Being named the Best of 2010 is no small feat when you consider who casts the votes: brides and grooms planning the biggest day of their lives. According to more than 6,000 online ballots, these 40 vendors represent the best in the business when it comes to all things bridal in Minnesota.
Top of the Tiara
The finalists are: Gateaux Inc., Bellagala, and Semple Mansion
The winner is: Semple Mansion
Minneapolis | 612.290.4448
With a master’s degree in public history and museum studies focusing on the Victorian era, Amanda Whetstine naturally wanted her Minneapolis wedding to have a historical angle. While that might seem a tall order in a city known more for modern metal-and-glass structures, Whetstine found her dream location in Semple Mansion, a restored Italian Renaissance-style home in the heart of Minneapolis.
“I fell in love with Semple Mansion right away,” says Whetstine, who says the restored frescoes, mahogany woodwork and dramatic staircase gave the property an air of opulence that perfectly complemented her wedding theme of Victorian elegance. “I liked that having the ceremony in the parlor meant I could make a grand entrance down the staircase.”
Whetstine also appreciated the expertise of Katherine Hendrickson, Semple Mansion’s executive director and a constant source of calm—and information—for brides. Hendrickson was on-site for the duration of Whetstine’s Oct. 10, 2009, ceremony and reception; she even moved the gifts to a locked room so the wedding party could cut loose. “It’s nice to know that if something goes wrong, Katherine is there to deal with it,” explains Whetstine.
Because Semple Mansion offers ceremony and reception space—not to mention ample parking—Whetstine took advantage of the bridal chamber for pre-wedding preparations (and mimosas), while the groomsmen enjoyed beers and billiards in a separate space; it all meant jitters were kept to a minimum. “Semple is so comfortable and laid-back that it makes your whole wedding experience, from start to finish, memorable and beautiful and perfect!”
Best Rehearsal Dinner Venue
The finalists are: Al & Alma’s Charter Cruises, Buca di Beppo, and Loring Pasta Bar
The winner is: Buca di Beppo
Multiple locations
“Buca had a lot of different room sizes to choose from, and we chose a private space where we could be loud and have a good time without interruption. They also let us change our order a week before and it wasn’t a problem. I thought they really went above and beyond for us.” –Kirstyn Fulton, married July 26, 2009, at the St. Paul College Club
Best Bridal Gowns
The finalists are: Monique Lhuillier, Grace Bridal Boutique, and The Wedding Shoppe
The winner is: The Wedding Shoppe
St. Paul | 651.294.4991
“I went to The Wedding Shoppe because I’d heard about their large assortment and because I knew others who’d had good experiences there. When I described to the attendant what I was looking for she understood immediately what I was saying and said she had the perfect dress for me. That’s the one I bought!" –Kate N.G. Sommers, married Oct. 19, 2007, at Nicollet Island Pavilion
Best Formalwear
The finalists are: Savvi Formalwear, Men’s Wearhouse, and Heimie’s Haberdashery
The winner is: Heimie’s Haberdashery
St. Paul | 651.224.2354
“Heimie’s has so much character and classic style to it that other places just don’t have. During the fitting they had beer and cigars for us, and the whole experience was awesome. I would 100 percent recommend them.” –Charlie Koch, married Oct. 10, 2009, at Camrose Hill Farm
Best Caterer for a Small Wedding (fewer than 200 guests)
The finalists are: Chowgirls Killer Catering, Fabulous Catering, and We Cater to You
The winner is: Chowgirls Killer Catering
Minneapolis | 612.203.0786
“I liked that the Chowgirls were very easy to talk to. We had a lot of people coming in from out of town and I wanted them to have food from around the area so they could feel like they were experiencing where we live. The Chowgirls were able to create an all-local, all-seasonal menu. We even had a couple guests who were vegan and they made them special plates." –Sarah Fassbender Novak, married Oct. 3, 2009, at , , and Minneapolis | 612.238.4444 , , and Multiple locations | 800.440.0680 , , and Minnetonka | 952.249.9713 , , and St. Paul | 651.642.9400, , and Minneapolis | 612.355.2500, , and 612.730.3443, , and 952.303.5759
Best Videographer
The finalists are: Princess Bride Cinematic Videography, United Video Inc., and Capture Studios
The winner is: Capture Studios
Minneapolis | 612.237.2485 | capturestudios.net
“[Owner] Matt Brue has a very contemporary and engaging style that makes the videos very personal. A lot of wedding videos are corny and you don’t want to watch them more than once, but he gets a feel for the couple and goes with it so the finished product is unique.” –Charlene Miller, married Jan. 1, 2010, at Villa Siena in Gilbert, Ariz.
