March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Designer Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Long Island Weddings: A+++

First and foremost I can’t say enough about LIW- Ron, Liz, Kim and the rest of the LIW staff and the brides on this site with everyone’s support, guidance and help I would have been a total mess during the wedding planning process. Everyone has helped me keep my sanity and not to become the “bridezilla” that some turn into. I also feel as though I became part of a whole new family and that just made it all the more special.
My deepest thanks to all and I sincerely appreciate everything! I love you all and I plan to stick around for other brides as long as this site is running.

Save the Date Magnets: Magnet Queen: A+++

I had never even heard of STD’s until I got engaged and my mother in law told me about them and how we “had” to send them out to all the invited guests... well I looked around again for something original and found Magnet Queen online. You can order up to three free samples so I ordered three of what I liked and DH ordered three of what designs he liked (since at the time he had his apartment so we used two addresses). In the end we placed the order for STD magnets- we figured that magnets would be ideal and they came out great and also inexpensive as well- they came out to about $1.50 each with the envelopes and a clear sleeve for each of the magnets and the customer service and shipping time were excellent- we had our proof via e-mail within 24 hours and we got our order in less than two weeks. Everyone loved them and I had nothing but compliments on them.



Wedding Day Weather: A-

Mother Nature could have been worse- it was a nice 50ish degrees and the sun was shining – however it was VERY windy outside (also taking into consideration that we were right on Jamaica Bay as well). We ended up doing all our photography inside Russo’s on the Bay which had plenty of photo opportunities. Fortunately for me it rained very heavy the day before and all that was left was sunshine. Aside from the wind I couldn’t have asked for anything more weather-wise.

Ceremony Officials: Rabbi Sholom Stern & Rabbi Joseph Fishof: A+++

Both Rabbi Sholom Stern & Rabbi Joseph Fishof are from Temple Beth-El in Cedarhurst which is a Conservative temple but they are both Orthodox Rabbis. DH and I are members of Temple Beth-El and I love going as much as I can just to hear these two rabbis give sermons. They gifted DH and I their services for our wedding day and it made DH and I very happy to have them perform the 30 minute wedding ceremony since they know me for almost 4 years and my DH for almost twice that. They both did a lovely job and at the end of the ceremony there was not a dry eye in the house... even I started to tear as they did an amazing job and the words were so beautiful and touching. They also as a gift supplied DH and I with our ketubah so they saved us quite a bit of money there as well which is always something good.





Limos: Designer Limos (Howard Beach/Port Jefferson): A+++

This was one of the house vendors for Russo’s on the Bay and we originally met with them during one of the showcases there. We has also checked out three other limo companies before going back to Designer Limos and everything else that we looked at was way out of our budget or they couldn’t accommodate our requests which were pretty simple-two pickups at the hotel (guys and girls in bridal party) and then one drop-off after the reception back to the hotel.
Designer Limos is a company that gets new cars EVERY year so you’re guaranteed the newest model car they have always. We got to see most of their fleet at the showcases at Russo’s and we really liked one car for just DH and I which was a 1939 Cadillac. But we had to be realistic and considering we were on a budget and staying at a hotel in which we had to get the bridal party to Russo’s as well we settled on the 2008 Lincoln which seated 8-10 passengers comfortably. We met with Norman in the Howard Beach office and we signed the contract and paid in full and we were good to go. We had easy pickups (guys then girls in the bridal party) from the hotel to Russo’s. Coming back we had the same limo and driver just for DH and me. The driver (can’t recall his name) was very courteous and EARLY on both pickups, the car was clean, well maintained and also well stocked if we wanted anything to drink. All went well and they called us the week before to confirm all the details and were very, very wonderful to deal with and answered all our questions fully and right away.

