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Sperry Tents

In the world of drop-dead gorgeous weddings, Sperry Tents reigns supreme; from their sweeping panels of sailcloth to their premium flooring options to their breathtaking (+ totally creative) lighting.  Add all of that handcrafted goodness to a fabulous locale under the stars and it’s a day that is as romantic as it is sophisticated… or what we here at SMP like to call the perfect wedding.

Handcrafted by sailmakers in coastal New England, all Sperry Tents feature genuine sailcloth, solid wood support poles and pennant flags that will wave a charming hello to each and every one of your guests.  Think breathtaking tents available in an array of fabulous sizes that are more than perfect for your wedding, welcome party or going away brunch.  Which means that whether you are partying the night away with 400 of your nearest or dearest or preparing for the big day with an intimate rehearsal dinner, there’s a Sperry Tents’ size and shape just right for you and your celebration.

Start planning your dream day by contacting one of Sperry Tents’ Tri-State offices in Mystic and Greenwich, CT; Finger Lakes and Hamptons, NY; and New Jersey.  Trust us, you’ll be so very, very happy you did.

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Credits: Image 1: Leila Brewster (Photography) + True Event (Event Design & Coordination) + Hana Floral Design (Floral) + Rentals Unlimited (Rentals) + La Tavola (Linens) + Ryan Designs (Lighting & Draping) | Image 2: Eric Barry Photography | Image 3: Isabelle Selby Photography | Image 4: Charlotte Jenks Lewis | Image 5: SNAP! Weddings | Image 6: Orchard Cove Photography | Image 7: Susan Sancomb Photography  | Sperry Tents

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Romantic Finger Lakes Wedding

Take a show-stopping Vera Wang and add in a whopping dash of elegance + romance and what you have is a Finger Lakes affair that takes pretty to the extreme.  It’s the perfect combo of a breathtaking backdrop like the Aurora Inn, lush blooms from Foley Florist and a whole lot of magical moments captured by Clark Walker Studio.  Check out the full gallery of beautiful moments and the amazing film below. 

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/78364203 600 338]

From the Bride… Mike and I met in the summer of 2005 at his work event. He worked with my older sister and she dragged me to a work going away party for their good friend. The guys had already begun the celebration at their golf outing so, with a bit of liquid courage; Mike shook my hand and asked me for my number. I politely declined. We ran into each other one more time at a holiday party but it wasn’t until February of 2006 that he decided to make a serious effort and asked my sister for my number. Admiring his persistence, I agreed. It was the best decision I have ever made. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I had blown him off. We went to dinner at an amazing Thai restaurant that was superseded only by the conversation. I could have stayed up talking all night and we have gone on to have many of those nights.

Fast forward six years, Mike was living in San Francisco after business school and I was living in DC finishing up my graduate research. Mike flew into DC to celebrate our dating anniversary. We planned a quiet and romantic trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, a two and half hour drive from the city. I was the driver, which wasn’t typical for us but Mike said he was tired from jetlag. He was our navigator and I questioned our route maybe only once or twice along the way since I had a friend tell me directions before I left. Mike was able to reassure me we weren’t lost and things were going well for his surprise up until he lost cell phone service and therefore his GPS. He was frantically in technology problem solving mode when I asked him “Have you heard of the Inn at Little Washington?” Secretly panicked, Mike calmly answered “No, why?” “I just saw a sign that says it is the next right. I heard it is a really beautiful and romantic spot, we should plan a trip there sometime,” I naively shared as the right hand turn came up. He shouted, “Turn right!” It wasn’t until that moment that I realized we were going to the Inn at Little Washington. I was truly surprised and so excited. Mike proposed privately in our suite. It was so heartfelt and romantic. We celebrated with champagne and dinner at the restaurant. The best part was that we didn’t have cell phone service so, we spent 24 hours blissfully engaged, enjoying each other and those once in a lifetime emotions. The next morning we held hands while walking around a peaceful farm, enjoyed breakfast and headed to Charlottesville, as a newly engaged couple.

After over a year of planning and anxious excitement, we celebrated our marriage with our family and friends on a perfectly sunny and 78 degrees day in August of 2013. We could not have asked for better weather, which was so important since our reception was outdoors. We decided to get married in the Finger Lakes Region near both of our hometowns. We looked at many venues in the area but once we saw the Aurora Inn, we fell in love. It is the type of place Mike and I look for when we want to escape for a romantic weekend together. We couldn’t imagine a better venue to reflect who we are as a couple. The Aurora Inn was the perfect setting to celebrate one of the best moments of our lives with those we love. It is an intimate and charming inn, full of history and character, with an incredible chef and restaurant on site. Can it get any better? Yes! The Aurora Inn is located in tiny, quaint town called Aurora and looks out over the gorgeous Cayuga Lake.

