10 of the Best Rental and Decor Vendors for Long Island Weddings

Your decor makes a difference! Here are 10 of the best rental and decor vendors for Long Island weddings

Your venue may be spectacular, but it’s your decor choices that will bring your wedding to life! Whether you want a light and whimsical look or a dark and sophisticated palate, these passionate professionals can bring any vision to life. Here are 10 of the best rental and decor vendors for Long Island weddings.

• MORE: 34 of the Best Long Island Wedding Venues

The Finishing Touch

From their consultation to their personalized design strategies, The Finishing Touch can create a customized motif to fit your individual tastes. Their extensive collection of tablecloths, napkins, chair covers, and and accessories is unrivaled on Long Island.

Artful Biv

Owner Dana Biviano has a passion for helping brides enhance their weddings through special, one-of-a-kind custom pieces of art. She creates an array of personalized and hand-lettered signage including acrylic, mirror, and wooden signs, card boxes, place cards, table numbers, seating charts, signature cocktail signs, and more. 

East Coast Party Co.

It’s not a party without a flower wall! Give your guests an incredible photo backdrop, courtesy of East Coast Party Co. Owner Andrea McCabe was inspired to create custom-made flower walls after creating one for her own baby sprinkle.

Milan Event Experience 

Khadine McMillan, owner of Milan Event Experience, is a professionally trained Event Planner & Event/Balloon Stylist that creates versatile, modern, and luxe balloon decor and event styling. In addition to balloons, they offer backdrops, champagne walls, 360 video booths, treat/flower carts, pedestals, sofas, and more! 

Alpha Lit Long Island

See your (new) last name in lights! Alpha Lit Long Island provides marquee lettering to spell your name, initials, or a variety of words. Their lights make an illuminating addition to your wedding reception, engagement party, bridal shower, even proposals! 

• MORE: See Your Name in Lights, Thanks to Alpha Lit Letters

Long Island Lux Picnic

Long Island Lux picnic specializes in bridal showers, bridesmaid proposals, and engagement celebrations! Every picnic can be customized to your vision, and they also offer backdrops, tablescapes, and other event styling services. 

Sweet Jules Treats

Not only can you get beautiful event styling and accessories from Sweet Jules Treats, you can also get a few delectable desserts as well! They specialize in event planning, full decor set up, flower walls, balloon arrangements, welcome signs, and yes – some “sweet treats” to go along with it.

Pew Bow Rentals

Inspired to start a business after her own daughter’s wedding, Maureen at Pew Bow Rentals will deliver stunning pew bows for your ceremony. They love giving each bride that “wow” factor!

Rose_ArtCreations

Owner Amanda Hernandez specializes in seating charts, mirror guest books, entrance signs, custom table menus, table numbers and and other custom signage. She brings her creative hand and outgoing personality to each piece she makes.

Fiore and More

Understanding that weddings can be incredibly expensive, Fiore and More opened their doors in 2024 to create beautiful backdrops and decor for an affordable price!

• MORE: Plan Your Wedding with Ring Leader

Be prepared for anything on your big day! Here are 51 items to pack in your wedding day emergency kit

Your wedding day will be gorgeous no matter what happens. But, real talk: with all the moving parts, pieces, and people that have to be at the right place at the right time, it’s inevitable that a few things won’t go according to plan. While you can’t prepare for every possibility under the sun (or veil), having a few useful tools on hand could prevent a bigger crisis. Here are 51 items to pack in your wedding day emergency kit.

• MORE: 29 Items to Pack for Your “Night Before the Wedding” Bag

First Aid & Medical Items

1: Bandages (multiple sizes!)

2: Pain relievers (Advil, Tylenol, Motrin, etc.)

3: Allergy medications 

4: Nasal spray (Afrin, etc.)

5: Alcohol swaps

6: Antibiotic ointment

7: Antacids 

8: Any prescription medications for the bride or bridal party

Toiletries & Personal Hygiene Items 

9:  Menstrual products (pads, tampons, extra cups, etc.)

