In Brides of Long Island’s Monthly “Mrs.” series, we profile some of our members’ unforgettable weddings. This month, we spoke with Briana and Brittany about which vendors went above and beyond to make their wedding day special.
(Photo by Photo by Lore)
Briana and Brittany knew some of the vendors they wanted for their Oct. 6, 2024 wedding – even before they got engaged. They never could have imagined just how magical their day would turn out, thanks in part to their venue, photographer and videographer.
A Blossoming Friendship
Briana and Brittany have been friends since the ninth grade. “It wasn’t romantic at all at first,” says Briana. “After college, though, things started shifting.” Brittany says she was the one who developed deeper feelings for her friend first. “I was worried it would change our dynamic because we were such close friends,” she explains. Once she let Briana know her feelings, Brittany was happy she took that chance. The pair dated for about four years before they got engaged. “We moved in together, and knew we were going to get married,” says Brittany. So, they made a pact at the beginning of 2022, they were both going to propose to each other, but they were going to keep the details and the date of the proposal a surprise from each other.
Brittany proposed to Briana first in August of 2022 at a water lantern festival. Briana proposed the following month at a botanical garden. And yes, Briana had the date planned before Brittany proposed. “I had the date picked out for a while, as it was close to the anniversary of one of the first concerts we went to as a couple,” explains Briana.
Planning Prep
Once Brittany proposed in August, the couple started putting together a list of vendors they were interested in. In fact, they had been looking into their videographer, Catherine J Films, before they were even engaged. “We had seen her work at our friends’ wedding,” says Briana. “So I bookmarked her Instagram for when we were ready.”
They started seriously looking at vendors by November of 2022. “Briana had a spreadsheet and kept us on track with our planning process,” says Brittany. “She also used the Brides of Long Island Facebook group for everything! From things like putting together a planning timeline to putting together our wedding day timeline, it was so helpful!”
While photography and videography were most important for the women, they both wanted the perfect venue as well. Finding one was challenging, as they each had different visions for their wedding day. “I’d be happy getting married in a barn,” says Brittany. “And Briana was looking for something very modern.”
They scoured over tons of Long Island venue reviews, and then fell in love with the Watermill – a BOLI Preferred Vendor. “That was the best decision we made, hands down,” says Brittany. They loved the Watermill’s outdoor spaces and menu variety, but what really sealed the deal were their suites. “A lot of the venues we looked at had bridal suites and groom’s suites, and some of the groom’s suites were sort of masculine,” says Brittany. “As two brides getting married, we didn’t want to have to choose who would go to the groom’s suite. At the Watermill, both spaces were very gender neutral, so that made us feel comfortable.”
(Photo by Photo by Lore)
MORE: 46 Great Long Island Wedding Venues
A Cut Above the Rest
The beautiful venue and delicious food were not the only things that stood out at the Watermill. “Rob, our contact at the Watermill, was truly amazing,” says Brittany. “He was in constant communication with us. Any time we had a question, he would get back to us right away.” And if the pair hit a roadblock with anything – from choosing a DJ to figuring out logistics as a same-sex couple – Rob had an answer. “If we had something we needed to figure out, we’d contact Rob right away,” says Briana. “And he would always be polite and ask us what we wanted so that he could make it happen.” He would even offer up tips and suggestions from previous same-sex Watemill couples. “He was such an important part of making our day special,” says Briana.
Another vendor that made their day special? Their photographer, Photo by Lore. Briana says that when they booked Lore, she was relatively new at photographing weddings. “We took a chance on her because we felt we clicked after speaking with her,” she says. What really stood out to them was when Lore asked to go to their final appointment at the Watermill so she could check out the space ahead of time. “We walked around with her as she made suggestions of where she thought the first looks should be, where photos with our family should be, etc.” says Brittany. “That put us at ease and made the day much smoother, since we knew ahead of time where we needed to be.”
And who can forget the videographer Brittany and Briana found even before they were engaged? Catherine was fantastic. “I would book her a million times over,” says Briana. They both felt from the first conversation with Catherine that they knew her forever. Doing a pre-wedding shoot helped them get comfortable being filmed. “She had us walk around a park and just talk about ourselves,” says Briana. “And then she incorporated some of that into our wedding video. And it’s just beautiful! I watch it at least once a week!”
(Photo by Photo by Lore)
MORE: 10 Unique First Look Ideas
Personalized Touches and Moments
The general theme of their wedding was “garden celestial,” says Brittany with a laugh. “I’m a big flower girl, and Briana loves the moon and stars, so we ran with both of those.” They did several DIY projects for their signs, as well as their centerpieces. “We just wanted to make sure it featured us as a couple,” says Briana.
As a treat for their guests, Briana’s father provided them with a Frito-Lay chips exit station. “It was a huge hit,” says Briana. “Everyone was leaving with their arms full of chip bags. And we loved how unique it was!”
Brittany’s favorite moment of the day was their first look. “Briana and I always do fashion checks with our outfits! So choosing a wedding gown without her help was so difficult,” she says. The pair made it a point to not share details of their gowns until their first look. “It was the longest and only secret we’ve kept from each other, and it was such a special moment,” she says.
For Briana, her favorite moment was the quiet in the bridal suite between their cocktail hour and reception. “It was great to sit together and really take in what the day was about,” she says.
(Photo by Photo by Lore)
MORE: 9 Wedding DIY Ideas That Any BOLI Can Tackle
Do What Makes Sense For You
Both Brittany and Briana want other brides to know that it’s important that your wedding day is about you and your future spouse. “As a same-sex couple, it was hard to figure out who to set up our day, because the industry can still be somewhat traditional,” says Briana. “But it was important for us to break that mindset and do what made sense for us.” They add that whether couples are same-sex or not, it’s important they also do what makes sense for them and what they want on their wedding day. “If we weren’t completely happy with something, we kept looking for what would make us happy – even if that meant making things ourselves!” says Briana.
“There is no one correct way to plan your wedding,” Brittany adds. “Figure out what you want to happen, and then lean into that and feel empowered to make your own decisions.”
(Photo by Photo by Lore)
Vendors:
Venue: Watermill Caterers, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Photographer: Photo by Lore
Videography: Catherine J Films
DJ: In the Mood DJ Production
Florist: Towers Flowers Nesconset
Hair/Makeup: Bridal Rush, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Dress: Northfork Bridal Shoppe, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Cake: Campbell’s Bakery, a BOLI Preferred Vendor,
Bridal Party Tuxedos: The Black Tux
Transportation: Camelot Limos
Hotel Room Block: Hyatt Regency Long Island, a BOLI Preferred Vendor