New York Weddings

I’ve always had a ‘thing’ for Saratoga Springs, NY…I visited once a few years ago and fell in love with the city from the tradition of horse racing to the charm throughout the downtown streets. It is no wonder Michelle Lange Photography teamed up with Kelly Strong Events for this classic and romantic inspiration shoot at The Adelphi Hotel, located in the heart of Downtown Saratoga Springs. The soft color palette paired perfectly with the overflowing amount of windows and the natural light in the event space. Add in a stunning bouquet and floral displays by Olive and June and you feel like you’ve stepped into a dream. Now, I am left asking myself…when am I heading back to Saratoga Springs?!

From Kelly Strong Events…

The Location

The Adelphi Hotel is a new luxury hotel and wedding venue in the heart of Saratoga Springs, New York. Located on Broadway, you can’t find a more central location for your guests to enjoy everything that downtown has to offer. Within in the Adelphi Hotel is Blue Hen – a stunning atrium inspired restaurant and event space. An incredibly unique space, overflowing with natural light, we knew this is where we wanted to be.

The Design

Seeking a romantic, classic feel we designed the day to allow for beauty to lie in the subtle details. The design plan was built around this space that is so bright and airy with stunning blue chairs. Because of everything the venue has to offer, we wanted to compliment the surroundings rather than compete with them. Choosing a subdued color palate allowed us to build a beautiful table design with thoughtful details that didn’t detract from the stunning venue. Layers of fabric were used to create a runner that laid on top of a dusty rose, matte linen. The beautifully textured paper goods were done in neutral tones and brought to life by the blush florals and gold accents. The main centerpiece was accented by unique blooms – like flowers floating in a bowl of water – that created a beautiful visual statement. Finally, a romantic, ruffled design cake accented with blush blooms tied the classic feel to the dessert table.

The Destination

Saratoga Springs is rich with horse racing tradition. It is such a special part of the destination, so we wanted to include a subtle nod to its history without over-theming the day. The simple white horses, created by Ink Revival, were added to each menu for the hint that we were looking for.

The Team

The team of partners that worked together on this day are local to Saratoga Springs but bring a breadth of experience to the table. Each partner has recently relocated to the area from cities across the United States and abroad. With this experience, the team was able to create something completely unique and not yet seen at the Adelphi Hotel.

Photography: Michelle Lange Photography | Event Design and Planning: Kelly Strong Events | Floral Design: Olive and June | Cake: Austin Bayliss Cakes | Stationery: Ink Revival | Wedding Venue: The Adelphi Hotel | Beauty: True Beauty | Bridal Shop: Lily Saratoga | Model: Bohemian Bulldog | Rentals: Total Events

From one wedding dress with two looks to a classic tented reception to the homemade wine made by the Bride’s father, there’s so much to love woven in the fibers of this celebration planned by Christine Wheat. I don’t doubt that you’ll find yourself swooningly smiling at every image from Michelle Lange. Take a look here for more.

From the bride… Since Spencer and I both have Upstate New York roots (we met in high school!), we were thrilled to tie the knot in Saratoga Springs. We loved the idea of creating a venue from scratch so we opted for a big tented wedding on the grounds of Saratoga National Golf Course. Our goal was to create a modern and elegant space with a touch of rustic charm. With collaboration efforts from Rain or Shine, Mazzone Hospitality, Renaissance Floral Design & Christine Wheat Special Events, our wedding dreams became reality – a beautifully draped clear top tent filled with muted florals, long farm tables, giant chandeliers, tons of greenery and tapered candles – not even the rain could take away the beauty of this tent! Michelle Lange and Eric Floberg did such an amazing job at capturing all the big moments and little details.

Every moment of the day was a favorite, but walking into the dining tent while the guests were still enjoying the cocktail hour was really special. It was awesome to soak up the environment, that we had spent so many months creating, just the two of us. My parents also surprised us by recreating a local ice cream shop for dessert – such a memorable way to end the night!

