Brilliant Earth (San Francisco, CA)-Engagement Ring                                                        A-

www.brilliantearth.com
They were wonderful to work with.  Most of their sales are done online, but as we lived in San Francisco at the time we were able to go into their small showroom and look at their rings and diamonds.  Before we got engaged I had told FI that I had two requests for the proposal.  1) please don't do it in public and 2) it was important to me to have an ethically mined diamond.  FI did a lot of searching and shopping for diamonds.  A few stores literally had no idea what he meant when he asked.  But Brilliant Earth has based their entire business on this model and I appreciate the efforts they go through to ensure that their diamonds and metals are ethically mined.  Overall, they were quite a nice option for us and we've had a great experience working with them.  We would have loved to have purchased our wedding bands through them as well, but they were just out of our budget, which is why I give them the (-).

L'atelier Couture Bridal (St. Paul, MN)-Wedding Gown & Accessories

www.lateliercouturebridal.com
So far this has been one of the best decisions I've made.  I purchased my dress in December at their sample sale.  It was a great option for me as I had a $3000 budget and am just a little smaller than most sample sizes, so I knew that it could work for me.  I got a $6000 dress for $2, 250!  They really do help as you put together the whole look for your wedding day.  I have also purchased my necklace and veil through the salon.  I will be having my alterations done through the salon's seamstress, who has over 30 years of experience working with couture fashion.

Affordable Elegance Party Rentals (Hastings, MN)-Rentals

Coming soon!

Lake Elmo Inn (Lake Elmo, MN)-Caterer

Coming soon!

Kirk Gednalske Photography (Minnesota/Wisconsin) & Lorah Haskins Photography (Conneticut)-Photography

Coming soon!

Kilkarney Hills Golf Course (River Falls, WI)-Rehearsal Dinner

Coming soon!

Onlineshoes.com-Wedding shoes                                                                                                 A

Worked really well, was able to ship the shoes to the different locations and returns were easy if needed.

Dyemyshoes.com-Shoe dyeing

Coming soon!

Ben Bridge Jewelers (Santa Monica, CA)-FIs wedding band                                             A-

It was relatively quick and painless.  We went in to look at rings, FI found some things he liked, we shopped around and found that their prices were competitive and offered lifetime service.  The only thing I found a bit odd, was when we went in to pick it up they just gave it go him in a little plastic bag.  No ring box...it was just a little odd IMO.

Zales (Culver City, CA)-wedding band                                                                                         A

WAY easier than I had thought it would be.  I knew the style I liked, shopped around to find the best price for the service.  Zales was a good option because we know that we'll be moving around a bit and they have Zales stores throughout the U.S. I walked in to the store and 15 minutes later walked out with my ring.

VirginiaGeigerJewels (ETSY vendor)-flower hair clips

Good quality, and they feel sturdy, I will write a final review after the wedding, but they look beautiful!

StarzSelection (ETSY vendor)-Feather shoe clips

They are just what I was looking for to add a bit of flair to my shoes.  I'm hoping that they will hold up throughout the day.

Smart and Chic Bride (Twin Cities Area, MN)-Hair/Makeup

Coming soon!

Vine Street Florist (Hudson, WI)-Bride's bouquet/Groom's boutonniere

CostCo Flowers