Tino Sicha and the team at Tino Photography value diversity, efficiency, and artistry to create stunning imagery of your “best day ever.”
Image courtesy of Tino Photography
Any bride-to-be longs to find vendors who are truly passionate about their work, who consider each wedding they’ve booked as an opportunity to create beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime moments.
No one better exemplifies that passion than Tino Sicha of Tino Photography.
Photo courtesy of Tino Photography
“I began to play with the camera.” – Tino Photography
Surprisingly, Tino’s career beginnings didn’t take place behind a lens. “I was actually working for a US Senator in New York City, but once I began working, I realized that I didn’t like it. So instead I began to play with the camera. And through that process I discovered my passion for photography.”
After shooting his first wedding in 2011, Tino began to expand his professional horizons. “I used to shoot maybe 15 or 20 weddings a year,” he estimated. “Now we shoot 180, 200 weddings a year.”
Just as Tino Photography was growing exponentially, Tino met an invaluable member of his team – his future wife, Ericka. Marrying (literally!) his photography knowledge with her 15+ years as a bridal consultant, Tino and Ericka have an invaluable understanding of what makes each couple special, and know exactly how to capture that essence on camera.
Image courtesy of Tino Photography
“You want to recreate a moment.” – Tino Photography
Every wedding photographer has their own style, and Tino describes his as both editorial and documentarian. “With editorial style, you want to recreate a moment,” Tino explained. “But we choose the location, we choose the lighting, we choose the background, we choose what to do.”
Once the party starts, Tino steps back from the action while staying present and focused. “We basically document what happens without interfering,” he described. His speed and efficiency help him catch each intimate detail without drawing out the process. “I’m a very fast photographer. Once the opportunity comes to take pictures, we want to get it done.”
Image courtesy of Tino Photography
“I’ve done everything and because of that, I’ve experienced different things.” – Tino Photography
For a wedding professional with over a decade under his belt, it’s difficult for Tino to pick a single favorite memory. “I’ve done Nigerian weddings, Russians, Japanese, Chinese weddings, anything you can think of. The Greek weddings I’ve done have been very different from the way Nigerians celebrate, and so on. I’ve done everything, and because of that, I’ve experienced different things.”
Image courtesy of Tino Photography
“What can I do to still get beautiful results?” – Tino Photography
A challenge early in Tino’s photography career provided a realization, and helped him to develop a motto he still uses to this day.
“One day I was doing a wedding, and it started raining,” Tino remembered. “I ran under the roof and sat down on top of my equipment. But then I heard someone in the background say, ‘where is the photographer?’”
“That was a wake-up call for me. Yes it’s raining but I still have to work. So now, every single time I have a challenging situation, I ask myself ‘what can I do to still get beautiful results?’”
Image courtesy of Tino Photography
Wedding planning comes with questions – lots of them! Private Planning Sessions with Jeanenne La Bella of La Bella Planners can provide the answers, guidance, and support you need.
Image courtesy of La Bella Planners
It’s a familiar timeline for any bride-to-be: there’s the unbridled excitement when your fiancé slips the ring on your finger, the exuberant joy when you share the news with loved ones, all quickly followed by the daunting realization that you have to plan one of the biggest (and most expensive) events of your life.
The thought of wedding planning leaves many Brides of Long Island feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and exhausted – even before they’ve met their first vendor. And while hiring a planner to take care of every intimate detail would be a dream, for many brides on a budget, it just isn’t a realistic option.
That’s why Jeanenne La Bella, CEO and co-founder of BOLI Preferred Vendor La Bella Planners, has developed a new service that allows any bride to benefit from her vast expertise while keeping expenses manageable: Private Planning Sessions.
Image courtesy of La Bella Planners
“Every phone call that came in, we treated it like it was a five-million dollar wedding. And that is how we built our company from the ground up.” – Jeanenne La Bella, La Bella Planners
For Jeanenne, a recession opened the door to a different yet similar career path. “Post-college I entered into the PR world where I worked in luxury travel, so I got to travel around the globe producing events at these crazy five-star hotels while also publicizing them,” she remembered. “Then the economy tanked, I lost my job, and my mom and I started thinking about what I was going to do with my life. She said ‘why don’t we become event planners? Our family always asks us to plan events.’”