10: Toothpaste

11: Floss

12: Mouthwash  

13: Toothbrush

14: Deodorant

15: Dry shampoo

16: Lip balm

17: Razor

18: Eye drops

19: Spare contacts

20: Glasses

21: Tweezers

22: Nail clippers

23: Nail file

24: Tissues

25: Cotton swabs

26: Breath mints or gum 

27: Perfume 

Hair & Makeup Items

28: Bobby pins

29: Hair elastics

30: Hair clips

31: Lip gloss

32: Hairspray

33: Brush or comb

34: Facial mist

Clothing Items

35: Mini sewing kit (with needles and threads)

36: Safety pins

37: Fashion tape

38: Stain-removing wipes or pens

39: Lint roller

40: Clear nail polish (for hosiery runs)

41: Small scissors

Miscellaneous Items

42: Portable phone chargers 

43: Easy-to-eat snacks

44: Sunscreen 

45: Bug repellent 

46: Spare earring backs 

47: Cough drops

48: Hand sanitizer

49: Baby wipes

50: Glue 

51: Scotch tape 

 

Choosing the right wedding officiant can make or break your ceremony. Here are the best Long Island wedding officiants.

If you’re not getting married in a religious institution, you may need to find an officiant who can legally marry you. And choosing the right wedding officiant can be tough, as they will set the pace for your ceremony and the start of your wedding. So, you’ll want to find the perfect one who jives with you and your future spouse. But do NOT stress! Brides of Long Island has eleven of the best Long Island wedding officiants for you to choose from.

 

LI Officiant
Michele LaRosa works with couples from any and all backgrounds. She works with each couple to create the perfect ceremony – as she knows it sets the tone for the whole day. She loves to create ceremonies that showcase and honor each couple’s story.

 

Personalized Weddings by Reverend Bill
Rev. Bill prides himself on writing and performing personalized wedding ceremonies that focus on the couple. He even officiated his son’s wedding.

MORE: 14 Questions to Ask When Hiring an Officiant

 

The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways
The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways was founded in 1997 by Pastor April. Together with Rev. Joe, they lead an amazing team of wedding officiants. They never say no – as they will create any type of ceremony for all couples.

 

Perfect Union Officiants
Jim Hill started by marrying his brother and sister-in-law almost 20 years ago. Now he performs weddings across Long Island and New York City. He loves being part of couples’ special days, and he can’t wait to be a part of yours.

 

NY Officiants

With over 23 years experience in the wedding industry, Minister Christopher has officiated hundreds of weddings. Growing up in the industry, he has worked for entertainment companies as a master of ceremonies and even a wedding event coordinator. But Christopher believes officiating couples’ weddings is his true calling – and he can’t wait to connect to share in your special day.

MORE: How to Change Your Last Name on Long Island

 

I Wed All

Denise is a non-denominational wedding minister and officiant. She works with all couples to create the wedding ceremony they’ve always dreamed of. She is blessed and honored to share the love stories of all of the couples she has officiated for.

 

Rabbi Brian Denker

Rabbi Brian is an independent rabbi and Interfaith lifecycle officiant. He has extensive experience working with couples and families from all walks of life that identify as Jewish, Interfaith, LGBTQA+ and non-affiliated who are looking to celebrate their one-of-a-kind relationships.

 

Rabbi Sara Shonfeld

Being part of her couples’ journey and special day is a pleasure and honor for Rabbi Sara!  She feels that it doesn’t end at the wedding — she loves staying connected with her couples and their families. 

 

TAG Studio — Quintessence Ministry

Owner and lead officiant Russ Camarda created Quintessence Ministry with a specific goal in mind: to recognize the union of two souls as an incredibly sacred event — a very special “story” to tell. Their officiants are nondenominational, guided by an inclusive spiritual philosophy that honors the wisdom and light found within all faith traditions.

 

Weddings by Rev. Patti Pineda

Being a part of two people’s love story is more beautiful and fulfilling than Rev. Patti Pineda could have imagined. She understands what it’s like to blend two worlds, like a lot of her couples. She writes beautiful bi-lingual ceremonies as well as ceremonies that are only in English or only in Spanish. 

