The Alternative Press

SPARTA, NJ – Brides and businesses gathered on Sunday at the Lake Mohawk Country Club to hopefully meet each other’s matches, in terms of brides finding vendors to help them make the wedding of their dreams become a reality.

Clear Channel Radio’s 102.3 WSUS, 103.7 WNNJ, and Max 106.3 coordinated the event.

“It’s a great opportunity for brides to come out; these are all local businesses,” Bob Dunphy, Clear Channel’s Market Manager, said.

Dunphy said Clear Channel oversees the event twice a year, in March, and October.

“Larry [Larry Patton of the Lake Mohawk Country Club] is a very gracious host, and, it’s [the Lake Mohawk Country Club] a beautiful setting,” Dunphy added.

Brides could find vendors for all of their needs under one roof, from wedding venues, to caterers, to bakers, to dress stores, to florists, to hotels, to photographers, and more.

Anthony Ziccardi Studios, Chrissy O Designs, and AAA, presented the show.

In addition to these three vendors, and the Lake Mohawk Country Club, other vendors included: Advisors Mortgage Group, LLC, All in the Icing, Brookside Florist, Cadillac, Cannon Gate Catering, Chef World, Inc., Courtyard by Marriott Rockaway – Mt. Arlington, Crystal Springs Resorts, D. Becker Photography, D’Andrea’s Jewelers, Enelda’s Happy Brides, Foundational Health & Fitness, The Gabriel Perry Salon, Global Productions, Grammy’s Chocolate and Fudge Parlor, Great Parties & Events, Hilton Garden Inn Rockaway, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Lafayette House, Lia Sophia, Mary Kay by Laura LaMura, Minebrook Golf Club, Rob Yaskovic Photography, Sew ‘N Sew Bridal & Tuxedo, State Shuttle, Riverview Inn, That DJ Guy Entertainment, Three Chicks Florist and Gifts, and White On Wheels.

Several of the participating vendors offered different ideas, and tips, as well as shared what services they can offer, when asked by The Alternative Press during the event.

“We have dresses for the brides, bridesmaids, mother of the bride, tuxedos, and custom made dresses,” said Genny Tierney, manager for Enelda’s Happy Brides. “We can customize any dresses. We can do rush weddings. We do outside alterations, and all our work is done in house.”

Tierney said it can take up to four months to order bridal gowns, and, if possible, brides should ideally allot that time into their calendars. However, brides can also find gowns off the rack in their store, from small to plus sizes, in all price ranges, and, with many different colors for bridal parties.

Janine Wheelwright, and Dave Marion, represented D. Becker Photography.

“We have 21 years of experience with strictly wedding photography,” said Marion, who is also one of the company’s videographers.

Wheelwright said several of the area wedding venues recommend D. Becker Photography as a preferred vendor.

She suggested couples that are shopping for a wedding photographer could review the recommendations, and accolades on the thank you cards D. Becker Photography has received for their work.

Wheelwright said brides and grooms should book the photographer they choose, at least a year in advance; and Marion said if couples would like the best vendor, they should book main vendors from events, such as the bridal show, otherwise, the quality in services typically declines.

Marion said, D. Becker Photography would schedule the couple’s special day to allow enough time to shoot the essential photographs first (such as pictures of the bride), in order for the couple to enjoy their festivities. Dennis Becker (who was off shooting a wedding the day of the show), books three hours in advance on the wedding day, to allow photos with the bride, said Marion.

Crystal Springs Resorts was another vendor at the event.

Danielle Serpico, Wedding Sales Manager for Minerals Resort and Spa, explained more about their services.

“We actually have four different wedding venues, that can accommodate all different types of guest, and price points,” said Serpico.

Additionally, between the Crystal Springs Resorts venues, there are seven golf courses, where wedding parties, and their guests alike, can play. The is a special wedding cellar, where wedding parties can choose a special bottle of wine among the more than 100,000 bottles available, or book a dinner, such as the rehearsal dinner, in the wine cellar. Serpico also said there are two spas, Elements and Reflections, where brides, and their wedding parties can go for pampering, and to have their hair done.

“We are the destination wedding in your own backyard, it’s a one stop shop,” Serpico said.

“We’ll do your teeth so you have a beautiful smile for your big day,” Alison Burnes of White On Wheels, a teeth-whitening business that will come to a person’s location, told the brides during her presentation. “We whiten your teeth at home, and it only takes 20 minutes.”

Burnes said for some clients, their teeth can brighten four to six shades from one treatment, and at the event, a bride who was a shade nine, ended up improving to a shade three. Burnes said shade one is the best level.

Pati Giunta of Brookside Florist of Vernon, was a vendor at the event, with daughter Rachel Steinbach, and has been in business for 25 years.

When asked if there is a suggested bridal floral package, Giunta said, “Everybody’s tastes are different. There’s something out there for everybody. And we do something for anyone’s budget.”

Giunta and Steinbach had a variety of bouquets, centerpieces, and more on their table.

And some of her floral arrangements are not so typical. One of them on display was a recreation of Kate Middleton’s bouquet in silk flowers. Giunta said she even fashioned a bouquet entirely of crystals, at the request of one of her brides, whose name was Crystal.

Giunta said the average price of her bouquets, and centerpieces, start at $45, and she has created some for as little as $15, including centerpieces at a recent wedding made from wheat sheaths.

Michele Semper, Pamela Brigante, and Donna McCourt, were Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants at the event, on behalf of Laura LaMura, Mary Kay Independent Sales Director.

“We offer the brides a free makeover, and also for bridal parties, and mothers of the bride,” said Semper, also a Mary Kay Independent Sales Director. “We try looks on for the wedding.”

Semper said skin care is priority one when preparing the big day. “Skin care affects the way your makeup goes on, and stays on.”

Some products she recommended for a bride’s wedding day included: foundation and foundation primer, oil mattifier (to keep the skin matte for up to 10 hours, she said), eye shadow primer, and waterproof mascara.

Semper said brides should avoid too much shimmer, in terms of makeup, as it can cause too much light deflection in areas where brides do not want white, and difficulties for their photographers.

For a complete list of attending vendors, and their websites, click here.