**01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

So here it is! My review! I hope it is helpful. . . I included the little things that went wrong but only so that I could give a real perspective of what happened during the whole process. In the end, I married my best friend and nothing can ever change that!!

LIWEDDINGS!: *A+*. Thank you to Ron and Liz, this site helped me plan my wedding AND make many friends along the way! I got many of my vendors from this site and many ideas from you girls. . . you all listened to me complain, you all prayed for me when I needed it and you were all usually the first people I turned to when I had good news to share!

Church: Our Lady of Grace Church in Howard Beach *A+* OLG is our parish and I always knew I wanted to get married here. I received all of my sacraments in this church and couldn’t wait to celebrate my marriage there too! Deacon Alex did an AMAZING job. People have been telling us that our wedding was the most relaxed and intimate ceremony they have ever seen! I was not one bit nervous and he did a great job. The church was also still decorated for Christmas and it looked amazing.





Pre-Cana: Our Lady of Grace Church in Howard Beach *A+* This was a great experience for us. We learned a lot from our couple and I think it was a great experience for both of us. It was something we dreaded but in the end, truly enjoyed!

Hall: Jericho Terrace in Mineola *A+* Anthony and I only went to one other hall. After going to Jericho Terrace we knew this was the place for us, especially after seeing it decorated for Christmas! We dealt with Vinny from the beginning and he was great. He even remembered me months later when I came back to show my mom! I have to admit I was a little upset when I met with Anna for my semi final meeting – we were just not 100% comfortable with her. However, when I called her back to tell her that I wanted the extended Viennese hour she was helpful and gave us a great deal. Jose, our maitre d’ was AMAZING he really put as at ease at our final meeting.

The day of – Jericho Terrace really was just amazing. From the moment we pulled up to the moment we pulled away we felt like royalty. Jose made sure we ate and drank and that we ENJOYED every moment. He would tell us what was going to happen in about ten minutes and then let us know what was happening – so we never felt rushed. We were upgraded to the Garden room and it was so beautiful. The food was NON STOP it was ridiculous. We decided to attend the cocktail hour and we had a great time – just mingling with our guests. All of the food at the reception was also really good and the timing of everything was perfect. ((Can you tell that that I was the only bride who actually ATE at her wedding? Lol )) They had everything for us in the bridal suite so we got to eat before being announced in.

Our bridal attendants were amazing. Anthony called his “the magician” because he kept refilling his glass every moment. The woman helping me went ABOVE and BEYOND. She held my train the whole time, covered me up so I could eat, bandaged up my toe after my husband STEPPED ON IT and then took all of the blood out of my shoe and she even bustled me up! She really was awesome.

Overall, Jericho Terrace was a dream. It was so beautifully decorated and I heard so many compliments.

Three small complaints: A lot of people came early and I felt like they were just standing around. I am not sure if they were NOT informed of the lounge or they were being stubborn and trying to watch us take pictures, LOL. AND I had people complain about the temperature. The people sitting complained it was too cold and the people dancing complained it is too hot – LOL – I don’t know what they expected me to do!! They also forget my sign in board but I really didn’t care. They did such a great job, I can’t even explain how they made everything run so smoothly.

Oh yeah we added a few things that went over really well. We got some sushi trays for the cocktail hour. We added a FULL Viennese PLUS an extra hour – we were glad that we had the extra time with our friends even though I was worried about it!









DJ: Classie Sounds in Brooklyn *A+* My maid of honor and I met with Billy at first, he was great! I really wanted my DJ to be Keith because I had heard great things about him. He really seemed to know what I wanted and I booked after meeting with him.

WOW! Our guests LOVED Keith! He played the perfect mix of music. He pleased the older guests, the younger guests and our Italian guests etc. Everyone was so happy and there were people on the dance floor the entire night. We danced so much and he always informed us of what was coming next so that we were prepared.

I was only sad that he didn’t announce that we had the same wedding song as Anthony’s parents but not a huge deal.

Song List:
Parents Entrance: Ring of Fire, Johny Cash
Bridal Party Entrance: White Wedding, Billy Idol
Bride and Groom Entrance: Blitzkreig Bop, The Ramones
First Dance: Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel
Second Dance: At Last, Etta James
Mother/Son Dance: A Song for my Son
Father/Daughter Dance: Figlia Mia
Last Dance: Baby it’s Cold Outside



Photographer/ Videographer : Patken in Mineola ((pending proofs and video)) I knew I wanted to go with Patken after seeing their work on LIWeddings. I booked on the spot! I really loved their work and their price was HALF what I expected to spend on photography! I booked them on the spot!

Vinny was so great! He was so laid back. He got all the shots I wanted and he was FUN to hang out with. My only complaint is that he is an Islanders fan, LOL. He really made us laugh the whole time and it kind of felt like he was just hanging out with us! The next day I actually told my mom that Vinny did not get any candid shots at the wedding and she cracked up, she said he was ALL OVER THE PLACE taking pictures and THAT is what makes a great photographer. Also, my cousin from Italy took every single picture that Vinny took and Vinny was just a great sport about it and never complained. The pictures ran so smoothly! He finished early at Anthony’s house, early at my house and then we even had time before the cocktail hour!

Andy was our videographer and he also did a great job – he had a great personality and we had a lot of fun with him. I didn’t even notice him taping either!!

I don’t remember the name of the person who did our montage but it turned out great and everyone loved it!

Can’t wait to see my video and proofs!

Engagement Pictures: Patken in Mineola = *A* Anthony and I went for the complimentary engagement shoot. I was so happy they offered this because Anthony refused to take engagement pictures and this was the only way I could get some pictures taken of us. I really loved working with them and I loved how the pictures came out. I wish I had worn more makeup though – that is my only regret!


Florist: Designs by Rose in Howard Beach *A+* Rose and her mother, Doris, were a pleasure to work with from the beginning! They are right in my neighborhood and they do AMAZING work at very reasonable prices. I booked them at our first meeting.

My flowers were PERFECTION. My bouquets were all perfect. I had originally wanted a lighter pink for the girls BUT the darker pink looked SO MUCH BETTER! My centerpieces were amazing – everyone was complimenting me on them. She sent an arrangement to my house and the church flowers were also beautiful. I loved working with them and I could not have been more pleased with their work!








Limos: Royalty in Franklin Square *A * Anthony actually came with me to book the limos. He really liked the customer service there and they had the limo he wanted so we booked them on the spot. They did an awesome job. They came to everything twenty minutes early. They were even early at the end of the night AND the next day from the hotel. The drivers were so nice and helpful. Anthony was a little upset because the 41 Buick we picked out was not available so they called and asked what we wanted as a replacement. Not a huge deal to me but Anthony was upset because that was his father’s car when he was younger ( not the 41 though LOL that was why we picked it! ) But their service was perfect.



Tuxedos *A* Anthony used Di Re which is next to Royalty. I wasn’t there but he said they were VERY helpful and everything went smoothly. A few people got the wrong size but that was their own fault because they didn’t try it on, LOL. They also let us return them a few days later.



Hair: Jenn the Hair Genie *A+* My trial with Jenn was amazing – I couldn’t get over how great my hair looked. I actually booked her BEFORE the trial because I was so confident in her work BUT I was POSITIVE after the trial I had made the right decision.

Jenn was such a relaxing force on my wedding day. She made it so much fun and my hair looked even better than the trial! Everyone loved their hair. My sister got her hair done somewhere else for cheaper and Jenn even fixed it for her! LOL THEN she dressed me! She got my dress on in like two minutes, she is a lifesaver!





Makeup: Oksana *A+* I almost cried after my trial with Oksana. I had also booked her before the trial and I was so glad that I did. She truly is a miracle worker and that trial was the first time I felt beautiful in my whole life!

Oksana was so much fun to work with, everyone loved their makeup and she had us all relaxed and ready for the day. My mom never got her makeup done before and she just did a fabulous job! I liked my makeup better than the trial and it stayed on ALL DAY – perfection!



Bridal Shop: Flowerama in Queens *B* Okay, first bridal meltdown. I ordered my dress from Flowerama because they had been there for forty years and they were pretty close to me and I don’t drive. Well, I had a great experience there when I ordered that dress BUT then some drama started. I heard rumors they were closing which turned out to be true. I still gave them a B because they DID take some money off of my order and they closed the “right” way – they didn’t close until all the dresses were given to their owners but they caused me so much stress as I was trying to find a new place for alterations. I purchased my veil and tiara there when I bought my dress.

Alterations: Bridal Elegance in Dix Hills *A* Phyllis was one of the few places that would alter my dress even though I didn’t buy it there. At my first fitting, she stayed with us for over an hour and really helped me pick a bra and bustle. I also bought a faux wrap from her.

Phyllis did an AWESOME job on my dress. When I got there for my final fitting the bottom was all bunched up but she sent it right back up there and they fixed it. My mom was freaking about wrinkles and she was so patient with her. The dress fit perfectly and the dress was gorgeous. They really did a great job and even my mom was happy in the end!








Shoes: Sandy’s Shoes in Massapequa *A* I tried on my shoes here but they didn’t have my size and I needed them before my first fitting so I purchased them online. . . great customer service and selection!!

Shoes: Zappos.com *A* I ordered my shoes ( NINA GLO) from here and they came quickly and in perfect condition.




Mother of the Bride Dress: Blanchee Bridal in East Rockaway *A* My mom was in this store for THREE HOURS trying on dresses. There were actual dresses there she could try on and the service was excellent. The seamstress was amazing – my mom ordered the dress way too big and she fixed it and made it perfect for her. My mom chose a Junnie Leigh in Hunter Green.



Invitations: Gifts of Love in Glendale *A* My family uses her for all of our events. I went in, found invitations I loved and ordered them. They came in two weeks with a mistake. I got all new invitations one week later free of charge. I LOVE LOVE LOVED my invitations even though they cost WAY more than I thought I could ever spend on invitations! I also am so glad that I got my envelopes printed – it was expensive but saved me a lot of hassle!


Favors: Gifts of Love in Glendale *A* I wanted a typical Italian favor and something that could be useful. I chose a silver and crystal grated cheese/sugar holder with spoon. I love the way they wrap the favors here!



Monogram, Stamp Design, Table Numbers: Joe Soto *A+* Joe is my coworkers’ fiancé and an extremely talented artist. He is amazing and everyone RAVED about his designs. Please FM me for more information on him – his prices are very reasonable! He can take what you THINK you want and make it into something unique and beautiful.



Wedding Rings: Nick’s in Brooklyn *A+* We picked out our rings in about five minutes. Anthony wanted a plain white gold band and I got one to match. I also got a diamond band to wear for fancy occasions. We got them engraved with our wedding date and they came in after only two weeks! The service here was GREAT and the prices were reasonable.

Bridesmaid Dresses: Lillette’s in Baldwin *B* My maid of honor and I only tried on dresses one time and we found THE dress. We chose Bill Levkoff style 456. My only complaint is that when my sister went to get fitted for the dress the girls ridiculed my dress choice and even told my sister that she should not have agreed to be in the wedding. I thought this was very unprofessional and it upset me when I heard it!

In the end, the dresses looked great and I would use them again.




Flowergirl Dresses: Lillette’s in Baldwin Lilette’s did not order the flower girl dresses when I thought they had so I was upset to find out that they WEREN’T ordered and actually discontinued. They immediately fixed the problem by helping me choose a similar dress that they would add sleeves to free of charge

I actually liked the NEW dresses better!




Flowergirl Faux Fur: Cathy’s Touch in Merrick *B* This place has cute stuff for flower girls, we were there purchasing my niece’s communion dress so I just picked up two furs for the girls. Great place!



Bridesmaids Pashminas: ebay, seller was rainbowbridgefashion *A* I ordered the girls pink pashminas and they came very quickly. They were high quality and the perfect color!



Bridesmaid and Flowergirl Jewelry: ice.com *A*I ordered two types of heart necklaces for the bridesmaids with diamonds in them and heart lockets for the flower girls. They came in beautiful boxes and very quickly. Great quality for a decent price!



Groomsmen gifts: Nick’s in Brooklyn *A+*Anthony ordered engraved money clips for the groomsmen and a watch for the best man. They came in quickly.

Travel Agent: Linda from Flowerama in Glendale *A+* I totally panicked when I heard they were closing Flowerama, but it was only for dresses. Linda helped keep me calm through that ordeal. She really helped me with all questions about Sandals and made the whole process so easy!

Honeymoon: Sandals St. Lucia *A* I will link to a review on the Honeymoon board.

Honeymoon Review

Shower: Carosello in Howard Beach Link to my Shower Review with Pictures

Bachelorette Party: Sandalwood Day Spa and London Lennie’s *A+* My party was perfect and SO ME. The spa treatments were amazing and they let you hang out in this very relaxing room between the treatments to eat and drink. It was very well run! Then dinner at London Lennie’s was delicious. After, we went out to some bars on Bell Boulevard and danced and drank. It was so nice to hang out with my family AND friends all together and they made it so wonderful for me! My matron of honor did a great job planning!

Rehearsal Dinner: O Lavrador in Jamaica *A+*This is our favorite restaurant. The food was great and the san gria was DELICIOUS and DANGEROUS! LOL I think everyone had a great time and it was a laid back fun party!

Some Tips

I made my guest list in Excel from the beginning. One sheet just had names and addresses and how many people were invited from each family. Another sheet was my shower guest list which included who each person was ( aunt, cousin, friend etc. ) and some phone numbers in case my family needed to call. Another sheet was for my bachelorette party guest list. The last sheet had the names and addresses written how they would be written on the envelope – this helped out because I had my envelopes printed and I was able to give them that sheet.

I am also glad that I did not send out Save the Dates, my guest list changed DRASTICALLY over two years and I was able to make changes up until I sent out the invitations.

We opened up an ING account with our engagement money and honestly I do not think we would have been able to afford the wedding without it. We each put in money every month and any extra money we had went straight in there. We DID NOT TOUCH the account until ONE MONTH before the wedding. All deposits and early hall payments were made out of pocket and only final payments were made out of this account. It was a life saver!

The Day Of: I woke up at 8AM but stayed in bed until 9AM. Then I took an hour long shower and refused to do ANYTHING until I ate TWO bagels with butter ( I later ate a third). I drank about five bottles of water that morning. I have severe anxiety – but I did not even need medication! I ate a bit of everything at every course and I danced with all the different groups of people. Anthony and I enjoyed every single moment! We did shots with my friends and had time to sit and chat with people we have not seen in a long time!

For girls that are debating about inviting children: I had a great time with my nieces and nephews. They danced the whole night and brought smiles to all the guests’ faces. Anthony’s niece laid down and slept for hours on one of the chairs when she got tired! Some of my best memories involved the kids!

For girls debating going around to the tables: DO IT! It took about 40 minutes total and then we felt free to dance and mingle with our friends. We mingled at the cocktail hour AND still went around to all the tables!

Overall, it was the best day of my life so far. I am married to the love of my life and we truly enjoyed every single second of our wedding! Our families were amazing and supportive and our friends made sure we had fun every single second! Our vendors made the day go off without a hitch.

Thanks for reading, hope this helps! Please feel free to FM me with any questions!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Bridal Elegance and more!

Great review!! I knew you'd be the first '08 bride with a review up!!! You looked gorgeous and you and your FH look SO HAPPY!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Bridal Elegance and more!

everything looks so beautiful! thanks for sharing your review and thanks for your advice!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

I Love your dress!!! Its so beautiful! You looked great! Thanks for the review!!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL REVIEW!!!!!!!!!! congratulations

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

congrats - so amazing - beautiful

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

Beautiful Thank you for sharing

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

great review matilde! Everything was perfect and I can wait to see the proofs!!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

great review !

you looked beautiful

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

OMG tilde, you put your review up already!!!! everything looked wonderful!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

Great review and beautiful pictures!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

Congrats ! you guys looked great !

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

great review tilde!!! congrats to you and anthony! you both looked amazing!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

OMG, an 08er has a review

Your wedding was gorgeous!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

Wow amazing review!!!!
I cant believe how fast you posted it!!!!
Everything looked wonderful cant wait for pro pics!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

And I LOOVVVVEEE the song you chose for the last dance, that is so original! Mind if I steal it??

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

great review! i'm glad to hear good things about some of the vendors i also booked! everything looked perfect....and tilde i have to say it again..YOU WERE A GORGEOUS BRIDE!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

Great Review! Your pictures are great!
I feel like your my neighbor I know half of your vendors!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

Beautiful review!!

Re: **01/12/08 Review** *Jericho Terrace*Classie Sounds*Patken*Royalty*Oksana*Hair Genie *Bridal Elegance and more!

Great review!! you guys are so cute