First off I would like to say that this is a work in progress I want to make sure that I give as much information as I can to all future brides so it may take me a little while to actually finish this review.
Here it goes:
LIW A+++++++
I don't know what I would have done without this site. I learned so much information about vendors and learned about card boxes and how to make them as well as how to do alot of DIY. It was great. Thank you to everyone that helped me and gave me advice along the way.
Weather It was the most beautiful day--it was 70 degrees--who would have thought in Nov it could be so lovely. I remember last year on the day I got married it was in the 50s and I thought to myself if only it could be this nice on the day I get married--well it was and I couldn't have ask for a nicer day if I tried. It made everything so much easier.
St William the Abbot--Father Butler A+++
This was my favorite part of the whole day. Dh & I were a little worried at first becuase Father Butler had just recently came to our church and we were originally suppose to be married by another priest who got transfered to another church. From the second we met with Father Butler our worries were put to rest. He is an amazing person--he asked us lots of questions about ourself and how we met and what we did so that he could get a feel for who we were. He asked us about other weddings we had been to & what we got from the acutal mass. We told him our experiences and he listened to everythign we had to say of what we wanted our mass to be. Our mass was beautiful--his homily made me cry and I only had known him for about 5 months by the time we got married. Father Butler spoke so elequently about marriage and life that it brought me to tears. There are great pictures of us at church laughing and just shows what a great mass it was.
The Watermill A++++++
Vanderbilt Room
I cannot say enough about the Watermill--so many people told me that they do an amazing job and they proved that the do the night of our wedding. Dawn was our bridal attendant and from the moment I walked into the Watermill she was there to help. Offered us drinks once we got into the bridal suite & was also there lending a hand during pictures. Sean was our MD and he was great--nothing went wrong and at one point I thought it was getting warm in the room and he made sure the air conditioning was adjusted. He told how things were going--when our cocktail hour room was opening when people were moving into the dinning room and how things were going to go during the night. He was great and so professional. We had over 230 people and the room fit everyone nicely with room for the bad and room for everyone to sit comfortably. The bar was always packed with our friends getting drinks even though they didn't have to wait at the bar--so of our guests preferred to get their own drinks. Their one waiter per table service was great and allowed for our guests to not have to worry about getting drinks--the waiters always kept the drinks going. The food was excellent and the service was great. I couldn't have asked for a better hall. They also packed up everything for us and carried it out to the front door. It took us over an hour & half to get back to the hotel because of the shuttle service we had & Dawn waited with us to make sure we left ok and the car got packed she was great.
Renegade A+++++++
http:/www.liparamount.com Oh my god--I can't even put into words how amazing they were. We are still getting compliments and the dance floor was packed. We know of at least 3 people who were at our wedding who book them for their own events or recommend them to someone else & they booked them. Dave the band leader is amazing he meet with us and played all the songs we requested as well as songs requested by our guests. Renegade sounded like the original singer & band with every song that they played. There were songs where I really thought the original band was in the room with us. From one song to the next they were awesome. My DH sang me a song that he wrote and after only 1 verse the band was backing him up and they didn't even reherse or know what he was going to play. They also let him play a song with them. I can only say great things about them---They were one of my favorite vendors.
*********** A+++++
Although there were times that I wasn't so sure about my choice of florist I always kept an open mind about them. I read all the reviews about them on this website and I was worried but I stuck with them hoping that everything would work out just fine. I went to a design session where we discussed the flowers that I wanted and then Patty made me a sample centerpiece which I loved. I am not going to say that everything was perfect before the big day--there were minor issues that I had--everytime I wanted to add something it seemed like they didn't want to do it for me & just said it would cost me extra money. It turned out though that the day of I was a given a lot of extra--Jack sent me a dozen red roses. gave me a cake topper that matched my centerpieces, gave me extra flowers (2 bouts and 1 coursage) in case we needed extras, gave us a dias centerpiece that matched, and also gave extra bows for the church and some other extras. They did an amazing job. My b-k was over 3 dozen roses and my bridal party b-ks had about 15 roses in them. They were all beautiful. Jack & Patty did an amazing job on my flowers--they still looked so fresh 2 days after my wedding.
Franklin Square Photographers A+++++
Video & Photography
Oh my--I went to three photographers before I choose Franklin Square Photographers. They were recommended to us by someone who used them 15 years ago when they got married. They showed us their entire operation when we went ot them--they showed us that they print their pictures on site and that their video is edited there as well. We spent 2 hours with them and feel in love with their work & their video. It is a family owned business and they are great. They don't get that much recognition on this site but their work speaks for itself. I got over 800 proofs and they are in a leather book. They do all digital pictures and they are great peopel to work with. Keith was our photographer & Dawn was our photojournalist. We had a blast with them & they made us feel so at ease. They took all the pictures that we wanted and got some great shots.
