My review of our Oct. 29 wedding

I wasn't posting on this site very much but I know I appreciated reading the reviews of other brides so here goes:

Hamlet Wind Watch Happague: A+++++
Everything was exactly how we had asked Denise for it to be down to our very specific cake design to the alternating colors of our menus. The food was amazing and all the guest have been raving about how they overate because it was all so good. A suggestion for dessert for future Hamlet brides, the bride and groom cheesecake was an unbelievable hit!

All Star LImos: A+++++
The cars were emaculate just as we anticipated and the drivers were so sweet and helpful. They all had a great sense of humor and patience with our drunk bridal party and my puchy dad. They made sure we stopped for munchies on the way to the reception because I had mentioned I hadn't eaten that morning at all. So considerate and paid close attention to every detail, even asking my maid of honor if she new anyone in the cars with special allergies, medications, etc. in relation to the liquor in the cars.

Patken: Vinny A++++++++++++++
We havent seen any proofs yet (actually Vinny showed us a couple of digital shots during the reception on his laptop and they were breathtaking!) but we had an amzing time with him! He was so sweet and friendly, he felt like one of the party instead of some random vendor. We were so sad when he left! We forgot to hand him his tip and we chased him out to the car calling for him... he responded to our calls by running over with his camera cause he thought we wanted another shot! Before we had even left my house for the church, I got a stain on my dress, and Vinny sat on teh step with the Oxy clean pad for five minutes blotting away to take out the stain so it wouldnt leave a wet mark! To me he went above and beyond his job to take pictures. He was funny and made us all really comfortable. He learned most of the party's names which was also really great. I'm sure the proofs will be amazing but words cant say how much we loved working with him.

Dancejock: Hector A+++++++++
Again, another amazing guy. He too felt like one of our friends. He appeared to have just as much fun as all of our guests did which made a big difference to us. NO ONE sat down the entire night except for one cranky pregnant friend, and 2 neighbors that were both old and cranky and my big fat uncle who spent his time drinking and smoking cigars outside!! He played everything we asked, had our guests laughing and dancing and got my DH to rap the entire 'It takes two' like he was Rob Base on the emcee microphone! We asked him to join us at the hotel after for drinks and our guests said he came over but we missed him while we were struggling to get me out of my torn and stain and sweaty dress! :( Anyway, Hector was great and many our guests wanted to know who the company was for parties they had coming up.

Saint Josephs Church: A+
Dont have much to say about them, my dad is a deacon there so I cant really bash them. My family has a personal relationship with the priest (whom I am not crazy about) so I cant really say anything about how he okayed us for 2:30 for the cermony an year before the wedding. I cant say how I got a call from the organist two weeks before the wedding telling me she never plays that early because she teaches and cant make it to the church until 3 pm. I wont say how guests arrived before 2:30 and had to wait unitl 3:oo for me to finally wlak down the aisle to the organist. Its my dads church so I wont say any of that .

Flowers Michelle: A+++
The flowers were beautiful and lasted a really long time after the wedding. The guests who tokk home the centerpieces said they dried beautifully! Michelle took all my ideas for a fall theme and worked with the sugared fruit and planters I fell in love with and bought for her to use. The quality and appearance went beyond our expectations and her pricing was very easy to work with. The only disappointment I had was with the tree centerpiece we had on our palce card table. I thought it would be taller and more impressive but it was a bit short, although very colorful with the fall leaves and votives attached as we had asked. She even hung the left over sugared fruit from the regular centerpieces off collorful ribbons from the branches. Overall, I was very pleased.

Mens warehouse: D
The tuxes looked good but they were a disaster to get in the right size, design, and quality. The girl who handled us was less than helpful and she screwed up the change we made to the tux style. My DH and ring bearer pants came in incorrectly, the ringbearers pants were 4 inches too short, and my DH's button popped off his vest! Two other groomsmen lost buttons and three of them had measurement issues. They bad mouthed one of the groomsmen after he had left because he had raised questions about a price change in front of another groomsman. He went back and complained and had the charges for his entire rental dropped. Baiscally, my DH and the guys were really unhappy with their service although the tuxes looked good in general.

Bridal Relflections Massapequa: B - C
Everything started out ok with them for my dress. They made the changes I asked to make the dress more 'me' although they were a bit pricey I thought for the alterations. My dress came oput beautiful, but the loops for my bustle ripped during the reception (I think it was because someone stepped on the dress but it shouldn't have been on the floor if it was bustled right?) and as a result the edge of the dress was disgusting by the end of the night. All of my bridesmaids dresses were altered too big and they didnt give one of the girls her wrap. When she sent her mom to pick it up, they gave her a different wrap (which at least matched). They were very inflexible with the fitting times even with my one pregnant BM who was very sick one day and wanted to come in early. The sashes that hung down the back of the dress were way too long and the seamstress told one of my BM that she didnt know how much to cut off it because I hadnt told her but I was there when she altered the first dress and she decided how it should be cut and tied so and I okayed it then so why did she need me to tell her about the rest? And if she was usnure then why didnt the shop call me? I wouldnt use them again for the BM dresses at least. The FG dresses came out nice.

Elsa wedding rings: A++++++
Amazing design process and stunning ring. Stephen and his designer walked us through each step of making my ring from choosing it and setting a budget, making a wax mold of my choice and making the mold fit snuggly up against my engagement ring, to setting the stones in the wax, to casting the metal part of the ring, to placing the stones in the metal. It was a reassuring process that made us feel we were spending our money in a good place. BOth of our rings were unique and beautiful!

Hair: Jill S. from Cactus Salon in Dix Hills A+++++++++
She is my usual hairstylist and she is amazingly talented with my spirals. She made my short hair look like a mass of long full curls behind my headpiece. She is really artistic and has great vision. I never have to tell her what I'm looking for because she seems to know what will look best and that day was no exception. I usually go to the salon but she came to the house that day and did me, my mom, and 2 sisters and we all looked beautiful teh enitre night. I love her and would recommend her to anyone who has trouble deciding what they want to do with their hair.

Makeup: Suzanne Halbert A++++++ she just started her own new business out of Islip but I cant remember the salon's name. She came over with her partner or assistant but I cant remeber her name either.
She gave me the classic look I was hoping for without a lot of goop on my face. It looked natural but amde me prettier than I ever thought I could look. She also came ot the house but as I said she just started her own cute place where she does the spray tanning, facial treatments, makeover parties, etc. She was great and so was the other woman. They made my mom and sister look so breathtaking! I'm not doing them justice with this review but when I find their card I'll post the business name.

here are some pics on ofoto if anyone wants to peek
Ofoto

Loved your gown. Everything looked sooo beautiful.

Congratulations! Everything just looked so beautiful.

On a strange note of conincidence my Mom is wearing the same dress your Mom wore!!