Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics**UPDATED 11/20 WITH LOMBARDI ISSUES RESOLVED**
Original post by Monkeybride
***UPDATE***11/20 A few weeks ago I finally heard from my party planner at Lombardi's that my cake was in fact the wrong flavor, chocolate when it should have been yellow cake. They offered to make me another top to my cake to freeze for our anniversary. I asked if they could just make it fresh for me next year and I was told NO. I was not happy about that but I will be picking up my new cake when I am home from Christmas. As for the 6 meals that they were to give us to take home that night and didn't they are also making those for us while we are home. So we will pick up the meals and the cake and have dinner and dessert for the family one night. As for the other stuff it really wasn't addressed which I was disappointed about but I am so over it at this point that I am done arguing. I did fill out a questionnaire that they sent regarding my wedding and attached a long letter addressed to one of the Lombardi's asking them to call me to discuss the issues I had at my wedding. That was over 6 weeks ago and I have yet to receive a phone call. So they did admit their mistakes but weren't all that sorry and I really just think that they just hang on to the reputation that they have and really don't feel the need for personal service. My wedding was still everything I dreamed of and I still wish I could do it all again. Villa brides you really will have a fabulous wedding just pay no mind to their lack of people skills.
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Let me start by saying that my wedding day was the most magical day of my life. It really was everything I wanted and my only real regret is that it went by so fast. I could never understand how brides could say they missed so much at their wedding but now I understand. It is very different being a bride than being a guest. I can’t wait to see my raw footage so that I can take it all in again.
That said my review is from the perspective that I was a customer and I paid, what in my opinion was, “good money” and I expected a certain level of service from my vendors which in some cases I received and others I did not. I am going to give an honest review. Take from it what you like and if you would like more details on any vendors please feel free to FM me. A’s and pluses are really reserved for people who did a great job and went above and beyond what I expected from them. Showing up and just doing your job is not above and beyond which is fine as long as the job got done.
Let me also say that I had to plan my entire wedding from Colorado and had to deal with most vendors over the phone or a one time visit when I was in New York over the past year and some vendors made that a much easier experience than others.
Mother Nature (A++++++)- Other brides who got married this day may wonder about the good weather review. It was cloudy and looked like rain all day but it didn’t rain until 8pm (the time I said it was allowed to start raining) so mother nature gets a good grade. We got to do our photos outside and made it through the outdoor ceremony as planned. My guests even got to enjoy the deck during the cocktail hour.
LA Productions- (A+)
Invitations- Laura was incredible. Originally I wanted custom made invitations and she made me a great sample but when we discussed when I would need them by it just couldn’t be done. I had waited too long to order them so we had to come up with plan B. In no time she helped me find an invitation online made by checkerboard that I loved but they did not make it with the brown ribbon that I wanted. She called them and they said if we shipped them the color ribbon they would make them with my ribbon. She bought the ribbon shipped it to them and I had my invitations in no time at all. They came out perfect!! I later realized the font was wrong (my fault because I approved the proof) and she contacted them for me and they refunded me 15% which I was shocked about since I approved the wrong font. It was too late for me to have them remade and they still looked great in my opinion.
Programs- I also ordered these from Laura. They were a simple 2 page Encore program which she used extra brown ribbon from my invitations to tie together. Again they were perfect and just what I wanted.
Place Cards- Since my wonderful hall would not let me do votive place cards I had to go with standard type cards so I had a simple place card to which Laura added a thin brown ribbon to go with my whole brown and ivory theme. They looked very simple but elegant.
Thank You Cards- At the last minute I decided I wanted thank you cards for my bridal party and the parents ( no sense wasting money on special cards for the guys they would just trash them anyway). When I picked them up I just loved them. Without even asking her she made them in my wedding colors. Everyone loved them.
Day of Coordinator- All I can say is that if any brides out there are type “A” like me you must find a way to work Laura into your budget. I say this with 110% honesty…..I would not have gotten through my wedding day without her. I knew from the beginning dealings with my hall that I would need someone on my side that day and she was it. Having her there made me feel like I did not have to worry about a thing. I could fill up pages of my review telling you how great she and her assistant Jill were. I really can’t say enough good things about either of them. They are both so kind and patient and you can tell that they really love what they do and put their whole heart into making sure your day is as perfect as it can be. Everything seemed so organized the whole day and I was able to sit back and relax and enjoy my wedding knowing that they had everything under control.
