***My Wedding at Smithtown Landing*** With reviews on LI Sound, Pastor April, Towers Flowers, and MORE!!
First and foremost, I have to PRAISE LI Weddings! This site became my bible, and I don't know what I would've done without it! I met some amazing people, and there was always great advice on the boards. LI Weddings is truly the perfect place to find inspiration for all aspects of wedding planning!
Ok, with that said, where shall I begin?
The Dress - Davids Bridal, Lake Grove
I went almost immediately to try on wedding gowns. My first (and only) stop was Davids. I wish I went to a few more boutiques, if nothing else, just to have fun trying on wedding gowns. Everyone seemed knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. I wish I could say the same about alterations ...
I took my dress for my first fitting 2 months before the wedding, like I was told. My dress fit perfectly when I ordered it, so I didn't think to ask about measurements (no one measured me). I try on the dress, and its about 3 inches too tight in the chest area! At this point, I'm a mess! I was doing kickboxing religiously, I couldn't possibly gain that much weight! Their solution? To make me spend more money on a dress that is too big on me, so I can pay even more, to have it altered down! No thanks! After about 2 hours of going back and forth, one of the seamstresses suggests adding a corset back to the dress. I swear, I saw a halo form around this little womans head! Problem solved! From then on, just minor snafus - no one told me I had to pay in advance for alterations, and I had to ask them to steam the dress twice, because it was still wrinkled.
Bridesmaid dresses - David's Bridal, Lake Grove
I would say that clearly, I don't learn my lesson, but the bridesmaid dresses weren't nearly as much of an issue! This was actually a pretty smooth process. The girls all agreed on a dress, and a week later, we ordered them over the phone. Dresses came in a very timely fashion, and the girls all did their own alterations. Done!
Flowers - Towers Flowers of Nesconset
I cannot say enough good things about this place!! Bridgette is AMAZING!!! I love her!! When talking with Bridgette, you can see how much passion she has for her job. It's easy to see she loves what she does. I got an amazing price for my flowers, and they were breathtaking! They always got back to me quickly, we even exchanged tips on where to find bargains on centerpiece items.
Hair - Cosmetic Artistry
Mya is such a cutie! Another vendor who is passionate about her work, I fell in love with her almost instantly. What I really liked about Mya, aside from the obvious talent, was her sincerity. She wouldn't even take a deposit from me right away! She wanted me to take time and think about my decision. Mya did my MOH and my mother's hair, and their hair outlasted mine! I think it was because I ended up rushing around the house, or maybe because I was sweating too much running around, but my hair unfortunately, did not keep. I had a half updo, and the half that was up stayed nice.
Makeup - Makeup by Lo
What can I say? I Lo-Lo-Love her!!!![]()
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I know, I'm a cheeseball! Linda is awesome in every sense of the word! My makeup, even with all the sweating mentioned above, lasted throughout the night! Linda really took the time to listen to my likes and dislikes, she even made sure Bon Jovi was playing when she did my B-pic makeup! Just like Mya, Linda was sincere enough to give me time to think about the work she did before I left deposits, but I knew I had to have her! My mom also had her makeup done, and was just as happy as I was! I can't wait to use her again for TTD pics!
DJ - LI Sound
After going to a few showcases, I thought LI Sound gave the best presentation. I was afraid to check them out at first, I thought they would be wayy out of my budget. Boy was I happy to find out I was wrong! I dealt with Vito, and he was great! Totally willing to work with my budget, Vito gave me the best price of several DJ companies! I couldn't complain about LI Sound if I tried! They were very easy going at all times, and very eager to make sure I was a happy bride! We had Ricky as our MC, and he was a sweetheart! He made sure music was played for all ages, and there was never a point where the dance floor was empty. The Zapshot photographer caught some great moments during the wedding, some of his pictures were even better than my actual photographer's! The LI Sound crew did everything I asked for to a T, including putting one of the LED lights under our sweetheart table. I really could not ask for more!
Photobooth/favors - NY Digital Memories
I wanted a photobooth in the worst way, but I knew we couldn't afford it. Just as I was ready to rule it out, I met Rob at a bridal showcase. I entered my name in a raffle for $500 off any package, and low and behold, MY name was called! It was meant to be! I ended up telling DH that I won the photobooth in full, lol ... I know, I'm a terrible wife! But I was clearly meant to have this at our wedding, and dammit, I was getting what I want! Rob and his wife were very easy to work with. They too, were planning their wedding (at the time), so they understood everything I was going through. It was nice to work with people who truly understood, from both sides. On the big day, Rob was prompt, had everything fully set up before cocktail hour even ended. He was great with all the drunkards at our wedding too, everyone loved him!
Limos - Mark of Elegance, c/o The Wedding Center
Due to our low budget, DH made the call on photo/video and limo. We went to The Wedding Center and used one of their packages that included photo, video, limo, and invitations. Mark of Elegance is the limo company they use, and they weren't all that bad. We had two town cars. The cars were clean, the drivers were nice, AC worked. Nothing to write home about, nothing to complain about.
Invitations - The Wedding Center
Our package included 50 invitations, I had to double the order. I really can't complain here either. The girl I worked with was nice, she was very helpful. My invitations were super cheap, and they were done in under 3 weeks. Nothing spectacular, just simple with an elegant touch.
Photo/Video - The Wedding Center
Here is where I have my problems. Customer service leading up to the wedding was just fine. Every meeting I had with The Wedding Center went smoothly. I met with the actual photographer prior to the wedding, and he showed me some amazing pictures, from his own laptop, so I started to rest easy. BIG MISTAKE! I should have made a must-take list and given it to the photographer. I should have spent more money elsewhere. I should have had a back up plan. Every 'professional' picture I have from my wedding is either a posed or kissing picture. There is nothing photojournalistic about my pictures. There is nothing whimsical about my pictures. Everything I told the photographer I wanted must have gone in one ear and out the other. The man clearly had talent in the albums he showed me prior to our wedding. He showed his talent in a few of our pictures, but not the ones that count. It's like he didn't care about pictures that should be taken at a wedding. I have no centerpiece pictures, I have no invitation pictures, I have no ring pictures. The pictures I do have, I spent endless hours editing myself, after I was told pictures would be edited. I got what I paid for, which unfortunately, wasn't much.
I'll keep the video portion short and sweet. My video looks like a wedding video from the 80's. A VHS tape put onto a DVD. Again, I got what I paid for. In this case though, I'm really just happy I have something to watch on anniversaries (until I see all the great videos by AJ, then I want to cry![]()
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Officiant - Pastor April
What can I say about Pastor April that hasn't already been said? Nothing. She is the best out there, hands down! From just a few phone calls, and several emails, Pastor April made it sound like she knew DH and I for YEARS! She really is a gem! Everyone raved about how beautifully she spoke, and some of the guys even talked about how hot she is - so she apparently even got the men paying attention!![]()
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I already plan on using her when we renew our vows!
Cake - The Rolling Pin, c/o Smithtown Landing
My cake was included with my wedding at Smithtown Landing. I worked with Dave via email to order my cake, and although I thought it would be difficult to grasp my vision, he NAILED IT! My cake was exactly what I thought it would be! Granted, I didn't describe anything too extravagant, but still, colors were good, cake was delicious, I couldn't ask for more.
Venue - Smithtown Landing Country Club
OH MY GOD! I brought my mother with me for my first meeting with Rich. When we drove up to Landing, I liked what I saw. I thought the lobby was quaint and adorable. Rich showed us the grounds, gave us a full tour of the ceremony spots and cocktail hour rooms, and I liked it even more. Then Rich takes us into the main reception room - the Merrywood Cottage - and I fell in love! This place offered everything we wanted - a great dance floor, amazing view, beautiful atmosphere, and most importantly, AWESOME price! I bugged DH to go back with me all that week. We finally went back and he fell in love with Rich as much as I did. Rich is just so laid back, and so easy to work with! Debbie is a sweetheart too! We booked on the spot.
Every time we went back to Landing for a payment, showcase, or tasting, we felt more content with our choice. We met more staff members each time and everyone was very accommodating! Each visit, they made us more comfortable!
On the day of, EVERY need was met! Rich and Debbie were amazing, we felt like we knew them forever! Joe, our Maitre'D, and Patti, my bridal attendant, watched my every move (but not in an annoying way, they kept enough distance to make sure I was not smothered), and made sure I was completely pampered! I hit my head getting into the limo and smeared makeup on my dress. Well, before we made it up the stairs, Patti had club soda, ready to help me clean up the blemish! At all times, they had water on hand to make sure I wasn't too thirsty, and they offered food and snacks at all times to make sure I wasn't hungry! This kind of behavior can really spoil a girl!! HAHA!!
