I do.
Our Wedding
On August 7th, 2021 I married my best friend. It was the best day of our entire lives and I am here to share all of the amazing details in hope of making someone else’s wedding planning experience easier. Planning a wedding is A LOT. Let alone planning a wedding during COVID…. and as if that wasn’t enough we then had to move our wedding up three months because we found out we were having a baby! All great things but all significantly stressful considering the circumstance and the vendors I chose to work with were INCREDIBLE. I’m excited to share our special day with you. I hope you love it as much as we did.
Everyone’s most important vendors will vary based on their preferences so instead of order my vendors in any specific order I will just list them randomly. Personally all of my vendors were important to me, each had a very important responsibility the day of and we counted on them A LOT to make our day go smoothly.
Our Venue
The Loft By Bridgeview
It was important to Ro and I to less traditional wedding venue. Something that wasn’t the cookie cutter, fairytale vibe, and good food was a MUST (I mean I come from a big Italian family so if you know, you know lol). The Loft delivered, and then some… They had great communication, were willing to work with our specific needs AND the day of staff, attention to detail, ability to deliver what was promised, and pricing was top notch. From our first visit to the actual day of we were INCREDIBLY happy with the service that was delivered and in comparison to other venues The Loft was fair in pricing. We loved that they had separate spaces to split the event up throughout the night. There was the entrance area, the main room, then an awesome cocktail area with an outside sitting area and lastly an incredible outdoor patio on the water. For pictures they even had this amazing area by the water under a bridge that made for a super unique photo op! They also allowed outside vendors to set up everything we wanted and never gave us a hard time about ANYTHING. It was always “how can we help”, “no problem, we will make it work”. This was a big deal to us and we would highly recommend The Loft to any couple looking to get married. Not to mention the food was A1. Oh, and don’t be turned off by the look of the outside. It may look like a jail or a scene from the bates motel but it is a HIDDEN GEM.
Ask for Samantha or Eric
Our DJ
Body Rock Entertainment
This was another vendor Ro and I were really worried about/wanted to make sure we hired the right company for. We had heard such horror stories about bad DJ’s and had been to a few wedding with horrible music where no one danced and we really didn’t want that. It was important to us that EVERYONE got up to dance. We were bringing two different cultures together so that added a level of difficulty as well as the fact that we really wanted there to be a club vibe to our special day and we didn’t want the traditional wedding/party songs. No YMCA here…. We were referred to Body Rock by a friend and the rest is history. Rich and his team were super professional, always available and made it their priority to bring our ideas to life. They took the time to sit with us and discuss our vision, made sure they assigned a DJ and MC they thought would do well, and they had a great set up aesthetically (sparklers included). Rich also dealt with my craziness and assured me the whole entire time everything would be just fine, which it was. We couldn’t have been happier. We know that there are a lot of companies that book gigs and promise specific DJ’s and MC’s and the day of just send anyone and that was another fear of mine but as promised the DJ and MC hired were the ones that showed up and they did a FANTASTIC JOB. Ro and I would highly recommend Body Rock to anyone who needs a DJ at an event, not just a wedding.
Ask for Rich
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Our Photographer/Videographer
Silent Capture Photography
I’m not sure I need to say much here. I mean have you seen these pictures in the blog?? AND did you get a chance to watch the video below?? Jenna and Matt from Silent Capture Studio are our FAVORITE photographers/hands down. Not only do we love them as people but professionally they are the best. They have this way of making you feel super comfortable in front of the camera and capturing great candid moments. They have a great eye, always suggesting killer photo ops and Ro and I are always SO happy when we get our photos back. The photos and video for our big day meant a lot to me, they are the only thing we will have to look back on and the only thing we’ll be able to show our kids one day and we’re really happy Jenna and Matt we’re a part of our big day. Not to mention when we switched our wedding day they were initially not available and did everything they did to make the new date work. We couldn’t recommend Jenna and Matt more!
Ask for Jenna or Matt
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Watch Our Wedding Video by Silent Capture Here AND Don’t Forget All Blog Photos Were Taken By Them!
Our Florist
Nectar & Bloom
I hate to sound like broken record here by saying our florist was so important to us but…. they were. Seriously. I interviewed a bunch of places and none of them met the mark. My mom owned a florist growing up and flowers have always been a huge part of our life and the flower for my wedding had to be SHOW STOPPERS. When I first met with them I remember saying I want to walk in and see my flowers and cry, sounds dramatic I know but the good news is… they delivered! I could not believe how Ann Marie and Lisa were able to take my vision and bring it to life. It was no easy task. I literally was the biggest pain in the ass. I was very specific and I required multiple meetings and calls to feel comfortable and they spent HOURS with me making sure every detail was perfect. For what I received that day I truly think they were affordable and I am so thankful for them. May I mention they showed up on time, did what they said they were going to do and didn’t forget ANYTHING. I mean what more could you ask for in a vendor?
