When Two Wedding Photographers Wed at a Romantic Tented Wedding in Upstate NY

Lauren Megerdichian
January 9, 2019
Categories: Real Weddings, Romantic, The Blog

If we had to choose one wedding that could be described as the perfect SMP wedding – it would without a doubt be this beauty of a day captured by Jessa Schifilliti! Think romantic blush blooms, lush greenery, a tented reception and the sweetest couple ever. Since the bride, photographer Meredith Jane Photo, and groom are wedding photographers themselves, the minute they got engaged… you better believe the wedding planning was in full swing (with the help of the bride’s friend and planner, Keri at Always Yours Events!) The Wild Dahlia made her fairytale floral dreams come true… you have to see archway she created at the entrance of the chapel – Heart. Stopping.

From the Bride… I cannot believe our wedding day has already come and gone — if only we could relive the day over and over again! As wedding photographers ourselves and after capturing so many precious moments together for our clients during their weddings, Chris and I reminded each other each chance we had to “take it all in” throughout our wedding planning journey. Nevertheless, I look back on this past year and the four years we’ve been together prior and it feels like a complete whirlwind.

It all started when we went on an “epic” first date on Martha’s Vineyard where we rode a moped all the way around the island. Three years later Chris took me back to Martha’s Vineyard to propose, and so I knew we had to incorporate that aspect of our love story into our wedding day. About three hours after we got engaged I called my good friend, wedding planner and fellow wedding industry professional Keri of Always Yours Events to get a jumpstart on our wedding plans right away. As a wedding photographer myself, I knew who I wanted to photograph our wedding even before we got engaged, and so I immediately reached out to my fellow Syracuse University alum Jessa Schifilliti on our boat ride back to the mainland.

Shockingly, the only date the three of us had available was the most popular date of 2018 – August 18, 2018. Since Chris and I were both from upstate NY and living in Boston, it hadn’t occurred to me until about a year before he proposed, but I realized my high school just outside of Saratoga Springs would be the perfect backdrop for our wedding. While this school does not allow weddings anymore, they were so kind to make an exception for this milestone. This venue has a special place in my heart — not only had I attended high school and multiple summer camps there, but my mother had also taught language there for 40 years, and so it has become like a second home to myself and family over the years.

Our entire celebration was absolutely magical. Keri helped add so many sentimental touches and fine details to our design that nodded to our four year love story including whiskey two ways as signature cocktails from our third date involving whiskey tasting, nods to the moped ride where we fell in love (including a vintage Vespa), and my love of watercolor. I knew the only florist who would make my fairytale wedding dreams come true was The Wild Dahlia. And boy did she deliver! Her vision to transform the archway in front of the chapel was incredible and was truly a highlight of our wedding design.

My gown was one of my favorite details. Christina from Head Over Heels along with Blue Thread Bridal helped create a custom gown and veil that was exactly what I had envisioned. Because I have seen so many weddings, I just couldn’t decide on some details leading to what many of my friends lovingly referred to as a “transformer wedding dress.” Detachable off the shoulder sleeves with floral appliqué replaced later with a boat neck topper to cap my then trumpet dress that was underneath my a line gown the entire day.

Guests danced the night away to Superfly Sounds‘ amazing mix of music and even enjoyed watching the Schenectady Pipe Band crash our wedding (another nod to Chris and my relationship and our love for our Scottish heritage). One Chance Media provided the perfect alternative to the typical photo booth with GIFs that printed into flip books that guests could take home as favors. So much love and thanks to our “dream team” who made our wedding so remarkable. As a wedding photographer I knew how much we would cherish this day, and so I chose a team of vendors who are are truly top notch — our celebration was executed to perfection by every one of them! Our wedding was such a dream and the best day of our lives. It’s a celebration we will never forget, and a day we have already grown nostalgic for these short months later.

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