John Anthony's brides

Did you get/are you getting your favors through Ann? I kinda like that she'll order them, wrap them, and set them up. One thing I don't have to worry about. But then again, I'm so anal, I don't know if I can let something be handled by someone else.

What do you plan on doing?

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Hi Paiz - we are going through Classic Favors in Selden - the girl included the wrapping and delivery charge etc in the price, which we found reasonable. Question: Does John Anthony's chargethe outside vendor charge even for vendors like the florist and the favors gal who will be in and out before the cocktail hour even starts? My understanding was that they charge the $35 per head vendor charge for meals, basically...to feed the vendors we bring in (like DJ and fotog) who will be eating b/c they are there the whole time....anyone know?

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I think you're right. Only the vendors that eat. If you use their suggested vendors, there is no charge, if you use outside vendors then it's 1/2 price.

Correct me if I'm wrong girls, but I think that's it.

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I second Classic Favors, in Selden. Igot married at John Anthony's in May. And I lived in Selden, so I compared JA's price for the favor to Classic Favors. Well Classic Favors worked with me so much. It was $2 less a favor and she didn't even stick to the minimum that they required for that price. Mother and daughter shop. I think one of the names is Barbara. Very nice people!

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Hi Denise! Was the whole thing wonderful? Congrats! And is it right to say they only charge the outside vendors that eat? Like the DJ/photographer/viedographer? Makes no sense to me to charge us for the outside vendors who do not eat.

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Yes, it was wonderful. Except for a few little problems we had at the end of the wedding, that we have already spoken to the owner, Angelo about. We had a day wedding 1-6 and around 5:00 they started clearing off tables and setting up for the next wedding. I found this out only after my honeymoon (when some guests told me they left at 5:00 thinking the wedding was over). I immediatly called Angelo and hopefully he spoke with whoever was responsible. I was a little upset. As a matter of fact, they even put out the cocktail hour for the next wedding and my guests ate it not knowing. Chocolate covered strawberries that I didn't pay for!!!

The second problem I encountered was they removed all my stuff from my bridal suite without anyone's knowledge and threw it on the floor behind the dias. They had no right to touch my stuff. That is what I was really upset about. They had no right doing that, and I blame the maitre'd for that one. And, this is embarrasing. One of my ushers was changing out of his tux in the bridal suite not knowing it was no longer ours, when a girl walks in on him standing there in his boxers and started scraming theres a guy in my bridal suite. It was her bridal suite, but we had no idea. He was mortified. So.. I hate to tell you this, but I have to be honest. On another note, every other aspect of the wedding was amazing, food, service from servers, view. Also, the whole wedding process, dealing with Anne and Patty was a joy. Although, I think Patty is mad at me for reporting my unhappiness to Angelo. We always had a really great relationship, as a matter of fact I was so close to them, that Anne came to my church in Massapequa on her day off! But the last time I talked to Patty with Angelo listening in, she was very abrupt with me. Oh well, I have to say if I was happy or not. All in all I would give JA's a 9! Not bad and after dealing with Angelo I would be shocked if what happened to me ever happened again!

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Also, I am sorry I got so in to the wedding experience I forgot to answer you about the vendors. Vendors who are recommended by the hall are free. Outside vendors (only those who eat) are 1/2 price. Vendors like florist and favor person (if you have one) do not get charged, tehy are in and out. Only video, photo, dj you would pay for if they are not recomeneded by JA's. Who are you using? I went all in house and would wholeheartledly recommend them all! Feel free to ask my any more questions you have!

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I am not getting my favors through JA's because I am very fortunate that my mom is very creative and offered to make them for me. I will be ordering my invitations through them (hopefully in the next few weeks).

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I totally agree that you only pay for vendors that will be eating. I have not seen Anne yet and I plan to make my favors myself (and a donation). WHat else does she do? Do you suggest I see her? One last thing if I bring my own small favors (hershey kisses bags) will JA'S put them out for me since I have no one to do it? DO you know if I decided to make my own centerpieces (candleabra) will they set these up for me as well? Thanks

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You won't be disappointed with JAs It was a dream wedding for us. We ordered our invitations from Anne and they came out super... we got our favors from Wrap with Us in Syosset.

