In Brides of Long Island’s Monthly “Mrs.” series, we profile some of our members’ unforgettable weddings. This month, Jackie Carr discusses how she found the perfect venue that not only matched her theme, but also had the full package.
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
When Jackie and Evan Carr got engaged in early 2020, Jackie says she wanted to get married sooner rather than later, but the world had other plans. However, she says giving herself two years was the perfect way to plan her wedding.
A Sweet Proposal
Jackie and Evan ran in the same circle of friends in high school, despite attending different schools. At some point, they both found themselves single and they hit it off in 2017. After three years of dating, Evan proposed. Jackie explains that he wanted to propose at one of their first date spots, but the park was closed. “He improvised, so we headed to a different park. It started snowing with some of the biggest flakes I’ve ever seen,” she says. “We stayed in the car, where he proposed. It was so sweet and intimate.”
Finding the Perfect Package in a Pandemic
Jackie says once they got engaged, she wanted to hit the ground running with planning. But as the pandemic started shutting things down, she wasn’t able to tour any venues. “I think we finally met with Three Village Inn in November of 2020,” she says. “We were just thrilled that we could finally visit a venue in person!”
She did check out some other venues that were allowing tours, but when she walked into Three Village Inn, a BOLI Preferred Vendor, she knew it was the perfect venue to make her vision of a rustic wedding come to life. “Once we saw the garden for the outdoor ceremony space, and the exposed wood inside, it was the best of both worlds for us!” And it was a bonus that it is a Lessing’s venue that offers a package, which was very important to Jackie and Evan. “We knew that a package was what we wanted, as it is more affordable, and less time consuming, since the vendors are included.”
Included in the vendor package at Three Village Inn were Park Ave Studio, a BOLI Preferred Vendor, and LI Sound DJ, a BOLI Preferred Vendor. Jackie says photography was the most important vendor to her, besides the venue. “I take photos professionally. If I could have taken my own photos at my wedding, I would have!” She says she explained this to Park Avenue, and they were amazing! “Five different people actually called me the day before our wedding to make sure everything was perfect for me! They were really on top of everything.”
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
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A Rustic Vampire Wedding to Remember
They chose Oct. 8, 2022 – which gave them two years to put together the personal touches to create the perfect ‘rustic vampire’ wedding. Jackie explains that they came up with that theme because she wears black every day. “This was the one day of my life where I was going to be wearing all white,” she says. “We’re pretty alternative people in our day to day lives. So, it was important to add some of those touches on our wedding day.”
They added jewel tones in their colors, and had black lanterns as centerpieces – centerpieces that a fellow BOLI gave her during planning! Adding to the rustic vampire theme – which really is a joke, she says – was a welcome sign that was designed with bat wings and a coffin! “It tied into our exact theme. It was amazing.”
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
Some other fun personal touches? Champagne flutes that were metal dragons, and her favorite, a custom wax seal that she used on their menus with some extra dried flowers. And of course, the guest of honor Hunter! “He’s a little skeleton Halloween decoration from my parents’ house that we named Hunter,” she explains. “We used to leave him up throughout the year, and would buy different outfits for him.” Hunter sat next to the card box in his best wedding attire. “It was a silly thing, but Hunter was a total hit at the wedding.”
MORE: 13 Subtle (and Not So Subtle) Ways to Incorporate Halloween into Your Wedding
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
“They’re Just Really Good”
One of her favorite moments of the day was right before she walked down the aisle with her father. “My dad and I have a great relationship, we’re just big goofballs,” Jackie says. “As we were getting ready to go down the aisle, the sun was setting perfectly, and the leaves were blowing. He turns to me and says, ‘Who did you pay to do that?’ and I just said, ‘I don’t know, they’re just really good here.’”
And that joking statement actually rings true for all of Jackie’s vendors. From the day of coordinator, Winnie, at Three Village Inn to the photographers and the DJ, everyone just went above and beyond the whole time, Jackie says. “Our DJ kept us on the dance floor literally the entire night!” she says. “And it felt like I knew Winnie my whole life!”
Her perfect vendor experience started way before her wedding day though. Jackie got her beautiful gown from North Fork Bridal Shoppe, a BOLI Preferred Vendor. “They were so kind to me, and their VIB experience was perfect, because I travel with a large entourage,” she says. “I was sad that the dress shopping was over after I said yes to my dress.”
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
Everything Falls Into Place
Jackie believes it does take a village to plan a wedding sometimes. And that’s OK. She wants other BOLIs to know that in the end, everything will fall into place and it’s going to be perfect. “This may go wrong, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is you’re marrying your best friend.” She also urges BOLIs to take that extra moment or two throughout the day to look around at all of the love in the room. “Take it in and don’t sweat the small stuff.”
MORE: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
Vendors:
Venue: Three Village Inn, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Photographer: Park Ave Studio, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
DJ: Long Island Sound DJ, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Florist: Village Florist; Sola Woods Flowers
Hair: Stacy at Entourage Salon
Makeup: @jaimeebeyermua
Dress: North Fork Bridal Shoppe, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Cake: Rolling Pin
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse
Honeymoon Transportation: Mark of Elegance, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