When it came to wedding planning Mike was happy to let me pick what I loved. There were a few things he really wanted to be a part of like picking out the groomsmen attire, food selection and music, otherwise, he helped me make decisions when I couldn’t choose. I began by picking our color palette of ivory, light pink, light peach and gold, which went perfectly with the pleated ivory lakeside tent for the reception. I kept the theme of soft romance in mind throughout the planning process. I lined our aisle with an ivory runner with a lace edging to keep things soft (the carpet was pinkish-red!) and topped it with tall baby’s breath arrangements. Our reception tables were layered with airy tulle, votive candles, baby’s breath and small floral arrangement. The fabric of my dress and the bridesmaids dresses all had softness to them.

From the start of wedding planning there were a few special touches I knew I wanted to incorporate. The first, having a homemade cookie table. My mom made thousands of cookies for each of my sisters’ weddings and this was a tradition we intended to continue at mine. We made a variety of sweets and put them on display with our wedding cake. As I walked down the aisle, I wanted to make sure I had all the important women in my life near me so, I had a pin from my mom, Mike’s mom and both of my grandmothers adhered to my bouquet. It was important to Mike and I that we honor our family members that could not be present. We did this in two ways, a photo display of our loved ones and in lieu of favors we made a donation to American Cancer Society.

Our wedding day, like so many couples will tell you, went by way too fast! However, we enjoyed every single moment. We spent the morning apart from each other while we each got ready with members from our bridal party so, the very first time we saw each other was when I was walking down the aisle. I was anxious since there were a few hiccups before the ceremony but as soon as I saw Mike, I felt calm. My stroll down the aisle with my dad was every bit as wonderful and emotional as I imagined it to be. Neither Mike nor I were nervous at the altar. Everything felt right. I remember being acutely present and trying to take in every aspect of such a special day. We both agree that our favorite moment of the day was when we exchanged our personalized vows. It was such a raw and heartfelt moment. After the ceremony, we celebrated by dining al fresco with our guests as the sun set over Cayuga Lake. We spent the rest of the evening with our loved ones eating sweets, dancing and enjoying the fire pit. We finished the evening with sparkler and released a wish lantern into the starlit sky. It truly was the best day.

Our day would not have happened without the love and support of our families, closest friends and the expertise of the best vendors in the area. We were lucky to have Heather Davidson from the Inns of Aurora as our wedding coordinator. She happily guided us through the planning process and was instrumental in making our reception spectacular. Not only is she on top of everything but also is genuinely excited about your day! Holly from A-List Artistry pampered all of us ladies in the bridal suite. She is very professional, has a great personality and every single lady loved their makeup that day. That is not an easy accomplishment! Finally, the Clark + Walker team captured our day perfectly. The photos bring us back to all of those moments that flew by so fast. The trailer that Josh created had us laughing, crying, smiling and reminiscing in just three minutes. We are so grateful that such talented individuals captured the most magical day of our lives!

Floral Design: Foley Florist | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Make Up: A List Artistry | DJ: Black Tie Entertainment | Venue: Inns of Aurora | Photography & Cinematography: Clark+Walker Studio

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Finger Lakes Barn Wedding from Alexandra Meseke Photography

As a wedding blogger, every so often I come across a wedding that I absolutely must spend time with. I flip through the images one at a time and give each one a nice good look. I ooh and aah over and over again. Today’s wedding is just such a wedding. Alexandra Meseke Photography’s images of the day make it seem like such a beautiful, romantic, intimate affair, and I’m ridiculously grateful for the bride and groom allowing us a peek into their sweet day.

From the stunning bride… Sean and I were engaged in the Finger Lakes of New York in 2011 on my first trip to the area. Sean had been on previous wine tasting trips, and brought me back to propose knowing that I would fall in love with the beautiful gorges, rustic farms, and vineyards lining the glacial lakes. He was right. He proposed on a hike at Watkins Glenn State Park and I’ll never forget the beauty of it all. As fate would have it we celebrated with dinner at Suzanne’s Fine Dining in Lodi and learned of a majestic barn on the property. After an evening tour by the owner, we knew it was the spot for our wedding. Two years later we came back with 50 of our closest friends and family for what I can only describe as a magical long weekend including a good old fashioned 4th of July BBQ lakeside, a guided gorge hike of our engagement spot, wine tasting, rehearsal dinner and a magical wedding day.

We wanted the entire weekend to feel like an intimate vacation with friends and family. The Inn On Columbia in Ithaca, NY served as a perfect basecamp for us. Rob, (an architect) and Madeline (a dream in the kitchen) have renovated a handful of properties into a mid-century oasis. Sean and I spent the entire week in a romantic gazebo turned honeymoon suite. We had a few days to prepare for our guests arrival and spent time collecting local treats for the welcome bags, including handmade chocolate bars by Luciennes chocolates, and customized splits of wines from Swedish Hill winery. The Finger Lakes is known for it’s great antiquing, so we did some local rummage shopping for old materials to use for hand painted signs, spending an entire unforgettable day out at the barn painting signs and excitedly anticipating the week to come. For our rehearsal dinner, Sean found Serendipity Catering Company through farm dinners they had been hosting in the area. As soon as we met with them we knew it was the right fit, and they introduced us to Silver Queen Farms where we hosted our event. Stephanie and her team helped us concept a menu for a whole hog roast, and created wild flower and burlap table decorations to complete our rustic theme. Alexandra Meseke was our official photographer of the rehearsal dinner and wedding day events. Not only did the pictures turn out beautifully, but Alexandra and her photographer husband Michael were a total joy to work with and instantly became a part of our extended family.

