Displaying items by tag: Saratoga Bride

Our Story:

The day after Traver’s Day 2014, there was a message in my FACEBOOK inbox from this random guy named Dan Furman: ”Were you at the track yesterday?”

You know that feeling when you do or say something you wish you could dig a hole and hide from…yup, that was my exact feeling!  I thought of every embarrassing scenario that could have unfolded in front of this handsome stranger.

Sure enough, he did notice me and wanted to approach, but chickened out (HA!) lo and behold Facebook has a "people you may know" feature that brought my husband and I together.

After our first date, it was off to the races! I gained a best friend and “my other half.” There is no other human who will ever make me feel as special and strong as does Dan.

When Dan proposed, he caught me totally off guard—which is super hard to do! I had spray tan running down my cheeks from happy tears.

Our starting gate as husband and wife was held on Travers Day 2019. It was a picture-perfect day with Lake George as our backdrop. My most cherished memory is walking up the fairytale, castle stairs to see my groom for the first time; the emotions I felt was everything you want love to feel like.

Every wedding guest left with a customized lottery ticket that read, “Wishing you riches from the new Mr and Mrs.” We wish everyone luck finding their “other half.” and maybe give that person in your inbox a chance!

The Details:

wedding date:  August 24, 2019- Travers Day

reception location: Top of the World Golf Resort -Lake George

1st look location: Highlands Castle, Bolton Landing

photographer: Matt Ramos Photography

videographer: Eunoia Visuals- Shane Hawthorne

stationery suite: Carol Jo Dufort

event decorator: Whimsical White Fox- Ballston Spa

wedding gown: Lily's Bridal; second dress bought from Something Bleu (customized by Beth Whitbeck)

bridesmaids' dresses: Saratoga Elegance

groom and groomsmen clothing:  Men's Warehouse 

rings: Northeastern Fine Jewelry

flowers: Felthousen Florist 

hair: Juliet Smith

makeup:  Cassandra McKenna D’Alberto and Amanda Pierce

cake: Villa Italia

caterer: Longfellows

music: New York Players

transportation: Royale Transportation

first dance: It was supposed to be "Dirt" by Florida Georgia Line -instead they played "Dirt on my Boots" haha

photobooth: Matt Ramos

honeymoon: Mediterranean Cruise: Italy, Greece and Malta

bridesmaids jewelry: Wits End --Kendall Scott earrings

tent rentals: Rain or Shine Tent Rentals

wedding concierge for furbaby: Canine to Five 

ice cream station: Stewarts

special touches: We didn't want to trouble family or friends with our furbaby sharing our special day so we hired Canine to Five. They were fantastic, they created an amazing video that showcased our dog's perspective of the wedding. He literally had a gopro on him! Right before the party ended, we had a lantern release ceremony. And if the cake wasn't enough, we had a sundae bar with our favorite Stewart's ice cream flavor--Crumbs along the Mohawk.  Whimsical White Fox created hilarious drink signs to go along with our signature drinks. These drinks were inspired by our alter egos and our beloved dog, Cesar. "Tipsy Mermaid" "Pick Six" and "All Hail Cesar" Instead of the traditional father daughter dance, my Dad and I surprised our guests with a performance inspired by the Little Mermaid's ending scene when King Triton gives Ariel her legs to be with her prince. My bridesmaids and groom were a part of the routine!

advice to pass along:  I recommend first look, it was the most authentic experience in our entire relationship, such RAW emotion. I get teared up thinking about it. The details of your bridesmaids go far! I am so happy I didn't buy my bridesmaids gifts that weren't featured in the wedding. The Kendall Scott earrings will always remind my girls how much I appreciate them, and the earrings were a perfect accent piece! Please get the wedding videographer! You will want to look back on this day. And video captures the candids, the jokes and smiles. I can't wait to look back on our wedding for years to come.

Our Story:

Cameron and Brandyn’s love story began during the summer of 2015 in Syracuse, New York. They spent their first date at a local Syracuse restaurant. The date lasted over four hours and they knew right away that they shared a special connection.

By the end of the year Cameron’s work took her to Connecticut. The following two years were spent driving between states to spend weekends together. After many miles put on both of their cars, Brandyn made the decision to join Cameron in Connecticut where they still live today.

Brandyn proposed to Cameron while apple picking with friends. Not only did he surprise her with a ring and a promise to share a lifetime together that day, but he also coordinated schedules with her and his family members to surprise her at their apartment upon their return. They celebrated the occasion with dinner and drinks and began planning their wedding the days following their engagement.

They tied the knot in October 2019 at Saratoga National Golf Club as they were surrounded by family and friends. They have always loved Saratoga as Cameron grew up in the area and Brandyn grew to love it after spending Christmas with her family there. They knew Saratoga would be the perfect destination for guests to enjoy as well.  They could not have asked for a more perfect wedding and appreciate all the amazing vendors who helped make it happen.

