VENDOR REVIEWS: The W hotel - Lexington Ave

The W hotel was an awesome place to get ready for our wedding and also for our guests to stay. We were upgraded to an awesome suite (which came in really handy the day of for the girls to get ready in...it would have been tight in the smaller suite we had booked.) The Capone's were able to host their cocktail party the night before with plenty of space and a huge balcony for the many cigar smokers, in their suite. And the staff was just really pleasant and super efficient!
Thanks W!

Here are some pics of Gabe and his guys getting ready...a little different then my day of getting ready! :)

VENDOR REVIEWS: The Metropolitan Building

The Metropolitan Building is a FABULOUS space! We were so thrilled when we found it and I was so unbelievably pleased with how it turned out that night! It is a gorgeous space packed with one-of-a-kind antiques and has such a comfortable yet formal atmosphere. It took my breath away to see it all lit up that night, with the twinkly lights and candles glowing throughout the entire space. Pure magic! Carlos, who runs the show over there was great, making sure everything went off without a hitch! Thanks Carlos!!!
Here are some shots from various friends but mostly from Virgil Stephens. (click through for larger)

VENDOR REVIEWS: Hair & Make-up

So, I really lucked out with hair and make-up! I am not the kind of gal that does her hair and make-up every day, in fact some days, I may even leave the house with (gasp!) just some mascara and lip gloss on...So I was a bit nervous about finding the right person/people to do the job for my wedding day....I didn't want to look like a completely different person who Gabe might not recognize walking down the aisle.
Well, when Felicia brought up Beth Little, we sort of both looked at each other and weren't sure why we hadn't thought of it earlier...I wish Beth could have done everyone's makeup for the wedding (not that you all didn't look fabulous!) She just has a way of putting the perfect amount of gloss on your lips, sparkle on your lids and shimmer on your brow to not only make you look like a million bucks, but feel that way too. She was incredible, and super flexible in perfecting all the girls make-up. Thank you a ton Beth!
I was super lucky in the hair department as well, after speaking with my normal stylist who didn't seem that interested in working with me, I found Janessa from Soon Salon. I went in for my trial and LOVED it! She was great! She was so interested in not only making me happy, but making sure the hairstyle was perfect for my hair. She experimented and was super concentrated on getting it right! The day of, when I didn't have the pics from the trial with me, she remembered what we had done and even made it better than the trial! I couldn't have been more happy!! I loved my hair and was so sad to have to take it out!

So thank you to Beth and Janessa for making me and my special ladies look fabulous! Here are some shots (click for larger image) of the getting ready portion of the day.
(I'm not excited or anything).
...enjoy!

VENDOR REVIEWS: Photographer

A big huge THANK YOU to Virgil Stephens and his assistant Pete Riesett. They were amazing and so much fun to work with! We had a blast and they captured it all! I admit, I gave them a tall order (I won't mention my lengthy photo list, ha!) but they caught the emotions of the day and I am still going through the hundreds of pictures we got from them! Thanks guys -- you exceeded our expectations by a mile!
Here is my favorite so far! We'll send along the link to all the guests in a few weeks and you can watch the whole day unfold before your eyes! (And order some great prints as well!!)
Stay tuned for more vendor reviews!

VENDOR REVIEWS: Day of Coordinator

So our Day-of Coordinator, Tara Geremia from Exquisite Affairs Productions was amazing. She made sure that neither of us had any worries on that day and I really don't know what we would have done without her.
She was super organized, and knew exactly when to check in with us! She made sure all the details were set up according to our wishes and even made on-the-fly decisions based on her experience, which turned out to be perfect ones!
My favorite conversation was when she stopped by as we were shoveling food in our mouths before we got back out on the dance floor and it went like this:
Tara: You guys are having a great time, right?"
G&K: ABSOLUTELY this is awesome!
Tara: Great! So the cake cutting is coming up...still want to do it?
G&K: Nah...who needs it! We want to dance!
Tara: Yea, I thought so....I'll take care of it! Go enjoy your night!
And that was that! We nixed the cake cutting and danced the night away and she took care of it! She knew us and our style and adapted her gameplan accordingly! I repeat myself, but she was amazing. She not only is good at her job, but really enjoys doing it and it shows! Thanks Tara!!
(PHOTO credit: S. Kosloff)

Ciao

Hi all! We're back from our amazing two weeks in Italy! Just wanted to say hello and a quick but HUGE thank you to you all for making our wedding beyond perfect. We had so much fun and hope you did too! I'll be posting pics and some videos in the next few weeks from the wedding and event around it as well as our honeymoon!

