6/3/07 !! UPDATED WITH VIDEO CLIPS (PAGE 3)!!!WM/DUET/JENN THE HAIR GENIE/KAREN A/ALL STAR LIMOS.. UPDATED WITH PRO PROOFS

LIW : A: If it wasn’t for this site and all of you I would have been totally lost in this whole process.. I haven’t been to many weddings in my life so I really didn’t have a clue of how to plan a wedding…I would say most of my vendors I found through this site.. All the girls on here have been so helpful and encouraging throughout this time… Thank you for VERY much Ron and Liz for creating and keeping this site going…


Weather:
Rating:D
I always knew in my heart on my wedding day it would rain… And guess what.. It rained!!! Right after my ceremony was over the skies opened up.. Which ment no pictures on the grounds of Westbury Manor and no Outside Cocktail Hour at Westbury Manor.. The only reason I did not give Mother Nature a big fat F was because the rain didn’t come till after my ceremony…

Save the Date Magnets/Magnet Queen:A: I got a great price and great quality magnets! Also very quick delivery! Plus being a LIW bride they throw in free envelopes for the magnets. I highly recommend this vendor!

Rehearsal Dinner/Donovan’s Pub-Woodside
Rating:B
We choose this place because It was local and a good friend of my brothers works there. The food and service was good. They are very accommodating there. They gave us a room in the back of the restaurant. I believe it was 16 pp that included the dinner one drink and coffee. We opted not to have an open bar. They have a pre-set menu for events like this. If you choose anything off there main menu it was extra.The only complaint I had was that the room wasn’t set up when we arrived and my party had to wait at the bar, which was a little crowded

RK Bridal- New York New York
Rating: see each item

Pre-Dress Buying:A
After many disappointing appointment at other bridal salons I went to RK Bridal. At first I was a little nervous. It kind of looks like a big warehouse with all the dresses on racks for you to look through. I was assigned to Gilda who was going to help me with the try on. I had a few dresses in mind( I brought a few pics with me. TIP: Also have model/style number with you). Gilda looked through the racks to help me find the dresses they had that I was interested in. She also grabbed a few that she thought may look good on me.. I tried on over 10 dresses.. She was very honest with me in each selection.. And I actually choose on of the dresses she suggested for me.. I was very undecided on my selection UNTIL I tried on this dress, I actually teared up when I saw myself in it!! That’s how I knew It was the one!! So if your going to RK Bridal ask to work with Gilda… She does not try to sell you on something or push you into buying.. Shes amazing and patient!!

Post- Dress Buying/Alterations: C
After my dress came in I went for a try on. There was a defect around the middle of the dress that made the fabric bunch up around my waist. It looked like the dress was two-pices or as if there was a wire going around my waist.. I was assured it would be corrected in time for my first fitting.. Well at my first fitting it was not yet corrected.. I went back for at least 4 fittings to try and get this fixed.. Each time it was not corrected only fixed a bit better than the last time.. The last fitting I went to, it still was not correct. They started mending it while I was there and it seemed to be corrected. The day I went to pick up my dress, NO ONE was in the alterations department.. Apparently the WHOLE department was out to lunch. I was double parked at needed to get my dress.. So I started flipping out and having a bridezilla moment.. Finally they came back from lunch and I was able to get my dress.. They should really advise people when the are told to come pick up the dress, no one will be available from whatever time to whatever time..

**Tip: Accessories like veil/headpieces/tiaras are over-priced there.. Better off going to Barrons at the Tr-County Flea Market..


Dress: Allure Bridal
Rating:B
I loved this dress when I first tried it on.. It did come with a defect around the waist.. I have heard from other brides they have had a similar problem with these dresses around the waist.. Other than that the dress was gorgeous.. Everyone commented how beautiful it was and I loved it.. Price was aprox 1200.00..

