HOTEL FOR OOT GUESTS:
Wingate Inn Garden City A+++ I visited the Wingate to check out the rooms about 6 months before our wedding. I knew I wanted a suite because I would be staying there the night before the wedding and my bridesmaids would also be getting ready there the morning of the wedding. The Jr. Bridal suite was really roomy and exactly what I was looking for. The Lobby had a very contemporary feel (nice for pics) and also had a small bar (for a fee they will keep it open for an after party – cash bar). They were also negotiable with pricing; I just asked if there was anything they could do to help out with the price of the Bridal suite because my stay was for 2 nights, from what I remember they took of at least $100 just for asking. They also give discounts to AAA members. When booking the rooms for my guests I worked with Makeda she was extremely helpful and friendly, she gave me a great price for breakfast to be brought to the room for the girls and I the morning of the wedding, and they will also provide a shuttle for your guests if you have 10 rooms or more booked. Overall our experience there was wonderful and our guests loved the continental breakfast they had there the morning after!
MY DRESS: Private Label
Paradise Bridals B My MIL lives out East so one weekend when we were out there I did a search for bridal salons and Paradise came up. I went there to look with MIL and SIL. Paulina helped me; she was very accommodating and not pushy at all and let us take pics. She did ask my style preference and price range and pulled a bunch of dresses, some out the dresses I tried on I know were way out of it (thank god I didn’t fall in love with any of them). I had searched high and low and tried on at least 25 dresses before going to Paradise, so I had an idea of what I was looking for before I went. So I walked around and pulled 3 dresses and the first one I tried on was THE ONE!! I ordered the dress 1 year before the wedding but was told it would be in 8 weeks before the wedding. So I was patient and waited to call until 7 weeks before the wedding because I hadn’t heard from them yet. When I called they told me the dress had come in that morning (I thought that was a strange coincidence) but I didn’t care because it was there. I set an appointment for my first fitting with Rosalie 6 weeks before the wedding and it went well, it was a little big but was going to be taken in. My second fitting was 3 weeks to the big day, it looked great but there were some adjustments that had to be made to the bustle. Rosalie told me that would be my last fitting and they would fix the bustle and press the dress and I would not be able to try it on again before the wedding?? I insisted on 1 more fitting because I had been losing so much weight that I was worried it would be loose and I also wanted to see the dress after all the alterations were done. I made an appointment for 1 ? weeks before the wedding and good thing I did because the dress was still a little big (they tried to tell me that’s the way it’s supposed to be to avoid doing any further work, but you know best how something’s supposed to fit you). Also I hadn’t walked in the dress during previous fittings and this time I did and I was tripping all over myself. It wasn’t so bad on the wood floor but when I went on the carpet it was clear it needed to be taken in. So advice to any girls whose halls have any carpeting when you go for your fitting make sure you walk on the carpet with your dress on. So at this point my wedding was 8 days away and I was worried. If things were done right the first 2 fittings I felt I wouldn’t have had to go back again. They were able to complete the alterations and I picked up my dress 2 days before the wedding. It fit perfectly when I put it on the day of the wedding and in the end that was all that mattered.
BRIDESMAID DRESSES:
Charmet (Bayside) C
Went out of business 2 days before my wedding, we were lucky to even get the dresses. Pointless to talk about the problems I had there.
VEIL / TIARA:
Barron’s Tri-county A+++++++++++++++++++++ Great selection & prices.
SHOES:
www.getbridalsavvy.com/ - A- best price I found online for the shoes I wanted. They shipped fast but I received the wrong shoes and had to send them back. They sent me an RGA right away and I received the right shoes a week later.
MY MAKEUP:
M I A , The B-r-i-d-a-l L-o-u-n-g-e A I found M I A from all of the press she receives here on LIW. I had someone else booked but always found myself wondering if I should go with her. 2 weeks before the wedding I called M I A and she told be she was still available on my date at the time I needed her. She can be difficult to get in touch with sometimes but be persistent, she’s worth it. I decided I wasn’t going to do a trial because I trusted her work. She showed up at the hotel a half hour late which did throw a wrench into the schedule but I was very happy with the job she did and I didn’t want her to rush.
BM’s MAKEUP A++
Mary Kay – Theresa - FM me for info She arrived early and got right to work. All the girls loved their makeup and her prices are very reasonable.
BM JEWELRY:
www.inspiredsilver.com - A+++ They had exactly what I was looking for, quick shipping and their jewelry will never tarnish.
