7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone-Coordinated to Perfection, TSO, Royalty, Ergas, Dante Zeller Tux, TroutTrout Design--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

My wedding day was everything I had imagined it would be! I couldn’t be happier! I spent the last half hour of my reception crying hysterically in the garden because I was thinking of my grandparents who passed away. My grandpa was supposed to walk me down the aisle until he died of lung cancer in December. Besides that small incident, everything was wonderful!!

A word of advice to future brides---don’t sweat the details!! Don’t worry about every little thing like I did that were pointless. I look back on some of my previous posts and can’t believe I worried about those things. No one cares if your fonts match or if your color scheme includes more than 3 colors! And please don’t worry about “popular LIW” vendors—every vendor is great, whether people on LIW know about them or not! Price and popularity do not equal quality! Some of my favorite vendors are the least known of the people I’m going to review. This is your wedding day and that alone is priceless.

Weather: A-
I am just so excited that there was no rain on my wedding day!! That’s all I worried about from the day I booked my wedding, even though I knew it was beyond my control. It was about 80 degrees, a little humid and overcast with bursts of sun. I wish there was a little more sun, but I can’t complain!

Florist
Masters & Co **LIW vendor** (Laurie)—Rockville Centre, 516-561-7555 A+!!!
I booked Masters & Co. after going to my friend’s wedding last August and hearing her praises. I had checked out so many “LIW popular” vendors but none came CLOSE to matching her prices and service! Masters is now a LIW vendor, but I booked her before that. I would recommend her to EVERYONE! The flowers were more beautiful than I could have imagined. The centerpieces were gorgeous—at the last minute I decided to add petals and votives to the CPs and Laurie made it happen without adding a dime onto the bill! I loved working with Laurie and appreciated her honesty when she thought something would look better than what I suggested—she was always right! Masters & Co. was one of my favorite vendors!!!

Photographer
Leli Photography—** LIW vendor**St. James—631-862-1941 to be determined
although my proofs are nice, i'm waiting to rate this vendor until my album and enlargements are complete.

Videographer
Wedding Cinema—**LIW vendor** Bohemia—631-220-4311—www.weddingcinema.net A+!!!
I LOVED LOVED LOVED working with Pete from Wedding Cinema! He is the nicest guy and was so willing to alter his packages for what I wanted. I got my edited video and raw footage and we are amazed at the job he did. We got teery eyed watching it--he captured our day perfectly and didn't miss a thing! The video was edited so artistically and i just LOVE IT!!!! I HIGHLY recommend Pete and Wedding Cinema. He is one of my favorite vendors!

Gown:
David’s Bridal—B
2 months before my wedding I decided I didn’t want my wedding dress. I didn’t like the salon I was getting it from and HATED the dress. So I went to DB with the mindset that if I found a dress I loved, then I would get it. Well, I found Oleg Cassini CT131 and was in love!! It was exactly what I envisioned and bought it, a slip and slippers (what a godsend!). So I got a brand new perfect dress less than 2 months before my wedding. They get a B because the customer service leaves a LOT to be desired. I didn’t expect to be pampered, but I shouldn’t have to wait half an hour for her to get the dress I want because she’s helping 4 other brides. They need to work on this. I DID NOT get my alterations done there.

Alterations, Invites, veils, BM dresses, BM alterations:
Gownfind (Bridal Elegance)—Dix Hills—A+!!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Phyllis! She is a godsend! I ordered my invites and BM dresses from her. The BM dresses were Bill Levkoff #966 in Euro Wine and they were beautiful! Phyliss did the alterations (only $45 each!!) in 2 days for most of my BMs (including my 7.5 months pregnant MOH) and they were perfect. She put in a bustle for them and cut the sashes at my request so the ladies wouldn’t trip on them at the reception. Her alterations on my dress were perfect—she even had to add Velcro to my dress and bra because “the ladies” just didn’t want to stay in the dress! I LOVE my bustle…it was my favorite part of the dress and so many people complimented it! I ordered my veils from her as well (cathedral and 2 tier) and didn’t want to take them off. Her prices, service and selection are top notch and I am so grateful for this wonderful woman!

Rehearsal Dinner:
Gallery 4 Italian Restaurant—Lynbrook—A+
Gallery 4 did a great job on my RD! We got a huge meal for only $17 pp including wine and soda! Gallery is my personal favorite place to eat and they went above and beyond for our families and us.

Groom’s Cake:
**LIW vendor**Christina Michael’s Desserts—A
I posted on VHB for a grooms cake and got some ridiculously high price quotes. The lowest was from Christina Michaels Desserts(also known as Mikayla Michaels). I wanted to copy IrishBride-05’s Guiness grooms cake and they did a great job with it! It was a little different than the picture I sent, but that was fine. The cake was delicious chocolate cake with raspberry cream filling. Michael was so surprised! The look on his face was priceless and it was so worth it to get. My family and his couldn’t believe it was actually cake!