Just before the cocktail hour ended, Joe took us to the reception room privately, so we can see how they set up the room, and make sure everything met our expectations. Well, they far exceeded our expectations!! The room was set up beautifully! Every little detail was perfect! I really like that Joe had us look privately, we got a chance to soak everything in without being interrupted. It was great! The ceremony and reception was phenomenal! Everything went perfectly! If there were any snafus, Landing did an incredible job at hiding them from us! I already want to plan DH's 30th birthday there, just so I can have another event at Smithtown Landing!
Well, I think that's just about it. If there is anything I missed, feel free to ask!
Here are some more pictures:
Ok, with that said, where shall I begin?
The Dress - Davids Bridal, Lake Grove
I went almost immediately to try on wedding gowns. My first (and only) stop was Davids. I wish I went to a few more boutiques, if nothing else, just to have fun trying on wedding gowns. Everyone seemed knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. I wish I could say the same about alterations ...
I took my dress for my first fitting 2 months before the wedding, like I was told. My dress fit perfectly when I ordered it, so I didn't think to ask about measurements (no one measured me). I try on the dress, and its about 3 inches too tight in the chest area! At this point, I'm a mess! I was doing kickboxing religiously, I couldn't possibly gain that much weight! Their solution? To make me spend more money on a dress that is too big on me, so I can pay even more, to have it altered down! No thanks! After about 2 hours of going back and forth, one of the seamstresses suggests adding a corset back to the dress. I swear, I saw a halo form around this little womans head! Problem solved! From then on, just minor snafus - no one told me I had to pay in advance for alterations, and I had to ask them to steam the dress twice, because it was still wrinkled.
Bridesmaid dresses - David's Bridal, Lake Grove
I would say that clearly, I don't learn my lesson, but the bridesmaid dresses weren't nearly as much of an issue! This was actually a pretty smooth process. The girls all agreed on a dress, and a week later, we ordered them over the phone. Dresses came in a very timely fashion, and the girls all did their own alterations. Done!
Flowers - Towers Flowers of Nesconset
I cannot say enough good things about this place!! Bridgette is AMAZING!!! I love her!! When talking with Bridgette, you can see how much passion she has for her job. It's easy to see she loves what she does. I got an amazing price for my flowers, and they were breathtaking! They always got back to me quickly, we even exchanged tips on where to find bargains on centerpiece items.
Hair - Cosmetic Artistry
Mya is such a cutie! Another vendor who is passionate about her work, I fell in love with her almost instantly. What I really liked about Mya, aside from the obvious talent, was her sincerity. She wouldn't even take a deposit from me right away! She wanted me to take time and think about my decision. Mya did my MOH and my mother's hair, and their hair outlasted mine! I think it was because I ended up rushing around the house, or maybe because I was sweating too much running around, but my hair unfortunately, did not keep. I had a half updo, and the half that was up stayed nice.
Makeup - Makeup by Lo
What can I say? I Lo-Lo-Love her!!!
DJ - LI Sound
After going to a few showcases, I thought LI Sound gave the best presentation. I was afraid to check them out at first, I thought they would be wayy out of my budget. Boy was I happy to find out I was wrong! I dealt with Vito, and he was great! Totally willing to work with my budget, Vito gave me the best price of several DJ companies! I couldn't complain about LI Sound if I tried! They were very easy going at all times, and very eager to make sure I was a happy bride! We had Ricky as our MC, and he was a sweetheart! He made sure music was played for all ages, and there was never a point where the dance floor was empty. The Zapshot photographer caught some great moments during the wedding, some of his pictures were even better than my actual photographer's! The LI Sound crew did everything I asked for to a T, including putting one of the LED lights under our sweetheart table. I really could not ask for more!
Photobooth/favors - NY Digital Memories
I wanted a photobooth in the worst way, but I knew we couldn't afford it. Just as I was ready to rule it out, I met Rob at a bridal showcase. I entered my name in a raffle for $500 off any package, and low and behold, MY name was called! It was meant to be! I ended up telling DH that I won the photobooth in full, lol ... I know, I'm a terrible wife! But I was clearly meant to have this at our wedding, and dammit, I was getting what I want! Rob and his wife were very easy to work with. They too, were planning their wedding (at the time), so they understood everything I was going through. It was nice to work with people who truly understood, from both sides. On the big day, Rob was prompt, had everything fully set up before cocktail hour even ended. He was great with all the drunkards at our wedding too, everyone loved him!
Limos - Mark of Elegance, c/o The Wedding Center
Due to our low budget, DH made the call on photo/video and limo. We went to The Wedding Center and used one of their packages that included photo, video, limo, and invitations. Mark of Elegance is the limo company they use, and they weren't all that bad. We had two town cars. The cars were clean, the drivers were nice, AC worked. Nothing to write home about, nothing to complain about.
