Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) . . . Now with Link for Some Proofs (see Page 2)

Post edited at Photographer section below. . .



Recap and Rating System: First, although I didn’t post many questions, I would like to thank everyone on this website because often questions were asked by others that completely helped me out. This website is an awesome tool to any bride and I am so grateful that it exists, b/c it was a major source of help!!! Secondly, we truly lucked out with all our vendors b/c they were all absolutely amazing. I cannot say enough about each of them b/c they all played an integral role in making our wedding day memorable. And finally, for the wedding day. . .AMAZING!!!! We truly felt that at the end of the day, it was absolutely PERFECT!!!!!!! We had amazing weather, and everything just fell right into place. The years of planning paid off. OK, so the rating system for the vendors will be on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest.

Allisa’s Bridal Salon in Brooklyn . . . 9: I had seen my dress in a bridal magazine and this store was advertised with it. I decided to travel into Brooklyn to simply try it on, but order it closer to home. The salesperson was amazing and I felt completely comfortable with her, and of course, I loved the dress. I tried a few on, but my first impression was it, plus it made my mom cry. I also ordered my veil and tiara here b/c I loved the combination when I saw them together and didn’t want to chance not finding it elsewhere. We took my measurements the same day and ordered the dress. It came in within 6 months, but our wedding was still a year away at that time, so they held the dress until I was ready to go in for alterations. I gave them a 9 b/c after my dress came in they called me several times to go in, and each time I had to explain to them that my wedding was still some time away. Also, although the seamstress did an amazing job and everything seemed perfect in the store and at the final fitting, the day of, I noticed that the train, when bustled, was still a bit too long and it got stepped on a bit that evening, but no big deal. It lasted throughout the whole evening and the way she worked the bustle was amazing and different! The other reason for the 9 is that they weren’t very accommodating with fittings and picking up my dress. . . it was Wednesdays only and I had to rearrange my schedule and miss some work to fit those in.

Bridal Suite in Huntington. . .8: We got the bridesmaids’, matrons of honor, flowergirls and mother of the bride dresses here. They were great, and I’ll explain the reason for the 8. The girls’ dresses were perfect and came in very fast. As for the mother of the bride dress, we originally found the dress elsewhere, but we wanted to deal with this salon b/c they had been awesome when ordering the girls’ dresses and we really clicked with the owner. My mother ordered her dress from the salon a week after the girls, and the salon even matched the price that the other store (Macy’s in Manhasset) was selling it for. We were psyched. All the dresses came in at the same time, but when they showed me the MOB dress, it was wrong. Right color, but completely wrong dress, and the style was not something my mom would ever wear. Again, the owner was awesome and said it was her fault for reversing a number and reordered the dress at no extra charge to us. This happened right before Thanksgiving. We were assured that the dress would be in with plenty of time, likely end of February. February came and went, no dress, but we were told 2nd week of March at the latest. The dress finally arrived on March 21st, b/c the owner physically went to pick it up at the other store it had been delivered too. Needless to say, we were all nervous at this point, and my mom was beyond stressed. B/c of the limited time frame, she had to take extra time at her lunch hour for a fitting, and they really didn’t work with her on the alteration fee. The seamstress tried to give my mom a break, but the co-owner wouldn’t allow it, even after being told of all the problems we had with the dress. The one thing they agreed on was not to charge anything extra for the rush on the alterations. In the end, the dress came out beautiful and the alterations were PERFECT! I would completely recommend them, it was 1 mishap, when we ordered a total of 9 dresses, and everything else was perfect, it was just added stress we didn’t need the week before the wedding.

Men’s Wearhouse in Huntington. . . 10: I was completely shocked here. We went with them b/c it was easier for the groomsmen/FOB out-of-state. I was really nervous after reading many negative reviews, but we had an absolutely wonderful experience. They were super friendly and professional. None of the tuxes were missing anything and they all fit very well. Everything went great with them, and I would definitely recommend the crew in Huntington b/c they were super patient with two grandfathers, both in their mid-80s, who can’t hear well, and move very slowly, but they all had the utmost patience with them and were extremely nice to them.

