Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Sounds like all the last minute stuff went smooth. Welcome home and congratulations again to you! Your wedding was not only beautiful, but we had a wonderful time!!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Welcome back! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your day

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Welcome home!!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Welcome back and Congratulations!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

congrats michele!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Wow so glad everything was as good as you expected, congrats sweetie, lets see some pics huh.

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Congrats Michele!!!!! I'm sure that your day was wonderful!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Sorry for the wait. After traveling for 36 hours to get home- that's right 36, Scott and I decided to pick up our proofs on Friday afternoon instead. We were just very tired. So that will be discussed later today I promise.
For now, I will continue:
Florist (since many of you are waiting for this one)
Burtons B+
From the beginning I wanted nice flowers, but didn't want to spend thousands and thousands on flowers. I think flowers are very important and they were a priority to me, but not over spending the money on our HM or photos. Burtons is a wonderful place to get nice flowers at a good price. I have always thought that Mike was easy to deal with. The fact that I did not have a rose count on my contract never bothered me as it does some other brides. I wanted hand-tied bouquets, low centerpieces w/candles and nice arrangements. Here is what I got for about $2500
-16 pew bouquets (they each had 6 roses with a loop satin bow)
-my bouquet
-2 MOH and 6 BM bouquets
-3 Mom and 2 additional coursages
-12 low centerpieces in glass dishes (there is a slightly higher charge or the glass containers) w/3 votives in each centerpiece
-13 bots for the guys
-enterance way, fireplace arrangement for the hall
-2 church arrangements
-tulle wrapped staircase at bridal house and columns wrapped at Church
-1 dz. roses to use in floating bowls at hall (bowls provided by Hamlet)

I booked over a year ago so some prices may have gone higher.
I met with Burtons a total of 4 times (intial, 2 follow-ups and one week prior to view centerpiece and pay balance). Each time they were nice, easy to work with and spent the time I needed to make sure they understood what I wanted.
2 days before the wedding I went to see a centerpiece sample. I was very happy with it. In fact, I was pleasently surprised with how much I liked it. It is one thing to come up with a flower arrangement in your head. It is another to actually see it come to life. Hint: It is not a florist's fault if you do not like your centerpieces the day of the wedding and you never saw a sample. It is your fault. Get a sample made- even if they charge you a small fee. Again, flowers look one way in our minds and another in 'real' life. Also, flowers are not computers. They do not open on command. Some flowers open very quickly, others take all day, some bruise super easy, other last days and days in perfect condition. TALK to your florist about this and your ideas. Also, make tags up for each bouquet and bot. Give them to your florist and tell him/her to tag each item. It helped me out A LOT the day of.
Mike and I discussed some changes I wanted to make such as adding a few of another flower, changing the fern to ivy etc...
The day of my wedding the delivery was on time. The staff was very polite. They brought me everything with the tags I gave them (again a big help). The flowers were really nice. I did have them add some extra roses to the 2 MOH bouquets since I felt they looked a bit smaller than the other BM bouquets- but that is because I chose for them to have a different bouquet than the other girls and those roses were not as large (nature's fault, not Burtons) so the bouquets appeared smaller. They added the roses without any problems. My bouquet was really pretty but some of the sterling roses were a tad bruises. No one else could really see it except me but it was bothering me a bit. Sterling roses bruise super, super easy (again nature). So I had them cut off the bruises area. But get this- as I was taking my photos they arrived with a NEW bouquet for me. This time I truly loved it! I never asked them to change the bouquet. They just did it on their own since they could sense I was not as thrilled as I wanted to be. Honestly most girls would have loved the first one. It was really pretty. All of the other flowers were as I had hoped. They also sent Scott an extra bot, which proved perfect since his was getting squished with people hugging him after the ceremony. That is another hint- ask for an extra groom's bot just in case people hug him to tight a few times
All in all Burton's is again nice to work with, the flowers are in good order and fresh when they arrive and the customer service the day of was wonderful.

