Wedding at Swan Club (long)
I went to a wedding at the Swan Club yesterday and thought Id report back to you guys...I know she only spent about $15K for everything...
she had the ceremony there so there was a half an hour before that everyone got there and mingled. We actually walked through the room where they were having their rehersal and people told me that they saw them taking pictures before hand and saw her FI crying :) For her I know she didn't care that people saw her, she was actually waving to us, but I'm not sure how you could handle this if it is a concern... I actually am happy that we are seeing each other before, b/c I don't want to cry during the ceremony, I'd rather do it before hand.
There were no programs, which I wish there were... I am close with her at work and had to fill everyone in sitting near me who everyone was. Her FIs 8 year old son (from a previous marriage) was the best man and it was so cute, but a lot of people didn't know. He also had a huge grin on his face when his future step mother came down the aisle...which choked me up a little, b/c he was so happy. It was also very difficult to hear the readers (no mike). I know some people are printing their readings in the programs which now I think is a nice idea.
The pastor was from Bellmore Presbyterian...Im sorry I didn't catch his name, but he was really good and funny...I know they are both Catholic, so I don't know how they fell upon this person.
The grounds were absolutely beautiful...the flowers were lush and the ducks were flapping their wings in the water like they were told to do so...
Cocktail hour was very good...There wasn't a lot of stuff (or there was, but not the enormous amounts that some cocktail hours have)...It was definitely enough...Although we were sitting in the elevated portion away from the main cocktail hour part and we didn't get many passed hor dourves (sp) our way. My FI said he saw the couple eating dinner during the cocktail hour inside...and then they would come out and mingle.
The dinner was good. I had the vegetarian plate and a lot of places will only give you the steamed vegetables, but they also gave me the mashed potatoes (which I love) so they get thumbs up from me, but you really can't do wrong with vegatables. My Fi had salmon...her said for wedding salmon it was fabulous, but obviously not the best he's ever had. They had a great dessert also. It was a waffle typ pastry wrapped around vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and was wonderful. They also had an assortment of cookies and pastries on each table. The waitstaff there was great...They really knew when exactly to take your plate and when not to. They were professional and on the ball. I did see a woman, who must have been the maitre d running around and doing a lot of stuff.
there was another party there...I saw it when I went to the bathroom, but never thought about it or saw it again. My FI says he thinks its nice, b/c then you get to meet different people...
Her flowers were very simple, but great...She had roses in her bouquets (blue and red I think) and the men had one red rose...The centerpieces were blue viloet colored lilies with a splash of yellow in the middle and then accented with yellow babys breath...it looked great. And I think she did it for under $1000. Not sure who though.
She told me her photographer was about $1200... Carasol 718-353-0900. One guy no assistant. He seemed to get the basic shots and even crawled on the floor to look up at a circle of girls when all of her college friends were dancing. But he was in the bathroom when her family was out doing the Irish jig (not his fault, but having another photographer could have solved that problem...Also he was so involved looking at the two of them during the ceremony (which he should be) he missed the ring bearer poking the best man in the back of the neck. I tried to take the shot but did not have a zoom lens to get the effect...The 2nd photographer could have gotten this shot. But he was very unobtrusive...never in anyones face.
The DJ was $600-700...GK the DJ 631-981-3541...He does our work parties and has always been good. He works alone, and did not interupt too much. Played one dancing game, which in the end turned out to be cute, but a little too long...He had hula-hoops to give out, which everyone seemed to enjoy, especially the kids. But he didn't seem to play any current music...But she may have requested that...but I'm not sure that she cared...She was always dancing and there were always people on the dancefloor. He even played my Fi's uncle's song. One thing you might want to consider is ethnic music...He started to play some Irish music and everyone on her side of the family got up and started to jig, but they it died out by the second song and most of the people were off the floor when he played the third one. I would break it up. Her Husbands side was from Uruguay and at the end they started to play some Latin music...I don't know how they felt about that so far at the end...but when it came on they all got up and started to dance.
Her favors were bottles of wine, but I forgot mine...Im not sure I would have drank it anyway...I was just at my mom's house and saw bottles from my cousins 1995 wedding! She said she was going to do Baileys Irish Cream, but turned out to be more expensive. But I think it would have been nicer.
All in all I had a great time and it seemed the bride had a great time...I think she would have been happy anywhere as long as she was surrounded by friends and family while getting married. Hope I got through everything I wanted to....