The Details:

wedding date:  October 11, 2019

ceremony & reception location: Saratoga National Golf Course

photographer: Bridget Photography (Bridget Bellucci)

stationery suite: Minted

event decorator: Oculus Theory (Martin Dodge)

wedding gown: Bridal Gallery by Yvonne (Designer: Martin Thornburg)

bridesmaids' dresses: Bridal Gallery by Yvonne (Designer: Bill Levkoff)

tuxedo and groomsmen clothing:  Black Tux

rings: Furnari Jewelry

flowers: Oculus Theory (Martin Dodge)

hair & makeup: Make Me Fabulous

cake & caterer: : Mazzone Hospitality

music: NonStop Music

transportation: Premiere Transportation

first dance: "You Are the Reason" by Callum Scott

honeymoon: Barbados

Favors: Outhouse Orchards

Hotels: The Pavilion Grand, Hampton Inn & Suites, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn

advice to pass along:  Take a moment during your wedding day to take everything in!

Our Story:

Much like a motocross race, the gates dropped and our hearts were racing. The first words in a Facebook message "Aren't you the girl from the motocross track?", "Haha, yes that's me!" lead to long nights staying up past midnight on Snapchat, like we were kids in high school again. It was like an instant adrenaline rush... maybe because our first date was to Six Flags, New Jersey. My heart skipped beats but I'm not sure if it was from the rollercoasters, or from him!

Hearts were stolen away in one weekend and that's when we both truly believed we were meant to be. Our eyes were both opened to how much different, and better, our lives could be together. He moved in that month, we bought a house 6 month later, adopted our first fur baby, and continued to tackle every twist, turn, rut, and kicker life has thrown at us. (dirt bike puns, wink wink) Together!

The proposal was as shocking and unexpected as could be. For me anyway! Apparently, everyone else knew about it for months! Just before our 1-year anniversary, on my favorite holiday, July 4th, he got down on one knee and proposed. His speech was perfect I'm sure, but I honestly can't remember it because I was in pure shock!

I cannot recommend Greenwich Elks lodge enough for everything they do! Linens, bar service, backdrops, the place is so convenient and enjoyable to work with, not to mention beautiful and spacious! My 200+ guest wedding fit very comfortably! The wedding day was flawless, thanks to them, my amazing vendors, and family for making it possible!

The Details:

wedding date:  October 19, 2019

ceremony & reception location: Greenwich Elks Lodge

photographer: Oh Darling Photography- Saratoga

event decorator: XOver Creations

wedding gown & bridesmaids' dresses: : David's Bridal

tuxedo and groomsmen clothing:  Jonathan Reid

rings: Kay Jewelers

flowers: Dehn's Flowers, Saratoga

hair & makeup: Tease Salon and Beauty Bar

caterer: Ginny Rae's

cake: Family Friend

music: All Around Sound

first dance: "From this Moment/You're Still the One," Kaleb & Kelsey

honeymoon: Daytona, FL

miscellaneous:  My best friend's husband Jeremy Dickinson was so kind to get ordained specifically for my wedding! I cannot thank him enough! It put a very nice, personal touch on our special day! My grandmother Lynn is the manager at Dehn's flowers, so it made my day that much more special that she helped create my bouquets and centerpieces!

special touches:  Dehn's Flowers was amazing at helping me choose flowers, as I do not know the first thing about them! I just showed Deb a picture, and she was able to make an even better replica of it, with flowers she knew would be better quality! Oh Darling Photography, also took the time to look over specific shots I requested, and did a beautiful job! Her night time, backlit photos are STUNNING!

advice to pass along:  DIY! I own my own crafting business, so I found doing my own decor was relaxing, and I got exactly what I wanted out of it! It also saved me quite a bit of money!

Our Story:

Before Shane and I started dating, we attended the same school together for 10 years! My senior year of high school, we became connected through mutual friends. A year later, at a Memorial Day Party, Shane made the first move and asked me for my number. There were the typical party games, and the not-so-typical- staring contests. We had friends on either side, cheering us on. And I lost EVERY TIME. The next day, I received a text from an unknown number that read, "You'll never beat me in a staring contest ;)” …and to this day, I never have.

Our romance was straight from a fairytale, enthralled with so much truth and passion. That passion only intensified as the years passed, prevailing us through college, internships, the start of our careers, and moving into our first place together where we adopted our cats, Finnegan and Penelope.

After six years of dating, Shane proposed at sunrise overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in West Palm Beach, FL, while the waves crashed to our feet. It was absolutely perfect.

The Inn at Erlowest was the first venue we visited, and all other venues just did not follow suit. We fell in love with the gorgeous mountain views and the natural beauty of its surroundings instantly.

Our wedding day was incredible. We felt so much love from not only our guests, but each one of our amazing vendors. We are forever grateful to each and every person who helped make our day so special!

