The Brides' Review - My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

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My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

Sweetpea1 Posted: May 08, 2012 06:13 AM+

Sweetpea1 MEMBER SINCE: 5/06 TOTAL POSTS : 1317 WEDDING DATE: Apr 28, 2007

Posted: May 08, 2012 06:13 AM

My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

This is my review of my wedding anniversary. I got married back in 2007 at the Coral House and for some crazy reason I didn't utilize these boards that much back then but I came back when I decided to give my husband a surprise black-tie fifth wedding anniversary and I'm soo glad I did. I have gotten the best advice and ideas and for that reason I'm giving LIW an A++ I will definetly be around for a while this place is addictive and hopefully I'll be able to give back what I've gotten from you ladies.

Pictures are in my album please take a look.

Since this was an anniversary there's no bachlerette, shower or registry to rate.

INVITATIONS Rexcraft/Bed Bath Beyond A+ My invitations were beautiful and reasonably priced I was very happy with them. They messed up on my beverage napkins but they quickly fixed it without charging me.

FAVORS A+ I made cd's of a few our favorite songs and the pouch I put them in came from an Etsy vendor. She was very easy to communicate and work with and my order came quickly, fm if you want her name.

JEWELRY A+ Not sure who the designer is but I got my earings and necklace from Bridal Reflections in Manhattan.

PURSE A+ Sondra Roberts from Nordstrom. Really cute and it comes in many colors.

SHOES A+ my shoes are by Enzo and I found them in Nordstrom. They're a beautiful pair of shoes and pretty comfortable until about the last hour or two.

MENU A+ my menus were done by Vistaprint. They came out really great I love them.

HEADPIECE A++ my headpiece came from Bridalstyles in Brooklyn and even though they are a little pricey, to me, it was worth it. My headpiece was so beautiful and sparkly.

MAKEUP B my makeup was done by my friend Charlene. I can't think of the name of the salon that she works out of right now. Even though she did an amazing job on my makeup, she was extremely late and in the wedding business that's a cardinal sin. She was very sorry but though.

HAIR A+ my hairstylist was Lavonne from Hair Comes the Bride. She did a wonderful job. My headpiece was attached to a comb and she suggested that I take the comb off so that she could manuever the headpiece around my hairstyle and that worked out really well.

DOC A++ Cheeky Glam were awesome. They have such a passion for what they do and they're energy is contagious. I was on the fence about a coordinator but I'm so glad I hired them. Even my guests noticed how hard they worked. I also rented their table number holders which were gorgeous. There were a few things that the RH staff messed up on and Jamie was right there to fix it.

PLACE CARDS, HOLDERS A+ were done by a company called Satinbow.net. They came out great and matched the swarovski crystal table number holders that I rented from Cheeky Glam. The place card holders also doubled as a favor.

CAKE A+ Dortini's my cake was beyond amazing and it tasted soo good. When I went for my tastings, Gina really helped me narrow down my choices sense everything tasted so good.

CHOCOLATE MARTINI GLASSES A+ I think it was on these boards that I found out about lizbarcandy.com. Her company places hardened chocolate inside small martini glasses and then you garnish them with a strawberry. I had the bartender use the white russian drink and had it passed during my cocktail hour and it was a big hit.

LIMO A+ I used AllStar and our driver (can't remember his name) was so nice and polite and he was early. He was also very patient since my mua got to my house late, it made us late getting dress and he had to wait for us. He even helped us load our stuff into the limo at the end of the evening.

DJ A Robert Greene from R&R Entertainment (I think this is his own company not a major DJ company like LI Sounds) This DJ stepped in at the last minute when the first one cancelled on me so I guess I should grateful. I am grateful but I spoke to him a few days beforehand to make sure he had all the songs I wanted and he assured me that he did but at my party he told my MC that he didn't have every song. Another problem was that the song that I wanted to use when we cut our cake, he played it early in the night and every song I suggested that he use as a replacement, he didn't have. Don't get me wrong he kept people on the dance floor but those two things kinda irked me.

FLOWERS A+ I used Pedestals. When I went to see my sample it was not at all like we discussed when I booked them but Brian went to the back and came back with exactly what I wanted. And for my event my centerpieces were soo beautiful and they stayed fresh for a whole week.

TOSTING FLUTES/CAKE KNIFE SET A+ Thingsremembered.com. This set is called the Duke and Duches and is so stunning. Pricey but stunning.

LINENS A+ I used Finishing Touches and I got the white rose patterned linens just for my table and the cake table and omg it looked so beautiful. I went back and forth about whether to rent lines and I'm soo glad I did. It made our table stand out even more.

