I`m Back!!! Wedding Report - (Long)

Hi to all!!! I`m back from a great wedding and honeymoon and it was all wonderful. I`ll try to keep this from getting too long.... Vendor detail will be posted on the rating board later. The Rehearsal dinner was lots of fun. About 60 guests attended, comprised of the bridal party, close family and out of town guests. It was at Tequila Sunrise on Bell Blvd. and they printed up special menus and decorated the place for us. Their Mariachi band added a nice, festive touch. One of my brother`s friends has a business doing private label cigars (cigarzdirect.com) and he surprised us with custom-banded cigars with our names and wedding date!!! The guys loved them. The wedding morning was windy and sunny. I`m expecting some great pictures of my veil flying wildly in the wind. Someone said I looked like the flying nun! The ceremony was very special. I can`t tell you how many people have told me that it`s the best Homily they`ve ever heard at a wedding and how terrific the Priest was. He also arranged for a special blessing from the Pope for us, and presented that at the end of the ceremony. We ended up with a Limo afterall, (Stargazer Limo in Maspeth(?)) - a gift from hubby`s dad. They were great - arrived early, and the driver was friendly and professional. We had thought we`d be happy with Town Cars, since it was only a few miles to travel, but having the Limo was really nice. The reception was at Leonard`s of Great Neck and we ended up with the entire top floor! It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Our reception was in two connected rooms that opened into one, the cocktail hour was next door and at the end of the hall was our huge bridal suite with a balcony. A highlight of the cocktail hour was looking up while our photographer was taking pictures, to see the Priest (a friend of hubby`s) at the glass doors, making faces so we`d laugh during the photo session. The service and the food were fabulous. Guests were raving about the Fried Calimari and the Stuffed Clams at the cocktail hour and also the entrees - especially the Salmon and the Prime Rib. They really outdid themselves on the cake - it was everything I`d always dreamed of. It was chocolate, with a chocolate mousse filling and white, basket weave icing decorated with Peach flowers. The florist did a floral arch over our Teddy Bear cake topper and provided peach roses that Leonard`s scattered across the cake with the icing roses. I`ll try to post pictures when they`re available. Another highlight of the evening was when they wheeled out the cappicino and espresso bar. I was surprised to see that it included little cordial shots in mini-chocolate cups. A big hit with the crowd. Spin Around Sound (our DJ) was great. Anthony and Anthony did a wonderful job and were up to the challenge of getting even my non-dancing family on the dance floor. My brother said he counted at least 4 times my Father was out dancing, which may be a record for one event!!! After the third request for the Electric Slide, which was on our Do Not Play list, someone came to hubby and said that Spin Around would not play it without his direct OK, since it was on our forbidden list. Hubby OK`d it and then got dragged onto the floor himself. He never did manage to get moving in the same direction as the crowd. Our photographers (Fine Photography by Eric in Forest Hills) were the best. I can`t wait to see the pictures. Even hubby was relaxed and enjoyed himself. One of my favorite things they did was to constantly catch us when we were chatting with friends or family, grabbing a quick posed shot, so I know we`re going to have a lot of good candids of us with our loved ones. Hubby`s brother, the best man, said he thinks he was in more photos than we were, so they must have been everywhere at once. All the little details, like seating cards, programs, and menus, were commented on and appreciated, so all that effort was worth it. I`m really glad I spent the time on those details. It really added to the overall event for me. The Inn at Great Neck, were we stayed, along with several of the out of town guests, could not have been better. The hotel was charming with great service and the guests enjoyed being able to stroll around Great Neck. We spent a little over a week in Myrtle Beach, SC, playing golf and touring around for our honeymoon. The weather could not have been better. It was nice and relaxing and we had some fabulous meals. US Air upgraded us to first class on the trip down, and gave us a bottle of champagne to take with us. I`m sure I`ve forgotten to post some important details. I`ll add them as I remember them. I`ll be adding my comments later to the vendor board. If you have specific questions you can contact me directly at [email protected]. Good luck to all still planning! Karen

Sounds like everything was wonderful!! Im so glad for you!! *NM*

Welcome Back Karen * Congratulations!!

Im so happy everything went so well. Best wishes to you and your new hubby.

Congrats! Glad your day was so great! *NM*

Congratulations! Can`t wait to see pictures *NM* *NM*

How amazing!! Congrats and Best Wishes in your new life! *NM*

ISounds wonderful!!! Congrats...what about flowers? *NM*

Congrats & best wishes to you & your new husband *NM*

Jenny B - re: Flowers

I realized after posting that I forgot to mention them! Murphy and Co. in Bayside was my florist and I was very pleased with everything. The floral cake topper looked terrific. The bouquets were amazing - peach and pink roses with red berries (sort of a elongated cranberry look - I think he said they were Eucalyptus) Mine was shades of off white, pink and peach, with some verigated ivy and tightly bunched queen ann's lace. The centerpieces were a mix of flowers - I can't honestly say what - it was all such a blur, but I recall that they looked great. I'm anxious to get back some pictures so I can see what they look like!!!

Karen, glad to hear you had such a nice day! Best of luck *NM*

I'm so happy for you!!!! *NM*

Congratulations! Glad to hear it was wonderful! *NM*

Congratulations on your wonderful day!!! *NM*

Karen - I couldn't wait to hear!! I'm so happy for you!! *NM*

Congrats and Best Wishes *NM*