My 07-07-07 Majestic Garden's Review of my BFF's wedding (long, has a few things I learned, and with pics)
So, although this is late, I know some were waiting to hear all about this wedding. This may be long, but I learned a few things that day that I wanted to pass on. I loved my best friend's wedding and was so happy for her. It seemed like they had a great time and everyone else also. So many of these things I noticed because one I am planning a wedding myself and am seeing what it looks like from the bride shoes, and two I am best friends so I knew some of the behind the scenes things that guests don't always know.
Another one of our best friends is a hair dresser so she was the hair dresser for the day. We went over to the bride's house at 8:30 and were supposed to start as soon as we got there. The bride was in the shower, which delayed the hair starting. All I can say about this, is she didn't start doing her hair until 9, which then threw off the rest of the schedule of the day. Lesson: Don't stress yourself out, but do what you can to be ready on time, so there is no domino effect.
Now while we were at the bride's house, one of the girls in the bridal party is our friend from college. She had come out to the island two previous times for fittings, and then the bride picked up her dress for her. When she tried it on Friday night after the rehersal dinner it didn't fit. It was too small. So being that the dress place didn't open until 10, we spent the morning calling different places for options. Finally another friend came picked up the bridesmaid and her dress and took her to get it fitted (now to go to the salon is about a 40 minute ride). Lesson: If you have OOT bridesmaids, do everything you can to have them there to pick up their dress or try it on earlier in the day. In the end we all got ready, but we were supposed to be at the bride's house by 1 and got there at 2:30. We didn't start doing the BM who had to get her dress re fitted until 1 o'clock. The bride took it well, but I felt bad that we were not all there with her and instead were getting each other ready. But on the brite side, we were not at her house, so there was less stress, allowed us to keep working, and allowed her to just keep taking the pictures and doing what she needed.
So we headed off to the church. She got a stretch escalade for the bridal party and a rolls for her and her dad (and then her and the groom). The limos were ok, but there is something else to stretch here!!!! The groom is a VERY hot blooded person and he said there was no AC but rather heat in the car, and it was a hot July day!!! The other thing about the limos, is make sure you know the earliest you can be at your hall. We were not allowed to be at Majestic Gardens until 6 o'clock. The bride set up the limos originally so that we got there at 6. She had them from 2:45 to 5:45 and then she added the 15 mins of driving time. I think she mis understood the driving time thing, as I don't think you can guarentee that you get that as part of your time (from the way the driver was talking, just count on only having 3 hours). Well the week before the wedding she pushed up the time to 2:30 instead of 2:45 at the church's request. Long story short, we got to the hall at 5:30, the owner came out and said we must leave because the bride before has the place until 6. We ended up sitting in the limo in the parking lot for a half hour (i do not know if she was charged an extra hour or not for the time we sat). So in the end, make sure you know exactly what time's you have your limo to and from and make sure you know what time you are allowed to go to the hall and DO NOT go early if there are weddings before you.
Another thing after the church is we were starving. Most of us only had a bagel that morning, and as we spent the rest of the morning getting ready right up to church time, our tummies were growling in church. If you can keep a bag of goodies with you, granola bars and such, this way people have something quick and easy.
Once we were finally able to go over to the gardens we started taking pictures and she used (I think Vinny) from Patken. He seemed to know what he was doing and we saw some of the proofs at the reception, and they were gorgeous. The videographer was a funny guy and just kept us laughing (although i never got his name) The gardens really are beautiful at Majestic Gardens, great pictures. They were different than what I thought, but still pretty. The arch/ceremony thingy is also very pretty if you are having an outdoor ceremony there. While we were in the gardens they brought out trays of water to start and you would think we spent the day in the desert and managed to stumbled upon an oasis. After they brought the waters, they went around and offered drinks. Liz was the bridal attendant and from what I saw she did a great job. We ordered our drinks in the gardens, and she found us in the bridal suite to give them to us.
After pictures we headed into the bridal suite, and the food in there was phenominal. I actually didn't make it out to cocktail hour, but after hearing from my family, friends, and fiancee, everyone was raving. They said there was SOOO much to choose from and the steak got the most compliments. Our bridal attendant brought ANYTHING we wanted in there so I did get to sample a lot. I don't know the names of anything, but everything I tried I liked.
