Casino Connection Atlantic City

Wedding Day Wishes

How to make everything just right for the big day

by Heidi Heath Tony

Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, one of the longest-running comedies in American theatrical history, recently extended its engagement at the Showboat Casino Hotel, but most brides and grooms have only one day to make sure everything is perfect when they say “I do.”

To help you plan the wedding of your dreams, we spoke with local experts in the art of matrimony and gathered together their favorite tips.

Picking the Ring

In most girls’ romantic fantasies, they envision their true love on bended knee presenting them with a sparkling diamond and asking, “Will you marry me?”

Is that still the norm? According to Harvey Rovinsky, owner of Bernie Robbins jewelers, yes and no.

“Actually, my daughter just got engaged and my future son-in-law came in by himself to pick the ring and surprise her,” Rovinsky says. “However, couples usually come in together to get ideas, and the prospective groom comes back by himself to make the final selection.”

When choosing a diamond, the terms you’ll hear most often are the “four C’s”—cut, carat weight, color and clarity. While all affect the price and quality of the ring, according to Rovinsky, the most important consideration is the cut.

“Cut in many instances can overcome both color and clarity,” he says. “It’s an amazing phenomenon how a beautifully cut diamond can sparkle and shine and give all of the brilliance that you would expect from a higher-quality diamond.” The most popular diamond shapes today are round, brilliant cuts, followed by square cuts. Marquise and pear-shaped diamonds are not as popular any more. For settings, most brides favor a white metal, either white gold or platinum. “Platinum is the most precious and finest of metals,” says Rovinsky, “and it’s also the most expensive.” For that reason, another metal in the platinum family, palladium, is growing in popularity. It has the pure white look of platinum, with durability and price closer to gold.

Despite the old adage that you should spend two months’ salary on an engagement ring, Rovinsky says it’s basically whatever people can afford. “They generally want the best product they can get for an amount their comfortable spending,” he says. “Sometimes people actually spend more than the traditional two months’ salary, but it’s generally in the $5,000-and-up range.”

Once you have the all-important ring, it’s time to begin making some major decisions. You have to choose a ceremony and reception site, set a budget, select a wedding dress, attendants, flowers, photographer, invitations… and more, much more. In fact, Bed, Bath & Beyond supplies brides with a planner listing over 200 tasks to prepare for the big day. For that reason, most wedding planners we checked with recommend an engagement of at least 12 months.

First Things First…

According to Tesi Miteva, owner of Tesi Bridal Boutique in Ventnor, the very first thing a couple should do after becoming engaged is take at least a week to let it sink in. “It’s a big step in everyone’s life, so before you start booking things and making emotional decisions, you should just enjoy your engagement,” she says.

After that, Miteva recommends choosing a reception site and a date, because the formality of the site and the time of year will determine what style of dress you should choose. “It’s one thing if you’re getting married on the beach in September and another if you’re booking the Carriage House in January,” she says.

This is also the time to decide how much you’re willing to spend. According to a recent study, the average U.S. wedding today costs close to $30,000, not including the engagement ring and honeymoon. (You can see the breakdown of fees at www.theweddingreport.com.) And one local wedding planner says she routinely works with couples who spend closer to $40,000. Still, before you plunk down the equivalent of a year’s tuition at an Ivy League school for one day, stop and think what’s really most important to you.

Tina Conklin and Terry Raphial, who have 18 years experience in the wedding planning business and are the owners of Wedding Belles Boutique in Linwood, advise brides to put their money where their heart is. “We normally try to find out what their vision is and then we implement that,” says Conklin. “Some girls dream of having their wedding at a Seaview or Rams Head location, where with others it’s more about the family and friends they can invite. We’ve worked with a lot of vendors over the years, so we know where they can cut costs and save on florists or decorations, DJs and bands.”

Choosing a Reception Site

In the Atlantic City area, there are numerous wedding site possibilities, from a simple backyard garden reception to beach weddings, restaurants, country clubs, and even a lighthouse.

The 150-year-old Absecon Lighthouse on S. Rhode Island Avenue has a minimum rental fee of $250 for 50 or fewer guests (more guests can be accommodated for a higher fee), and couples can choose to exchange vows at the top, in the keeper’s living room, on the front porch, or on the two-acre grounds. “It’s an excellent choice for couples searching for a fun, different place to wed,” says Jean Muchanic, executive director of the Absecon Lighthouse.

Another economical and increasingly popular choice is the beach wedding. There’s no lack of possible locations nearby, but check with your beach town’s city hall concerning permits and regulations. You’ll also have to make arrangements for a backup location in case of inclement weather. For more tips on planning a beach wedding, visit www.beachbrideguide.com.

Those looking for a more formal venue can choose from the area’s many restaurants, golf clubs, wineries and casinos. For a reception with Southern flair, couples might choose the recently opened Carriage House in Galloway Township, an elegant setting inspired by the great Southern plantations of yesteryear. Shaded ponds, wrap-around porches, and a double-curved staircase offer plenty of photo ops.