DOC:
**LIW vendor**Simone Summers from Coordinated to Perfection—A+!!
At first, I didn’t think I would need or want a DOC but I am so glad I had Simone at my wedding! I had such peace of mind knowing she was there. Simone was great—we met twice before the wedding but spoke dozens of times over the phone and email. She is the sweetest woman, and as a recent bride, really knows her stuff. I appreciated her frequent emails telling me things I should be doing and giving me recommendations of vendors she’s worked with. She asked for a list of things for her to do at the wedding, which at first took me a while to write, but I’m glad I did because it really made me think about specifics. I would recommend Simone to anyone!!

HAIR and MAKEUP:
**LIW Vendors**Jenn the Hair Genie and Oksana—A
Jenn and Oksana did a great job and are wonderful people. Oksana made my face flawless and natural and I loved it. I had 3 hair trials with Jennifer. I didn’t like the first 2 but the 3rd was perfect! I had borrowed my headpiece from a friend and found the perfect hairstyle for it. My hair the day of looked slightly different from the trial, but I was running too late to make any changes or worry about it. It was still beautiful and I was very happy with both of them! Jennifer brought another hair stylist, Mary, with her because I had so many people getting their hair done. They got to my house at 4:45am and were so good at helping me wake up!

Bagpipers:
NYPD pipers—A+!!
Well, some of you may remember that the LIW piper that I had hired for my wedding sadly passed away the month before my wedding and I only found out when I called his house 2 weeks before the wedding. His lovely widow called his bandmates who gracefully completed his commitment. The 2 pipers and 1 drummer that came were GREAT!! Michael and his family were so surprised and he was so excited since I had told him I would never get bagpipers for my Italian wedding. Haha—little did he know!

Wedding Cake
Erga’s Bakery—A
I was not happy with the choices of Westbury Manor cakes that were included so I went directly to Erga’s. I’m so glad I did. I upgraded to fondant and sugar flowers for a fraction of what WM charges. The cake was good but not wonderful. It was absolutely beautiful but I’m glad my florist decided to add real flowers and extra petals to it as there weren’t enough sugar flowers to make it stand out. I loved my cake, it was beautiful!

Rings
Bunty’s Jeweler—Commack—A+
We got my e-ring and both of our rings there. Bunty’s is a great place with beautiful rings. I would recommend them to anyone.

Limo:
Royalty Limos **LIW vendor**—A
We got the Escalade and ’58 Rolls. The A/C worked fine in the Rolls which I was worried about! Royalty was early, courteous and the limos were great. I loved having the Rolls so Michael and I could talk privately before the reception. I definitely recommend that to anyone. I was a little rushed leaving the church where I was taking pictures because I only had the limos for half an hour more but we still had to get to Westbury Manor. I shouldn’t have worried though, because when we got there, the Rolls driver let us take as long as we wanted taking pics with the car. I was very grateful to him.

Tuxes:
Dante Zeller Tuxedos, Westbury A+!!
The tuxes were great and not a single groomsman had a problem! We had groomsmen from out of state and even out of country and they just got measured by a tux place where they live and called in the measurements. They looked sharp!

Calligraphy:
Trout Trout Design A+!!
Wendy Trout did my calligraphy and it was gorgeous! She only charges $1 a set for inner and outer REAL HAND calligraphy! I don't have any pics of it but it looked great and I didn't want to pay $1 for computer calligraphy when I could have hand calligraphy. I mailed everything to her and had it back in my house 1 week later.

Band:
Times Square Orchestra **LIW vendor**—A+!!
WOW is all I can say! They were UNBELIEVABLE!! The guests loved them—I was a little sad since there were times that not a lot of people were dancing, but that’s due to my guests, not TSO. MaryAnn was so patient with me the last few days before the wedding when we were having some family issues and never gave me a problem with anything. We got so many compliments on the music and my FIL’s company wants to use them for their next holiday party. You can’t go wrong with TSO—they’re the best band I’ve ever heard!

Westbury Manor—A+!
Westbury Manor did a fabulous job. The food was great, the grounds were beautiful and I was VERY happy! I was sad that I didn’t get to see any of the peacocks, but I know my guests did. I wanted a pic with the peacocks! I still get compliments about how it was the best wedding that people have been to and they loved the food. That makes me so happy! Remmy was my maitre’d and Amy was my bridal attendant. Both were great and Amy even made 2 bouts for me out of flowers from my throw away bo-k to give to my uncles. Everything ran like clockwork and WM did everything I asked for!