Sandy’s Shoes in Massapequa(MOB’s shoes). . . 10: We went here on a recommendation from a friend, and we were glad we did. There were plenty of shoes to choose from, and my mom found the perfect shoe, exactly what she was looking for. They dyed them for free and the dye matched the dress exactly. Their prices for the shoes were very reasonable too, and they had accessories for those that are interested. When needing dyeable shoes in the future, I will go there first.

Bellissmabridalshoes.com . . . 10: I only found my shoes online, at only this site. I took a chance and ordered them without trying them on, and they were great. They were exactly what I was looking for and the price wasn’t horrible, approx. $90 with everything. They were really fast at getting the shoes to me, and I couldn’t have been happier.

barenecessities.com . . .10: I got my undergarments from this site, and their prices were pretty reasonable. Both undergarments were very comfortable and fit great. Another site I will definitely use in the future.

Lion in the Sun in Huntington. . . 9: We got our invitations here. The only reason for the 9 was that I felt they were a bit pricey, but in the end, you get what you pay for. We spent over an hour at the store going through books. Mind you, we knew we wanted calla lilies, but that’s how many different options there were, and the staff was amazing and sooooo helpful!!! The service was fantastic. They wrote everything up, faxed me a proof the same week, and our invitations were probably in within a couple weeks. They double-checked the order, and when I went to pick them up they showed me how to assemble them properly. We were 100% satisfied with this store and they do all kinds of invitations, they have stationary and many other items. A great little store right on Main Street in Huntington.

Donna from Abraxas in Huntington. . . 10: OK, I’m slightly biased b/c I have been going to Donna for facials for approx. 4 years. We did a trial in December and it was exactly what I wanted. I’m not big on make-up, and I pretty much left everything up to her, all I said is that I don’t want big red lips. She came to my house the morning of the wedding, and did mine and my matron’s make-up. It was not heavy and lasted until the very end. My matron who is quite particular on her make-up even loved her. It was a very natural, yet elegant look. I was 110% satisfied with choosing Donna.

Linda from Mary Kay . . .10: Linda did my grandmother and MOB. They both looked amazing. Neither wears make-up and they looked natural, yet stunning at the same time. Their make-up also lasted throughout the night.

Susie (friend of family’s employee). . .9: Last minute, my friend had to cancel doing the girls’ hair, but she sent one of her employees in her place. Their hair looked great, but I gave a 9 b/c some girls weren’t completely satisfied. It wasn’t exactly what they explained; however, their hair looked amazing, and the girls that weren’t 100% satisfied also did not provide a picture to give the stylist a little guidance. She was on time and everyone’s hair lasted the entire evening.

As for my hair. . . of course 10, my aunt did it. She always does my hair and insisted on doing it that day. It was exactly what I wanted and it stayed the whole evening, even under the veil.

Expressions Floral Designs. . . 10++++: I loved Trina from my first meeting with her. Her flowers were so perfect they often seemed fake, but as soon as you touched them, you knew they were real. I trusted her 100% and often gave my idea and then let her run with it, b/c she was always right on target. Last minute I added alter flowers, and changed my centerpieces. She had complete control over the alter flowers, and I’m glad I let her, b/c they came out amazing. I would never had suggested the combination, yet once I saw them I loved them and wouldn’t have changed a thing. All the flowers were amazing. She was punctual and absolutely sweet. When she arrived, she didn’t like the way my bouquet was wrapped, so she fixed it. She wanted to double check re: the ribbon for the flowergirls, and did it right on the spot. The flowers were gorgeous. I loved everything. The centerpieces came out great, again we had a change last minute at her suggestion, and she was 100% right. Also, she decorated our cake, which I also left to her discretion, and it looked beautiful. She did an extra bout. for John in case his calla didn’t hold up, and we never needed it b/c it stayed perfectly the whole day, even after being hugged by everyone. I really could not be happier with my decision to go with Trina. I can’t wait for an occasion for me to use her again!!!!