Prices start at $88 per person for a five-hour reception with open bar, hors d’oeuvres, five-course dinner and wedding cake, but can go much, much higher depending on whether you choose the Surf & Turf ($159 per person) or add a sushi station (an additional $14.50 per person) or caviar bar (an additional $19.50 per person). Three separate ballrooms are available, seating up to 350, 250 and 200 respectively.

The Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City can accommodate groups of up to 250 people in a Mediterranean setting. A four-hour reception with open wine bar starts at $70.50 per person. A new on-site 50-room hotel and resort is convenient for out-of-town wedding guests, and may be the perfect spot for the happy couple to start their honeymoon.

The Seaview Resort & Spa in Galloway is another classic reception site. Built in 1914, this grand old 300-room hotel and golf club can accommodate up to 550 guests. Wedding packages include a complimentary overnight bridal suite, a five-hour open bar, hot and cold passed hors d’oeuvre and specialty stations, four-course dinner, Viennese dessert station and wedding cake starting at $127 per person.

One newly available venue is the Atlantic City Country Club. The club’s been private for over 100 years, but Harrah’s Entertainment opened it to the public in March. Situated off Shore Road in Northfield, the picturesque setting includes a traditional clubhouse with a huge stone terrace overlooking the golf course with views of the city.

Atlantic City Country Club can accommodate up to 250 guests. Yet another golf club location is the Links at Brigantine Beach. Situated on the bay in Brigantine, the club offers wedding packages starting at $79 per person with open bar.

And how about the casinos? Okay, so maybe you’d rather not get married in your workplace, but then again, you probably know whether you like the way the chef prepares the food!

Trump Plaza offers a wedding package that includes hot and cold hors d’oeuvre, five-hour open bar, a four-course dinner, wedding cake and a complimentary bridal suite starting at $110 per person.

Trump Marina packages start at $115 per person, and the Taj (which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests) starts at $110.

The Stress-Free Wedding

Another big trend today is destination weddings. “Some people just want something special with their closest friends and family,” says Conklin. “Maybe they’ll have 40 people and go away to an island to get married and have four days of fun activities.”

Of course, Atlantic City itself is a destination for some couples. The newest venue is One Atlantic in the Pier at Caesars. Rev. Elizabeth McGlinn is the principal director of ceremonial services at One Atlantic, and she helped design the non-denominational chapel at the Pier.

“The ceremony locations sit four stories over the ocean with 22-foot walls of glass, so the view is absolutely spectacular,” says McGlinn. “And our ceremony program is very inclusive, so it’s stress-free and fun for our couples.”

Events include photography, videography, floral, and live webcasting over the internet for guests who can’t make it to Atlantic City. The two ceremony locations, one that can seat up to 200 and another that can accommodate 40, will be open in June. The adjacent reception site can seat up to 350 guests and will be opening in the late fall.

Civil unions will also be performed at One Atlantic. “At One Atlantic, we celebrate love,” says McGlinn. “It’s the love of a marriage, the love of a commitment, the love of a civil union, and the recommitment to love with our vow renewals.”

When a couple books with One Atlantic, they get a comprehensive planner to review and begin choosing the elements they want to include. Four to six months prior to the wedding, McGlinn has the couple return to the Pier for what she terms her “Romancing the Details Day.”

From 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. the couple will make a dizzying array of decisions while meeting with floral designers, entertainment companies to choose their musicians, a hair and makeup trial for the bride, a massage and hot towel wrap for the groom, having their engagement story video-filmed in the Pier and on the Boardwalk, a rehearsal dinner tasting at the Pier restaurants, meeting with the catering director and registering for wedding gifts. Hugo Boss is presenting duffle bags and day totes to the couples, and many Pier merchants are enclosing a wedding gift.

The icing on the cake for this “Romancing the Details Day” is actual icing. “The last thing we do is have a cake tasting in the ceremony location,” says McGlinn. “They get to taste all the types of cake we have available, including the fillings and also the edible favors we offer.”

Ceremony package prices start at $2,300 and go up from there, depending on your customization level. Receptions will start at $150 per person.

The Perfect Dress

At least nine months before the big day, you should choose your wedding dress and accessories. According to Miteva, most dresses take at least six to eight months to make. If you’re short on time, you’ll probably have to purchase a stock piece and have it altered.

“I recommend they try one of each style—halter, strapless, some with sleeves, some with lace, mermaid style and so on, so that they can see what works best for them,” says Miteva. “People are surprised all the time. They come in thinking they don’t like a certain style, but if they keep an open mind the wedding dress will take them by surprise. Seven out of 10 brides will pick something that they never thought they were going to go for.”

At Tesi Bridal, wedding dresses range from $700 to $3,000 with an average dress costing about $1,100.