The little details at JAs were so great - we had wine bottles on every table, the mini viennese with cookies, pastries and whole fruit as well as wedding cake and semifreddo ice cream dessert all included in the basic price. To this day, I still haven't been to a wedding where they served semifreddo ice cream...and wine bottles on the tables is a great idea and not seen very often either- it decreases traffic flow during reception.

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It didn't matter it was a day wedding. Even Angelo said that. They had 2 hours before the next cocktail hour started at 8:00!!!!!!!!!!

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Another thing- JA's puts out all of your favors even if you don't order them through Ann. Two weeks before you will plan the menu and your banquet mgr will provide you with seating charts place cards that you have to fill out and other forms to use as a guideline, then about a week before you will meet with them and give them a final headcount, pay the balance, give them the seating arrangements and bring in all of the items you will use on your wedding day. (like favors, menus, invitation, cake topper, toasting glasses, etc.) On the seating chart you will indicate how many favors to place on each table. And, yes you pay half price for non-house vendors, free for house. Florist doesnt eat.

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Denisemang- YES that is unacceptable that they started cleaning up 2 hrs before the next wedding. I was just suggesting that because its an evening affair they may be less likely to start cleaning up since there isn't another wedding until the next day. Of course, they may want to rush people out of there for the simple fact that they want to go home but thankfully I did not experience that. Did Angelo compensate you in any way? Also, I'm curious- did they allow you to come there early to take pictures for a day wedding and feed you cocktail hr food prior to the beginning of the affair?

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No, Angelo didn't compensate me in any way, I should have asked him too though. He took out my seating chart and when I told him the names of the guests that left, he said how that would make sense becuase of where they would need to position the cocktail hour for the next wedding. I really should have asked him to give me some money back but then again, at that time, I was swamped with Thank You notes, etc. so I just dropped it. But he promised me he would raise hell and I believe him! He is one hell of a tyrant over there!

When we got to the hall, if I remember correctly we went to the bridal suite where everyone else ate adn we went outside to do pics on the deck because I remember all the guests staring at us as we were down on the ground (Patken Photo) ! :-) Then I think we ate after. All our guests arrived pretty much on time at 1:00 and so did the bridal party so I don't think they gave anything extra.

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We arrived with our bridal party at early...

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Yeah you are starting to bring back memories. I do remember after the pics, our maitre'd Anastasia brought us our own plates (food was amazing, wasn't it!) Donna was the maitre'd who I didn't lik, I am sorry, I know you had her too and she was nice but very unprofessional in her appearance (and I have her all over my video). I also used Candlelite Video. Just got it back this week actually. Came out nice! :-)

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Does Donna have frizzy blond hair sticking up all over the place?

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I liked Donna she ran it quite smoothly even made sure my dad had a bottle of his prized Ketel one vodka at their table as well as a better bottle of red wine. She was a couple of ourproofs (us being introduced and cake cutting) which i was annoyed about - ugh, I hope she's not all over the video! How was your video? It must be fun reliving it. We dont get ours till Feb. I can't remember now- they don't do animation do they? I dont care for that..

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Donna had long blond hair-- it was in a pony tail and she wore a female looking tuxedo maitre D thingee, same with the attendant who was super nice.

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Donna had a very unprofessional appearance, but she was nice. Ok I will try to be nice and start from the top. She had her hair all piled on top of her head in a SCRUNCIE, yes sticking out all over the place, and it was orange with lots and lots of hairspray! She looked like she just rolled out of bed and didn't shower from the night before. It looked like she had a fake tan on her face (real orange color), unless she just didn't know how to apply her makeup, orange going down her neck. Yes, she wore this woman's tuxedo type thing with a really short mini skirt that did not flatter her body type if you know what I mean. And i guess that was it. But really, she was not very nicely dressed and her appearance had a lot to be desired. A lot of my guests commented on her appearance and yes she is my video only a few times (Cake cutting for one). Not a big deal, but I was just surprised they allowed her to work looking that way. Everything else was so elegant and classy!