My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

I would first like to thank everyone on LIW for all there great advise. I couldn't have done the planning without you. Even though I didn't post that much, I took everything in. So thanks Ladies!!

I hope this helps future brides. Good Luck and Congratulations!!

Just remember to Breathe and enjoy your day. I can't believe how fast it went.

Our Rings-Karat Shop-Huntington A
Good customer service and they have a nice selection. Good selection of Antique Settings, which is what I have.


Rehearsal Dinner-La-Villini's-East Northport-A+
I love love love this restaurant and I was so happy to share one of our favorite restaurants with everyone. The food is so tasty and everything is homemade and everyone raved about it!

Mother Nature-D
Rained all day-poured. Luckily the Hotel, Church and Watermill all have Awnings and I didn't get a drop of water on me. Just stinks not to have outdoor pictures.

Huntington Hilton-A
I stayed here the night before with my bridal party and family. I booked a suite with an ajoining room with 2 double beds. Plenty of room for everyone. DH and I also stayed there the night of. When we got back to the room they had a nice note with a bottle of wine in our suite. It was a nice touch to a special day.

St.Elizabeth's Church-Melville-Can't rate
I love my Church and think it's the most beautiful church ever. Father Frank was unbelievable and really personalized it. He even included my daughter into our vows. It was a real tear jerker. Everyone raved it was the best ceremony they have ever went to.

Hair-Janette Greene A+
She is a friend who does hair on the side. She did everyone's hair. My hair came out better than the trial.

Make-up-Marie Katz A+
Just love her. Again my make-up came out better than my trial. Airbrush all the way!! Normal make-up is very cakey on me but not with Airbrushing. It was so nice to have her there. She has such an upbeat personality. Everyone was very happy with her and loved the Airbrushing as well.

Limo's-Sir Oliver A++
We used them for my Bachlorette Party and Day of. I used Joe for both. He made sure that I was perfect and that I didn't ruin my dress with all the rain. One of our best vendors that day. We got the 10 passenger lincoln for the guys ride to the church and the 2007 Escalade picked me up and we all used that after the ceremony. The Escalade was so big and we had a blast in it.

Dove Release- White Wings NY-A+
What a great addition to the end of our ceremony. I wanted to include Doves because my DH lost his grandmother in January. So I wanted this to be in the honor of our deceased grandparents. What a great honor. It was the talk of the reception. Macy is great to work with and made a special reading for me to indicate everything I wanted. She called me the morning of to assure me that with all the rain, the show will go on. Highly Recommend.

Ebay-A+
I used Ebay for Save the Dates,Bride Apparel-including boxers, sweats, panties, church programs, menu's and bridal party thank you cards. Please FM if you need to know a specific vendor from E-bay.

Florist-Burton's A+
We were on a stict budget and flowers to me, should be the least of the budget. Burton's was great. I know so many people who have used them and there was no question who I would use. My flowers came out better then I could have ever imagined. Everyone there was great to deal with and very helpful. I loved loved my bouquet!!

Photo-Park Avenue Studios B+
We went to 8 studios before deciding on them. I loved their work when I saw them at the bridal show in West Sayville. We booked them because the quality and price was right and also my friend and her 2 brothers used them. So they came highly recommended. We had a photo journalistic, main photographer and used their video. I was told by the Studio that they would all call the week of the wedding. Only the main photographer did and that worried me. I called and lm at the studio with no return calls, and I called the day of with no returned calls. I called the main photographer and she told me she spoke to the photo journalistic and told me the time he would be there. She didn't know why he didn't call me, and she didn't know why he called her. So I didn't know what was going on and that worried me. I had Elaine as the main, Bill as the PJ and Paul for Video. It was a good day except for that. Elaine was great. She was getting married the weekend after me and assured me that I was in good hands. And to this day, the owner, Brian still has not called me. I don't think I would recommend this vendor.

My gown and BM's-Carmela Bridal Garden in Huntington A-
BM's dresses are Bill Levkoff. I love the quality of Bill Levkoff. The dresses are Euro Rose with a Ivory Sash. The only thing Carmela did was not order the dresses until May and blamed it on my sister. Whatever, we got that squashed. I think she may be a little unorganized when it comes to the business side. I have known her since I was a child. I grew up with her daughter and I trusted that I was in good hands and I was. My dress was gorgous, a little pricey but well worth it. When it came in, it fit me like a glove.Carmela hand made my daughter's JR BM Dress. Came out perfect!! I also got my veil here. It matched the dress perfectly.

I also made all the BM's Jewerly.

My Shoes-Varones in Sayville-A+

All other shoes for BM's-Casa DiMario-A+
Used them more because Varone's doesn't have Sunday hours.

