In Brides of Long Island’s Monthly “Mrs.” series, we profile some of our members’ unforgettable weddings. This month, Shaina shares why BOLI Preferred Venue Tellers was the perfect backdrop for her June wedding, and how a unique item became the favor her guests couldn’t stop talking about.
(Photo by Studio 27 Photography)
When Shaina and Zachary got engaged in 2025, they never imagined they’d plan a wedding in under a year. But when an unexpected opening appeared at their dream venue, they didn’t hesitate, locking in June 18, 2026 on the spot.
Looking back, they say it was the best decision they made. Their wedding was a seamless, joy‑filled day supported by exceptional service and a vendor team they trusted completely.
A Second Chance Leads to a Sunset Proposal
Shaina and Zachary’s love story began with a swipe — a Hinge match in November 2024 that turned into something real almost instantly.
Their first date didn’t go quite as planned, though. “I actually accidentally stood him up,” Shaina laughs. “I fell asleep before we were supposed to go out for drinks. I woke up in a panic the next morning and texted him, profusely apologizing.” Zach gave her a second chance, and their five‑hour coffee date at Babylon Bean changed everything.
Even a long distance couldn’t slow them down. Zach was away with the Army in Georgia, but “Once he came home in January 2025, we’ve been inseparable,” says Shaina.
By June 2025, Zach knew exactly how he wanted to ask Shaina to marry him — during a trip to Lake Tahoe, with a sunset and a surprise. “He took me to this private beach with this big picnic setup,” she says. “I immediately said, ‘Zach, we have to get out of here — someone’s about to propose!’ He just laughed and said, ‘Actually, it’s for you.’ After that, I kind of blacked out, but it was perfect.”
Jumping Into Planning
After returning from Lake Tahoe, Shaina and Zachary dove into planning sooner than they ever expected. “We really didn’t think we’d get married as quickly as we did,” Shaina says. “We were just casually looking at venues, but we knew two things were non‑negotiable — we wanted an amazing party, and we wanted incredible food.”
With smaller families and a vision for an intimate, romantic celebration, they explored a few options before deciding to check out restaurant venues. The moment they walked into Tellers, a BOLI Preferred Vendor, everything clicked. “Immediately, we knew we wanted to get married there,” she says. The mix of the dark, romantic parlor and the airy, greenhouse‑style pavilion gave them the modern, intimate feel they were hoping for. And when a Thursday date in June 2026 opened up it felt meant to be. “The day just fell into our lap. We couldn’t say no. It felt like a sign.”
With the venue locked in, the couple moved on quickly to their most-important vendors: music, photography and beauty. For entertainment, Top Tier Entertainment, a BOLI Preferred Vendor, stood out immediately. “They were on Tellers’ recommended vendor list, and once I researched them, I saw they were preferred by almost all the high‑end restaurant venues,” she explains.
After speaking with Frankie, the owner, the decision was easy. “We loved his vibe. He knew exactly what we were looking for and made sure he’d personally be at our wedding. He just understood the assignment.”
Photography was next, and Studio 27, a BOLI Preferred Vendor, had been on Shaina’s radar long before she got engaged. “I’d followed them for years and loved how versatile they are,” she says. After meeting the team, they chose Tim for his romantic yet editorial style, and his ability to capture the energy of a party. “We got over 3,500 photos between him and our second shooter. I knew I wanted them from the start, and they delivered.”
(Photo by Studio 27 Photography)
Collect All Four
Shaina and Zachary wanted their wedding to feel like them: intimate, romantic and filled with meaningful details. They chose soft summer pastels as their color palette and incorporated family heirlooms throughout the ceremony.
One of the most sentimental elements was the chuppah, which Zach built himself. “That was really special,” Shaina says. “It felt so personal to stand under something he made.”
They balanced classic wedding touches with DIY elements to stay on budget, using a mix of faux florals and décor handled by their decorator. “She did about 80% of the decorations, such as the big florals and the signage, and everything was perfect,” Shaina adds. Even their cats made an appearance, with custom drink signs featuring their furry family members.