Tommy’s Tunes. . . 10+++: LOVED THEM!!!! We had Frank as our MC, b/c from our first meeting I knew he’d completely blend with the families and he did. Everyone wanted to adopt him into the family by the end of the night. They did exactly what we asked and the dance floor was packed. I can’t wait to see the video b/c EVERYONE danced. There wasn’t one person who didn’t dance that evening and it was awesome to sit back and watch here and there. The music selections were perfect and Frank was awesome!!! Our DJ, I believe Vinny I don’t remember b/c Frank chose him and we met him that night, was FANTASTIC!!! He completely kept the crowd happy. They played all our requests and just really made the party fun. I really cannot say enough about them, except that we have been to a lot of weddings and Tommy’s Tunes has to be one of the best out there. Frank even helped pick the mother/groom dance when John was stumped, and we went with his suggestion which was perfect. Seriously, everything he suggested was just perfect. . . there is no other word that describes our interaction with them.

Leli Photography and Video . . . EDITED RATING. . . Not rating. . .Gary was amazing with the engagement shots, and our wedding day. The video came out really good, and the proofs are amazing. His work was amazing and one album was more beautiful then the next. He was very relaxed and calm during both shoots. Our engagement pictures weren’t the best, but not b/c of Gary, but b/c John was not very cooperative. With respect to our wedding, he had the patience of a Saint b/c we had a ringbearer who was slightly rambunctious and not the most cooperative, but Gary was super patient with the kids. Also, I have a rather large family and there were many posed shots that I wanted and he was great at keeping them flow moving. We only missed 20 minutes of our cocktail hour. Both Gary and the videographer were completely unobtrusive. ............................................ However, move ahead to today (3/6/08) and we are having some issues. Quickly, we received our album in December 2007, and are scheduled to pick up our remaining items (3 parent albums and 2 enlargements next weekend) Notably, we provided all of our selections by 7/12/06, and were told it would take 8 months from there for the finished products. Needless to say it's been VERY stressful, and we're not done yet since we are still waiting for albums. Any questions, please feel free to email me and I will be more than happy to respond.

Sir Oliver Limousines. . . 10++++: Their rating should be off the charts b/c they were AMAZING, FANTASTIC, SUPERB, EXCELLENT, PERFECT!!!!!!! We dealt with Rich and Jen, who are two fo the nicest people you ever want to meet. They make you feel like family the minute you sit down. Their cars were impeccable, and the interior of the Rolls was just redone and it’s stunning. The drivers, Joe, Rachel and Tony, are AWESOME!!!! We wanted to adopt them all. Joe was the Rolls driver and the driver at the end of the evening for my grandparents. He was the BEST!!! He was so attentive, personable, considerate, and professional. He gave great last minute words of advice on how to approach the day and really did make us feel like royalty for the day. He helped keep me relaxed right until that last second of walking down the aisle and made sure John and I were completely comfortable and happy the entire time. He even double-checked on flowers he found at the front of the Church to see who was missing and where they needed to go. On the way out, we wanted to make sure we got the memorial candle and he was right on top of everything. Joe really is amazing and if using Sir Oliver, I would totally request him as a driver b/c I cannot say enough nice things about this man. My great-aunt (approaching 80) followed him on the way home that evening, and he took extra special care to make sure she knew where she was going and that he never lost her. Rachel and Tony rocked too. Rachel was great with helping to get me ready while in the Church, to the point of fixing my slip and dress. She was right at the front doors, also to make sure I was calm and ready. Tony was great at the house making sure he got all the bags into the car and getting all the girls in and on the way. They all have such wonderful personalities and were just phenomenal. Rachel who drove the girls to the Estate after pictures was even super sweet to find me and congratulate me again before saying good-bye. Sir Oliver is amazing, and maybe b/c it is a family-owned business they truly treat you like family and were really accommodating. And of course, the transportation to and from the airport was just as perfect.