 

Rabbi Ron Csillag

Rabbi Ron Csillag was inspired to enter the wedding industry after hearing of the difficulties that couples were having in finding a Rabbi who actually listened to them. When he works with a couple, everything is completely customized!

Just as with any vendor, you want to make sure you get exactly what you want when you start speaking with officiants. If you are very specific about how you want your ceremony, be sure to ask those questions up front to make sure the officiant can cater to your dream ceremony.

Say your “I do’s” with a BOO! Here are 6 Super Spooky Long Island Wedding Ideas for Halloween 

If you start pulling out your pumpkins and giant lawn skeletons once the calendar flips to September, then Halloween is the perfect time of year to have your wedding! Show your love of all things spooky with these ideas for a Halloween-themed Long Island wedding:

• MORE: 13 Subtle (and Not so Subtle) Ways to Incorporate Halloween into Your Wedding

1. Take festive pictures

We love Halloween on Long Island! There are so many fun things to do and see, and nearly all of them make perfect backdrops for some spooky Halloween wedding pictures. Check out Millridge Inn’s Halloween Village, the Fall Festival at Hicks Nurseries, The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, or the Scarecrows in the Old Westbury Gardens!

2. Say your vows in a vineyard at dusk

Long Island’s vineyards are scenic and beautiful, but with some decor touches they can take on a spooky feel – especially as the sun sets! Consider choosing a venue with a vineyard like BOLI Preferred Vendors East Wind Long Island or The Vineyards at Aquebogue for some holiday ambiance.

3. Decorate with some Otto the Ghost memorabilia…

Otto has been a Long Island favorite for decades. In fact, you may remember taking a hayride with him in your elementary school days! Pick up a few Otto figurines and work them into your wedding day decor. 

4. …and add seasonal touches to your decor 

Skeletons, pumpkins, dark-hued florals – there’s a wealth of autumn-inspired objects and decorations you can incorporate into your wedding.

5. Encourage costumes 

Tell your guests to ditch the tuxes (well, unless they’re planning to dress as James Bond) and show up to your wedding in costume. Your pictures will be festively unique with the bride and groom surrounded by princesses, movie villains, and maybe a few ghouls and goblins!

6. Turn a Gold Coast mansion into a haunted house

Long Island’s beautiful Gold Coast mansions are home to some of our areas most stunning wedding venues. The historic architecture of these incredible mansions can provide an incredible setting for a spooky version of your “I do’s”! Check out BOLI Preferred Vendors Westbury Manor, The Mansion at Oyster Bay, Chateau at Coindre Hall, or Bourne Mansion.

• MORE: 8 Trends for 2024 Long Island Weddings

Sometimes brides choose to change into a reception gown or a party dress after a ceremony.

Choosing your wedding gown is a big deal. You may have been dreaming of the perfect gown even before you got engaged. But sometimes, for whatever reason, you change your mind when you’re in the store. You get encouraged to try on a different style and fall in love with it. But that itch in the back of your mind keeps going back to your original look. Well, guess what? There’s no hard and fast rule that says you just need to have ONE wedding gown for your big day! In fact, brides are now choosing to change from a more traditional gown during their ceremony to more of a party dress for their reception. Here are seven reasons why you need a reception gown!

You Just Want to Dance

Let’s face it! Sometimes, those beautiful gowns can be a handful. Whether you have a tight mermaid look, or a princess ball gown, they can get in the way – and you just want to dance! This is the perfect opportunity to debut a more fun, shorter and easier-to-move-in party dress. Because it’s your party and you’ll dance if you want to!

MORE: 6 Things to Wear When Dress Shopping 

You Found the Perfect Gowns

Yes, that’s right – gowns, plural. It happens. You fall in love with one, but you try on a few more just to see and you fall in love with another one! If it’s in your budget, we say splurge and get both – especially if they are completely different styles that fit your personality perfectly!

You Want to Make a Statement

If you’re all about making a statement, this could be the perfect way to make it – a reception gown. Perhaps you want something traditional in white for your ceremony, but white is just not your color. Why not get a second gown for your reception that is colorful or has pops of color that are bound to make a statement?

