My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

Hello All -
First and foremost, a tremendous thank you to LIW and all the brides (past and present) on these boards. I had a long engagement (2 and 1/2 years!) and planned long distance, so these boards were a god-send...with advice, idea sharing and honest reviews, thank you all very much!

Rehearsal Dinner - Captain Bill's, Bayshore 10
Very affordable, incredible food, attentive wait staff, very nice views of the Great South Bay. When I dropped off my bridal party gifts the morning of the rehearsal dinner, I stacked them in a corner of the room. When we arrived, the staff arranged all the gifts on a banquet table, in front of the room. Small attention to detail by the staff...very nice. Like, a dirty martini on the corner of the bar for me all night long...very very nice!

Reception - Vanderbilt Mansion at Dowling, Oakdale 10
After the Chapter 11 drama with John Anthony's, and less than a year to go, we booked the Vanderbilt.
Now, this is the wedding business, and all of our vendors are there to make our day perfect. Why wouldn't they? It's their business...
The Vanderbilt and their entire staff takes this one step further. Every single solitary detail is taken care of. And, taken care of with so much class. I can list example, after example...guests who approached me after the event was over, 'Our waiter was so great, etc'. But I will say this, I could never have imagined a vendor being so focused on the customer (bride, groom, parents, guests) as the entire staff at the Vanderbilt Mansion. (And Maryanne the banquet manager and Suzanne the matre'd were genuinely nice people, too!).

Hotels - Wyndham Wind Watch Hotel 9
Very accommodating. We blocked 25 rooms, for a 4th of July weekend wedding. They gave us the best rate with not one problem. I looked at other area recommended hotels and they were a joke...so much so, I contact their corporate office. But, they will remain nameless...

(to be continued...)

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

Limos - Cruise Control Limousines, Lindenhurst 6
Booked the Cadillac Escalade. Morning of the wedding the owners wife called to say the air conditioner in 1/2 the Cadillac was not working and they were sending the Hummer. Very matter of factly, sorry, but at least you're getting a car. Hummer arrived, great driver, and the ac worked.
The day after the wedding, I called Cruise Control to say hey, I booked a certain car, didn't get it, how 'bout you provide us with a ride to and from the airport for the honeymoon? (sounds fair, right?) She said she'd get back to me, never did. I finally got in touch with them and they arranged for a pick-up after the honeymoon. However, no sorry, nothing. Bad customer service.

Photographer and Videographer - VIP Studios, Port Jefferson 9-10
Both my husband and I really like John...he's a little flighty, but I really like him. Very down to earth, takes great pictures and offers a great package. His assistant Dina was a sweetheart, along with his videographer Jarret. Young kid, but very talented. He'll be the next Spielberg...So, photographer review continued after I get my proofs. I'm waiting until I am down on LI next (don't trust the mail!)

DJ - Spin Around Sound 10
Long distance brides, go to Tom!! I live by email, and Tom was a gem to deal with during the planning. I had a question, emailed him, he'd respond that day. No cheese-y dj stuff...both Tom and his assistant Rio were fabulous. Tom really knows this business and how to make a party.

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Flowers - Flower Michele, Huntington 7
To be honest, way too much hype. Here's why...follow up. I'm long distance, and couldn't be there to see the final table arrangement. I received pictures via email to see the arrangement. I replied with some comments, no response. We are as busy as all our vendors, and customer service, follow up is key. Two, don't bad mouth the competition and others on LIW, it's unprofessional. Lasty, the flowers themselves. Pew bows with hydrangea, sparse and came undone. Bows on lanterns outside Vanderbilt, not done. Petals on tables, dead. Had to ask Vanderbilt staff to remove them. A bucket of flowers was left on the floor of the reception; a huge bucket of lilies, roses, etc. Just left there. The staff of the Vanderbilt found some vases and arranged the flowers around the rooms.
Bottom line, the attention to detail was missed.

Makeup - Jillian of Gorgeous Faces 10
Cactus Salon, Commack
Excellent work, makeup stayed all day, sweetheart of a girl, prompt. My husband was there for a trial (he has a art degree). To quote him, 'That girl Jillian has some mad skills with makeup'. And that she does!

Hair - Lori K Cactus Salon, Vanderbilt Parkway 10
Lori is a friend of a friend, and came recommended to me. What a sweetheart, very talented, patient and wants nothing more than to make you happy! She will not stop until you love your hair! I totally enjoyed working with her, and would highly recommend.

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Lastly, honeymoon - Aruba 10
accommodations, the Divi/Tamajarin All-Inclusive Resorts...them? a 2.
Aruba, the Island itself gets a 10!
Our resort was awful, to say the least. Construction going on, didn't clean up drink cups around the resort, etc. We tried to budget an inexpensive honeymoon, and we got what we paid for...cheap. Live and learn. Next trip will be 5 star!
However, Aruba? Paradise on earth...must do's:
El Gaucho's - delish!

Rent a car for at least 2 days...one day is not enough. The island is only 19 miles, so, just drive and get lost! He had so much fun doing this...visit the natural bridge, natural pool, California Lighthouse and Alto Vista Church.

Do one snorkeling trip, don't waste your money with Snuba. You see the same thing as when you snorkel. We did the Palm Pleasure 4 hour snorkel trip...great underwater pics. Don't forget to buy an underwater camera here in the USA, and not at the resort!

the KuKooKunu Bus - OMG, do this! We met great people, and had so much fun on this...a must do!

And lastly...relax, relax, RELAX!

Those were my reviews, I hope they helped some of you!
Remember, you picked your vendors because you believed they were the best. They are not going to wake up that day and say, 'I'm going to ruin XYZ's wedding'! TRUST YOURSELF you made the right choices, don't sweat the small stuff the day of, and bottom line, ENJOY yourselves and all your hard work!
Because it IS WORTH IT!

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

Congratulations!

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pictures...(I hope?)

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more..

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honeymoon...

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Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

Congrats, you and your hubby look so happy

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You looked beautiful!! Great pics!!

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Congrats!!!

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Congratulations Cynthia! I agree with everything you wrote about the Vanderbilt!

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

thanks for writing this review! i am also getting married at the vanderbilt, and there arent many of us on the boards, so thank you for taking the time

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CONGRATULATIONS.
AS A FELLOW VANDERBILT BRIDE, I LOVE TO LOOK AT YOUR PICS. I GOT TO RELIVE MY DAY A BIT.
CONGRATS.

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

Congrats Gorgeous

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

Congrats!! The pics are beautiful!!

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

congratulations!!! you looked stunning!!!!!

Re: My July 4th wedding review - Vanderbilt Mansion

Congratulations on your wedding! Always glad to read about other happy Vanderbilt brides.