STAY DETAILS
March 14-15, 2012
1 Queen studio
$92/night via Hotwire

I recommend this hotel for the value, amenities and proximity to South Shore Plaza Mall.

I got very nervous after reading all the negative reviews on Tripadvisor. We got to the hotel and saw a sign about their renovation. We got in our room and were pleasantly surprised! Our room was very clean, modern and newly renovated. The newly renovated rooms were A LOT nicer than the photos on the hotel’s website.

It was a last-minute trip I booked the day before check-in. I went to Hotwire, booked a 2-star hotel for $92/night without knowing what hotel I would get. It would have cost us about $119/night if not booked through Hotwire. $119 was the cheapest I could find that time on other sites for any 2+ star accommodation.

LOCATION
The hotel was a 15-minute drive from downtown Boston without traffic. It was very close to I-93. I suggest bringing or renting a car.

It was very close to South Shore Plaza Mall and other retail stores. A movie theater was also close by, located across the mall. There’s a good bakery (Konditor Meister) at the end of the road. However, the road the hotel was on was pretty secluded and I am not sure if I’d walk it alone at night.

PREMISES
There was a strong smell at the hotel’s parking lot. It could have been the paint from renovations. The lobby was tiny but looked nice and clean. There were only 2 chairs. The front desk counter was tiny as well. The front desk staff was staying at another counter behind the front desk counter and I found it awkward talking to her that far.

I was only able to see the first floor as our room was on that floor and it looked clean. The hotel halls had a faint smell, but it wasn’t a bad smell.

There was no scenic view from this hotel. You would see parking lot, highway, and trees.

STAFF
Check in was a breeze and front desk staff was friendly. Since we were only here one night, the front desk was the only staff we encountered.

ROOMS
We had room 113 which was a queen bed studio. The room was pretty large and equipped with a small kitchen. The room was clean and had mostly new furnishings except the refrigerator and dishwasher. It looked like the flooring was replaced too during the renovation including the tiles in the bathroom. Our view was the back parking lot.

Read on…

Priscilla of Boston Warehouse Sale
February 26 – 27, 2011
40 Cambridge St, Charlestown MA

Simply Elegant Platinum Wedding Expo
Seaport World Trade Center Boston
July 11, 2010

The Simply Elegant Platinum Wedding Expo will be held at the prestigious Seaport World Trade Center in Boston on Sunday, July 11, 2010. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet with over 200 of the most prominent professionals in the wedding industry and thousands of brides in one expo! This ensures you’re able to network with the best in the industry and meet with the most brides of any expo held this year. This summer, Simply Elegant Expos will give one deserving couple a luxurious Platinum Wedding. Register and purchase tickets ($20) to enter the Platinum Wedding Giveaway!

Where else to hold a clambake but on the Cape?  Alyssa and Scott’s rehearsal dinner was held at the Chatham Bars Inn.  The beach house, the smell of the ocean, the lobster lollipops, the seashell-adorned centerpieces and favors, even the beachy blue chairs make for a beautiful clambake party.  Photos were taken by one of my favorite photography teams, Brian and Maria.

WellWed Magazine & Vermont Vows cordially invite you to attend one of their signature destination bridal events – the 2010 Wedding Affairs. Filled with lavish decor, innovative floral & tabletop designs, a grooms lounge, local wedding library, a dazzling runway of couture & so much more – their one-of-a-kind bridal events are dedicated to catering to local & destination couples that want to experience the BEST your wedding destination has to offer. From planning seminars & decor workshops to makeovers & manicures, The Wedding Affair will introduce you to the products, people & places that create some of the country’s most talked about events.

January 23, 2010
Finger Lakes : Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY

February 20, 2010
Hamptons : The Hamptons, NY (exact location TBA)

March 6, 2010
Cape & Islands : Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster MA

Tickets are $40/couple or $25/person and includes:

• A Gift Box filled with over $100 worth of goodies (one per couple)
• A copy of Martha Stewart Weddings and Vermont Vows / WellWed
• Complimentary seminars & Workshops with industry experts
• Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres, champagne, cake tastings, wine tasting, cigar rolling, and other fine delectables
• An opportunity to win a Gift Certificate Bouquet with upto $8,000 of Gift Certificates (featuring certificates for: Spa Services, Restaurants, Event Rentals & more…)
• The chance to participate in our silent auction featuring up to $10,000 worth of jewelry & gifts (to benefit The Make-A-Wish Foundation)

Click here to purchase tickets.

Semi-Annual Designer Sample Sale
Now through September 15th
Gown starting at $399

Please call (508) 824-6900 for an appointment

New York Lace
89 Main Street
Taunton, MA 02780
nylbride2b@aol.com

Montilio’s Bakery
638 Adams St, Quincy MA

Tasting Experience
Frank of Montilio’s was waiting for us when we arrived.  We were the only ones there for cake tasting.  Frank took all our info including the cake design we wanted, then he proceeded to cut us some slices of their cakes.  He was sweet.