Florist: Flower Michele: A+++

We found out about Flower Michele through LIW and also a friend of DH’s had used them for their wedding so we had decided to check them out. After visiting about five more florists we booked with Barbara at Flower Michele. Even when DH and I met with Barbara that first time she worked well within our budget and we got everything that we needed and then some. Our main concern was our chuppa (canopy for a Jewish wedding ceremony) which we were only needed for our 30 minute ceremony at Russo’s but can be pricey depending how elaborate the flowers are. DH and I had told her that we wanted to go with minimal flowers since we’re only using it for the ceremony and it would be dismantled afterwards. We decided to go with just nosegays in the corners and how the draping would be done of the fabric. Barbara ended up leaving Flower Michele and we met with John Feeney who was taking care of us to go over things and expand on what we had told Barbara. I have to say this I love dealing with John, he adds to your ideas and also expands on your ideas. Since I had met with Barbara we knew what we wanted but upon elaborating on them I knew I was in for a treat when John took over the floral aspect of our wedding and I was right. John also listens to what you want and then makes it come alive in a floral design.
The bouquets (roses) and boutonnières (roses) for the guys and the corsages were wonderful! For the centerpieces we used lavender hydrangea and cream, lavender, and pink roses in a 12” clear bubble bowl (fishbowl-like). Everyone throughout the wedding everyone kept complimenting how lovely the flowers were and when it came to taking the centerpieces home they were fighting over them!
We ended up getting the following from Flower Michele for our wedding: 1 Brides bouquet, 1 Maid of Honor bouquet, 2 Bridesmaids bouquets, Petals for the Flower Girl basket (we provided our own basket), boutonnieres for the guys (DH, FIL, 1 BM, 2 GM and 2 of my cousins), and corsages for the ladies (MIL, my aunt, and 2 cousins), cake flowers, petals for escort table, 12 low centerpieces, tulle swaging for the aisle during the ceremony, and probably a few other things that I might have forgotten at this time but I was very, very, very happy with our flowers. John is just a floral genius!





Engagement Shoot & Wedding Photography /Videography: Tony Ferrari Studios: A+++

Yet again Tony Ferrari was another Russo’s house vendor that we met at one of the Russo’s showcases. We originally met with Judy and we got to look at many albums and see also the prices for photography and video. DH wasn’t so sure in the beginning and wanted to check out a few more photographers and we did and nothing we saw can compare with the quality of what we saw at Tony Ferrari Studios. We ended up booking them after asking a few more questions and also were able to adjust the package to more suit our needs. For example we took out one parent’s album because my parents being deceased, we only needed one parent’s album for DH’s parents. Also we added in more photos for our album as well so it was great. As part of our package they included a free 16x 20 engagement photo to be displayed at the escort card table that we get to keep afterwards. They also are giving us the thank you cards as well. Most of the photographers weren’t willing to budge on the package items and price but Tony Ferrari was very accommodating.
The day of our engagement shoot at Charles Park in Howard Beach, we met Mike and we clicked (excuse the pun) with him immediately. We were also very pleased how the engagement photos came out and we requested him immediately for our wedding as he made us feel very relaxed and we had a lot of fun at the engagement photo shoot.
Good thing for us he was on vacation up until one day before our wedding so my feeling on that it was meant to be (karma).
The day of the wedding Mike showed up on time and ready to shoot at Russo’s and was 100% professional all the time. I didn’t want any photos of me getting ready at the hotel (mainly because the hotel room was small and I knew it would be packed with the makeup artist and hair stylist and family members) so we all met up at Russo’s. I had agreed to see DH before the ceremony in a “reveal” moment that was just priceless and I was so happy the way it was captured both on film and video. He also made the family photos fun as well – my very picky great-aunt loved him as well and thought that he was fun to deal with. He truly captured every detail of our wedding from family photos to the ketubah signing, ceremony, CH, and reception. During the reception using the three LCD TV’s in the reception hall room at Russo’s the photographer coordinated with our DJ and played our photos on the TV’s as we ate and danced so all can see the photos that were took. We ended up with over 500 proofs from our 125 person wedding and our proofs were ready by the time we came back from our honeymoon (one week after) which amazed me. It was so very hard to choose photos from the proofs for our album since there were so many great shots. DH’s parents took over two hours to choose their album photos because the choices were so good. In addition to the proofs we also will be getting a CD with all the images taken that day so we can make as many copies as we want of any photo anytime.
With our videographer (I can’t recall his name) he was also there from the moment the limo arrived to the time the reception was over. He was also very courteous and got all the footage of everything. I can’t wait to see our video but that won’t be for another 3 months- I’ll be sure to update this review then if I’m not happy.










