MORE UPDATES: My 8/14/05 Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE...

It's taken me forever to actually sit down and give the details of my wedding day! Now I know why brides take so long to write it...there's so much to say and so many details that you don't want to forget!!

Well, for those of you that didn't know my grandfather had died the day of my rehearsal which was 2 days before my wedding. So that was heavy on my mind the night before the wedding. My cousin the night before when we were all hanging out watching the rehearsal tape, my wedding guilted me by saying, 'you know you should really cancel your honeymoon to be here for grandpa's funeral'. I cried the entire night, but when i woke up at 6:30 am, my MOH and BM, came into to my room to tell me how they had talked all night about how messed up it was for my cousin to tell me that the night before my wedding. They both did a great job of lifting my spirits and assuring me that no one else in my family agreed with her. My grandfather before he died made it a point to tell everyone that he wanted my day to go smoothly and happily, and they reminded me of that, so after we all had a good cry...

HOUSE OF ESSENCE A-Z ++++++++
...my BM and I went to get our hair touched up. My BM's hair was done the day before but we wanted to tighten up her curls. I had to have my bun done. TASCIA IS THE BOMB!! I l LOVED MY HAIR!! The next day, I was still able to keep it for our trip to Jamaica. She's the best!!


WEATHER
98 degrees in the shade with a 100% humidity!! So you can understand why we waited to do our hair! Man, it was hot that day. Not to mention later on it poured, but we'll get to that later.

Breakfast
My mom made a huge west indian breakfast for my girls and I! It was great, my brother made me cry by playing a wedding medly that he made with 'Love and Marriage', 'Going to the chapel', 'With this ring', and a bunch of other wedding songs.

After breakfast, we all went back to my house to start getting things ready..pulling dresses out of bags, steaming my dress, lining up shoes, taking showers, etc.

Lunch
We took a little break to eat lunch, since I had heard the horror stories of brides starving all day. A combination of chinese left overs and spagetti:


After that things went super sonic fast!!

Expressions Florist A+++++
Trina was ON TIME!! The boks were beautiful, my mom had 2 stems from my cousins bok up until last week!! They lasted a very long time. Everyone loved the butterfly accents. I still have extra petals in the fridge that are bright white and it's over a month later!! Trina rocked and I'm glad I stayed with her despite many people's comments. I think she really paid attention to the feedback she received. My only wish was that I wasn't home when she dropped them off, and I didn't get to personally thank her: So thank you, Trina!!!



LYNBROOK BRIDAL A+++++
Carmella is a Godsend. I would just stop in to visit and try on my dress, and everytime, she greeted me with a smile. The service was impeccable, the seamstress (sorry forgot her name) listened to me when it came to my dress and my daughter's I'm still getting compliments on our dresses. Thanks Lynbrook bridal!!


BURTON'S BRIDAL D-----
They handled my BM dresses. Now the dresses themselves came out great! That I will give a A for. But their service was the worst I experienced of all my vendors. They were not understanding to 2 of my BMs that lived out of state. Both girls tried several times to make arrangements for fittings, but because they were in their 'height' they were unwilling to compromise. Any time I called or they called we were greeted with attitudes and obvious frustration. One BM had to couldn't take the constant unsatisfactory service, b/c they kept telling her she was bigger than she actually was when she called in her measurements...needless to say when the dress was shipped to her it was 4x her size and it cost her big$$ to get it altered to fit. They really need to take a course on customer satisfaction.



SUGARPLUMS A++
My mom got her dress from them, and when I tell you she was a knock out, it would be an understatement. Katherine was a gem, and very sweet, even when my daughter was running around touching everything!!


MAC BY CASSANDRA A+++
My makeup was flawless. Cassandra showed up at 1pm to do my makeup. she was seemless...make up was applied with expert precision. Plus she would let me keep stopping for sips of water (didn't want to get dehydrated in the heat!!). I didn't have to reapply anything but the gloss during the middle of the reception. When i got home that night I still had a full face of makeup. The only problem I found, when i saw the pics, and i don't think many make up artists (white or black) realize this, but in my pictures i could clearly see the makeup line on my face...where the foundation stopped and my nature skin color was exposed. I had to pull those pics b/c it was extremely obvious or turn some pics to black and white so it wasn't noticeable. Yet, the makeup rocked cuz no one mentioned it until the pics came out.