MORE: 7 wedding gown options that will set you apart 

You Like Shorter Dresses

If long gowns aren’t your thing, but you do want to be traditional for your wedding ceremony, then getting a party dress for your reception is the obvious choice. Something shorter and more your style will be the perfect way to make your entrance.

It’s Hard to Move (But You Love It So Much!)

Some dresses are just so gorgeous you can’t say no when you try it on. But then reality sets in, and you realize that it might be hard to move in or even uncomfortable to be in all night. Getting that reception gown will be key here, so you can move easily throughout the night to mingle with your guests.

MORE: 15 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Gown 

You Want More Photo Ops

More dresses, means more photo ops! Heck, you might even want your future spouse to change it up too! This will leave you with more fun memories to look back on.

You Just Really Love Dresses

Or maybe you just really, really love dresses. This is your opportunity to splurge and showcase two beautiful dresses for all of your loved ones to enjoy. And the perfect opportunity to just own more dresses!

Still undecided on what kind of gown you might like? Here are some options.

Your “big” day doesn’t necessarily require a “big” party. Here’s how to make a small wedding guest list.

Every bride’s ideal wedding day looks different – some want a big, blowout party with everyone they’ve ever met in attendance, and some want a small, more intimate gathering with a handful of close family and friends (PS: whatever your preference, your wedding is going to be beautiful).

But if your picture perfect day is “small and more intimate” rather than a “big, blowout party,” you might run into a few snags while putting together the guest list. Who makes the cut? What number even counts as “small,” anyway? Before you order those invites, here are some tips on making a small wedding guest list.

• MORE: The Best Parts of Planning Your Wedding, According to Real Brides of Long Island

Talk it out

As with everything wedding-related (or life-related), communication is vitally important. Sit down with your fiancé and make sure you’re on the same page. Confirm that your ideas of “small” match – small may mean 20 people to you, but 120 people to them.  

After you’ve put some preliminary numbers in place, start making a list of the people you absolutely want in attendance. This could include only family members, mostly close friends, or a combination of the two. If this list is bigger than the number you originally had in mind, consider budging on your limit. If it’s a lot bigger, go back to your list and decide where to make some cuts. Keep in mind that you WILL get declines – even from people you don’t expect. 

You might also want to discuss your small guest list with parents (especially if they’re footing most of the bill). While your wedding is YOUR day and YOU get to call the shots, your parents may have a few people they’d like to invite. The key words here are “a few” – if their list is longer than yours, remember to communicate your wishes for a limited guest count. 

Make a B List

Once you’ve nailed down your “must-haves,” put together another list of friends and family that you’d invite if you were considering a bigger wedding. Again – you will likely get declines (even with a shorter invite list), so having a few more names as a backup is a good idea. Don’t forget to order a few extra invitations for this purpose!

Let everyone know

Sure, getting a wedding invite in the mail is always an honor. But as wedding trends change (and as they get more and more expensive), people have begun to realize that being excluded from your guest list isn’t the biggest offense in the world – remember when Covid restrictions forced brides to UN-INVITE guests to their weddings?

If a lot of people in your life are already married, they’ll probably remember that planning a wedding is a huge undertaking and understand your desire to keep things small. There are obviously exceptions to this sometimes, and every family member, friend, and situation is different, but for the most part your loved ones should accept your decision without any drama.

When discussing your wedding with friends and family who aren’t on your guest list, explain your plans for a limited and more intimate gathering. You can even include this information on a wedding website or in a social media post. If you’re upfront and honest about your smaller wedding, your friends and family won’t be so surprised when their mailbox is empty.

• MORE: How Do You Address Your Wedding Invitations? Here are All the Ways

 

Consider a destination wedding

Destination weddings usually have an inherently smaller guest count, just because most people can’t commit to traveling. If narrowing down your invite list has become complicated and fraught, consider saying your vows somewhere away from home. Even if you’ve got a bigger list than you’ve planned, it’s likely that the vast majority of those you’ve included will decline. 

• MORE: 7 Reasons to Have a Destination Wedding

Make your wedding virtual

Most of us have become very comfortable using video conferencing services like Zoom and Google Meet over the last few years. If you’d like to share your ceremony with a larger audience than you can invite, consider live-streaming your “I do’s” so friends and family can be there virtually. 