Thanks to the team at Angela’s Bridal in Albany, I was able to achieve having two wedding day looks with just one dress. I wore a Paloma Blanca lace fit-and-flare dress with a full tulle skirt over the top for the ceremony. The tulle skirt was removed for the reception!

One of my favorite details was how we paid tribute to my Italian roots. Homemade wine was served (made by my father & his cousin) and homemade Italian wedding soup (made by my mother) was the first course, served in individual soup pots. I also loved the escort card wall, which displayed ombre escort cards with gold calligraphy on a wooden board. It was a work of art!

Photography: Michelle Lange Photography | Cinematography: Eric Floberg | Wedding Planning: Christine A. Wheat Special Events Firm | Floral Design: Renaissance Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Cake : Saratoga National Golf Club | Wedding Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Hair and Makeup: Make Me Fabulous | Band : New York Players Band | Groom's Attire: Bonobos | Wedding Venue: Saratoga National Golf Club | Bridal Shop: Angela's Bridal | Invitation Design : JennyCDesign

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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Photography: Jessa Schifilliti, Photographer | Videography: Buell Productions | Event Design: Always Yours Events | Event Planning: Always Yours Events | Floral Design: The Wild Dahlia | Cake: Lauren's Specialty Cakes | Stationery: Amanda Day Rose | Bride's Shoes: Kate Spade | Catering: Old Daley on Crooked Lake | Hair and Makeup: Alexandria's Beauty Salon | DJ: Superfly Entertainment | Bride and Groom: Meredith Jane Photography | Brush Calligraphy: Emilee Ann Hopkins | Chairs + Bar Rentals: True North Rentals | Custom Robes: By Catalfo | Custom Wedding Dress: Head Over Heels Bridal | Custom Wedding Dress: Bluethread Bridal | Flipbook Photobooth: One Chance Media | Linen Rental: BBJ La Tavola | MOH Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Ribbons: Stella Wolfe | Tabletop Rentals: Peak Event Services | Tent + Table Rentals: Rain Or Shine | Vespa Rental: Cycles 128

In the bride’s words, “My mom has instilled in me a love for nature and gardening, so naturally, I embraced a romantic garden vibe.” That point of inspiration turned into a tented wedding ceremony that brought the outdoors in with branches, greenery, and lush florals throughout. Believe us, your Friday is about to get so much prettier thanks to images from the lens of Michelle Lange.

From the Bride… After the excitement of the engagement settled, I turned to Pinterest and other online blogs to gain inspiration. I soon found that I was getting both overwhelmed and lost in a world of wedding expectations that were excessive and simply unrealistic. Once I realized that I wanted to base the theme around inspirations from my loved ones, my vision came to life. My mom has instilled in me a love for nature and gardening, so naturally, I embraced a romantic garden vibe.

The florals were a beautiful mix of ivory and blush shades with hints of loose flowing greenery throughout. Anthology Studio created gorgeous arrangements that climbed up intricate pieces of driftwood. The stationary mimicked these florals, many of which my mom and I designed together. My dad and I created the slate table numbers one afternoon using slate from their yard. We continued this garden theme with the unique place card display my mom created using vintage drawers from my grandmother’s sewing machine that she filled with an ivory flower bed for the cards.

Both my mom and Josh’s mom are cancer survivors, so we decided to make a generous donation to the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer chapter in lieu of traditional favors. During our ceremony, we incorporated a special Polish tradition in honor of my grandfather and his heritage. I’ll always remember the smile on his face as he passed us the heirloom cup of wine and dish of Polish bread.

I wore an ivory high-neck lace dress, one that my mom and grandmother instantly agreed fit the romantic feel. I allowed each of my bridesmaids pick a blush dress of their choice from BHLDN, and they looked absolutely stunning. Josh and his groomsmen all love and work in athletics, so Josh bought them matching Nikes to pair with their gray suits. We each wanted our closest friends to be psyched about what they were wearing, and the consensus was that we delivered!

