When it came to finding the perfect gown for her Big Day, this beautiful bride wasn’t about to settle. Nope, she tried on no less than 60 (yes, 60!) stunning frocks and when she put on this breathtaking Steven Birnbaum number, well… let’s just say she found “the one.” From the sleek and sophisticated silhouette to the sweet peplum detail, it was the perfect complement to a day that was classic meets modern in all of the right ways. See it captured beautifully by Alexandra Meseke in THE VAULT.
From Alexandra Meseke Photography… Shannon and James are the kind of couple you dream for and pray for as a wedding photographer. This was one of those working relationships that was just kismet or meant to be.
Every detail of Shannon and Jame’s beautiful wedding was flawless and represented them so perfectly. But more importantly these two are some of the kindest and most generous people the world has to offer.
We took so many pictures that day, and it could have been stressful, but we had so much fun every step of the way with these two and the wonderful support system they had surrounding them.
From the Bride… James and I had always talked about being married in a church and when we visited the restored Hotel at the Lafayette in downtown Buffalo, we knew it was the perfect place to host the reception. It has beautiful high ceilings, lots of light and character, and was spacious enough for our guests to mingle comfortably and dance the night away. We were so thrilled to be sharing our love with all of our family and friends and wanted our special day to be one that was unforgettable!
Our color palette was a mix of ivory, soft gray and pale blush. I chose neutral colors to go along with the brightness and ornate details of our church and reception venue. I would describe our style vision as classically elegant and simple, with a contemporary twist. From my dress to our unique refurbished hotel venue, we kept true to our vision.
My favorite DIY element was the stationery designed by my groom. This included the save-the-dates, invitations, welcome bag inserts, ceremony programs, place cards, table numbers, etc. He put so much thought and detail into creating all of the pieces, and everything reflected us as a couple and the style of our special day.
This is a tough to choose, but my favorite moment was when the church doors opened and I saw James for the first time. I had dreamed of that moment since I met him. There was never a doubt in our minds that we wanted to wait to see each other until the ceremony, and it was better than I could have ever imagined. I shed many happy tears while walking down the aisle to meet him that day.
I was so excited to incorporate spring flowers into our day. I carried white peonies, silver brunia and dusty miller. The bridesmaid bouquets were full of pink and peach garden roses, greenery, silver brunia and dusty miller. The reception centerpieces were a mix of beautiful spring flowers in blush, peach and ivory. We placed open white tulips in hobnail vases on the cocktail tables and baby’s breath adorned the place card table and backs of the head table chairs.
I loved my dress so much because it wasn’t like anything I had seen before and reflected my personal style so perfectly. It was very simple and elegant, but the peplum gave it a fun and contemporary twist. I tried on about 60 dresses and as soon as I stepped into my dress, I knew it was the one I would marry James in.
We wanted to find a way to incorporate our beloved chocolate lab, Rhys, into our wedding, as he is such an integral part of our lives together. We decided to do that with our favors! At each place setting was a cutout cookie of a chocolate lab wrapped in a cellophane bag with a sticker on the back (designed by the groom) explaining that we were making a donation for each guest to a local animal shelter. The cookies were not only so adorable, but delicious too, and we were thrilled that we could help an amazing cause that is so near and dear to our hearts.
Our beautiful and delicious wedding cake was made by a home baker in the area, Carly Richter. We did several cake tastings and she was by far our favorite – her buttercream frosting is so light and airy, just like whipped cream!
One piece of advice I would give to future brides is just to truly enjoy and take it all in – you deserve it! Look around at all of your guests and think about how important they are to you. Take in how much you love your significant other and how incredible you feel that day.
Photography: Alexandra Meseke Photography | Floral Design: William's Florist | Wedding Dress: Birnbaum and Bullock | Cake: Carly Richter | Stationery: James Neiler | Ceremony Venue: St.Louis | Reception Venue: Pearl Street At The Webb | Bridesmaids' Dresses: After Six | Catering: Marquis De Lafayette By Acqua | Hair + Makeup: Groom Service Beauty Bar | DJ: Toy Bros Entertainment | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Cocktail Music: The String Brothers | Linen Rentals: Tesoro Event Rentals