My May 21, 2005 Jericho Terrace Wedding Review - UPDATED WITH MORE PICS

I finally added some actual proofs in this post and in posts towards the bottom of the thread. (Forgive me - they're not exactly in order.

Hello brides! (And all future brides!) This review is so late, and I do apologize. I wanted to put a lot of thought into the review and didn’t want to rush it. But finally, here goes:

LIWeddings.com 10+++
The most awesome wedding website in the world. Beats all of them hands down! What a great source of information, AND I’ve made life long friends here! (Hello, LadyPrincess!) To Ron and Liz and the LIW family, Cheers!

The Weather – 10+++++
It rained like CRAZY the day before, which freaked me out a little, but the day of the wedding it was sunny and absolutely gorgeous! Thank you Lord!

Lillette’s Bridal Store – Baldwin - 10++++++
I love this store. I had been to a few others, but got frustrated that they didn’t have enough plus size gowns to try on. The young lady who assisted me, Christina (also a LIW bride) turned me onto LIW in the first place, AND was very patient with me in trying on gowns. I loved her so much, I hired her to dress me that day and she was AMAZING. On time, professional, and I love her to pieces. Lillette’s has a LARGE selection of gowns, and no one ever leaves you standing around wondering if you’ll be helped. Their alteration department is nothing short of amazing either. Their seamstress made a beautiful bustle for my dress, and put “stays” in the top of my strapless gown so I didn’t have to keep “pulling up” the top of my dress all day. It was great and I felt like a princess.

Maggie Sottero Bridal Gown –
“Kathrin” – 10++++++++++++++++++++
I love Maggie Sottero. Her designs are unique and plus size friendly. I wore “Kathrin” in Diamond White Blue & Blush. I never felt more like a princess.

Bridal Accent – Glen Cove - 8
I got the BM’s dresses here. The only reason they get an 8 instead of a 10 is because they are enormously overpriced. I didn’t know this at the time, but when I found out later, I was none too happy.

Shoe Elegance – Lynbrook - 10+
I got my bridal shoes here. The brand was “Touch Ups.” They were very comfortable and very affordably priced. Parking can be a little tricky though (they’re on Sunrise Hwy) but other than that, they’ve got a great selection at reasonable prices.

Tracey Jones, Day Of Coordinator – 10++++++
Tracey is a friend of mine and was on my guest list anyway. But she is absolutely amazing. She ran the show and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. She thought of EVERYTHING so I wouldn’t have to. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my head on straight.

Angela Kelly Kreations – 10++++++
Angela Kelly is a MAC makeup artist who also happens to be a personal friend. She did an excellent job on me and my BP! She and Tracey work together as a team for most weddings they do, and both of them were at my house even before I was hardly out of bed at 5:00am!!

Wrap With Us – Syosset – 10++++++
Costco for weddings! This place is GREAT for favors and bridal accessories for a FRACTION of what it would cost you elsewhere, and in some instances, it beats online prices as well. I got my favors, my guestbook and matching pen set, my unity candle, my garter and all that kind of stuff at Wrap With Us. I even bought a beautiful tiara for $10!!! I wound up not wearing it (I just thought my head was too big for a tiara – hah!) but hey, $10 is not so bad a loss. I ran into another LIW bride there, and when she saw it she frowned and said “it looks just like the one I bought for $150!” Check this place out. It can save you some money.

Personalizationmall.com – 10+++++
I went to this website and ordered personalized vases and hankies for my mom and my MIL. They were so cute and sentimental. They arrived in record time, just as they appeared on the website and were very reasonably priced.

Royalty Limousines – 10++++++
These guys were on time, and the drivers were professional and courteous. They even put up with the fact that they had to pick up a ton of family members in addition to the bridal party.

Ceremony Location –
Greater Allen Cathedral of New York – Jamaica – 10+++++++++++++
This is the church where I’ve been a member for over 13 years. My co-pastor, Rev. Elaine Flake, performed our ceremony, and it was absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to see the video of my girlfriend singing and the little girl I had do a praise dance. As the bride, you miss so much of the wedding just waiting to make your entrance! The Allen Wedding Directors, Ada Chappel and Deirdre Stewart, did an excellent job coordinating everyone and I can’t thank them enough.

Twelfth Night Photography – 10++++++++
I had Dom for half the day and his brother Mike all day. These guys are absolutely great! I think I drove Dom a little crazy with my EXTREMELY TIGHT timeline, but he said he’d make it work, and he did. He made sure he got great shots, and though we were always pressed for time, he never rushed us. When we got to the reception, he even went toe to toe with my maitre’d (who was trying to rush us back inside) about taking those must have shots. Dom, I love you and Mike!!

Timeless Treasures Video – 10++++++++++++++++
Okay, you may wonder how I can give them so many pluses when I haven’t even gotten my video yet. BUT, I WON this video package FROM Timeless Treasures, THROUGH LIW at LIW’s Wedding of the Year. Timeless Treasures treated me just like I was a paying bride. They were professional, unintrusive and very, very sweet. I can’t wait to see my video, and I have perfect confidence that it will be beautiful.

High Voltage Sounds – 10+++++++++++
I can’t say enough about Vinny, my DJ. I signed with him almost immediately. And I bugged this guy so much before the wedding, calling him and fretting over whether or not people would even dance since I was having a day wedding, and stressing over whether I needed an MC or not. Vinny never tried to hard-sell me on anything, insisting that it was my wedding and that I could have it any way I wanted it. I gave him a very long “must play” list, and I know I heard every last one of those songs. And he is SO reasonably priced!!! The bonus was that when I had my final meeting with him, I got to play with his great big dog! LOL!!