WHEW...I'm going to take a little break!!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! - Gonna be long!!

You looked absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations, and best of luck!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! - Gonna be long!!

Congratulations!!! Your flowers were so pretty and I loved your hair! Thanks for the review.

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! - Gonna be long!!

You were a beautiful bride and your mom is a hot mama!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! - Gonna be long!!

Too cute about the leftover for lunch, that is something that you will always remember, so far your review is great can't wait to see more pics your dress was stunning! and your mom is a total knockout can we say.. Go Mom! Go Mom!! Congrats! you were a beautiful bride!

Re: CONTINUING...My Wedding Review!! - Gonna be long!!

oK, so where was I oh, yes, just finished makeup...

T & R LIMO COMPANY A-
I love T&R Limo, don't get me wrong! They were on time, courteous, accomodating, etc. Plus, we signed up for the morning airport pickup, which they even gave us a wakeup call to make sure we were ready by 6am. My reason for the minus is petty. I have a picture that the photographers took of me trying to hold it together before I walked out with my dad, and the limo driver for some reason wanted to be the one to console me, but she holds up a towel over her face like that would have made her invisible in the shot, and the shot is emotionally beautiful but is ruined by her toweled presence...didn't even scan it, my coordinator was trying so hard to shoo her out of the shot, oh well. Other than that, they did everything fine!


OUR LADY OF MIRACULOUS MEDAL CHURCH A+
Father Briscotti was very sweet...the church provided a lovely backdrop for my extremely customized ceremony. I wanted our roots to be represented so to start the ceremony my brother poured libations for our ancestors. One of my students sang completely acapella the entire ceremony, she was an angel. We included my daughter several times throughout the ceremony: we wrote out special vows just for her and gave her a little diamond ring (which she lost 2 hours later at the reception ), plus she lit the unity candle with me, and we did the hand ceremony with her...there wasn't a dry eye in the room (ok maybe a few). I also presented my mother and grandmother with a poem and personalized handkerchiefs.





BUTTERFLY RELEASE COMPANY A+++
As many of you know I had a complete butterfly theme throughout my wedding. From our invites, favors, pew bows, in the boks, place cards, and on the programs! So I had to do the butterfly release!! Funny thing with the butterflies, we had about 65, they all survived during the shipment. It was very easy putting them in my release box. It became very comical and I can't wait to see the video, when it was time to release them many of them didn't want to fly out. I made the release box too much like home. We were literally hitting the box, shaking the box, and pulling my floral arrangements out so that they would leave the box. It was so much like home for them that many of them were busy, you know, doing the do!!! It was a very hysterical memory. Word of advice if you are going to do a release, leave the box empty!!







STEWART MANOR COUNTRY CLUB A-
Now I'm giving them the A- b/c DH wasn't that thrilled with their service, he felt that they could have done more to make our time enjoyable. I agree to an extent. Let me start with the prep work, they were fabulous at meeting our needs! Anytime I wanted to stop by or whenever I called with questions James and his mother, June, were always accomodating. Now fast forward to the day of...Hilarious moment #2: So we're in the limo on the way to Stewart Manor, and I realize that I have to pee beyond words, so the limo driver is doing his best to cut through the traffic, and it's right about this time that the sky opens up and the heavens pour down. Now we pull up in front of SMCC and there is a line to pull in - the valet sign is posted in front - WE DIDN'T PAY FOR VALET!!! Now I'm freaking out and I still have to pee! So when we finally get to the front door, I peel out the limo with my MOH in tow holding my train! We zip past all of our guests in a blur to the bathroom, the whole time I'm cursing: 'somebody's got some explaining to do!!' Waiting for me inside the main hall is James and he's like, 'before you panic, I know you didn't pay for valet, but it was raining so badly that I didn't want your guests to have to walk in the downpour...so you're not paying for valet, I AM!' If I could have kissed the man, I would have! For that he got an A++++++!! The minus stuff came from not having the suite ready with h'orsdevours for my BP, we were starving when we got there, and my BP stood around while we took pictures, I think they needed to have the foresight to serve them first as we had agreed upon. Our personal server was great! Whenever one of DH's glasses was empty he would appear as if by magic with a new full glass! I had asked that we be notified no matter what when our food was put out, and we happened to glance at our table and see food there, so I was annoyed about that. I mean, the room was beautiful, our guests were happy, but I just felt that they could have been more proactive than reactive. You know? Overall, we had a blast! Drinking, dancing, laughing crying! Especially over the toasts where just about everyone referenced my grandfather's passing. But I knew he was there watching over us, and the rain was his very own tears!!

