Completely disappointed in every aspect of dealing with Cathy. Price, concept, communication, customer service, execution of design... all bad. She even damaged my "something borrowed" and now I have to refund my friend. :(
I hired Erin to do my wedding and consulted with her for a year. I hired her because she understood what I wanted and we connected. One month before my wedding Cathy (VI owner) told Erin to change the contract. I called Cathy and I thought we had everything figured out and Erin was still designing my flowers. Well, I was never allowed to talk to Erin again and Cathy took over my wedding. I am beyond disappointed because Cathy didn't know me, the design of my wedding, or any of the details. Nor did she care to get to know me. It was just changes and arguments up until and on the day of my wedding.
All throughout the day of my wedding, I kept hearing from numerous relatives and guests what a "witch" the florist was. This was all proved by the nasty email my mother received the days after my wedding. Cathy can argue that there were frustrated people at my wedding site that perhaps reacted unfavorably because they knew when they saw the centerpieces that I would hate them. (and I did) But if you work in the wedding industry you should have more than enough experience to handle stressed clients and handle yourself in a professional manor. (like when she wrote to mother that my cake was ugly, we would have been better off doing our own flowers, and that a random vase of flowers my mom made had "copied" her designs?...nice) My something "borrowed" were bouquet jewels from a bridesmaid. They have been used in 4 previous bridal bouquets. Visual Impact cut the wires on all of the jewels in half. My bridesmaid's other friend planned to use them in the spring and now cannot. I now have to refund my bridesmaid for the price of the bouquet jewels.
We were also instructed to buy gems to be used in all of the centerpieces (an extra $75) but when we dropped them off were told they were unnecessary. I also told Erin that there would be no bright-white, (only ivory/cream- the color of my dress) and requested NO bright-white flowers. So of course most all the flowers were bright-white and didn't match the decor that I worked SO hard on for over a year. We rented an aisle runner and it was confirmed that VI would not be laying it down at the ceremony site. VI insisted on laying the aisle runner down and stabbed holes though it resulting in an additional charge to me.
My bouquet was almost what I had wanted. (requested no tight buds or white flowers in my bouquet) and the bridesmaid's flowers were also white/spiky and hurt my girl's hands. The attendant's boutineers were also sharp and hurt everyone who hugged them. Mother's wristlets were white with tight roses- exactly what I did not want. The flower girl pomander was the only thing that was almost perfect, (no pearls securing the flowers as our written agreement stated). But I know that if Erin had done my flowers, they would have been exactly what I wanted.
As I continue to write, can you tell I am getting heated? Well I am... and every time I see a new photo from my wedding I am upset. I currently have a positive, wonderful relationship with all of the other vendors involved with my wedding. So I know this is not just me being a "bridezilla."
I have been in sales and customer service for 8+ years. There have been times when a client and I have not connected. I would end the relationship because it would not benefit either party to have a negative perspective of the other. I asked Cathy a month ago if I could recover part of my deposit and go elsewhere because I feared both our negative outlooks would translate in the decor of my one special day. She said no. It was also confirmed that the person I hired...Erin... would still be designing my event and would be there the day of my wedding as this is what I hired her to do. The day of the event it was discovered that Cathy arrived in Erin's place with no additional help. I had requested and confirmed that my bouquet and attendants bouqet's would be delivered at 2pm. They instead, arrived at 12pm, I wasn't even there, and they ended up wilting early. There is no do-over for my wedding and this was my #1 stress during my planning process.
Now she has been paid, (too much) and I am out additional money to cover the property damage. I have received no phone calls, apologies, or offers to reimburse me for the items she damaged (it has been requested). Thank you Cathy, I now have terrible memories and pictures that will last my lifetime. read more