written by Megin Potter  |  Photos provided

A Cross-Country Adventure to Shop Local from Out of Town

Jordan Sandecki and Matthew Olivo met in 2023. By the end of the year, they’d booked their May 24th, 2025, wedding weekend across the country at The Gideon Putnam in Saratoga Springs.

This cross-country wedding adventure began when Jordan, who was living in Las Vegas, Nevada at the time, went to visit a friend in Seattle and met Matthew through an online dating app.

It was love at first sight. The second time Jordan met her mother-in-law (MIL) Lorna, she booked her wedding venue. “Saratoga is a great place to get married. It’s a beautiful area with great accommodations, and you don’t have to go outside of Saratoga Springs very far to get everything you need. That’s what endeared me to it,” said Jordan.

Both Jordan and Matthew were previously married, so this Seattle couple knew having their wedding at a centrally-located venue would be the most convenient for family and friends to attend (the majority of which live within a few hours of each other on the East Coast).

“It’s a really hard balance. When you’re asking people to travel for your wedding, you have to make sure it’s worth it and that everyone is taken care of,” she said.

With help from Jordan’s future MIL, however, the many miles between this couple and their dream wedding weren’t enough to derail their plans.

With Elegance and Grace

While standing in the beautiful natural light beneath the vaulted ceiling of The Gideon Putnam’s timeless Arches room with Senior Catering Sales Manager Angela Byrne, Jordan and Matthew could easily imagine their outdoor summer wedding taking place here on the stone patio (framed by the hotel’s vintage archways). They booked a wedding for 100 guests. Just months before their big day, they halved the guest list to 50, but discovered they were able to work with local vendors to reappoint their budget. Their wedding went off without a hitch.

“Booking an all-in-one venue made planning a destination wedding way easier. You may pay a slightly higher premium up-front, but there’s less planning that you have to do, less worry, and less wear-and-tear, overall,” said Jordan.

Having a future MIL like Lorna also helps. When Matthew told his mother he was marrying Jordan (and she learned that both of Jordan’s parents have passed) Lorna said, “That’s ok, I’ll be standing in for both parents.”

It’s Everybody’s Wedding

While the couple was paying for the wedding and wanted to use it as a chance to do something big, they also wanted to keep costs down for those driving in from the tri-state area and flying into Albany International Airport from elsewhere in the country, said Jordan. The Gideon Putnam’s all-in-one approach made picking out the food, drinks, and linens a breeze. Because of its beautiful accommodations and convenient Saratoga Spa State Park location, guests were happy to spend the whole weekend there, from Friday night’s cocktail reception to Sunday’s brunch.

During the planning, the couple encouraged everyone to share their opinions about how the wedding would look and the theme became, “It’s Everybody’s Wedding,” said Jordan.

Lorna got to work finding local vendors. She picked up copies of Saratoga BRIDE magazine, attended two bridal expos, and mailed a box of promotional materials to Jordan. Lorna and her husband Phil were perfectly happy to taste samples from the fine Italian Dulce and Biscotti Bakery in Clifton Park, and store wedding décor in their basement, said Jordan.

Clear communication is vital to planning a destination wedding, said Jordan. But managing excitement and expectations while ensuring everyone is on the same page can be tricky, even, at times, between Jordan and Lorna. “We have a great relationship and I know I can be honest with her, but because I’m new to the family, it’s hard to set true boundaries because I don’t want to be harsh,” said Jordan. With her vendors, however, Jordan said a bride has to be willing to say “no.”

“There is someone out there who will meet your expectations. Someone to fit your budget, vibe, and aesthetic. You just have to do your research.”