Myweddinglabels.com . . . 10: We ordered our CD labels and labels for the OOT bags from this site. Everything was exactly what we ordered, and arrived very quickly. The site was easy to maneuver, and they sent a proof of the CD before its completion. Completely thrilled with this site, and will likely be using this summer to do CD labels for my grandparents’ 60th anniversary party. And every one of our guests loves the CD and some are fighting since we did 1 per couple.

hollyday27 (ebay seller) . . . 10: I ordered my bridal party thank you cards from her. She asked what color the girls were wearing and did these cute little dresses on the front. I also chose to have them personalized with “Thank you for being my Bridesmaid (or Matron of Honor).” They were well worth it b/c the girls thought they were cute, and she was also very reasonable for the card and envelope. Also, she was very quick with completing the order and getting it to me.

Amici’s in Massapequa. . . 10+++: Our rehearsal dinner restaurant. AMAZING!!!!!!! This restaurant is EXCELLENT!!! The food was great, service was impeccable, atmosphere beautiful . . . a wonderful evening that everyone raved about. We love this restaurant, and everyone we brought did too. Even if not doing a rehearsal dinner, I would highly recommend for even dinner. They do family-style and the portions are huge!!!!

Liberty Travel . . .10: OK, again slightly biased b/c my cousin is our travel agent. She did a great job, and the itineraries provided were very helpful. She did research for us for a couple of weeks and came up with the perfect package that included our hotel, airfare (to 2nd Island too), buffet breakfast daily, lei greetings at both Islands, and even a rental car on one of the Islands. Also she recommended the company they deal with for excursions (Diamond Head Vacations) and they were excellent. Great experience!!!

Hyatt Regency (Oahu) . . . 8: I’m sure you’re thinking it’s Hawaii, how is it not a 10. The hotel was beautiful, but the staff was just OK (especially after dealing with the staff at the other island). The other thing was the hotel restaurants had really odd hours that made it difficult to get a late lunch or early dinner, without doing room service. Our room was great and super comfy. Everything was immaculate. The breakfast daily was really good, and the location of the hotel was perfect. And again, the hotel was beautiful.

Hyatt Regency (Maui) . . . 10+++: This was by far our favorite hotel and island (only other island we visited was The Big Island for one day)!!!! The staff bent over backwards and was beyond accommodating at this hotel. The hotel was right on the beach and the view was amazing. The hotel itself was open in that the lobby had no roof, which was really cool. There were different parrots, exotic birds, fish, waterfalls, plants, etc. that made you feel like you were in paradise 24/7. The breakfast here too was the best, at the Swan Court (Sonz). They had an omelette station, plenty of fresh fruit, different juices, pastries, etc. There was a lot more of a selection. We also did dinner at their Italian restaurant which was phenomenal. The hotel was also like a mini-mall with a Macy’s and other cute shops within. Our experience here was PERFECT!!! We were truly in paradise. Oh, if visiting Maui . . . highly recommend a helicopter tour of the entire island with Blue Hawaiian. . . BEST EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!! We had a blast and the view was breathtaking. Other strong suggestion . . . sunrise at Haleakala. It’s cold, and early, but worth every second. Watching the sun come up over the clouds and the sky change different colors was a magnificent experience!!!!!

Honeymoon Overall . . .10++++ – Hawaii was worth every penny!!!!!!!

St. John’s Nepomucene Roman Catholic Church: Really can’t rate a Church, but for the most part everything was beautiful. The priest made one minor mistake with not involving our mothers in the lighting of the unity candle, otherwise everything else was great!

The Inn at East Wind . . . 10+++: The staff was on top of everything, and the rooms were beautiful. All of guests raved about the Inn and everyone was pleased.

