Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the boards but already love what I've read .. you guys are all so helpful and supportive!

I'm not from LI (we live in Westchester- but FH and family are from E. Northport and we're getting married in that general area). I really need HELP on how to plan a great LI Wedding! We were engaged on Dec. 20 and are planning our wedding for July 25th 2004 (though that will depend on the church .. FH is Greek Orthodox and I am Catholic.. getting married in Greek church).

Aside from the hall and church, what do you think are the things I should get moving on immediately after New Years? Luckily we are planning a rather small wedding (no more than 75 people), which is why I think we can do it ..

In all honesty - do you think this is impossible to accomplish? For a variety of reasons we want to get married next summer, but I don't want to kill ourselves with the stress of it all!

Thanks in advance!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

I just wanted to say congrats, welcome and I totally think it's possible to book a wedding in 7 months. I would focus on a solid date for right now because you can't book a reception hall or anything else without it. Good luck and we're all here to help!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

I don't see why it would be a huge problem. It's def. easier to accomodate a smaller crowd- so I don't see you having too many problems.
My advice is to get dress shopping!!!! My gown has taken 8 months! And get your girls dresses.
Good luck!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

get your church and reception hall first, then your vendors photographer, music, florist...then work on the rest......congrats, and welcome!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Welcome and congrats on your engagement. Although I am from LI, I haven't live there since I graduated HS. I am planning from Chicago, so this site and the ladies here have been really helpful.

I also suggest getting your dress and your BM dresses as soon as possible. Since his family is from E. Northport, I suggest looking at Larkfield Manor (507 Larkfield Rd). They have a banquet room which accomadates smaller reception of less than 100.

Happy Planning!!!!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Thanks ladies for the well wishes and advice .. we are going to try and get our hall reserved by next weekend (its been tough with the holidays) and are supposed to meet with the church right after New Years ..

Luckily our wedding party is small also (only 2 on each side) so that won't be horrible .. I just see how people book things YEARS in advance and am terribly worried that if I wait too much longer I'll be out of luck

I'm sure I'll be on here a LOT with all sorts of silly questions! Thanks!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

I'm planning mine in 8, so it can be done. Check with the church first, since it's sounds like that might be an issue. Then with the hall.
If you have vendors in mind, then make appts to go see them (make sure they're available on your date). You should probably also go look at dresses. I think you'll be in fine shape if you book your church, hall, music, photo, etc in the next month or so.

Good luck and happy planning

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Congrats and welcome! Planning a smaller wedding in 7 mos is totally doable! After your church and reception site are done, the most important things to get moving on are your photo, video, and music!! Good luck, have fun, and we are always here to help!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Thank you all! I'll keep you posted as the planning goes along.. and along ... and along...

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Larkfield Manor is on my list of halls to check out .. (only blocks away from FILs house..) and also close to the church.. thanks!

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

I live in the Bronx and am also planning my wedding from this board.

It's a great board to be part of. You are in excellent hands.

Good luck and happy planning.

- Ericia

P.S. Congratulations on your enagement - i know you must be VERY excited

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Congratualtions!
I am also planning from westchester, and in less than a year, and having around 75 people.


Its a little intimidating, because some people on here are very organized and ahead of schedule, but 7 months should be fine-but you'll be busy in january & february.

We just set our date last week, so that gives us a little over 9 months for the rest of the planning. Is your church set? My family's church was already booked so I had a little trouble, but it only took me about 2 weeks to find another one.

It might also be a little more difficult to find a reception hall that doesn't have a minimum of 100, but when you do, it is more likely it will be avaialble, than a larger wedding place, just because people having big weddings usually start earlier, so those places will be booked.

My only other advice is to be flexible, since photographers & hair dressers & bands may be booked, so just don't get your heart set on one, before if you know if they are avaialable.
Just keep in mind there are many qualified profesionals in the area- and people here can reccomend alternate vendors.


Are you going dress shopping in Westchester? I think it would be easier for me, but my mom & aunt are coming with me so we will go on LI or in NYC.

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

I don't think it is impossible, just be flexible!

My friend planned a great wedding in 3 months

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

Hey "Tourist"

Glad to see as a fellow Westchester resident, you are making your LI wedding happen!

Is your church on LI or in Westchester? We are checking the availability of FH's church on Long Island, since it made more sense (logistically) for us to do everything closeby, since the recep. is definitely on LI.

I'm in the process of calling reception halls, my main concern is being "blown off" by places wanting to host bigger affairs, and/or not wanting to go somewhere where my "small" reception will look "lost" or we will be neglected!

Of course as time ticks on places are becoming booked, so I'm beginning to panic!

Not even sure WHERE to begin re: gown shopping .. I work in NYC so I think I might just look here (and its a good halfway point between LI and Westchester)

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

I booked a wedding for a guest list of 305 in 7 months...first thing... decide on the church and then the hall. Once you have that everything else is not that bad.

Re: Non-LI Girl Needs Help Planning her LI Wedding (in 7 mos!!)

I live in the Bronx and am also planning my wedding from this board.

It's a great board to be part of. You are in excellent hands.

Good luck and happy planning.

- Ericia

P.S. Congratulations on your enagement - i know you must be VERY excited


Yup, I am VERY excited .. just a tad overwhelmed (its wonderful to get engaged around the holidays, but hard to start planning anything when everyone is celebrating!)

From one former Bronx girl to the other, thanks for the support!

-Felicia