I can’t help but grin when I see the way these two look at each other. Between the garland covered tables, heart shaped piñata, and the gorgeous floral chandeliers (styled by the Bride herself), lies a heartwarming celebration that’s left me beaming. Kay English was behind the lens and told their story beautifully, and you can bet the gallery is the best place to watch it unfold!
From the beautiful Bride… Mike and I met five years ago in Speculator, NY in emergency services. Mike, a paramedic, was my assigned instructor. We ended up being on the same overnight crew together and quickly bonded through sarcasm, wit, and a passion to help others in need. We were close friends for four years before dating just 5 months before the big proposal. I had originally wanted a September wedding but with a sister getting married in October, we settled on August, almost one year from the day we started dating.
I love nature and knew not only my ceremony, but also the reception, just HAD to be outdoors. No tent, no pavilion, no patio. Everything was to be located outside under the shade of trees. I knew this was a huge risk (rain plan? There was no rain plan! It was all or nothing!) but was wiling to take it. As soon as I saw Oakbourne Mansion, I knew it was the perfect location for our needs. The grounds were beautiful and the mansion was available, just in case the weather refused to cooperate.
I’m a self-proclaimed perfectionist and DIY-extraordinaire so naturally, I designed not only my own decor and flowers, but also my paper goods and wedding cakes. Initially, hiring confetti & co to help me out the day of was hard because I was so determined to accomplish everything on my own but the peace of mind they brought was so worth it!
Our wedding was the afternoon of August 9th. We wanted something low-key that bucked many wedding traditions. We had no DJ and instead, relied on some outdoor speakers, an iPhone, and several Spotify playlists. There was no dancing but there were lawn games! No bouquet toss or garter throw occurred, but we had one rocking piñata! Our caterer set up under huge tents and served sizzling Jack Daniel’s steak, scallops, and pork roast directly from a grill. It was perfect and laid back and everything we had hoped it would be. Oh and, the weather was a beautiful 83 degrees with light wind and zero humidity. We were so blessed.
My favorite part of the day was seeing my vision come together. I had a picture in my head all along but not having the ability to do a test run (told you I was a perfectionist) before the big day really stressed me out. Thankfully, confetti & co knew exactly the direction I wanted to go so while I relaxed and got ready the morning of, they arrived bright and early and set everything up. I loved how relaxed and unhurried the entire day went and I really couldn’t have done it without my amazing vendors.
I never picked a specific color scheme as I’m a neutrals girl. Take a look in my closet and you’ll find grey, white, cream, and black. Anything colorful is way outside my comfort zone so I stuck to subdued, natural hues. For my flowers, I hit up every Michael’s 50% off sale I could and purchased loads of rustic, woodsy flora. I wanted my bouquet, and my bridesmaids’ bouquets, to look like we had gone out for a nature walk that morning and picked flowers along the way. I made the ceremony garland from plastic table clothes purchased from Party City. Between the garland, piñata, and flower chandeliers, I was busy all winter and loved every second of it.
For our table centerpieces, I relied on my own collection of antiques and knick-knacks. Since tablecloths are a personal pet peeve, I splurged on beautiful farmhouse tables and purchased a gold-striped paper table runner from One Kings Lane. A quick trip to the local wholesale florist for greenery the day before and we were all set. I spent several months scouring local thrift stores to hunt down 88 pressed glass goblets for our toast. They were all so unique and beautiful and I loved how seamlessly they melded in with the rest of the decor.
The planning process passed all too quickly which was probably a good thing- something needed to rein me in! For me, the best part wasn’t just “the day,” but the culmination of days leading up to it. Creating everything by hand and meeting with the vendors who helped make the day perfect, really made the actual wedding day all the more special. It was a true labor of love by so many different parties and you feel the enormity of that love during your wedding. Mike and I will forever be grateful to everyone who helped and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Photography: Kay English Photography | Coordination: Confetti & Co | Wedding Planning: Confetti & Co | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Reception Venue: Oakbourne | Bride's Shoes: Avarcas | Engagement Ring: Greenwich Jewelers | Wedding Bands: A.M. Ross & Son | Catering: The Purple Picnic People | DJ: Spotify Playlist | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew | Officiant: Bride's Uncle | Bridesmaids' Necklaces: Bestyle Etsy | Chocolate: Asher's Chocolates | Fruit Tarts: Whole Foods Market Preston | Greenery For Decor: Younger & Sons | Groom's Shoes: Vans | Groomsmen's Shoes: Vans | Hair & Make-Up: Dolcissima Salon & Spa | Hand-Painted Sign: Ryan Ritchey | Tables & Benches: Barnes Handcrafted Farmhouse Tables | Wedding Cakes: Bride