Pedestals – 8
I got my flowers here. I worked with “Jay” who was great, and worked out really pretty arrangements within our budget. The closer it got to my wedding, whenever I’d call, he was unavailable, though, and then about 2 weeks before the wedding, when it came time for final payment, I dealt with a different person altogether. Personally, I always want to deal with the person I have poured out my ideas to and have signed with. I’m giving Pedestals an “8” instead of a “10” for a couple of reasons. First, one of my two altar arrangements was DEAD by the time my reception was over!!! I couldn’t believe it! I had planned to give one altar arrangement to my mom and the other to my MIL. There went that plan. MIL got hers, but my mom, who paid for the flowers, didn’t, because one was brown and wilted by the time the reception was over. Also, my bouquet, although it was beautiful, was not exactly as I had asked for it to be. I wanted the roses in my French clutch to be wide open. They were all beautiful, but practically closed. The stephanotis were to have crystals in the center (I don’t know how many times I confirmed that with Jay) – they came with pearls in the center. Is any of this earth shattering? No. But you should always get what you’ve discussed and paid for.

Jericho Terrace – 8
Jericho Terrace really is a beautiful place. It’s just that my experience pre-wedding, however, left just a little to be desired. I let my “then” banquet manager persuade me into an 11:45AM cocktail hour because our May 21st date was so important to us. Weeks later, when I was unhappy with that time and encouraged by advice from LIW brides to just ask them to change it, I was told “sorry, impossible” and also found out that the banquet manager was fired for making contracts similar to mine. I didn’t like being directed to a different banquet manager every time I called with a question either, but it was what it was. The contract was signed. I will say that Gina, their event coordinator, is very, very nice and really knows her stuff. I ordered my invitations through her and they were great, as was she.

The closer it got to my wedding, Anna, another banquet manager, did MUCH in the way of making me feel more excited about my day. She was attentive, knowledgeable and very sweet to me, and really did everything to make sure that I’d have what I wanted that day in terms of menu, etc.

Upon arriving at Jericho on the day of, there was a bridal party taking pix outside, so we couldn’t! My DH was pi$$$$$ed to say the least, which in turn made me feel bad. Matters were not helped by our maitre’d greeting us with “Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Jones.” Jones is MY MAIDEN NAME. That, to me, said we were just another bridal party to him. HELLO?? You didn’t bother to find out who the groom is? By the time we took our “indoor” pictures and I got to the bridal suite, I needed a moment by myself to remember why I was supposed to be happy in the first place. I think everyone, family, friends and BP, knew that I was not the happiest bride at that moment. But I pulled it together because after all, I was married to the man I loved, who loved me, and whether or not it was going to be a party was up to ME.

Things drastically improved by the time of the actual reception. The Skylight Room really is beautiful. It looks like an Italian courtyard. I was so happy to be married and so happy to see all my friends and family gathered together, that it made up for it all. I will say that the food was EXCELLENT, and I heard that everyone stuffed themselves with some pretty great food during cocktail hour. The cake was gorgeous, and our maitre’d somewhat made up for his earlier blunder by paying close attention to me and DH and the head tables.

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Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Congratulations! You look beautiful!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

YEAHHH its up!!!!!!!!!!!!



Great review & it good to note things you were not happy with. Overall your day was truly what every bride dreams of and at least my pic of yr CP & invit & favor made u smile !!!

Congrats again to a beautiful bride & a wonderful new friend for life !!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Great review...sorry to hear about JT's 'faults' but so glad that it worked out. And I have told you this before (I hope), you made a beautiful bride!

Best wishes to you and your husband. May your marriage be forever blessed!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Thanks girls!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Congratulations! You were a beautiful bride!!!!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

you looked beautiful!! Congratulations!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Congratulations! Everything look so great!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Congrats! You looked beautiful!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Thank you!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

You radiate happiness in the pictures!!! Congratulations and Im glad that other than a few hiccups, the day was marvelous!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Great reveiw K you looked beautiful and I am sorry to hear about your troubles with bo-k and the hall. But I am glad overall you had a beautiful day and that is what matters

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Congratulations!!! Glad it mostly went well. You looked incredible - and they did a great job on your cake!!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

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Posted by AnniesSS

Congratulations!!! Glad it mostly went well. You looked incredible - and they did a great job on your cake!!!

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Hey thanks!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You looked beautiful and I love your cake!!!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

Congratulations Married Lady! You are a beautiful bride!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

OMG congrats!! i'm so happy to read about your great reviews, with the exception of your mixed feelings on JT. BUT you're wearing MY dress!! and YOU look beautiful. I got it at Lillettes too and I love them, well I just ordered it.. but so far they are AMAZING. Congrats! You look so happy.. just the way it should be!!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Wedding Review - with PICS

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Posted by Melissa129

OMG congrats!! i'm so happy to read about your great reviews, with the exception of your mixed feelings on JT. BUT you're wearing MY dress!! and YOU look beautiful. I got it at Lillettes too and I love them, well I just ordered it.. but so far they are AMAZING. Congrats! You look so happy.. just the way it should be!!

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Thank you SO MUCH!

Re: My May 21, 2005 Jericho Terrace Wedding Review - with PICS

COngrats...sorry to hear about the mishaps but your pics are wonderful

Re: My May 21, 2005 Jericho Terrace Wedding Review - with PICS

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Posted by beautyq115

COngrats...sorry to hear about the mishaps but your pics are wonderful

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Thanx so much! It really did turn out to be the most wonderful day of my life, hiccups and all.