Here are some of my favorite shots from SMCC:


Sharing a moment with my dad...

My adopted brother caught the garter and my aunt caught the bok...need I explain why that was hysterical!!!

Partying Hearty!!


SMOOCHES - WEDDING COORDINATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE!! A-Z++++INFINITY!!
Ebony was/is the best link that we have from our wedding. She was hands down the most diligent, organized, calming, charming, stickler for detail, inspiring, complimentary, and I can go on and on about how fa-bu-lous, she is!! She made the process that much easier from the day I hired her! Throughout the process, I counted on her for all my questions and when there where hiccups in the road she was swift with a glass of water! Thanks to her and her assistant, our rehearsal went without a hitch, it ran smoothly and everyone (almost) followed her instructions to a 'T'! Our wedding day she treated as if it were her very own. She did everything in her power to take on the brunt of issues, while SMCC would bring things to my attention first, it got to a point when she reminded them that she was the 'go to' person and to stop interupting me for mindless questions. Love her, love her, love her!! If anyone wants her info just FM!!

CAKE A++++++++
All I can say: 'my godmother is baking QUEEN!' She took all of my ideas and created a thing of beauty for our wedding day...in this case a picture is worth my thousand words:


ESSENTIAL SOUNDS DJS A++++
What can I say again for having family members that can do for you!! These guys have been handling music in our family since their little hands could spin a record. They were great! They played what I wanted, but there just wasn't enough time in the world to play everything with all the 'interuptions' (cake cutting, toasting, tossing of stuff, etc.)...but they did a great job!

Now I still have some things left to review but I want to wait til those services are rendered complete:
Duval Photo & Video
Wedbclean
Keepsake Floral

So stay posted for the final - final!!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Congratulations!! You looked like you had a fabulous time and you made a beautiful bride. I am impressed with your aunt's cake decorating talents!!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Yea!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!! Absolutely beautiful!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Congratulations!!!

You guys look great!!!!

I LOVE YOUR CAKE!!! I cannot believe your godmother made it!!

I am so happy your day went so well!!! Everything looks beautiful!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Congrats
You looked beautiful and sooo happy

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Great review!

The butterfly story is so cute...so nice of you to make such a comfy home for them. You and your new husband look great...congratulations!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Congrats Phoebe everything looked beautiful

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

You look beautiful, and your cake was stunning!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

U looked absolutely beautiful girl. That cake is out of sight. Congrats and best of luck.

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

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Posted by Nautical bride

Congratulations!! You looked like you had a fabulous time and you made a beautiful bride. I am impressed with your aunt's cake decorating talents!!

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Baking cakes is her hobby...she made every cake for all of my birthdays and my daughters, so naturally she had to make my wedding cake

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

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Posted by mcaula

Congrats Phoebe everything looked beautiful

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Thanks MC!! Congrats to you too!!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

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Posted by SomethingBlu

Great review!

The butterfly story is so cute...so nice of you to make such a comfy home for them. You and your new husband look great...congratulations!

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We will definitely be laughing about that until we are old and gray!!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

You looked amazing! Looking at the pics with your daughter lighting the unity candle gave me goose bumps!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Congratulations!!!

Re: Drumroll Please...My Wedding Review!! PICS EVERYWHERE - Gonna be long!!

Congrats! Beautiful! Did I see you in the NY Post wedding section?