Marrying "Inn" To The Family

The wedding was held at Anne’s Washington Inn, the property that has been in Madeleine’s family since 1943. The Inn was established by her grandparents, Joseph and Anne Bokan. In the 50 years they lived and worked there, the Bokans raised six children, including the Inn’s current owner, Joe Bokan Jr. 

Since Joe and Kathleen, his wife, began hosting events at the Inn two decades ago, it’s also been the setting for numerous family get-togethers.

“The Inn is synonymous with family and home for me. There are so many special memories here,” said Madeleine, “I always dreamed of my wedding taking place at the inn.”

My Favorite Place

Madeleine grew up working alongside her family at the Inn but left Saratoga Springs in 2011 to attend Fordham University. It was on that campus in The Bronx where she and Jesse met. After college, Madeleine stayed in the New York Metro area, working in advertising for companies including Hearst Magazines, but spent many weekends taking Amtrak upstate to help at the Inn.

Many guests also traveled up from New York City for Madeleine and Jesse’s wedding. The festivities began on Thursday with a rehearsal dinner in downtown Saratoga. On Friday, the couple invited their guests (many of which had traveled from as far as Louisiana and Montana) to the Inn for a casual welcome gathering, utilizing the grounds, porch and common spaces. 

An Unscheduled Stop

On Saturday, after a ceremony held at the Church of Saint Peter, the couple, along with Joe and Kathleen, took the short drive back to Anne’s Washington Inn for the reception. 

An al fresco affair, the event was held under a large tent on the Inn’s secluded front lawn. Their nearly 150 guests mingled at cocktail tables spread across the grass, stole away to another great hilltop perch: the gazebo, or stopped to sit for a moment at Madeleine’s favorite spot – the porch swing that looks out over the front lawn. 

The Inn’s convenient location gave the new couple just enough time to slip through the drive-thru of the Saratoga Springs McDonald’s for a quick bite before greeting their guests. Pulling up in the fully-restored 1927 Buick (Joe’s pride and joy, as well as the mascot for Anne’s Washington Inn) the newlyweds created such a memorable scene that they were included in a nationwide commercial for the restaurant chain.

A New Appreciation

Throughout the wedding planning process, Madeleine, who is used to being on the venue’s side of the aisle, gained an intimate understanding and appreciation for the great vendor relationships that having her wedding at Anne’s Washington Inn afforded.

“It really was like seeing behind the curtain. I’d said, beforehand, ‘I really don’t want my parents to feel like they’re working on my wedding day,’ and I’m so grateful that our incredible roster of vendors made it so we were all truly able to enjoy the celebration.”

A Proper Welcome

At the end of the night, while the couple retired, the party kept going as guests lingered around the Inn’s fire pit and on the front porch before heading up to one of the Inn’s 18 guest rooms.

“It was the perfect weekend, and it really kicked-off my new career,” said Madeleine, who moved back to the area in July to oversee the Inn’s weddings and events.

“I came out of this experience with an amazing husband, priceless memories with my friends and family, and a greater understanding of the client side of things. I’m able to see all the angles so much better and understand how to put our event clients and wedding couples first when organizing our packages and offerings,” she said.

Reflecting on the Day

After all is said and done, Madeleine looks back on all the personal touches that went into the day with fondness.

“All of those extra things were like the icing on the cake, while the cake itself was the location.”