The mother-daughter duo opened La Bella Planners, planting the roots of an incredibly successful venture. “We worked our asses off. Every phone call that came in, we treated it like it was a five-million dollar wedding. And we built a company from the ground up.”
Jeanenne’s tenacity and dedication led her back into a more luxury-focused market, but above all else, she still values personal connection. “The client relationship always makes the wedding,” she said. “No matter if it’s a $75,000 budget or a $500,000 budget, the clients just make it so magical. We will go to bat for our clients any day of the week.”
“There has to be some way that I can help them.”- Jeanenne La Bella, La Bella Planners
With La Bella Planners firmly established, Jeannene began to brainstorm ways she could be of service to a wider community. “I have BOLI brides reach out, or brides that can’t afford our services, and I thought ‘there has to be some way that I can help them.’”
What she created was an affordable way for brides to tap into her knowledge and expertise: Private Planning Sessions. In either 60 or 90 minute virtual meetings, Jeanenne and/or a Lead Planner will offer suggestions and advice as you make your way through the planning process. “I can lay the groundwork to ease into wedding planning,” she explained. “We have hundreds of weddings under our belts, so clients can come to a trusted source and talk things out. If they bounce their ideas or suggestions off of me and I provide guidance, they might be able to solve a lot of problems themselves.”
“I think [a Private Planning Session] is a great opportunity for clients to come with specific questions,” Jeannene continued. “Like, ‘hey, I have my timeline blocked out, does this make sense to you?’ Or ‘How much time do you really need between getting ready and your first look?’”
Image courtesy of La Bella Planners
She can also be another set of eyes on all your important paperwork. “We’re really well versed in all [contracts],” she said. “I can’t promise that I’ll know the ins and outs of your specific contract, but we can go over everything and talk it through, and I can share helpful pieces of advice.”
Since January through April are quieter months in the wedding world, Jeanenne is excited to provide Private Planning Sessions during this window. “It’s a minimal amount of money to put towards your wedding planning, and I think brides would get a lot out of it. Even during our intake calls, clients generally say ‘Oh, this was really helpful.’ And that’s just the intake call.”
“We evolved together.” – Jeanenne La Bella, La Bella Planners
Jeanenne has been at the helm of countless gorgeous affairs, but one recent wedding stands out in her memory. “My favorite wedding that I’ve ever planned was actually a COVID wedding. She called me in January 2021, when we weren’t sure we were going to be allowed to have anything,” she described.
“The wedding was in June. It was outside on a private estate in Sands Point, New York. The reason we worked so well together was because we started with a concept or idea, and it turned into a concept that we developed together. Every time we had a meeting, things evolved. We evolved together. We understood that to do it this way would make things better and more beautiful.”
Image courtesy of La Bella Planners
“You have to go with your gut.” – Jeanenne La Bella, La Bella Planners
As a true expert in the field, Jeanenne has some valuable words of advice for Brides of Long Island. “Right after you get engaged, really sit down with your partner and discuss what your ideals and must-haves are,” she suggested. “This is a big endeavor, and an expensive endeavor. I understand that spending $50,000 on a party is a lot of money, but for $50,000 you’re getting a certain amount of things. Go in knowing what your must-haves are, but also be able to be a little bit flexible.”
Jeanenne also suggests listening to your intuition when choosing a wedding day team. “Talk to vendors who meet your expectations and who understand your expectations. There are a lot of vendors out there and you have to go with your gut. You know who the good ones are, and you have to really like them.”
To book your Private Planning Session with La Bella Planners, email contact@labellaplanners.com
Image courtesy of La Bella Planners
Whether it is a tropical location or just a place not on Long Island, there are plenty of reasons to have a destination wedding.
Yes, we know we’re the Brides of Long Island, but that doesn’t mean you have to get married on Long Island! There are some benefits of having a destination wedding. From saving money to choosing a location that’s important to you and your future spouse, the reasons for why couples choose to get married somewhere else other than where they live are endless. We spoke with a couple of BOLIs about why they chose to have a destination wedding.
Meika M. says when she and her husband planned their engagement party, they felt like it wasn’t worth the money they spent. “We were constantly greeting and catching up with people we haven’t seen in a while, and our engagement party flew by,” she says. So, she says she didn’t want that to happen at their wedding. By choosing a destination wedding, Meika says they were able to spend quality time with all of their friends and family.