You will see some of the pieces I chose below. I mean can you even????
Ask for Lisa or Ann Marie
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Our Cake
Cakes Off Fifth
Our cake was DELICIOUS and none of that bakery cake crap (ugh I hate bakery cakes lol) give me all the funfetti and chocolate with oreos. Brit executed exactly what we asked for and the cake was moist and fresh and delivered right on time. I’m not sure if she’ll be happy I shared this but the morning off my wedding the cake accidently fell and was ruined and somehow she managed to make a new one and get it delivered right on time regardless. Her hard work and talent along with taste make her TOP Notch.
Ask for Brit
& find her on IG @cakesoff5th
My Wedding Dress & Veil
Ivory & Main
Where do I even start? I guess with… I am plus size. In case you didn’t notice I am a plus size girl. I haven’t been this size my whole life but this is where I am this season and I have embraced every curve and pound. Let’s not forget at my wedding I was five months pregnant. Finding a wedding dress at any size is stressful. Wedding dresses cost more than cars these days and unless you are a size 2-6 you can forget fitting into an sample dress at a normal bridal boutique. The thought of wedding dress shopping actually made me almost want to cry. How do they expect plus size women to buy a wedding dress they can’t even try on… for $10,000…. like is that a joke? Let alone all the regular boutiques charge up fees for plus size dresses and alternations. I’m sorry but that’s bullshit. If you don’t charge less for a size 0 then you shouldn’t charge more for an 18. I can go on and on about this topic (I actually might even do that in a separate blog) but for now I will just tell you Ivory and Main and the ladies that work there single handedly made my wedding dress dreams come true and not just the dress… THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE WAS A DREAM. Imagine being plus size and being able to actually try on a dress to see if you liked it?… NOW, imagine not only being able to try on one or two dresses but almost 100. If you aren’t plus size you may not understand the significance of this but please understand this is unheard or and it was wonderful and it almost brought me to tears. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you Ivory and Main. For not only making my experience a wonderful one but paving the way to have other women not cringe at the idea of shopping for their special day.
*I even got to model wedding dresses for them after I purchased my own. Seriously LOVE them.
Ivory & Main
Find them on IG @IVORY_AND_MAIN
My Seamstress
ZiZi
There is no way I can mention my wedding dress without mentioning my seamstress ZiZi. ZiZi absolutely, positively saved the day. When I found out I was pregnant my dress had already been ordered and paid for and of course there were no returns or changes allowed to be made. Thankfully I found ZiZi because she was able to do what NO OTHER seamstress could. She completely took apart my dress and literally put it back to together while adding two panels to the sides so that my new growing belly could fit perfectly. Every other seamstress would only help me by suggesting a corset back which in no way would have been comfortable or beautiful. ZiZi had me come in and the rest is history, she took care of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING and I can not thank her enough. So please, if you need a seamstress for ANYTHING you have to use ZiZi.
ZiZi
516-972-7780
Tuxedos
B2Bespoke Custom Clothier
Tuxedo rentals… nasty. Am I right? Who wants to rent something and have everyone at your wedding look like a scrub. Not us. But then again who wants to spend $1,000 on a Tux they are going to wear only once… Also, not us. So what do you do? You find an amazing custom clothier and you find rental tuxedos that are fitted and gorgeous AND affordable. Seriously, what more could you ask for. B2 was absolutely amazing, they didn’t make any mistakes, they measured everyone, they had everything ready in time and hey, they even suckered us into a custom suit for Ro because I mean do you see that thing? He looked AMAZING and incredibly handsome and sexy as hell (hands off ladies he’s all mine now lol). Ro’s suit was custom made in Italy. He got to choose the fabric and fit and liner and everything! The experience was top notch… like royalty and I absolutely would recommend them to anyone. Even if it isn’t for a wedding.
Ask For Mark
My Make Up
Jazzy Drury
My makeup was done by none other than Jazzy Drury. Jazzy is my FAVORITE makeup artist in all the land, seriously. She not only has a way of making me feel absolutely beautiful and flawless but she does it in a way that I still feel and look myself. THAT’S TALENT. Jazzy is super accommodating, comes to you and makes your super comfortable. If you want something touched up or changed she never makes you feel like you can’t ask. I love her. For my wedding she not only did my make up morning of but also came to my venue later on for touch ups. Hire Jazz for any event you need glam you will NOT regret it.
Find Her On IG @JAZZEDUPARTISTRY
Our Flower Girl Dresses
Tiggy Winks
We found Tiggy Winks by shear luck. After we went for my wedding dress we saw a cute store across the street. We decided to pop in and I am so happy we did. The girl’s dresses were custom made. I saw a top I liked from one dress and the bottom of another with a belt I really liked and the owner custom made each one to the girls measurements. We had no issues whatsoever. They were SO nice and everything was done ahead of schedule, even with the wedding date change. As if that wasn’t enough, they were SUPER affordable. It seemed like they were really busy with communion dresses when we went so if you are in the need of any dress for any occasion for the kids, Tiggy Winks is the place to be.
