My 7/27/07 wedding!
Here is my review...I hope that it's helpful! (I don't know how to attach pics, so see my album for pics of everything)
LIWeddings: A
When a good friend told me about liweddings, I was SO excited. Everyone was so warm, welcoming and giving. I got fabulous ideas and support when I needed it. I was not as active as the wedding came closer, only because it made me more anxious to read about all the things that everyone was doing...and that I had yet to do :) But thank you to everyone b/c I couldn't have done things without you!
David's Bridal (BM dresses): A
I have heard really varied things about David's Bridal, many things negative. However I had a very positive experience with them. I needed BM dresses that were reasonably priced and that everyone could get altered near their home. The dresses were simple, beautiful and CHEAP, which is always a good thing.
House of Botticelli (My dress, Maggie Sottero): A+
I can't say enough about how accomodating they were and how amazing my alterations were. Also, all Maggie Sottero dresses have an inner corset, which was AMAZING. I dropped a few pounds the week of the wedding b/c I was running around so by the wedding day, it was a bit big, but they put extra buttons inside for just that event so we were able to tighten it accordingly.
My ORIGINAL hairdresser: F!
Long story short is that I have been going to the same hair dresser for years, and on the morning of the wedding day, she NEVER showed up to the salon. My MOM and MIL had to run around to find another salon that would accommodate all 7 of us at 8am on my wedding day! So all this to tell you that we found one, and it turned out beautifully.....so a HUGE thank you and A+++++++++++ to Salone di belleza in the bronx for accomdating all of us under such short notice and helping my wedding day to be a success! AND they were VERY reasonably priced too!
Makeup (Torya Strothers, www.tsbridalmakeup.com): A+++++
Torya was wonderful. She was responsible, flexible and my makeup did not budge all night. It was a VERY hot & humid day, however with the magic of her airbrushed makeup, my makeup needed no touchups beyond lipstick and occasionally patting down my shiny nose in the extreme humidity.
Photography (Pinilla Studios, Queens, NY, Marino): A
Marino was a fabulously patient photographer, obviously enjoyed his work and did a great job. I just picked up the proofs last week, and they look great! My proofs were ready within 3 weeks of the wedding and I have been more than pleased with everything.
DJ (Pinilla Studios, Queens, NY):
I got a package with Pinilla so they did both DJ & Photo. THe DJ was AMAZING! We were very specific in the types of music we wanted played at our Puerto Rican wedding, and they certainly delivered. It was a great party and the dance floor was packed ALL night
Reception Site (Greentree Country Club, New Rochelle): A+++++++++++++++++
Food was FABULOUS
Drinks flowed all night
The maitre d was amazing.
People are STILL talking about how beautiful it was, how good the food was, how great the service was. I could go on and on....they even sent my husband and I home with 4 plates of food, leftover desserts, fruit from the chocolate fountain, etc... which was perfect b/c we got home and were STARVING :) I cannot say enough about how wonderful they made my day and I would recommend it to anyone looking to have a wedding at a beautiful place, with wonderful food and at a reasonable price (at least reasonable for westchester).
Florist (Arcadia, Mamaroneck, NY): A+
I knew Arcadia was pricey when I booked them, but I wanted amazing flowers...and that was exactly what I got. Everything was breathtaking, on time, and really made my reception stand out.
I will try to post pics of everything. My only words of advice to any of you are the following: Inevitably, SOMETHING will go wrong on your wedding day, but just take it in stride and enjoy your day b/c it is once in a lifetime. My wedding was worth every moment and every penny that we paid (and are still paying..lol).
Oops. I almost forgot! Honeymoon!
Greece: A+++++++++++
Greece was AMAZING! We stayed in athens for a few days at the Athenian Callirhoe Hotel (A+), then took a cruise on the Louis Hellenic Cruise line (D-). The islands were breathtaking, HOWEVER, I would never take that cruise line again. The general consensus amongst the people we met there was that if you take a cruise around the islands, make sure you book an American cruise line. It will cost alot more money, but will be worth it. We picked a greek cruise line b/c it was all that we could afford at the time. And the islands themselves were amazing, however the cruise line was lacking.