(Photo courtesy of Adrian McDonald, of Weddings by Lexon)
“We had over 100 friends and family travel to Jamaica, where we had three days of events – welcome party, wedding, catamaran trip,” she says. “And everyone still talks about it eight months later.” Meika adds that they did spend less money on their destination wedding than they would have at home.
(Photo courtesy of Adrian McDonald, of Weddings by Lexon)
Meanwhile, Alyssa-Jean K. says her destination wedding was in Pennsylvania in cottages on a lake! “The place we chose was my husband’s family’s vacation spot,” she says. “In fact, the only other wedding held there was my husband’s mom and step-dad a few years earlier.”
She loved that everyone stayed the entire wedding, and they were able to have events throughout the entire weekend. And since the place was not an actual wedding venue, Alyssa-Jean explains that everything was DIY. She says she had to bring dinnerware and utensils, as well as all of the décor. And even made her own floral arrangements.
MORE: DIY Ideas Any BOLI Can Tackle
“The best part of my wedding is that so many friendships formed,” Alyssa-Jean says. “It was so fun and lighthearted, but it went by entirely too fast. I couldn’t imagine just having only five hours somewhere else.”
BOLI spoke with some of our preferred vendor honeymoon specialists to find out why couples choose to have a destination wedding, as well as what the benefits are. Christine Earls, of You and Me By the Sea Travel, a BOLI preferred vendor, says couples often choose a destination wedding because they want to enjoy their friends and family in a unique destination and have someone else take care of the all the details. In addition, she says couples can save money and get additional perks. “Resorts may include multi-day celebrations in the price, such as a welcome dinner, rehearsal party, ceremony reception and the after-party,” Earls says. “Having a destination wedding offers you more bang for your buck.”
“Guests often look at it as a vacation,” says Melissa Patane, of Melissa at Tripguy Travel, a BOLI preferred vendor. “It combines a wedding, spending time with loved ones and a vacation.”
Sam Yaffe, of Crafty Getaways, a BOLI preferred vendor, believes that couples choose a destination wedding because of the beauty of the location. “There’s just something special about getting married on the beachfront, in a gazebo overlooking the ocean, or the beauty of the sky and ocean at sunset,” says Yaffe.
Maria Aydag, of Luxury Travel by Maria, a BOLI preferred vendor, says ultimately, couples choose a destination wedding to have an intimate experience surrounded by their closest friends and family.
As for the benefits, Yaffe, Patane and Earls all say that destination weddings can be much cheaper than a wedding at a catering hall. “Not only is the couple saving on the wedding itself, they are in most cases combining their destination wedding with their honeymoon, equaling even more savings,” says Yaffe. Patane adds, “It’s a great way to gather your family and friends together for an extended time, instead of a four-hour party.” Earls says another benefit is that your event size can vary from a small gathering to an elaborate affair. She also adds that “a destination wedding could save you money and minimize the stress you would otherwise experience.” Aydag says that “It’s an opportunity to enjoy an entire week or long weekend with your loved ones.”
MORE: Questions to ask when touring a venue
If you’re contemplating having a destination wedding, BOLI’s preferred vendors have some advice for you. Book early! “Destination weddings, like weddings on Long Island, should be planned at least a year in advance, as dates fill up quickly,” says Patane. She also suggests enlisting the help of a travel advisor. “They can handle all of the travel arrangements, negotiate discounted group rates with benefits that can include free nights or upgrades,” adds Patane. “It takes the stress off of the bride.” Yaffe also suggests choosing a travel advisor who specializes in destination weddings, as they will often have contracts with hotels and resorts. They could offer exclusive amenities and perks, as well as help negotiate to ensure couples get the best price and inclusions.
“I would recommend working with a professional wedding planner, as well as a destination specialist,” Aydag says.
Earls says it’s important to plan ahead, especially if your destination is international. “Remember, everyone will have to have a passport.” She says you should have a few dates and times for your ceremony, this way you can make sure you get the resort of your dreams, as well as the desired site on the property. She also suggests considering a pre-wedding trip to see the resort firsthand. “At the end of the day, you want your destination wedding to be a celebration that everyone will remember.”
