Since both this Bride and Groom are photographers, they decided it was only proper to pay a little homage to their joint passion, and so while they had Tawni Lee photograph their special day in entirety, they also picked up the camera themselves. In front of their Oliphant backdrop, these cuties snapped away, capturing some of the simplest yet sweetest pics I ever did see. See them all – and every other bit of this bash – in our VAULT right this way!
From the Bride… When we were first engaged, we knew fall would be the perfect time of year for the celebration. On October 11th, a beautiful and sunny fall day, my husband and I made our love-fest official in my home city of Rochester, NY.
We are both photographers, and work together on our blog a Better Happier St. Sebastian. We knew that incorporating some part of our photography background would be an important aspect for our big day. I decided it would be fun and quite meaningful if we shot film portraits of each other using my hasselblad, on the beautiful Oliphant backdrop we used for our family portraits. What ensued was a truly unique experience. Our photographer captured the two of us, capturing each other. Being able to spend a moment focusing on one another, during a day that was so full of commotion was something I will always treasure.
It was important to us to keep the ceremony a bit laid back. Our guests stood on tiered steps overlooking High Falls and fall foliage, while my brother read us our vows. We even had a rainbow appear near the falls after the ceremony, making the whole thing feel extra whimsical. The reception followed at Good Luck restaurant. With an emphasis on having the absolute best food for our guests, we worked closely with Good Luck to create the perfect seasonal menu. Chickpea Dumplings with Tomato Coriander Sauce and Cilantro Chutney, and Duck Confit with Caramelized Shallot and Blood Orange on Rye Toast were just a couple of the seriously delicious hand passed hors d’oeuvres. Dinner involved orecchiette with mushroom ragu, a fall seasonal salad, stuffed pork loin with roasted squash, and our favorite, the Good Luck burger and fries. Our friends at Scratch Bakeshop handled dessert, making a tiered pumpkin chocolate cake, fall flavored macarons, mini apple pies and red velvet madeleines.
The dress is such an important part of the day, and I still find it funny that I ended up falling in love with a gown completely different than what I imagined myself in. I pictured a simple silhouette with long sleeves, and wasn’t entirely sold on the traditional notion of gown shopping. That’s when the Dietrich dress from Pronovias found me. I went looking with my mom and sister, and the woman helping us suggested I try it on. I thought the feather detailing looked so odd when it was on the hanger that I hesitated to even bring it in the fitting room. Once I slipped into it I had tears in my eyes. I felt like the most glamorous version of myself. After deciding that a veil wasn’t quite right, I found the head piece, also from Pronovias and it completed the look perfectly.
For me, all the little details are what made the day look, and feel so magical. I mixed and matched my collection of vases and handed them off to the florist before the wedding for her to use. My vision for the flowers was executed perfectly, relying on fresh greens with hints of white flowers and hypericum. I have a love for vintage objects, and spent weeks searching for brass animal candlestick holders that were spread across each table. I wanted everything to look natural, with that perfect mix of undone elegance.
When we decided to do assigned seating, I made table assignments with my vintage found photo collection. Using an old window frame, we pinned up dozens of polaroid pictures. Each guest got a vintage found photo with their name on it corresponding to their table. It was an added detail that felt particularly unique and special to us.
It was a day dedicated to beautiful little moments. I love that we get to look back on each detail and remember how joyful every second felt.
Photography: Tawni Lee Weddings | Floral Design: Nancy Ellison Of Wildflowers! | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Ceremony Venue: La Luna At High Falls | Reception Venue: Good Luck Restaurant | Bridesmaids' Dresses: & Other Stories | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen's Attire: Zara | Desserts: Scratch Bake Shop | Film Portraits: Jillian Guyette