58 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JANUARY 2018 58 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2017 58 LONGISLANDPRESS.CO M • SEPTEMBER 201-----------TUTU111
LONG ISLAND WEDDING GUIDE
Blending sands, L.I. style
Engagement tips from a newlywed
By TIMOTHY BOLGER
From the moment she said “well,
duh” to my Valentine’s Day
proposal, it was destined that a
couple who bonded over a mutual
love of the beach would host a
seaside wedding.
We’re just two years removed from
our nuptials, but it feels like just
yesterday we were picking our
menu and mailing invitations.
Besides my luck in finding my
soul mate, the most striking part
of the experience is how it opened
the floodgates to an eye-popping
amount of advice — some solicited,
most not.
“Enjoy this time together,” is the
best suggestion we heard repeatedly
while engaged. “Don’t get too
stressed out.”
Tips such as this are worth their
weight in wedding bands when
taking the plunge in the Long
Island region, which is consistently
ranked one of the nation’s costliest
places to get married. What follows
are the most useful lessons for
brides-and-grooms-to-be that this
reporter has gotten:
Don’t Try Keeping Up With
The Kardashians
Comparing weddings is futile.
Some will say you’re spending
too much on the reception than
needed for an event that boils down
to how much two people love one
another. At least twice as many
friends and relatives will suggest
additional expenses, from forgotten
invites down to the hors d’oeurves
selection. But the bling is always
going to be sparklier at the wedding
on the other side, even for those
planning weddings with oceanfront
views, versus those of us with mere
bayside venues. There are more
important things to worry about
when it comes to major life events,
which brings me to the next tip.
It’s Your Day, Do What
Makes You Happy
Want to skip the storybook
wedding, elope to Las Vegas in a red
convertible, get married by an Elvis
impersonator, and exchange rings
found at the bottom of a cereal box?
If that’s what you and your honey
are into, go for it. Because when all
the rice is thrown and the cake is
cut, all that really matters when the
night is done is that the two people
who exchanged those sacred vows
feel they celebrated their love the
most memorable way they saw fit.
And lastly...
Remember Why You’re
Getting Married
My smart, gorgeous wife has the
biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever
known, makes me laugh and is
an amazing mother. And by some
miracle she puts up with me.
Hopefully, everyone preparing to
walk down the aisle is reminded
as frequently as I am of why they
like it and put a ring on it. All the
contracts that will be signed with
caterers, photographers and other
vendors will make it all feel like
one big business transaction, but
despite it all, love is all you need.
Long Island wedding expos to watch for
Champagne and Sweets
Your hair will be tussled by the
breeze as you overlook a panoramic
view of the Great South
Bay, fingers interlocked with your
fiancé, envisioning your big day.
This lovely event, with a selection
of sweets and bubbly, features a
tour of one of Long Island’s famed
estates and wedding venues.
Timber Point Mansion, 398 Great
River Rd., Great River.lessings.com
RSVP 1-4 p.m. Jan. 13.
Windows on the Lake Wedding
Showcase
Have a blast while planning your
special day as you explore the
pristine grounds of this waterfront
catering venue! The views will
take your breath away as specialty
vendors attend to your every question
and concern. Live music, cake
tastings, prize giveaways, and complimentary
champagne will let you
experience the venue as if you were
already wearing white! Windows on
The Lake, 235 Lake Shore Rd., Lake
Ronkonkoma. windowsonthelake.
com $15. 12 p.m. Jan. 28.
Bellport Country Club
Showcasing their magnificent
grounds, including a rose garden
and beachfront gazebo, the country
club will be offering a chef’s
tasting, as well as giving guests an
opportunity to meet some of Long
Island’s most renowned wedding
vendors. Additionally, Absolute DJ
Entertainment will be performing
and demonstrating their services.
40 South Country Rd., Bellport.
bellportcountryclub.com RSVP
631-286-4227 12 p.m. Jan. 30.
Watermill Bridal Showcase
Trendy, inviting, and elegant, this
newly renovated private estate
will be showcasing their gourmet
catering services as well as
hosting introductions to premiere
wedding vendors. The live music
and prizes are only an added
delight! Watermill Caterers, 711
Smithtown Bypass, Smithtown.
watermillcaterers.com $20 6:30
p.m. Jan. 30.
Getting hitched on LI can be costly, but won’t cost your sanity if you remember why you’re taking the plunge.