Our videographer was Chris--and he kept us laughing the whole night long--we loved working with him and woudl recommend him to anyone. Although our video isn't ready yet I am sure it will be fantastic.
If you want to see samples of FSP work click on
http://www.fsphoto.com and look at their recent weddings page. There work is great.
Hyatt Regency Windwatch A
From the beginning I loved this hotel. It is only 7 mins from the Watermill and they gave us the best price. Our guests payed $115 a night to stay there. The person we worked with was Connie and she was amazing--any question I had she answered and she helped us after the deadline when guest wanted to stay at the hotel. We blocked our rooms right before it became the Hyatt and that was why we were able to get such a good rate but by the time we got married the hotel was upgraded to a 5 star hotel and their rooms were redone. DH & I ended up with a suite for the same $115 rate and it was great. The only reason they didn't get A+++ is because they closed the bar earlier then they told us they would due to other guests staying at the hotel for a wedding. Since DH & I didn't get back to the hotel until about 2am we aren't sure exactly what happened but were told by others that even though the bar was suppose to stay open until 2 they closed it at 1:30 due to the roudiness of the other party. We were upset because some of our friends were unable to enjoy the bar that Connie was nice enough to extend to our guests after hours.
We also set up a brunch for our guests the next morning and again Connie helped us with everything--deciding on a brunch was hard because they offer so many choices and she tried to work with us on what we thought our guest would eat and what she thought might just be a waste. We were also given a beautiful room for the brunch and the food was excellent. My DH loved the fact they served Starbucks coffee. The only downside was that I had to provide my own shuttle service because the hotel doesn't have it but I found out from my aunt that their shuttle (which they use only to go to the RR & MacArther Airport) took my family to the Watermill when they couldnt' find the shuttle that we provided.
My guests couldn't stop talking about the beds in this hotel--some of them were trying to find out who made them so that they could get them at home. I totally recommend this hotel if you are having your wedding in the area.
Macy's Manhasset A++++
My dress, MOB dress, veils, & tiara
Macy's was great--I found my dress on my first trip there. They were very helpful and I enjoyed working with them. I foudn my dress at another shop and Macys matched the price of the other shop. They also had Nelson D'Leon come to the shop and I tried on my dress and they match veils and tiara's as well as do a sample hairstyle for you as well just so you can see the full picture. My seamstress was great--she did everything I asked her to do and even helped me pick out a bra. I enjoyed my experience there as did my mom. Her seamstress even helped her save $75 on her shawl that my mom wanted made into something else--she helped my mom make it the way she wanted without having to spend the extra money. They were great.
My dress is a Demetrios dress with a detachable train and my viels are Nelson veils--I had a cathedral length and a shorter one that I used as a blusher and for most of the night at the reception.
Lynbrook Bridal B+
Someone recommend that I go here (it was one of my BMs that dropped out). It was a little out of the way for most of my BMs except 1 but I went with the recommendation & it turned out they were the cheapest place. Their alterations capped at $50, the shawls I wanted were $50 and they were very nice. They don't take appointments though to look at the dresses or for measurements so if you catch them on a busy day it could take awhile. The dresses came in earlier then they had said & they always called when something was going on--when they came in when one of my BMs picked up their dress. The reason they got a B+ was because I was upset with the alterations. The seamstresses were very nice but I felt that they weren't doign their job. My sisters dress when we went for her second fitting looked horrible & she was the maid of honor--the top of her dress was all messed up & I was annoyed because it was a month before the wedding & my sister lives in Baltimore & wouldnt' be back till the week fo the wedding. THey also charged $50 cap to do the hem, & the bust & then another $15 for the cups. I understand that hte cups aren't included but a hem doesn't cost $30 bucks. I just felt they were trying to get the most out of their cap. Also I ordered material to match the girls so that I could have a sash made for the flower girl dress & for the wraps aroudn the flowers. When I ordered the first yard I did it in the store & paid in full for the fabric. When I called again a few weeks later to order another yard I was told they wouldn't order anythign until I left a deposit--I understand this too but they wouldn't take my info over the phone & it isn't that close to my house so I was like---I have paid you in full for the other yard I know I have to pay for it can you order it for me & when I am in next time I will pay the entire balance--they made such a stink meanwhile me & my girls spent a good $1500 in the store. I was annoyed. Some of the hems that the girls had done by them did come out the night of--I felt that a $30 hem shoudl last all nigth & then some.
