CHRISTINA & CHRIS

Photos by
JP Elario Photography

Our Story...

Our love story began in the summer of 2019 with Chris having to extend his vacation time at home in Albany from California for a week because his race car broke down and it needed fixing. Originally, Chris is from the Albany area, but at the time he was living in California to work on his career and had no intentions on coming back home to live...especially to deal with NY winters. That very same week by coincidence, Chris and I met on the boat of mutual friends on Saratoga Lake. Being this was our original meeting place, Saratoga Springs was very special to us from day one.

It wasn't until later that night that Chris and I engaged with one another. I was at the "Publik House" pub in Saratoga with my friend group when someone announced that another "boat group" was coming to join us. There was no room in the booth besides one spot next to me, where Chris sat. My first impression of Chris was that he was this loud Italian guy who wouldn't stop talking.  When he was trying to decide between a "New Yorker" and a "West Coast” late-evening pizza, I said, "Well, you don't even live here, so go with the West Coast." This is why pizza will always have a special place in our hearts. We left that night without exchanging our phone numbers, but I knew I liked him. By happen stance, we ran into each other again the weekend following at Gaffney’s Bar -also in Saratoga Springs. Chris and I shut down the bar that night dancing the night away and then ended up at a diner in town for breakfast.

Our love story started with a bunch of "chance" meetings, but my favorite one was when I called a random realtor, and Chris picked up the call and impersonating the realtor asked me on our first official date! This had to be the work of a higher power -or divine intervention! Ultimately, Chris' one week home, turned into four months and four months… into forever.

After three years of dating, we got engaged on May 13th after the Greek Festival in Albany, surrounded by friends and family. It was quite ironic because we went to Greece for our honeymoon after the wedding too! After visiting many venues, we chose one, and after about 8 months in changed it. We changed it to the Hall of Springs in the heart of Saratoga. It was where we first met, where my grandparents had their 40th wedding anniversary and it felt more like us.

Our wedding day could not have been more perfect. From the music to the flowers and elegant finishing touches on the tablescape, to the red carpet I walked down the aisle on, we felt like royalty at the Hall of Springs. We had one of the only days this summer that didn't rain, I knew I could have attributed that to my grandma shining down on our beautiful day. Along with the help from our A-Team Vendors, surrounded by our family and friends we had the best day and one we will remember forever.

Advice to pass along...  

As cliche as it sounds, the day does in fact go by so fast! My husband and I had made an agreement to stay by each other's side the whole night. It was our day, and we wanted to make sure we spent it hand in hand the whole night. It made our day and we'd never look back and say we didn't spend enough time with one another on OUR day. Make your rounds and just live in all of the moments both big and small.

Special Touches 

Rehearsal Dinner: Forno Bistro on their outdoor private patio

Hotel Accomodations & "Get Ready" Location: The Adelphi Hotel

Wedding Custom Monogram: SBM Event Co.

Some of the special touches that made our day was driving around in the grooms dad's old 1966 Corvette. The Corvette was baby blue and was our something borrowed, something old, and something blue. We also got married at The Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs, NY. Orginally, we were supposed to get married at a different venue, but we didn't feel like it was quite "us." A few months before our wedding my Grandmother passed away, we had confirmed our new wedding venue in February and found out later that my Grandmother and Grandfather had their 40 year wedding anniversary at the Hall of Springs. We knew then it was meant to be. We had a private dance during our reception to the song "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brother which was in honor of my Grandmother. My Grandmother and Grandfather danced to this song in the same exact spot in the ballroom during their wedding anniversary. It was a great way to remember my grandmother. I also had a piece of her wedding gown sewn into mine. We also gave our mothers white roses to honor them and thank them during our ceremony to show us what real love and happiness in life looks like. Lastly, we shared a private last dance with only the two of us in the room to "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John. We often danced to this song in our kitchen and it was really a song we both could sing, have fun and dance to. It was just us and the band, a surreal experience we are forever grateful for. This was the best way to end our special day with just one another in our moment.