St.Marys Church/aka BVM Help of Christains- Woodside New York
Rating:B
I grew up going to this church. It was very important for me to have my wedding here. This is a second marriage for my hubby so it was a little difficult with the paperwork. But we were able to get it all done. As with any other church that I have read about sometimes it is hard to get the priest to give a call back. Same here.
Day of the organist played the bridal march for the whole bridal party. I was under the impression it was just for me to walk down to.. And he was a little off key.. But the church was beautiful and the priest did a great mass!!! They also have a deacon help serve the mass who was from Peru like my Hubby!


All Star Limo
http://www.allstarlimo.com/
Rating: A
We got a 10 passenger white starch Lincoln and the Packard for me an my hubby.. The drivers were on time and very courteous. The a/c in the Packard was not that great but It wasn’t that warm of a day so I didn’t mind. I would highly recommend All Star Limo.

Flower Michelle
http://www.flowermichele.com/
Rating:B-
I was ok with the flowers on the day. The drivers were late getting to my house the day of.. The roses on my bo-k started turning brown around the corners after the ceremony, and the stephanotis, I guess there were painted because the paint started to come off of them.. The centerpieces were nice though..

FM Entertainment
www.FMDJS.com
Rating-B
Frank did a great job on my day, he kept the crown going and played all the songs we requested. He has great energy and is great to work with. The only problem was, we paid for a little extra for the “club lighting” which included out name plate in lights on the floor.. Well we were told the day of the wrong name plate came in, and the correct one didn’t come in time.. I really wanted that name plate.. That was the main reason I got that extra package..

Duet
http://www.duetwedding.com
Rating-A (Day of)
I had Sams team and I have to say, they were AMAZING!!! They were prompt, courteous, and very professional!! They were able to get most of the shots I wanted to re-create, they only reason why they couldn’t get the rest is because of the weather.. They took so many pictures..
Proofs:A: I LOVE ALL MY PROOFS!!! Sams Team was amazing!!!

Davids Bridal
Rating: A
I didn’t really have much to do with the picking out of the BM gowns I only choose the color.. We didn’t have any problems with Davids.. The dresses were on time.

Westbury Manor
http://www.westburymanor.com/
Rating: A+
This place was AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.. I can not say enough.. From the time I booked until the time I walked out the door when my wedding was over everyone at WM was UNBELIEVABLE!!! Susan B. who I booked with was so helpful with any issue I had!! I had the Garden Room, and It looked Amazing. We had just about 100 people and It was the perfect size.. The food was out of this world!! I didn’t see the cocktail hour, but I heard it was GREAT! Now these next two people MADE my wedding day what it was… My Matire ‘D IAN and my bridal attendant YESSENIA… They have my highest recommendations and praise… Ian ran everything so smoothly… If there was ever any issues I was not aware of it… He even arranged for us to have the bigger room for our cocktail hour since it was raining out, and we could not do it outdoors.. This was such a relief to me as I was not too happy with the smaller room for the cocktail hour.. And Yessenia, she has the to be the sweetest girl I have ever met.. She always made sure I was taken care of.. She even had to help me use the bathroom a few times since my dress was so big.. If your having your wedding at WM, I would request these two for your day!!! I cannot express how greatful I am to them for making me feel like royalty on my wedding day!!! Oh and the food was out of this world too!!! Did I say that already???


Hair
Jenn the Hair Genie
Rating A+
Definitly my favorite vendor!! She did an amazing job on my hair and my MOH.. Since I met Jenn I knew I wanted her to be a part of my wedding day. She has such an amazing personality!!! Not only does she know hair she can give you tips on EVERYTHING else wedding related!! On the day she even helped me get into my dress,,, She is FABULOUS!!!
Tip: This has nothing to do with Jenn just a tip for girls who have thin hair and are considering extensions.. I say DO IT! I regret so much that I didn’t have some put in.. While I loved the style of my hair, I just wish I had more..

Makeup
Karen A. the Makeup Artist
Rating:A
Karen did a great job on the makeup.. My mom even liked here makeup, and she hardly ever wears any!!!My airbrush lasted all day, and well as my fake lashes.lol . I was very happy with my makeup that day..
Tip: If you are getting airbrush rember to bring some face powder with you.. During the day your face may shine a bit..


Pro-proofs below