Honeymoon:
Intercontinental Hotel in Tahiti and then a 12 night Princess Cruise—A+!
I did a review on the HM boards, but we loved French Polynesia! We went to Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Christmas Island, Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Honolulu. It was the trip of a lifetime and I can’t wait to go back one day.
link to HM review

Last but not least…LIW—A+!!
I don’t know what I would have done without it! Ron and Liz, this is a wonderful resource for brides, and I can’t thank you enough!!

i love how my cousin is still throwing flowers in this pic and everyone else is ready to go!

look at the grasshopper in my flowers!

Message edited 12/10/2006 5:12:54 PM.

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Everything looks so beautiful! Congrats and thanks for the review!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

yeay!!!!!! Thanks for the wonderful review!!!!!!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Congratulations! You looked beautiful!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

AWWWWW-Congratulations! You looked amazing and the pics came out great!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Your review is great I am so happy that i was able to be apart of your day. You really did make a beautiful bride!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

I did a damn good job with those pics and I still need to e-mail you the rest....sorry

Congrats Mrs C....I wish you and Michael all the best and I was so glad to see you on your special day!

Just wanted to share that your photographer and videographer were willing to let me get in between them to get the shots I wanted! I have never heard that before...and I was so suprised. I declned saying that you were paying them good money for those pictures!

BTW...I need to try Gallery 4....I think I may have passed by there once or twice

Message edited 8/2/2006 6:01:59 PM.

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Carol, I loved your review!! The wedding was beautful and everyone had a great time...I was so honored to be your MOH. You were a beautful bride...here is to a lifetime of happiness with your new husband...maybe you'll join me soon and get to makin some babies, lol!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

you were a beautiful bride!
congrats! everything looked flawless!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

OMG Carol, what a wonderful review! So glad that everything worked out for you with the new DB dress!!! I love Phyllis too!!! You and Cindy got me convinced at the GTG that I needed to go to her!Congrats again on everything!!!!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

great review! your honeymoon looked incredible!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Congrats... you looked beautiful

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Thanks for the review! Looks like you had such an amazing day!!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Hello Mrs. C!!!
You'll be the "Mrs. C" in second grade as I will be giving up that name in exactly 80 days!!!! OMG!
Welcome back! It looks like you had an amazing time on your Honeymoon! Wasn't sure when you were getting back.
Michael and I had a great time at the wedding....you were gorgeous! Everything was wonderful.
So....I need your new address!!! I'm planning to get my invitations out in a couple of weeks.
Write me here or call me, okay?
Talk soon-
Love ya-
Corinne

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

congrats on your wedding, you look very beautiful

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Posted by October Bride

Hello Mrs. C!!!
You'll be the "Mrs. C" in second grade as I will be giving up that name in exactly 80 days!!!! OMG!
Welcome back! It looks like you had an amazing time on your Honeymoon! Wasn't sure when you were getting back.
Michael and I had a great time at the wedding....you were gorgeous! Everything was wonderful.
So....I need your new address!!! I'm planning to get my invitations out in a couple of weeks.
Write me here or call me, okay?
Talk soon-
Love ya-
Corinne

we'll both be Mrs C. for 2 months! i can't believe your wedding is in 80 days!!

thanks for coming to my wedding, i'll email you later!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Carol!!!! You were gorgeous!!! I was so happy I could be there for the ceremony!! I can't believe you made me cry!!!!!

I am so happy that your wedding was everything you wanted and more!!

Congrats!!!!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--more pics to come when I get my proofs!

Carol you looked gorgeous....cannot wait to see your proofs. Hawaii looks like a blast as well!!!!! Congrats!!!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

bump because i added pics

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone Summers, TSO, Royalty, Ergas--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

BEAUTIFUL review and pics.

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone-Coordinated to Perfection, TSO, Royalty, Ergas, Dante Zeller Tux, TroutTrout Design--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

Congrats - everything is gorgeous! I love masters&co!!! they are my florist too!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone-Coordinated to Perfection, TSO, Royalty, Ergas, Dante Zeller Tux, TroutTrout Design--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

I love the picture of the grasshopper in your flowers.

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone-Coordinated to Perfection, TSO, Royalty, Ergas, Dante Zeller Tux, TroutTrout Design--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

Congratulations! You looked beautiful. Your pictures are great!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone-Coordinated to Perfection, TSO, Royalty, Ergas, Dante Zeller Tux, TroutTrout Design--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

a beautiful wedding! your honeymoon looks amazing!

Re: 7/8/06--WM, Wedding Cinema, Masters & Co, Leli, Jenn/Oksana, Simone-Coordinated to Perfection, TSO, Royalty, Ergas, Dante Zeller Tux, TroutTrout Design--PROOFS ARE NOW POSTED!

You looked so beautiful! Congratulations!!!