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Resources
A Fine Affair strives to make wedding and event planning as convenient as possible. We get to see lots of different wedding & event professionals in action each week, and below is a list of the ones that really stand out from the crowd. These companies have all demonstrated a true commitment to making their clients' events the best they can possibly be. We highly recommend them.
Photographers
Accent Photographics
We LOVE Shuva Rahim of Accent Photographics. Truthfully, we don't think there's anyone in the area that compares to her. Her work is stunning and unique, contemporary but classic. She manages to capture perfect shots without being intrusive, so you can actually experience your wedding, not just pose for it. She provides really personal service.
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Officiants
Reverend Tom Capo
Mr. Capo is incredibly warm and friendly; after just a few minutes he feels like an old family friend. He really works with you to tailor the ceremony to your beliefs and values, so it's very personal.
Magistrate Marty Hagge
Mr. Hagge actually performed our ceremony in 2006. He was professional, courteous, and attentive to our requests. We were very happy with his services and have referred lots of couples to him since. He can be reached at 319-363-1917.
Venues
Coralville Marriott
Dani, Whitney, & Shannon and the staff at the Coralville Marriott are awesome. They are wonderful to work with and every event we've ever done here (or at Brown Deer Country Club, which they also run) has gone smoothly. The food is great, too!
Scottish Rite Temple
This Cedar Rapids location is a well kept secret and a fantastic value. They have a beautiful auditorium for ceremonies and a dining room for receptions that's every bit as nice as many hotel ballrooms. You can't beat the price, and you can bring in your own caterer and liquor. The location is really convenient: lots of parking, right off 380, and right downtown.
Festhalle Barn
This rustic structure in Amana is awesome looking enough on it's own, but they decorate it beautifully for Oktoberfest, then leave the decorations in place all year long, so you don't have to do a darn thing to it. It's insanely affordable to rent, and you get to bring in your own food and beverage. Plus you get it for a whole week, so you can take all the time you want to decorate and clean up, plus you can hold the rehearsal dinner and day-after brunch there. The only downside is that it books up very far in advance. Call 319-213-4116 or e-mail.
Caterers
Tic Toc Catering
Our favorite caterer for comfort foods. Period. No one does better BBQ, smoked meats, mac & cheese, sweet potato casserole, etc... Kacy Smith is reliable and flexible; he'll happily tweak his recipes to suit your tastes. He is the nicest guy, just really wonderful to work with, and you can't beat his prices. And the man can COOK. The food is delicious.
Braise
This is a new catering company that has been unbelievably accomodating. The food is inventive, delicious, and really customized to your event. We're very impressed with his dedication and flexibility, and the quality of service. No one in this area is doing anything like what the executive chef, Shawn Price, is doing. Sick of party potatoes? Want something elegant and traditional, or contemporary and creative? This is the guy to go to.
Cakes
Tip Top Cakes
We've seen a few of Adam Kopfman's cakes now, and each one looks unlike anything else we've seen done in this area. His work is absolutely outstanding. His commitment to quality is unique; he limits his bookings so he can give each cake the time and attention it deserves.
Live Music
Dana Starkell, Classical Guitarist
When it comes to live ceremony music, you name it, we've seen it: harps, flutes, string quartets, etc... We have NEVER seen anyone get a reaction from guests the way Dana did. He is amazingly talented and has a fascinating personal story. He will definitely help to make your ceremony memorable!
Rentals
Aero Rental
We like Aero for their friendly, helpful staff. They are really straightforward when it comes to pricing; they don't jack up the prices on things as soon as they hear you're planning a wedding. They're really flexible and reliable, and have a great selection.
Photographers
Accent Photographics
We LOVE Shuva Rahim of Accent Photographics. Truthfully, we don't think there's anyone in the area that compares to her. Her work is stunning and unique, contemporary but classic. She manages to capture perfect shots without being intrusive, so you can actually experience your wedding, not just pose for it. She provides really personal service.
z
Officiants
Reverend Tom Capo
Mr. Capo is incredibly warm and friendly; after just a few minutes he feels like an old family friend. He really works with you to tailor the ceremony to your beliefs and values, so it's very personal.
Magistrate Marty Hagge
Mr. Hagge actually performed our ceremony in 2006. He was professional, courteous, and attentive to our requests. We were very happy with his services and have referred lots of couples to him since. He can be reached at 319-363-1917.
Venues
Coralville Marriott
Dani, Whitney, & Shannon and the staff at the Coralville Marriott are awesome. They are wonderful to work with and every event we've ever done here (or at Brown Deer Country Club, which they also run) has gone smoothly. The food is great, too!
Scottish Rite Temple
This Cedar Rapids location is a well kept secret and a fantastic value. They have a beautiful auditorium for ceremonies and a dining room for receptions that's every bit as nice as many hotel ballrooms. You can't beat the price, and you can bring in your own caterer and liquor. The location is really convenient: lots of parking, right off 380, and right downtown.
Festhalle Barn
This rustic structure in Amana is awesome looking enough on it's own, but they decorate it beautifully for Oktoberfest, then leave the decorations in place all year long, so you don't have to do a darn thing to it. It's insanely affordable to rent, and you get to bring in your own food and beverage. Plus you get it for a whole week, so you can take all the time you want to decorate and clean up, plus you can hold the rehearsal dinner and day-after brunch there. The only downside is that it books up very far in advance. Call 319-213-4116 or e-mail.
Caterers
Tic Toc Catering
Our favorite caterer for comfort foods. Period. No one does better BBQ, smoked meats, mac & cheese, sweet potato casserole, etc... Kacy Smith is reliable and flexible; he'll happily tweak his recipes to suit your tastes. He is the nicest guy, just really wonderful to work with, and you can't beat his prices. And the man can COOK. The food is delicious.
Braise
This is a new catering company that has been unbelievably accomodating. The food is inventive, delicious, and really customized to your event. We're very impressed with his dedication and flexibility, and the quality of service. No one in this area is doing anything like what the executive chef, Shawn Price, is doing. Sick of party potatoes? Want something elegant and traditional, or contemporary and creative? This is the guy to go to.
Cakes
Tip Top Cakes
We've seen a few of Adam Kopfman's cakes now, and each one looks unlike anything else we've seen done in this area. His work is absolutely outstanding. His commitment to quality is unique; he limits his bookings so he can give each cake the time and attention it deserves.
Live Music
Dana Starkell, Classical Guitarist
When it comes to live ceremony music, you name it, we've seen it: harps, flutes, string quartets, etc... We have NEVER seen anyone get a reaction from guests the way Dana did. He is amazingly talented and has a fascinating personal story. He will definitely help to make your ceremony memorable!
Rentals
Aero Rental
We like Aero for their friendly, helpful staff. They are really straightforward when it comes to pricing; they don't jack up the prices on things as soon as they hear you're planning a wedding. They're really flexible and reliable, and have a great selection.