Bob and Suzanne at Suzannes Fine Dining were instrumental in bringing together our wedding day. They handled everything from setting up our ceremony site including a chuppah they already had on the property, to cocktail hour with h’ors deurves and drinks on the deck, dinner in the farmhouse dining room, and our party in the barn – including our very own bar in the horse stables (where my friend Annie Rocchio) helped us create a home-made photobooth, complete with a hand-strung wildflower backdrop created from our leftover rehearsal dinner flowers. My good friend and stylist, Morgan Blaul, handled my hair and makeup, and hair for the bridesmaids. Sean made the cork table-card stands using leftover wine corks we brought from home. Arenas Florist in Rochester helped us create our floral arrangements and decorations for the wedding, sourcing local wildflowers and keeping to our neutral color palette. Jennifer at Barb at Ceremonies and Events helped us create our timeline for the wedding day and ensured that everything ran smoothly the day of, and Astrograss from Brooklyn, New York provided live Bluegrass entertainment from the ceremony all the way through the barn shin-dig. As a way to give back to the area that gave us so much, we donated a portion of our wedding gifts to a local not-for-profit called Ithaca Children’s Garden, teaching kids the value of gardening and land preservation.

All in all, we were really lucky to have met so many wonderful people on this journey and to have a new place we can call home.

Photography: Alexandra Meseke Photography | Event Planning: Ceremonies and Event Planning of the Finger Lakes | Flowers: Arenas | Wedding Dress: Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Flagship Boutique | Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN | Band: Astrograss | Groom's Suit: J. Lindeberg | Wedding Venue: Suzanne's Fine Dining | Bridal Accessories: The Left Bank Bridal Finery | Groom's Shoes: Ted Baker London | Groom's Tie: Paul Smith | Hair/Make-Up: Morgan Blaul | Rehearsal Dinner Catering: Serendipity Catering | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Silver Queen Farm | Wedding Catering: Suzanne's Fine Dining | Wedding Party Hotel: The Inn on Columbia Ithaca | Welcome Bag Goodies: Luciennes Chocolate's

Finger Lakes Barn Wedding from Elizabeth Duncan Events + Nessa K Photography

There’s just something so refreshing about this wedding… something that kind of grabs ahold of your heart and never lets go.  It’s the simple sophistication of a breathtaking Finger Lakes backdrop paired perfectly with the planning expertise of Elizabeth Duncan Events and a bundle of beautiful blooms from Stacy K Floral.  It’s a mesmerizing rustic meets romantic vibe joining forces with an amazing red barn and a tented reception that will, put simply, blow your mind.  And it’s image after image of pure lovely as captured by Nessa K Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.

From Elizabeth Duncan EventsThe banner over the dance floor read “Magic Surrounds,” and from beginning to end, K.C. and Aaron’s wedding was just that – magical.

K.C. and Aaron started dating in high school in Northern Virginia and over their twelve-year relationship they spent many summers at Aaron’s family lake house in Branchport, New York. K.C. also has family roots in the Finger Lakes area. The sentiment of so many memories together and undeniable beauty of the surroundings coupled with the opportunity to provide their guests with a true escape led K.C. and Aaron to their wedding celebration on Keuka Lake.

K.C. wanted to create a wedding environment for her guests that highlighted the beauty and meaningfulness of the area with a natural romance and vintage touches woven together in a sophisticated and refined look. What was created was just that and more – a relaxed and rustic lakeside escape and revival of the “modern ruins” of the historic barns on the family property.

From seasonal fruit jams made by K.C. in the welcome gifts to the farm-to-table menu paired with locally-grown and produced wines to textured floral arrangements featuring local, seasonal elements such as dahlias, thistle, blackberries, grasses and vines, K.C. and Aaron imbued their wedding celebration with as many details as possible that were homemade and highlighted the bounty of the region. K.C. also created her own custom font and hand lettered much of the printed materials and signage at the wedding.

One of the barns on the property had served as storage over the years and became the source for many creative ideas. Old washbasins became coolers for wine at the bars, beautiful fireplace mantles became the anchors for a cozy lounge by the dance floor, jam jars became the vases for the centerpieces, old farm tables were used for some of the bars and food displays, and wine crates, baskets, plates and platters added additional rustic touches.

From the perfect blue sky to the sentimental waterfront ceremony to the gracious hospitality to the sparkling send off, K.C. and Aaron’s wedding truly was filled with magic.