DJ: SoundCheck Entertainment (DJ Mike): A+++

To me this was the hardest and most frustrating vendor to book but once again we ended up hiring a Russo’s house vendor. We must have seen about 9 different DJ’s and weren’t happy until we went to SoundCheck after DH saw our DJ (Mike) perform at a Russo’s showcase. We clicked immediately after speaking with DJ Mike and long story short ended up booking on the spot. We had only 125 people at our wedding and weren’t looking for any fancy light show or laser lights or smoke machines (even thought they can do that as well) but we wanted to keep things basic and simple. We had basic lighting, Mike played our entire “must play” list, stayed away from the “do not play songs” we had listed and made every announcement we needed him to make and took no requests at all as per our directions unless it came from DH or myself. He was simply wonderful and helped us in areas where we needed help like choosing songs for the bridal party, etc. Everyone was out on the dance floor and the music wasn’t overly loud so you can hear yourself talk and have fun. We also had the use of the three LCD TV’s in the reception hall room at Russo’s and Mike used them to his full advantage for us playing videos and also the photographers photos as well.






Wedding Gown: Lillette’s: A+++

Some of you already know I am a plus size woman (street size 24) and I was so very worried that my only option would be David’s Bridal. Being that DH and I had a Jewish ceremony I also needed a gown with sleeves or a jacket to it. I know of Lillette’s from a family friend. I called and made an appointment with Gerri- who was a complete doll – I truly love her to pieces for her insight and patience as well with me. She is one bridal consultant (along with the other ladies that work there) that gives their honest opinions and suggestions. I tried on three gowns there – the Rosemary Leigh by Maggie Sottero being the first gown I ever tried on in my bridal gown shopping experience and I was in love and knew right away that was “the one”. I also tried on gowns at two other stores and kept going back to the Rosemary Leigh...it was definitely the one for me. I can honestly say I loved my gown not just liked it. I ordered the gown, tiara and veil from Lillette’s all in diamond white and the only bad thing (that was not Lillette’s fault – it was the designers fault) that there was a slight delay in the shipping of my gown from China but it got to the shop one month before the wedding. I called for an alterations appointment right away and met with the seamstress Maia who was fantastic- I only needed three fittings total. Maia was new at the store at the time I had my alterations done so I was a bit skeptical at first but I was amazed at how she worked really fast and I didn’t need too many alterations on the gown. The bustle was very simple- one hook bustle to show off the detail on the back of the gown. The bustle also was very strong- it lasted literally all day from the beginning of the reception to the very end- it literally broke on the last dance song when someone stepped on the back of my gown.
Also I have to add here before I forget to mention her (and thank her once again for being so awesome because I know she still lurks on here from time to time) that my MIL hired Christina to help dress me and also assist with anything the bridal party needed – she was a true lifesaver and I loved that we had her around up until the end of our first dance.
I would highly recommend that you ladies check Lillette’s out if you’re still in search for you gown.

Day of Hair & Makeup: Sabrina (of Sabrina & Carolyn) and Clarisse of Hair Expo: A+++

I have to start out by saying I really procrastinated when it came to hair and makeup- I didn’t start looking until late November. I had wanted to do trials but I really found them to be expensive. After finding a style of hair that I like I got the recommendation of Sabrina & Carolyn who both work out of Hair Expo in Oceanside. I emailed Carolyn who was pregnant at the time and due around the time of my wedding so she had told me that she herself wouldn’t be able to do my hair. After speaking with Sabrina though she told me not to worry that she has someone in mind for me and we booked a trial for the same day that I had a tasting at Russo’s so it wouldn’t be suspicious that I got hair and makeup done. I have to say I loved my trial so much I booked on the spot and also so happy I only had to do one trial.
The day of both of them were on time and took care of my MIL, SIL (my BM), my niece (our FG), and me in under two hours! The makeup and hair were flawless and I loved the look (wasn’t overdone or caked on makeup and my hair looked really natural with the curls in it). Everyone was happy with their hair and makeup and it lasted literally all day from 7am to 6pm when we got back to the hotel. All I had to do throughout the day was touch up the lipstick and gloss and just touch up my face with powder because I was sweating so much. I felt and looked like a million bucks!
PS- On a side note I heard through the LIW grapevine that Carolyn delivered her baby on my wedding day so congrats to Carolyn!