PHOTOGRAPHER A+ I used Silverfox and for now they get a high mark cuz my photographer was so nice but that could change when I get my album we shall see. He had my must take list with him and he remembered the things we discussed. This was the only vendor I was worried about because when I had my meeting with him to go over my shots, he was late and two days beforehand I was trying to reach Silverfox to confirm and I couldn't reach anyone.

LIGHTING A+ I used Studio4 Event Productions. Lighting made the room pop. I really hope it shows in my photos. This again was something I was on the fence about but I'm really glad I spent the extra money it looked really nice.

DRESS A++ my dress was sick and I mean that in a good way. It's by Stephen Yearick from his evening wear collection and it was amazing. Even my photographer said that this was a kick a** dress

BRIDAL REFLECTIONS B I had two bridal consultants named Vasiliki and Sarah. They were great to work but they don't have any dresses for plus size girls to try on. I had to hold the dress up in front of me and try to visualize what it would look like. I almost left without buying anything for that reason.

ALTERATIONS B- I had straps added to my dress which was very sloppily done and the draping was uneven. The day that I was supposed to pick up my dress it still wasn't right and the seamstress was out sick. Another seamtress stepped in to fix what the first one messed up and even though she fixed it she left pins in the dress. Plus I had to wait 45 minutes for her to finish.

WESTBURY MANOR A++ from the moment I pulled into the driveway I knew it was 'the one' I just had that feeling and when I went inside I was even more right. WB Manor is so beautiful and romantic especially the gardens. My banquet manager was Ian and alot of times he was not available when I had a question or problem but Natasha was always there she was so helpful.

I did not have any encounters between my guests and the other wedding's guests even when we were outside takng pictures. We never crossed paths. I saw a few of her guest when I went to the bathroom but that's it. I was in the Garden room and the bridal suite we were assigned to is very small. I don't know how a regular wedding party could fit in that room.

Our matre'd was very helpful and always right there to fill my glass with whatever I wanted. he made me nervous when he picked up my cake to take it away to be cut lol I hope the photographer got a picture of it.

The food was excellent. I upgraded to the mashed potato bar and that was a big hit with my guests. My guests have been texting, emailing and posting on facebook about what an amazing time they had and how beautiful everything was. I'll do it again in five years.

THE END, finally

dawnbon26 Posted: May 08, 2012 07:43 AM+

dawnbon26 MEMBER SINCE: 10/09 TOTAL POSTS : 1669 WEDDING DATE: Sep 15, 2012

Posted: May 08, 2012 07:43 AM

Re: My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

Congrats, thanks for the review. Everything looked beautiful.

Sdegennaro2 Posted: May 08, 2012 08:10 AM+

Sdegennaro2 MEMBER SINCE: 2/12 TOTAL POSTS : 1636 WEDDING DATE: Nov 01, 2013

Posted: May 08, 2012 08:10 AM

Re: My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

JuneBug86 Posted: May 08, 2012 08:51 AM+

JuneBug86 MEMBER SINCE: 6/11 TOTAL POSTS : 1124 WEDDING DATE: Oct 05, 2012

Posted: May 08, 2012 08:51 AM

Re: My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

Thanks for sharing & Congrats!

We'll be in the garden room as well...how many guests did you have? I'm hoping the room wont be too congested.

pjt212301 Posted: May 08, 2012 09:27 AM+

pjt212301 MEMBER SINCE: 9/11 TOTAL POSTS : 2513 WEDDING DATE: Apr 29, 2012

Posted: May 08, 2012 09:27 AM

Re: My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

Congrats!!!!!

queenofhaerts Posted: May 08, 2012 09:52 AM+

queenofhaerts MEMBER SINCE: 12/09 TOTAL POSTS : 969 WEDDING DATE: Aug 10, 2012

Posted: May 08, 2012 09:52 AM

Re: My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

Congrats !! Pictures are beautiful!!

Sweetpea1 Posted: May 08, 2012 10:32 AM+

Sweetpea1 MEMBER SINCE: 5/06 TOTAL POSTS : 1317 WEDDING DATE: Apr 28, 2007

Posted: May 08, 2012 10:32 AM

Re: My 04/28/12 anniversary review (sorry very long)

Posted by JuneBug86

Thanks for sharing & Congrats!

We'll be in the garden room as well...how many guests did you have? I'm hoping the room wont be too congested.

I only had 85 people and it was very comfortable in the Garden. If you're having a large bridal party, then it will be tight for you in the bridal suite. Since it was just my husband, son and me we were fine.

net267 Posted: May 08, 2012 10:51 AM+

net267 MEMBER SINCE: 9/10 TOTAL POSTS : 1193 WEDDING DATE: Nov 03, 2012

Posted: May 08, 2012 10:51 AM