She was at the hotel on time to receive my flowers. Held it together while I panicked because we were behind schedule. Talked to my groom several times to keep him posted on what was going on. Decorated the hotel room with tulle. Redid my program basket that morning to match my colors better.
She did my bustle, touched up my make up all day, fixed my mom’s hem 3 times I think, checked on me all day, and the best part was that she had a happy smile on her face all day that just makes everyone around her smile!
The list could go on. I highly recommend any of her services. You will not be disappointed.
Dress- I got this from a bridal shop in CO so no need for a review. My dress was a Mon Cheri and I loved it. I did have problems with their alterations shop though.
Solotu- (A+) Last minute emergency alterations in NY. The week of my wedding I was worried I was going to hate my bustle so MIL and I frantically tried to find someone to help me redo my bustle and press my dress. Well we couldn’t find anyone who would touch it. SO we were in St James (I think) and passed by a shop that had a wedding dress in the window. So I rang the bell and asked if they did alterations and explained my situation. It was a Saturday and my wedding was that Friday and I wasn’t sure about my bustle. Well it turns out she custom makes wedding gowns but was sweet enough to help me out. I went in and tried on my dress and we bustled it and it wasn’t as bad as I had kept picturing it in my head so we left the bustle alone but while doing all of this she discovered my hem was never done on my slip. She also found a way to get the zipper in the back to lay flat and she pressed my dress by hand beautifully. Rafaella is the shop owner and she works with her mom and they are just the sweetest people!! I know she was working on becoming a LIW vendor. Her dresses were gorgeous. I wish I had known about her sooner not that I could have had a dress custom made in NY while living in CO. But I just want to give her a review because she saved the day for me.
Veil and Headpiece- (A+) Both were custom made by a Veil shop here in CO called “The Kissing Moon”. The shop owner was another one who you just fall in love with. She was so sweet and loves her work. She did an incredible job. I had a 2 layer cathedral veil with bios tape edging and she took a Nadri necklace and made it into my headpiece to which I had matching earrings and bracelet. I just loved both my veil and my headpiece.
peabody
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Re: Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics
Your pictures are awesome!!! You look beautiful!!
And I do know how amazing Laura is! Honestly without her our day would not have been so incredible. She is such a great person and made our day even more special!!!
emma
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Re: Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics
We are having our wedding at PJCC next June and I am having second thoughts. Can I ask you some questions; 1. How many people did you have in the room. 2. Did you have problems with the people at Lombardi's where you booked. I can't seem to get them to call me back and they are not very good about putting things in writing. They keep telling me that shouldn't be a problem, but to me that doesn't mean that I will get what was promised the day of my wedding. 3. Did people complain about the bathroom being downstairs 4. Were the attendants any good. I hear mixed things about the people that help you that day. If you can answer any of these questions I would appreciate it because I have one month to back out without loosing my deposit. 5. Did they rush you out at the end. 6. Did they have a hotel that would work with you so guests could be shutte,led back and forth(that's what Villa L told me but the hotel said they did not do that and did not have a contract with PJCC) Much thanks
salsbride06
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Re: Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics
CONGRATS!!! YOU ALL LOOKED BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE YOUR DRESS. I LOOKS LIKE YOU ALLL HAD A GREAT TIME AT YOUR WEDDINGS. GLAD YOU HAD A GREAT DAY. CANT WAIT TO SEE MORE PICS
May152005
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Re: Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics
Everything looked beautiful, congrats!
hbradio
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Congrats!!!! Despite a few mishaps, everyone looked very happy and everything looked really beautiful!!!!
1017Bride
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Re: Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics
Everything looked wonderful. We used Bridal Suite of Patchogue for the BM dresses and we had the same problems you did. I love the dresses (same as my MOHs) and the flowers and you looked great!
MissusJones
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Re: Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics
the black and white pictures are absolutely stunning! the photojournalism was great!! thanks for sharing!!
Monkeybride
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Re: Finally My 9/17 Lombardi's on the Sound Review w/Pics**UPDATED 11/20 WITH LOMBARDI ISSUES RESOLVED**