MORE: Preferred vendor honeymoon specialists
Brides of Long Island founder Heather Cunningham and Admin Simone McCrorey celebrated their birthdays with a dash of creativity at a perfect spot for any Long Island bachelorette
Is there anything better than having a birthday close to one of your besties? These familiar BOLI faces don’t think so! Founder Heather Cunningham (January 1) and Admin Simone McCrorey (January 3) blew out their candles together at AR Workshop Patchogue, surrounded by good friends, great food, and a lot of fun.
What is AR Workshop Patchogue? “We’re a DIY workshop, we offer DIY classes for groups or individuals,” said owner Liz Rongo. “We do wood projects, chunky knit blankets, pillows, gnomes…We always have fun stuff going on!”
For Heather and Simone’s celebration, each guest pre-selected their own wooden project to create – ranging from plank signs, round signs, framed signs, and photo display boards. Upon arrival, everyone found their labeled projects and began the fun tasks of priming their wooden pieces, “weeding” their stencils, and selecting colors of paint to use in their projects.
“I had such a great time with the girls at AR Workshop,” Heather raved. “It was so fun doing something other than a typical dinner ‘girls night out.’”
Simone agreed. “I’ve never done anything like it and it was the perfect way to celebrate our birthdays,” she said. “The staff is spectacular and did a great job of going step-by-step, guiding you through your creation. I’m not creative at all, and they made me feel confident in what I was doing.”
Of course, the night wasn’t just spent getting the creative juices flowing. Heather and Simone’s party guests were treated to an impeccably detailed picnic table set up from Long Island Lux Picnic (a BOLI Preferred Vendor) with gorgeous floral arrangements by Kristin Abby Studio, a delicious dinner provided by Giovanni’s, and adorably personalized cookies from EMS Custom Cookies. And let’s not forget the grand finale: a beautiful and delectable two-tiered birthday cake from Campbell’s Bakery (a BOLI Preferred Vendor).
“The picnic was beautiful and worked very well with the shop,” Simone observed. “My friends left commenting on how cute it was and how it looked like something they would see on Bravo or a Real Housewives franchise!”
“I feel like it was an adults ‘tea party,’ and what girl didn’t grow up loving a good tea party,” Heather added. “Not to mention the amazing photo ops for IG!”
AR Workshop Patchogue was the perfect setting for a BOLI birthday, but it’s an equally perfect choice for your local Long Island bachelorette. “We do a lot of bachelorette parties,” Liz commented. “The girls will start here and then head out into the village and finish their night. We always laugh because after they’re done with their projects, they all pile into the bathroom and come out looking like totally different people!”
If you’ve always dreamed of a little DIY flair on your wedding day, AR Workshop Patchogue is the place to create your own welcome signs and other decorations.
Liz also pointed out that at AR Workshop Patchogue, friends and family of any age can join in on the celebration. “If your entire party is at a bar, and you have a bridesmaid who’s underage, they have to miss out,” she explained. “Or maybe you have older relatives and the idea of staying out all night isn’t great. We’ll have girls come in with younger bridesmaids and their moms and grandmothers, and they spend time with them here, then they can all split up when the others head out into town. It’s a really fun and inclusive option.”
Not to mention that everyone leaves with a parting gift – that they created themselves! As Heather said, “I loved that we were all able to choose our own individual projects and that I’ll have a memory from the night on my wall for years to come.”
Venue: AR Workshop Patchogue
Picnic set up: Long Island Lux Picnic, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Florals: Kristin Abby Studio
Catering: Giovanni’s
Cookies: EMS Custom Cookies
Cake: Campbell’s Bakery, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
In Brides of Long Island’s Monthly “Mrs.” series, we profile some of our members’ unforgettable weddings. This month, we spoke with Ashley Sinkoff about how keeping priorities straight during planning helped lead to the best day of her life.
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
To say that BOLI Ashley Sinkoff had a smooth wedding planning experience would be an understatement. She says she’s very lucky that everything worked out – but credits her now-husband for helping to keep her head in the game along the way.
Delayed Engagement
Ashley says she and her husband Phil had known each other about seven years before they reconnected through Bumble. After four years of dating, Phil and Ashley got engaged in July of 2021. However, Phil’s engagement plans were changed due to torrential downpours. “He had this whole elaborate plan to bring me to Davis Park and propose on the beach,” says Ashley. She adds that he also had planned for their friends and family to be waiting at their house after the beach for a surprise engagement party. While the rain may have changed the plans, Phil didn’t let it dampen his spirits. Instead, “He just proposed in our home. I was down in the basement doing laundry, and he called me up to the living room where he was waiting on one knee with flowers,” says Ashley.
