There are many different reasons for a couple to get married last minute. Whether it be related to armed services, illness, pregnancy, or spontaneity, Chez Vous is here to help. We contacted Staten Island’s most popular wedding companies in order to find out what can be done if a couple has a deadline of one month to six weeks before they say “I do”. Some places have even said that they could throw together your wedding day goodies within 24 hours, keep in mind, this all depends on their availability.
From what we have learned, it is really easy to pull off a last minute wedding. The local businesses here on the Island are willing to work with the couple in order to help them have the wedding of their dreams.
The Dress
We spoke with our friends at Angel’s Bridal, Mary Ann, owner of Angel’s Bridal, told us that a dress would be ordered and altered within a month. They have even had cases were a bride has come in and bought a sample gown during their same day visit. This gown is from the David Tutera for Mon Cheri collection and features two big trends for the upcoming wedding season, laser-cut florals and champagne.
The Tux
You can purchase or rent a tux from Men’s Wearhouse within 24-48 hours. Thus, there should be nothing to worry about in terms of obtaining a tux before your big day.
The Bridesmaids
There are many ways to obtain a dress for your bridesmaids in a timely manner. Whether it be through a local boutique, or an online store like modcloth.com, your Bridesmaids are going to look stunning.
The Flowers
It is recommended that you book your florist as soon as possible, but most florists can accommodate a couple within a week’s notice. Elizabeth, from Flowers by Bernard, told us that the reason why a florist needs a week to prepare is because some flowers need time to be conditioned in order for them to look the best they possibly can on your special day. The best flowers to use for a last minute wedding are roses and hydrangeas, they are readily available and have a short conditioning time.
The Cake
Isabella’s Creations is one of the best wedding cake designers on the island. If given a minimum of a week, they can create a cake for your special day like this one below.
The Invitations and Reception Art
From your invitations to your table markings to your guest book, it can be overwhelming trying to find time to sit down and create these items during the whirlwind of preparing for your wedding. Matthew from Plum-Paperie told us that a couple’s best option is to go with a simple wedding invitation in order to get them out as soon as possible to your guests. Instruct your designer to go with a plain background and fancy text to make the invitations look simple, yet elegant.
Once your invitations are out, you can shift your focus to designing your placeholders and other miscellaneous reception art. By visiting your graphic designer first, it will give you more time to focus on the bigger details of your wedding, and you will be able to receive custom designs to really make your wedding reception stand out.
The Centerpieces
The best way to get centerpieces ready for your special day, while staying on budget, is to do them yourself. The Knot has a wide array of DIY tutorials and solutions to transform everyday items into stunning showstoppers.
The Photographer and Videographer
Local photographer and videographer, Sebastian Barbera, informed us that bridal bookings are typically done six months to a year in advance. However, if a photographer has an opening, they will be more then willing to accept a booking up to four days to a week before the wedding. Some photographer and videographers are even known for booking weddings within 24 hours of the ceremony! While this is not common, it does happen.
Good places to reach out to photographers and videographers alike is The Knot, Mandy.com, and Craigslist.com under creative gigs and crew gigs, or your local yellow pages. However, Barbera recommends using Facebook to find a photographer in a pinch since you can view their work and contact them much easier then if you spent hours searching for them through Google or your local yellow pages. Barbera is still accepting bridal bookings for 2016, so if you need a last minute photographer or videographer, reach out to him through IndependantCinematics@gmail.com.
The Catering, Hall Rental, and Party Rentals
If you find yourself in a position where you are hosting a last minute wedding, Chez Vous is the home of the $99 per person wedding. We offer full-service catering, staff, china service, bar service, and cover your table, chair, hall rental, and linen rentals. In being that we also own a party rental company, you can also order chair covers, chair bows, sashes, linen overlays for your tables, and much more by visiting our site cvparties.com.
If you are looking for an event hall that has old charm and class, then Edgewater Hall is for you. Our hall is 150 years old and is a historical landmark. Built in the late 1800s, this building has housed many different businesses since its creation. Each floor has its own distinct characteristics, and we even have an outdoor terrace. The event hall has three floors and each floor can hold about 100 people. The hall is open for rental with a minimum of 5 days notice. If you find yourself in a tight situation, we can, upon availability, even rent out the hall within 24-48 hours.
Final Thoughts
A last minute wedding should not stress you out, it should excite you! You no longer have to wait months on end to marry the one you love. Whatever your reason for marrying your loved one last minute, we are here for you, and a last minute wedding is possible. If you are looking to book your last minute wedding, Chez Vous would love to be involved in your special day, call Ettore at 718.720.0900 or e-mail us at Ettore@cvparties.com.
We are a catering company located on Staten Island that offers catering in our lovely, historic hall, Edgewater Hall located at 691 Bay Street. You can rent our hall with or without catering for your wedding. We also offer off-premise catering for the couple who is seeking freshly prepared foods at a location of their choice.
About Chez Vous Caterers
Staten Island caterers, Chez Vous catering and party rentals, proudly serves the entire New York City area.
With over 20 years in the business, Chez Vous proudly offers elegant service at inspiring pricing. Catering, Party Rentals, and Planning are available for Weddings, Sweet Sixteens, Birthdays, Baby Showers, Corporate Events, and any other gathering that requires great food and service.
Staten Island Off-Premise Catering Service
If you are hosting an event at your home or another unique location, let us provide the food, staff, tables, and chairs necessary to transform any space into an elegant environment.
To contact us about catering at our home or yours, contact us at: (718) 720-0900
