In Brides of Long Island’s Monthly “Mrs.” series, we profile some of our members’ unforgettable weddings. This month, Stefanie talks about who she relied on as she planned her wedding from Florida.
(Photo courtesy of Gelfman Photography)
When Stefanie and Jacob started dating in their senior year at Hofstra University, she never thought she’d be living in Florida – let alone planning their wedding on Long Island from the Sunshine State. But that’s just what she did for their July 21, 2024 nuptials. And even though it was stressful, she says everything came out perfect.
A Beach Proposal
Stefanie says she and Jacob moved down to Tampa when he got his dream job working for the Yankees. Unbeknownst to her, Jacob asked her parents if he could marry her the day they moved into their apartment in Florida. “He said he knew I was the one when I agreed to move down south with him,” she says. Later that December in 2022, Jacob told her there was a company holiday party at his job…on the beach. And while she was a little skeptical, she went with it. What she wasn’t expecting was an empty beach and Jacob’s proposal. “I was completely shocked, and I said, ‘Wait, there’s no party?’” she says with a laugh. Afterwards, they went to an Italian restaurant where both of their families were waiting to celebrate.
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Long Distance Planning
They knew they wanted to have their wedding on Long Island, so Stefanie started planning in January 2023 for their July 2024 date. She says while most of the vendor meetings were on Zoom, she did come back up to tour some venues. She eventually fell in love with Water’s Edge in Centerport. “Any appointments after Water’s Edge I canceled, because I loved how modern and sleek it was,” Stefanie says. “I knew when I walked in that it was the venue where I wanted to get married.”
After the venue was booked, Stefanie and Jacob focused on finding a great photographer. “I remember looking at my parents’ wedding photo growing up, and I wanted amazing photos that our future family would be looking at,” she explains. They had heard of Gelfman Photography, a BOLI preferred vendor, from her friend’s wedding. “I happened to notice at her wedding that the photographers were very close and worked extremely well together,” Stefanie says. “I found out they were a couple, who have since gotten married. And I loved that it was a relationship team working together in photography.”
Even with the distance, and plenty of Zoom meetings, Stefanie says that she was able to book all of the vendors she wanted without any issues. Stefanie’s mother and now mother-in-law were on all of those Zoom calls, too. “They were a huge help joining the meetings,” says Stefanie. “And if any vendor wanted me to come and see something, they would go in my place.” She adds that her parents actually chose their wedding cake, as they went to Dortoni’s for a cake tasting and let Stefanie and Jacob know which was the best. “It was pretty stressful, but between the vendors and our parents, it was a relatively simple planning experience,” she says.
(Photo courtesy of Gelfman Photography)
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A Calm Morning & Fun Evening
With all of the stress in the long-distance planning, Stefanie says the morning of her wedding was completely stress-free. “I was really surprised at how calm I was,” she says. “I always thought I’d be so nervous.” But she says, getting ready with her bridesmaids, grandmothers, mother and mother-in-law, was fun. “I honestly had the best time.” She says she did get a little nervous for the first look, but it was a nice moment for her and Jacob. “It was such a special moment for the two of us, I was able to block everything else out to calm my nerves, and focus on each other.”
Their wedding day was filled with love, laughter and lots of color. “I really wanted to take advantage of it being summer and using a lot of color in my flowers,” she explains. “I wanted something fun and whimsical. And Bree from Wildflower Touch really knocked it out of the park. She understood my vision, and the flowers were perfect.” Jacob and Stefanie’s beloved dog Ollie couldn’t travel from Florida, but they still made sure to include him. “We named a drink after him – the Ollie Pops,” Stefanie says. She adds that they also had cutouts of Ollie’s head on sticks that they danced with all night. “It was great seeing his head bob up and down throughout the night on the dance floor. I loved that we were able to incorporate him into the party!”
Stefanie says all of her vendors were amazing. However Shay, the bridal attendant at Water’s Edge, truly made their wedding spectacular. “It was so hot that day, and Shay was always right there with ice water and lipstick for touch ups,” she says. “Whatever I needed, Shay was two steps ahead of me, ready to help me with whatever I needed. She made the day so special for us.”
Stefanie also says that Beaute Plans by A + C, a BOLI preferred vendor, were also fantastic. “There were so many people getting hair and makeup done that morning, and they made the morning smooth with no issues,” says Stefanie. “We all just jammed out to music and chatted with them like they had been our friends for years. And everyone’s hair and makeup came out great!”
(Photo courtesy of Gelfman Photography)
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Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Something Stefanie learned throughout the wedding planning process was not to sweat the small stuff. “Trust me, all the little things that I stressed about, like place cards or frames for the drink menus or even a hanger for my dress, they did not matter in the end,” she says. “Everything was perfect, and it was stress that was not needed.”
Of course, because of the long-distance planning, Stefanie says she relied heavily on the Brides of Long Island Facebook group. “It was so great to get the opinions of other brides, as well as inspiration from their photos,” she says.
(Photo courtesy of Gelfman Photography)
Vendors:
Venue: Water’s Edge
Photographer: Gelfman Photography, a BOLI preferred vendor
Videography: Rick J. Studios
DJ: Bravura
Florist: Wildflower Touch
Hair/Makeup: Beaute Plans by A + C, a BOLI preferred vendor
Photo Booth: Long Island Photo Booth