Ashley explains that they did end up having that surprise engagement party, though it was just postponed to the next day after they got home from brunch.
MORE: 11 Places to Take Engagement Photos on Long Island
Pre-Planning Helps
The delayed engagement is probably the only thing that ‘went wrong’ in their wedding planning. Before they even started looking at vendors, Ashley says she and Phil sat down to discuss how they pictured their wedding day – from what they wanted in a venue to how they wanted the actual day to play out. With those things in mind, Ashley says she started looking at reviews and photos on BOLI for venues that fit their picture perfect day. From that list, she and Phil settled on a few to look at in September, and eventually booked with the Mansion at Timber Point, a BOLI preferred vendor, for Oct. 15, 2022.
Ashley says booking the rest of the vendors went pretty smoothly. “We went with the Lessing’s package,” she says, which helped steer them in the right direction. She says she would use the BOLI page to look up the vendors within the package and ended up getting lucky with them. She also leaned on Diane from Timber Point, who recommended booking the photographer and DJ early.
“Honestly, we were very, very fortunate,” says Ashley. With a clear-cut picture of their wedding day, and a budget that they stuck to, they were able to stay grounded and really enjoy the planning process. “And we kept reminding ourselves that the important pieces of this day are us, good food, good music and the people we love being there,” she says. “We really tried hard to focus on that, and doing what we could to keep it positive.”
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
Maximize Party Time
Focusing on the day itself helped Ashley and Phil choose a DJ, probably the most important vendor to them. “For us, we wanted to have fun. We wanted our wedding to be a party. We wanted it to be light and fun and upbeat the whole time,” she says. “And really, the DJ is the one who controls setting the tone.”
According to Ashley, they immediately clicked with Absolute Entertainment, a BOLI preferred vendor, during their initial meeting. “They totally understood we didn’t want all of the traditional things incorporated. We wanted to maximize party time.”
MORE: “We offer everything in the land of fun.” Get Your Party Started with Absolute Entertainment
“Take a Pause”
With a fall-themed October wedding, Ashley says the day itself was fantastic. They had an interfaith ceremony using some of her husband’s family’s Jewish heirlooms, such as his tallit and kiddush cup. They also incorporated their beloved dog Randy with custom bar napkins featuring a drawing of his face!
But how did they remember the day itself? By taking a pause! “My husband and I made it a point that at every phase of the wedding we would take a pause.” Ashley explains that during those pauses, they’d just look around and take mental pictures of special moments throughout the day.
Ashley says they were surrounded by such love and positivity throughout the day. From her bridesmaids, who made everything they did fun, to her vendors, such as her limo driver at Sir Oliver and the MC at Absolute. “The driver was outstanding! At the end of the night, we had all of our stuff loaded in from Timber Point. He helped my husband unload everything into the garage when we got home!” She adds that the MC went above and beyond by always checking in on them to see if they needed anything throughout the night. “We were so grateful. We had so many people that worked really hard to make it such a great day.”
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
MORE: 7 Ways to Save For Your Wedding
Remember What the Day Is About
Ultimately, Ashley says remembering what the day was about helped her stay calm and stress-free. For any BOLI, Ashley says “I think that you have to remember that the day is about celebrating your marriage. It’s not about impressing anyone or keeping up with the Joneses. It’s a celebration of your marriage and your love, and this new chapter of your life.”
She also encourages other BOLIs to not sweat the small stuff – even though that’s really hard to do. And she adds “don’t go broke for a party!”
“It really is the best day of your life. No matter what it is. No matter how little or how much money you spend,” she says. “If you have your people there, and your partner, it’s going to be the best day of your life.”
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
Vendors:
Venue: Mansion at Timber Point, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Photographer: Park Ave Studio, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
DJ: Absolute Entertainment, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Florist: Ken and Eva’s
Hair: Get Glamorous – Keri Collins
Makeup: Jesella Beauty – Tamara DeBlasio, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Officiant: Church of Ancient Ways – Deb Viola, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Invitations: Truly Engaging
Dress: Bridal Suite of Centereach, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Cake: Rolling Pin Bakery
Tuxedos: Charles Tyrwhitt
Transportation: Sir Oliver
(Photo courtesy of Park Ave Studio)
Saying “yes” to the dress can be tough with so many gorgeous choices! Here are 6 of the most popular wedding dress silhouettes
Image courtesy of The Glenmar Studio
If the only mermaid you’ve ever heard of is Ariel, then you may need a little brush up on wedding dress silhouettes before you hit the bridal shops!