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Reception: The Hamlet Windwatch (Hauppauge)
hard to give a single grade so I will break it up.
-Food A+
-dealing with the Chef A+
-The wall being fixed before my weddingA+
-Cake B for taste, F for appreance (more on this I promise)
-Bar staff, wait staff B
-working with Catering director Denise D
-The day of running of the wedding B
-Appreance the day of the wedding B+

Details...details....Some of you know that we booked the Hamlet 2 months prior to our 'official' engagment. I fell in love with the place one innocent day while going to the driving range with Scott and some friends. Denise was super pleasant to deal with for the 2 weeks prior to signing our contract. Honestly after that she and I clashed at every point. She promised me that Scott and I could take photos on the golf course PRIOR to the ceremony and then a few months later when I called to arrange the details told me she would not know until 2 weeks prior to my date if I would be allowed to do so. This was a HUGE fight between us. She was nasty and bascially didn't want to have to 'bother' with me. That became the attitude for the entire planning of my wedding. I left the Hamlet crying on more than one occassion from the way she spoke to me and the fact that every time I wanted to do something a bit different than other weddings she fought me. I wanted to do place candles, she hated the idea and wanted MY bridal party to stand outside the cocktail hour and tell my guests to get their candle prior to entering the reception. Many of you know the wall fight so if you need more details ask but let's not even get into this other than to say true to form, she told me it should be open since that is what all of the other girls do. I have hated that idea from the first time I heard it (no offense to other that like it open, it is a personal prefence). The linens not matching (if the cocktail room is opened) bothered me very much and her response was that I could rent table clothes. When I asked her for some suggestions on where to go, she told me she had NO idea where I could. Are you kidding! When I posted for help on this board, Flowerfield was great and offered a suggestion. Too bad my own coordinator didn't want to help me. I wanted to schedule a tasting and she told me that 'many brides never have a tasting they just pick the menu' to which I replied 'I am not every bride' but since I wanted a tasting she arranged it. During the tasting my sister almost got into a huge fight with Denise because she would not work with me on the cake design. I was told from Day 1- give us a picture and they will create the cake exactly. (more on the awful outcome later in this review). On the day of the tasting she showed me amatuer photos of cakes that I hated and I told her 'This is not what my photo looks like. I don't want this cake, I want the one I am bringing you the photo of' My 2 friends, Scott and my sister ALL commented at different times on how rude she was to me and how nasty she speaks to me. Oh and my favorite line from that evening was 'And then you posted those photos on the Internet about the 1/2 finished wall and upset all of those girls for NO reason. But then they see that there is NO problem so you upset them for nothing' Are you crazy? She is throwing a legitimate problem I came to you all with in my face! After that night I had enough and hired an outside day of planning to deal with her. After another mishap- when the new manager of the place who was supposed to run my wedding for me instead of Denise, upon my request, was let-go I had no choice but to deal with her again (well me and my coordinator). She did a complete 180- all of a sudden she loved my ideas, my table name cards were a wonderful idea (she orginally insisted that the numbers be used in addition to my name cards which I flatly refused to do!), everything I was doing was perfect. Honestly not sure why the change, but I didn't trust it and am glad to never deal with her again. On to some nice stuff:
The Chef is GREAT to work with. He created a new dish for me Hamlet Swordfish since Sea Bass is becoming endangered I didn't want it served at my wedding. I wanted to do something different than salmon and his entree creation was perfect! My menu was: Zucchini starter (try it. you will be suprised at how great it is), Hamlet salad (but with balsamic dressing instread), Chicken Champagne ( during the tasting I wasn't crazy about the other chicken but that is a personal taste), Filet (delicous) and Swordfish. All entrees were served with garlic mashed and veggies. The meal was presented beautifully. People (incl. my stepmother who is very honest and picky) LOVED it. Scott and I didn't eat our entrees since we were too busy dancing the night away and talking to guests. I am super happy with my menu selections. During the cocktail hour people were coming up to me saying how great it was (but when do they say it is awful to the bride anyway) but I believed them. Claud, Stef and Cindy can answer specifics about food if you want to privately PM them since they were there.
The day of the wedding was run smoothly and professionally. The room was set up as I wanted. My extra touches were in the proper places- my coordinator also helped and insured that for me. The bridal suite was very nice. The staff was all very helpful and made sure we were treated well. No compliments about that at all.
My cake- I plan to write a letter next week to the owner of the bakery. It was devil's food with choc. peanut butter filling and Italian merigangue (sp?) icing. It tasted really good and the guests seemed to enjoy the different taste combo. But it was UGLY and looked very little to my photo. I searched and searched for the cake I wanted (as most of us to). It was not a difficult design. Some guests told my stepmom the cake was so pretty but I hated it!!! In fact I told the photographers that if I see one proof of that cake in focus I will cry. I wanted to ask for it to be removed from the room but I thought it would be a pain to remove it during the reception so I didn't ask. I am VERY upset over it.

