In Brides of Long Island’s Monthly “Mrs.” series, we profile some of our members’ unforgettable weddings. This month, Stephanie discusses why changing their original plans led to the best photos.
(Photo by The Glenmar Studio)
As Stephanie and Sean were planning their April 18, 2025 wedding, they wanted to make sure that they acknowledged all of the important people in their lives – including two very special family members.
A Family Proposal
The newlyweds met at a Babylon bar right before the Covid pandemic, but due to the resulting shutdowns, didn’t start dating until about 18 months later. Fast forward two more years to 2023, and Sean proposed at an East End vineyard in front of their families. “His family was visiting from Ireland, so everyone was there,” Stepanie says. “Sean put a tag on our dog that said, ‘Mom, will you marry my daddy?’ It was so cute.”
Planning a Big Party
After they got engaged, Sean and Stephanie knew they wanted a huge party. “We were going to have so many people in the room on the same day – a lot of them international – so we wanted to make sure it was going to be a great party.” Because of this, she says the venue, the photographer and the DJ were the most important – and the first – vendors she booked.
Stephanie says that when she and Sean toured Larkfield, it was the only venue that excited him. “He loved the European feel of the venue,” she says. “And since we’re both foodies, we loved that they offered a huge variety at the cocktail hour. Between the atmosphere, ambiance and the food, we were both sold on Larkfield right away.”
Once the venue was booked, Sean and Stephanie focused on their other important vendors. For the DJ, they hired one of Sean’s friends who runs an entertainment company. “It was kind of a no-brainer because they used to work at a bar together, and it was the exact vibe we were looking for,” she says. “And they did not disappoint.”
For photography and video, Stephanie says they were torn between The Glenmar Studio and Michael John Photography, both BOLI Preferred Vendors. Ultimately, they chose a package with Glenmar that included videography and a second photographer. On the day of their wedding, Stephanie realized that Glenmar’s second photographer was actually Mike from Michael John Photography! “We were super lucky with our photography because we got the best of both worlds,” she says. “I couldn’t be more thankful for them.”
(Photo by The Glenmar Studio)
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Personal Touches and Honoring Loved Ones
In addition to a huge party, Stephanie and Sean wanted to make sure there were plenty of personal touches sprinkled throughout their day. From customized drink stirrers to a playlist packed with their favorite songs, the pair definitely pulled off their dream wedding. “Our signature cocktail was actually a drink that Sean made up when he used to work at a bar,” Stephanie says. “It’s not a real cocktail – but Sean and his friends went crazy when they saw it!”
The pair had a table with their family members’ pictures on it, as well as a memorial chair for Stephanie’s grandfather who passed away before their wedding day. They also made sure to highlight their closest loved ones: Sean’s father was his best man, and their dog was their flower girl. And not waiting to leave her mother out, “I did a special dance with her to a song she used to sing to me and my sister growing up.” Stephanie adds that a lot of the little things they incorporated throughout the day might have been very subtle to most of their guests, “but we knew they were there, and that’s what mattered the most to us.”
(Photo by The Glenmar Studio)
Those Special Moments
Stephanie and Sean planned to have their first look by their apartment on a path lined with cherry blossom trees. “It’s literally a walking path we take every day,” she says. Their photographers agreed it was a beautiful spot, so they ditched their original plans and decided to take all of their photos among the beautiful cherry blossoms. “The photos came out great, and it was so special that we can go back and revisit the spot whenever we want.”
Another special moment for the pair was sitting at their table and looking out at all of their loved ones. “Seeing everyone having a great time all together in one room was just an amazing feeling,” she says. “Especially for Sean’s family being all together not just in one room but on one continent. It was a truly special day.”
(Photo by The Glenmar Studio)
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Perfect Planning
All of the vendors they booked went above and beyond. Their florist, Vivian from Lindenhurst Village Florist, “gave us extra flowers for our cake, and for my grandpa’s memorial chair,” Stephanie says. “She is so easy to work with, and a saint of a woman.”
Stephanie says her photos from The Glenmar Studio came out phenomenal. “Our video came out amazing too,” she adds. “And the best part was it only took them a week to get it back to us! They even gave us a reel for Instagram, which they put to our first dance. I loved all of their attention to detail.”
Stephanie says that the BOLI Facebook page really helped her in researching vendors. “I had a spreadsheet with my own notes, and then notes from other brides to help me choose,” she says. “The group really allowed me to see real reviews, which was super helpful.”
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As she and Sean relax on their Jamaican honeymoon, she wants other brides to know that no matter how stressful planning can be, their wedding day will be perfect. “Honestly, when we got to Larkfield, I noticed a table wasn’t decorated exactly how I wanted it, but then I realized that no one else would know that but me. So then I just relaxed and enjoyed the day. Because in the end, it’s about you and your spouse, everything else just falls into place.”
(Photo by The Glenmar Studio)
Vendors:
Venue: Larkfield
Photographer/Videographer: The Glenmar Studio & Michael John Photography BOLI Preferred Vendors
DJ: NRG Entertainment
Florist: Lindenhurst Village Florist
Hair: Ink & Ivy, a BOLI preferred vendor
Makeup: ZORIGLAM
Dress: Village Bridal, a BOLI preferred vendor
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse Glen Cove
Transportation: Sir Oliver, a BOLI preferred vendor
Flower preservation: La Boda Flores