You may want to skip through this and just see the pictures....but I have been in the shoes of just getting engaged and not knowing who or where to go. Please take the time to read, you wont regret it! We paid for this entire wedding on our own so we were on a wopping tight budget. I planned this wedding while I was in school full time and working full time, living on our own! We were able to keep our budget at 15K including wedding bands and we had the most amazing day. Do to the overwhelming awesome responses to this review..I want to say thank you and answer some questions people have asked me.
Did you have to haggle to get good prices?
Answer: DEFINATLY!!! Haggle away!! I never took ANY first offer...accept for the dj, because he was the best and most reasonably priced around!! Always give them your honest budget, call them up and ask them if they can do anything for you at THIS price. If they say no, move on. Some one will have your date open and they will agree. One hint...try and book your vendors 6 months or closer to YOUR date. They are more likely to budge because they are still free!!!
Was the carrot cake good?
ANSWER: YES I know you would be a little nervous to choose carrot cake..Its your day..choose what YOU like. The same old wedding cake flavor was boring to us 5 weddings ago, We wanted something different and something we like...and ya no what?? Almost everyone ate it!! I even had people coming up to asking what flavor the cake was because it was delicious!! YES>> there are people out there who never had carrot cake before...its nice to know the first time was at our wedding!!!
Was there plenty of food?
Answer: YES There is plenty of food at the cocktail hour EVEN if you dont add anything extra. Instead of 4 main entree dishes we subed it for a mashed potato bar and a mexican station!! BEST IDEA EVER!!! Everyone loved it, they had one person per station to answer any questions and there were NEVER any lines!!! OH! And instead of the pastries on the table we subed for an ice cream bar!!! Def worth it...the ice cream bar was abig hit and there was so many diff toppings!
'They are hard to get in touch with through out the process and im concerned, was everything okay?
Answer: In the end everything was amazing..not one flaw in our day. There were times when I called and I didnt get a call back, there were times when I had an appointment and i had to wait an extra 15 minutes, but then again there were times when I was late 30 minutes to my appointment and they still took me in!!! I was late on my payments every month...cus I was way to busy to drive there and give it to them!! They were very lenient with us and so sweet! If we had to wait an extra 15 minutes past our time the nice ladies at the desk always offered us a drink!! They are very busy there, and now I see why!! They really do work so hard THE DAY OF your wedding. On my wedding day...Its like nothing else mattered to them but ME and my Husband!!! SO dont worry about a thing!!!
What is the designer of YOUR wedding dress and your bridesmaid dresses
Answer; My dress was made by a UK designer named Ronald Joyce. I called paradise bridals to ask about how many dresses they have by him and they said ' We dont carry Ronald Joyce' Thats funny cuz my label inside my dress says 'RONALD JOYCE' haha...so like I said I dont recommend them...but you def can call other places or even go to the store and try it on. You can tell them ( Kristin Johnson ) ordered the dress and they can look me up. MY BM dresses are by alfred angelo ( seperates ) in light pink and mauve! Oh and for those who asked, I do not have a prob telling you how much i paid. I paid under 900 dollars for my dress.
HOW WE FELL IN LOVE I met my husband through my best friend!! We were out pumpkin picking with the girls five years ago, and I told my best friend to bring her brother out and we can all show him a good time, I also wanted to meet him. When I first met him, he lit up with this amazing smile!!! He shook my hand and omg he was soooo adorable and still is. That night he opened doors for me, paid for all my drinks and we danced till the sun came up, we danced like no one was there, I felt like it was just us. We both just new. We both had boyfriends and girlfriends at the time and we broke up with them for each other!!! I moved in with him 2 months later haha!! We have been in bliss ever since.
MUSIC
Music for the ceremony was so very important to me. I wanted to choose a song that was true and beautiful. A song that I can listen to and always be able to imagine myself walking down the aisle again and again. I found the perfect song for us, by Enya. The song is called ONLY TIME. Time is precious and no one knows what time can do for you, and from the moment I walked down the aisle that is when the true moments of time started for me, that was when my life truely began!!! So please, take that walk down the aisle slow, look at everyone and take it all in. Its a beautiful moment that you WILL always remember. Look at your husband looking at you, these are the TIMES!!! Here are they lyrics:
Who can say where the road goes, Where the day flows, only time? And who can say if your love grows, As your hearth chose, only time?
Who can say why your heart sights, As your live flies, only time? And who can say why your heart cries when your love lies, only time?
Who can say when the roads meet, That love might be ,in your heart? and who can say when the day sleeps, and the night keeps all your heart? Night keeps all your heart.....
Who can say if your love groves, As your heart chose, only time? And who can say where the road goes Where the day flows, only time?
Who knows? Only time Who knows? Only time
Please take some time to listen to it...trust me! Go to www.youtube.com and typel in Enya, Only Time!!
