THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Before I start my very long review I just want to thank Ron and Liz for creating this website. When I got engaged I didn't know where to start first...the entire wedding process was so overwhelming, but when I found LIW everything became so much easier. On top of everything I got to talk to other girls who knew what I was going through and was able to form firendships that will last forever. Ron and Liz, you both deserve an A+++++++ for this great website! Thanks so much!

Save the Dates: agiftfulheart.com: A+++ - I have to admit I didn’t even know what save the dates were until I joined LIW. Since my wedding is on a popular date during the 4th of July weekend I knew I had to send these out when I found them. I searched all the major vendors, but when I came across agiftfulheart.com I knew I had found the ones I wanted. I worked with Kathy throughout the entire process and never spoke to her once on the phone. We communicated solely via email and at the end I was very impressed with the final product. They came out amazing and we received many compliments on them.

Bridesmaid Cards: isadoraink.com: A - Once again I never knew about these cards until I joined LIW. I wanted a cute, unique way to ask my bridesmaids to be in the Bridal Party and when I saw these cards I knew the girls would love them. Isadora worked with me very patiently to find the right shade of blue fabric for the girl’s dresses and she came close but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. It didn’t matter because a few months later I changed my mind and my entire color theme changed…oh well. All in the all the girls loved the cards.

Wedding Bands & other day of jewelry – Il Gioiello 18th Avenue Brooklyn – A+++++++ - I don’t have enough good things to say about Il Gioiello. They were definitely one of my favorite vendors to work with. It all started when DH bought my beautiful engagement ring from them back in December 2005. After that I went back to get FH his Raymond Weil watch (my wedding present to him), our wedding bands, our groomsmen Zoppini bracelets, our flowergirl and ringbearer gold bracelets, our Best Man bracelet and Maid of Honor diamond pendant necklace and our parent gifts. They treated us very well and we would recommend them to anyone!

Placecards and Rehearsal Dinner Invitations: Paperstyle.com : A+++ - I was doing a search on LIW for Rehearsal Dinner Invitations and came across a really cute set that I liked, but there was no info. on who made them. I started to search through random websites and when I logged into Paperstyle.com I found them almost instantly. Even better was the fact that I found them for 50% off original price. I put my order in and for about 2 days we went back and forth with revisions to my proof. Once I confirmed the final proof I had the invitations in my hand within a few days. I also purchased my place cards from them. I had been searching for envelope placecards for awhile and had seen some I liked on other sites, but they were much more $$$. I finally came across this set from Crane’s on paperstyle.com and they were much cheaper, so once again I put my order in and within a few days they were in the mail.

Documents & Design – A+++ When I first started planning I knew I would have to get something from this vendor, because everything on their website was so beautiful! I finally settled on the idea of table numbers and I couldn’t have been happier with the results. The ordering process was so easy and I was told my order would be in by June. Mid April I get a package in the mail and it’s my gorgeous table numbers! Great service, great quality product…I highly recommend this vendor.

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Garter – angelthreadsnyc.com - B I’ve been admiring these garters since the first day I saw them posted on LIW. I read a few posts that mentioned that their garters run very big, so I called up and the woman said she had no idea people were complaining about this – all you have to do is measure the part of your leg where the garter will be placed and give them the measurement – they’ll make your custom size with no problem. So I ordered my garter and after a few weeks it arrived. The garter is beautiful; the only thing I was a bit disappointed with was the color. I ordered it in blue because I wanted to use it as “my something blue”, but their blue looks more like gray. I wish they would have told me this on the phone before I ordered it in blue, because had I known, I most likely would have gotten it in white.

Pippy’s Sweets – A+++ Although I only ordered stickers from her I have to say she was one of my favorite vendors. I emailed Diana a dozen times a day to go over the designs of my stickers and she would always get back to me promptly and was happy to help out. The stickers she created for me came out beautiful.

