Displaying items by tag: real bride
Our Story:
I met Christopher at The University at Albany in 2008. We wouldn't go on our first date until 2010- he took me to a small Italian restaurant called Barcelona. If you haven't been - you need to go!
Six years later, we had dinner at Barcelona again. I thought he wasn't feeling well because he wasn't really touching his food. I ate most of the potatoes on his plate and finished my plate. At one point, the spotlight on the wall had gone out and a waitress immediately ran over and fiddled with it. I told her it was fine, but she insisted. I looked around and realized that people were looking at us. I looked back at Chris laughing only to notice that he was holding a box that he had taken out of his pocket. I realized what was happening and exclaimed, "oh my gosh, is that for me?" He laughed and said, "No, it's for the waitress"
Our wedding day was perfect, all our vendors were amazing and thought of everything!
The Details:
wedding date: November 3, 2018
ceremony location: St. Mary's (Ballston Spa, NY)
reception location: Mansion Inn
photographer: Brayton Photography
wedding gown & bridesmaids' dresses: : David's Bridal
tuxedo and groomsmen clothing: Men's Warehouse
flowers: Trader Joe's (Colonie,NY
wedding planner: Family
hair & makeup : Blended Hair Studio (Saratoga Springs, NY)
cake & caterer: Chef Rick at The Mansion Inn
transportation: Exclusive Chauffeur
music & photobooth: DJ Mike Melice (Ithaca, NY)
honeymoon: Sandals Ocho Rios, Jamaica
wedding favors: Saratoga Tea & Honey
Our Story:
Matt and I started dating about 2 years ago. Given that we both had children from previous relationships we were very cautious and intentional from the beginning. What started out as a solid friendship bloomed into love as we both realized we had common goals and priorities.
I grew up in Saratoga and Matt relocated here after college, but it has become one of our favorite places. Even though we live here, there was no question that we wanted to have a very Saratoga wedding. Matt proposed in front of The Adelphi Hotel in June 2020.
The Adelphi has always been a favorite place of ours downtown and I think we both knew we'd like to get married there. But, 2020 meant the pandemic and COVID. We decided we really wanted to start our lives together with our kids so we planned a wedding for September 12, 2020, just 12 weeks after getting engaged!
Because we could only have a ceremony and a dinner, we focused all our energy into those things. We had only 27 guests; immediate family, and a handful of close friends.
The day was about our union and our children, and it could not have been more perfect. Our vendors perfectly understood our vision and worked so carefully to keep everyone safe without compromising on the experience. We had amazing weather, the best vendors, the perfect venue and at the end of the day we were married!
What could be better?
The Details:
wedding date: September 12, 2020
ceremony: Adephi Hotel
reception location: The Blue Hen, Adephi Hotel
photographer: Rob Spring Photography
stationery suite: Paperdolls
wedding gown: Lily Saratoga
groom/groomsmen clothing: Simon's Menswear (Mike), Greenfield
wedding bands: N. Fox, Engagement ring from a jeweler in Texas
flowers: Samantha Nass Floral Design
hair & makeup: Revive Hair and Skin (Juliet Smith)
cake/caterer: The Blue Hen
dj: Anthony & Tyler from Non-Stop Music
first dance: "Love Like This" by Ben Rectort
officiant: Dianne Patterson - From The Heart Ceremonies.
"Guest Book" print of the Adelph: Impressions of Saratoga
special touches: It was important to us to keep our vendors local. As someone who works in the wedding industry, I know how much business our fellow vendors have given up. We wanted to support our local wedding industry. We also wanted to make sure our guests felt as comfortable as possible during a pandemic. Everyone was socially distanced during our ceremony and we had mostly two tops for dinner, spaced out.
Advice to pass along... Keep the focus on what the day is really about which is getting married to your best friend. Yes, we would have loved to have more friends and family present with us and danced the night away, but at the end of the day that's not what the day is really about.
Our Story:
Jordan and I met at the University at Albany. I was in my freshman year, while Jordan was just finishing up undergrad. We saw each other in passing a lot as Jordan was very heavily involved in athletics, and I was on the cheerleading team. Over the course of 2 years, Jordan and I got to know each other and became closer friends. In 2012 Jordan started grad school and we officially started dating. We both graduated in 2014; me with my bachelor’s degree, Jordan with 2 masters, and we moved to New York City.
