A Dreamy, Woodland-Inspired Wedding at The Lake House on Canandaigua
The wedding planner, Ellie Clapp of Celebrated Events, has been in the wedding business for 30 years in the Greater Rochester area. Her oldest son, Jacob, and his now-wife, Mariam, met during the pandemic in New York City, bonding over their similar upbringings in Upstate New York. Nothing could be more fitting than a modern take on Old World botanicals and Upstate woodlands mixed with the elegance and comfort of Brooklyn style for their wedding in the Finger Lakes Region.
Jacob surprised Mariam with a proposal as they walked along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on their way to a dinner reservation at the River Cafe. The Promenade was a meaningful place to the couple as they began their lives together when they moved into the neighborhood. And the beautiful skyline views of Manhattan provided the perfect backdrop. The couple enjoyed a romantic dinner alone before Jacob’s next surprise-- an engagement party at their neighborhood bar, with friends coming from all over the country to celebrate.
Mariam wore the Malea gown by Louvienne for a timeless look. Just before sunset, Mariam changed into a Nadine Merabi mini dress with beads and feathers.
Jacob and his groomsmen all wore their own tuxedos-- Jacob's was a custom Canali tuxedo, featuring an emerald green lining.
The Lake House on Canandaigua's Chef Garrett Gray put together amazing menus for the cocktail hour, reception, and late-night snacks. The signature drinks were based on the couple's favorite colors and liquors.
The decor was a woodlands, a lake-inspired masterpiece orchestrated by Ellie at Celebrated Events and the incredible vendors she has worked with for most of her career at Arena's Florals, Petunia Rose China, and Hank Parker Rentals. Together they created a vision that perfectly captured the couple's style, with thoughtfulness in every single detail, from the custom-built trellis for the escort cards to the black and gold elements incorporated into the table settings to each individual flower selected for the unique centerpieces and bouquets. When Mariam and Jacob had a "first look" at the reception room, they were absolutely floored by how everything came together.
The cake was made by a pastry chef at the Lake House, John Bard. The couple wanted a minimalist cake design on an ethereal woodland hanging tablescape.
A monogram with a custom watercolor floral design by Stone Fruit Studio was a surprise to the couple that tied the decor of the entire weekend together and was even featured on the dance floor, surrounded by live birch trees with hanging tea lights.
When one of Ellie’s long-time clients heard that her son was getting married on Canandaigua Lake, he generously offered to take the couple for a ride on his restored Hacker-Craft boat before the ceremony during the couple’s first look. It allowed them to have a moment of peace together during the whirlwind of the wedding day.
Taco, the couple’s mini bernedoodle, made a guest appearance to walk down the aisle and had a specialty cocktail named after him.
