My wedding 9/30/01 (very long!)

First I want to thank you all for all your help. Alot of the things done, have been with your help and advice along the way. The day went amazingly fast. I tried to stop and look around often but its hard to remember to do that when you are so busy! The rehearsal dinner was at Jon Thomas Inne in Brightwaters. We had a room in the back to ourselves and everything was great! Margaret and Jackie (from IMakeupyou.com) did my hair and makeup. They did a fantastic job. My hair stayed all day and the girls hair looked fantastic too! My makeup stayed all day except for the lipstick, I was a bit worried I would need other touchups but just lipstick! Keepsake Videos showed up at the house for 'getting ready' shots. It was fun but kind of hard getting ready and taking videos at the same time! :P They did a wonderful job! I cant wait to see the video! I didnt want Todd to see me right away but we had to take pictures before the ceremony so Nelida (one videographer out of two) set it up so I would walk up behind him and surpise him. It was so lovely and worked perfectly. The look on his face when he saw me was one I will forever remember! I think that was worth not waiting until I walked down the aisle! We took the package with two cameras through the whole event. They normally do two for the ceremony but I wanted to capture everything. Todd didnt want the video but now he is so happy we got it. If your considering getting one, go with it. We hardly remember our day so it will be very nice to see it! The limo Solomans Limo -John- showed up early so the rush was on. He did a great job, my parents use them anytime they go to the airports or anything so I knew they were good and he gave me the best price of anyone else I called. Actually, my parents used him that day too and asked for a town car for just the two of them but John gave them a limo too! He was wonderful and so helpful. I drove him crazy bringing some stuff to the car but he just laughed and said not to worry, it was my day. John from VIP Studios was our photographer. Wonderful!! He took some wonderful shots and during the reception, I forgot he was there!! I thought he was going to leave after the cake cutting but when I went out front to get a breath, he was sitting on a chair relaxing for a moment and I got to talk to him for a minute which was nice and he wanted a few more shots of us by the fireplace! I was so impressed with him! I am excited about the pics!!! The ceremony was at the East Wind Estate. I had 2 bridesmaids with me in the limo and we got there about 1/2 hour later than I planned but only because I took longer with my dress than I thought. We hoped for an outside ceremony but at 11 am the rain started (ceremony was at 11:30)! They were very helpful and set up the reception room for the ceremony just in case the rain didnt stop. I wanted it outside so badly, 6 white arches covering the walkway down the aisle covered in green ivy and pink flowers. Georgous!! But the rain didnt stop! So the ceremony was inside. It turned out to be very nice inside. I cant say how nervous I was walking down the aisle. All these people looking at me and some I didnt recognise! But then I found Todd and locked my eyes on him...Felt better right then. Our officiant was Reverend Joe and his wife Judy. I know there was some stuff going on about them a few months ago here but they really did a wonderful job. We got a bit worried because they showed up about 15 min before the wedding and I had no idea when they were supposed to show up (they could have been ontime for all I know) but I started to think it wasnt going to happen and the place told us not to worry, we could do the cocktail hour before the ceremony if need be, which didnt thrill me but they showed up. They did a great job and we got alot of complements on the ceremony and our vows. They tailor the ceremony to you. You pick out every saying, every poem done so its truly your own. I heard the cocktail hour was fabulous and people were thinking it was the dinner, there was so much food! We missed it all because we were taking photos again with family so we were a bit dissapointed but it worked out. The reception was great. We never got a chance to eat but the food looked great and everyone enjoyed! Our dj-Class Act- Mike did a fantastic job. Everyone was up dancing whenever we looked and seemed to be enjoying it. We did the conga line and looking at the pictures from the table cameras, I think almost everyone was up there on it! We got to cut our cake twice! East Wind had us cut it but Mike didnt know about it and as were were done, I realized, wait, where was the music to it and Mike is running over telling us to do it again to the music. So that was actually fun!! Peggy was our bridal assistant and did a fantastic job! Before the ceremony I was running around the bridal suite looking for my lipstick (which I lost and never found) and I knocked over a mixed drink right onto my dress. She got the seltzer and got it out. She was wonderful and so very helpful! Actually, she was also one of our guests sister in law!! The table cameras were worth the extra touch. We got some really good shots of everything! The flowers...absolutely perfect. By far my favorite part. We used Jill Chaffin flowers. Its her own business and she is wonderful to work with. My mother knows her and I am so glad we used her. I really cant say enough. The boutenneirs (however you spell it) were mini calla lillies in a mauve shade. The girls flowers were roses in terra cotta color and my flowers were mauve and terra cotta. The girls dresses were mauve so thats where that color came in. Jill somehow put water on the flowers to look like raindrops and it lasted all day. That was my favorite part of them!! I couldnt stop looking at them! The centerpieces..wow...better than I expected. I really want one now! She put ivy in a terra cotta pot with something like heather and some roses. Our favors were candles in terra cotta pots so she played the centerpieces off them. The cake looked fabulous with the flowers coming down it and around it. Jill also did our table with flowers. I cant believe how much flowers really make the room. I almost cried when I saw them all. Again, she went above and beyond all my expectations. We used wedding world for the invites and tuxes and they gave us a limo to go home in. They showed up about 15 min late. I was glad another wedding wasnt right after ours because we were just sitting there waiting for them. Everyone left before the end or right at the end so by 5pm, most people were gone... We also had the dove release! Yes, we did it in the rain! Todd, myself, our matron of honor and the best man ran outside and did the release and it was great. Yes a bit wet but the doves came out so slowly and it was nice just the 4 of us, our guests were peeking out the doors to see us too! Again, it would have been lovely if the rain hadnt come but we did the best with what we had! I cant think of anyone I left out.. If I did I will post it later. Our honeymoon was in the Cayman Islands. Wonderful place but expensive. We didnt really expect how expensive things were there but we had a great time there and look forward to going back. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Sounds Wonderful, Congrats!!! *NM*