We went into the reception, and had a good time. I felt like I spent my whole night eating. So if dancing is important, make sure you talk to your hall about timing of food because I felt like we spent a lot of time in our seats eating. Also, rather than have your DJ announce please be seated for the next course, just let them announce it. If people want to eat, let them, if they want to dance let them. I would have preferred to dance through the first two courses as I don't eat them. The fruit cup with a cheese rim was the appetizer and ceasar salad was next. I didn't eat either of these, but the people at my table enjoyed them. For dinner, everyone at the table ordered the Filet Mignon (we're all picky eaters) and it was phenominal. Huge slice. The twice baked potato was awesome and I ended up trading half my meat for another potato. The staff was all very cordial, there never seemed to be too long of a line at the bar, and everything was timely. Now right after dinner they cut the cake and had what seemed like a mini viennese hour. I dont know if this was added or part of what majestic offers, but there was yoohoo, cappucinno type drinks, all sorts of cakes, parfaits, brownies, ice cream sundae, belgian waffles, martini dessert things, crepes, and so on. It was wonderful, although different, because it was included in the normal 4 hour reception, so if you can afford to do so, add on more time, so it doesn't feel like one food right after the next.
Another thing I noticed about her wedding was they spent so much time going from table to table and I don't know if they got to everything. If you are going to do this, just realize your time limit and how long it will take you to get to all your tables. The bride LOVES to dance, but did not to get spend much time on the floor, however, it was more important to her to say hi to everyone. They originally wanted to go to cocktail hour to do that, but ended up in the suite, talking, eating, and never made it. It's good they did, because they also did not get to eat really at the reception. If you know you will not eat, as before hand to make sure whatever is taken away is wrapped. They took their food without it ever really being touched, and I do not know if anything ended up being wrapped for them. Also, at the end of the night, check the bridal suite. They thought so many things were thrown away when they were really wrapped up in the bridal suite already.
Watching my best friend, just enjoy yourself and try to let go of the stress. What will be will be and you can't change it the day of. She married her love and I was truly happy for her. Here are some of the pics I took. Normally I capture everything, but being in the bridal party I didn't have my camera much!!!
Some friends outside
Me and my baby by the water
The cake
Centerpieces - her dad actually made the stands
In the gardens
He thought he was a pimp
Some of the bridesmaids
Our dresses and flowers (me and the hairdresser, another BF)
The bride and groom
Flower girl and the boquets
The bride
Another one of our best friends is a hair dresser so she was the hair dresser for the day. We went over to the bride's house at 8:30 and were supposed to start as soon as we got there. The bride was in the shower, which delayed the hair starting. All I can say about this, is she didn't start doing her hair until 9, which then threw off the rest of the schedule of the day. Lesson: Don't stress yourself out, but do what you can to be ready on time, so there is no domino effect.
Now while we were at the bride's house, one of the girls in the bridal party is our friend from college. She had come out to the island two previous times for fittings, and then the bride picked up her dress for her. When she tried it on Friday night after the rehersal dinner it didn't fit. It was too small. So being that the dress place didn't open until 10, we spent the morning calling different places for options. Finally another friend came picked up the bridesmaid and her dress and took her to get it fitted (now to go to the salon is about a 40 minute ride). Lesson: If you have OOT bridesmaids, do everything you can to have them there to pick up their dress or try it on earlier in the day. In the end we all got ready, but we were supposed to be at the bride's house by 1 and got there at 2:30. We didn't start doing the BM who had to get her dress re fitted until 1 o'clock. The bride took it well, but I felt bad that we were not all there with her and instead were getting each other ready. But on the brite side, we were not at her house, so there was less stress, allowed us to keep working, and allowed her to just keep taking the pictures and doing what she needed.
So we headed off to the church. She got a stretch escalade for the bridal party and a rolls for her and her dad (and then her and the groom). The limos were ok, but there is something else to stretch here!!!! The groom is a VERY hot blooded person and he said there was no AC but rather heat in the car, and it was a hot July day!!! The other thing about the limos, is make sure you know the earliest you can be at your hall. We were not allowed to be at Majestic Gardens until 6 o'clock. The bride set up the limos originally so that we got there at 6. She had them from 2:45 to 5:45 and then she added the 15 mins of driving time. I think she mis understood the driving time thing, as I don't think you can guarentee that you get that as part of your time (from the way the driver was talking, just count on only having 3 hours). Well the week before the wedding she pushed up the time to 2:30 instead of 2:45 at the church's request. Long story short, we got to the hall at 5:30, the owner came out and said we must leave because the bride before has the place until 6. We ended up sitting in the limo in the parking lot for a half hour (i do not know if she was charged an extra hour or not for the time we sat). So in the end, make sure you know exactly what time's you have your limo to and from and make sure you know what time you are allowed to go to the hall and DO NOT go early if there are weddings before you.
