Rings - Wedding Day Diamonds/Hoff Jewelry
Comments/Reviews: FI and I picked my E-ring out together, about 4 months before the proposal. We went in 'just looking' and never got pressured into buying anything that day. We worked with Ann at the Edina/Richfield store. Hoff is a personal friend of FI, so he got an amazing deal on the center stone!

Reception Location - The Terrace Suite at MGM Grand
Website: www.mgmgrandweddings.com
Comments/Reviews: After a growing guest list we decided to move the reception location. Another thing was they do not allow any outside food or liquor, and their prices are sky high. We were also told that if we were caught bringing food/liquor into our room we would get charged an insane rate, and who wants to worry the whole night!!
UPDATE: Reception Location – The APEX Suite in Planet Hollywood
Comments/Reviews: After talking to a few other Las Vegas brides (6 to 8 2008 is THE best, with the most helpful bio ever) we picked the APEX suite for our in-suite reception!! I have talked to a few people over at PH they have told me over and over again that outside food/liquor IS allowed!!! plus this suite is amazing! 2800 sq ft, 3 big screen TVs, gaming tables, wet bar...I can go on and on.

Cake Creator - Cake Designs LV
Comments/Reviews: After comparing prices we decided to go with Cake Designs of Las Vegas for the Cake. We will get this personalized cake topper, and a simple red 6 inch round cake, with the Las Vegas stars ( the ones that are on the LV sign) in yellow.

We will also be getting cupcakes from Costco.

Photographer - Todd!
Website: www.WilsonPhoto.20m.com
Comments/Reviews: Las Vegas Photographer: Todd is a photographer GOD down in Vegas; he’s amazingly cheap, with outstanding quality. His motto is: “Exceptional photography doesn't have to be exceptionally expensive.” I’m one lucky girl to have Todd take our wedding pictures!! I am also having a handful of family friends "in charge" of certain moments throughout the day. Sister-in-law will be in the boys room while they are getting ready. A friend of my wedding coordinator is a semi-professional who has stepped up to take my getting ready shoots, as well as reception shots.

Graphic Design of the invitations- Ben Mosier (J’s Best Friend) (final score: A+. however his services were free to me, not sure how much he would normally charge)
Website: http://www.jwda.com
Comments/Reviews: Thank goodness Ben was able to help bring the creative and professional help to our invites. We brought him our original mock ups, told him what we had envisioned, and he went with it and made our vision come to life. Since we bought the paper at Ekcetera, he offered to cut the paper down to size, after they printed everything. I am glad he was able to help us out, as he has the detail vision we had hoped Ekcetera would have had.

My Dress - the LOFT, Lakeville, MN
Website: http://theloftbridal.com/main.html
Comments/Reviews: I really had a great feeling about the LOFT, and my feelings about them turned out to be 100% true! (love them)

1. David's Bridal in Richfield: this was my first dress trying-on experience and well, I expected nothing and got a little attention. I had a 6:30 appointment and was told to just take a look around. For being my first time I really had no ideas what to do, thankfully I had my mom and sister to help me lug dresses around. I was finally escorted to a fitting room where my sister helped me into the dresses and had I think 3 sales consultants at once telling me different things. Over all it was kind of what I was expecting from them so not bad I like a dress I tried on but not sure if it is the one.

2. Heartstrings in Hopkins: I had to reschedule our first meeting and was still greeted with style! Went promptly up stairs where I was asked about details of what my day was looking like, what I wanted for my dress and then I was shown around their store. I was given clips (to clip the dresses I liked) and they brought them to me. It was VERY hands on!! No pressure, I was able to try on a number of dresses---over my lunch hour even! and got honest opinions on the styles and fit. I found two dresses that I love.

3. Dena Marie in Roseville: They had a nice selection for being a local salon, the consultant was very nice and helpful. I found 4 dresses I brought into the room, however none of them were even worth walking out of the dressing room for. I will still recommend this salon, it just did not have the dress I was looking for.

4. Pearls and lace in Burnsville: Recommend, we loved the consultants (the owner helped us as well as another consultant). Their bridal, maid dresses as well as MOH selections were great.

5. Bridal retreat in Savage: We did not really like this store. This store is a one stop shop, in a good way (tux, alterations, lines, travel ect) but we just did not like it. I think it was just the consultant we had, just didn’t click with her. I tried on the vegas-type dress there, as well as the corset topped dress, so I did find a few dresses I liked, but in the end nothing that I really loved. (This place is a little on the spendy side. My budget was 1K, and they only had a few dresses to choose from)

6. the LOFT in Lakeville: LOVED it, even if I didn’t find the dress there I would love it, the co-owners are great, and very hands on. Loved them. --and that is where I found it, I had a great feeling about this day of dress shopping and in particular this store. This is a fairly small store, thankfully they had the dress. As we came in another bride was actually trying it on, we all said it was a cute dress, a few dresses later Sara (one of the owners) brought the dress in for me to try on. As I walked out of the dressing room I started to have that feeling. I placed myself on the round pedestal and heard my mom crying. THIS WAS IT!! I had waited 27 years for this moment. I looked at everyone else who was there (my sister, best friend and Godmother) they all had the same look of amazement. Sara then grabbed a soft pink veil and placed it on my head…that is when I cracked. I whispered this is the dress, my mom came over and gave me a hug. I just did not want to take the dress off, but I had to. I came out of the dressing room to here Sara pop champagne!!! I sat down after everyone cheers, and thought to myself ‘I am getting Married!' and THAT is when I really lost it!!!! Hands down the best feeling, it was everything I had hoped it would be, and more.

Earrings – THE Loft
Comments/Reviews: when I went to pick up my dress they were playing around with different styles of earrings, and I feel in love with the ones I got. Best part about it was they gave me half off. Total: $60

Veil – Wedding Factory Direct
Comments/Reviews: 2 Tier 30" and 42" Waltz, Ivory, Ribbon Edge Bridal Veil, Ribbon Width = 3/8 inch. So they call it Ivory, however it is really white. I hope it will still look good with my “blush” colored wedding dress! Total after shipping was $45.25,

Makeup/Hair Stylist - My hairdresser, Angie!
Comments/Reviews: I have been going to Angie for over a year now, she is also my sister's good friend. Thankfully she jumped up and down when I asked if she can come to Vegas and do my hair :)

J and I got our photos taken by Mrs. Bullard. Salwa is very personable and makes you feel easy with the camera focused on you. Her mind is always looking for THE shot. We were able to get a few teasers back, just ONE day later, and are very pleased with them. We can not wait to get them all back.