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Continued:
Anyway I would highly recommend the Hamlet since the food is great, most of the staff is great, and it is a very pretty place. They only do one wedding at a time and that is a plus. I know there are a few brides who have had great experience wtih Denise, and I know some who have had my experience so make that decision for yourself. PM other Hamlet brides and talk with them. I only had to gaurentee 100 for a Sat. evening and that was a huge plus for us since we only had 156 invited. I didn't want to worry about meeting a min. guest count. Also, vendor meals are $35 plus service charge and tax (why service charge is added for vendors I will NEVER know). I paid $85 pp + service charge of 19% and tax. I recommend new brides looking at the place. Again, overall the place is wonderful.

Day of Coordinator- Elaine Gottlieb Exquisite Events A+
She was a true help! I am sooo greatful SonicStef found her for me. I had a large bridal party and she was really, really helpful in getting everything organized. I nevered worried for one minute about anything not going well. I am a very neurotic person and a few months ago Scott told me that 'there is NO way you will ever enjoy our wedding because you will be running around making sure things are done a certain way and that makes me sad'. After he said that (I knew it was true) I decided that I needed someone to do the worrying for me that day. I also had the clash with the hall coordinator and that was causing me a ton of stress. Elaine was everywhere before I was making sure things were in place. She set up the place candles, made sure the flowers were correct, made sure the favors were put out at the proper time etc... I met with her 3 times prior to the RD, she ran the RD and then the big day. She is worth every dime. Her prices are very reasonable for all she does. She even picked up my wish bowl notecards for me when there was no way I could get to the place since I was so busy dealing with last minute stuff the week before the wedding.

Music: Milestone Music A+
If you want to ask a guest about this just PM Claud, Cindy or Stef. But from my point of view and from what I heard after the wedding this band was amazing. Dotty (the band leader) had the band learn 7 songs for me! Most will only learn 3. They respected my Do Not Play List and played the stuff that was really important to me. My dance floor was packed all night. Scott and I danced and danced our little hearts out. My sister, who really likes DJs had come to a showcase with me and loved Milestone also. She was my biggest critic in this area so I knew I made a great choice. Even during dinner when the band played Biggest Part of Me and everyone was eating Scott and I foreited our eating time to dance alone on the floor. I highly, highly recommend this band. I paid $4300 for 2 pieces during the cocktail hour and 9 pieces during the reception with live music during breaks.

Travel Agent: Christine at Liberty Travel in Levittown A+
Thank goodness we found her (thanks for people on this board). She was able to put our African HM together when 2 others could not. We wanted very specific destinations that were recommended to us by a business colleague in South Africa and a travel agent over in SA. She found the US arm of the SA travel agent and worked through them to put it all together for us. She calls you back when you leave her a message and stays on top of your plans. I recommend giving her a call.

Tuxedos- Men’s Warehouse B
Some girls have had problems, but my experience went rather smoothly. Amy at the Lake Grove store is great to work with. She made sure everything was in proper order for me. The prices were great and my out of town guys could get measured and pick up their tuxs close to their homes. Everything was returned to the Lake Grove store the day after the wedding. Everything was fine. No problems. I recommend checking them out for yourself.