A “silhouette” is the basic outline of your gown. Big and bold or sleek and sophisticated, your wedding dress shape should reflect your personality and highlight all of your stunning features. We’ll go through the 6 most popular wedding dress silhouettes, and offer a few tips on selecting your dream gown.
1. A-Line
Image courtesy of The Glenmar Studio
A-Line gowns are among the most popular wedding dress silhouettes, and for good reason: the widely flattering cut contours your body in all the right places. A-lines are fitted through the top until the waist, where the skirt flares out into an “A” shape.
2. Ballgown
Image courtesy of Fade to Black
Your wedding is a chance to feel like royalty, so why wouldn’t you want to go big with a ballgown? Similar to an A-Line, a ballgown is fitted through top and waist, with a skirt that flares away from the body. But the flare will be more – ahem, intense – in a ballgown.
3. Mermaid
A mermaid silhouette will stay fitted throughout the body until the knee, where it will flare out. Mermaid gowns hug your curves and accentuate your waist and hips (hello, hourglass!)
4. Trumpet
Image courtesy of The Glenmar Studio
This ain’t band practice! Think of the trumpet silhouette as the mermaid’s cousin – it stays fitted throughout the bust, torso, and hips, but starts to flare away from the body around the mid-thigh.
5. Slip
Image courtesy of The Glenmar Studio
Slip into something sleek with this wedding dress silhouette. Slip dresses are made to fit like a glove, with a simpler yet classic shape.
6. Tea-Length
Feeling more whimsical? Or do you just really want to show off those Louboutins? A Tea-Length silhouette is the way to go! Plus, tea-length gowns are a lot easier to wear again after the big day.
What silhouette is best for me?
Above all else – YOU should feel beautiful in your gown. While certain cuts may emphasize different parts of your body, the most important factor in a wedding dress is that you love it and you feel gorgeous!
- Traditionally, A-Lines and Tea-Length gowns work well for pretty much any body type. The fitted waist and full skirt are great for plus-sized or pear-shaped figures.
- The bountiful skirt of a ballgown can add balance to a fuller bust-line.
- Mermaid and Trumpet shapes accentuate the waist and hips, and are a great option to “create” curves.
- The elegant simplicity of a slip gown pairs beautifully with a more intimate wedding.
Tips for choosing “the one”
- Do your research! Start scouring Pinterest, bridal websites, and magazines for dresses you love. Pin, screenshot, or photograph the ones that catch your eye, and bring those images with you to your first dress shopping appointment.
- Take a look through your closet and grab a few dresses you wear often. What silhouettes do these dresses have? Do they hug the body, or have skirts that flare out away from your hips and legs? Make note of your favorites and see if you can find gowns that are shaped similarly.
- Don’t be afraid to branch out! You may have your heart set on a mermaid, but change your mind once you try on a ballgown. Keep an open mind as you look through the racks!
Any New York resident 18 and older can preside over weddings, with a one-day authorization.
Have you always dreamed of your beloved Aunt Susan tying your knot? You’re in luck.
On Wednesday, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed off on a bill that allows any New York resident over the age of 18 to officiate weddings, a privilege that was previously reserved for clergy, members of the state judiciary, and elected officials.
Legislation (S.739A/A.6300A) revises the domestic relations law by enabling any adult resident to apply for a one-day state authorization, which would allow them to solemnize a single marriage on a specific day. The application comes with a $25 fee.
“Joining individuals in marriage is a beautiful moment that should be shared with an officiant selected by the spouses-to-be,” said Governor Hochul. “We are eliminating any barriers to becoming an officiant so that friends and family members can share such a meaningful time with loved ones of their choosing and have their marriage recognized under New York State law.”
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx) echoed Hochul’s enthusiasm. “Couples in New York will now have the opportunity to be married by their friends or family – allowing them to further engage their loved ones on their special day.”
