newbies looking at smithtown stuff...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

two weeks ago, I proposed to my sweetie of the last three years, and she said yes. Now, we're in the throes of planning a 200 person Jewish wedding that must be kosher. Through my bride is from Dallas, most of our friends are up here, and her fam is cool with making the trip.

I found out a distant cousin who catered my bar mitzvah (and helped out as his father catered my sister's bat mitzvah and my parents' wedding (!) ) is the caterer for Deluxe Gerson caterers, the house caterer of Temple Beth Sholom in Smithtown. Even though we had originally be thinking Hudson Valley for the wedding, the generational connection appealed to me (and I remember the potato puffs from my bar mitzvah, now that was a good meal).

I realize this is the 'brides helping brides' part of the boards, and if I'm out of place here, please let me know, but as my fiancee and I are very egalitarian about this stuff (and I've actually done a lot of the research thus far), I wanted to get opnions from you out there.

1) Has anyone on the boards done a wedding, or been to a wedding, at Temple Beth Sholom in smithtown?

2) One of the drawbacks is that, if we go with them as our caterer and site, We need to choose one of their florists- Stefan's, Spitz and Peck, and James Cress. Any thoughts on them? From previous posts, people don't seem to be such big fans of Spitz and Peck. We do need to keep this on some kind of budget, are any of these places good at working within that?

3) Photographers in the area? We have no idea where to start. We're leaning towards no video, but haven't decided. Anyone feel strongly one way or another?

4) We may be observing the Jewish custom of not seeing each other for 24 hours before the wedding (or at least, until the pictures in the am), but we still may try to do 'rehearsal dinners'. nearby ideas?

any guidance would be fantabulous!

Congrats on your engagement!

I actually work in St. James, which is next to Smithtown, so I'm sort of familiar with the area!

I'm using Jo-Art Photography in Sayville (about 15-20 minutes from Smithtown on the South Shore), and Gil does fabulous work. I'm not sure about photographers closer to Smithtown, but the other girls probably have suggestions! FH doesn't want a videographer, I do, so can't help you on that one!

The Garden Grill is a nice restaurant over in the Smithtown area that would be great for a rehearsal dinner.

The only thing I've heard about James Cress is that they can get expensive, but that could be like any other florist. I would get a quote from all three, and compare what you liked and didn't like with your fiance.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Congratulations on your engagement!!!!

I can't help you out with Temple Beth Sholom reviews...sorry...

Stefan's and James Cress have gotten some great reviews as florists, do a search and you'll find them..... (I think they're both pricey, probably because they have to give some kind of kick-back - assumption).

Duet is a great photographer and budget friendly, again - do a search... Patken gets great reviews too!

For rehearsal dinners - the Garden Grille in Smithtown is a lovely place, but I really don't know what you're looking for...

Not much help I know, but a start!

Congrats again on your engagement!

Congratulations! We live right by Smithtown-but have never been to the Temple Beth Sholom-although my brother went for a friends wedding and said it was great! The only florist I knew on your list, since we haven't met with any yet is James Cress-my friend's family owns James Cress and they are $$$$. Yes they do beautiful work, but I am positive you can find the same work from a less expensive florist-check out Flower Michelle or Burton's-from what I have seen they do amazing work.

We are just starting to meet with photographers so no recommendations yet. The Rehearsal dinner can comes later on but The Smithtown House on Main Street is great. There is also Pumpernickels in Northport, The Blue Honu in Huntington, and tons other-this is all I can think of this late at night.

Good luck-hope this helps.

Congratulations!

I've heard good things about all 3 florists you have mentioned. The Royalton requires you to use 2 of the 3 florists you mentioned (everyone but James Cress) so maybe do a search using the Royalton and you'll find some more info!

Thanks all for the awesome suggestions. I'll do more searches around the people you've mentioned. At moments, both of us feel a little overwhelmed as there's just a lot of info out there, and we're not even sure what we're looking for, but know we have to start being on the ball now. Please keep the thoughts coming.

And thanks for the all the congratulations, we're very excited too!

First of all congrats on your engagement. I have never been to an event at the Temple but it looks very nice from the outside.

James Cress does awesome work but are kind of on the pricey side.

Bella Vita is an awesome restaurant in St. James (next town over from Smithtown and less than 10 mins from the Temple). The Garden Grill in Smithtown is very good as well.

Lots of luck with your planning.

ETA: I've heard great things and seen some great pics from Patken Photographers. They don't have packages so you chose exactly what pics you want.

Hello, I am from Smithtown, but Im not jewish, so have not been to the hall you mentioned,

However, there are a ton of restaurants in st, james right near smithtown-also, my RD was at San Marcos in Hauppauge, awesome Italian food-

Duet was our photographer-located in huntington-and nyc,

and our video was Ray from timeless treasures-he is right in smithtown-great prices and i highly suggest getting a video

we went to see james cress and were not happy with what they wanted to do for us-the receptionist was rude on the phone-they were expensive for what they were giving us...

I recommend Open house country in stonybrook-She was fabulous!


I just reread post and realized you cant use open house country... I dont know of the other two florists mentioned, but i didnt like JC as I mentioned

Congratulations! I think its awesome your so involved in the wedding plans!
1. Sorry can't help with that.
2. Went to James Cress...pricey, but they did my friends wedding and her flowers were outstanding. If you have the room in your budget, so with them. You won't be sorry.
3. I'm using Imagine Studios. She's awesome. However, this weekend I saw Artisan in action and they were fantastic to work with. I highly recommend both of them.
4. Rehearsal dinners...I'm getting married in Smithtown as well...we're going to look at Garden Grille, Casa Rustica, H20, and Polini's

I think right now, i'm worried about the flowers because we're required to use of the three: stefan's, spitz and peck, or james cress, and the reviews on here are just so mixed, some folks think they're amazing, others think they're awful. Anyone have good folks to talk to with those three places when setting up an appointment? And how far in advance should we be doing this?

Congrats and Mazel Tov!

I am not too familiar with Suffolk County but we got married at East Meadow Jewish Center and it was also kosher. I didn't have to stick with a florist but I know that I would be a little concerned if I heard mixed things. I've heard good things about those florists though and maybe you could meet with them and address any negative things you've read. Please keep in mind that you will hear good and bad for just about any vendor.

Good luck and keep posting. We love to have grooms too!