Best Caterer for a Large Wedding (more than 200 guests)
The finalists are: D’Amico Catering, Bon Appétit, and Fabulous Catering
The winner is: D’Amico Catering
Minneapolis | 612.238.4444 | damicocatering.com
“My aunt commented that you know you have a great caterer when everything is getting done but you don’t notice it happening, and that was exactly how D’Amico worked. [It was like] everything was magically being set up and served! Plus the food had the same great quality and flavor at our tasting as it did when served to 300 people.” –Kim Hamlin, married Aug. 8, 2008, at McNamara Alumni Center
Best Transportation
The finalists are: Renee’s Royal Valet, Eclipse Transportation, and Total Luxury Limousine Services
The winner is: Renee’s Royal Valet
Plymouth | 763.551.1919 | reneeslimousines.com
“I really liked what Renee’s had available as far as the cars, and they were really easy to work with—we could always get in contact with someone easily, and the contract was easy to go through. As a vendor I thought they were at the top of their game, and I really liked working with them.” –Jessica Stevens, married Sept. 12, 2009, at the Saint Paul Hotel
Best Jeweler, , and St. Louis Park | 952.593.5602 | , , and Edina | 952.926.9927 | , , and Minneapolis | 952.233.2763 | traditionvalet.com, , and Multiple locations | 952.915.2900 | , , and Bloomington | 952.934.6110 | , , and Minneapolis | 612.253.0255 | , , and 612.724.3591 | , , and Edina | 952.929.9475 | , , and Minneapolis | 612.333.1381 |
Best Mother-of-the-Bride Apparel
The finalists are: Dugo, Nordstrom, and Von Maur
The winner is: Dugo
Edina | 952.746.4440 | dressupgoout.com
“I walked into Dugo and literally the first dress I tried on, I bought. They have a really great selection of dresses and separates, and the alterations are very reasonable. I definitely would recommend Dugo to any mother of the bride!” –Marilyn Benson, mother of Meredith Benson, married Apr. 18, 2009, at Windows on Minnesota
Best Hair & Makeup
The finalists are: Emily J. Hair + Makeup, Brett Dorrian Artistry, and Smart and Chic Bride
The winner is: Emily J. Hair + Makeup
612.590.8174 | emilyj.com
“Emily [Koski] has great style, great makeup, and great hair, so you know you’re in good hands! Working with her feels like you’re just hanging out with one of the girls—we chatted and laughed and she made everything really comfortable and stress-free.” –Britta Gustafson, married Oct. 10, 2009, at Café Lurcat
Best Invitations
The finalists are: Epitome, Amy Zaroff Events + Design, and Watermark Stationery
The winner is: Amy Zaroff Events + Design
Edina | 952.941.3371 | amyzaroff.com
“The services were really personalized: You sit down with one person who works with you through the whole process and helps you look through all the different options. They have quite a variety to choose from, and they help you go over the different color combinations and styles, right down to the different font choices.” –Shandi Zurek, married Sept. 7, 2007, at St. Boniface Catholic Church
Best Officiant
The finalists are: Judge Thomas Armstrong, Rev. Tomkin Coleman, and Jim Albani
The winner is: Rev. Tomkin ColemanSt. Paul | 612.986.5528 | Bellagala, , and Brian Sostek Brian SostekMinneapolis | 612.384.6914 | , , and 612.285.2955 |
Best Custom Dressmaker
The finalists are: Joynoelle, The Dressmaker, and Carmelle Elizabeth of Grace Bridal Boutique
The winner is: Joynoelle
Minneapolis | 612.209.7822 | joynoelle.com
“Joy has this really intuitive sense of feminine style, and I appreciated that. She didn’t get it from anyone but herself, which I thought was so cool. I had ideas and fabric picked out, and Joy was really good at knowing what looks good with your body type—she really knows the different cuts and lengths and fittings that will make you look great.” –Christine Bussler, married Sept. 19, 2009, in Door County, Wis.