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Wedding Photography: Nessa K Photography | Wedding Venue: Private Residence, Branchport, New York (Keuka Lake, Finger Lakes) | Event Planning: Elizabeth Duncan Events | Floral Design: Stacy K Floral | Catering: PURE Event Catering | Invitations: Minted | Linens: Table Toppers | Wedding Dress: Lazaro | Groom’s Attire: Custom | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair: Ismail of George’s at The Four Seasons, Washington, DC | Makeup: Robyn Fazio | Tent + Rentals: Hank Parker’s | DJ: CNY Select DJs | Valet: Premier Parking Services  | Restroom Trailer: Crescent Moon

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Finger Lakes Wedding from Glass Jar Photography

It’s been my experience that when I fall in love with a wedding gown, I fall in love in a big, big way. (Think screen savers galore and days upon days of never-ending pinning.)  So, the moment I saw this uber-gorgeous bride rockin’ the Jenny Packham “Eden” gown, I was absolutely smitten.  Because, not only is this dress what I would call a wedding gown masterpiece, it also happens to be the oh-so-perfect compliment to a day that is literally overflowing with beauty.  Glass Jar Photography snapped up every magical moment and it’s making for one amazing day in the gallery.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… In planning our wedding, I wanted to invite the people we love into a fantasy land with us for one day. I wanted them to feel as though they literally stepped into another world – a world from a much simpler time, where the beauty of nature itself would trump any grandiose attempts of man. I described my vision to my photographer as something like “the shire” but with a lot of little personal touches.

As we love wine, my husband and I originally set out to find a vineyard where we would be married. We live in NJ, but far more reasonable prices brought us to the Finger Lakes wine country in upstate New York to look for a venue. Initially, we did book a local winery up there, but due to conflicts with the owner, we ended up moving our wedding to Seneca Springs Resort, a B&B with 100 acres of incredible grounds overlooking the wineries and Seneca Lake. In addition to the abundance of natural beauty, they also had a solid wood barn-like structure up on the hill where we could hold the reception. I knew that I wanted the décor to be mostly DIY pieces mixed with random vintage items. I collected about 20 hand-picked vintage bottles over six months to put flowers in. I saw no need for a traditional florist, so we went with a one-woman show (Plenty of Posies) out of the Ithaca Farmer’s Market — her choices of wild flowers were stunning. She even created the flower halos my nieces wore. We also splurged on solid wood farm tables to really drive home that rustic, lost-in-time feel.

The more I learned about what I needed to be done, the more I wanted to do myself.  I designed and printed my own invitations, menu cards and programs. The venue was bare bones, so absolutely everything had to brought in (including water and electricity). This turned out to be a bit of a challenge for a lot of logistical/functional items, but at the same time it was a blank canvas, which was so exciting for me to work with. I became enchanted by old doors and keys, and I ended up using antique door knobs and barn wood to create table numbers. I also made all the escort tags and attached each to a unique vintage skeleton key, which served as favors for all the guests. Just so there was no confusion on what to do with the keys, I wrote a poem about them which I put in the display box that held all the keys. (I completely fell in love with the process of bringing this all to life, and as a result, actually ended up opening my own Etsy store after my wedding!) My husband and I love blue grass and folk music, which also went with the theme, so we hired a local band we knew from Astoria, NY (2/3 Goat) to come up and play our wedding. We also had a DJ for a couple hours to do the more traditional dancing. We may like the country, but we take our food every bit as seriously as any sophisticated city-folk. We ended up having an authentic Viennese-Austrian restaurant called Dano’s cater the wedding, serving foodie-approved delights made with all local ingredients. When the day finally came, it turned out to be everything I had hoped for, and we felt so blessed to get to share our love, and our dreams brought to life, with all our closest family and friends!

Wedding Photography: Glass Jar Photography / Wedding Venue: Seneca Springs Resort in Hector, New York / Wedding Planning: Lovewell Celebration Design / Floral Design: Plenty of Posies / Wedding Design + Decor: Doorknobs & Broomsticks (Owned by the Bride) / Catering: Dano’s Heuriger on Seneca / Band: 2/3 Goat / Rentals: McCarthy Tents & Events / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham “Eden”

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Finger Lakes Wedding from Rebekah J. Murray Photography

I have a slight obsession (okay, HUGE obsession) with printed bridesmaid gowns, so when I first laid my eyes on the gorgeous frocks in this breathtaking Finger Lakes affair, I almost jumped right out of my seat.  Yep – these black and white Dessy numbers are just.that.fabulous – and also happen to be the perfect compliment to a day that is seriously overflowing with pretty.  I’m talking bright pops of yellow, a stunning outdoor ceremony and a tented reception that will make your entire day.  Rebekah J. Murray Photography captured every last moment and it’s all just waiting to be adored in the full gallery.  Join me there for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Marek and I met though mutual friends a little over two years ago. We were engaged in October of 2011 while attending a Major League Gaming event that Marek was competing in. I still have no idea how he held his nerves together though competing and proposing all in the same day!

I loved planning every detail of our day. One of the first things I decided was I wanted to use my grandmother’s milk glass that I had inherited. We did want the day to be a reflection of us and we just couldn’t go all vintage, so I came up with a modern-meets-vintage concept. I loved the idea of using items that belonged to my grandparents since they had done so much for me in my life, so it was a great way to honor them. The keys used for our “Keys To A Good Marriage” guest book belonged to them. The keys ended up getting carried out in our invites and other paper goods too. The table runners were made by my step-mother; we spent a lot of time searching for that exact pattern. She also made the flower girl dresses and my head piece. She was a great help in the DIY department. My biological mom passed away when I was young, so I always worried about who would help me with a wedding, and she stepped up no questions asked.

There are a lot of children in my family, so we had a child friendly meal choice and a babysitter with activities on-site. We had an “I Spy” game for them to play and even our own custom wedding day coloring book. I never felt like any kids were invading the wedding, and it was great to have them there. Our wedding day was very hot! I had worried for months it would rain, and we would have to do everything inside of the John Joseph Inn which would have been beautiful but cramped. Our day was perfect — no one knew little things that went wrong. All of our vendors really helped make the day perfect, from getting ready at the inn, to our photographers with the mini photo studio and then our fireworks finale that the groom had no idea about.

Wedding Photography: Rebekah J. Murray Photography / Wedding Venue: John Joseph Inn in Groton, New York / Floral Design: Foll’s Flower Farm / Event Design: The Bride / Wedding Cake + Pies: La Dolce Vita Bake Shop / Wedding Paper Goods: Sea Horse Bend Press / Linen Design: The Bride / Vintage Furniture: Deserted Attic / Table Numbers + Other Signs: Our Hobby to Your Home / Coloring Book: Sugar Pie Studio / Wedding Dress: Enzoani “Modeca” / Bride’s Reception Dress: Mikaella Bridal (Shortened to Tea Length) / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair + Makeup: Sara Scollan (leilaniscollan@hotmail.com) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nina / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Finger Lakes Engagement Session from Leo Timoshuck Photography

We have seriously just stumbled across the sweetest recipe for an engagement session. One dog, two lovebirds, and a delicious picnic yields utter perfection EVERY time. Add Leo Timoshuck Photography and his well seasoned camera to that mix, and it is over. Over in a pretty haze of gorgeous images. Indulge your inner sweet tooth right here in the gallery!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

How It All Began. Without their knowledge, Tim and Katie unofficially met during their freshman year in college. As athletes at SUNY Oneonta, both were responsible for working sporting events. It just so happened that Tim, a lacrosse player on a 40-man roster, was working Katie’s volleyball game. The picture that was snapped at this partular moment created a priceless memory (and funny story!) Neither of them could believe what they found as they stumbled upon this picture years after they had already been dating…

Tim and Katie officially met while attending college on Halloween 2006. Dressed in his best ‘Cuse Beer Vendor attire, he dubbed Katie as “the girl with the smile”. After a few casual run-ins, the name stuck and they began to see more of each other. They finally began dating in January 2008 and knew they had something special. While watching football at Katie’s college house that winter, Tim told her she would have to kick him out or he would never leave… turns out he never will!

The Proposal. A few weeks before the proposal, Tim ventured down to Katie’s hometown of Corning, NY. Assuming he was away that day for business, she suspected nothing out of the ordinary. Tim pulled up to a large black building and asked to see Charlie Darcangelo, not knowing he wasn’t at the correct Corning Incorporated location. Keeping tight security procedures in place, the receptionist gave him a hard time in locating her father. To gain the information he was seeking, he let many employees in on his intentions. As a result, he was finally able to travel to her father’s correct building and asked for him at the front desk. To his dismay, Katie’s father was in a meeting that would last a few hours. With determination (and sweaty palms) Tim waited anxiously. Finally, Charlie came down from his meeting to greet an impatient young man. Tim showed her father the ring he had purchased and received the wonderful blessing to marry his daughter!

On Katie’s last day of grad school on December 12, 2011, she simply wanted to celebrate the end of all her hard work… Tim had other plans. After beautiful flowers and a celebratory dinner, Katie found out Tim wasn’t playing in his broomball game that night. She insisted that he had already done enough for her celebration and forced him out the door.

Upon his return late that evening, he brought Katie out in front of their lighted Christmas tree. He distracted her by asking a silly question about one of their ornaments at the top of the tree. After answering his question, she turned to look back at Tim who was down on one knee! She ended up answering TWO questions that night.

Photography: Leo Timoshuk Photography / Planning: Kate Darcangelo, bride / Hair: Kate Darcangelo / Make-Up: Syracuse Makeup Artistry / Dress: Zara / Fruits: Wegmans / Picnic basket: Home Goods / Mason Jars: Hobby Lobby / Chevron Blanket: Home Goods / Hat: Urban Outfitters / Plates: MacKenzie-Childs / Foam Letters: Hobby Lobby / Jewelry: Stella & Dot / Shoes: Aldo / She said Yes Ring Buoy: Ebay / Save the Date Banner: DIY with supplies from Hobby Lobby

Finger Lakes Wedding at Aurora Inn from Frost Photography

Wow, I could literally stare at this beyond adorable wedding all.day.long. It has a super fun, whimsical feel with bright florals, the best hand made signs, and don’t you even dare get me started on those amazing menus and colorful stripped napkins. I’m officially in love with each and every detail so much so that I want to throw a party and have it look just like this. Frost Photography seriously rocked it and the proof is right here.

Don’t miss this fabulous film by McKenzie Miller Films:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Brendan and I wanted the wedding to feel like us — a little bit traditional, a little bit informal and filled with a lot of love. I always envisioned a tented wedding with twinkling lights, cheerful colors, delicious food and dancing under the stars: relaxed and romantic with a homemade feel. The Aurora Inn perfectly combined that backyard, summer party atmosphere with a beautiful lakeside setting that felt at once charming and luxurious. While it was important to us that the details captured who we are as a couple, we also wanted them to reflect who we are as individuals and where we came from. In addition to using my grandparent’s 54-year-old cake topper, old photographs from our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents’ weddings were displayed on large wooden frames. We also made signs that list the cities and mileage of where we’ve lived and where all of our guests would be traveling from to celebrate with us that day. It was Brendan’s idea to make them to look like ski resort signs, and they were a huge hit with our guests. Because Brendan is an avid snowboarder, we painted over one of his old snowboards for our guests to sign instead of using a traditional guestbook. It was a fun, sentimental way to combine things that we both love.

Because the invitations are the first detail the guests see, I really wanted them to reflect the details that were going to be a part of the wedding day. The design was very basic; we printed the invitations on brown Kraft paper with simple, fresh lettering in black ink. Using over 100-year-old twine that I found at Tinsel Trading here in NYC, we tied the invitation together with the RSVP postcard, a hand-drawn map and a tag with an Audrey Hepburn quote that I’ve always loved. While creating the invitations was probably one of my favorite things to do, it took a lot of trial and error to get them just right. I realized the hard way that in order to have that handmade feel and still look professional, I was going to have to teach myself how to use Photoshop, which was a combination of frustrating, exciting and addicting! In the beginning of the process, Brendan couldn’t believe I was investing so much time into something as seemingly simple as invitations, but in the end (even after all the tying, stuffing, and stamping he was subjected to), he was very proud of the results. Spending the time on the invitations and learning to use Photoshop inspired me to make even more projects. The menu cards, the wedding programs, the canvas welcome bags (which I screen-printed by hand), the itinerary card on the back of the vintage Finger Lakes postcard, and all the paper signage throughout the wedding were all a combination of my own hand-drawn elements and graphic design. I loved it so much that I decided to open my own Etsy shop for other brides that want personalized and handmade details for their big day.

Even after all the planning and details, on the day of the wedding, I was so caught up in the joy of being with friends, family and, of course, Brendan, that I didn’t even worry about a single detail or decoration. This is of course thanks to the amazing event coordinator at the Aurora Inn, Heather, who became my best friend in the months leading up to the wedding. I would bounce ideas off her and she would tell me from a practical, professional and organized perspective how we could pull it off. I felt like she was genuinely dedicated to making “our day” exactly the day we wanted.We did a lot of research to find the perfect people and were lucky that my talented photographer Caroline Frost Shea and amazing cinematographer McKenzie Miller were willing to travel from NYC to the Finger Lakes to capture everything about our day that we wanted to remember. All Brendan and I had to do was just soak it all in and enjoy the day. And it was the best day of my life.

Wedding Photography: Caroline Frost Shea of Frost Photography / Photography Assistant: Mary Beth Mahaney / Wedding Venue + Catering: Aurora Inn in Aurora, New York / Event Coordination: Heather of Aurora Inn / Floral Design: WildFlowers / Wedding Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films /  Wedding Invitations, Menus + Other Decor: Hoopla Love (Owned by the Bride) / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Nina via Macy’s / Hair: Riki Lebeid of Syracuse Makeup Artistry / Makeup: Tina Mercurio of Blow Dry on the Fly / Groom’s Suit: Bar III via Macy’s / Rings: Pico Jewelry

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Finger Lakes Wedding at Glenora Wine Cellars by Leo Timoshuk

Your Tuesday morning is about to get a whole lot prettier thanks to this gorgeous Finger Lakes wedding by Leo Timoshuk! There really is no better venue than a romantic vineyard, especially this one with its sweeping views of the Hudson River and amazing waterfalls. The bride put tons of special, personal touches on her day including that pretty and priceless vintage glass that graced all the tables at the reception. See that and so much more right here in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… Mike and I met in college, and we really got to know one another after I asked him to tutor me. I could tell right away that he was sweet on me, but he was too much of a gentleman to ask me out until the end of the semester. Just a few months after that, Mike graduated and moved five hours away. We knew we had something special, so we continued our relationship long-distance for the next two years until I graduated and moved to Rochester with Mike. A few years later, I had almost given up on Mike ever proposing, so I was completely surprised when he did! We were on a trip to Hawaii, and Mike suggested that we go snorkeling at sunrise in an old volcanic crater called Hanauma Bay. There were so many colorful fish and coral that it was like swimming in an aquarium. We even saw sea turtles! I thought Mike was leading me to see another turtle, but when I swam over to him, he pulled out a ring underwater! I had to surface and pull off my snorkel to say yes! It never occurred to Mike that he could have lost the ring in the ocean until after we came back and told people the story.