My favorite moment was a brief one that only Josh and I shared, but it was one that I’ll treasure forever. We asked the band to play “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons for our first dance. Though untraditional, the song has been a sort of anthem to the long distance portion of our relationship. Josh told me in the middle of our dance that he listened to the song during his morning commute, thankful everyday that I was willing to “wait” for him. The fact that you caught this touching moment on camera was wonderful!

Now that the thank you notes are sent and the gifts are put away, I can look back and realize I’m proud that each design element paid some sort of special tribute to a loved one of ours. I truly didn’t see everything come together until I saw it all documented in the collection of gorgeous photographs you captured. I recently scanned through my old wedding Pinterest boards, and I’m thankful we went in a unique direction to create a romantic vision of our own that honored the ones who mean the most.

Photography: Michelle Lange Photography | Event Design: Anthology Design Studio | Floral Design: Anthology Design Studio | Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Makeup : Strut | Hair Stylist: Robyn Colores | Band: Silver Arrow Band | Groom's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Wedding Venue: Saratoga National Golf Club | Bridal Shop: Ferri Formals and Bridals | Bridesmaids Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Groom's Shoes : Nike | Wedding Officiant : Victoria O. Mine

Saratoga Springs has a special allure to it – this quiet, quaint upstate New York town comes alive in August and this darling duo tapped into that energy for their celebrations. With subtle but stylish nods to the town’s culture and plenty of prettiness from the bridesmaids to this gorgeous gown, Lindsay Madden captured it all for us to spend some quality time with in our VAULT right this way!

From the Bride… Brian and I wanted our wedding design to be a direct reflection of ourselves – a mix of our personal style with the vibe of the local environment. We considered a million different locations but in the end the decision was easy, a place that hit home for both of us – Saratoga Springs, NY. This is the town where I grew up and together we’ve spent a lot of time escaping our crazy, Manhattan lives. For those of you who don’t know Saratoga, it’s all about the horse racing. With the majority of our guests visiting for the first time, we had to give them the full Saratoga experience. So August it was, when the racing season kicks off and the little town is in full swing.

The summer time upstate is beautiful; we knew we needed an outdoor affair. In our design we wanted to portray the rich history and timeless elegance of Saratoga Springs with the rugged, raw beauty of the Adirondacks. Locally made, reclaimed wooden farm tables were brought in for dining; blue glass Saratoga water bottles helped our guests find their tables; a vintage lawn jockey and directional sign of cities that have impacted our lives greeted guests before the ceremony. A tree was even planted on the golf course in memory of my Dad, so that he could be there with us throughout our special day. Personal touches were everywhere, and were so important to Brian and me because it made the wedding us.

Peruse more elegant summer weddings here!

Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography | Event Design: Rustic Robin Boutique Rental & Design | Floral Design: Rena's Fine Flowers | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Mazzone Catering | Invitations: Megan Wells | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Mazzone Catering | Lighting: Saratoga National Golf Club | Band: Soul Sessions Band | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Venue: Saratoga National Golf Club | Bridal Boutique: Saks Fifth Avenue

This elegant black + white affair kept tradition strong, while also incorporating beautiful modern details, like all-white florals with tons of texture, chic olive oil wedding favors, and gorgeous Jenny Yoo Bridesmaids’ gowns in a dramatic black chiffon. Lucky for us, 4 Eyes Photography captured it all, and shared it with us in the gallery here, so we can all soak up this fete’s sleek and elegant inspiration.

From the beautiful Bride… I met Jeremy within weeks of moving back to Saratoga. After spending nine years in Manhattan and having my father almost pass away of a stroke, I knew it was time for a change—it was time to move “home.” I met Jeremy within weeks of moving home. It was Friday night. It had been a hard week. It was the biggest dive bar in town. There was a lot working against Jeremy that night, but I had the best night I could remember in a long time. Since he didn’t have my phone number, two days later he asked me out on a real date via Facebook. He said the offer was “non-negotiable,” so I met him, and we have been together every day since. Better still—my dad loves him.