Our Other Dresses
Omnibus Fashions
If you’re familiar with Babylon Village then you are familiar with Omnibus. Omnibus is an evening gown store for all occasions. Sweet 16, prom, mother of the bride, bridesmaid… they have IT ALL and they have the best selection. My mother, sister, grandmother AND mother in law all got their gowns there. The custom service is amazing along with the alterations. I mean, I truly think the dresses speak for themselves. So, if you are in the market for a dress don’t bother with the other stores on the island. Head over to Omnibus.
Ask for Karen
Clutch Bag
ECLU
This was a special vendor I found last minute. I knew I wanted to gift something special to my mom and when I saw this I just knew it would be perfect. The night of the rehearsal dinner I had given my mom a clutch to match her dress and inside the clutch was an old picture of us stitched in a printed on the bag lining. It was PERFECT. If you are looking for a special gift for your special day, look no further.
OUR LIMOS
Camelot Limos
Camelot was wonderful. They were able to help with detailed timelines of the big day, they suggested the perfect vehicles and MOST IMPORTANTLY…. everyone was on time, prompt, and ready to help with everything. You absolutely never want to be late on your big day and I have to say all of their drivers were incredible. We had booked their huge party bus that fit 37 people and two smaller buses. Not to mention I also got a beautiful classic car for my dad and I to drive to church in and then Ro and I to take pictures with after the ceremony.
Our Marquee Sign
Alpha Lit
Alpha Lit is a vendor I have used on several occasions, they are AMAZING. Their letters bring that special element of surprise and light to every event. When I saw the outside space at the venue I just knew we needed something special and what better than a Marquee sign of our new last name. The company is amazing always on time and ready to make your vision come to life and I am so grateful I found them.
Ask for Marisa & Find them on IG @alphalitlongisland
Our LED Signs
Vintage Roots
These are just too good. Our LED signs were such a hit on our big day. Absolutely everyone commented on them and couldn’t believe we had our own unique signs. For me they were really important because they provided a personal touch that wasn’t traditional and they made our space look edgy. We had a few throughout the venue. The first was “Til death do us party” which was hung on a copper arbor that turned into our photobooth once the night began. The second was a large “LRJ” monogram that was pictured behind us on the sweetheart table and the third was a bar sign. Each sign was custom made just for us and it was perfect. It was such a great experience working with Vintage Roots and we would recommend them to anyone. We even used them to make a custom sign for our office once we saw how amazing they were.
Ask for Breanna
And find them on IG @_vintageroots
Our Rental Furniture
Early Bird Vintage
I already know what you’re thinking… yes we had rental furniture. The venue was wonderful and came with all the necessities BUT I wanted a little something more special/unique and Early Bird Vintage was able to help me accomplish just that. I had a few pieces at my wedding. First was the couch area set up when you walked in. It served as a welcome area for guests and later turned into the photo booth. There I rented a leather couch, a rug, the cooper arbor, and end tables. Outside on the patio area I rented the seating area you saw earlier with the marquee sign (including all the couches, chairs, rugs and tables) along with the cigar bar and last but certainly not least I rented beautiful gold and glass bookshelves that served as my “seating chart” and later on turned into shelving that displayed my favors and other things like the flats I provided for guests to change out of their heels (Rescue Flats). The rentals made such a difference in the space and they made the wedding ours and they were worth EVERY penny. The owner was also wonderful and even met with us one day before the wedding so I could see all the pieces in person. Highly recommend.
Find them on IG @earlybirdvintage
Our Invitations
White Invitations
Last but certainly not least I wanted to share a vendor that did an amazing job, even if it wasn’t on our actual special day. My wedding invitations were so beautiful and unique and I owe it all to White Invitations. White Invitations is a company I found on ETSY after I had gone to a well known invitation company and got a quote of almost $6,000. I mean that is RIDICULOUS for invitations if you ask me. I was so discouraged and disappointed but I also knew that I really wanted one specific design so like most things I went over to ETSY to search. Within in minutes I found Ahmet, the owner of a small shop who made acrylic invites just like I wanted. I was short on time and Ahmet worked with me to produce exactly what I wanted at a fraction of the price. I honestly could not have been any happier and I am so thankful I found them. When in doubt you can always count on ETSY.
These vendors were such a huge part of our day and I couldn’t be more appreciative or grateful for their hard work. These last few years have been really tough on businesses who work in the wedding industry and my vendors not only met my expectations, they exceeded them. If you are looking to plan a wedding or even just an event these are the companies you should start with for sure.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out the vendor directly using the CONTACT THEM button or feel free to message me too. I am always happy to help, especially since I absolutely LIVE for party planning :) as always…..