Another thing after the church is we were starving. Most of us only had a bagel that morning, and as we spent the rest of the morning getting ready right up to church time, our tummies were growling in church. If you can keep a bag of goodies with you, granola bars and such, this way people have something quick and easy.
Once we were finally able to go over to the gardens we started taking pictures and she used (I think Vinny) from Patken. He seemed to know what he was doing and we saw some of the proofs at the reception, and they were gorgeous. The videographer was a funny guy and just kept us laughing (although i never got his name) The gardens really are beautiful at Majestic Gardens, great pictures. They were different than what I thought, but still pretty. The arch/ceremony thingy is also very pretty if you are having an outdoor ceremony there. While we were in the gardens they brought out trays of water to start and you would think we spent the day in the desert and managed to stumbled upon an oasis. After they brought the waters, they went around and offered drinks. Liz was the bridal attendant and from what I saw she did a great job. We ordered our drinks in the gardens, and she found us in the bridal suite to give them to us.
After pictures we headed into the bridal suite, and the food in there was phenominal. I actually didn't make it out to cocktail hour, but after hearing from my family, friends, and fiancee, everyone was raving. They said there was SOOO much to choose from and the steak got the most compliments. Our bridal attendant brought ANYTHING we wanted in there so I did get to sample a lot. I don't know the names of anything, but everything I tried I liked.
We went into the reception, and had a good time. I felt like I spent my whole night eating. So if dancing is important, make sure you talk to your hall about timing of food because I felt like we spent a lot of time in our seats eating. Also, rather than have your DJ announce please be seated for the next course, just let them announce it. If people want to eat, let them, if they want to dance let them. I would have preferred to dance through the first two courses as I don't eat them. The fruit cup with a cheese rim was the appetizer and ceasar salad was next. I didn't eat either of these, but the people at my table enjoyed them. For dinner, everyone at the table ordered the Filet Mignon (we're all picky eaters) and it was phenominal. Huge slice. The twice baked potato was awesome and I ended up trading half my meat for another potato. The staff was all very cordial, there never seemed to be too long of a line at the bar, and everything was timely. Now right after dinner they cut the cake and had what seemed like a mini viennese hour. I dont know if this was added or part of what majestic offers, but there was yoohoo, cappucinno type drinks, all sorts of cakes, parfaits, brownies, ice cream sundae, belgian waffles, martini dessert things, crepes, and so on. It was wonderful, although different, because it was included in the normal 4 hour reception, so if you can afford to do so, add on more time, so it doesn't feel like one food right after the next.
Another thing I noticed about her wedding was they spent so much time going from table to table and I don't know if they got to everything. If you are going to do this, just realize your time limit and how long it will take you to get to all your tables. The bride LOVES to dance, but did not to get spend much time on the floor, however, it was more important to her to say hi to everyone. They originally wanted to go to cocktail hour to do that, but ended up in the suite, talking, eating, and never made it. It's good they did, because they also did not get to eat really at the reception. If you know you will not eat, as before hand to make sure whatever is taken away is wrapped. They took their food without it ever really being touched, and I do not know if anything ended up being wrapped for them. Also, at the end of the night, check the bridal suite. They thought so many things were thrown away when they were really wrapped up in the bridal suite already.
Watching my best friend, just enjoy yourself and try to let go of the stress. What will be will be and you can't change it the day of. She married her love and I was truly happy for her. Here are some of the pics I took. Normally I capture everything, but being in the bridal party I didn't have my camera much!!!
Some friends outside
Me and my baby by the water
The cake
Centerpieces - her dad actually made the stands
In the gardens
He thought he was a pimp
Some of the bridesmaids
Our dresses and flowers (me and the hairdresser, another BF)
The bride and groom
Flower girl and the boquets
The bride