I had a feeling the proposal was coming, but he still caught me off guard. It was the week after Labor Day and we drove down to Greenport for a vacation. We couldn’t check into our hotel until 3pm, so we decided to take a wine tour at Raphael Vineyard and Winery. It was a chilly, rainy day, so we were the only ones on the tour. In fact, we virtually had the entire vineyard and winery to ourselves! Following the tour, we could walked down to the vineyard to take pictures. I’m usually the one taking the pictures, but somehow Jeremy talked me into handing the camera over so he could take a few of me. I remember walking through the grapes in the misty air, feeling so grateful for Jeremy and that day. When I turned around he was on one knee.

Having grown up in Saratoga, and now having our home, offices and church within a 10-block radius of downtown, we wanted our family and closest friends to experience downtown Saratoga and all of its incredible offerings. The beautiful historic Canfield Casino in Congress Park blended the history of our beloved town, along with the downtown location we desired. Plus, since our dogs couldn’t be with us at the reception, the location reminded us all of the walks we had taken them on in the park and made us feel closer to them.

My style has always been clean, natural and minimalistic. Since the venue itself is very ornate, I wanted to keep the integrity of the venue while staying true to my personal style by keeping the color palette white and monochromatic. White, glass vases filled with single arrangements of white tulips, ranunculus, nerine lilies and mini calla lilies on top of white crinkle linens kept the look clean and updated. Additionally, it was it was really important to me incorporate personal touches to the décor so that the day felt personal. We had Q&A napkins during cocktail hour so that guests could get to know quirky facts about us, a specialty cocktail, “The Non-negotiable,” paying tribute to the date that made all of the difference, and a sprig of rosemary on each place setting, serving as a symbol of love and a nod to our love for nature.

In some respects tradition is important to us, while on the other hand, we are not at all traditional. While we had a full catholic mass and a sit down reception, the traditions ended there. I was completely against being announced at the reception (or anything else that drew attention to me), but came up with the perfect workaround that left me feeling comfortable and our guests being amused—Jeremy announced the bridal party! He had the time of his life, and it was one of my favorite parts of the reception! Also, I was completely against cutting a cake cutting, but knew our mother’s really wanted it, so I let them cut the cake. Guests couldn’t stop laughing as they fed each other the cake!

Since our favorite times are with family and friends around the dinner table, we thought it was only fitting to provide guests with individual bottles of Saratoga Olive Oil to enjoy at home with their loved ones !

Photography: 4Eyes Photography | Event Design: Fleurtacious Designs | Floral Design: Fleurtacious Designs | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: JennyCDesign | Stationery: LG Creative Group | Ceremony Venue: St Clements Roman Catholic | Reception Venue: Canfield Casino | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Jewelry: Jenny Packham | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Favors: Saratoga Olive Oil | Accomodations: Pavillion Grand Hotel

Once in awhile a wedding comes along that checks every single love of mine. This usually entails a sun-filled beach wedding somewhere tropical. But sometimes it is all about a romantic winter affair. And this baby has a whole lot of checks. Great photography at the hands of Tracey Buyce: check. A sea of beautiful blooms crafted by Renaissance Floral Design: another check. Modern meets whimsical meets traditional meets gorgeous: check, check, check, and check. It’s a clementine-filled love affair and you can see even more right here.

From the Bride… Bill and I attended the same, small law school in upstate New York, but we didn’t meet each other until a school trip to Cleveland, Ohio. While there, and in true ladylike fashion, I challenged him in a drinking game. The rest, as they say, is history. After Bill proposed, we quickly decided on the historic Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, NY and picked a December date. I had always wanted a winter wedding done in bright, punchy colors. No snowflakes, red-and-green, or sparkly winter inspiration for us.

With typical winter colors out of the running, the driving force for our wedding design came from my personal style, which I describe as a “marriage” of Anthropologie and CB2—a little bit vintage and whimsical, with a healthy dose of modern. The inspiration started with two things: orange clementines in milk glass, and an edge-painted, gray letterpress Irving invitation from Bella Figura. From there, I found the most beautiful gray, pink, and orange Aimee Wilder wallpaper—which ultimately ended up as the runner on the head table, and on the escort boards—and a concept and color palette started to take shape. Because I had lots of contrasting design components, I wanted a unifying element that we could repeat throughout the day. We decided on a gray-and-white chevron pattern and incorporated it everywhere—from the flower girls’ skirts, to the napkins on the head table, and the to-go cookies for the end of the night.