Assemblymember Sandy Galef (D-Ossining) noted past complications with marriage legality, and expressed that the new bill will solve these problems. “People were using Universal Life ministers, online ministries, and being minister for a day,” she said in a statement to the New York Post. “And there were issues with that – with people getting divorces, or potentially somebody adopting a child.” In a press release, Galef continued by stating “New Yorkers joined in marriage by a friend or family member no longer have to worry about whether or not their marriage is legal thanks to this legislation.”
The new law also overturns a prior ban on federal judges officiating weddings. As long as they apply for the same one-day authorization required of other residents, they can help you say “I do.”
Brides of Long Island celebrated the news, after several years of advocating for the bill. “Brides should have always had the option of having a friend or family member marry them,” said BOLI founder Heather Cunningham. “It’s a very personal and special day, and it’s very important to many of our members to have an important person take that role.”
Applications will be reviewed by local officials as opposed to the Department of State.
There is no word yet of when this law will go into effect, or whether previous marriages performed by non-ordained officiants will be grandfathered in under the new terms.
Here’s our advice for selecting your bridesmaids: choose people you love. Period.
If there’s one thing that weddings bring out, it’s tradition. Suddenly there are tons of rules you’re expected to follow: you have to wear a white dress, you have to register for gifts, and you have to include your cousin Kaitlin in your bridal party – even if you’ve only met her a handful of times.
We’ve said it before (many times!) and we’ll say it again – your wedding is YOUR wedding, and you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do. And despite what your family and friends may tell you, that logic applies to selecting your bridesmaids as well.
Many brides feel obligated to include certain people in their bridal party for a variety of reasons. But we promise you – she shouldn’t be a bridesmaid unless you love her and want her by your side.
“She’s my family member.”
Great! Are you including every female relative in your bridal party? If not, the fact that she’s a family member shouldn’t matter. If you’re very close with certain family members, then by all means – tell them to get a dress and time off for the bachelorette trip! But simply being a member of your family isn’t enough reason to include them (that is, of course, unless you want to include them).
“She’s my fiancé’s sister/cousin/best friend.”
There’s no reason your fiancé’s close female relatives or friends can’t be in their half of the bridal party. If they’re closer to your fiancé than they are to you, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to be by their side instead? And as a reminder: the time has passed where gender norms dictate who can and can’t be included as a brides-person or a grooms-person.
If you personally have a close relationship with your fiancé’s relative or friend, or you just want them to be a part of your wedding festivities, then yes – consider them as you go about selecting your bridesmaids.
“She was my best friend in high school.”
Is she your best friend now? Listen – one of the harder parts of growing up is the realization that our relationships change over time. The person you once shared every waking moment of your life with is now someone you haven’t talked to in years. And that’s okay. You may have promised to be each other’s maids of honor during freshman year math, but you also promised to marry that boy in pre-school whose name you can’t remember. If your current friendship is almost non-existent, then she shouldn’t be a bridesmaid.
“I was a part of her bridal party.”
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to “pay back” anyone for being a bridesmaid. And just being real here – if she’s already gotten married and been a bridesmaid before, she may be relieved to NOT be in your bridal party (remember what a commitment it was to be in hers?).
Again – if you love her and want her by your side, then she should be included. But “I was one of her bridesmaids” shouldn’t be the only reason why you’re asking her.
“She’ll be mad if I don’t ask her.”
This reasoning may require some hard questions. Why will she be mad if she’s not included? Why is “she’ll be mad if I don’t” the only reason why you’re asking her? Depending on your own reflections, you may need to sit down and have a conversation with her. Honesty is always the best policy, and if you can have an open and honest conversation, you’ll both be in a much better place to address any issues and move forward.
“I need one more bridesmaid for both sides to be even.”
Respectfully – no one will notice if your bridal parties are uneven. And even if someone does happen to notice, we guarantee they won’t care. Weddings are a celebration of love and commitment. They’re not proof that you can pick an even number of people to wear matching suits and dresses.
“I’d rather have my male-identifying/non-binary friend in my wedding party, but I have to ask her instead because bridesmaids are traditionally women.”
Remember what we said above? Your brides-people should be those in your life that mean the most to you. If your best friend in the whole world is male-identifying or non-binary, there is absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t be standing by your side.
Bottom line: your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and it should be shared with the most important people in your life. Don’t let outdated traditions, supposed familiar obligations, or any other reason determine who you should select as a bridesmaid!
