As I was looking through all of the in.cred.ib.le images of this wedding from Tracey Buyce Photography, I literally had my hand to my chest, a look of awe on my face and sighing from each click to the next. It sounds like I’m lying, but I promise that I’m not! This wedding is just that beautiful. Every inch of this wedding is overflowing with the most gorgeous of flowers from Finishing Touches and glows with the utter sophistication and effortless style of this stunning couple. Click here for the gallery for more breathtaking images of this beautiful wedding.
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From Cristina, The Bride + Owner of Cristina V.… On May 26th, 2012, I married my soul mate and long-time best friend. Wes and I met at Boston College and dated for eight years before getting engaged. As soon as Wes and I were engaged, we knew that we didn’t want to celebrate our marriage at a typical wedding venue. Instead, we wanted a place that all of our guests would be able to stay at, drop their bags and enjoy a full weekend of events and activities. Having grown up in different areas (Wes in Chapel Hill and I on Long Island), it was important to me that our wedding venue served as a reflection of “us” and not of “you” or “me.” When we stumbled upon The Sagamore, we knew we had found our spot. Located on its own little island in the center of Lake George, The Sagamore had everything we had hoped for: a beautiful and formal setting, an abundance of activities and, most importantly, the space for all of our guests to stay and enjoy themselves. We booked Memorial Day weekend, and the planning had begun!
While the Adirondacks are five hours north of where we live, the planning was made easy by the wonderful wedding vendors we hired. I can honestly say that the time leading up to our wedding was never stressful and always enjoyable (mostly, thanks to how easy-going both of our parents happen to be — we are so fortunate!). Yet, while we were relaxed during the planning, we also knew what we wanted: a traditional and classic wedding done in an unexpected way. Being a jewelry designer, I wanted our wedding day to reflect my particular sense of style: simple and soft, yet also unique. This basic formula dictated all of our decision-making, and we had so much fun along the way! For invitations, we stayed simple with six-ply ecru card stock and navy blue engraving, but we made them stand out with beveled edges, gold accents and hand-written, gold calligraphy. For flowers, we decided on only whites and creams and pulled out soft hues of gold with crinkled silk table clothes and gold chiavari chairs. For the bridesmaids, I selected matching, long, yellow dresses but designed (and made!) a different pair of earrings for each girl, all in rutilated quartz (an absolute must-know-about stone!). For photography, we knew The Sagamore was beautiful, but since we were having so many other events there that same weekend, we wanted something “extra special.” So we arranged for a bridal party/family photo shoot at a local boathouse and also had the boat take Wes and me to our cocktail hour. And finally, my dress reflected this same kind of “effortless chic” style as it simply spoke for itself — no beading, no belts, just taffeta. I made sure not to choose any accessories that would take away from my dress (well, besides my Dorothy-like heels — oops!).
Saturday was the wedding, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather — I believe Tracey’s pictures tell that story! For Sunday, we wanted to do something different than the typical “farewell brunch” and give our guests a day to themselves (to golf, go hiking, canoeing, etc.). After all, most guests were staying until Monday. So, for Sunday night we kicked off with a casual picnic and tennis tournament. When I look through all of the pictures that Tracey so wonderfully captured, I can’t help but feel fortunate, and it has nothing to do with cabbage roses or chiavari chairs. Instead, to have had an entire weekend wedding, surrounded by family and friends, and to know that it was only the very beginning of a wonderful adventure ahead…
Wedding Photography: Tracey Buyce Photography / Ceremony: Sacred Heart Church in Lake George, New York / Ceremony Contact: Father Tom Berardi (fathertomlg@gmail.com) / Reception: The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, New York / Floral Design: Susan Cady of Finishing Touches / Wedding Coordination: Christine A. Wheat Special Events Firm / Draping + Decor: Rich + Melissa Carrier of Total Events, LLC / Band: The Stardust Band / Family Photo Shoot Venue + Boat: The Boathouse / Wedding Dress: Anna Maier Ulla-Maija / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Makeup by Mia Silverio + Hair by Caroline Mitgang of Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry + Groomsmen’s Cuff Links: Cristina V. (The Bride)