Emma and Devin’s Beak and Skiff Spring Wedding, LaFayette, NY

Its no secret that I was excited to capture Emma and Devin’s wedding. We had met a year prior at the Syracuse Bridal Show at Turning Stone Casino and during that time a real friendship developed. So when I showed up at the Embassy Suites where Emma was getting ready, it felt like I was meeting an old friend rather than a wedding client.

Emma is very much like me; she has a type A personality. So, it was no surprise the amount of details she had for the big day. Custom hanger, a monogramed purse, an engraved ring box, a few sentimental pieces, a custom guest book, the list goes on. And I LOVED IT. When a bride puts so much thought into their day, the only way to do it justice is to heavily document it.

While the girls were finishing getting ready, I headed over to the venue where I met the guys. The venue was at the 1911 Beak and Skiff Distillery. The couple had a tent brought in that sat at the top of a hill and overlooked the valleys. There was a small building where they kept the cider bar and the infamous Toss N’ Fire Pizza food truck was brought in to feed the hungry guests. They did NOT disappoint.

The bride and groom did their first look at the bottom of the hill. The couple shared many laughs and embraced each other, just like soulmates do. After that we quickly gathered the dozen members of the bridal party and started celebrating early with some champagne!

About an hour before the ceremony, the temperatures had dropped and the wind was blowing. It was cold even if you are used to Syracuse weather, but much of the bridal party was from the South so this was basically Siberia to them. Everyone was huddled inside the small building that held the cider bar to keep warm. As luck would have it, just as guest were arriving, the wind died down and the sun started to pierce through the clouds. The ceremony was beautiful. Friends and family all contributed by way of readings or in other meaningful ways.

After the ceremony was a blur: filled with a broken toe nail, a bloody nose, a few tears, stuffing our body weight with pizza and ice cream, dancing, laughing, many failed attempts to recreate the infamous Dirty Dancing lift, and maybe a cartwheel or two. It was an amazing, eventful, adventurous, spontaneous, beautiful day; and I was blessed to be a part of it.