Hope you're all well and look forward to seeing you all in the coming months for the holidays!

xxooxxoo

Mike Tanton (a.k.a Tanton, T-ton)

There's little I can tell you about Tanton. It's not because I don't know him well--he's been a close friend for 15 years--but because it's classified. Tanton works for the Federal Government. He leads the type of secret life that you only read about in spy novels. He lived at my apartment in NYC for a while and I let him practice his self-defense moves on me. He was able to knock me down using only his thumb. In return he let me wear his gas mask to the convenience store to buy a pack of gum.

I've seen Tanton's cop skills in action a couple times. One time in particular was when we were staying at a friend's place in Long Island. A drunk and disorderly (cop term) had been pool hopping and wandered into the house. Tanton wrestled with him and screamed "I am a cop." Meanwhile, I was searching the home for a camera in hopes to capture this dangerous event on film. The slippery guy kept squirming out of Tanton's clutches. Tanton eventually took the perp down and booked him. Truth is he may have me snipered for telling you that story.

Tanton has always been interested in foreign affairs--he's dated girls from all over the world. In college, after he got tired of American girls, he left and lived in Italy while others were scared to leave campus. Shortly after graduation, Tanton began his life as an international man of mystery. He has traveled extensively and had amazing experiences. His job conjures envy and fear at the same time. He's been to places on the map that most of us can't pronounce. You talk with Tanton and you say to yourself, "Wow. I need to read more." Tanton is fun to be around and has a smart sense of humor. He's a great conversationalist, even in Italian since he speaks it fluently. Oh, and he's recently engaged too. Of course, there are secrets that even Tanton can't hide. He's one of the only Americans who loves hockey and he has one of the worst tattoos ever. It's a caveman-like character with a lacrosse stick. It's on his lower back. Actually, I'm kidding, it's on his ankle. Ask him to roll up his tux pant leg and show it to you. Do it cautiously. Remember, he has been trained in several forms of self-defense, and who knows what else.

Weekend Itinerary

You'll get a hard copy of this as well if you're staying at the W! We can't wait to see you!!!
XO

DOWNLOAD THE ITINERARY HERE!

10 days!

MTWP: Kevin Dunn (Dice, Dunn)

An old joke from Andrew Dice Clay goes something like this, "Excuse me sir, is this the back of the line?" "No, it's the front. We're all standing freaking backwards."
Dice responds and then he snaps open his lighter and ignites his cigarette. Those sharp (and censored for this publication) words are the type of response you can expect from Kevin Dunn. He's been known to channel The Dice Man from time to time and in fact his rugby nickname in college was Dice. Dunn has that sort of brash and blunt sense of humor that catches people off guard. You find yourself saying, Did he just say that? And then when you realize he did, you laugh until it hurts. Dunn doesn't pull any punches. He tells you what he thinks. Whether you agree with him or not is inconsequential. I've always admired his gusto and sometimes his acerbic observations are the slap in the face you need. And since Dunn tries to be brutally honest with people, I'm following suit with this write up.
Dunn can drink. I'm not talking about a few beers and shots. That's for the tourists. Dunn puts booze away like a squirrel puts away nuts to get ready for a long winter. The distributors of Gran Mariner (one of his favorites) called him and said, "Please stop. We can't keep up." I once saw him drink Wild Turkey like it was coca-cola and then he chased it with more Wild Turkey. You get the idea. He likes to party, he likes the nightlife. We've known each other since college and shared a lot of good times. He is a lot of fun to be around and he wants everyone around him to have fun. Talk to him at the wedding. I'd be willing to bet you'll laugh. Of course, Dunn and I have had a few bad times together. Like the time I saw him with his shirt off. Not pretty. In fact, that inspired the following Dice joke just for him: What's the difference between Dunn's upper body and a sweater? That's what I say. What's the difference. Ohhhhh!

MTWP: Mike Vorrasi (Vorrasi, Verspuci)

In the song Maggie's Farm, Bob Dylan belted out Well, I try my best/To be just like I am/But everybody wants you/To be just like them. These lyrics are an accurate depiction of Mike Vorrasi. He is not one of the crowd. He's different. And he always views things from an unexpected angle. These are the traits that I like about him and why we've been friends for almost 15 years. Plus, it's a perfect way to be since he is a professional photographer. He's more interested in looking in than fitting in. The subjects of Vorrasi's photos range from rock bands to rocky terrains. He has the ability to capture the essence of these people and places and his stills are always engaging. Vorrasi does have his quirks. He has a strange fascination with Amanda Bynes' movies (I've never even seen an Amanda Bynes' film) and is prone to using sun tan lotion as a hair product. I've seen him dance in the middle of a crowded street. I've seen him strike up conversations with strangers. I've seen him drop his pants at parties, and it wasn't even that kind of party. Needless to say, Vorrasi is a source of entertainment. However, you're not laughing at him, well maybe sometimes, but you're laughing with him. He enjoys life. He likes to have fun. I don't see anything strange about that. So if you smell a guy who reeks like the beach and see him snapping photos, then you've stumbled upon Vorrasi. You'll have a great time talking with him. For a serious conversation, bring up his idol and the only other subject he likes to talk about as much as photography--Bob Dylan.

1 month away!

In exactly one month, we'll all be together celebrating!!! I can't even explain how excited we are!

The RSVP'S are rolling in! And I'll tell you what - it's going to be quite a PARTY!!!

But we are still waiting on quite a few! So if you think of it, send it along! (And I've gotten some requests to keep the postcards, and I can certainly give them back once the affair is over with, but for now I would love to have them all back!!!)

Can't wait to see all your happy faces!
Many xxx's and ooo's!

MTWP: Chris Tanoff (aka Tanoff, Crit, Crit Dog, Casino)

Tanoff likes to keep things even. He doesn't let his emotions get the
better of him. He would have been a great big league pitcher. Too bad
he throws like a little girl. Actually he has good arm, especially
with a whiffle ball, and is athletic and competitive. He's also a dyed
in the wool Yankee fan. I've known Tanoff since the first week of
college and we've been great friends since. After graduation, we even
lived together for a while in NYC. That's where I learned that Tanoff
takes more showers in a day than most people take in a week. Oh, and
by the way, don't touch his hair. He expertly sculpts his follicles
and encases them in some form of lacquer.

Tanoff has an approachable demeanor and people trust his opinion. I
think it's because he is a straight-shooter with a good sense of
humor. And if you want someone to plan something for you, then Tanoff
is your man. He makes plans and sticks to them. I swear he even
planned the date of his son's birth. Tanoff's lucky number is 23. His
son, Christopher, was born on 3/12/08. If you add up 3 + 12 + 8, you
get 23. That's no accident my friends, especially if you ask Tanoff.
He'll tell you he made that baby on purpose.

Tanoff considers all the angles. That explains his skills at Black
Jack. If he wasn't working at AIG, I could see him dealing cards and
cracking wise at the high-rollers table. He'd be sending home the
players with their heads down and their hands in their pockets. If he
busts out a deck of cards at the wedding then watch out suckers. Last
thing, ask Tanoff how tall he is. He's 5'11 and a half, but always
says he is 6 feet. You know why? Because 6 is an even number.

the countdown begins....32 days!

Yay!!!! We are so excited!!!!!

We've been busy little bees getting everything finalized and all the details worked out...we've been on the hunt for out-of-the-ordinary ideas and really unique details that will make this day perfect!

....attached are some of our wedding day finds, as well as some "decoys" -- I can't give it all away!!!

Cupcake Tasting!

Thought I'd post some images from our cupcake tasting a few weeks ago! Yummm!

We are happy to say we'll have SugarSweetSunshine cupcakes at the wedding!
Thanks to Peggy for meeting with us and letting us try all the delicious flavors!

MTWP: Brooke Tyson

Brooke and I met 6 years ago almost to the day when Gabe and I were at his parents house in LBI -- Brooke and Chris, her then fiance, came to visit for labor day -- I was super nervous as Gabe spoke so highly of both of them that I was nervous that if they didn't like me, Gabe and I were not to be. But low and behold - it was a great weekend, kites were flown, seafood was eaten and much wine was drunk. It was a perfect weekend - except for the rain.

A lot has changed since that weekend, Brooke and Chris are now happily married and parents of two of the cutest little boys - Chase, our ringbearer and their newest addition, Andrew and live on the left coast in sunny California.

One of my favorite memories with Brooke, was when we went to visit soon after they moved to Cali a few years ago and we decided to have our own little dance party while Gabe and Chris were smoking cigars on the patio - yep, we danced for a good solid hour at least and even made up our own signature dance "One leg up, One leg HIGHER" - If you're lucky maybe you'll get to see an encore performance of it at the wedding...Although, I think Gabe and Chris would like to put that memory behind them - they did not love our dance moves - I don't know why though.

I am so happy to have Brooke, she has great insight, is super-smart and offers really great advice, which I find priceless in a friend. You'll recognize Brooke right away with her stylish sensibility, her bright smile and her great personality. I believe she was once famously described as "a lovely pink horizon." Ask her about that story - it's a good one! ;)

Cupcakes!

Hey there! New poll added today! What's your favorite cupcake flavor? As most of you know, we're having cupcakes instead of a cake, cause, well, cupcakes are better! ha!

Let us know your favorite flavor cupcake, and who knows, maybe your favorite will be ours, too and show up at the wedding!

AC

AC
7.27.47 - 4.21.08
You are in our thoughts daily and are truly and deeply missed!

4 months and 1 day...

Although I know these last months are going to go quickly and once it's over I'll wish it wasn't.....but I just can't wait! Here's an inspiration board I've been working on since we'll be meeting with our florist in the next week to go over more in detail what we want.....More soon! (click image for larger view)

MTWP: Felicia

I've heard people describe Felicia as one of the most caring people they've ever met and I'd have to agree 100%. I'd also add she's so sweet and so sincere that you're almost unable to believe she grew up in Brooklyn and lives in NYC -- nothing against Brooklynites or New Yorkers of course, but most have an edge, that Felicia doesn't have -- well, unless you've been lucky enough to meet "Debo" but that's a story for another day...
We met a little over five years ago when I moved to NYC....Gabe and her husband, Chris (who you'll meet soon), were college buddies and old roommates. Felicia and I hit it off immediately and were fast friends! Soon after that, Felicia & Chris got married and we got to watch them plan their wedding....so needless to say, she has been so helpful in the planning of our wedding. Felicia is always so patient when I go on and on about wedding details, where most people have zoned out, Felicia is right there asking questions - coming up with great ideas and solutions and just generally knowing what to say and what I want (or need) to hear....good or bad!
Felicia was was a gymnast back in the day, loves to try new restaurants, has a very strong sense of family, always has a warm hug and a big smile to greet you, is a hardcore Yankee fan and is more knowledgeable about sports than most men I know -- go ahead ask her about college football (specifically Syracuse, her alma matter) and see what happens!
Felicia is also a brand new mommy, baby Christopher arrived on March 12, 2008. He's the sweetest little baby! So it should come as no surprise when I tell you not only is she a caring and wonderful friend, she's naturally an amazing Mom!

MTWP: Derek (a.ka. Deek)

I've heard people make fun of their brother-in-laws. I have to admit it's funny stuff. Unfortunately, my brother-in-law-to-be doesn't provide me with any material. We actually enjoy hanging out together. Derek is one of those guys who could be President. I'm not kidding. He's righteous, intelligent, charismatic, genuine, witty, and articulate. And he doesn't possess any of that political ambivalence or macho ego junk that other politicians seem to relish. He's even worked for a senator and still remains true to his beliefs. Having said all of this, I don't want you to get the impression that Derek is a straight-laced square. He can enjoy a good night out as much as the next guy, especially if the next guy drinks beer in bulk. Ask Derek about his affinity for large mugs of German lager and limoncello. His drinking skills are similar to the rest of his talents: impressive. I'm lucky to have him as a brother-in-law, friend, and groomsmen. Have I mentioned that Derek is currently in law school? Yeah, he's a driven individual who doesn't do anything half way. The one thing he doesn't do is give me what I need to make fun of him. Well, I guess nobody is perfect.

MTWP: Renee

My cousin Renee has always been a strong presence in my life. She is the cool cousin who we would wait by the window for when we were younger, we'd hear her car come speeding in the driveway and run out to greet her!! She taught me all the coolest things: shopping (in the good section of the mall), how to do my hair (we won't talk about the scar I have from the curling iron), how to wear makeup, funny curse words (my dad didn't like that part), showing us the latest trends (pegging your jeans, hello, priceless advice!) letting me borrow her clothes (I wore the "just another lizard for peace" shirt until it fell apart a few years ago!). There wasn't anything Renee wouldn't do for my brother and I. And now, she has become the rock of the family. We all gather at her house for holidays. She has the most amazing energy about her. Her daughters, who melt my heart whenever I see them, Grace (4) and Brooke (2), are non-stop balls of energy. But somehow, Renee seems to have triple their energy and is always two steps ahead of them. I don't know how she does it. Renee is always ready to hear a good joke, have a good laugh, offer up good ideas or even better advice. She has a natural nurturing ability and always makes sure to take care of the people around her. She's a cousin, and more like a sister to me than I ever realized. I'm so glad she'll be by my side on my wedding day, couldn't imagine it any other way!