Yipee! Congratulations and Best Wishes! *NM*

My wedding 9/30/01 (very long!)YEAHHHH CONGRATS!!!

i WANNA HEAR SOME MORE ABOUT THE FOOD....MY WEDDING IS AT THE eSTATE IN 23 DAYS!!! cONGRAST AND GOD BLESS YOUR MARRIAGE!

Congratulations Leyann!!!

I am so glad to hear that you had a wonderful day in spite of the rain. It all sounds wonderful. When Jackie came to do my makeup the week before your wedding she asked me if I knew you, because she was doing your makeup the next week. Knowing what a wonderful job both she and Margaret did with my hair and makeup I am sure you looked beautiful. Welcome back and welcome to married life!!!!

Best of luck for a wonderful future! *NM*

Jennyb

I cant really tell you much from my own experience but I can tell you some thoughts. We got about 5 minutes to eat during the cocktail hour but the rest of the bridal party was in there eating for most of it! :P We had a bit and it was very good and everyone loved it all. We did the basic plan and everyone thought it was fabulous so we are glad we didnt upgrade to the other one. Not many differences anyhow. We had gotten a piece of the prime rib to sample about 2 months ago to actually make the upgrade decision or not. The piece was HUGE!! We did the prime rib, vidalia crusted chicken and the salmon. Again the prime rib was great, the chicken was ok, maybe a bit strong on the sauce but good, and the salmon was great-mind you this is coming from a non-salmon eater! They come back and offer seconds which I was not aware of when we booked! Everyone loved that! Todd and I got the 'combo' plate which is a 'bit of all' they say. Well, there was the WHOLE prime rib, almost a whole piece of chicken if not the whole piece and a big piece of salmon. It was like 3 plates in one! Everytime we took a sip of our drinks and walked away (I kid you not, one or two sips), when we were back, it was full with a new straw!! I was dissapointed because we got a chocolate covered strawberry with the cake instead of the ice cream and the strawberries were the size of the store bought berries. We expected a nice large red berry. Even Todds was still not quite ripe. But thats a minor thing. Peggy, the bridal assistant was truly the best. My mother used to work for Flowerfield and Harrison House and her friend still works for Harrison House and they are used to top notch food and they loved it. So I think if they liked it, its really good then :P My mother has become such a food critic now hehe. The cake was from Audreys which was a battle with them but everyone loved that. Even people who dont like cake ate it..I know some who had 2 pieces! Todd and I tried it and had about 1 bite before some people left and when we turned around my now sister in law was sitting at his seat eating his piece!! You will really have a great day. They put the fireplace on for us and it was beautiful. Make sure you take some pictures sitting down in front of it. Its so romantic. BUT get someone to wipe it down. I didnt and ended up with a black ink stain on my dress! I cant wait to see the pics. The place is wonderful and they do a wonderful job. If you have anything else, email me at [email protected] and I will help you! Good luck and enjoy!

Wendy

Thank you! Actually, I think the day we had our trials with them it was the same day. I think you had an earlier appointment with Jackie! They both did a wonderful job and I was so glad they were there to help! Good luck to you!!

VIP

Can't wait to hear about your proofs...I am using John also and got his name from you and Stef on this board...