Wow, where to start!! OK, Well I'll start with:
Photographer: Eddy, Big Shooter A +++ (highest rating)(
http://bigshooterbigshots.blogspot.com/)
I can't say enough about Eddy. He makes everyone so comfortable, I am a total picture - freeze and so is my DH, Eddy had us relaxed and laughing the whole time. I love his style, "photo journalistic" or Gorilla photography. None of the totally stilted "canned" shots. Don't get me wrong, he got all the requisite family pictures but none of them seem stiff or too posed. He is a "full day" pohotographer too, he stays until there are no more pictures to take, at our wedding he took over 1600!!! And we get everything because he works Digital. Definitley more than I expected!!
Venue - The Bedford House (Fort Langley) A+++
Another WOW. The executive chef Andy and the head waiter Robert worked their butts off and the whole staff was jumping the whole night. The food was exquisite, from the proscutto and melon through to the prawns and the quiche, the steak dinners and the wild salmon AMAZING!! I would reccomed this place to any bride, they are about the same price as a nice golf course, but way more unique location and WAY better plate service food than most!!! On top of that, it needs next to NO decoration and the staff prep everything well and good before hand so nobody's running around like a headless chicken on the day of.
Hair and Makeup - Alicia from Pizazz II in willowbrook mall. A+++
Alicia and I have known eachother for 10 years, so I couldn't imagine anyone else lookng after me on the big day. She made me up wonderfully, but kept me looking like me, my bridesmaid had an absolutley thick head of long hair that posed quite a challenge but she took after it with a vengance and it came out GORGEOUS too (check out the pictures on Eddy's web page above). She was reasonably priced too!! She never missed a detail, straightened eyebrows and all!!
Dress - The Brides Room Abbotsford A+++
Another great vendor, quick, efficient, well priced and a GREAT seamstresss. Just a few doors down from Champagne and Lace if you're in the area.
Bridesmaids Dresses - Sears - C
Ok, A for Price (41.99) But C for servie. They DON'T do store transfers any more and they DON'T have good inventory control so when they tell you someone has something - DON'T count on it!! But For the Price, the dresses were awesome, just getting them was a pain.
Officiant - Karen Newmann - Langley JP - B-
Karen was great picking out the service, and spoke really well on the day of. Unfortunatley, we didn't pay for her to come to the rehersal and when she got there 5 minutes before the ceremony she wanted to change where everyone stood!! My DH told her "tough [censored]... no" quite rudley I'm sure but he wasn't impressed by how she handled an unexpected setup. Our guests, our photographer and we all loved it, she was the only one who didn't!! To her credit though, she spoke so well, I had NO IDEA what had transipired. She is a professional.
Favours - Wine from Freds Vinters in Walnut grove A+
Awesome laid back, flexible with times and easy to work with!! Another good experience.
Invites from New West Press A+++
Beautiful, prompt, classic and perfect. Easy to deal with. I couldn't tell you the price though - they were a gift!!!
Flowers from Grandma Ann A+++
But you can't hire her - she's my DH's Grandma and she only does family. There are pictures on Eddy's blog though - they too are gorgeous!!
String Trio A+++
These gals were reccomended by our dear wedding afficianado Steve Millani -and what a great reccomendation. They were well priced, prompt and played beautifully!!!
Band - Compound Blues Band - A+++
Again though, these guys were a wedding present so I can't tell you about price or availability, all I can tell you is they were WONDERFUL!! they kept everyone rocking all night, learned Brooks N Dunn for our First Dance and played a Huge variety of music..
And that's About It.