Cake
We were served 7 different flavors.  They were all delicious.  The buttercream was on the sweeter side, but the cakes themselves were moist and the fillings were delicious.  We decided to do two flavors for our cake – Strawberry Grand Marnier (my new favorite cake flavor) and Chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling for John.

Customer Service
I had to call Montilio’s to set up an appointment since I couldn’t find an email from their website.  I left a message and I got a call back the next day.  While on the call, I asked a list of their flavors sent to me and I received the email right away.

Price Quote
Strawberry Grand Marnier and Chocolate cake with Chocolate Mousse filling, round, 3 tiers, buttercream frosting, anniversary tier:
$4/slice
$75 flowers
$100 delivery to Belle Mer
Total = $535

Other Bakers
Cake Tasting #1: Sin Desserts, Providence RI
Cake Tasting #2: Corby Cakes and Cookies, Cranston RI
Cake Tasting #3: Diane’s Delectables, Warwick RI
Cake Tasting #4: Konditor Meister, Braintree MA

Konditor Meister
32 Wood Rd, Braintree MA

Tasting Experience
The place was packed when we arrived.  We were told Saturdays are usually that busy.  So don’t expect special or undivided attention.  We were given a big portfolio of their cake designs.  The portfolio was divided into categories, buttercream being the cheapest and custom fondant being the more expensive ones.  We were then served 8 different cakes.  The slices were pretty huge.  We were left alone to taste the cakes then Julia came to us to discuss details.  She priced our cake right there, wrote all the information on a form and gave us our copies along with a checklist, policies, and instructions.

Cake
John and I are both chocolate people, but all the 8 cakes that were served to us were delicious!  I liked them all.  They were so moist.  If we could have all the flavors in our cake, we will.  But of course that is not possible.  My favorite was the Strawberry Grand Marnier.  I wanted more strawberries in it though, but it was still very good without strawberries.  John chose the Chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling.  I loved the Black Forest as well, but without the cherries and cherry liquor which was at the bottom layer of the cake.  In the end, we decided to do two flavors for our cake.

Customer Service
Konditor Meister never responded to my online inquiry through their website.  We usually get our cakes from there, so I really wanted to have a cake tasting with them.  I called them to set up an appointment instead.

Price Quote
Strawberry Grand Marnier and Chocolate cake with Chocolate Mousse filling, round, 3 tiers, buttercream frosting, anniversary tier:
$3/slice
$40 flowers
$100 delivery to Belle Mer
Total = $410

*Konditor Meister uses rolled chocolate instead of fondant and costs $30/tier.

UPDATE: My review of Konditor Meister at our wedding is up.

Other Bakers
Cake Tasting #1: Sin Desserts, Providence RI
Cake Tasting #2: Corby Cakes and Cookies, Cranston RI
Cake Tasting #3: Diane’s Delectables, Warwick RI
Cake Tasting #5: Montilio’s Bakery, Quincy MA

Photo by Mark Garfinkel via BostonHerald

Goodwill is hosting “Brides on a Budget’’ for brides who are looking for their dream wedding gown at a bargain price! There will be hundreds of sizes and styles to choose from. New dresses will be on sale for as little as $80.

A generous donor has donated hundreds of new wedding dresses to Goodwill. Designers include House of Wu, Emerald Bridal, Bill Levkoff, and many more. All proceeds will benefit Goodwill’s mission – “Not charity, but a chance.”

Event Details
Saturday, March 21, 8am – 3pm
Sunday, March 22, 11am – 3pm

Get wedding planning and style tips from Anne Chertoff, Senior Editor at Brides.com and former Martha Stewart Weddings editor, Style Me Pretty blogger, Abby Larson, and Karen Bartolomei, owner of Grapevine couture paperie.

Brides and their guests will have the chance to get inspired by gorgeous floral arrangements, and creative wedding stationery designs as well as sample delicious hors d’oeuvres and wedding cakes and learn from the very best wedding experts in the Boston area.

Participating vendors include: New England Occasions, Eco-Elegant Design, Cheryl Richards Photography, The Catered Affair, Shreve, Crump & Low, Hilary Larson’s Eat Cake, Gordon’s Fine Wines and Be Our Guest.

When: Sunday, March 15, 2009 1:30 pm – 4 pm

Where: The Commandant’s House, located on Boston’s Historic Waterfront, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA

The event is complimentary. Space is very limited and open to brides + 1 guest. Please RSVP by March 11th to: rsvp@commandantshouse.com or call Elizabeth Brennan Gemelli at 617-263-6490 with your name, wedding date, email and your guest’s name.  (The March 6th RSVP date has been extended to March 11th.)