My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

I would like to start by thanking LIW. This site is extremely helpful. I booked some vendors thru this site, got some ideas and most of all made some friends.
ADVICE: Relax and don't stress on your wedding day. You interview vendors and trust that they will do a phenomial job. I was extremely calm the whole day.
Also if you do buy a home before your wedding don't start demolitain on it when your wedding is two months away....I did not sleep, I was cut up from working on the house. I was extremely stressed over the house. I wanted to get tan for the wedding and absolutely had no time, all the time was in the house. Do it all after the wedding.. racing against the clock was crazy anything that could go wrong did go wrong.
RATING: I will do a scale from 1-10 just warning some of my vendors are way beyond a ten!!!
WEATHER:14++ I woke up that morning and it was gray skies and no sign of the sun. I was a bit nervous about this. At 11 the sun came out and it was a beautiful day. I couldn't have asked for a better day.
Half my vendors were booked before I joined this site.
PARADISE BRIDAL in Patchogue 12++:
I heard great things about this place. I went all over and actually had the best experience there.
MY BRIDAL PARTY DRESSES: we walked in and Tiffany helped us. She was great..I told Tiffany I wanted a dress that would flatter all my girls figures. They tried on a ton of dresses and all fell inlove with Bill Levkoff style 704 in the Euro Violet/ Lilac-lilac. Gorgouse dress. LOVED IT!! They went to a seamstress to get there alterations done it was cheaper.
MY DRESS: I was torn between two, one was a strapless mermaid by Private Label By G and the other was a halter A-line by Davinci. I went with the strapless mermaid. I went back again to Paradies and tried on the dresses again. They never minded how many times I kept coming back. It was a Saturday and the place was packed, when it was my turn I put on the strapless dress everyone went wild over it. People see you in the dress and will let you know what compliments you and your figure. I liked the dress a lot but did not love it until my fittings..I was dealing with Liz in the beginning she was great, honest and made you feel like you were the most important bride to her. Unforuntely she is no longer there. (now at Helens in Commack)
FITTINGS: Went in for my first fitting and it was not good my hollow to hem was all messed up. Which was not Paradise's fault it was the manufactor's (it happens) ofcourse the seamstress says my dress has to be thrown out because the hem was to messed up and choppy to fix. Five weeks before the wedding you don't want to hear this. Paradise said they would call me the next day at work to let me know what would be done. It was late and the manufactor had already closed for the day. Great news, I was getting a brand new dress. No hollow to hem this time and I was told it would be in, in a week. Less than a week I got the call the new dress was in and they fit me in for a fitting that night. I had Cecilia from the start with both dresses I totally trusted her and she set my mind at ease. She was honest that she couldn't work on the first dress that it was ruined and there was no room to fix it. Cecilia was above and beyond. By the second fitting I absolutely LOVED LOVED MY DRESS and knew I made the right decision.
CASA DIMARIO in Patchogue 10 : Liz from Paradise ran next door to Casa Dimario when I decided on the dress and brought over five pairs of shoes. I was inlove with my shoe.. I wanted a small heel and wound up with a 3 1/2 inch heel. I survived. The shoes were worn the whole day except for an hour. I also bought Dr. Schoulls (think I spelt wrong) slip in for sandals which I put in after coctail hour right before reception. Totally helped.
BRIDAL SUITE OF HUNTINGTON 10:
Flower girl dresses. Excellent job. They had the best pricing and didn't try to charge me a rush fee either for the girls dresses like other places did. Paradise didn't have the dress it was a new designer. I didn't have time for them to get it I choose just to go with one of the three stores that carried it. Bridal suite was the best of the three, great pricing and so sincere.
BLACK TIE TUXEDOS in Smithtown 14: Marc I highly recomend. FH went to a few places. We had a big guy in the bridal party and Mens Warehouse in Lake Grove were too busy so they were sent to the Patchogue location, where they were told that they don't do custom tuxes. Why they weren't told this in Lake Grove I have no idea. FH called me and I called all over. Marc from Black Tie answered and said they were closing in a half hour however he would say open for my guys. The guys got there and Marc stayed open and extra hour and half for them. Never rushed them or made them feel like they wanted to leave and go home. Fh wanted to do the tuxes by himself. Marc called me to ask me some questions to make sure FH knew what he was doing and saying. Fh was confused on the white ivory decision. I thought that was great. FH totally loved his experince at Black Tie. The tuxedos were gorgouse. We had a lot of out of towners and all there tuxes were above perfect.
MICHELLE: (invitations 12 attitude after 6)
made my wedding invitations the pocketfolds, my placecards, flower petals and menus. With the house I had no time it was easier to just pay someone. Michelle was very reasonable. I absolutely loved my wedding invitations. I wasn't that impressed with the way some things went down with the flower petals. She was suppose to make the cones. All she did was print them out and give me the paper. Thank you to my friend Jessica (a LIW girl) who made my cones. Also felt she begin to get an attitude problem. At least it was at the end and the invititations were done.
FLOWER MICHELLE: the beginning 12 day of 8 When I met John I loved him. I thought he was a genius. This was a vendor I was not worried about. I have to say day of a little dissappointed. My colors were two tone purples to compliment the bridal party dresses. My flowers were delivered on time great. My bouquet I am convinced was pink not purple. I said something immediately and people at my house said no that is the calli lillie purple. I think they were afraid I was going to get upset. I didn't what can you do it is your wedding day. I didn't sweat it. The bouquet was still beautiful. The temple was amazing and the flower girl headbands were better than I could hope for. During the pictures in the park, my white ribbon on my bouquet was coming on done. You could see the green tape underneath and it looked messy. We had niothing with us to fix it. My centerpieces...if I had to do again I would have done different. I wanted a candlelight theme being that I had a waterfront reception. We did the coIored water with floating candles. I never saw my candles lit at all the whole night. When I went to my matre dee he stated the candles were wet and they were not staying lit, that he would go around and try re-lighting them. I just wish John would have addvised me on this, I would have done a differenet candle theme. Maybe my fault for not relizing that floating candles would get wet instantly and not work the whole night. The flower petals on every table were great..plenty of them and beautiful. I didn't let any of this bother me the day of. It is all the next day when you recap. Everything was beautiful. I just want to point out that stuff for you future brides.