I also saw the wedding as an opportunity to flex my crafty, creative side (not something that gets much use in my day-to-day life as an attorney). I designed our day-of wedding paper and, with the help of my amazing mom, executed seemingly-endless DIY details like the table numbers, escort boards, and signage. The design was very “me,” but our day also highlighted some of the most memorable moments that Bill and I have shared as a couple. The cocktail hour featured a chef-manned Thai station (a nod to a trip Bill and I took after graduating law school), and the bar poured wine from our favorite vineyard. And although Bill and I didn’t know each other in our undergrad years, I have heard all about his college a cappella group and I’ve met many of his friends from those days. As a surprise, I arranged to have the group travel to Saratoga and perform between dinner courses.

Wedding Photography: Tracey Buyce Photography / Wedding Venue: The Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, New York / Wedding Planning: Shannon Whitney of Wedding Planning Plus / Floral Design + Linen Rentals: Renaissance Floral Design, LLC / Rentals and Lighting: Clifton Park Rental Center / Wedding Catering: Mansion Catering / Wedding Cake: Villa Italia Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura / Misc. Wedding Stationery: Bride’s Design / Band: Phase One of Craig Scott Entertainment / Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Fur Wrap: Family Heirloom / Bride’s Earrings: Honeybee Collection (Hope Star Deco Earrings) / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Make Me Fabulous / Groom’s Tux: Tommy Hilfiger

If we were giving out awards for the most adorable duo of all time, these two sweethearts would most definitely be in the running.  Their First Look alone is enough to cause some serious heart palpitations… and the fact that the beautiful bride just so happens to be the ever-so-talented Laura from Laura Remmert Events (see here and here)?  Well, that’s just the icing on an already FABULOUS cake.  Add in bundles of vibrant colored blooms from Fleurtacious Designs and an entire gallery of gorgeous images by Joe Elario Photography and we’re calling this THE perfect Friday morning.  See it all right here.

From Laura of Laura Remmert Events (The Bride)… As a wedding planner and wedding designer, I’ve been thinking about what I would do for my wedding for many years! Of course, throughout the years, I have changed my mind many many times in regards to the color scheme, time of year, type of location, etc. With a January engagement, I decided to go with a slightly longer engagement and wait for a spring wedding the following year (so that peonies would be in season!).  We had decided to host the wedding in Upstate New York, Saratoga Springs to be specific, near my hometown (Joe and I have been living in New York City for many years at this point).

After years of working for a wedding venue with dark wood walls, high ceilings and a very “Old New York” look, I always thought I would want a clean, open, modern space, but I quickly changed my mind when viewing venues. I had worked on weddings at the Canfield Casino before moving to New York, but I never really pictured it for my own wedding until I walked into it as a potential bride. The design scheme didn’t all come to me at once, but at midnight after viewing the venue, everything clicked! Joe and I are not super formal; we wanted something fun, modern and whimsical, yet classic and beautiful at the same time. I had already set my mind to using gray as my base neutral color and knew that I wanted my bridesmaids to be in short, dark grey dresses. I have always loved using bright and/or deep colors for weddings. With a spring wedding date, I decided to go with bright, fun, saturated color!  It was the perfect season for this color scheme with the abundance of pink and coral peonies available locally as well as lilac, tulips, roses and we managed to bring in a few ranunculus towards the end of their season.  I wanted to keep the bright colors a little bit of a surprise, obviously not a total surprise due to the beautiful bouquets my bridesmaids carried at the ceremony, so I kept the cocktail reception more bridal using white, ivory and blush tones, including one of my favorite flowers, the Juliet garden rose. The result was absolutely stunning and totally unexpected when the guests walked into the room!  The bright colors made the formal space feel a little more whimsical and modern, and the grey rattan linens gave the tables a more casual feel. 