LIWeddings: A
When a good friend told me about liweddings, I was SO excited. Everyone was so warm, welcoming and giving. I got fabulous ideas and support when I needed it. I was not as active as the wedding came closer, only because it made me more anxious to read about all the things that everyone was doing...and that I had yet to do :) But thank you to everyone b/c I couldn't have done things without you!
David's Bridal (BM dresses): A
I have heard really varied things about David's Bridal, many things negative. However I had a very positive experience with them. I needed BM dresses that were reasonably priced and that everyone could get altered near their home. The dresses were simple, beautiful and CHEAP, which is always a good thing.
House of Botticelli (My dress, Maggie Sottero): A+
I can't say enough about how accomodating they were and how amazing my alterations were. Also, all Maggie Sottero dresses have an inner corset, which was AMAZING. I dropped a few pounds the week of the wedding b/c I was running around so by the wedding day, it was a bit big, but they put extra buttons inside for just that event so we were able to tighten it accordingly.
My ORIGINAL hairdresser: F!
Long story short is that I have been going to the same hair dresser for years, and on the morning of the wedding day, she NEVER showed up to the salon. My MOM and MIL had to run around to find another salon that would accommodate all 7 of us at 8am on my wedding day! So all this to tell you that we found one, and it turned out beautifully.....so a HUGE thank you and A+++++++++++ to Salone di belleza in the bronx for accomdating all of us under such short notice and helping my wedding day to be a success! AND they were VERY reasonably priced too!
Makeup (Torya Strothers, www.tsbridalmakeup.com): A+++++
Torya was wonderful. She was responsible, flexible and my makeup did not budge all night. It was a VERY hot & humid day, however with the magic of her airbrushed makeup, my makeup needed no touchups beyond lipstick and occasionally patting down my shiny nose in the extreme humidity.
Photography (Pinilla Studios, Queens, NY, Marino): A
Marino was a fabulously patient photographer, obviously enjoyed his work and did a great job. I just picked up the proofs last week, and they look great! My proofs were ready within 3 weeks of the wedding and I have been more than pleased with everything.
DJ (Pinilla Studios, Queens, NY):
I got a package with Pinilla so they did both DJ & Photo. THe DJ was AMAZING! We were very specific in the types of music we wanted played at our Puerto Rican wedding, and they certainly delivered. It was a great party and the dance floor was packed ALL night
Reception Site (Greentree Country Club, New Rochelle): A+++++++++++++++++
Food was FABULOUS
Drinks flowed all night
The maitre d was amazing.
People are STILL talking about how beautiful it was, how good the food was, how great the service was. I could go on and on....they even sent my husband and I home with 4 plates of food, leftover desserts, fruit from the chocolate fountain, etc... which was perfect b/c we got home and were STARVING :) I cannot say enough about how wonderful they made my day and I would recommend it to anyone looking to have a wedding at a beautiful place, with wonderful food and at a reasonable price (at least reasonable for westchester).
Florist (Arcadia, Mamaroneck, NY): A+
I knew Arcadia was pricey when I booked them, but I wanted amazing flowers...and that was exactly what I got. Everything was breathtaking, on time, and really made my reception stand out.
I will try to post pics of everything. My only words of advice to any of you are the following: Inevitably, SOMETHING will go wrong on your wedding day, but just take it in stride and enjoy your day b/c it is once in a lifetime. My wedding was worth every moment and every penny that we paid (and are still paying..lol).
Oops. I almost forgot! Honeymoon!
Greece: A+++++++++++
Greece was AMAZING! We stayed in athens for a few days at the Athenian Callirhoe Hotel (A+), then took a cruise on the Louis Hellenic Cruise line (D-). The islands were breathtaking, HOWEVER, I would never take that cruise line again. The general consensus amongst the people we met there was that if you take a cruise around the islands, make sure you book an American cruise line. It will cost alot more money, but will be worth it. We picked a greek cruise line b/c it was all that we could afford at the time. And the islands themselves were amazing, however the cruise line was lacking.