Russo’s On the Bay A+++ – Russo’s was our best vendor and we knew that would be the case since the day we booked them. From the moment we walked in the door until the moment we left we felt like royalty. The staff catered to our every need and made sure that all our requests were met. We never had to repeat ourselves because by the time we turned around anything we asked for was already done. I recommend the following people for those of you that are planning weddings at Russo’s:
Banquet Manager: Audrey – she facilitated the entire wedding process from day one. She went through every detail with us and entertained all my questions and I had a lot of them lol. She was such a pleasure to deal with and I would recommend her to all future brides at Russo’s.
Maitre’ D: Joe Vacca – We knew we wanted Joe Vacca after seeing him Maitre’ D my sister’s Sweet 16 at Russo’s last year. He is one of the sweetest and kindest people I have ever met and on our wedding day he took care of EVERYTHING. We had absolutely no worries because Joe made sure every detail went off perfectly. He never left our side all night and really helped make the wedding run very smoothly.
From the cocktail hour to the Venetian Hour, Russo’s put on an amazing display. We’ve gotten dozens of compliments on the food and service and a lot of people have told us that this was one of the best weddings they have ever attended and I know that Russo’s is basically the main reason for that. From the 11 choice entrée to the never ending Venetian Hour display, the quality of the food really makes them stand out. Mr. Russo made atleast a half dozen appearances at the wedding asking us and the guests if everything was going well and mingling which everyone took notice of. I could go on and on, but the main point is that Russo’s exceeded our expectations and turned my dream wedding into reality.

The Caleps A+++ - My main concerns throughout the entire wedding process were making sure that the venue and the entertainment were top notch, because these are the two things that guests will remember the most, so I wanted to make sure that the band we chose kept everyone on the dance floor all night long. Thankfully the Caleps rocked Russo’s all night! They played everything from Raegetton to House to classic Italian. Our guests can’t stop telling us how much fun they had because of the Caleps. They are such an amazing talent and they are just as strong and vibrant as they were 28 years ago when they played at my parent’s wedding. The dance floor was packed the entire night and we couldn’t have asked for anything more. Also, the photo montage they put together for us came out beautiful and displayed on the two 52 inch screens they brought in addition to the screens Russo’s provides made the entire production seem like a movie. I definitely recommend the Caleps to anyone looking for a great Italian-American band to play at their wedding.

Riccardo Photo and Video A+++ - Riccardo is my favorite vendor by far and the one I had the most fun with throughout this process. I knew I wanted to book with Anthony and his crew the first time I met him at a Russo’s Expo. His energy, passion for his work and creativity were clear from the first meeting. When I saw samples of his videos I knew I had to book him. The videos were like nothing I had ever seen before. Once we booked him for video he showed us his photography albums and again I was amazed. I had never seen albums that were so unique and creative. Photo and video were important to me from day one because after all is said and done these are the things that remain, so I wanted to make sure that we had someone who would be able to capture all the emotions of our day in a creative and beautiful way and Anthony was definitely the right person for the job. The day of our wedding Anthony and his whole crew had me laughing from the moment they walked through the door. Having them with me that morning helped me get through those hours without shedding one tear. They got me so excited and amped up and I was beaming all day. For our shots after the ceremony Anthony took us to several locations in the city. We went to Columbus Circle, the Plaza Hotel site and Times Square and in each spot we had tourists snapping dozens of shots of us because Anthony and his crew really made it seem like a magazine shoot. Our bridal party loved every second of it! We received our proofs a few weeks ago and we are in love with them. One thing I want to mention is the video presentation they set up for us. They created a highlight video of me getting ready in the morning and of my DH and me at the Church which they played on our screens during the reception. The video was about 10 minutes long and showed guests footage of me getting ready with my bridesmaids and family, walking down the aisle and saying our vows at Church. Our guests were blown away! The video was edited with special effects and set to music…no one could understand how they managed to edit this video and put it together in only a few hours. They found a way to do it and it came out amazing! It was an extra touch that made the day really special. Riccardo is exceptional at their work. They have a real passion for what they do and it’s clear in every picture and video shot. My DH and I couldn’t be happier that we picked them to tell the story of our wedding day.

