First, let me say that my wedding day was absolutely perfect! A month and a half later, my guests are still praising the day. August 22 will be a day I will forever hold in my heart, absolutely beautiful memories.
With that said, in the days... leading up to my wedding, I was not sure that things would go as planned. From the beginning, I was told the managing partner of Branches Catering in Long Branch would be my point of contact; however, I was in contact with about 4 different people. The information was never organized in such a way that each knew the updated plans. I was sending and resending information multiple times to multiple people. Some of the information shared with me during the tour and food tasting appointments were not correct. The communication with Branches was not ideal. Still, a month and a half after my wedding day, I am still working on resolving a financial issue with Branches.
Things that Branches did not drop the ball on are as follows:
1. Always contacting me about which payments were due soon (Funny how that side of the communication never failed)
2. The food was absolutely fantastic (Though I barely ate at the wedding, our tasting was top notch and our guests still rave at the cocktail hour and dinner selections
3. The catering staff the day of the wedding were wonderful (Though I heard complaints that one bartender was a bit snoody, he always handed me my drink of choice when I walked up to the bar) The staff really made sure (on the day of my wedding) that my wife and myself were pleased.
Though, at times, I had to pull the catering company's teeth during the planning process, my wedding did turn out wonderful.
If Branches reads this, I would offer this advice: work on having one employee who deals with the wedding planning process from beginning to end. Allow that one employee to focus solely on weddings, not other events going on at Laurita. Communication, with myself, was key, and I was not confident in the days leading up to my wedding.
To the future brides and grooms: I hope this review helps you in your planning process. May your wedding be as fulfilling, fun, and beautiful as mine was. I wish you a lifetime of happiness. Remember, love is a feeling, not a choice. You're choosing to spend the rest of your life with that one special person, make it count.