Maid of Honor, Bridesmaid & Flower Girl Dresses (& FG headpiece): David’s Bridal: A+++

I really didn’t want to have to deal with any David’s Bridal after hearing some horror stories from other brides here, but the fact that my Maid of Honor and my Bridesmaid were out of town in New Jersey and in Tennessee I really didn’t have many options. My Maid of Honor was in town for my bridal shower so we decided to go the David’s Bridal in Carle Place and I decided on the Victorian Lilac color which was perfect. Even the service that particular day was great and the saleslady (even though we were just looking at the time) was helpful and we got the styles that we wanted and also a color that I loved since my favorite color is purple. I had let them choose the style as long as they stuck to the Victorian Lilac color and also had a wrap because again it was a Jewish wedding and their arms needed to be covered during the ceremony. The women ordered the dresses at David’s Bridal locations in New Jersey (where my SIL ordered also the FG dress and headpiece for my niece and her) and in Tennessee where my Maid of Honor ordered hers. Everyone had no complaints with ordering and fittings and alterations and the dresses that were ordered in December came in late January (about 4-6 weeks after they ordered). Everything was steamed and cleaned and the ladies looked great the day of the wedding and I have to say even the dye lots looked great- there was no differences in the colors despite them being ordered in different locations.


Groom, Best Man & Groomsmen Tuxedos: Feldman Esquire Tuxedos: A+++

DH was very indecisive when it came to choosing a tuxedo- when we finally found something for him we were going to have him rent from another place but all of a sudden they went out of business. So we turned to DH’s best man and he took DH to Feldman Esquire in Lynbrook. His best man had gone to Feldman’s before when he needed to rent a tuxedo for a White House holiday party with former president Bill Clinton and they dressed him to the nines. When I saw beforehand what DH was wearing I was very impressed- the total price for everything (including shoes and suspenders and cufflinks) was only $130! The groomsmen (my brothers in laws) and my FIL also looked really good in their tuxedos. I was really pleased with the price and also the quality of the tuxedos they got for our wedding.



Invitations, Calligraphy & Money Bag: Just Announce It!: A+++

I know I keep going back to Russo’s vendors but once again we found Just Announce It! at one of the Russo’s showcases. We had looked at invitations in about four different places before going to Just Announce It! and I hadn’t seen anything that I was happy with and I simply didn’t want to DIY or order online invitations.
I met with Danielle and Nicole and I really didn’t know what I wanted in an invitation but I did want to keep it simple and elegant yet affordable as well. I also knew I wanted to incorporate my favorite color (purple) into the invitation somewhere. Danielle & Nicole spent about two hours helping me search for something that I would like. I can truly say I don’t regret my choice of invitation- it was EXACTLY what I wanted and DH loved them too. We came in under our invitation budget and I decided to also order heart shaped seals with my and DH’s name on them to put on the back of the envelopes when we sent them out. Everyone LOVED our invitations which were what I wanted- simple and elegant - and also the wording that I came up with. Even my very picky great-aunt complimented us on them which is great in itself.
We also used Just Announce It! for calligraphy (computer) and it was really inexpensive as well at $1.25 per envelope – I only had them do the outer envelopes though. The color matched the lavender font of the invitations PERFECTLY. The invitations arrived very quickly as did the calligraphy and seals. There was even an ink color error on our RSVP cards that was the manufacturers fault (they printed them in burgundy instead of lavender as specified) and they noticed at the store right away and sent the RSVP cards back to be reprinted. They also got back to us in less than a week.
As I needed a money bag (since I didn’t want to do a big card box) we ordered a Beverly Clark money bag in white satin with our monogram embroidered on it. It held a lot and was money well spent on it.


Wedding Favors: DIY Project (Wine Bottles Wrapped in Organza Bags w/Favor Tag): A+++

At first I had wanted to do donation favors – but for some reason DH didn’t like that idea so we finally (after much debate) came up with the idea of doing full bottles of wine. I however didn’t like the idea of having to peel off the label and then put a new label on so I got the idea of putting them in lavender and white organza wine bags and then putting a favor tag with our names and wedding date on them. Even though DH deserves the credit on hauling the cases of wine up to the apartment from his car, I take all the credit for the assembly of the favors. They looked great and we did one full size bottle per couple and our guests loved them. Also thanks to the ladies here on LIW on recommending Cappy’s in Valley Stream for the wine-they gave us a great deal on seven cases of Crane Lake Cabernet. We still have about a case extra left that we are saving for our first wedding anniversary to share with family. The organza bags we got off the internet from Pouch Depot and we also got the favor tags from My Wedding Favors online as well.

Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid/Flower Girl/Groomsmen Gifts: Wal-Mart, Exclusively Weddings & Oriental Trading Company: Rating: A+++

I was really unsure as to what to get the girls so I kept looking around. I am a big fan of silver and I saw these really inexpensive silver and CZ bracelets in Walmart (of all places). They were really nice and the girls loved them. For my flower girl I wanted to get her something to play with mainly and I found a flower girl gift set from Oriental Trading Company that had a fake rhinestone tiara, wand, stuffed toy and also coloring books for her to draw with. She loved it as in the months before the wedding she played “Bride” dress up so this was perfect for her. The set also had a pearl necklace and bracelet as well for her to wear the day of the wedding- she opted to wear a necklace that her grandmother (my MIL) had gifted her for her 4th birthday but that was fine with me.
For the guys they were really hard to shop for and I let DH choose their gifts. For his Best Man he got him a travel size bar – included a silver flask with his initials engraved on it, silver cups and also tongs and a few other things I forget which came from Exclusively Weddings. For his brothers who were his ushers, he got leather wallets for them from JC Penny which was something they both can use. They all loved their gifts and I felt great that since we set a budget for their gifts we did really well.


Wedding Bands: Rating: Lundstrom Jewelers: A+++

DH and I went looking for wedding bands about 6 months before the wedding just to get ideas on what we wanted. We knew that we wanted matching bands and I knew the DH isn’t the type that would want diamonds in his band so diamonds for me were out of the question. Also to mention in the Jewish religion the wedding band is to be a solid, unbroken circle so being traditional we went for something without diamonds. We went to not only a few independent jewelers but also some in the Source Mall and also in Roosevelt Field Mall. We ended up at Lundstrom’s in Roosevelt Field Mall and we both saw our wedding band at the same time and it looked good on both of us (since we knew we wanted matching rings) not making DH’s hand look feminine and not making mine look masculine. We get many compliments on our wedding bands from total strangers we meet when we go out because it’s a unique design- we wanted something also unique.
The service at Lundstrom’s was also good- the rings were ordered and ready for us in under one month- we had them both engraved on the inside reading the following : Danielle <3 Gary 3-9-2008


Hotel for OOT Guests: Fairfield Inn by Marriott-JFK: B+

This is really the only vendor that DH and I had issues dealing with, but in the end it worked out. We only needed a maximum of 10-15 hotel rooms for our OOT guests and some of the bridal party that was coming from OOT for the wedding. We were looking by JFK airport only because it was closest to Russo’s and we also wanted to be kind of close to home if we needed to run back and get anything (we live about 20 min from JFK airport). DH and I went to about 8 different hotels and we found the Fairfield Inn and they not only offered us the best rate but they were also one of the smaller hotels as well around the area. They were also offering a shuttle van/bus for the guests the day of the wedding to take them to and from Russo’s- which was a plus. The woman that we originally signed the contract in August 2007 for a block of 10 rooms went and got married in October 2007 and then left the hotel. We called the hotel in January 2008 to make sure that everything was okay and we found this out. We then got pretty much stuck with dealing with the hotel manager which for a while was a bit frustrating. Guests couldn’t book rooms because they were being told that they were full (which they weren’t since nobody but DH and I had made any reservations) or that the code they gave us was no good anymore. Once a new group sales manager was hired in that hotel in late January things got better and things were straightened out. Once everything was straightened out the hotel was a pleasant one to deal with – the rooms were neat and clean and the wake-up calls were on time and the hotel restaurant had good food. They also put all the OOT boxes in all the rooms so the guests can see them. Also the shuttle van for the guests was clean and nobody had any complaints about it or the driver. Ironically when DH and I left the next day for the airport that same driver was driving our airport shuttle.