Invitations - The Wedding Center
Our package included 50 invitations, I had to double the order. I really can't complain here either. The girl I worked with was nice, she was very helpful. My invitations were super cheap, and they were done in under 3 weeks. Nothing spectacular, just simple with an elegant touch.
Photo/Video - The Wedding Center
Here is where I have my problems. Customer service leading up to the wedding was just fine. Every meeting I had with The Wedding Center went smoothly. I met with the actual photographer prior to the wedding, and he showed me some amazing pictures, from his own laptop, so I started to rest easy. BIG MISTAKE! I should have made a must-take list and given it to the photographer. I should have spent more money elsewhere. I should have had a back up plan. Every 'professional' picture I have from my wedding is either a posed or kissing picture. There is nothing photojournalistic about my pictures. There is nothing whimsical about my pictures. Everything I told the photographer I wanted must have gone in one ear and out the other. The man clearly had talent in the albums he showed me prior to our wedding. He showed his talent in a few of our pictures, but not the ones that count. It's like he didn't care about pictures that should be taken at a wedding. I have no centerpiece pictures, I have no invitation pictures, I have no ring pictures. The pictures I do have, I spent endless hours editing myself, after I was told pictures would be edited. I got what I paid for, which unfortunately, wasn't much.
I'll keep the video portion short and sweet. My video looks like a wedding video from the 80's. A VHS tape put onto a DVD. Again, I got what I paid for. In this case though, I'm really just happy I have something to watch on anniversaries (until I see all the great videos by AJ, then I want to cry
Officiant - Pastor April
What can I say about Pastor April that hasn't already been said? Nothing. She is the best out there, hands down! From just a few phone calls, and several emails, Pastor April made it sound like she knew DH and I for YEARS! She really is a gem! Everyone raved about how beautifully she spoke, and some of the guys even talked about how hot she is - so she apparently even got the men paying attention!
Cake - The Rolling Pin, c/o Smithtown Landing
My cake was included with my wedding at Smithtown Landing. I worked with Dave via email to order my cake, and although I thought it would be difficult to grasp my vision, he NAILED IT! My cake was exactly what I thought it would be! Granted, I didn't describe anything too extravagant, but still, colors were good, cake was delicious, I couldn't ask for more.
Venue - Smithtown Landing Country Club
OH MY GOD! I brought my mother with me for my first meeting with Rich. When we drove up to Landing, I liked what I saw. I thought the lobby was quaint and adorable. Rich showed us the grounds, gave us a full tour of the ceremony spots and cocktail hour rooms, and I liked it even more. Then Rich takes us into the main reception room - the Merrywood Cottage - and I fell in love! This place offered everything we wanted - a great dance floor, amazing view, beautiful atmosphere, and most importantly, AWESOME price! I bugged DH to go back with me all that week. We finally went back and he fell in love with Rich as much as I did. Rich is just so laid back, and so easy to work with! Debbie is a sweetheart too! We booked on the spot.
Every time we went back to Landing for a payment, showcase, or tasting, we felt more content with our choice. We met more staff members each time and everyone was very accommodating! Each visit, they made us more comfortable!
On the day of, EVERY need was met! Rich and Debbie were amazing, we felt like we knew them forever! Joe, our Maitre'D, and Patti, my bridal attendant, watched my every move (but not in an annoying way, they kept enough distance to make sure I was not smothered), and made sure I was completely pampered! I hit my head getting into the limo and smeared makeup on my dress. Well, before we made it up the stairs, Patti had club soda, ready to help me clean up the blemish! At all times, they had water on hand to make sure I wasn't too thirsty, and they offered food and snacks at all times to make sure I wasn't hungry! This kind of behavior can really spoil a girl!! HAHA!!
Just before the cocktail hour ended, Joe took us to the reception room privately, so we can see how they set up the room, and make sure everything met our expectations. Well, they far exceeded our expectations!! The room was set up beautifully! Every little detail was perfect! I really like that Joe had us look privately, we got a chance to soak everything in without being interrupted. It was great! The ceremony and reception was phenomenal! Everything went perfectly! If there were any snafus, Landing did an incredible job at hiding them from us! I already want to plan DH's 30th birthday there, just so I can have another event at Smithtown Landing!
Well, I think that's just about it. If there is anything I missed, feel free to ask!
Here are some more pictures:
