My July 4th wedding review!!

OK, there is so much to review for you guys!! I will say that EVERYTHING was so great!! I will list all my vendors & whatnots and add to it over the next few days to be as complete as possible!! I will also try to post pictures soon!!

Hall: Eastwind Country Gardens
Officiant: Rev. Joe DiVincenzo
Photographer: friend of Groom
Hair: girls I used to work with
Limos:
Flowers: Massapequa Florist
Brides Maid Dresses: Bridal Reflections Massapequa
Honeymoon: Sandals Royal Bahamian
My dress: JCP catalog w/ alterations done privately
(Romano Bridals in Farmingdale, done out of
her home)

As you might remember, it was sweltering on July 4th!! But of course who cared!!! I was getting married!! My day started off with a massage and she was great!! I was so **** relaxed that I would swear it’s why I remained calm during our little chaotic episode of the day!! (And it was a gift from my brother who is a massage therapist!!)

Hair:2 girls i worked with when I did hair still. They came at 9:30, one did the fancy twisting & the other curled, & they finished by 2:30 & did 6 (me, mom, 2 sisters & 2 bridesmaids) of us!! Everyones hair stayed ALL day!! No one had a trial. of course I know them & was comfortable, but she was right on with what we all wanted!! I will post her info. as long as she says its OK when I speak to her!!

Makeup: Theresa Whitmann (a friends sister who does Mary Kay) I will post her info as soon as I locate it!! She was awesome!! She also did all 6 of us & we all looked great all night! Even my PICKY ass sister who hates makeup, liked it!! She has a website & as soon as I talk with her, I will post her info as well.

Photographer: 100% NOT in the way!! I can tell he got everything & then some!! I should be picking up my proofs this week!! I will share more then!!

Limos: we are going to leave this alone till they resolve the problem we had.

Florist: Massapequa Florist... I know Joe through my funeral home that I work for... he was very patient with the 100 ideas I had!! In the end I found square wicker baskets in a July 4th theme & provided them to him... he used 1 dozen red roses, queen anns lace & blue delphinium (red, white & blue!) & they were simple & fun looking!! My 2 bridesmaids Bouquets basically matched the centerpieces, mine & my sisters were red & white roses with the blue delph. Again hopefully pictures will be posted soon!!

OK.... a continuation to follow.... just wanted to post at least part of my review.... I’ll leave the important stuff till next time!!

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Cannot wait to see the photos. Congrats on a beautiful day.

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Hi Val,
I was in a wedding at the country gardens on the 6th and Theresa Whittman did our makeup too. I thought she did a great job! Just wanted to share

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Sounds great so far.... can't wait fo rthe rest. I'm also getting married by rev. joe. While I have great feelings that he will do a wonderful job, I was just wondering from a fellow bride how his service went. So far I'm very impressed with Rev. Joe and his wife Judy, but it would be nice to hear it from you also.

Congrats! I am so happy for you and thank you for sharing!

Kelly

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Congrats Val! Sounds great...how was Spin Around Sound? Just curious because we just booked them..

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

congratulations val...

can't wait to see the pictures...I'm glad you held up with the weather...

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Congrats! Sounds like a beautiful day, despite the heat. Can't wait to see pics!

Enjoy every minute of your new married life!

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Congrats and best wishes and lots of happiness always. I can't wait 'till my 4th of July wedding next year.

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Congratulations!! All the best to you and your new hubby!!

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

congrats Val!! God Bless & All the best to you & FH!

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Everything sounds great - Congratulations!!

Re: My July 4th wedding review!!

Congratulations Val ... Welcome to married life!

continuation of my review!!

Bridal Reflections: by After Six, 2 pieces, 2 girls in claret (red) & 2 girls in sapphire blue! The claret was a halter top, with a-line skirt, we added beading around hem of top. The sapphire was a v-neck tank style with the beading already on it.
OK... large selection, but lots of problems! My sisters went to pick up their dresses a few days ahead, bring them home & realize the beading was never attached ... they had to go back & the people made it seem like it was a hassle... it got done, but it was a problem. Then... AND this is the worst!! one of my bridesmaids had a fitting, was scheduled for the next one a week & 1/2 before the wedding. She had to fly out of state unexpectedly, her mom was having emergency surgery (& thankfuly is OK, but we thought she might not come back in time for the wedding!!), so I cancled the appt. told them to we would reschedule. About 5 days before I called, told them to finish it, she would take her chances, she wasn't arriving until 9pm the nite before, so I would pick it up the day before the wedding all done. I get there, it's unfinished, the lady who took the phone call is saying 'there was supposed to be another fitting.....blah, blah....' & she is the one I told on the phone to finish it!!! Aggrevation all around. And to boot, it wasn't even right!! My other bridesmaids mom fixed the dress for her & it was fine then thankfully to Mrs. L.!!!

Pictures: Bayard Cutting Arboretum: the proofs look awesome!! Great place!!

Onto the 2 most important things of the day!! Rev. Joe DiVencenzo & Eastwind!!

Rev. Joe & Judy: OK, I can't say enough, so pardon if I go on!! We met with them last Aug. loved them & immediately booked them on one meeting & we never had even m et with anyone else!! Craig & I went to meet with & go over the ceremony about a month before, & Rev. Joe had us laughing & so calm about everything!! A little sticky issue came up about the processional, about asking if he should ask who gives this bride... and Craig didn't like that. Well Rev. Joe took Craig aside & I spoke with Judy about it, & I could tell they really were concerned, & we left it open. But they made sure to talk to us to be sure it wasn't a real bad issue... the day of the wedding, Judy asked me last minute & I told her it would be ok... we hadn't really discussed after, craig was a little surprised when it was said, but it was fine!! My point is the cared enoughto ask !! EVERYONE loved the ceremony AND Rev. Joe's really fun black & white shoes!! He was good enough not to make one of my ushers take of the american flag do rag on his head too!! He asked, but Craig & I basically didn't mind it, so he was good enough to leave it alone!! It added that little element of fun I threw in all over the wedding! They were awesome & I will be calling on him when the kids come!! And I am sure before had to keep in touch!!

OK... We were late to Eastwind by 45 minutes due to limo prblems, making my ceremony start about 30 minutes late, which by the way, means an added note for Joe & Judy!! No rehearsal & everything went VERY smoothly!

Eastwind was kind enough to invite everyone inside to the Pavillion because we were running so late! I can not posibly describe how unbelievably happy we were with them!! John the Maite D and even the bridal attendant were awesome!! The food I am told was unbelievable! We had the Primiere Sit Down menu.. peole loved the shrimp cocktail (& those who were not eating the shrimp were even offered fruit without having to ask for it!), & we had the filet mignon, the salmon, & chicken papu which all were delish!! Grandpa & Uncle Charlie didn't complain, so it must have been good! Huge trays of seconds were offered around to all.... the drinks were frosty & good!!! OH.... and at the end of the night, the DJ had missed playing the Time Warp (Craigs FAVORITE song to dance to!!) after the lights were on my bridesmaid reminded him, & tom from SAS says well if John says its ok... BUT the song was already playing!! They were good about!! And no big complaining about the fireworks the ushers were shooting of in theparking lot at 12:30 AM!! WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL!!!! Ask if I missed things!!

DJ: Spin Around Sound! YEAH FOR THEM TOO!! We danced all night, & my husband (he, he!!!) is so NOT a dancer!! We had so much fun, all of our songs were played (with one exception!! No big deal really, But I wanted to hear Tom Petty American Girl, but it was skipped. I did hear all of my other American themed songs though!!) I will recommend them to ANYONE!!

OK... more next time!! And bring on the questions if you have any, I am finally back into the swing of things, I know I have been MIA for a while!!

Re: continuation of my review!!

Do I dare ask? Who did you use for Limos?

Re: continuation of my review!!

Well, the limo thing was resolved today! Thankfully ...and they are doing exactly as I had hoped!! They are a vendor on this board, but since everything worked out well in the end, I will start by saying that Dynasty has got VERY beautiful cars ..... my driver Mark was really nice ... but there was a mechanical problem with a car & we ended up late going from the Arboretum to Eastwind (my ceremony started about 20 min. late!!). But I remained really calm, we got some fun pictures with the tow truck! But if that was my only problem that day, I was trully lucky!! So... I would recommend them no problem, Charlie & Kenny at Dynasty did the right thing, so there are no hard feelings on my end!!

Re: continuation of my review!!

I am glad everything worked out. You did the right thing by contacting them and resolving the problem before mentioning it on the board. Especially since they are vendors on this site. Good Luck to you and your DH!!!