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.

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.”

MORE: What is a wedding content creator? 

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.”

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

“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.”

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

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

As amazing as the East Wind was for our annual soiree, it’s an even better choice for your wedding day.

While wedding planning can be stressful, it can also be fun. This is why the Brides of Long Island holds its annual soirée every year! One, we want our brides to kick back and enjoy themselves. And two, we just love planning weddings! Which is why choosing the perfect venue is key. Each year, we tour Long Island’s most beautiful venues to find the best spot to bring our vision to life. And this year, the Estate at East Wind, a BOLI preferred vendor, was the ideal place to host our Kentucky Derby-themed soirée.

“We were thrilled to host the BOLI soirée this year,” says Charlotte Cote, director of marketing at East Wind Long Island. “The Estate at East Wind is our premiere property, and we couldn’t wait to see it transformed with this year’s theme – and filled with BOLI members.”

But just how did we settle on the Estate at the East Wind – especially when the East Wind has so many options for brides to have their weddings? First, we chose our theme. We had this idea for the Kentucky Derby, and how exactly we wanted to decorate. We also knew so many of our lovely brides were going to want to attend – so we needed a space that could accommodate hundreds of them.

“Once we choose our theme, it’s a matter of how we get to bring that theme to life,” says Heather Cunningham, founder of BOLI. “We knew the Estate at East Wind would be the perfect place to help us throw the best Kentucky Derby-themed party for our brides.”

MORE: With Five Different Spaces, Shoppes and More, East Wind Long Island Offers Brides Plenty of Options

One of the great things about the Estate is that you have the whole venue to yourself – which was key for our soirée. By hosting one wedding at a time, their dedicated staff is focused solely on catering to their brides and grooms.

“When brides choose the Estate at East Wind, they can rest assured that our staff will be waiting on them throughout their entire wedding day,” says Cote. “We have the best staff that handles everything, all brides have to do is relax and enjoy themselves.”

The building itself features an outdoor area for a ceremony, and a very spacious area that is both indoors and outside for the cocktail hour – which means plenty of seating for all of your guests. We knew that this space was going to be perfect to set up all of the generous raffles donated by our preferred vendors. The reception area has plenty of room for up to 300 guests with a spacious dance floor to get your groove on all night. There’s also space for a photo booth or any other fun extras you can dream up for your big day.

Some other amazing features of the estate include the beautiful foyer where guests can sit to take a breather from dancing or just warm up by the fireplace in the colder months. And the Estate at East Wind has its own parking lot, so guests can run out to their car if they forget something – that is if they can tear themselves away from the amazing wedding fun!

MORE: 39 Questions to Ask When Touring a Venue

But let’s talk about food! While space is always key when we plan our soirée, so is the food! And the food at the East Wind does not disappoint. The cocktail hour alone features so many food options that your guests won’t even know where to begin! To start, we suggest the Asian station! From the veggie spring rolls to the stir-fry steak or chicken, guests are sure to come back for seconds. Or maybe they’ll head to the American station, complete with corned beef or pastrami sliders and pretzel twists and fries. And we can’t forget the delicious Italian station that features two pasta choices and out of this world stromboli and garlic knots! Of course, these are just some of the few options that the East Wind offers when it comes to the cocktail hour.

“The food at East Wind Long Island is just off the charts,” says Cunningham. “I was so excited to share this space with our brides so they could see just all that the Estate at East Wind has to offer!”

Dinner choices are also important – from the New York strip steak to the grilled pork chop – you can’t really choose wrong when it comes to entrees. The best part? Guests don’t have to worry about choosing just one entrée. At East Wind, they offer seconds of the entire menu for you and your guests to enjoy.

And we can’t forget dessert! We suggest the ice cream bar where guests can make their own sundaes (and go back for more if there’s room)!

While the Estate at East Wind was the perfect choice for our BOLI soirée this year, it’s an even better choice for your wedding.

“The Estate at East Wind offers a rustic charm with modern luxuries,” Cunningham says. “Something that was important not only for our soirée this year, but also for our brides’ wedding days.”

