
www.maechanfloraldesign.com
Ph: (858)354.4061
Review: My mother in law - Cyndee knows of Mae through the preschool where she works. Then my sister in law saw Mae's worked and raved about it to me too. I was skeptical because all the florists I had spoken to either didn't understand what I wanted or their prices were way out of our budget. I gave Mae some pictures of what I wanted and our color scheme and theme. Not only did she work around our difficult budget perfectly but delivered more than I could have ever dreamed for. She is super sweet and thoughtful, in fact a few days before the wedding, she emailed me and told me that the morning of our wedding she was doing another wedding in the same colors as ours and at not extra expense would we like to use the additional flowers. She did not need to do that but she did. Our cake was very simple, so without hesitation Mae with her usual attention to detail added beautiful roses as a cake topper. Without a doubt she offered 5 star service!

DRESS
Jenny Yoo
www.jennyyoo.com
I wanted a dress that wasn't pure white, I also wanted a dress that wasnt too shiny and without any lace or glittery bits. Yes I wanted my dress very simple. Jenny Yoo's collection is undoubtedly the most simplest, classic and elegant designs I was blessed to have worn.

TUXES
Friar Tux
www.friartux.com
Review: We were nervous about finding tuxes. We wanted a suit for the guys in chocolate brown. Nobody had chocolate brown, and one of the groomsmen has a size 16 foot, this also posed a problem. Well Friar Tux didn't have brown suits but they did have brown tuxes that looked like suits and they had them tailored for all shapes and sizes. We were in and out of the Vista location in 15 minutes. All the groomsmen were very chuffed with the service they got at their fittings and the fact that they have locations all over the place, made for seamless pick up and returns.

JEWLERY & SHOES
I saw the Kate Spade (Poe) shoes of my dreams in a wedding magazine but when I saw the price I sadly close the magazine and never looked back...until...I saw them on EBAY brand new in my size for half the price! I got to wear the most ideal princess shoes ever!

My earrings were sort of the same story. Saw a pair that I oogled over for days, eventually Cyndee took the long drive down to Bloomigdales to see them. I hated them. It was back to square one, or so I thought until Cyndee saw from across the store the most beautiful Nadri chandelier earrings I have ever seen. I thought they may even be too beautiful for me...I tried them on and it was love at first sight! I still pull them out now and then and look at them and smile. :)

WEDDING CAKE & STAND
VG's Bakery
www.vgbakery.com
Baby Cakes
Ph: (619)606-4213
Review: We did a few tastings at different places but we quickly learned how expensive cupcakes can become with all the delicious options in fillings and toppings. We knew we wanted cupcakes and weren't going to waiver. Vg's is a firm favorite so it wasnt rocket science to use them. They don't have many choices in flavors but fortunately for us we wanted to keep it simple. Cyndee had another great idea. We had done a tasting with the delicious Baby Cakes in Poway and although her cupcakes were to die for, she was a little over our budget. She did have the most unique custom built wrought iron ivy cupcake stand. So we rented that from her for the day, and it was gorgeous!

OFFICIANT
Raymond Van Pletsen
Church of the Hills
Review: We were so excited when we started going to a church up the street from our house to find out the pastor is from South Africa. I loved how he talked just like me, he is a God fearing man with a great sense of humor. I loved how he embraced our marriage and kept asking us if we were sure it was something we wanted. I loved is style of teaching and his guidance was priceless. If you do not attend the church, Raymond is still willing to officiate your marriage, which I think is such a wonderful offering.

Wedding recap

Where do I begin? What a spectacular day! My bobby pins are out and we are home resting and reminiscing.
Neither Nate nor I were particular nervous as such. I had allot of fun throughout the day. It was when I was standing with my dad waiting to walk that I began getting apprehensive about seeing Nates face because I knew, without a doubt I would cry tears of joy that our dream day was actually here.

After our mind blowing successful rehearsal party for 35, that would not have happened without Cyndee, Jimmy, The Ritchies, Jan and my parents...Nate went on his merry way to sleep over at Ruben and Renee's house and my parents and I went back to Nate's and my humble abode for some beauty rest.

NATE:
His morning started glamorously with gormet breakfast cooked by none other than chef Hiller from The Four Season...then he was off to surf for the day. Waves were perfect and according to his friends he "killed it!" He checked into our little hotel down the street from Madera's with his groomsmen and proceeded to get ready for his big day.

ANG:
My morning started slow...I slept in, took a short shower, had a basic breakfast and with my mom waited for our ride with Andrea to get our hair done. Shaye at Vanity Hair in Solana Beach did a magnificent job of translating my exact thoughts and pictures of what I wanted. I couldn't have asked for more. It was so much fun because Cyndee was there and Jessica came a bit later...we were all out by 12:30. It was time to hussle...eat...cleanup and get over to Maderas by 3:30.

Without everyones help in fetching, carrying, loaning, setting up...The wedding would never have been the success it was! THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!