Honeymoon- South Africa and Zimbabwe A++
We didn’t want a beach vacation, we wanted a once in a lifetime trip. That is exactly what we got. It was not a budget HM by any means but if anyone needs detailed info please let me know. Here are some highlights: every location was great. We were treated so well by so many people. The service in SA is superior to the states, and that is not just because we stayed in 5-star hotels. Even the taxi drivers are super nice and helpful. At one point my Dad forbid me to go saying we would get killed over there. Yes I laughed at him.
SA is NOT what many people think. We stayed in Cape Town at the Cape Grace, www.capegrace.com then off to our safari at Londolozi www.ccafrica.com, then off to Johannseberg to the Michael Angelo then to another ccafrica property Matetsi Water Lodge. The things we saw were incredible. I was a few feet away from a Leopard and her cubs learning how to hunt, a chettah, amazing things. Wait till I post the photos. If you want a world class safari HM, go to Londolozi you will NOT be disappointed. The other hotels were just bonuses along the way. Matetsi was really nice, the river front lodge is beautiful but for us, Londolozi was a crown jewel.

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Flower girl dress, my purse, my Mom's purse: www.glamgal.com A
Ann is easy to work with, gets you stuff on time, Prices are very fair. I recommend looking at her site.

Ceremony Music- Janet King (harpist) B
She is great to work with. She learned a new song for me to walk down the aisle to. For those who say it doesn't matter who plays the music at your ceremony don't listen. If it matters to you, it will matter that day. The harp really added something for me. She is $400 for the mass and I felt worth the extra money we spent.

Dance Lessons; Victor Goldman Cooperative Partners (from this site) B+
Great to work with. Easy, no pressure. Our dance was not super complicated by any means but we had 5 one-hour lessons and practiced a bit at home. We were soooo happy we took the lessons. Scott and I even did a run though right before the reception began while everyone was eating at the cocktail hour. Call him, take a lesson and honestly, it is a nice way to spend time together.

While there is NO rating the value of friendship an extra special thanks goes to these people:
The week of putting together of the programs, candles and other stuff- my MOH Barbara, Cindy and Claud- A++++
Just when you think it will never get done- similar to a term paper you have to complete in 2 days while studying for finals- it all gets done. They cut ribbon, tied ribbon, folded, taped and ate ice cream with me. I needed the laughs and the break from the stressful stuff and got it. If you have 'projects' to complete ask some friends to help. It made a huge difference.

Picking up my cannolis from Alba's in Brooklyn for me, making sure I stayed sane for the last year and a half, e-mails throughout the day, designing everything, printing candle names on vellum at 1am a few days before my wedding and countless other stuff- SonicStef A++++



Hints, Vents, Advise, OMG can another thing go wrong this week:
The last 10 days before the wedding were totally crazy and I am an organized person. The limo company thing, my priest went to a new parish, Lynn couldn't make it. Honestly I thought I was going to be put away into a mental hospital. But with some supportive friends (you all included) and the fact that it was out of my hands I just tried to fix what I could, deal with what I couldn't fix and have a great time. In the end Scott and I had a great time. I still wish my original Priest could have said our mass, but the Pope was not taking my calls The ceremony was still really nice. I made sure I was very focused on paying attention during the ceremony. I picked out each reading and each song for a reason. Scott and I really worked hard on making that the most important part of our day. Claud's reading was beautiful! We were not on the altar for more than 3 minutes when my best friend (Matron of Honor) knocked over the altar arrangement. It was very funny. Roy rushed in to fix it up (thanks for that), and she looked so embarrassed it was priceless. I thought we might never stop laughing about it. The harpist really added a special touch. The Priest used my programs to conduct the mass! That was a nice compliment. I have a template if anyone needs a full catholic mass template, but be warned my program was 20 pages. I included all of the readings and prayers.
We wish we had eaten dinner- but instead we danced more. We can eat dinner any night of the week, but you can only dance at your wedding once.
I am glad I cared about the small details. I think they matter. People notice. I had hotel gift bags for my guests when they check-in. They didn't cost me an arm and a leg- I put in bottled water, tik tacks, choclate, LI postcard, hard candy and a bag of chips. I made the children up their own bags full of coloring stuff, lots of fun candy, stickers, pencils, etc...I also had a coloring book waiting for my FG and RB in their seats at the Church to help keep them happy for the hour. And during the receiving line my FG was sitting on the floor coloring- I cannot wait to see those photos! The candles look pretty on the entereance table and on the guest's tables. Everyone thought the table name cards were a great idea. Scott designed each one using photos he took at Baseball parks around the US. Then we printed them on our photo printer. Kinkos charges about $8 to mount them to the foam core. We had 1 per table. They took time to do, but I am glad we did it. Start as many projects as early as you can. You will need the time closer to the wedding for last minute stuff and mishaps.