Out of Town Boxes: Wrap It Up Gift Boxes: A+++

I had made a last minute decision two weeks before the wedding to do OOT boxes for my 10 OOT guests at the hotel - I found this site and they put together the gable boxes for you, fill them with treats, and make and apply the label. Stacey was great to deal with and also very fast on the shipping as I got everything a week before the wedding ready to go. She also emailed me a mock up of the box label for my approval before she shipped anything out to me. The guests at the hotel really appreciated it as well and loved the design and treats inside.



Bridal Undergarments: Georgette’s: A+++

Before going to Georgette’s I had gone to the Women’s Boutique in West Hempstead and to make a long story short I had gotten insulted at one of the salesladies there because I am a heavy set woman but I also kind of a part of the itty-bitty-titty committee and she made no light of the fact that this was odd to her. So I decided not to shop there and to go to Georgette’s in Hicksville at the recommendation of the ladies of LIW. I had needed a panty girdle as well as a long line bra for my gown to make sure that I looked as good as I can in my wedding gown. My MIL was there with me and right away they understood what it was I needed and also re-measured me bra-wise and I was wearing the wrong size bra. Anyhow not to divert- they got me the long line bra and panty girdle in the size that I needed and also at a very reasonable price- they were also very helpful and courteous there as well. I also ended up buying an everyday bra from them as well and I will be going back to them in the future. The undergarments were perfect for my gown and I looked great as they really held me in the right places and make me look like I had more of a chest than I really did.

Bridal Shoes: Bridal Shoe Boutique: A+++

I had passed this store so many times going to Roosevelt Field Mall when someone recommended it on LIW I knew I had to check it out since they gave it such a vendor rave and I have to second it. I went with my SIL with DH driving us and we had to go back because they weren’t open until 12 noon that particular day. Once we got back we looked at the good selection of shoes they had and I decided on the Dyeables “Delilah” style which is a low heeled sling-back shoe in white satin. I didn’t want anything higher than 1 ½” since I am already 5’8” and DH is 5’11” I didn’t want to tower over him. The shoes were a great fit but there was a smudge of dirt on them so we had them order me a new pair – they told me it would take about two weeks but I was in no rush so it was no problem. Two weeks came and the shoes were in. They also offer free dyeing service as long as you have your receipt so since my gown was diamond white I had to wait to see if I needed them dyed but good news was I didn’t-it was a perfect match with my gown. Now that the wedding is over I might have these dyed black so I can wear them with something else. They were so comfortable and I literally wore them all day long even though I had brought slippers to change into for the reception for dancing if they had hurt my feet.

Cake Topper: A DIY Project: A+++

DH and I kept looking for something original to use as our cake topper. We had gone into a Judaica shop in West Hempstead and saw a really pretty bronze figurine of a couple under a chuppa with the rabbi as well. I loved it but there were two problems- first it was too heavy to be put on a cake and second was the price tag- it was $200.00!!
So I looked on the Internet and found a figurine that was the right size and the detail (and price was right- the figurine was only $23.00). I went to Michael’s and got lace to put around the base of the cake topper piece and bought the base online at the Wilton store for like $2.00. Total cost of the cake topper was about $25.00 so we saved a lot of money there and it’s totally original and one of a kind. We kept this after the wedding and have it on display in our apartment in our china closet.
Everyone at the wedding found out that I created the cake topper and they were really impressed – they loved the idea and it looked great on top of the cake we had.





Guest Book: The Guest Book Store: A+++

I have to say this was one of my big splurges for our wedding was our guest book. I wanted something unique and something fun as well and this site definitely had that- I got the chocolate white cover which had white on white swirls on it and was just so worth the money- the guests had a great time filling out the pages and it was so easy to order. The guestbook also shipped fast as well and the customer service was excellent. I actually found out about the Guest Book Store from a LIW bride.

Toasting Flutes & Cake Cutting Set: Exclusively Weddings: A+

I wasn’t so sure I wanted to buy toasting flutes or a cake cutting set but I fell in love with the ones from Exclusively Weddings which shipped them to us within two weeks- that’s ahead of their normal shipping time for engraved items like these. The design was unique and of course when I found out that it came in lavender and clear crystals I had to have them both. We had both the flutes and the cake set engraved with our names and wedding date and everyone remarked how unique they were and how pretty they sparkled too. Our Matire D’ also commented on how nice they were as well. Some may say that it’s a waste to buy toasting flutes and a cake set but DH and I promised that each anniversary we celebrate we’re going to reuse them…they were well worth the money to purchase.