Three years of living together in NYC flew by, and In April 2017 we headed back up to Albany to celebrate Easter with my family. When we are in town, we always stop by the old campus to walk around and check out anything new. We walked around for bit and ended up in the front of the campus, Jordan told me there was no better place than "where it all began.” He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Soon after, our parents ran out of one of the buildings so excited; they had witnessed the whole proposal! It was so amazing to have both families present for our engagement.
We had been planning a trip to California, and it ended up being the week after we got engaged. I spent the entire 6-hour flight researching and planning. Living in the NYC area and being from the Capital Region, we both knew there was no better place to get married than Saratoga. We were lucky to have booked some of the best vendors in the area and our planning process was a breeze.
Our wedding day was magical. That’s the only way I know how to describe it. We felt overwhelmed with love by our friends and family, and that was a feeling we will never forget.
The Details:
wedding date: November 17, 2018
ceremony & reception location: Hall Of Springs
photographer: Matt Ramos Photography
videographer: LaRose Medias
stationery suiteAmber Michaniw Designs
event decorator: Total Events
wedding gown: Angela's Bridal
bridesmaids' dresses: Badgley Mischka
tuxedo and groomsmen clothing: The Black Tux
rings: Kent New York
flowers: My Mom!
wedding planner: Family
hair: Kelsey Gabriel
>makeup: Amy Caridi
caterer: Mazzone Hospitality
cake: Cake Street Sweets
transportation: Exclusive Chauffeur
music: Fernando, Piano Man
first dance: "So High" John Legend
honeymoon: The Maldives
get ready location: Pavilion Grand Hotel
aisle Runner: The Original Runner Co.
special touches
My mom created all of the florals, including the bouquets, boutonnières and centerpieces. I'm the youngest in my family, and she helped make all of my siblings florals for their weddings. So it was very special she did the same for mine Jordan LOVES Bourbon, The Hall Of Springs set up an amazing Cigar and Bourbon Bar.
advice to pass along
Hire vendors you LOVE and feel comfortable with. I'm so glad we splurged on photography. It's a keepsake for the rest of your life; and we got beautiful images. Most importantly, Relax and enjoy the best day of your life.
Our Story:
Jason and I met many years ago, casually chatting here and there but nothing major. Then one day something just felt different between us. As we tried to explore what this was, it was difficult for us to accept what we were feeling. With so many differences between us, surely this could not be right. Once we finally stopped fighting it and trying to deny our true feelings an undeniable bond was formed. We became best friends, true loves, and soul mates.
I never thought I would get married, not that I was against it, I just didn't see marriage as something that solidified a relationship. Then one day in our kitchen, when I turned around and saw Jason down on one knee, with Jason's son AJ standing nearby, I knew immediately I wanted to marry him and have these wonderful boys in my life forever.
Saratoga was the only option for our wedding, we both were born and raised here. With so many beautiful locations and endless possibilities, it is easily the most magical place to have a wedding. Our friends own a farm and kindly let us use it as our venue. With the sun setting during cocktail hour and all the candles twinkling upon entering the reception tent, it was nothing short of a dream come true!
The Details:
wedding date : September 21, 2019
ceremony and reception location: The Bovee Family Farm (Charlton)
photographer: Niki Rossi Photography
stationery: Zazzle and Paper Dolls of Saratoga
Officiant: The Reverend Joy Burke
event decorator : The bride and groom!
wedding gown: RK Bridal NYC
tuxedo: Mr. Formal Wear
rings: Cartier (groom) and NYC Wholesale Diamonds (bride)
flowers: Dehn’s Flowers
hair & makeup:: Kassie at Rumors Salon and Spa (Latham)
caterer: Lily and the Rose
cake: The Cupcakecakery
dj: Platinum Entertainment, DJ Eric Cooper
first dance "Die a Happy May," Thomas Rhett
honeymoon: The Bahamas
miscellaneous: Rain or Shine Tent Company, napkins/place cards holders - Etsy
special touches... Jason's son AJ walked me down the aisle, this wedding was the joining of the 3 of us so it meant a lot to me to include him as much as possible and have an important role. Jason made a beautiful speech that mentioned those who were not able to join us on our special day (his Dad and a guest’s mother both recently passed away).
advice to pass along... Trust your heart and do what YOU want to do. This is YOUR day, you do everything the way you want to do it, it is all about YOU today (maybe the groom too, but just a little bit). Enjoy every single moment, from the little ones to the big, from the planning to the big day, it really will be over in a blink of an eye!