I will do a vendor list and rating in another post. But I have to sing my largest praises for the photo booth people. They were so sweet and fun and helpful, and the memories made from that booth are priceless.

From 3:30pm until 4:30pm my dear girlfriend Lisa did my makeup in the cute little bridal room. We had fun catching up and giggling, and as always she never ceased to amaze me with her talents. I looked in the mirror and couldn't even believe that was me staring back!

I remember most everything that happened which apparently is rare. I remember walking with my dad, and hearing my breathe with the processional song Andrea Bocelli "Con Te Partiro". I remember the first face I saw was Kelsey as she videotaped. Then in the back row my friend Renee, so sweet smiling at me. Then I saw Nate. He looked like the most handsome man on the planet in his Hugo Boss suit waiting there for me and smiling. Our minster for Church of the Hills. Gave a very meaningful beautiful service from the word. Nate and I wrote and read our own vows. I know Nate had written his about 6 times in the last few days and I had know idea what to expect. He told me he was not very good at writing and didn't know how to express all he felt. Well you can ask anyone seating at our wedding. They had to have been the most precious unique, love filled passionate vows ever to be heard.

I am not certain exactly how the cocktail hour progressed as Nate and I proceeded to photographed on Madera's beautiful golf coarse by Mariah Baddas and her wonderful team.

The reception in the Del Lago Ballroom began promptly at 7pm. Nate's Thank speach was very sweet. He didn't miss a single person and was sincere as humbled by everyones love. We ate and danced all night. My only regret is that there were several faces I would see at a distance that I never got to talk to and then they were gone. We had a total of 105 guests.

Seating Cards doubled up as favors...

What a fun evening, Jan Giacinti, my mom, Nates mom, Stephanie and I all got together to assemble the favors. I had designed little business card size name tags with the persons table name. These were attached to a little favor bag and a few Italian biscotti's were dropped inside then sealed up with a bronze ribbon.

The plan was to line these little bags up at the door in alphabetical order, guests would locate their bag and find their way to their table. Each table was named after a Tuscan region. The stamp image on the bag matched the framed photo on the table.

Rehearsal Dinner

We're excited to not only have our rehearsal dinner in good old fashioned Italian style, keeping with the theme of our Wedding but to also enjoy it amongst family in teh comfort of Andrea and Mike's home. We can relax and chat and walk around without restriction.

We will have pastas and salad from Buca Di Beppo and Pizza from Manhattan Pizza. That was Nates only request: "PIZZA!"

Invites are out and party is in 2 more sleeps!

Bridesmaids & Maid of Honor: Bruno Sisters

I am the luckiest bride alive to walk into a family with 3 of the greatest women I have ever met! I instantly have 3 sisters and so of course it was obvious that I would want them as bridesmaids. I asked Andrea if she would be my maid of honor. Not only because we're the same age, but she is also married so therefor wiser :-)

Andrea was there for long walks and plenty talks in the beginning of Nates and my relationship. She has always been full of great advice and never just telling me what I wanted to here. She is honest and dependable. I am honored to be wearing her wedding dress on our special day. Together we have started a family tradition, when her next child is a daughter she will get to wear it :-)

Little "D" - Ms. Danielle - is so much fun - she was my "partner in crime" at Andrea's bachelorette so I knew the girl knows how to have a good time and still take care of her sister. Now if only we could find a tuxedo that can fit little Jack the Chihuahua!

I wish I could get more time with Steph but she is such a busy girl - even though she is so busy she always makes time to grab a chat outside with me, I am so proud to have her walk down the aisle ahead of me :-)

Bridal Shower (Kitchen Tea)

Andrea, mom Cyndee and the 3 bridesmaids put on the most beautiful bridal shower for me at Andrea's house. The theme was Tuscan, as is the wedding. Mom made the most delicious Italian cookies and summery countryside Tuscan salads that everyone raved about. We had a total of 40 ladies attend I felt so spoiled! We received an amazing range of gifts, from a naughty little sex position book, to beautiful Gracious Goods items to beautiful Anthropologie aprons. They had a great idea to have everyone bring me their favorite recipes which I get to keep organized in a zooty little ring binder.

The best and most unexpected gift of the day...
After all the guests had left, we were reviewing Andrea's photos and I was shocked to see how large my boobs looked. I mentioned they were sensitive so Andrea, a newly pregnant mom gave me the last of her tests. Well...with Jessica T and Andrea standing outside the bathroom door, I peed on the stick and immediately two lines went up! We're PREGNANT! We went off the pill in April because we had been told it would probably take me a good year to conceive. It took one cycle! More news on Bruno bambino to come... :-)

Something old...

I've been thinking about what we can add to our wedding celebration that would follow the old tradition of "something old". Cyndee allowed me to browse through old photo's of Nate when he was a child and I got so giddy looking over them, he was such a cutie. She allowed me to borrow a few to scan in case I would have a use for them. I also scanned one of me about the same age.