Best Talent Agency
The finalists are: Macken Music and Entertainment Agency, Bellagala, and Marsh Productions
The winner is: Macken Music and Entertainment Agency
Minneapolis | 952.832.5555 | mackenmusic.com
“Both my husband and I had a great time working with Macken Music. They really listened to what our expectations were. My husband plays jazz, so he explained exactly what style of jazz he liked and they only showed us jazz trios that fit that description. We went there thinking it would be the typical appointment where you keep listening to really bad wedding bands, but everything we heard was really good.” –Mercedes Gutierrez, married July 4, 2009, at Bayview Event Center
Best Florist
The finalists are: Floral Logic, Just Bloomed, and Richfield Flowers & Events
The winner is: Floral Logic
Minneapolis | 612.767.6336 | florallogic.com
“[Owner] Eric [Sandstrom] is a down-to-earth man with a creative mind. He worked around our schedules to meet with us on a Saturday and spent hours picking our brains to create flower arrangements that satisfied our preferences. He exceeded our expectations. Our guests continue to talk about our biodegradable centerpieces. He was a big part of the most amazing day in our lives.” –Stacey Seibel, married Aug. 1, 2009, at Walker Art Center
Best Wedding-Night Hotel
The finalists are: , , and St. Paul | 651.292.9292 | , Kathy Moon at , and Golden Valley | 763.221.4584 |
Best Favors
The finalists are: The Traveling Photo Booth, Gateaux Inc., and Lasting Impressions by Amy
The winner is: Lasting Impressions By Amy
White Bear Lake | 651.387.3881 | freewebs.com/lastingimpressionsbyamy
“[Owner] Amy Maranda is so enthusiastic that she gets you really excited too. She makes the process fun, and really, her work says it all. Plus, she gets back to you right away. I had to send some people three e-mails before I got a call back, but she responded right away.” –Katie Weidell, married July 10, 2010, at Tanners Brook Golf Course
Best Hotel for Guests
The finalists are: Graves 601, Saint Paul Hotel, and W Minneapolis - The Foshay
The winner is: Graves 601
Minneapolis | 612.677.1100 | graves601hotel.com
“The sales manager at the Graves was very responsive, and their contracting process was straightforward. It was a relief to know that we wouldn’t incur any penalties for not filling up our block of rooms, but by the same token, we could expand the number of rooms if we needed to. I also really liked that the Graves set up a personal URL for our guests so that they could book online easily rather than needing to call in with specific event codes.” –Letta Page, married Oct. 11, 2009, at the Craftsman Restaurant
Best Attendant Gifts
The finalists are: Che Bella, Patina, and Continental Diamond
The winner is: Patina
Multiple locations | patinastores.com
“I went to Patina because it’s my favorite store—they always have a lot of unique and cute stuff. I’ve shopped there for a long time. I sort of had an idea of what I wanted, and they got together a bunch of necklaces from all their stores for me to look through, which was really nice.” –Amy Prawalsky, married Sept. 18, 2009, at Plymouth Creek Center
Best Honeymoon in Minnesota
The finalists are: Bluefin Bay Resort, , and Tofte | 800.bluefin | , , and Minneapolis | 612.216.1926 | , , and St. Paul | 651.209.8822 |
Thank you to our awards ceremony partners: