Angelina's

This was the wedding of my best friend’s daughter. The girl I’ve known since birth. The girl I watched grow up. The girl I love as if she is my own. She’s stunningly beautiful, sweet as can be and deserves nothing but the best from the world and life. This day had extra special meaning for her and her family. Yes it was her Wedding Day, but it was a momentous day that she was celebrating without her Father. He passed away from a long battle with cancer and this was the joy this girl and her family needed. Although her Father wasn’t there in body, I know he was there in spirit. AND HE IS PISSED! The venue she chose was Angelina’s On the Water, a beautiful venue next to The Atlantic Marina on Staten Island. Quite the setting for a wedding. She chose to have it outside to capture the beautiful views. The tent was set up with white drapes, chandeliers and crisp white linens. When I walked into the room, I gasped. It was lovely. Despite her Mother’s wishes, she went for a modern twist. Passed around hor dourves and buffet style dining. The guest list was set at 200 people with a guarantee that no one would leave hungry. There was a bar inside the venue and outside as well, allowing the guest to roam and enjoy their cocktails, which by the way was an additional cost. The crowd rolled in and the evening began. Guest mingled and chatted up with friends and family they haven’t seen in a while. As the evening went on, we all started looking at each other thinking: “Are they ever going to start serving food?” The event started at 7:00 pm, so no one ate dinner. Where is the food? I saw a few waitstaff carrying mirrored trays, but there was nothing on them. After forty five minutes, a gentlemen with a tray comes up to me asking if I want one. I look at the empty tray and think is he offering me the flower on the tray? No it’s the small spoon on the bottom of the try cradling a small piece of pear with a speck of goat cheese on top. I passed. Big mistake. I was never offered another speck of food after that. The Bride and Groom entered the room and the reception “officially” began. FINALLY an announcement is made; “the buffet is now open.” 200 guests get on line to serve themselves food. Not from 2 stations, but one. And where were the dishes and the forks…..on the other side of the room. Away from the food!!!!! The guest were confused and didn’t know what to do or which direction to go in. An announcement had to be made that the dishes were on the left side of the dance floor and the was on the right. Go left first and then walk right for food. DUMBEST DECISION EVER!!!! The line circled around the tables and onto the dance floor. The band had to wait to come on because no one could dance, THEY WERE WAITING FOR FOOD. My thirty minute wait finally succeeded me food, but by now it was 9:00. People were waiting on that line all night long for food. You have 200 people attending a wedding, didn’t anyone think to set up 2 food stations? And what happened to the hors dourves? Catering 101 gone wrong. My table was next to the elder family members. Grandparents, Great Aunts and Uncles in their golden years. Can they wait in line for food? NO. The Bride’s Aunt tipped the waitstaff to bring them food instead of having them get up to get it. Did they bring it????? NO. Myself and 2 other guests at my table got up, cut the line (which didn’t make those that were waiting now for a hour unhappy) to make up some plates to bring it