The Details:

wedding date: November 16, 2019

ceremony & reception location: The Inn at Erlowest

photographer: Erin Covey Photography

videographer: Bear in Motion Films

event decorator: Elizabeth Tonn - Event Coordinator (The Inn at Erlowest)

wedding gown: Jocelynn's Bridal - Clifton Park

bridesmaids' dresses: Azazie - Sage Green, Long Length; Bridemaids chose individual style

tuxedo and groomsmen clothing:  Mr. Formal Wear, Saratoga - Navy Blue with Navy Blue Vests & Sage Green Bowties

rings: Lily and David Fine Jewelers, Saratoga Springs

flowers: Dehn's Flowers, Saratoga

hair: Amanda Dugan Egbert - The Blue Peregrine Salon, Saratoga

makeup: Jennifer McCarthy Norton - True Grace Makeup, Albany

caterer: The Inn at Erlowest

wedding cake & cupcakes: The Healthy Living Market & Cafe

music: Adin Kovacik, The Piano Man DJ Productions, Albany

first dance: "Never Stop" by Safety Suit {Wedding Version}

honeymoon: New Zealand

officiant: Juan Carlos Posada 

special touches:  Our wedding arch was crafted by my father and decorated by Dehn's Flowers. Our wedding theme was nature-forward, romance-inspired. Our colors were earth tones and our seating chart was made from Eucalyptus leaves. Many menu items were plant-based including our wedding cake and cupcakes. We also had a memory table, which held pictures of loved ones who have passed away.

advice to pass along:  Our wedding arch was crafted by my father and decorated by Dehn's Flowers. Our wedding theme was nature-forward, romance-inspired. Our colors were earth tones and our seating chart was made from Eucalyptus leaves. Many menu items were plant-based including our wedding cake and cupcakes. We also had a memory table, which held pictures of loved ones who have passed away.

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  

2020 certainly did not turn out the way that any of us expected.  It has been a challenging year for everyone, but we need to remember first and foremost, the loved ones that we have lost, those who continue to fight, and that this is far from over.  We both believe strongly that couples should continue to celebrate their love and get married/elope and go on local mini-moons. If there were ever a time to ‘seize the day,’ it would be right now. 

Our roles when hired is that of advocates and advisors of our couples, so while we do not recommend delaying your actual marriage or celebrating that special day together as a couple, we are suggesting that you do indefinitely postpone the much larger celebration/party/reception/ceremony along with the big dream honeymoon.  The best part is that you can have it both ways, and we are both here to help you figure out how.  None of you are alone, and it even holds in the wedding business right now, “we are all in this together!”

Tonya’s Wedding Advice:

When couples get engaged to be married and start planning their wedding, it’s such a happy time. This year those couples were halted. As a planner, I have had many conversations with my clients about how to proceed.
Postpone, punt the date or get hitched, and tackle the big celebration later.

My advice has been to get married; after all, that’s why you were engaged in the first place. These are emotional and tough decisions to make as a couple when you envision your family and friends to be with you. It’s also hard to have your wedding date on the calendar and not have your wedding on that day.

One of my clients, Bill and Rachel, was scheduled to have their wedding on June 6^th, 2020, at Universal Preservation Hall, but COVID altered their plans like many others. We had many discussions about what they could do; in the end, they could not sit back, and watch June 6th go by and not have a wedding. They decided to be married on their date at UPH with just the two of them.

How does this work to make it as unique and memorable as possible?

We worked with Samantha Nass Floral Design to make an intimate romantic space in the building with florals and candlelight, a beautiful bouquet, and a boutonniere in the original color scheme. We also had a photographer, Kevin DeMassio, and videographer, Lauren Caldwell, come to document the event.

The ceremony was so intimate and beautiful, but they didn’t stop there. Following the service, Bill and Rachel had photos and went to The Adelphi Hotel for a private dinner in a suite and were served the actual menu from their wedding.  During dinner, they watched well wishes sent in by a loved one on a large-screen TV. The following day they packed up and hit the road for a mini-moon. They are so happy they decided not to wait. Bill and Rachel are still planning on having a massive celebration when all friends and family can attend along with a real honeymoon.

 Anne’s Honeymoon Advice:

Live Life Travel is not booking any International travel at this time.  I feel that there are too many unknowns and that our clients’ money is better protected in their own pockets until we know more.  We are booking local travel and are highly recommending private ceremonies, wellness travel, and mini-moons.  We are working closely with several of the very best local hotels and resorts to customize special celebration packages for our clients to guarantee an elevated experience beyond what one would traditionally get.  To reserve your special celebration with Live Life Travel, simply go to our website (www.livelifetravel.world) and click “Let’s Start Planning” and we’ll take care of everything from there, completely stress-free for you.  As with every trip that we plan, everything is customized based on your preferences and “must-haves.”

We are also launching a 6-month webinar series this Fall with the purpose being to support both the wedding and travel communities.  These will not be “boring sales webinars” (no way!).  They will be live and interactive and meant to answer all of your unanswered questions.  They will feature exciting guests, including wedding planners, destination specialists, wellness specialists, local wedding vendors, and 5-star hoteliers, all focusing on different aspects of the wedding and honeymoon planning process. We’ll have lots of fun prizes, including a honeymoon sweepstakes for all who register.

We intend to remind everyone that we are all in this together, that you all have many resources (when you are ready), that there is no rush, and that you have a community of other couples in the same boat. We will also be providing a platform for you all to connect outside of the webinar series. 

Hang in there, everyone.  Please continue to practice social distancing, wear your masks, stay safe, and be grateful for all of the love in your life.  The best is yet to come.

Anne & Tonya
www.livelifetravel.world 
www.pellegrinievents.com

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.