But the detail guests couldn’t stop talking about was their custom magnet vending machine, through Vendi Momento, — a playful, interactive favor that became the hit of the night. “We designed four different magnets, all black‑and‑white sketches,” Shaina explains. “One was our cats holding our favorite drink, one was from our Lake Tahoe engagement, one was the Tellers outline and one was an iced coffee cup with our wedding date.” Guests received tokens and spent the night trying to collect all four designs. “It was so fun watching everyone crowd around the machine,” she says. “We’ve been to weddings where favors get left behind, but this was something people actually loved. We got so much positive feedback.”
(Photo by Studio 27 Photography)
An Unforgettable Day
When Shaina looks back on her wedding day, one moment rises above the rest: their first look. “I remember my stomach doing backflips,” she says. “Waiting for the okay to tap him, and then seeing him turn around, it was amazing.” They shared private vows during that quiet moment, something both of them will cherish forever. “We were a mess, just crying and reading what we wrote to each other,” she laughs.
The emotion carried into the ceremony and reception, where being surrounded by their family and friends made the day feel intimate and full of love. “I’m not usually someone who enjoys being the center of attention, but having all that love on us was so special,” Shaina says. “Looking back, I wish I stressed less, but I think every bride feels that way.”
Shaina says her vendors were nothing short of exceptional, with several standouts who made both planning and the wedding day itself seamless.
Her day‑of coordinator, Ariana from BOLI Preferred Vendor Wanderlust Events, was a game‑changer. “I hired her for same‑day coordination, but she really kicked in around the six‑week mark,” Shaina says. “She made my timeline, coordinated all the vendors, and on the day of, she was Velcro to my side in the best way.” Ariana kept everything running smoothly, even stepping in mid‑photo to apply lip gloss when Shaina’s smile started to fade. “She saved my life that day. I could not recommend her enough.”
Shaina also raves about her hair and makeup artist, Isabella from BeBeautiful. “I’ve never felt better in my life. My hair and makeup didn’t budge all day, and I felt like an elevated version of myself.”
For entertainment, Frankie from Top Tier delivered exactly the vibe they wanted. And for décor, Nicole from Behind the Scenes Backdrops brought their vision to life. “She did our welcome signs, seating chart, centerpieces, fake florals — everything. You send her an inspo pic and she gets it done. She’s incredible and so reasonably priced.”
The staff at Tellers rounded out the experience. “Every single person was so helpful and so friendly. Ten out of ten.”
(Photo by Studio 27 Photography)
It’s Not Just One Day
Throughout planning, Shaina leaned heavily on the Brides of Long Island Facebook group. “I was refreshing that page every five seconds,” she laughs. Seeing reviews from other brides helped her feel confident in her vendor choices, especially when deciding between hair and makeup artists. “It gave me so much inspiration,” she says. She even uses the page now for honeymoon planning and travel agent recommendations.
Her biggest piece of advice for brides? Don’t frame your wedding as the single most perfect day of your life. “When you’re marrying the love of your life, every day should feel like that,” she says. “This is just one of many best days. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” She encourages brides to remember the heart of the day: “No matter what happens, you get to marry your soulmate. Think of it as the beginning, not the end.”
And as for the little things that didn’t go exactly as planned? “No one would even know,” she says. “At the end of the day, it was perfect because it was ours.”
Vendors:
Venue: Tellers Next Door, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Day of Coordinator: Wanderlust Events, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Photographer/Videography: Studio 27, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Content Creator: Post With Joy
DJ: Top Tier Entertainment, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Florist: With All My Heart, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Hair/Makeup: Isabella from BeBeautiful
Dress: Max Bridal, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Decor: Behind the Scenes (BTS) Backdrops
Vending Maching: Vendi Momento
Spray Tan: Tanned by Taylor
Cake: Tortafina
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse
Transportation: Camelot Limos
(Photo by Studio 27 Photography)