Our 04/12/02 Wedding Story...

Our 04/12/02 Wedding Story...

Well we are back from our honeymoon and so excited to start our new lives together. This is a quick run down on the day and our vendors.
Our rehearsal dinner at Captain Bill's in Bayshore was great. The food and service was out of this world. I stayed at the Wyndham Wind Watch the night before the wedding and it was nice, but my parents rooms were suppose to be on a non smoking floor and it smelled like smoke and the rooms needed updating. The Wyndham did upgrade me the night before to a suite for the same price as a regular room ($119.00 a night). The morning of the wedding my hair and makeup lady arrived at 7:30 to start. She was nicely dressed (I know some were worried about that) and ready to start within about 10 minutes. She did 4 girls hair before starting mine at about 11:30. My hair was beautiful and stayed in place all day. My makeup was a little heavy (but I knew I would need to fix it a little before hand)but turned out nice. I was very happy with her work but really didn't need her all day (if it had rained it may have been a different story). My dress was from Angel bridals in East Islip and it was perfect. My veil was custom made from www.veilshop.com and it was perfect, and my headpiece I got off of Ebay. We used Burton's Flowers and had a few issues. My bouquet was exactly what I showed them I DIDN'T want. And the pew bows looked cheap. The bridesmaids bouquets were very pretty but they didn't even add any ribbons. The centerpieces were nice but not near as full as the one they have on display when you visit. And all the flowers had LOTS of filler and babies breathe (I had specified Queen Ann's lace instead of babys breath). The altar arrangements were supposed to be the same flowers as the bouquets but they were carnations and filler with a little color. My cake flowers were suppose to match my flowers so when they messed my bouquet they messed up the cake flowers. I was very upset (and even though it was my wedding day it did bother me alot). I would say if you use them to have a specific photo of what you want so they don't mess it up. The limos were from Class one and the rolls royce didn't show up. I wasn't that upset because we had 2 other limos and we all fit. They said that they contract out to another company and there was a mix up. They did show up to Villa's later for some pictures and that was all we really wanted it for anyway. I really liked the drivers and all the limos were nice and clean. They did give us free rides to and from the airport for the rolls mix up. I would use them again if I ever needed a limo. The ceremony was beautiful but I was laughing as soon as the singer started singer (it was awful!). We hadn't heard her sing before hand because the church said they don't do that and they are all professionals. We had the dove release and used Frank from Wedding Wings and it was great! He was so nice and the doves were beautifl. It was well worth every penny! We arrived at Villa Lombardi's and it was great! The food was great and everyone was waiting on us hand and foot. The service was wonderful. The only mix up was my grandmother (elderly and walks with a cane) asked the bridal attendant in the bridal suite for a soda and she said she wasn't supposed to get drinks for anyone but the bridal party. I flipped out (all the bottled up emotions from the day) and told her it was my grandma (told her 3 times) and I started crying. My husband came in and found out what happened and then it was taken care of. The matre d came and tried to fix the mess up. I did calm down and then everything was fine the rest of the night. Also the florist forgot to put the flowers on the cake and Villa's refused to put them in, so I had to have my bridesmaid and brother-in-law add the flowers to the cake. (they did a great job too!). The band was the Mystic and they were so good! They sounded just like the original singers and everyone raved about them. My photographer was Steve from Patken and he was a doll. One of the best chooses we made. THey proofs are beautiful and he was great to work with. We used Candlelite Video and they were great to work with. I will let you know how the video turns out. Hope I didn't forget anything and I have to say I am glad it is all over. It is time to relax and enjoy each other now. It was the best (happiest) and most stressful day of my life. Good luck to all and let me know if you have any questions. :) I will give a full honeymoon up date tomorrow.

Our 04/12/02 Wedding Story...

I forgot to let eveyone know about the tuxedos. They were a nightmare! Do not use Formal Knight Tuxedos in Deer Park, 2 out of 10 tuxs were the right sizes. He was supposed to include suspenders too for my father and he almost lost his pants. We had to have someone go to another tux place to buy him a pair and he put them on right before we walked down the isle. It took 3 visits for the tuxes to be right and then on tie was ripped. I definitley will not ever use them again.

Our 04/12/02 Wedding Story...

it sounds like a most wonderful day! Congratulations a million times over and thanks for getting back to us on the vendors. Unfortunately, this is EXACTLY what I am worried about w. Burtons. I am so concerned about the volume and the quality. I guess I might want to re-consider my decision!

Who did your makeup and hair? *NM*

Best of luck for a bright future! *NM*

Our 04/12/02 Wedding Story...

