Wedding Review for 11/8

In the end we had a great day!!!! Which unfortunately was dampered by the incompetant management at the Westbuty Manor. Here is my review, hope it helps


Rehearsal Dinner: Finn MacCool’s – A+
We had a little room to ourselves. Included in the price per person was salad, a choice of 4 entrees, desert and beer, wine or soda. They treated us like kings and queens. They even made up menus with my Husband’s and my name on it. Everyone seemed to have a great time, including the wait staff. Also we went back to Finn MacCool’s the next night after our wedding reception, and again we were treated extremely well. I have no complaints, only high praise.

Jennifer from Fairytale Makeover - A+
Jenn and her assistant were they at 6:00am. Did my hair and my MOH hair. Did two girls nails. And 4 girls make-up. Jenn and her assistant were great - they chatted the entire time and I think that was one of the reasons I was not nervous all morning. All their chit chat was keeping my mind occupied.

My hair stayed all day and all night. And I did alot of dancing. All I needed to do was freshen up on the lip stick. Everyone looked fabulous!

Church: St. Peter’s, Port Washington – A
The church had scaffolding all around it, so that was the reason I did not give it an A+. The priest, I must admit , we were a bit nervous about him. We did not get a warm and fuzzy feel from him. But he came through in the end and had a lovely homily. The only other thing that I noticed was one song was only supposed to be the music and was not supposed to be sung, and it was. Wasn’t happy with that either, but oh well. I am the only one that noticed.

Tuxedos: A+
Unfortunately I forget the name of the place, but they did a great job. They had to remeasure my father, but they would not let him out of the store until it was corect. Everyone's tux fit like a glove and they all looked fantastic. Nothing like a man in a tuxedo!!! They tux place was located on Ditmar Avenue in Queens, so if you are interested in knowing please FM me.

Bridesmaids Dresses: Netbride.com – A
It was a fairly simple process, and they were cheap and efficient. My only little problem: I had a bridesmaid tell me a week after we ordered the dress that she was pregnant. I had to make several phone calls one day in order to cancel her dress and order another. I don’t think it should have been as big a deal as they made it out to be. The dress was cancelled per my request and I was able to ordered a maternity dress for her. All the dresses came in a few weeks early and were sent to the bridesmaids homes (they all live out of state). They did their own alterations, and all the BM looked beautiful. The dresses were Bordeaux colored seperates from Impressions. The Maternity dress was the same color also from Impressions.

Bridal Reflections: Brides Dress –A
I went to Bridal Reflections in Carle Place a few times. The first experience was a good one, though the prices were out of my league. The second was horrible. So I decided to go to Bridal Reflections in Massapequa, where I found my dress. I eventually wound up buying it at Bridal Reflections in Carle Place (long story). But I am very glad I did, because Lee the seamstress was wonderful and very talented. The dress was beautiful and I got many complements. It was Marissa $504 - it had lots of lace and needed an experienced hand.

Cassarino Studios – B
I had problems with my original photographer. He never showed to the first meeting I had scheduled with him. At the second meeting, he showed up hung over and 20-25 minutes late. I told the manager I did not want him as my photographer. So they gave me another – I had no choice was just given another photographer about two weeks before the wedding.

The verdict is still out on her. I will wait for the proofs. I know she got some of the shots I wanted, but she was not very creative. Also my husbands family got their photos taken, and I was not in one of them. I went to dance and I thought they were going to call me back for a few photos - a little disappointed that they didn’t.

Flowers by Burtons – A
The only reason I did not give them an A+ is that I was called the Thursday before the wedding because they did not know how many boutonnieres and corsages I needed. I went over all this with Mike and was a bit disappointed that I needed to worry about this two days before the wedding. Finally I talked with Mike, who told me everything was under control.

The flowers came out gorgeous!! My B’OK was more then I ever could have hoped for. All fall colors with white calla lilies and stephanopolis (sp?). The Bridesmaids had the same B’OK except they had burgundy calla lilies. The church alter flowers were big and had lots and lots of colorful fowers, and the pew bow were white bows with three yellow and burgundyish roses. Just beautiful!!!

DJ Unlimited – A
We had a problem with our reception place and he came over to make sure we were fine. He tried to get us to shake off our mood and try to enjoy ourselves. Which I appreciated. He had a mixture of up beat and slow songs. Everyone was up dancing all afternoon. My husband was disappointed because a few of our choices of music were not played. Some Irish songs – U2, Pogues and a few others. Not one was played. Husband is from Ireland, so he was disappointed. The DJ was exactly what we had hoped for, he was unobtrusive, not over baring, and had everyone up on the dance floor. Which is not an easy feet considering it was an afternoon wedding

Royalty Limos – A
They came early. The heat in the Rolls Royse worked and I did not get any grease on my
dress!!!! So I was pretty happy. The driver had a bottle of champagne waiting for us when we got out of church. He knew where he was going to get to the reception, leaving my husband and I time to enjoy the champagne with out worrying about directions.

We also got a 55 passenger bus to get husband and his family and friends from Queens. The bus was clean, but the driver had no concept of direction. He wanted to get on the BQE to get to LI. On the way to Finn MacCools in Port Washington, he had to turn back and my husband had to give him directions otherwise we would have wound up in Queens. But we all got there on time!!! And the groom was early for the church. So no complaints.!!!

Westbury Manor – C
I had problems with the Westbury Manor from the beginning. I should have known and found another place, but I really loved the atmosphere. Plus everyone told me it was great and I would be treated like a Queen. Well I wasn’t. Infact they did nothing more then take our money and treat us like idiots. We paid for the use of a room that we did not get access to until about 2 hours into our reception. Very angry and will be writing a letter to one of the Scotto Brothers. The General Manager of the Westbury Manor was very insulting.

Luckily, most of our guests did not know about this problem or the fact we spent 30 – 45 minutes yelling and screaming at the management. The food was good, what little I ate, and the service by the wait-staff I was told was pretty good as well. That is the only reason I gave it a C. Otherwise is would have been a big F.

I thing that is it. We went to California (San Fran, Monterey, Cambria, Santa Barbara and Las Vegas) for our Honeymoon. We had a fantastic time. If anyone is going to San Francisco, I highly recommend the Sheraton at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Re: Wedding Review for 11/8

Regina - welcome back!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry to hear about Westbury!!!! I hope everything works out for you and you are compensated.

I thought of you and asked Jennifer how you were as she came to me after she was done with you - she said you weren't nervous and you looked great.

Congrats to you and DH - wishing a fellow 11/8 bride all the best

Re: Wedding Review for 11/8

Congrats! Sorry to hear about your misfortune at Westbury manor.

Re: Wedding Review for 11/8

Welcome back and congrats!!! Sorry to hear about the westbury manor

Re: Wedding Review for 11/8

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

But, OMG about Westbury...I would definitely demand some money back from Scotto Bros too!!! What happened to you is completely unacceptable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry!!!!

Re: Wedding Review for 11/8

Sorry to hear about your wedding reception. We were married there on Sunday November 9th. Our wedding was elegant, and the staff was great. Our Maitre'd 'Grace' was wonderful. She was sweet and looked after me as if I was her daughter. (She did tell me she had two sons and that when she Maitre'Ds she likes to treat her brides how she would want her daughter treated). My husbands cousin was married there a year ago (a huge Irish wedding 275 people +)that is how we heard of Westbury Manor, and just knew it was the place for us. Our wedding was not as big we were in the Garden Room, plus we were able to use the gorgeous Library room later in the afternoon.

Re: Wedding Review for 11/8

Sorry to hear about the reception. Congrats. I glad that you had a great time.