MORE: Meet the BOLI Soiree Vendors

Aside from the delicious food and the beautiful space, the staff at East Wind Long Island is a pleasure to work with. They were great at communicating with us throughout the planning process, answering all of our questions in a timely manner. When it came time to pick the menu, it was so tough with so many delicious options, our consultants helped us choose the best ones. Of course, they were so accommodating with any of our special soiree requests. And on that night, the bartenders were fast and friendly, and the day of staff went above and beyond to make our night great, which is so important for all our brides. We know that you’ll be in great hands on your wedding day at the Estate at East Wind.

Your wedding day has come and gone, and now it’s time to thank everyone! Here are the do’s and don’ts of writing your thank you cards

Every moment of your wedding was magical, from your walk down the aisle to your last dance of the night. And one of the aspects that made it so special was sharing those unforgettable moments with your friends and family, most of whom showered you with gifts and well-wishes.

Now that the bridal dust has settled and you’re enjoying that post-matrimonial glow, it’s time to think about writing your thank you cards. Whether your guest list packed the room or you opted for a more intimate gathering, thanking those that took time out of their lives (and let’s be real, money out of their wallets) to celebrate you is vitally important.

The thought of tackling a mountain of cards can be intimidating (especially after conquering the epic undertaking that was your invitation suite). Here are the do’s and don’ts of writing your thank you cards – following these tips will help the daunting task go smoothly, and will show your gratitude to those that attended your big day!

• MORE: 8 Registry Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

DO: Pace yourself

Writing thank you cards can be very time consuming, even if you’ve got a smaller guest list. Traditional etiquette dictates that you have up to a year to send out your thank you’s, so you don’t have to rush the process.

Before you pick up a pen, set a schedule for yourself – aim to write a certain amount of cards per day (or week, or weekend) and before you know it, you’ll have your whole guest list tackled.  

DON’T: Try to write all your cards in one sitting

It can be tempting to sit down and try to barrel through your thank you cards all at once. But trust us – after a while your hand will start cramping, your phone will start buzzing, and your new spouse will start bugging you for attention. 

Consider the act of writing your thank you cards as a way to remember your wedding – with each card you write, you can relive a little piece of your “best day ever.” Who’d want to rush that? The more time you take writing your thank you cards, the more you can remember how each guest impacted you. 

• MORE: How Do You Address Your Wedding Invitations? Here are All the Ways

DO: Write something personal in each card

“Seriously? What if I had 300 guests?” Yes, girl – you should still write something personal in each card (that’s why we say to pace yourself!) It doesn’t have to be a novel, but it should be a sentence or two – in your handwriting – that thanks them for their specific gift and their presence.

DON’T: Rely on pre-printed, generalized messages 

We know it would be a thousand times easier to purchase a package of cards with a simple “thank you for coming to our wedding!” already printed inside. But putting in the effort to write something personal will show your guests that you truly appreciate the time, effort, and money it took to attend your wedding.

This doesn’t mean you should avoid a more generic, pre-printed message altogether – just be sure to add at least a sentence or two on your own. 

DO: Try to get your thank you cards out on time

Remember what we said above? You have a year from your wedding date to get your thank you cards written, mailed, and delivered. That may seem like plenty of time, but life can get in the way pretty easily. This is why setting a goal of a completing certain amount of cards per week is a good idea. 

Aim to have all your thank you cards out within 6-8 months of your wedding. That way, if unexpected events pop up (and we guarantee they will), you’ll have some breathing room if you miss a few weeks here and there. 

DON’T: Give up if a year has passed

Ever heard of the phrase “better late than never?” If you’ve celebrated your one year anniversary surrounded by stacks of undelivered thank you cards, don’t fret. Sure, traditional etiquette says you’re out of time, but those thank you cards aren’t going to disappear into the ether once you take a bite of your frozen wedding cake topper. 

The important thing about thank you cards isn’t the timing, it’s the sentiment. Even if they’re late, your guests will still appreciate a thank you card – we promise. 

DO: Send a thank you card to everyone who attended

If they walked through your venue doors, they get a thank you card. You don’t have to write a card for each individual member of a family – just one card per household will do – but be sure to include everyone in the party in your greeting!

