Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

PLEASE NOTE...I spend several hours trying to get the pictures to appear as they do on my photographer's website, but when it gets copied and pasted, the images appear grainy. :bang

Dear Brides-to-be,
If I could leave you with any words of advice, it would be this…I know many brides offer these words of advice, but I never really took it to heart until my wedding day.
You spend months and months preparing for the biggest, most important day of your life. Some of us tend to get a little obsessed with the details. I felt a lot of pressure to have everything perfect because I was the one organizing everything. I wanted our personality and style to show through every element of our wedding. And I knew, if something went wrong, it would fall on me. However, on the day of our wedding, those details really weren’t that important. You are just so happy to be married and surrounded by all of your family and friends.
You become very overwhelmed between the masses of people coming over to greet you and the photographer pulling you away to take pictures. So, make sure you get a lot of rest, not just the night before, but a few days before. Easier said than done, but I made sure that I had every single detail in place three days before my wedding. I wanted to have a relaxed state of mind a few days before the wedding, instead of scrambling around last minute with a stressed feeling inside. So, when guests started arriving a few days before the wedding, I was able to relax with them. I honestly feel that getting those details done early, allowed me to mentally prepare for the big day. I know it’s hard, but try to get it all done early! I was completely relaxed the morning of my wedding and felt great inside!
The last words of advice I have are…during dinner, stop eating, looking around, and take it all in. It is truly the most amazing feeling to look around the room and realize, not just that everything came together perfectly, but that all of the people in this room are here for you (and your husband). The feeling is indescribable. I remember wishing that I could just freeze that moment. The day goes by incredibly fast. Before you know it, you are handing out your favors.







WEATHER- B+


The week of the wedding, the forecast called for showers for our wedding. I was determined to have sunshine for my wedding. My mom had hung rosary beads on a tree and had the blessed Mother turned towards the beads, looking out the window. (This is a myth that this will bring sunshine for your wedding.) I even went as far as to go to my grandparents graves and pray to them for sunshine. When I went to my grandmother’s grave, who was always very religious…a butterfly appeared. So, I took that as a sign of good luck! Unfortunately, the morning and afternoon of the wedding, it poured cats and dogs! I thought this would have put a damper on the whole wedding, but it really didn’t bother me. I just remember thinking, “Oh well! What are you going to do?” After we were married, we walked outside the church, it had stopped raining, and the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. We were able to take pictures outside. I was so happy! So for ladies worried about rain clouds on your wedding day, don’t! Weather is one thing you can’t control. If it rains, trust me, it’s not the end of the world. You get over it and move on. Well, unless, that is, your ceremony or reception is outside!



REHEARSAL DINNER
Mac’s Steakhouse A+
We had our rehearsal dinner at Mac’s Steakhouse in Huntington Village. It was perfect! DH’s family is a little critical about food since they are off the boat Italian. But, believe me when I say…this place is amazing! My steak was cooked perfectly (much better than Jericho Terrace). We had a room upstairs with a screen. Had I known, I would have put together a slideshow. Oh well! At any rate, they arranged the tables so it was in the form of a horseshoe (like a conference room). I loved the setup because we could see everyone. It felt like home.

CHURCH
St. Anthony’s Church- B


We had a lot of issues with St. Anthony’s Church in East Northport. Their office personnel are very disorganized. I had to call them numerous times to make sure they filed my paperwork. The night of the rehearsal, the two people who ran it were very disorganized as well. I had to practically run the rehearsal. The organist, Brother Fran, on the other hand, was great to work with. He was willing to play any style of music for the entrance. We finally decided on “Con te Partiro” and it sounded beautiful. About a month after we came back from the honeymoon, we received a letter from the hall where we applied for our marriage license, explaining that they never received the paperwork. Apparently, the secretary at St. Anthony’s never sent it in!!! Again, very disorganized staff!
I always dreamed of walking down the aisle at the church that I was baptized and confirmed at. I just love the long aisle and the old look. However, would I have gotten married there if I knew about all the issues I would encounter? Hmmm…I don’t know. Probably because the church is just so beautiful.