When it came to planning the wedding, Mike and I really wanted a personalized, memorable event for our guests. Since both of our families live in different states from us, we wanted to choose a location that our guests could make into a get-away vacation. We chose Glenora because of the beautiful view and great location in the Finger Lakes. We wanted the wedding to have a slightly rustic, vintage, romantic feel that drew on the natural beauty of the lake and vineyard. I’ve always had a thing for antiques and colored glass, but it was a real family affair to pull the wedding together. The tables were decorated with my stepmother’s lifetime collection of depression glass. We found the blue mason jars when my aunt saw an ad in the newspaper from a farmer cleaning out his barn. My mom sewed all of the burlap table runners herself, and another aunt made our cakes. Mike and I were both avid readers growing up, so I purchased vintage copies of some of our favorite children’s fiction and used the books as table names. I also commissioned a custom mason jar stamp with our initials and wedding date from Etsy to use as our unofficial monogram and repeated the theme of “L&M’ throughout the wedding, including the moss-covered letters I made for the ceremony. We wanted our ceremony to really reflect “us” so we chose to incorporate a wine capsule — we selected a bottle of wine to drink on our first, fifth, and tenth anniversaries and wrote letters to our future selves to seal in with the wine. Neither of us is big on public speaking, so these letters suited us perfectly. Plus, it was kind of fun to hammer a nail in my wedding dress!

One of my favorite moments was my dance with my dad. We started out dancing to “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, which despite being a good song, does not have a lot of meaning to us. Then after a few minutes, our band faded into my Dad’s absolute favorite song, “Taking Care of Business” by Bachman Turner Overdrive. The look of surprise on his face was priceless! We had such a great time dancing that I don’t think the smile left my dad’s face for the rest of the night. Mike and I spent a lot of time during our engagement collecting and crafting to create a meaningful event, but it was all worth it when Mike said to me during the last slow song, “Could today have been more perfect?” It was an amazing day filled with fun, friends, and family, and we felt so surrounded by love.

Wedding Photography: Leo Timoshuk / Wedding Venue: The Vinyard Cottage at Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee, New York / Floral Design: Flower Power Decor / Wedding Coordination: Chrystie Payne of Glenora Wine Cellars / Band: Something Else / Catering: Glenora Wine Cellars / Wedding Cakes: Mary Sauer, Aunt of the Bride / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal “1914” via Bridal Belle / Hair: Meredith Towsand / Makeup: Charisse Koba / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: The Limited / Groom’s Suit: Hickey Freeman

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Skaneateles Wedding by Genevieve Fridley Photography

There’s nothing in the world as heartwarming as a pair of high school sweethearts saying I Do… especially when those high school sweethearts are childhood besties who fell in love at the age of sixteen.  That’s a story seriously made for the big screen – and this adorable duo is the real thing.  Yep – say hello to two of the cutest sweethearts you will ever meet AND their beyond amazing Skaneateles affair, complete with uber-gorgeous images by Genevieve Fridley Photography.  Happy, happy Thursday.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My husband Stephen and I are from the Syracuse area and met when we were 11, became best friends at 14, and started dating when we were 16. Now we live in New York City, where I work in book publishing and he is a Physician Assistant student. But we chose to have our wedding back in beautiful Central New York, where almost our entire family still lives, and where our story began. We were married on May 12, 2012, on a beautiful spring day in Skaneateles, New York, a small town in the Finger Lakes region. 

Our style was a bit vintage, a bit romantic and a bit whimsical, and we incorporated quite a bit of DIY into our day. My mom, aunt and I made all of the peach and strawberry jam for our favors the summer before the wedding, which was definitely a labor of love! We attached our seating cards to mason jars so our guests could grab a cold lemonade or iced tea along with their seat assignment. My mother-in-law and step-father-in-law found the beautiful birch branch that we hung from the rafters at the lodge, and my mom and I tied ribbons to it to create a backdrop for the ceremony. For the centerpieces, we collected vintage books and white pitchers. It was very important to me to feel like my sister, Paige, was part of our day, as she died of leukemia when we were children. I had our florist sew her locket onto the handle of my bouquet, and she created an arrangement for the ceremony with the flowers that my two Maids of Honor carried. I love that when we look back on these pictures in the years to come, we’ll remember all of the people who made so many personal details come to life on our wedding day.
 