Bridal Jewelry: Macy’s (Roosevelt Field Mall): A+++

I started looking for day of jewelry during the holiday season figuring with all the sales that were going on I was bound to find something that I would like. I was just looking for something simple since my gown had lots of detail and my SIL and I went to Macy’s at Roosevelt Field Mall and we went to the costume jewelry area and we ended up buying sterling CZ necklace (simple round pendant, earrings to match and a bracelet that carried out the circle theme. My SIL ended up buying the set for me as my holiday gift from her, my BIL and my nieces.
I was very happy with the jewelry and it is something that I can also wear again or hold onto and pass down to my children.

Jets Garter: E-Bay Seller: kristis_charmed_life: A+++

I was torn between getting DH either a Pittsburgh Penguins garter or a NY Jets garter- in the end the Jets garter won. I ordered from this seller on E-Bay which was reasonably priced and also shipped it right to my door fast. DH didn’t see the garter until the garter toss and he was very surprised to see a Jets garter come off my leg – he loved it and I got the reaction out of him that I wanted to with it.

Bridal Slippers: E-Bay Seller: Daddyskiki : A+++

Since I wasn’t sure if my shoes would be killing my feet after being on the dance floor so much at the wedding, I went ahead and bought a pair of custom slippers off of E-Bay. They had lavender beading and they were so soft and comfortable as well. I ended up not wearing them the day of the wedding because my shoes were comfortable but I now wear them around the house. The E-Bay seller I dealt with was so courteous and shipped everything so fast it was another nice E-Bay experience.

Pashmina Shawl: E-Bay Seller: Silktown99: A+++

Yes you could go into the city and get a nice pashmina shawl for about $5-$10 but I opted to once again turn to E-Bay and got a really nice and warm white 4 ply pashmina shawl with rabbit fur trim on it for about $20 including shipping (all the way from China). I think I paid on a Thursday or Friday night and had the shawl about 4 days later on Wednesday morning! The seller was great and very courteous and kept in touch afterwards to see if everything was okay with the shawl. She also included an extra gift with my purchase- a small purple cosmetic bag that I think is silk. I would do business with this seller again. Everyone loved the shawl and it was perfect to get in and out the limo with.

Bridal Gown Label: E-Bay Seller: Linenandlaceclassicdesigns : A+++

I had decided that my “something blue” would be a custom gown label with DH’s last name monogram and our names and wedding date. I had bought the label off E-Bay (once again) and the seller shipped fast and I got the label before the week was out. It was perfectly done and everything was spelled correctly and done in the correct color thread. I just had the seamstress sew the label in the back of my gown and there was my “something blue”.

Soon to be Mrs. Hoodie: E-Bay Seller: Spoolofdesign: A+++

I had wanted a “Soon to be” hoodie ever since I saw them. I had one problem though and that was to find a plus size one. I did though on E-Bay and it was a black hoodie with “Soon to be Mrs. Bedrick” embroidered in light lavender thread and our wedding date of March 9, 2008 embroidered on the front. Everywhere I went with the hoodie everyone loved it. I plan on ordering another from the same vendor to read “Mrs. Bedrick est March 9, 2008” on it in the same color thread but I want a white hoodie instead of black this time.