Your father-daughter dance doesn’t always have to bring tears to people’s eyes.
Is just the thought of dancing with your father on your wedding day bringing tears to your eyes? It doesn’t have to be sad though! Sure, you’re daddy’s little girl, but you don’t have to get that ugly cry face on such a happy day!
While there are a whole bunch of sappy songs out there, there are tons of songs that aren’t! Before you start scouring Spotify or asking Alexa for non-sappy father-daughter dance songs, take a look at this list. The experts at BOLI have compiled 12 non-sappy father-daughter song ideas.
“Brown-Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
“Father and Daughter” by Paul Simon
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
“Here Comes the Sun” by Beatles
“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye
“Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
“Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel
“My Girl” by Temptations
“Perfect Fan” by Backstreet Boys
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N Roses
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
MORE: 21 Perfect Songs for Parent Dances
The list is truly endless! If these songs aren’t your cup of tea, just think of songs that are special to you and your father. Maybe he took you to your first concert – choose a song by that artist. Maybe there’s a fun song you used to dance too when you were a child with him. There are no rules when it comes to father-daughter dances. It doesn’t matter if it’s fast or slow. This is your wedding and your rules. If you want to jam out to a rock or pop song for that father-daughter dance – go for it!
MORE: 7 Entrance Songs Guaranteed to Get the Party Started
And if you’re still at a loss to pick the perfect song, check with your DJ! They are sure to have great suggestions for you.
You’ve got the ring and you’re ready to go! Here are 5 reasons to have a short engagement
Image by RF Films
Can we skip to the good part? From the moment your fiancé got down on one knee, you were ready to walk down the aisle and become a wife. And while your friends and family may be urging you to take your time, there’s a huge part of you that just wants to slip on the dress, say your vows, and start the rest of your life together – right now.
Yes, it can be a bit stressful to plan a wedding in a short amount of time (especially on Long Island), but it can be done! And believe it or not, moving quickly does come with some big benefits. Here are 5 reasons to have a short engagement:
1. You could save a lot of money
Due to last-minute cancellations, vendors and venues will often have dates available that they’re looking to fill – and fast. If you’re not super picky, you could end up saving a few bucks by snatching an upcoming slot at a reduced price.
You also have a little more negotiating power if your wedding date is approaching quickly. Remember – the vendor you’re interviewing or venue you’re touring wants to book the date, and the likelihood they’ll do so is lower if that date is coming up soon. They may be more willing to budge on the price for that reason.
2. No time to “sweat the small stuff”
Almost everyone who has already been down the aisle says the same thing – don’t worry about the details and just enjoy the day. But that’s A LOT easier said than done, especially when you have plenty of time to debate the merits of roses versus peonies in your bouquet.
When you have a short engagement, you’re forced to make all of your decisions relatively quickly. And because you haven’t poured a ton of time into deciding on the smallest details of your day, you’ll be less stressed about every little thing going exactly the way you envisioned.
Image by Betiana Hurtado
3. You’re less likely to experience post-wedding blues
When you plan a wedding for a year or more, it quickly becomes a big part of your life. Your weekends and after-work hours are filled with vendor meetings, decor DIY sessions, and lots of Pinterest scrolling. Once the big day has come and gone (and there’s nothing left to plan or focus on) it’s very common for new brides to feel a bit down.
Short engagements are great because there isn’t a lot of time to “get used to” wedding planning. Without a years-long build up to the big day, you’re a lot less likely to feel like something’s missing from your life when all is said and done.
4. You can recruit help from family, friends, and your fiancé
Yeah, you’re fiancé can’t take a back seat on this one – a short engagement calls for all hands on deck!
When you’re limited on planning time, you’ll need all the help you can get. This can be a great bonding opportunity, and allow for your fiancé to be very involved in the planning process – maybe a lot more than they would have been if your wedding date was a year or more away.
5. You’ll be focused on what’s important
A wedding is a day, but a marriage is a lifetime. It’s easy to lose sight of that when you spend lots of time and energy focusing on just the day itself.
A wedding is a beautiful event because it signifies a union of love and commitment – not because you’ve devoted countless hours to choosing the perfect bridesmaids dresses or rehearsing your first dance. With less time to think about the minutiae of your day, you’re more likely to see (and appreciate!) the bigger picture.