Our wedding was such a celebration of our longtime love and our families officially coming together, and we were told by many that it was the most joyful, meaningful ceremony they had ever attended. Though we loved and labored over our handcrafted details, that was the most wonderful thing to hear. After the ceremony, we celebrated with a dance party of epic proportions, including a dance contest with a modest cash prize that our friend Jack, a talented gymnast, won with a crazy back flip! Our wedding party was fantastic, too; many of them were childhood and high school friends that we had both been friends with for years, and everyone involved truly has supported both of us individually and as a couple through the years. With such amazing friends and family, we couldn’t help but have a beautiful day!

Wedding Photography: Genevieve Fridley Photography / Wedding Venue: The Lodge at Welch Allyn in Skaneateles, New York / Floral Design: Whistlestop Florist / Bakery: The Cookie Connection / Invitations: Minted / Jam Favors: DIY / Wedding Dress: Alita Graham for Kleinfield Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Makeup: Lashes, Locks & Lips / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew

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English Garden Inspired Finger Lakes Wedding from Dave Robbins Photography

If two lovebirds meeting in London and falling in love over long walks in Regent’s Park is not the most butterflies-in-your-stomach romantic thing you’ve heard today, I don’t believe you. A dreamy start to a beautiful relationship blossomed into a fabulous, English Garden inspired Upstate New York Wedding. And with Dave Robbins Photography behind the lens, we are able to experience every sweet moment as if we were there toasting this lovely couple. It’s even sweeter in the gallery, if you can believe it!

Click here to see it all in the gallery!

My husband Ben and I met as graduate students in London and fell in love taking long walks through Regent’s Park and the East End. I wanted our wedding to feel like an English garden party – relaxed, intimate, and not too precious. We live in Brooklyn now and considered several New York City venues, but nothing felt like us. We finally moved our search upstate to Ithaca, where Ben went to college, and we found the ideal reception venue at the John Joseph Inn, a pastoral country inn run by a married couple who are known for an on-site restaurant that draws diners from throughout the Finger Lakes.

Beyond a beautiful venue and great food, finding a photographer to capture the day was incredibly important to us. I have too many friends who have been disappointed by their wedding photos, so I wanted to make sure we found a kindred spirit in both aesthetic and demeanor. I saw Dave Robbins’s work in New York Weddings magazine very early in the planning process and felt immediately he was the one for us, which was only confirmed when my husband and I met him in person. We spent nearly as much time with Dave on the big day as we did with each other, and his unflappable style really contributed to the vibe of our day. He also engineered a magical, only-on-your-wedding-day experience by finding a field of sunflowers and taking us there right after the ceremony. Frolicking in the sunflower field with my new husband was a moment I will never forget.

We had such fun assembling the details of our day, starting with my “something blue,” shoes that I found a month after our engagement and well before we even set a date. I loved their scroll design so much that I found wedding invitations from Sesame Letterpress that recalled them and then worked with Breck, the owner, to customize the ink colors to match the sash on my gown. My parents made a sign with our names that was constructed from barn board from my grandfather’s barn, and we found a wedding “log” on Etsy for our guests to sign in lieu of a guest book, which now hangs prominently in our home. For favors, we filled glass candy jars with classic British candies, which were a big hit – except for the flying saucers, which our 6-year-old guest Lucie said tasted like cardboard.

We kept a few plans to ourselves and had fun surprising our guests with a dance we’d learned for our first dance to Louis Armstrong’s version of “La Vie en Rose.” Then my dad and I caught everyone off guard with our fast father-daughter swing dance to an Elvis song. One surprise I hadn’t anticipated came during the reception when my aunt Valeria presented us with a handmade wedding quilt she had made. My aunt is an incredible quilter, but I never imagined she’d design and make something uniquely for us. We love our first family heirloom and were so touched to receive it during our celebration.

The best advice I heard and followed was to create a few quiet moments alone as a couple over the course of the day to take in the emotion. Ben and I first saw each other all dressed up in the orchard at the inn and then stepped away to read letters we’d written to each other. We also took a few minutes right after the ceremony and then again at the end of dinner before the light disappeared. As a result, our wedding day felt completely real to me, and I have vivid memories of those first heady, blissful moments as my husband’s wife.

Photography: Dave Robbins Photography / Day of Coordination: Barbara Behrman of Ceremonies and Events / Flowers: French Lavender / Officiant: Anabel Taylor / Invitations + Placecards: Sesame Letterpress / Calligraphy: Rose Calligraphy and Design / Ceremony Venue: Chapel at Cornell University / Reception: John Joseph Inn / Gown, Lace Shrug + Veil: Reem Acra / Shoes: Roger Vivier / Earrings: Adorn / Groom’s suit: Armani / Groom’s Socks: Paul Smith / Groom’s Shoes: Ferragamo / Groom’s Cufflinks: Tomatomade from Etsy / Attendants’ Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: Miel Beauty / Dance lessons: Joey at NY Partner Dance

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