My 9/15 Wedding Review (VERY LONG)
Hello everyone!
Can't believe it's my turn to give a review of my day. Well it was a very emotional week leading up to the wedding. I was at my last day of work before the wedding down here in NC when I saw the news. I just ran to my office to try and get in touch with my mom on LI and my best friend who works/lives in NYC. Thankfully I finally got through and everyone was okay. But then I started to think about the wedding and who wouldn't be able to make it and started being really selfish about the whole thing.
My new hubby and I packed up our truck and our dog and headed to NY on Tuesday night. We drove up to Aberdeen, MD and passed through DC and saw the smoke from the pentagon. It was such a scary drive, eerie, as we listened to the news and saw practically no cars on the road. We got to LI on Wed. afternoon - also seeing the smoke as we drove through Staten Island and saw the skyline. Depresssing.
We headed right to the Smithtown Town Clerk to get our license. It was quick. Then we spent four days on every phone we had trying to find out who was going to make it and who wasn't. Well four groomsmen and one bridesmaid did not make it. But two of our groomsmen hopped in the car and drove all the way from Florida to be there. It was wonderful!
The day was wonderful and pefect. The weather -- gorgeous. My dress - was perfect. Macy's did a great job of stuffing it in the bust and preparing it so it wouldn't get wrinkled while it stayed at my mom's house.
Flowers: Showed up on time to the house and were absolutely gorgeous! She made my bouquet to the tee from a picture I had given her. And not even thinking about it before -- I realized that the base colors were red, white and blue.
The BM bouquets came out exactly as I would have wanted them -- I mostly gave her a color scheme -- but she picked the best flowers! Sprigs and Twigs part of Papa's Nursery on Connetquot Ave in Central Islip.
The photographer was right on time. John Pagano of VIP Studios. It was himself and another photographer who takes just B&W. They made us so comfortable and were very unobtrussive. They also made sure to remind us of several 'must have' pictures that we mentioned to them. They stayed to the end of the reception too. The videographer was part of their team too and I think he got some great footage.
Ceremony at St. James Lutheran Church was intimate, personal, and perfect. Pastor Hansen really made us feel like we were a part of the church even though we are not members. He did a whole schpiel with making a cake out of love. IT WAS GREAT!
Limos: This was a friend of ours -- but it was wonderful. We had two limos that were clean, stocked, and comfortable. Really classy. The name of the company is ChrisDee. Think it's out of Pt. Jeff Station.
Reception: Smithtown Landing Country Club. Well everything I asked for was done! My only regret is we made it to about 2 minutes of our cocktail hour because it took longer for pictures then we anticipated. We took pictures at the Setauket Mill Pond -- it was such an original idea I had -- that FIVE other wedding parties were there taking pictures too :-) So it took longer. So I missed the food and all at the cocktail hour but heard it was wonderful.
When we were in the hallway to the reception room waiting to be announced I saw all the tables and everything was how I asked for it to be. And the cake! It was huge. Four tiers instead of three so I was surprised but so pretty! The food was wonderful! Everyone loved it! We had chicken Kiev, prime rib, and salmon. Heard it was all wonderful. The staff was at Jeremy's and mine beck and call. I never got up once for a drink. Really top rate!
DJ: Domino Entertainment. I don't know if it was the DJ and music or what but that dance floor was never empty the whole night! They did a great job being flexible with several changes we needed to make last minute with all the chaos of the tragedies. They were wonderful to work with.
All in all every single person told me it was the best wedding they had been too -- and I think a large part of that was because everyone really needed to be happy and celebrate.
We did not go on our planned honeymoon to Canary Islands because of the situation - so we went to Newport, RI instead and had a great time. But nothing could take away from that wonderful wedding day. I'm just sad that it's over.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL BRIDES TO BE! Enjoy every minute and take some time to really sit back and watch people having a good time. It will make you feel so good!