INVITATIONS
Even-star Paperie (Tessa)- A


Tessa was a doll to work with. She really took my ideas/style into consideration when designing my invitation. I am a little picky when it comes to details, so she was very patient with me. She designed 8-10 different invitations for me and 4 or 5 edits with the “sugarplum” color. Some brides said that she is difficult to get in touch with, but I never had a problem with her. Although I never spoke to her over the phone, whenever I emailed her, she always emailed me back within 24 hours…usually within the hour. She is really good about returning emails promptly. The reason why I gave her an A and not an A+ is because I know that many other invitation vendors produce invitations within a few weeks of designing them. The whole process took 4 months for me (which she was upfront about). She promised that I would have my invitations in my hand by the last week in May. Because it was wedding season for her, I received my invitations a few days later than the date specified in my contract. So, she paid for my shipping to make up for it. Not all vendors would do that…actually, I’m sure nobody would do that. She really cares about the customer. Overall, Tessa was a pleasure to work with.



PHOTOGRAPHER
Imagine Studios- A-


We had a really hard time picking a photographer. I have taken many photography classes, so I have a lot of knowledge about photography. Every photographer that we met, we were not satisfied with. Either the photos were too photoshopped, the lighting was off, the colors were not right, the pictures were too saturated, or they weren’t clear. When we met with Lia, we felt that her pictures looked very natural. 90% of her pictures are taken with natural lighting (no flash). There were a lot of pictures that would have come out beautiful, on our wedding day if they were taken close up. For example, the pictures on the terrace were taken from far away, so you can barely see our faces. Some pictures that my father had snapped of us on the terrace came out breathtaking…because he got close-ups of our faces. However, the pictures that she did take of us closeup, came out amazing. Aside from that…Lia was great to work with the day of the wedding. She made us feel relaxed, even though she did not have much time with us to take pictures. Some photographers that I met with, I knew right away that they would make my day stressful because they were too aggressive.







As for the videography, we have only seen the raw footage, so I can’t comment…but what I liked was that on the day of the wedding, the video camera was never right in your face. We barely knew he was there. So, judging just on the day of the wedding…I would give him an A

LIMO COMPANY
Camelot- A+


If you haven’t heard it already from other brides on LIW, Joe from Camelot is awesome! He really is such a fun guy. Make sure you don’t schedule something after him, though, because you will be late. He talks a lot, hehe. All of our limo drivers were very prompt the day of the wedding. The limo drivers escorted everyone over to the limo with a big umbrella to make sure they didn’t get wet. Our limo driver was great! He was very personable and funny.



HAIRDRESSER/MAKEUP
M-I-A - B-


Out of fear that LIW might delete my post, I have deleted my negative experience with m-i-a. If you would like details on why I rated her a B-, please FM me.


(HAIR GONE FLAT!!!)

FLORIST
Flowers by Burton- A+


Mike was great to work with. He wasn’t pushy, but just a regular, average Joe. Those are the best people to work with. He was able to replicate the exact photo that I gave him for my bridal bouquet. It came out perfect! What I love about Burtons is that whether you want lilies or weeds in your bouquet, the price doesn’t change. Mike also threw in rose petals for my petal cones and pew bows for free. I was a little worried that the flowers would be wilted because the wedding was in August, but everything was fresh and by the end of the night…all of the bouquets looked as fresh as the morning that they were delivered to us.



WEDDING ATTIRE
Helens- A


Let me start by saying that Ashley from Helen’s was my favorite person to work out of all of the vendors. From the moment I walked into the salon, she was just a pleasure to work with. She was never pushy, and again…just down-to-earth. She made me feel completely comfortable about dressing and undressing in front of her, unlike some people from other salons that treat you like a piece of meat. Every time I walked into Helen’s, Ashley was always there to greet me with a smile. She always greeted me by name, which made me feel special. If I had money to throw around, I would have hired her as my day of coordinator for the day of my wedding. My dress came out nearly flawless. We had some issues with the length and fullness of the dress, so that is why I gave Helens an A and not an A+.