Garden Bridal --Bethpage A+++
MOG dress
My MIL loved this place. It is owned by a grandmother & her granddaughter & she thought they were very helpful and it came out to be cheaper than other salons. My MIL had some work done to her dress after it came back becuase she wanted to have sleeves put on her dress & they were more than happy to do it for her & didn't charge her alot of money for it. Also she lost a good amount of weight from the time she ordered the dress until our wedding & they made the dress fit her so nicely. I would recommend them.
Sandy's Shoes B
Massapequa
Although so many people rant about them, I was one of them at first. My DH is a pharmacist and his customers own the store so I was excited to do business with them. When I first went there they were great I found the shoes I wanted & they had an awesome return policy which I loved, incase I found shoes somewhere else. My MIL found shoes as well & we thought they were great. It didn't become a problem till later that I became annoyed with them. On two occassions I found them VERY RUDE! One of my BMs & me went in there it was 5:30 and we were trying to figure out what time they closed because there was no sign to indicate what time they were open till. We walked in there & started looking around. One of the women behind the counter turns to us & in a nasty voice goes can I help you--so we said no we are just looking around & she goes well we are closed so we wont' be able to help you. I was annoyed here we are customers & we are being treated that way--if I was an owner I would help them--it is a possible sale. Lets just say we didn't go back & if that would have happened originally I wouldn't have went there for my shoes. On another occassion they were rude to my mom. My mom bought my sister a bag to match & they told her it would take about 3 weeks to dye, no problem we had plenty of time. I ended up telling my mom she didn't have to do that any black bag woudl do since nobody sees them so she tried to stop the order. The man on the phone was so rude to her--kept asking her the same question over & over again & got mad at my mom when she didn't answer the way he wanted it. It turned out he was asking her the wrong question & although she was giving him the answer to his question it wasn't the answer he was looking for. It turned out that even though she only put the order in 3 days prior they had already dyed the bag & she couldnt' cancel it--understandable but the rudeness that she experieneced was uncalled for. Also my MILs shoes weren't dyed the right color & she had to go back there a few times to make it right.
Marie Katz A++++++
Makeup
Marie is the sweetest person I have ever met and she does an amazing job on makeup. She arrived at my house at 9:30 and did 5 people and was done before my photographer arrived at 12:15. She is so cheerful and wonderful that she puts your mind at ease when she is doing your makeup. She stayed to fix up our lipstick before she left because my mom had food and wanted to make sure that everyone looked perfect before she left. All my Bms who had their makeup done by here looked amazing. Her application is so natural and I just loved the airbrush. She is reasonably priced and such a pleasure to work with.
http://www.mariekatz.com Details Hair Salon A++++
Some of my BMs, my mom, aunt & me got our hair done at Details in Massapequa. Wendy did my hair (she does my hair on a regular basis)--she did an amazing job and took my hair from a picture I provided to her only a few weeks before my wedding. I wasn't too crazy about my trial for my actual wedding so I gave her a picture to make sure it came out the way I wanted it. She did an amazing job. My mom had Debbie do her hair & she looked great. My mom had never had an updo before so she was very skeptical about getting one but Debbie totally put her mind at ease and she loved it.
Proper Paper A++++
Invitations & Thank yous
A former bride recommend proper paper to us and we really liked the service they provided. We had previously gone to Samantha at the Watermill and found the invitation we liked but it was out of our price range so we went to look around. We found our invitation at Proper Paper for about $600 less which is a huge difference. Rhoda explained to us why that might be and we were satisfied with her answer & her service so we decided to use them. We ordered our invitations very early so it wasn't a problem when there ended up being a problem with them. When Rhoda ordered the invitations she ordered them as the book told her but it turned out that hte reception card although the same color as the inner envelope was called something else so when it cam ein it was the wrong color--it was fixed no questions asked for us. Also our invitation had a bow on the top and most of them were not right--they looked very sloppy and there was no way after spending so much money that they were going to go out like that--after going through each invitation Rhoda sent them back & they were fixed--this happened another 2 times but by the end I had 175 invitiations that looked beautiful. We were so happy with their service that we decided to order the note cards that went with out wedding invitation--after only 10 days we had those--they are so beautiful.
Inkspun A+++++
Bill is great and so reasonable. I found him on this website and loved working with him. He did all 300 of my envelopes (150 outer & 150 inner) in less than 2 days & he was great, he even let me come to his house to pick them up because I wanted to put them together over labor day weekend. When I realized that I had given him the wrong info on some envelopes he fixed them free of charge. He was great--he even matched the script on my invitation & there wasn't anyone else I could find that could do that.