MY HUSBAND[B/] WOW!!! I have lived with my hb for almost five years now!!! We are an awesome team!! MY DH is just one of the most amazing men!! Im very picky! I love the way we look at each other. Spend nights cuddling onthe couch watching a movie and drinking wine! Then again we have a crazy side where we love to go out and dance, party and laugh!!! We laugh all the time!! His generosity blows me away. Not just with me but with EVERYONE!!! Hes always thinking of others. We both keep God in the center of our relationship and we pray together!!! To us its very important. We have learned to rid of the people in our lives who..give us headaches and have no care for others. I have to say we have only amazing friends and family. My husband is the sweetest!!! He even does dishes and vaccuums hahaha SCORE
THE RING Wow Tacori!!! PIC DOWN BELOW!!! EMerald cut, Platinum over 3.6 carats total worth of diamonds and designed to sparkle at every angle. I have always been amazed with Tacori's design very classy and elegant..Tacori has such impeccable detail!! SOOOO Of course I said YES lol jk!!! The ring is out of this world and I cant believe its mine!!! It took him a year to find the perfect ring!!! He picked it out all on his own which makes it even more special to me!
KACEY FROM KHOULOUDS BEAUTY- A+ Shes in the second pic
I booked her three days before our wedding and she was there right on time and she was more like a friend that day. She helped me lace up my dress and put my veil on. She is just so amazingly talented, as you can see. I never even had a trial. She nailed it the day of my wedding!!!
THE HILTON GARDEN INN( Ronkonkoma NY) A+
I loved this hotel, its brand new and clean. The people were very nice and warm. We got up and had brunch there, it was fantastic and the service was great!!!
SERENITY LIMOS located In Patchoque - B
The price I got for a suburban was amazing. I basically called around and got the best price. I was almost sure that theywould be perfect but one thing really upset me. They were right on time, the limos were beautiful and clean. They over estimated the time and got us to the cottage alot earlier then expected and my limo driver was telling me repeatedly to GET OUT of the limo becuase he had to be somewhere else. So in other words he was over booked. I refused to get out becuase I was not supposed to be seen. Lucky enough for us the cottage let us in way early, they were so sweet and told me everything was okay. I ended up not tipping that guy because he was rude. I gave his tip plus more to the limo driver who drove my husband and his family, who was simply amazing.
applause:
CC11208
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Re: ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS!!!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!!
What a wonderful review! You made a beautiful bride!
And a very big thank you for posting all the details on how you planned a beautiful wedding on a tight budget. I'm trying to do the same, and your hints and details about being crafty with DIY projects is going to be very helpful to me!! Thanks again for such a detailed review!
~*~Carolyn~*~
tinadansr
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Re: ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS!!!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!!
looks amazing!
minibride08
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Re: ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS!!!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!!
What a great review! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MsPotterhead
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Re: ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS!!!WATERFRONT WEDDING!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PI
You are amazing! Thanks for your detailed review, and answering questions, and being sooo honest about everything. I'm so glad you had such a perfect day, you sound like a person who truly deserved it! I can't wait til July!
angnick
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Re: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS! NY WATERFRONT WEDDING!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!
You had a beautiful wedding, I KNEW you would be as happy at the Thatched as I was!
JKFris09
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Re: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS! NY WATERFRONT WEDDING!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!
everything's beautiful!
tela
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Re: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS! NY WATERFRONT WEDDING!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!
Thanks for the great review! You look stunning and I LOVE the Enya song
curiousgeorge
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Re: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS! NY WATERFRONT WEDDING!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!
Posted by MsPotterhead
You are amazing! Thanks for your detailed review, and answering questions, and being sooo honest about everything. I'm so glad you had such a perfect day, you sound like a person who truly deserved it! I can't wait til July!
OMG Thank you!!!
SAMORY
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Re: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS! NY WATERFRONT WEDDING!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!
beautiful!!!!! Please tell your mom (if that was your mom in the blue dress) that she looked great.
JMM7876
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Member since
Re: ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS! NY WATERFRONT WEDDING!OAKDALE FLORIST,COSTCO,PARADISE BRIDALS, KACEY KHOULOUDS BEAUTY,SERENITY LIMO,FM ENTERTAINMENT, EBAY, HILTON, THATCHED COTTAGE AND TAYLORS STUDIOS PICS!
Everything looks great! Congrats ...what a pretty bride!
beautiful!!!!! Please tell your mom (if that was your mom in the blue dress) that she looked great.
YES!!! Thats my mom!! Can you believe it??!!! I showed her all the comments on here...she was glowing!! Thank you
For all of you who asked about close ups of my flowers ( here it is )!!! In my review I had mentioned that I used the Oakdale florist...I did NOT choose which flowers I wanted. I gave her my budget and she worked with it. Small budget!!! She did an amazing job. I loved the gerber daisies and the roses with the pink ribbons!!!