Bridesmaid Dresses and other fun news....

One of these dresses is the official bridesmaid dress -- which one is it? You'll have to wait and find out....Now for the shoes? hmmmmm... any ideas?

And a few quick shout-outs!

Congratulations to Chris and Felicia (you'll "meet" them soon as they're both in our wedding) -- they welcomed their first baby, Christopher Robert into the world on Wednesday -- we saw him briefly over the weekend and he is just as sweet as can be! I'll ask the proud parents permission to post some pics first and then you can see how cute he is for yourself!

And...a long-time friend, Lisa got engaged to her boyfriend Mike last week in PARIS!! How lovely and exciting! Look forward to seeing them soon to congratulate them in person!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Photographer!

The photographer has been booked.....And he's awesome! We met him through one of the groomsmen, Mike V. who'll you'll meet soon... and have become friends with him ourselves!
He's Virgil Stephens! And he's great! Check out some of his work here!
Virgil is also the captain of the Aardvarks, the bike team that Gabe is a member of for the MS bike race. Not sure if you've heard, but they've recently been notified of their VIP status! Congrats Aardvarks!
Virgil is also a newlywed so knows first-hand what the day will be like and how to capture all those wonderful moments -- our first dance, the maid of honor speech, the best man hitting on the coat check girl -- you know, all those really special moments that we won't ever want to forget! ;)
But seriously, we are super psyched to have Virgil on board and know we're in good hands!

MAP

Hope this helps to give a perspective of where everything is located!
click on map to make larger or DOWNLOAD PDF HERE

Sign the New Guestbook!

Be sure to stop by and sign the guestbook!

Good things!

So if you haven't gotten it yet, you will very soon! The save the dates have hit the mail!
Also, the informational website is up and running and can be found here and the registry is ready to go! (type in one of our names and the password is 101808)
More exciting stuff is coming up:
We met with a florist and a photographer in the last couple weeks and are just finalizing details on that. Hope to share more info soon!
And the bridesmaid dresses have been picked...but that will have to be a surprise!!! A very good surprise!!
And a quick shout-out to the Keith over at the Cranky Pressman for doing an amazing job on printing the save the dates! They are better then I imagined! Thanks!

MTWP : Chris T (west coast)

Chris T (a.k.a. Isaac)
by Gabe

My closest friend and the sister I never had, Chris is one of the smartest, goofiest, charismatic, and appropriately dressed individuals that I know. He has a standing account at Tommy Bahama and is prone to adorning penny loafers while sockless. Chris is the only guy I know who buys a new outfit for each excursion (i.e., he purchased an entire fishing ensemble for a day at French Creek in PA). Beyond his unique fashion sense, Chris has a keen eye for finance and is a hot dog aficionado. What I’ve always loved about Chris is that he’s always remained true—no matter how much success he’s achieved or how much he’s traveled. Chris is a genuine individual who wants to make others happy and his generosity has no limits. I’ve known him for over 20 years and even though he lives 3,000 miles away among the orange groves, he’s still the greatest friend I’ve got. And lucky for me I am the Godfather of his young son, Chase. Chris’s status at the wedding is Colonel becomes he’s second in charge after my brother. Give him a salute and talk with him. Ask him to tell you one of the many stories from our youth that led his parents to question “Isaac, what’s wrong with you?”

UN HONEYMOOM SICILIANO

So, as we scoured the internet and asked friends and family about each honeymoon locale we were thinking of, we finally made a decision, by process of elimination....and the winner is: SICILY.

Woo-hoo! We are very excited to start the actual planning and booking of our very own Sicilian honeymoon....there will for sure be yummy food, delicious wine, amazing sites and much relaxation time!

Please pass along any tips on Sicily, we are especially looking for great restaurants!

By the way, Thank you all for voting on the site and giving us your opinions and well wishes for an awesome honeymoon! We loved talking to you about it and hearing your thoughts! Grazie a mile!

New Honeymoon Poll

Happy New Year!!!
Starting the new year off with lots of good stuff....we are readying all the info for the "Save the Date Cards" (hotels, registry, etc) and you should see them in your mailbox very soon!
Also, we have narrowed down our honeymoon locales to the 4 you see up in the right hand corner (new poll!!! vote now!!!).

COMING SOON TO A BLOG NEAR YOU:
-- Look for some fun videos of our own Honeymoon voting process coming soon!
-- More Meet the Wedding Party entries...we've got some good ones! ;)
Hope you're all doing well and ringing in the New Year right!