Naturally I had to save the two best things for last so here it goes……………………

Ceremony /Reception Hall: Russo’s on the Bay: A+++

I have lived most of my life in the Rockaways so I knew of Russo’s on the Bay since I was a little girl. I had always dreamed about just going to an event there but I also knew that it was very elegant setting and chances were I was never going to be invited there for anything...boy was I wrong!
When DH and I were looking for places we wanted simple elegance, good food, and of course great service but nothing too over the top. We were also looking for somewhere we can have our ceremony as well and that it fit our budget of course. We looked at eight reception/catering halls in two days before I asked DH to go with me to Russo’s on the Bay. I figured why not give it a shot and if it worked to be within our means, then I would be a dream come true. Sure enough I got my wish- I was going to be a Russo’s on the Bay bride.
When we met Lauren who was our original banquet manager for a while and she was simply great to a point where DH and I were really motivated to do wedding planning. We had Russo’s brunch menu with eight entrée options and we opted not to do their Elements of Style package simply because we felt we didn’t need to.
We got most of our vendors taken care of by the time Lauren left Russo’s and we got paired up with Toni Ann Russo. I LOVED working with Toni Ann – she’s very motivated and also on the ball with things. I also love that she returned each and every one of my phone calls no matter how small the question was.
One of the main reasons why I love Russo’s so much is that it runs like a well oiled machine... our wedding was literally flawless – DH and I were treated like a king and queen that day, never had to ask for drink refills – they were already there before we needed a refill, food was always plentiful - some guests couldn’t make a decision about an entrée from our eight choice entrée selection and they brought them both to eat! Everything ran on time without any problems or issues. If there were problems that day we never knew about it. The staff was spectacular and our Maitre D’ Tracey and Assistant Maitre D’ Jason were terrific as were the waiters and waitresses there that day! The food was excellent, the ambiance was fantastic. Our wedding cake was the Napoleon cream cake and we chose the “Amore” design which was tiered hearts. Everyone can’t stop talking about our Russo’s wedding- everyone was very happy and went home stuffed with excellent food.














Honeymoon: Sandal’s Halcyon in St. Lucia: A+++

DH and I talked about where we wanted to go for our honeymoon shortly after we booked Russo’s. We wanted to go somewhere that both he and I never were before so we decided on St. Lucia- Sandal’s Halcyon to be exact. This ended up being a gift from DH’s parents. What also worked well for us is that DH’s godmother is our travel agent and gave us her opinions of the three resorts on the island. Since we love the ocean we decided to stay at the Halcyon. We left the day after the wedding (March 10th) and spent 8 days there. All I can say is that it was nothing short of perfect.
I so wish I was back there- we had a casino night and also a carnival night as well- at casino night you played with 'funny money' as there is no gambling in St. Lucia. I racked up a whopping $15,000 in 'funny money' playing roulette. DH was greatly surprised! On Carnival night DH got to play with the band (literally) and the staff dressed in costume and it just was a fun time dancing and drinking (nice combo huh?) The excursion we took was to the Pitons and the sulfur springs as well as the Diamond botanical gardens via catamaran - which was beautiful - we boarded a catamaran and went out to sea (free drinks on the boat) and ate a real St. Lucian lunch in town and then went snorkeling and swimming on a black sand beach. We did visit the Grande and the Regency but we preferred the Halcyon mainly because the staff was nicer and friendlier.


**Also please note I also have many more photos in my albums!**

I hope you all had a great time reading about my wedding-here are some links to more non-professional photos from my wedding! Also I've included some photos from Tony Ferrari of our engagement shoot.

Engagement Photo Shoot- Tony Ferrari Studios

Non Professional Wedding Photos - Part #1

Non Professional Wedding Photos- Part #2

Honeymoon Photos- Non Professional- Sandals St. Lucia (Halcyon)

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

CONGRATS

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

sooo pretty danielle..loooooooooooooved it

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

great review danielle!!! congrats!!!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Thanks it took me a while to get off my lazy butt and scan the proofs

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Congrats!!!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Great Review!!! Congrats you looks beautiful!!!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Wow! Congrats!! Beautiful Pictures!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Congrats !!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

awesome review...everything came out great!!!!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Danielle!!! awesome review!! you looked so beautiful!!!!!! I love hearing about russo's weddings!!!!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

WOW! Excellent review! You looked gorgeous! Congrats!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

congrats great review

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

congrats!! great review!!! the day looks absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

congratulations!!!

I looooooove your flowers -- especially the lilac roses. So pretty!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

what a great and thorough review...its great to see that everyone got A's....so there is hope that a wedding can be virtually flawless....Oh I am hoping for that ...thanks!!!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Great review, you looked gorgeous!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

Great review Danielle!!! Your FH is adorable!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

congrats!

Re: March 9th, 2008 Dream Wedding: Russo's on the Bay, Flower Michele, Desinger Limos, Tony Ferrari Studios, SoundCheck Entertainment, Lillette's, Sabrina & Carolyn, & MORE!!!

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Posted by madseason

Great review Danielle!!! Your FH is adorable!

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Thanks we were both excited but I think everything and how we were treated throughout the day really shocked him

Also ladies thanks for all the compliments