We’ve said it over and over again in the office, “We’re only as good as our vendors are”. We’ve been burned by some, but others have gone to great lengths to not only clean up someone else’s mess, but make the situation better and brighter. They will do almost anything to make our events the best they can possibly be and for that, we are eternally grateful.
12. The Bob Williams Duo~
Bob & Mike have worked with us for many many years and always bring a smile to our faces as we hear them play songs like “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers with their classical guitar & violin! It’s not odd for an entire table to break out in song during one of our receptions. We appreciate their eagerness to please especially when a client changes her music selections the night before her wedding. They never shoot the messenger and for that, we are so grateful!
11.) The Wedding Row~
The “Ultimate Resource for Charleston Weddings” is right! We love this wedding blog almost as much as we love it’s author/founder Della MacNicholas. She’s got vision, talent and amazing entreprenurial spirit. With the launch of her new iPhone application, Wedding Row, this lady is all things wedding!! She has supported us both professionally and personally over the years and for that, we thank you!
10.) Event DRS~
This specialty rental company has played a major role for us in 2011 offering unique and specialty items for our clients. From their custom bars to farm tables to glassware, Matt & Co. worked hard to find the missing pieces to our ever expanding/changing puzzles. If it was something we needed that they didn’t have, they helped us find it or they made it!
9.) Moore Make Up & Affair Hair~
These two incredibly talented artist are two of the very first people we call after booking a wedding. They are highly sought after for not only transforming women into works of art, but also for their professionalism. And, let’s be honest, they see some behind-the-scenes drama that could generate a New York Times Bestseller! But, they take it all in stride becoming our clients’ confidant/mediator/stylist for a day. We often times pull some last minute switch-a-roos on them and they always accommodate with a smile.
8.) Richard Israel Photography~
Richard is our “go to” when we want amazing images with a fun and easy going photographer. Ask any client of ours and they’ll tell you that he is not only ridiculously talented, but a BLAST to work with. It’s so effortless for him that you almost think he hasn’t taken any photos at all! But, the images he produces are shocking and can leave you in tears. He shows up early to take great set up shots (because we drive him nuts about it) for us which in turn gets us featured in magazines and blogs. He just totally rocks.
7.) Cru Catering~
We’ve worked with many, many caterers over the years and very few are as fabulous as this group! Jenny, Emily and Chad have this whole customer service thing down to a science. Throw in one crazy talented chef/owner, John Zucker, and you’ve got an award-winning team that will blow you away at the very first bite. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to attend one of their events or have a tasting in their kitchen, you know what we’re talking about! From $150/head to $35/head, they help our clients create the best menu at any price point and for that, we thank you!
6.) Patrick Properties Hospitality Group~
We are lucky enough to work at one of their properties at least a two dozens times a year. The William Aiken House & Lowndes Grove Plantation are hands-down the most sought after venues in Charleston and if you’ve seen these properties, it’s no surprise! They are both meticulously maintained, sending the visitor back over 200+ years when the homes were originally built. Our clients literally swoon when they take the tour. On top of all that, sprinkle in one insanely talented Master Chef, Nico Romo, and you’ve got a menu that’s as amazing as their property. We are so thankful for the sales managers, event managers, and the Goldman’s!
5.) Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal~
We honestly cannot say enough good things about Jim & Alejandro! They make our jobs (pertaining to the cake anyway) so easy because their work says it all. No sales pitch needed. Our clients are like puddy in his hands and so are we! Not only is his artistry one of the nations best, but the cakes actually taste fabulous! Thank you, thank you, thank you for always having room for our clients on your busy calendar!
4.) Tim Willoughby~
So we stumbled upon this amazing talent (I’m rolling my eyes because those words aren’t nearly good enough to describe Tim) in 2009 and cannot get enough of him! He’s laid back, fun, and when he shoots a wedding, you can almost guarantee it will be featured in some magazine or blog.
3.) Snyder Event Rentals~
Not a single ACB event has taken place over the past 10 years without this company being an integral part of it’s success. From the rentals to the bar & lounge, they take care of us like no other! If there is anything at all we need, they happily oblige. We adore the office staff as well as the delivery guys. They put up with our detailed requests (i.e. “I think the aisle needs to be 6 inches wider. Can you please re-arrange the 200 chairs?…Thanks and sorry!”) and never complain. We simply adore them!
2.) Studio-R-Design~
Where to begin…. let’s see. Oh yeah, THANK YOU! Rachael & Allison are truly amazing (they would come up with a more unique and stylish word) designers/collegues/friends. Their creations set the style tone for many of our events. We lean on them for inspiration and they never disappoint! They keep us on task with their gentle reminders (“We need this content STAT!”) and pull through in the tightest pinches. Like many planners in Charleston, they’re our only recommendation for custom stationary. Awwww, we want a group hug right now!
1.) Technical Event Company~
Todd & Brandon feel like family to us. They are our yang, our other half. We call them to help create magical event designs and we don’t only mean with lighting. They are visionaries and genuinely want to make every event a show-stopper which they do. Having them on site during an event releases an enormous amount of stress from us. If a light bulb goes out, our knights in shining armour ride up in their ForeRunner and replace it in the blink of an eye. :) In all seriousness though, they really do feel like an extension of us and we couldn’t be more thankful to have them on our team. We’ve even dubbed ourselves the “TEC-ettes” whether they like it or not!
To those of you who aren’t on this list, trust us when we say that it was NEAR IMPOSSIBLE to keep it to just 12 vendors. We hemmed and hawed for days over it… In the end, we are humbled to be part of the Charleston wedding scene for the past 10 years. It is full of nationally renowned talented people that are as friendly as they are gifted. What you all did for us at the August Wedding Planners Luncheon will never be forgotten. For reasons you all know, while we had one of our most successful years in 2011, WE ARE READY FOR 2012!
xoxo,
Melissa, Carrie, Leigh, Jonie & Amy
Photos by Richard Israel.