I was VERY calm the day of the wedding. I slept the night before with out any problems. Everyone was shocked at how calm I was while getting ready. There were a lot of people in the house so that was a bit of chaos but I knew in my heart I was marrying the right person so everything else was gravy. Yes I wanted it to go nicely, but in the end I wanted to marry Scott. I waited 32 years to get married and it was worth the wait.

We took photos before the ceremony since we wanted outdoor shots (daylight would be almost gone after the ceremony). It was just us, and the video/photographers. They set us up to see one another for the first time. It was a nice moment to share together, away from tons of people.

So the day goes by quickly, as EVEYONE tells you. It's true. Some of it feels like a dream, almost surreal. It is a lot of money for one day, and not everything is going to go perfectly but that is okay too. Enjoy your day, ask for help during the plans when you need it, take some breaks from the plans, see a movie with a friend when the pressure gets too much, take a few extra days from work to prepare, don't wait till the last month to get everything done, have people who love you surround you that day, kiss your new husband often and dance together instead of talking.

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

sounds like a GREAT day. Cant wait to see your honeymoon pics

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

I am new, just started this week, but i just have to say thank you for taking time out to post your reviews and share your advice. i am totally detail-oriented and we sound a lot alike, and i am totally grateful to you. i am still teary eyed from your closing remarks about enjoying your day and taking time to enjoy each other. it sounds like you had a beautiful ceremony and event. congratulations, and thanks!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Hi Michele !!!!
Welcome back !!!

Thank You for a wonderful detialed review. All-in-all it sounds like a wonderful da !!!!

So sorry about the cake, I can see it really disappointed you, and I hope the rest of the day made up for it.

Question: What made Janet King only get a B?

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Hi Michele!

Welcome home! I'm so glad you guys had such a wonderful wedding. You looked beautiful, and you and Scott looked so happy.

Thanks for such the comprehensive review!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Welcome Back!!! Your wedding sounds wonderful!! All the best to you and Scott!!!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Congrats Michele!!! It sounds wonderful. I am glad that you were able to diffuse the tension between you and Denise by bringing in a coordinator. I think it is so strange how you two just rub each other the wrong way, because I have had such great experiences with both of you. Were you able to take photographs on the golf course before the ceremony? Please post pics when you get them. I am so looking forward to them

By the way, I would love to see your program. I am going to have a full mass and want to print the readings as well. Assuming I ever decide on readings. I am currently agonizing over them because I want to avoid all of that 'women, obey your husbands' mumbo jumbo, but that seriously limits my choices.

Thank you for all of your words of wisdom. Coloring books to keep the kids occupied is a great suggestion. I'll have to add that one to my list. I am starting to become concerned that my list is getting longer instead of shorter these days

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Wow, Congrats!!!!!!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

Glad you had a wonderful day!

Congratulations!

Re: I'm back and ready to rate my vendors (super long- did you expect anything less?)

I already know how wonderful your wedding was so Im not surprised to hear how great things turned out but if you dont mind Im going to add a review of Albas for you:

Michele asked me to pick up her mini cannolis on my way to the wedding. Michele ordered everything ahead of time. We showed up at noon and they told us the cannolis were not ready! I totally freaked because we had a 2 hour drive to the ceremony plus we wanted to drop them off at the reception site before the ceremony, blah...blah..blah. Thank god my husband was there to deal with them because I was so upset about it ... I definitely didnt want to miss Micheles ceremony but I couldnt leave without those cannolis. It took close to an hour for them to get them all boxed up and ready for us to go - thank goodness there was no traffic!

So Im sure the cannolis tasted good (i dont eat cannolis so I can't say) but I think they were very lax with their service and delivery.