Now is also the time to order dresses for the bridal party. The trend today is for brides to allow each girl in the bridal party to choose the style that’s most flattering, and just coordinate the color. “Bridesmaid dresses today are a little more fashion-forward, more flirty and lighter weight,” says Miteva, “not the typical bridesmaid look.”

Choosing Your Wedding Professionals

At least nine months before the wedding is also the time to choose any necessary vendors such as photographers and videographers, musicians, disc jockeys, caterers and florists.

You may want to start booking even earlier if your wedding is set for September or October, which are the most popular months for weddings in our area.

Alex Glover, the general manager of Center Stage Entertainment’s Atlantic City office, says most of their weddings are booked a year out. Prices start at $400 for a DJ for five hours up to $12,000 for a 14-piece band. “Every affair is customized,” says Glover. “Some people might want a string quartet during their cocktail hour, others might want both a band and a DJ because the young people want hip-hop and the parents want live music.”

No matter what kind of entertainment you choose, it’s important to audition the musicians and DJs, and make sure the company you work with is reputable (and if you go with a DJ, be certain you can specify an individual whose style you like.) Wedding planners have horror stories of bands that didn’t show up and DJs who acted up. Your best bet might be to ask friends for recommendations.

Your choice of floral decorations is another area where price can vary widely. Becky Duer, owner of the Art of Flowers in Atlantic City, has done small weddings for $500 and elaborate ceremonies with $9,000 worth of decorations and bouquets.

“The majority of my brides come in with a general idea about what they want, thanks to the internet and wedding magazines,” she says.

If a bride has her heart set on a flower with limited availability most of the year, like peonies, Duer recommends mixing silk flowers in with the real.

“For centerpieces, people are doing a lot with candles and twigs, not just the traditional round mound of flowers,” says Duer. “More than 50 percent of my brides now have themed weddings.” Some of the themes have included miniature hot air balloons and baseball bobble-head dolls.

Wedding photographer John Dimaio has some words of advice on choosing the person who will be snapping your picture all day. “Find someone you’re really comfortable with,” says Dimaio. “It sounds funny, but the bride will end up spending more time with the photographer than with her husband that day, and if she’s not relaxed and at ease, it’s going to look like it.”

Dimaio charges $3,500 and up for a full day’s coverage, which will encompass 1,000 to 1,500 shots that are edited down to 350 to 400 in the proof album, and a finished album of 40 to 50 prints. Most wedding photos today have a less formal, more candid style than years ago.

And thanks to digital photography, most photographers post wedding photos online for family and friends to order. “Brides really love that,” says Dimaio. “They don’t have to schlep their proof book all over town for everybody to see.” And if you want to look your best in your wedding photos, Dimaio has one last tip: Stay away from spray-on tanning booths! “I get people once in a while that just go nuclear,” he says. “It’s some unnatural color and I can’t fix it. Just go out in the sun.”

Six Months To Go

Now’s the time to plan your honeymoon, reserve wedding day transportation, and register for wedding gifts. You might also want to find a bakery to prepare your wedding cake, if it’s not included in your reception package. Other tasks to complete four to six months in advance include ordering invitations, letting your employer know the dates you’ll need off, and selecting tuxedos for the groom and his attendants. At After Hours Formalwear in the Hamilton Mall, tuxedo rentals start at $49.99 and top out at $145, with an average price of $115. After Hours also offers special deals for wedding parties.

Two months before your wedding you’ll need to write out and mail your invitations. This is also a great time to have a little fun and brush up on your dancing skills. Maria Crowell, proprietor of “America…Shall We Dance,” teaches ballroom dance in Egg Harbor Township. “It’s nice for the bride and groom to be able to do a waltz for their first dance,” she says. “If someone doesn’t dance at all, they’ll probably need to come once or twice a week for a couple of months.” Prices for lessons vary, but are generally $20 per person for three lessons.

At least a month before the wedding, you should book any salon visits for hair, makeup, or nails. At Bellezza Salons in Atlantic City, the bridal menu of services includes hairstyle for $90, French manicure and pedicure for $100, and airbrush makeup for $100. “We’ve gone to an airbrush makeup that’s specifically designed for high-definition television,” explains Bellezza owner Denise Rounds. “Your face will look flawless, and it will last all day.” Another service they offer is airbrush tattoo camouflage, for brides with body art who would rather not show it off on their wedding day.

Bellezza stocks high-end human hair extensions to recreate almost any wedding-day hairstyle. They recommend at least one trial run-through, and keep a file on each bride with her individual hair and makeup specifics.

The Wedding Day

When the big day finally arrives, here are some final words of advice. First of all, don’t forget to bring your marriage license and rings to the ceremony, which wedding planners call a common blunder.

And most importantly, “Relax and have a good time,” says Conklin. “We tell our brides they have to take in the day and enjoy the moment because you plan for a year, and it’s over in five hours.”