Classie Tuxedos A+++ - Very professional and great service. Every tuxedo fit perfectly and the groom and groomsmen looked great on the wedding day!


Lush Salon 3rd Avenue Brooklyn A+++ - I went to Stephanie on a recommendation from my videographer and photographer. He had seen her work and said she was really good. I went to her one year before my wedding for my first trial. I wasn’t crazy about the hairstyle I choose for the trial, but I loved how she worked so I booked her. I basically made Stephanie my regular hairstylist and have been very happy with all my haircuts. On the day of the wedding she replicated a style from my last trial which I loved. My hair looked great and it stayed in place all night long. She is a perfectionist and made sure every curl was perfect and it’s this attention to detail that makes her so good at her work.

Anne DeMarco A+++ - I found Anne DeMarco on this website and decided to go for a trail because I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my makeup and the wedding was approaching fast. Anne is the sweetest, kindest person in the whole world! Not only is she so nice, but she’s an amazing makeup artist as well. She made me feel like a princess on my wedding day. I loved my makeup and the only thing I needed to reapply during the day was my lipstick and lip gloss. Everything else stayed on all day long! I have to say that airbrush is worth the extra money. It was about 85 degrees on my wedding day and I was sweating, but my face was always dry and my makeup did not run at all. Anne did my makeup and my mom’s and sister’s too and we all loved our final look and would definitely book Anne in a second for another party.

Reem Acra A+++ - I originally went to Kleinfeld’s to look for my dress, but I did not like the service there so I ended up at the Reem Acra store on Madison Avenue. I had fallen in love with Reem’s “Paradise”, so I figured I would go directly to the source for it. The staff at Reem Acra went above and beyond to make sure everything was going well and that I was happy with their service. I even had the chance to meet Reem herself while I was trying on a sample of my dress. The seamstress that took care of me and my gown was such a sweet woman. After 4 fittings my dress fit me perfectly. I also bought my veil and blusher from Reem. When I saw the veil I fell in love. It was so intricate and rich with detail! It was a perfect complement to my dress.

The Palace Hotel A+++ - We decided we wanted to spend our wedding night in the city and choose The Palace Hotel. We arrived at the hotel around 2:30 am and since the concierge saw me in my wedding gown he upgraded us to a corner room that overlooked St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Although we only stayed at the hotel for a few hours it was a very pleasant stay and it is the perfect hotel for anyone who wants to spend a weekend in the city. The location is great: 51st Street and Madison (1 block from 5th Avenue and major shopping!)

Bridesmaid Dresses Valentina’s Brooklyn B – I was not happy with Valentina’s from the beginning, but I dealt with them because I had no other option at that point. On the day of the wedding most of the girls complained about their alterations. Some dresses were too tight, some too loose. Basically none of the dresses fit right and the girls said they explained their concerns to the seamstress during their fittings, but they were always dismissed and told that the dress was supposed to fit that way. All in all I loved the dresses we choose: Bill Levkoff #966 and despite the bad alterations the girls looked great.

Mom’s Dresses VIP Exclusive B+ - My mom and my MIL both got their dresses here. My MIL bought her’s off the rack and my mom got her’s custom made. Dealing with the owner was not always a pleasant experience and caused both moms unneccessary stress, but on the day of the wedding they both looked gorgeous and the dresses really complemented them.

Trumpeteers Royal Brass A -: Once again I found this vendor through LIW. I met with Rodger last year and booked two trumpeters to play at the Church. My DH and I really liked Rodger and felt this was one of the easiest vendors to deal with. The reason why they get an A- is because on the day of the wedding Rodger was not one of the trumpeters. I was under the impression he would be there, but instead two guys I had never seen before showed up. It wasn’t a big deal because these guys played beautifully and our guests loved the special touch.