DON’T: Leave someone off the list if they didn’t bring a gift

We totally understand how hurtful and offensive it is to not receive a gift from an attending guest. But as we’ve talked about before, you never know someone’s financial situation (even if you think you do).

If certain guests showed up empty-handed, it doesn’t mean that coming to your wedding was without expense – childcare, transportation, accommodations, and travel costs can all add up VERY quickly. You should still send those guests a thank you card, expressing your gratitude for their presence!  

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Getting to the big day is (almost) as fun as the big day itself! We asked real BOLIs “what’s the best part of planning your wedding?” Here are their responses.

Whether it’s two weeks, two months, or two years out, you’ve got a laser focus on your wedding day. All of your free time has been spent searching for vendors, scrolling Pinterest for inspo, and trying to put your seating chart together like a wild mathematician trying to solve an equation. There’s A LOT that goes into planning your big day, and trying to stay on top of your “I do” to-dos can feel a little overwhelming. 

But have you ever stopped to think – hey, this is actually a lot of fun? While wedding planning can be incredibly stressful and time consuming for some (let’s be honest – MOST), others find that they enjoy the planning of their weddings even more than they enjoy the big day itself. 

So we asked a few real BOLIs “what’s the best part of planning your wedding?” Here’s what they had to say:

• MORE: 8 Trends for 2024 Long Island Weddings

Research, research, research

One anonymous BOLI loves the thrill of the search. “My favorite part about wedding planning has been the exploration and research aspect,” she said. “Looking into vendors, and then figuring out which one is in my price range then which would be a good fit to our personalities. I am a planner in general, so the planning and researching has been my favorite part. Making the final decisions not as easy but once they are made I have always known it was the right decision.”

BOLI Maggie agreed. “Researching all the different vendors has been the best part for me. It was a lot of fun looking for our venue – I looked through the BOLI Preferred Venues and scheduled a few tours based on that list. We did the same thing for our photographer and hair & makeup artists. Looking through all the pictures and deciding what I liked was more fun than I initially thought it would be!”

DIY Dreams

For BOLI Jennifer, adding personal touches to the day was especially meaningful. “Making all my decor myself was one of the best parts of planning my wedding,” she said. “My mom and I designed and put together my centerpieces, she made pew bows for the church, I made all of my table numbers and signage. If there had been more time, I would have made things like my escort cards and maybe even my invitations. DIY is time consuming but it’s really rewarding, and it makes your wedding that much more special and personal. It’s not for everyone, but it was important for me.”

Another anonymous BOLI agreed. “We DIYed everything. I even made my own dress,” she remembered. “There were times when it was more stressful than just hiring someone to do everything, but when all was said and done, I’m so glad we did it that way. Overall, it was my favorite aspect of planning.”

• MORE: 9 DIY Ideas That Any BOLI Can Tackle

Bonding time

BOLI Lauren enjoyed the experience of bonding with friends and family. “For me, there was no one part of wedding planning that was my favorite, but in general it was getting to spend time with my bridesmaids and my family members,” she said. “Dress shopping I remember specifically. It was so wonderful to have my mom there and my best friends, some who I’ve known since Kindergarten. Everyone was drinking champagne and laughing and having a great time. I created a core memory that day. I remember it more than I remember some parts of my actual wedding.”

Counting down the days…

Listen, wedding planning isn’t going to be super enjoyable for everyone. If you’re not exactly having the time of your life, that’s okay – putting together a big event is a monumental task, and involves a lot of moving pieces you have to coordinate (not to mention stress). 

“It would be hard to pick a ‘best part’ of wedding planning, because honestly it’s all been very stressful,” said one anonymous BOLI. “Everything is super expensive. My family doesn’t really get along well, so I’ve had to pick and choose what person I invite to this event and what person I invite to that event. I’ve cancelled a few vendors because I wasn’t happy with what I saw or some other issue. Just get me to the wedding day already! 

• MORE: I Cancelled a Vendor and it was the Best Decision for Me

There are many wonderful (and not so wonderful) parts to planning your wedding. As you journey towards the big day, remember to stay present and find the joy in the process!