Congrats to you and your husband!!
I am using Burton''s b/c of all of the positive reviews. Too late to change now, my wedding is 6/22. What do you suggest I do? I''m supposed to see samples in a few weeks. Should I stress that I want it to look exactly like the sample? I don''t have a picture. I''m a little worried.

Congrats on your wedding...

I am getting married at Villa's on June 1 so it is nice to hear such wonderful reviews. As far a Burtons, I am a bit concerned myself. I just met with my wedding planner at Villa who said she has problem with Burtons putting the flowers on the cake b/c Burtons does not want to wait around to put the flowers on the cake and just leave the flowers at Villa, Villa is starting to charge $150 to put the flowers on the cake. When I addressed this issue with John at Burtons, his solution is they no longer can do flowers on the cake, which was not what I was told by Michael when I signed my contract.

But it sounds like despite the few minor problems, you had a wonderful day and that is what it is really about. Congrats for a wonderful life together.

Congratulations and best wishes...

I am also using Burton's and now I'm nervous too. I have an exact picture of the bouquet I want, so I guess I'll give them another copy when we finalize later in the year. I don't have much more than roses and callalillies otherwise, so I'm not really worried...but a little concerned about the pew bows now. Despite what happened, I know you have some wonderful memories of your very special day - the best of luck now and always...

Congratulations and best wishes...

I have never heard a bride upset with Burton's Flowers before so I will have to listen for the next few weeks to other bride's experiences. I know that some places do not want real flowers on cakes because of pesticides. It is hard to always know what a grower used and did not use on each flower. I just heard that the other day from a cake designer. But for me flowers are also not worth an extra thousand so I am sure Burtons will be fine. I will just make sure a few times that I have exactly what I want.
Did Elena did your hair/makeup?

Congrats and all the best!! *NM*

Hair / Makeup and flowers...

Elena did my hair and makeup and was very nice to work with. I did use my own mascara, foundation, lipstick and powder. I just felt better knowing it matched my skin type and I didn't want to worry the day of about being to shiney. As I had said before I really loved my hair. As for Burton's I think as long as everyone has a picture of exactly what they want it would be fine. Everything did show up on time and in the correct quantities. I just didn't have a picture and that could have been the problem. I liked everyone there except Jill. She rushed me when we picked all the flowers and was very pushy. I too had heard nothing but rave reviews on them and I was a little disappointed. Just bring all your pictures and be very specific and I'm sure it will be beautiful!

Do you have photos?

I would love to see how your hair and makeup turned out?

Thanks :)

Bride-to-be

Congratulations!!
Thank you for sharing your feedback on vendors. I'm using Steve and Candlelite as well. Was Candlelite at all intrusive? I'm worried about the camera light being very bright. What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks!

02bride...Video camera lighting

The only light they used was the one on the camera and it wasn't noticable at all. They were great and I didn't even realize they were around most of the time. I will let you know how the video turns out as soon as we get it.

getting married at villas too---any advice/suggestions..

i just started planning (actually that is all i have done so far!)...any help would be appreciated!....did you ask for or do anything special there?...i would like to look at patken--what is their price range? thanks and best wishes for a very happy future!! how exciting!!!

getting married at villas too---any advice/suggestions..

Just make sure if you plan on having someone play the piano for the cocktail hour they are from their specific company or you will be charged and extra $250.00 for tuning (we didn't find out until a few days before). Take care of your cake early on because they only offer specific cakes and if you want anything special it costs more. Villas will not put your flowers on the cake so make sure your florist will. Patken will work with you on pricing. Just remember to ask for your negatives to be included, ask for a photo for each person in the bridal party to be included and remember your coupon from VIllas for an extra 11x 14 (I think). Good luck

Re: flowers on the cake

Do many reception sites choose not to place the flowers on the cake? Just wondering because I want flowers. This may sound kind of silly but, is it safe to eat the cake after real flowers have been sitting on top of it for a while?

Photos???

Would you share some photos? I would love to see how it turned out :)

Re: Hair / Makeup and flowers...

I am using Elena for my wedding. I went for a trial a few months ago, and wasn't that happy with my hair so I'm going back soon so she can try some other hairstyles. She is really nice but I would really like some feedback or any suggestions on how she is? How much time did you allow for her to do your hair and makeup? Did she recommend a makeup line or did you just use whatever makeup you wanted? Just alittle nervous!! Thanks

Re: Hair / Makeup with Elena...

I allowed about 2 hours for my hair and makeup and should have given her another 30 minutes. I loved my hair. I did bring almost all of my own makeup to use. I wanted to use my own foundation, lipstick, mascara (her's was a little clumpy), powder and eye shadow. I'm not sure what brands she uses, but I think the foundation is Max Factor. I had to touch up and tone down the makeup alot, so give yourself extra time for that. She was great to work with though and hair is definitely her best service. Good Luck!