DJ- Tommy's Tunes-B
We used Frankie and the DJ was Mark. I am SHOCKED that I have to give this vendor a B. This is why. Our first dance was the wrong version. It should have been the The Gift from Jim Brinkman, it was the right song but not Jim. We took 4 months of dance lesson's and I almost wanted to die when the music started. It was a faster tempo then what we were used to and it wasn't as pretty. We pulled off the dance but it really wasn't our song. Second, we wanted Jerry as the singer for Salad and Dinner. Wasn't Jerry, it was Jack. Jerry was in our contract not Jack. Still don't know what happened. I was a little embarrased by Jack at first because he looked like Elvis and I thought he was an impersonator and I wanted to die. Everyone loved him and he even got a booking from our wedding. And lastly and the most important. My DH wanted to dance to a special song with my daughter, they played the wrong song and played the right song after their dance was done. My DH was very upset about that. I made a call to them today to go over everything that happened and waiting for a response. NOT GOOD. Over all everyone danced the whole night and nobody noticed anything except us. Tommy's Tunes is not cheap and we expected perfection and we did not get it.

MOB, MOG Dresses-Estelle's A+
My mother paid $150.00 for her dress and she looked like a million bucks!!

Tuxedo's-After Hours -Smithhaven Mall- C
Very unorganized. The only reason why we picked them was because we had 3 groomsmen from OOT. And they really screwed the whole order up. My DH had to go down there like 3 times to make sure everything was correct. I gave them a C because they were very nice.

Invitations and Favors-Samantha at the Watermill A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Samantha is truly a GODS Send. I highly recommend her. She calls you on Sundays and at night ,in the morning. She might not be the cheapest, but customer service and quality is what you get with her. And that to me, is worth gold. My invites where NuArt, and everyone loved them. The favors we chose were cake servers. They come boxed, wrapped, personalized ribbons and all shipped to the Watermill. You do NOTHING!!! Now that's what I like. One less thing to worry about. When we sat down to do our final count, I was down 1 favor. Now this is the week of the wedding....I called Samanatha, and she came through. She got me 5 more favors, just what I needed. And she told me if after the wedding I need more just to let her know. My mother and I sent her a bouquet of flowers and say Thank You that week. She is truly an amazing women and I am so happy that I used her. She means a lot to us.

Save the BEST for Last...
Watermill -Astor Suite A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When I walked into the WM to look at it, my jaw dropped, it hit the floor. I went one day during lunch with a co-worker friend. I didn't think we would be able to afford it. We almost booked another place out east and I put that on hold for DH to see. When I brought him back, he to felt the same. We had to have this place and we have to make it work in our budget. And so we did. We couldn't wait for our friends and family to see what a wonderful place it really is. Looking at it from 347 does it no justice. You have to go inside to see it for yourself. We originally should have had the cocktail hour outside in the garden, but the weather was horrible. Such a shame because it's gardens are wonderful!!We had Gina as the Bridal Attendant-Robert the Maitre D and Joelle as the Captain.They came through in our time of need. We went in 3 days before the wedding and asked if the weather was bad if we could come right there. Not a problem!! We went right there after the church and they brought us in the bridal suite. Gave us food and drinks and everything. Made us feel right at home. We were there 2 hours early. Gina always made sure that I had a drink and gave us 2 plates of food at the cocktail hour. They are known for service and we got serviced like Royalty. Our guests raved about the how beautiful the Watermill is and how great the food was.

I will send pictures soon.

Please FM with any questions and I hope I helped with all future brides. Thank you!!!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congrats! I can't wait to see your pictures!

Thanks for the review

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congratulations! Can't wait to see pics. Glad you had such a wonderful day.

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congratulations and thanks for posting! Great review!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congrats! Would love to see pics!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congrats.. can't wait to see pics!!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Glad your day went so well! Congrats! Can't wait to see the pics!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

please post pics!!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congrats!!!!!! Sorry to hear about the DJ, but sounds like your day weny otherwise perfectly!!!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congrats! Cant wait to see pictures!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congratulations! I'm so excited to hear how great the Watermill was!!
Can't wait to see pictures!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

just to let you know you brought tears to my eyes from your watermill review .. i can't wait for 7 months to go by so I can enjoy it as much as you did

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congrats!!!!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

I'm so happy that you all have enjoyed my review. I'm waiting for pictures still. I also have to figure out how to post them. So as I get myself organized I will post. I can't wait to share what I have.

Thanks so much!!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Great Review! Can't wait to see your pictures. . .I'm getting married at the Watermill!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

congrats!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Great review, I am sory about your DJ. I would be very upset. Congrats and I can't wait to see pictures!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Congrats!!!!

Re: My 8/27/06 Watermill Wedding

Trying to post pictures-not working. I will try again.