Getting Married on Long Island Wedding Advice » Details and Ideas

Advice from Kevin Jonas’ Wedding Planner DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:24:32 +0000

Kevin Jonas got famously married this past winter at Long Island’s spectacular Oheka Castle. The theme, appropriately fairy-tale and winter wonderland, was created by Long Island- based celebrity event and wedding planner, Michael Russo. Russo, below, is in high demand these days so we were fortunate to be able to chat with him and get his best wedding planning advice. You can read all about it in my monthly wedding planning column at www.Hamptons.com — just click here.

Bridal Shower Party Games DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:08:23 +0000

Some bridal showers are same old, same old. In fact, I know many women who have rolled their eyes at the thought of attending one more boring bridal shower. But yours can be different, exciting and tons of fun. Celebrations.com, the party planning site that offers great ideas for all sorts of entertaining, is featuring a slew of cool bridal shower games — including a Ladies Only Pink Poker Party, complete with pink cocktails and cuisine. Just click here for details and your bridal shower will be a standout for years to come.

These Wedding Cakes are Unreal DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:10:06 +0000

OK, I’ve heard of this going on at weddings these days — in order to save money, couples order a fake cake — that is, a beautifully decorated wedding cake made of Styrofoam on the inside, and fondant or icing on the outside. Reception guests get to ogle the cake, but they don’t get to eat it. Instead, couples order sheet cakes on the side, which no one sees except the kitchen staff. They cut up the sheet cakes and serve, as if they were the display cake. The idea is to save money on a custom cake. Here’s just one company that caters to couples who prefer “dummy” cakes: UltimateFakeCakes.com. And I think, based on the photos on their website, that they do beautiful work.

So how does the traditional cake cutting work? According to UltimateFakeCake.com, here’s one option: “A slit can be placed in your cake to allow for a knife to be inserted into the cake for pictures. This will give you the “look” of the bride and the groom cutting the cake while a piece of cake can be placed behind the fake cake so the bride and groom can still feed each other. You can have your cake and eat it too!”

My take: I think there’s something distasteful (no pun intended) about this entire concept. Yes, it’s a way to save money on your reception. But there’s also an element of deceit here, one which involves wedding guests. Because no one is supposed to know the display cake is a fake. Not the best way to start off life as husband and wife, in my view.

What do you think about this?

Long Island Bridesmaids Gifts DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:25:34 +0000

It’s hard to figure out what to give your bridesmaids as a token of gratitude, but here’s an idea: yoga pants. Not just your run-of-the-mill yoga pants though. They need to be special and chic and gift-worthy. Well, I’ve tried out Charli Girls trouser yoga pants and they are super stylish and comfortable, and of course, not just for yoga practice.

Originating in London, the U.S. based Charli Girls line is ready to wear, wrinkle free, and luxuriously comfortable. It’s also interchangeable, so it suits any body type and the signature Yoga Pant, retailing for $100, goes great with any of the Charli tops. I especially like the extra fabric flap that folds over the butt and thigh areas, for coverage. Finally a gift that your bridesmaids can (and will want to) use all year round!

Visit the Charli Girls website or to purchase on Long Island, go to Silhouette, 22 Forest Ave., Locust Valley (the lower level of G. Willikers). In addition, according to Newsday, this week you can experience a trunk show at one of the following Equinox stores, even if you are not a gym member: July 14 to 15: 7550 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury; July 19 to 20: 90 Northern Blvd., Roslyn

Long Island Wedding Favors DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:25:58 +0000

One of our favorite Long Island wedding planners, Elaine DeLuca, who owns Roslyn-based Exquisite Events, has exciting news to share — she has just launched a wedding favor division!

Take a look at www.exquisiteweddingfavors.com, for an amazing selection of elegant favors, plus guest books, bridal shower games and much more now available at this Long Island one-stop-shop. And as a special “Winter in July” summer introduction, between July 1st and July 31st, you can have 15% off on all winter themed items. Elaine says some of her favorite items include personalized Hershey’s Kisses, the entire line of Midori Ribbon and anything that’s Murano Glass — wine stoppers, cake servers, keychains —”They are just so pretty!” she says.

Register for a Long Island House DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:04:25 +0000

Here’s an innovative idea for a wedding gift registry — register for your Long Island dream house. You can do it with Hatch My House. This interactive site allows couples to collect and save money towards a home in a unique and personal way – by using the graphic image of your dream house, visitors can donate towards the house fund by purchasing a part of it, such as a window, the front door or even a set of wineglasses. Visitors get to have fun while donating and users get to design, visualize – and hopefully realize – their ‘dream’ home! Here’s how to set it up in five easy steps.

Do-it-Yourself Manhattan Couple IN THE NEWS

Claudia G. Copquin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:06:40 +0000

OK, this Manhattan couple didn’t quite do it themselves, but they craftily rounded up some of their skilled friends to save tons of money on their New York City Wedding. Take a look at this article in the New York Post about it, which includes other money-saving tips at the bottom.

Photo by Billy Joe Hoyle

Long Island Wedding Gifts DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:43:07 +0000

Not sure what to give to your bridal party as a thank you gift? Having a themed bridal shower or bachelorette party and need to dress up the tables with a unique look? Run out of ideas for wedding favors? Check out Harvard Sweet Boutique. I’ve tasted their products and they are superb. But it’s not all about flavor — it’s also about presentation. And these folks know how to create a beautiful package to present on your tablescape or as gifts. Just look at a few of their table centerpiece themes –Beautiful.

Wedding Guests Coming to Long Island? There’s an App for that! IN THE NEWS

Claudia G. Copquin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:42:29 +0000

With family and friends spread out all over the continent, most every couple getting married on Long Island has out-of-town guests coming in for the wedding. So be sure to let them know about the amazing new iPhone app, “Essential Long Island.” Created by my friend and colleague Iyna Bort Caruso, who is of course, also a Long Islander, “Essential Long Island” just made Apple’s WHAT’S HOT travel app list – #21 out of 10,723 travel apps!! At just $2.99, this app is a complete bargain, but your guests will find it priceless. To purchase the app, go here — itunes.apple.com/app/id371216414?mt=8.

New York City Bachelorette Party DETAILS & IDEAS

Claudia G. Copquin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:32:54 +0000

Ladies, if you’re thinking of having your bachelorette party in the City, I have great news for you — you can stay overnight at Manhattan’s best kept secret — Best Western Hospitality House at 145 E 49th Street, is an all-suite hotel right in the heart of midtown. A two-bedroom suite can sleep six of you, as each living room includes a pullout sofabed.

But here’s where this boutique hotel is a stand-out: Each suite comes equipped with a full kitchen — dishwasher, dishes, full refrigerator, stove… and a large dining area. So you can start your party right in the suite, then take it out to the clubs. Stay out until dawn, and then crash in your super comfortable accommodations. Once you’re up, enjoy continental breakfast on Hospitality House! Or cook up a full-blown meal right in the kitchen. Here’s a step further — why not make your bachelorette party a weekend affair, not just an overnight? You and your girls can take in Manhattan for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration without having to rush through the City that never sleeps!