Maria Gossard Designs — Local services in Oakwood

I would like to write a review for anyone who is budgeting for a wedding and likes to make educated decisions based on pricing. This is just my experience with the business and would like you all to consider this when you are shopping for a stationary.

My fiancé and I are tying the knot on October 18th, and amidst the whirlwind of DIY wedding prep, we decided to outsource our invitations. We chose Maria Gossard Designs, hoping for a touch of professional elegance. Our first meeting on June 10th went smoothly. I stated I wanted to have the invitations mailed out by the end of the month. Maria set realistic expectations, warning that the invitations wouldn't be ready until early-July. She stated they most likely will get them done earlier but wrote down a July 15th finish date on our paperwork to create some cushion.

We wanted everything—ribbon, wax seals, gold foil lettering, and feathered paper for 160 invitations. Maria assured us they'd handle the wax seals, presenting it as a service perk. We paid a $900 deposit, with an estimate of $1,864.69 to follow upon pickup. This was great because we were able to budget for this amount.

As July approached, communication became a game of email tag. On July 18th, I arrived to pick up the invitations, only to find they weren't ready even though it was later than expected. Issues with the gold color and the wax seal meant additional vellum at extra cost. We had not budgeted for add-ons. Frustrated but patient, I agreed to use pre-made wax seals instead of regular wax seals, pushing the completion date to July 22nd.

On July 22nd, just ten minutes before pick-up time, I received a call: the invitations still weren't ready. When I arrived, I was put to work stamping and stuffing envelopes for two hours, feeling more like an unpaid employee than a bride-to-be.

To add insult to injury, the final bill was a shocking $2,670—far beyond the original estimate. Maria claimed the extra costs were for stamps and labor, neither of which had been mentioned. When I questioned this, she was condescending and blamed me for not understanding the pricing even though none of it was included in the pricing she previously already gave based off of what we already spoke about and she never mentioned any additional costs that will be added later. She did not try to understand my confusion or explain why these items were not included in the original invoice or mentioned to me prior to purchasing the invitations.

In short, this experience was a disaster. The lack of communication, surprise costs, and poor customer service left me livid. I cannot recommend Maria Gossard Designs. My excitement for our invitations has turned into disappointment, and I regret choosing this company.

Communication (1/5): There was a lack of clear and timely communication regarding the status of my invitations and additional costs.

Customer Service (1/5): The handling of my concerns was condescending and unprofessional, culminating in me having to perform tasks I paid for.

Reliability (2/5): Although initial expectations were set, the project was delayed multiple times, causing frustration and inconvenience.

Cost Transparency (1/5): The final cost was significantly higher than the original estimate, with surprise fees that were not communicated upfront.

Quality of Product (3/5): While the final invitations may have met my specifications, the process to get there overshadowed the product quality.

Overall Rating: 1.5/5 stars

Maria Gossard Designs started off with promise but ultimately failed to deliver on key aspects such as communication, transparency, and customer service. I would not recommend them based on...

Where do I even begin? The wedding suite Maria designed for my wedding was absolute perfection. Each item was truly a gorgeous piece of artwork. She made my wedding weekend vision come to fruition. It was incredible to see her creativity come to life. She created the most unique products that perfectly reflected the personalities of the groom and me and our Florida venue.

Maria was gracious and patient listening to my vision for the wedding. Upon hearing my explanation, the first time, she immediately knew the direction I was going in and the style I wanted for my wedding. Her designs were so different from the normal designs you find especially for a wedding in Florida. I received a multitude of compliments from guests both for the spectacular invitations, day of stationery, and the designs for the wedding reception. Her bar wrap stole the show. Absolutely amazing! Each piece at the reception, from the table numbers to the seating chart was a standout, so much so that guests have asked her to design for them as well. My mother and I received a multitude of compliments on all her work consisting of the words gorgeous, beautiful, best ever, incredible, and never have seen anything like it. So many of our guests mentioned how they will be keeping her invitations forever because that is how extraordinary her work is.

Maria spent a significant amount of time working with me to solidify the design for all aspects of the wedding. She is lovely and patient to work with on something as stressful as a wedding. Her attention to detail and eye for color is unmatched. I must also mention that I worked with her virtually (I am based outside of NYC), and it was by far the most seamless process in of all the wedding planning experience. She is one of a kind and you will not be able to find anyone better. Maria is...

This review comes with a unique perspective...I was not the 'planner' of an event with Maria and her team, I was the lucky 'guest of honor' for a "big" birthday surprise party she planned wth my spouse. I was so blindsided by the event (yes it was a total surprise) and also BLOWN away by the decor and every single detail! The 'cocktail hour space was decked out with huge up-light murals, glittering tables, a stunning bar full of color, with servers roaming with pass & serve deliciousness. But that was not even half of it...the main event was hidden behind curtains which, when revealed, literally took my breadth away. The room was nothing short of spectacular with crystal chandeliers, back-light photo boxes with photos from 'over the years', a massive and gleaming dance floor with imagery from the party theme, surrounded by 16 tables covered in glittering table linens & party favors, each with huge balloon bouquets (60/table!) large candelabras each wrapped with large orchids stalks (they had to be super heavy candelabras in order to hold down 60 balloons!). Having the tables surround the dance floor allowed the 'entertainment' to really be the center of the room and offer great views from each table. I later saw the invitation, so fun, which introduced the theme which was present in too many details to list, for the entire evening...including the parting gifts for each guest at the end of the evening. I think the most telling thing is that over a week after the event, we are still getting notes and comments from friends & family that it was the 'party of the decade'. I have to agree, the best party in my 6 decades! Maria and...