Favors Lenox Outlet NJ A+++ - My mom went there one day to look around and as soon as she saw these vases she knew I would love them, and she was right. She placed an order and within a few weeks we had our wedding favors. The only gripe with buying favors at an outlet is that they don’t wrap them for you, so my mom took it upon herself to wrap each and every favor. There were 140 of them and the boxes were huge! I owe her so much for spending sooo much time doing this for me! The end product came out beautiful! I loved these favors because they were original and something everyone could use.

Foryourparty.com A+++ - Our personalized cocktail napkins were a big hit. They cost more than other napkins I saw, but they were worth the extra money for the quality. The personalization came out beautiful and the napkins were very thick.

Limousines Romantique A+++ - We had no doubts in booking Romantique, because we knew they had a good reputation. I love Romantique especially because they keep their cars in great shape and sparkling clean. The Rolls my DH and I were riding in did not look like it was over 50 years old! Steve, our Rolls Royce driver, was great. He helped me throughout the day with getting in and out of the car and managed to calm me down on the way to the Church. He was a big help and a really nice person to have around that day.

Honeymoon Hawaii A+++ - Our 10 night honeymoon in Hawaii was amazing! We spent the first 3 nights in Oahu and the rest of the 7 nights in Maui. I’ll admit…the flight is really long and for those of you who don’t really like flying like me, this can be an uncomfortable flight, but trust me it’s all worth it when you get there!

Oahu – We stayed at the Halekulani Hotel. It was the most peaceful, serene and tranquil hotel I have ever seen. It was exactly what we needed after the crazy days we had leading up to the wedding. We had a gorgeous lanai overlooking the courtyard and ocean. When in Hawaii make sure you see atleast one sunset. They are like nothing you have ever seen before! We ate at Tony Roma’s (weird choice I know but we eat here because we LOVE their ribs and since there isn’t one in NY we always make a point to eat there when we find one out of state), Orchids in the Halekulani and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – our favorite meal in Oahu.

Maui – Maui is gorgeous, there’s no other way to put it! We stayed at the Hyatt, which we loved, but I have to be honest, we liked the quiet atmosphere of the Halekulani better. The Hyatt was packed with kids, especially by the pool. The grounds at the Hyatt are beautiful and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. We had breakfast every morning at Swan Court in the hotel and we stuffed ourselves beyond belief lol The highlight of Maui for my DH was the Ford Mustang Convertible he rented for the week…boys will be boys lol
Restaurant Reccomendations:
Bubba Gummp (Lunch) – fun atmosphere and yummy shrimp.
Ferraro’s (Lunch or Dinner) – at the Four Seasons. Amazing menu and delicious food. Try the Quattro Stagioni Pizza…it’s so good!
Capische (Dinner) – very romantic dinner spot. Ask for garden seating for a provate table with a view.

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

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Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

you are the prettiest girl ive ever seen Congrats & best wishes to you both!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

beautiful pictures!

congrats!!!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

beautiful pics!!! congrats!!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Breathtaking pictures!! So glad to hear you had such a wonderful day.

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

You looked gorgeous! Great pics!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Great review!! You are a gorgeous bride Congrats on such a beautiful day.

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Great review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THe pics are beautiful and you looked like a princess!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

You looked amazing! Great review!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

you looked beautiful! Congratulations!!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

I am so happy for you!! You looked beautiful!!!!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

You looked so gorgeous! You are definately one of the prettiest brides I''ve ever seen. Congratulations!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Beautiful photos. i love the one of him dipping you in the asile of the church. You look lovely and you all looked like you had a good time. Congrats.

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Congratulations Santina!!!

you looked stunning, and I love your proofs!! I cant wait to see them all! LOL

Im so happy for you and Maurizio, and I wish you both all the love and happiness in the world.

You make such an amazing couple, and you looked truly beautiful!!!!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Congratulations!!

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

Congrats. You looked beautiful! ! !

Re: THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE 7-7-07: Russo's on the Bay, Riccardo Video Productions, Romantique, The Caleps and more...

gorgeous! congrats to you!!! thanks for posting your review