East Wind Caterers Estate . . . 10+++: Let me begin with some quotes from our guests (we heard from about 75% of our guests say): “Best wedding they have ever been to.” “How beautiful this place is.” “The food was amazing.” “Stunning reception.” “FABULOUS wedding.” Any many more. Our guests raved about every aspect of East Wind, from the food to the setting to the staff. We did not hear one single complaint. Scott was our Maitre’d and he was 110%, above and beyond PERFECT!!!!! He was on top of everything and made our evening run perfectly. We can not emphasize how pleased we were to deal with him and how he made us feel comfortable and anything we asked for was never a problem. He even helped to bring us over to the Inn where we were staying for the night. The amazing part though is that he was like a magician, we didn’t see him much, but when you needed something or we had to do something, there he was, right on cue. Scott truly is awesome at his job, and the best part, he doesn’t make you feel like it’s his job, he makes you feel like a friend!!! East Wind was a dream come true. The food was awesome and everyone has told us how much they ate and how full they were, and that it never seemed to end. The room was beautifully set up, and the staff was beyond courteous to everyone. They really jump through hoops there and make it seem effortless. Anyone having their wedding there has no worries!!!

In summary, we can honestly say our wedding, and honeymoon were PERFECT. Everyone says not to use that word, but everything was PERFECT! No major problems with any vendors, and thanks to every single one of them, we had a wonderful day and honeymoon. We want to do it over again, and not change a single detail, but just relive the experiences again. I must say, we heard positives and negatives about every vendor, but for our experiences, they were at their very bests. We wish we could work with every single one of them again b/c they made the planning, and the day itself enjoyable and one of the most memorable days of our lives. I don’t think we stopped smiling the whole day. We were able to enjoy each other, our family and friends, and not have a care in the world b/c every single vendor came through 100%, and made us feel so special.

Sorry this was so long, just wanted to be thorough. Any questions please feel free to FM me, and I wish everyone else the best of luck and congratulations on your weddings. I’m sure everyone’s wedding will be their dream come true, like ours was. Thank you again and see you all in the chat rooms.


Post edited at the Photographer Section Above

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

i cant wait to see pics!!!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

I am so happy to hear about your wedding!!! I was waiting for you review b/c we are using many of the same vendors!!! Congrats and happy life with your new husband!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! It sounds like an amazing wedding. I look forward to seeing pictures.

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

It sounds amazing! I can't wait to have my wedding there! And I can't wait to see pictures of your wedding!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

Congratulations Nicole!!!!

Thanks for the great Review! Good to hear about the Estate and Sir Oliver.

Would love to see some of your pics if you have any!!!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

Well the only common thing we have is that we're staying at the Hyatt on Maui too and now I can't wait!!!!!!!!! Sounds like your wedding day was amazing!!!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

congratulations!! cant wait to see pics!!!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

congrats, wonderful review. Tommy Tunes is also my DJ, can't wait to see pictures.

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

Great review and you just made me smile

I am getting married at the Estate at Eastwind and I am also using Tommy Tunes as my DJ

Thank You

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

cant wait to see pics

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

Thanks everyone. We picked up our proofs Sunday and were beyond thrilled with them. Unfortunately we don't have a scanner, but Gary is sending me a CD in the mail soon so I can forward the pics to my dad who lives in Florida for him to choose pics for the parent album, so when I get themm hopefully I'll be able to upload a few

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

CONGRATS & BEST WISHES TO THE NEW MR. & MRS'S!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

I'm an EW Bride, so it's always good to hear positive feedback. so glad your day was great. Would love to see pics!!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

Some pics from friends.

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Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

More pics. . .

1 & 2: Me and John

3: Me and my grandfather

4- Me and my dad

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Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

And more . . .

1- John and his mom

2- Me and my mom

3- John goofing off with my brother Tony

4- Dancing merengue

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Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

Last bunch . . .

1- Listening to toast

2- Me with goddaughters/flowergirls

3- Mom and Frank our MC from Tommy's Tunes

4- Us at the end of the night

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Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

Great pictures!! Congrats!!

Re: Our April 2, 2006 Wedding (East Wind, Tommy's Tunes, Sir Oliver, Leli Photography and more) Will post pics later.

I'm so happy everything worked out for you! Sounds like you had every dream come true!! Can't wait to see photos!