Let me just start out with the fact that I am not a writer. I want to do this for my vendors, who all came together on March 28, 2008 and made it the most wonderful day of my life. Everything was absolute perfection and I really couldn't have asked for anything better. When I was checking out vendors I couldn't find a lot of feedback on some of the ones I was looking at, this is why I am writing this review.
All through the planning process DH and I planned this from Connecticut. The 2 hour drive wasn’t a big deal on the weekends, but lots of vendors like to meet during the week because the majority of their jobs are on weekends. All of my vendors were very accommodating when we needed to meet on weekends and lots of them were very good with e-mails. You don’t realize how important this is when you are at work and can’t just make the phone calls that you want to during the day.
Bridal Shower:
Crossroads - Hicksville, NY
My bridal party threw me the most amazing shower I could have ever wished for!
They really did a good job of surprising me because I had just gotten back from a work trip to Australia a day and a half before. They just got lucky that my plane wasn't delayed!
They did a brunch with an omelet station and it was a big hit. The food was great and the staff was wonderful!
They got me this awesome sign in platter from:
The Pottery Piazza. They will ship you the platter with directions, but I just happened to have a guest who works near it and she picked it up for my girls. It came out great!!
Bachelorette Party:
Wine Tour and dinner - Out East, Long Island
Let me just say that everything about my bachelorette party was a surprise. The girls were very good at keeping everything a secret. I seriously had no idea what we were doing until the van pulled up to take us on the tour!
The Greenport Hotel & Spa This hotel used to be something else and was just redone. It was clean, the rooms were very nice. If you need a place to stay out east this place was great! The girls also got me a massage. It was great and definitely a place that I would recommend.
Off the Vine ToursThe van came and picked us up at the hotel and drove us around to 4 different wineries. It was great to have someone driving us around because after the second vineyard it probably wasn't a good idea that any of us drove! Lunch was included and there were choices of salad and sandwiches and it was definitely necessary because we were 'tasting' wine all day long!!
Rhumbline Restaurant
34 Front St, Greenport, NY
The food here was great. The wait staff was not ready for a big group of girls who were drinking all day long and might have been a little loud.
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There were a bunch of firemen in town for a parade the next day and they welcomed us with open arms! Literally...
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And if you were wondering, this is what you do with the blow up ring toss the next day in the parking lot:
The Blue Lagoon RestaurantWest Babylon
Rehearsal Dinner
The food was great and they worked with us on price because our Rehearsal Dinner was on a Thursday night. My DH and I went there to check it out and put the deposit down, but my MIL dealt with them for the rest of the time. If they were not nice to her I am sure I would have heard about it.
Ok... the moment we have all been waiting for...
From here on down, all pictures were taken by
Dan Wagner PhotographyBridal Elegance - Huntington, NY
My Dress
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is nothing I can say about Bridal Elegance that no one has already said.
They have an amazing selection of dresses and probably anything else you would need for your wedding day. My mother can be pushy and sometimes get in the way and Phyllis handled her perfectly. She listened to what I had to say, not my mother, and made me feel like the bride.
Men's WarehouseA+++
We went with Men's Warehouse because we live in Connecticut, 2 GMs live in CT, 1 lives in Westchester, and my 4 brothers live on Long Island. It was just easier this way. Everyone went where they wanted to go, wherever was convenient for them and picked them up and returned them where they wanted to. They boys were very happy with their tuxes and everything worked out perfect.
Renates Wedding Boutique - Lindenhurst, NY
Bridesmaid Dresses and MOB Dress
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I called them because they are literally a block away from my Dad's house to see if they had a bridesmaid dress I was looking for. I was so excited to hear they had it! The girls were coming over for my sister's graduation party so I had everyone run up the block and try it on. We ordered it that day! The dresses came out great. Half of the girls got alterations there and no one had any complaints.
My step-mom also got her dress there. She was very happy with them as well. She went by herself because she was just going in there to see what they had but they were so helpful that she ended up ordering a dress that day!
Cactus Salon - Babylon, NY
Day of Hair - Veronica
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I don't live on Long Island anymore so when I was looking for a place to go I needed somewhere that was easy to get to and not very far away from my Dad's house. I found Cactus online and went in for a trial. Veronica took my sketchy idea of what I wanted and turned it into something beautiful. Now the trial actually looked nothing like the day of hair, but that was because I am a girl and I am allowed to change my mind.
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I also made appointments for my sisters, SIL, MIL, step-mom and a BM. They were very accommodating to all of us. Nick did a great job on my MIL and SIL's hair, both who have short hair.
Angel Eyes Make-upDenise (LIW Vendor)
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Denise did my make-up for a wedding I was a BM for back in September (Pinkiegirll07). I liked it so much that I decided to use her for my wedding.
Denise was great to work with. She came right in and set herself up at the table. There was a few minutes where there were girls in transit from the salon and she was alone with my Dad. They had a conversation about the Rangers and all was good. You talk to my Dad about hockey and you are in.
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Designer FloralsSharon (LIW Vendor)
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We sat down with Sharon and the first thing we told her was that we had no idea what we wanted and we didn't really like flowers. We didn't have a big budget for flowers, but she worked with us and got everything we needed. We showed her a picture of a square vase with yellow tulips and she turned it into the fabulous idea that we ended up with. Each table had a different centerpiece. They were square vases, all the same flower and same color, but no table had the same flower or the same color! It turned out great! My bridesmaids all carried a different color rose bouquet. I thought this would look great because the girls were all wearing black and this would add some color. It turned out amazing and I was so happy!!
Camelot LimosJoe (LIW Vendor)
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Drivers: Steve (Hummer) & Raphael (Parents)
DH and I went to Camelot Limo after many recommendations from our friends. We soon realized that it was for good reason. Joe was great to work with and he gave us a great price! The stretch Hummer picked up the boys from the hotel and took them to the church, then came to the house for the girls. Steve put up with all of my bridesmaids and my mother like a pro! All the way up to opening the doors at the church for my Dad and me he kept me calm. He went way above and beyond what you would think your limo driver's job is! Then from the church, we had the entire bridal party in the Hummer, while the parents got their own limo. After the reception was over, they sent a third limo to take us back to the hotel. Unfortunately, because of the whirlwind we had just been through (and the fact that my brand new in-laws decided to crash the limo ride home) neither of us can remember the name of the third driver. We can say, however, that every member of Camelot Limo was courteous, professional and we would recommend them very highly.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church - Lindenhurst, NY
I am not giving the church a rating, I just wanted to let you know that if you plan to get married at this church they are very strict. They also have a very inconvenient policy regarding rehearsals. They will only hold rehearsals on Friday evenings. So, if your wedding happens to be on a Friday, you have to have your rehearsal a week before on the previous Friday. And, if you’re like us and the Friday before your wedding happens to be Good Friday, you have to have your rehearsal 2 weeks before. Considering that a good number of the bridal party was from out of state, we were not about to ask anyone to attend two weeks before. Some of the bridal party did show up anyway, however, and we went through the motions as best we could, took notes, and let everyone know what they needed to do at the actual rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.
But it is a beautiful church with a very long isle. I when I lived with my Dad we went to church here every Sunday and I have pictured myself getting married here since I was a little girl. I am so happy that this dream came true.
