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10/11 vanderbilt mansion wedding review

CarrieAnn Posted: Oct 13, 2002 04:40 PM+

CarrieAnn MEMBER SINCE: 8/02 TOTAL POSTS : 582 WEDDING DATE: Oct 11, 2002

Posted: Oct 13, 2002 04:40 PM

10/11 vanderbilt mansion wedding review

Well, the rain was a good luck omen :)

REHERSAL DINNER
The Garden Grill in Smithtown. We had a small bridal party (one sister and one brother), so our rehersal dinner was small as well. 14 in the back room of the garden grill, very nice!

HAIR
Michele who works out of Cactus in Commack (near the bonwitt inn and the wedding center).
I went for a trial at the salon, and she came to the location where I got my makeup done the day of the wedding to do my hair. She did a wonderful job, and my hair didn't change at all throughout the course of the night (despite the rain). What a nice lady! She did my sisters hair as well, and we were both very pleased.

MAKEUP
Natalie the owner of Serenity (631 462 6500) in Commack. She gave me a facial 2 weeks before, and a calming facial the day before the wedding (after a full day of teaching...I am really glad I went that afternoon for the facial). She uses all Aveda products, and did a very nice job. I really liked the low key, relaxing atmosphere (it is her own salon, so just she is there) and the makeup looked natural.

CLERGY
Eva Ceskava worked and met with us 3 times before the wedding. Together we wrote the most beautiful, personal ceremony. What a pleasure and honor to have her marry us under the rain covered glass conservatory. We changed the way the ceremony was situated in the room, and it was just BEAUTIFUL!

FLOWERS
Heidi from Sugar Magnolias...loved her from the second I walked into her shop in StonyBrook. The centerpieces were everything I imagined, understated elegance that complimented the features of the ballroom. We used hydrangias in a deep purple with an assortment of darker and lighter flowers and greens with ivory accents...she really was such a pleasure, and is highly recommended.

MUSIC
Tom from Spin Around Sound. INCREDIBLE! He played everything we asked him for, and only spoke when necessary! I felt like I was back at 007/Malibu...Most excellent!

LOCATION
Vanderbilt Mansion in Oakdale. We had 145, and fit nicely. The food was highly complimented, the one concern, the size of the plates (too small). We dressed the bathrooms up with a rug, candle, and flowers. The dance floor was big enough (my concern), and even without the outside back porch available for the cocktail hour (b/c of rain) there was enough room for people to move about the huntroom and the foyer area.

CEREMONY/COCKTAIL HOUR MUSIC
Harpist and a flutist, really really nice.
Karen Strauss is the name of the harpist.

PICTURES
I was so happy with our choice! Jack Roman (check out jackroman.com) What a cool guy!! We did our engagement shoot at the sands point preserve in Port Washington, and they came out GREAT! He has his own style, slightly less traditional, which is the feeling we wanted to capture! I cant wait to see them :)

DAY AFTER BRUNCH
Food catered by Brian and Barbara Valeri of Big Bear Deli in East Northport. Quiches and sandwiches were really good, and they are such nice people to deal with. They also helped cater our engagement party, many compliments were received!

We made our own favors (handpainted pots with lavender plants from sequim valley lavender in washington state) that we wrapped up and presented with care instructions and bought boxed matches that were placed in a basket on the piano (Minuteman Press in East Northport).

I made 4 wreathes out of dried hydrangias that I collected through out the summer and all of the roses rick had every given me. Heidi (Sugar Magnolias) placed them throughout the huntroom and foyer for me. At the end of the night I gave them to our mothers and aunt and sister.

My dress and my BMaids dress was from Macy's in Lake Grove (SmithHaven Mall) ... Danielle was the sales associate. The men got their tuxes from Apollo Classic Tux in East Northport.

Engagement Ring and bands, and grooms watch all from Tudor jewelers in Northport..RAY is the man!
******************************************

Overall, no complaints, despite the rain, and Long Island traffic associated with the rain, it was a beautiful evening. {The rain I thought was fitting b/c our 1st dance song mentions the rain falling down ... (nora jones-come away with me).}

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME PUT TOGETHER THE WEDDING OF MY DREAMS IN UNDER 4 MONTHS!! The posts and archives at LiWeddings.com really helped me to make informed and educated decisions, and gave me many leads that I could check out via the internet. Thanks to all who helped out along the way.

(Hope I didnt forget anything!!)

ssdare Posted: Oct 13, 2002 04:48 PM+

ssdare MEMBER SINCE: 10/02 TOTAL POSTS : 797 WEDDING DATE: Jun 07, 2003

Posted: Oct 13, 2002 04:48 PM

Re: 10/11 vanderbilt mansion wedding review

Congratulations! I'm so glad to hear your evening went well.

Karen62794 Posted: Oct 13, 2002 05:00 PM+

Karen62794 MEMBER SINCE: 2/02 TOTAL POSTS : 1731 WEDDING DATE: Jul 04, 2003

Posted: Oct 13, 2002 05:00 PM

Re: 10/11 vanderbilt mansion wedding review

Congratulations and best wishes and happiness always!

RichsBride Posted: Oct 13, 2002 06:08 PM+

RichsBride MEMBER SINCE: 4/02 TOTAL POSTS : 2289 WEDDING DATE: Oct 20, 2002

Posted: Oct 13, 2002 06:08 PM

Re: 10/11 vanderbilt mansion wedding review

CarrieAnn, I'm so thrilled for you! What a great review. We are using Tom from Spin Around Sound too! We live right near the Vanderbilt & love it. I'm so glad you didn't let the weather get you down!
Best of luck in your married life! Can't wait to see pics!

Paiz Posted: Oct 13, 2002 06:12 PM+

Paiz MEMBER SINCE: 10/01 TOTAL POSTS : 1100 WEDDING DATE: Apr 26, 2003

Posted: Oct 13, 2002 06:12 PM