FLORIST:
Flower Barn (Seaford) LIW vendor A- I was referred to Flower Barn after reading bride dbleplay17 ‘s review. I knew I wanted blue hydrangeas and ivory roses. I went with my MOH to meet with Mike and get a quote. I loved the look of high centerpieces but I thought it might make the room seem smaller. He knew exactly what I was looking for and showed me a 3 tier candle stand with the flowers in the middle below. I loved it!! His quote was very competitive to all the prices I had read on LIW so I booked him on the spot. A few months before the wedding we went in to see a sample and it was nothing like we had discussed previously, the colors were all wrong. Mike immediately told us he would make another sample for us to see the following week and when we went back it was perfect. The day of the wedding the centerpieces were even more beautiful than the sample and I was very pleased. I was however a little disappointed with my bouquet, I thought it was a little small but I never specified how many roses or how big I wanted it, so that’s on me. Also the flowers for our cake did not match our color scheme but again I never specified they exact flowers I wanted for the cake but it was clear that my colors were light blue and ivory.
DJ
In The Mix DJ A++++ This was the only vendor that we used that was recommended by the Swan Club. We had been to a few bridal showcases where different DJ’s had been there and from that experience we knew we didn’t want someone who was going to talk all through the reception. We met with In the Mix and gave them our vision. Since we got married at the hall they also did our ceremony music and everything they announced and played was flawless. They made our day feel unique and personalized to us and played every song that we requested and more. The rose dance was a huge hit amongst our guests. They play a slow song which you choose and ask the guests to join you on the dance floor, each couple is given a lighted rose and each rose represents a year good luck to the new couple. I loved this idea and had never seen it before!! Everyone was dancing the whole night and by the end we didn’t want to stop. I highly recommend them!!! You will not be disappointed.
LIMOS:
A&L Limos (Massapequa) LIW vendor A+++++++++++++++++++++++ Anthony is the BEST!!! A friend had used them for her wedding 4 years ago and raved about them. We visited their office in Massapequa about 6 months before the wedding it’s very modern and classy, we were impressed. He had exactly what we wanted. A 14 pass. Lincoln pick up/ drop off for the girls and Chrysler 300 (4 hours) for my DH and the guys. He gave us a great price and also gave me an aisle runner because I told him I was thinking about personalizing one. About a week before the wedding I had a mini freak out and called him because I thought we might need to add more time but he calmed me down and assured me that it wasn’t necessary and not worth spending the extra $$. How many owners of companies would tell you that???? The day of the wedding they came early even though I was running late as usual. And the drivers were GREAT!!
OFFICIANT:
Reverend Bosch A+++++++++++++ I found Rev. Bosch from reading another LIW brides review. Most of our communication was through email; he is so nice and easy going and made the process a breeze. He sent us 3 ceremonies and we combined a few different elements from each to customize our ceremony. We spoke once on the phone a week before the wedding to finalize the details and he was really sweet. I would highly recommend him to anyone getting married at their hall. FM me for his info.
CEREMONY / RECEPTION:
Swan Club B
(PLEASE FM ME FOR MY REVIEW OF THE SWAN CLUB) The day of our wedding went perfect and if it didn’t, I didn’t know anything about it until after and that’s the way it should be. Our guests loved the food and scenery. I have to say my bridal attendant Tonya was AMAZING she was always taking care of every little detail, and keeping tabs on every little thing we needed!! She was really like a mind reader…lol.
ADDED DETAILS: (Pics in album)
PROGRAMS – DIY
PETAL CONE HOLDERS – DIY (doilles from Michael’s with custom stickers)
PLACECARDS – DIY
MENU’S – DIY design compliments of LIW
PLACE CARD HOLDERS – www.favorfavor.com
CANDY FOR PLACE CARDS - www.ilovesweettreats.com
CUSTOM CARDBOX - Ebay seller: poodahtoodah A+++++ I was really lucky and got a great deal!!!!
(Very similar to mine, custom made in any color)
MONOGRAM CAKE TOPPER - Ebay seller: Bella-Tiara A+++++ after researching DIY I realized it would cost the same as buying them. Once again a great deal. I love Ebay. Well worth it!!
PERSONALIZED UNITY OIL Candle Set – Ebay seller: dln1008 A+++++ I had been looking for something different other than the standard unity candle so I found this and it was perfect. I went and bought light blue lamp oil to match our colors.
PHOTO GUEST BOOK - www.shutterfly.com
PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY:
Ariana Studios (grade pending proofs) Photography to me is one of the most important vendors when planning a wedding. These will be your memories for the rest of your life. When we first starting looking around I thought we would never find a reasonable package with everything I wanted without blowing the budget. I found Ariana online and made an appointment with Jeff to see their work. We looked through some albums, he showed me proofs that had just come in and a video. We loved everything and the price we got did not compare to anywhere else we looked. We had originally booked Ozzie as our photographer but when I called a month before the wedding I found out he was no longer with the company. I was disappointed that they had not contacted me to let me know but I went in and met with the new photographer John, he was awesome!!! His work was amazing!!! We were blown away, this was the best thing that could’ve happened! He’s young, energetic and full of artistic ideas his style is more photojournalistic which I love. He was such a pleasure to work with and he made DH and I feel comfortable at all times. I can’t wait to see the proofs!