We also ordered the bridesmaids dresses from there. However, the alterations were very pricey!

Barrons- A+


Barrons at Tri-County was exactly what I was looking for….simple and cheap. I wasn’t looking to spend a lot of money on a veil and tiara. I just wanted something simple. Barrons had exactly what I wanted for my tiara. I was able to find a tiara with a vineyard look to it (vines and leaves) and they had a wide range of colors and styles for veils. You ladies weren’t kidding about the employees there taking their job seriously. The lady refused to let me try on my veil and tiara without putting my hair up exactly how I was going to wear it. It was pretty humorous.

I got my earrings at the jewelry counter next to Barrons. I killed three birds with one stone at Tri-County!
I got my wedding shoes online…I can’t remember which one. www.shoebuy.com, I think.


RECEPTION HALL
Jericho Terrace- A




Jericho Terrace was a dream come true. We had our reception in the Skylight Room. Everything there was done perfectly. Rob, our BM, was so great to work with. He even threw in some freebies for us (free leg of lamb, chocolate fountain, risotto duet). The day of the wedding, our two bridal attendants were there to greet us. My bridal attendant was always holding my train to make sure it did not get dirty. I felt like a queen!





During cocktail hour, she made up a platter for me and sat me down to make sure I ate something. Even though, I only had about 3 minutes to eat before people started coming up to me, those three minutes of relaxation were great. Sal, our Maitre D, was superb. He didn’t overcrowd us, but made it a point to check in with us every half hour. The only person that I would not recommend is the lady who helped us finalize our menu. I think her name is Ana. We had such a bad experience with her. She was very pushy, impatient, and rushed us through the appointment. When my dad had a question, she seemed annoyed.

The service at Jericho Terrace was great. Everything was executed perfectly. Every detail was perfectly placed in the exact location we specified. Things that I wanted moved at a specific time, were moved without having to remind anyone. Sal even ran down to the cellar to get a bottle of champagne as a gift for the winner of the anniversary dance.







The food at the cocktail hour was overflowing! Sal gave us a preview of it before our guests arrived. Everyone complimented the wide variety of food. The pasta during dinner was cooked al dente…not mushy at all. It was perfect! The steak, unfortunately, was not cooked the way I had ordered it (medium rare), but other than that…all of the food was delicious. The food at the Viennese hour was to die for. Our bridal attendants made up a plate for us so that we didn’t have to move from our seats. Make sure you try the banana flambé. I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!!



















ENTERTAINME NT
Code Bleu- A


Code Bleu played a wide range of songs. All of the guests raved about them. A few people commented on how they sounded just like the original artists. The only thing I was a little disappointed about is that they didn't stick to our setlist. They played a lot of songs that I wished they hadn't played...but overall, they were great!




FAVORS
Wine Favors- A+



My SIL gets wine from her company wholesale. So, I was able to get whole bottles for a lot less than you would pay at the liquor store. The only downside was that I had to drive into Manhattan to pick them up. Driving and Manhattan just don’t mix well with me. These are great as favors because if you have extras, you can actually use them!!!

Wine Coaster- B+
I ordered these wine coasters from www.foryourparty.com . They were only 50 cents each and they came out really cute. Unfortunately, not many people took them at the bar, so we have a lot leftover. Although, they came out cute, they were really cheaply made. You get what you pay for. They are not reusable. They fall apart after the first use.

DIY
I think I was in over my head with all of the DIY projects I took on. I love DIY projects and wanted to save some money, but would I do it again? I would, but I don’t think I would take on as many projects. It was just too much!

Wine Barrel Card Holder- A


Since we had a vineyard theme wedding, I found this great wine barrel to use for our card holder. My dad helped me with all the handyman work, like sawing the card slot and gluing on the grapes. We were very happy with the results!

Placecards- A-


My in laws make their own wine, so they were able to get wine corks for cheap. My dad, again, helped me with this project. I sawed the slits in the corks, while my dad sanded the bottoms down so they wouldn’t’ roll off the table. The writing should have printed out a little darker, more purple than pink, but other than that, I was happy with how they turn out.

Petal Cones- A


The petal cones were a little tedious. Between cutting the circles, gluing the edges, punching the holes, inserting the ribbon through the holes…my goodness! It was very time consuming. I took on this last minute task a week before the wedding. Maybe if I had started it a few weeks before the wedding, it wouldn’t have been so tedious. I wish I had made more petal cones, though. Not everyone got to throw the petals.

Program Fans- A


The program fans were the most tedious task of all. I probably spent a total of 24 hours just designing them so they would fit perfectly on each fan piece. Then, cutting each one out was time consuming. Luckily, my MOH was willing to help out with some of the cutting. We cut out about 350 pieces. I never want to see another program fan again! I was a little disappointed that some of the fans weren’t aligned perfectly on both sides, but all in all, they came out okay.

Flip Flop Basket- B+


I had my mind set on getting the Old Navy flip flops for a dollar, but I missed out on the sale. So, I got the flip flops at Michaels. The quality was not nearly good as Old Navy’s flip flops, but for what they were being used for, they were fine. The people that did use them , were so thankful. Just a word of advice…only buy half as much as you think you will need. Although their feet might hurt them, most women won’t take them.

Wish Bowl- A


My MOH got the ball rolling with a wish bowl at my shower. So, because I only had about 25 wishes in my bowl, I decided to use the wish bowl at our wedding, too. We still haven’t read any of the advice people wrote for us. We are waiting until we own a home and then we will open one up once a week.

Wine Ceremony- A


We wanted to do something unique, instead of the unity candle. The wine ceremony fit perfectly with our wedding theme. I poured a glass of white wine, while my DH poured a glass or red wine. It should have made a rose color, signifying two lives becoming one, but it turned out the same color as the red wine. A lot of people complimented us on this idea.


(Exactly how we felt at the end of the night...bittersweet!)

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Beautiful review...you guys looked great.

So glad you were honest about your vendors, it always helps other girls

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

thank you so mucg for taking the time out for some advice as well!! you look gorgeous, so glad you were able to truly enjoy your beautiful wedding day!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Thank you so much for the advice, that was so sweet of you....you looked absolutely beautiful...glad you had such a great day! Congrats!!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

OMG! I adoooooore your dress!!!!!!!! Plus you looked gorgeous in it! You are in such great shape! I am really blown away by the dress...wow...everything else was gorgeous also and I am so glad you were honest about a few vendors.

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

What a great review Debra! My hair went flat also and I had to recurl it i think it just happens when its rainy out. But you still looked fabulous!!!!!!!!!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Looks like a beautiful wedding!! Congratulations!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Thank you for the advice and the wonderful review. You are beautiful.

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Congrats!! Great Review. I love the layout. Your wedding is beautiful, you look stunning. The photography is amazing, she really did fabulous work.

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Great review!!! Your pictures are absolutely amazing and everything looked beautiful. Congrats!!!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Very Nice! I saw alot of DIFFERENT ideas at your wedding that was refreshing... Good job on everything it was gorgeous!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Beautiful and congrats! I love that wish bowl idea!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

I LOVE Ashley as well...what a doll to work with you! You looked amazing...congrats!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Great review, you looked nice. Congrats!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Thank you so much for sharing! COngrats!!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

yay we have the same dress!!!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

what a beautiful review and a gorgeous wedding! congrats

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

Congratulations!! You looked beautiful!! Glad to hear another great JT review! Your pics were great!

Re: Debra and Fabrizio's Fabulous 8/02 Wedding- Jericho Terrace, Imagine Studios, Code Bleu, ***, Burtons, ******** Paperie and More!!!

I love this!