ROYALTY LIMOS: 14 ++++ Deal with Manny..He was a great vendor. One that I will continue to use. FH used them two days before the wedding to take the Bridal party (that was the bridal party gift) to the Met/Yankee game at Yankee stadium. DAY OF I had the Jaguar Roy was my driver. Excellent on time ( early actually), knew where he was going I didn't have to tell him anything or give directions. I made him do the wedding horn a hundred times. The guys had the Hummer John was there driver and ours after the Temple we all went in the Hummer. We wanted to be with everyone in one limo. John was great also on time, got the guys to temple first. Even stopped on the way to get the men some beer. John took care of my isle runner and everything else. When we were in the park taking pictures John left and got everyone more beer. Sorry I don't remember names for the guy who came back at the end of the night or who took us to the airport for the honeymoon. Ladies you will not be dissappointed.
SPIN AROUND SOUND: I give them a 20++++++.. we had no luck when interviewing DJ's until we met with Tom from SAS. I was referred to them from someone that just used them at there wedding. FH loved there website and called to make an appt. Fh totally hit it off with Tom. We booked Tom on the spot. Tom did the Temple and then the 6 hour weddding. Everything was way beyond our expectations. Tom came outside when I was in the limo (that is where I waited while everyone did the rehersal) he wanted to say hi and ask if I had any questions. I spoke with Tom Saturday and Sunday on the phone before the wedding just going over stuff. We would wind up just talking like we knew each other a hundred years. That is a great thing to have with a vendor who is a complete stranger. Tom and Reno had everyone dancing the whole night. You couldn't even see the dancefloor there were so many people on it. Tom played every song we had asked for. I could not be happier about this vendor. My parents got calls for three weeks on what an outstanding job they did. One of my best vendors by far. At the end of the night Tom heard me tell my husband he missed one of our songs. Tom fired it up and played it. It was great it was just the two of us in the room. I pray my video guy was still there and got it. Ladies interview this DJ you will not be sorry..They are a must have. Even my photographer and Matre de loved them.
OKSANA MAKE UP & JEN THE HAIR GENIE: 20++++
What can I say that hasn't been said. I met them both last August from this site. Loved them instantly felt like I was with my girlfriends. My mom and Fh are very critical and they loved the way I came out. Thru the year if I had any questions I emailed them. They would always get back to me and never made me feel like a pest.
Day of arrived on time and instantly got to work. My parents house was a little crazy and a little too many people there in the beginning. They made us all look beyond beautiful. I saw my girls getting done and was loving the transformation. These ladies truely know what they are doing. Oksana decided last minute to put fake eyelashes on me. I loved them. I have extremely sensitive eyes and I didn't even notice they were on. At the end of the night when I washed my face they came right off. I didn't have to pull or stress getting them off. My make up stayed fresh all day and night. I bought the lipstick, liner and gloss and reapplied all day. My hair was done in two processes being that I was not wearing a veil and doing flowers in my hair with rhinestone pins. My hair and makeup were done just waiting on the florist to bring the hair flowers for me. The flowers were delivered and instantly Jen put me back in the chair and did the flowers and pins. When I was done the flower girls mom walked in and started to cry over how beautiful I looked. That says something when someone looks at you not even in your dress and cries. These ladies were a pleasure to have around the day of the wedding, I was sad to see them leave. I feel like I lost two great friends but I will try to keep in touch with them. They are truely genuine. Thank you for making me as my husband would say breathtaking.
CELESTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY 24++++++:
We had no luck in this area either.. Fh's boss used this photographer and reccomened them. Fh called and we were off to the appointment. The minute we sat down Lou impressed me. I said the name of the place (which back then it was under new owners and a name change) Lou instantly told me the new name which I knew and the owners name and what other location names the owners owned. I was impressed he was up on his wedding reception halls. No one else we interviewed knew Venetian Yacht Club. Lou was great, easy to talk with had great work. We needed extra books and pictures. Lou had no problem with this and carved out pricing for what we wanted and needed. Celestial takes all digital pictures which my husband loved. You see instantly if someone blinked or someone was looking the right way. Also there is no waiting for your photographer to re-load film.
Our engagment pics were taken in November. We wanted an Autumn look. We had to push this date back 3 times due to weather and the leaves not turning. We went to Oakdale Arbureium (spelt wrong, sorry) Lou had us do some great poses and the pictures were amazing. Day of Lou arrived on time at my parents and instantly begin working. He is truely a pleasure to be around and a wonderful person. Everyone loved him. Lou wasn't an annoying photographer. We did all the pictures and with that the limo came. We went outside took some pictures outside and by the limo and off we went to the temple. When we got there Lou and his assistant were there waiting for me. They got some awesome shots of my husband, best man and matron of honor signing the Ketubah. The assistant was making me laugh while waiting to walk down the aisle with my parents. When all of a sudden I didn't even have time to get nervous the doors opened and it was time to do the walk down the aisle. It was amazing... back to pics. Lou got all the ones he needed and off to the park. Pearsall Park beautiful private park. Lou again got all the pictures and then some and off to the Venetian. Got there a little early which was awesome we went outside took pictures and no one missed coctail hour. We missed the first ten minutes just us if that finishing up the pics of us. Lou and his assiantant were phenomail I can't give them enough priase. When everyone walked into the reception at everyone's tables there was our engagement picture with the website to view all our wedding pictures the next morning online. Again everyone loved this and totally called complimenting. I truelly can go on and on with this vendor. Love my pictures!!!!
wITH ALL MY HEART 10++: They are located in Port Jeff. I went in and asked if they could make up a kids activity basket. They asked for the age and sex of the kids. It was ready a few days later. It was great. They had make your own mugs, coloring books and crayons and so much more. The kids and parents loved it. The kids were totally entertained all night. Great inexpensive little extra. Was well worth it.
T & T VIDEO:TBD
Went to a wedding showcase two weeks after I got engaged. Met Hal from T & T. Was totally impressed by him and his video. Hal was not a pushy sales person like some of the other vendors there that night. Hal gave me a demo video. FH and I loved the video. When it came time we interviewed a few more people and went with Hal, they really had the best video. Hal totally remembered me and gave me the original price he quoted me 6 months earlier.
TEMPLE JUDEA in Massapequa 12++++:
Fh's grandmother use to teach hebrew school here. She worked there for 35 years. FH also was Bar Mitzvahed there. We met with Rabbi Kramer and couldn't be happier. We met with him a total of 4 times. First when we interviewed with him and then he wanted to see us three times before the wedding to get to know us. The Rabbi asked us to write why we wanted to marry each other. The day of he read a little bit of what we wrote into our ceremony. It was beautiful!!! Rabbi Kramer did a wonderful job and we couldn't be happier.
VENETIAN YACHT CLUB 28++++++++++++
Happy with this vendor from the start!! We couldn't have been happier.
The beginning we had an appointment with Bill. Loved him and got great pricing for a Saturday night in July. I was very nervous over the renovations. I continued to look every where else on Long Island. Fh and I kept going back to Venetian. We went back two months later brought my parents and met with Bill again. Now we had a new date July 3. The prices were still great. Bill knew I was still really nervous about the renovations. Bill gave me a letter that if I was not happy with the way renovations were going I could back out and get all the money back. Every few months I would pop in and check out the renovations. I was blown away when I went back this April and saw how great everything was coming along. I then came on LIW and found out the upstairs bathroom was infact getting done. I was so happy they put bathrooms up there. We went two months before the wedding for our food tasting. The food was amazing you would never know you were eating reception food. My parents and FH were totally impressed with the renovations. Leading up to the wedding I was emailing Bill constantly on last minute questions.
Day of...got to the Venetian and Tom my Matre De and Maria my bridal attendant came right outside to the Hummer greated us and took us right inside. A lot of my guest were already there and Venetian opened up my coctail hour twenty minutes early that way my guests weren't standing around waiting. My husband and I went outside by the water and took our alone pictures and family pictures. The weather was awesome on the water!! Maria and Tom came over instantly and asked what we were drinking. They would give us our drinks between family picture changes. Off to the coctail hour we went not to eat to say hello and mingle.Maria made sure everytime we lost a drink or drank it, we had another one coming. Maria came up to me after about twenty minutes and said lets grab your husband. Maria brought us to the bridal suite where she made us plates of all the food in the coctail hour. Also there was a fruit platter down there and veggie and dip. Maria brought me in a huge cloth that she draped around me. This was great it was just my husband and I alone. Maria came in once to make sure we were okay and we didn't need anything. We were getting ready to go back to the coctail hour when Maria came in and said she was going to get our parents and bridal party to get everyone ready to be lined up for the entance into the reception. Everyone was there. My DJ, Tom my matre de and Maria were all with us. Going over everything and asking if we had any changes. The party now began. It was better than amazing... Maria made sure my dress was fluffed out for the entrance. Everything was truely amazing. People kept coming up to us & my parents all night to say where did you find this place it is amzing the views are spectacaluar and the food is delicious. I also heard after the coctail hour so many people were stuffed and couldn't belive there was still more food to come. Tom and Maria ran everything sooo smooth. They were great. I couldn't image everything being that perfect if they weren't a part of it. They always made sure we had everything and we were happy. Maria saw I never ate. She came up to me and told me that she wrapped all our food for us to take home. I was psyched!! Everything ran so perfectly smooth. My husbands cousin drank a little to much and a little to fast. He got sick and spent the night outside. His father spent most of the night outside with him. I found out later that night they brought the Uncle's dinner outside to him so he could eat and stay with his son. I was totally impressed. the viennese hour was a huge hit especially the chocolate fountain. It is a must have!! I can keep going on and on and on. Everything was phenomenal. My Matre de I couldn't have been happier with. My bridal attandant was awesome that we gave Maria even more money at the end of the night. Bill my banquet manager I saw when I first arrived, then again in the coctail hour. Then twice in the reception. Bill came up to me and asked how everyting was. Then he told me he was leaving for the night and gave me a kiss goodnight. I think that is great and all little special touches. I didn't think my banquest manager would come over and say goodbye.
Everything was truely better than we had imagined and hoped for. We enjoyed every minute of our day. We had no stress at all the day of. The next day is when you recap and realize things. Enjoy each other. We did and we had the best day of our lives!!!! I don't have NOT ONE complaint or anything with the Venetian Yacht Club!!
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT 12:
In Ronkonkoma. Excellent we stayed there on the wedding night. The room was clean and had fresh strawberries and champagne waiting for us. We climbed into the hot tub in our room and just soaked and relaxed it was well worth it. My feet needed the hot tub.
Our out of towners stayed there. Everything was great.
HONEYMOON:
I will do this quick..
Tahiti/Pappete stayed at The Intercontinetal. Beautiful hote and the best breakfast buffet.
Moorea: Stayed at The Pearl Resort & Spa. Had some issues there and it rained everyday here. Definitely go to Alfredos Italian Restaurant in town and get the Lasanga. It is delicious.
Bora Bora Stayed at The Pearl Resort & Spa. Had a great time. Definitely do the shark feeding.

Hope you enjoyed my very long detailed review.

Enjoy your wedding day ladies!!!
added pics

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Great review so far. Can't wait to see pics. Glad to hear you had a wonderful day! Congrats!

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Great review beth !!!! I want to see honeymoon pics !!!!!!!!

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great review, congrats again I am glad to hear you had a wonderful day, can't wait to see pics

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YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on the wedding!!!!!!!! So glad to see someone else using Black Tie Tuexedos in Smithtown! We're using them as well and Marc has been wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

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Great review! Can't wait to see pics!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

All done, how do I get the pictures on? It keeps saying invalid format. Thanks

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

LOVE to hear good things about the Venetian!!!

as far as pics.....you have to resize or put them in your online album.....

can't wait to see some pics!!!!!!!!!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

Great review!!! it is so nice to hear the VYC was so great!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

So happy to hear everything went so well. I am using a lot of the same vendors and am so excited to hear of how much you loved Spin Around Sound!!! Congrats!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

Beth,

Great review !!!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

yeah we want to see pictures!!!!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

Bring on the pictures!!!!!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

Yes picture PICTURES PICTURES!!! I loved your review of the VYC!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

So glad to hear your review of VYC!!!!! Congrats!!!!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

Flower Girl

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

thanks so much swan06..my favorite date twin!!

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

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Posted by 070306

thanks so much swan06..my favorite date twin!!

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No problem

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

I will try to post the professional pics tomm.

Re: My July 3, wedding review. Best day Ever!!! Venetian Yacht club, Celestial Photography, Spin Around Sound, Oksanan & Jen The Hair Genie, Royalty, Flower Michelle & more.

the pictures u attached were amazing- i would like to see more- you're a beautiful bride & great looking couple