We had absolutely perfect weather that weekend. After ten years of planning other people’s weddings, I know that you can’t expect perfect weather and that it’s better to plan for the worst and hope for the best, but we certainly lucked out with the best weather I could possibly ask for! We had an amazing wedding weekend with friends and family coming into town a couple of days before the wedding and really taking advantage of all that Saratoga Springs has to offer. It was so nice to have everyone in one place celebrating with us for the entire weekend. We could not have asked for anything more!

Wedding Photography: JP + Joe of Joe Elario Photography / Ceremony: St. Mary’s Church in Ballston Spa, New York / Reception: The Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, New York / Event Design: Kris Ann Elario of Fleurtacious Designs + Laura Remmert Events / Event Planning: Laura Remmert Events + Katie O’ Weddings & Events / Floral Design: Kris Ann Elario of Fleurtacious Designs / Catering: Brian Palazzolo of Classe Catering / Wedding Invitations: William Arthur / Entertainment: Naked Soul via Perrone Bros. Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet via Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Shoes: Jimmy Choo + Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew

A bit of old Hollywood glam and a whole lotta lovely, this gorgeous gala by Joe Elario Photography is full of all the little touches that make a wedding blogger like myself embarrassingly giddy. Those fluffy peonies from Fleurtacious Designs? Squeal-worthy. The breathtaking tablescape in the picturesque ballroom? It’s what dreams are made of. I’ll be honest, there have been a few squeals out of this little blogger lady due to the prettiness of this wedding, and you can see all the reasons why in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I’m so thrilled to share with you our wedding day, which was May 20, 2011. The vision for our wedding was a classic yet elegant, old Hollywood-glam look. The Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, New York became the perfect backdrop for the event we have always dreamed about. The stained glass ceilings and beautiful architecture of the building was just the start of a spectacular day.

Because the wedding was in May, I wanted it to look very spring-like. The beautiful and lush peonies in my bouquet and the girls bouquets, really popped off perfectly from my wedding dress and the bridesmaids mermaid gowns. The beaded lamps on the tables the ballroom really added that Hollywood glam and sparkle, along with the elegant champagne color table linens and light gray napkins.  Touches of light pink and gray were throughout the venue whether it be in design pieces like menus or name tags or in the outrageous flowers in the ballroom.

Our candy bar was a huge hit. Guests raved over this and it gave them a nice treat for the car ride home. This was one of my favorite parts of the wedding, as being a graphic designer I created all of the tags myself. Another fun feature was our photo booth. The backdrop was just awesome and we had so much fun with our guests in it. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and we now have hundreds of hilarious images!

All in all, the day couldn’t have been more perfect in our eyes. Everything went smoothly, and every little detail that we had been planning for months was in it’s place. We couldn’t be happier with the way our wedding day went. We hope you enjoy the beautiful images!!

Wedding Photography: Joe Elario Photography / Photobooth Backdrop: Drop It Modern / Wedding Cinematography: Al Woodard Films / Flowers: Fleurtacious Designs / Event Planning: Christine Wheat Special Events / Ceremony Location: The Church of Saint Peter / Reception Location: The Canfield Casino / Invitations + Design: JennyCDesign / Caterer: 2Shea Catering / Wedding Cake: Villa Italia / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander via Lily Saratoga Bridal Shop / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alvina Valenta via Lily Saratoga Bridal Shop

Joe Elario Photography sent this gorgeous Saratoga wedding our way and I must say, I’ve always been a huge fan of that lace Monique Lhuillier number. It is practically a classic now and the Bride completely rocks its socks off. It also happens to pair nicely with all of the lovely, vintage details and romantic blooms fashioned by Fleurtacious Designs. But the kicker? That would be the centerpieces, a.k.a the most creative use of cake stands to date. We are definitely storing that genius detail in our arsenal of entertaining ideas. Grab a comfy seat and head into the gallery for loads more. You won’t want to miss a second of this beauty.

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From the Bride…We were engaged on a Monday night.  Joe and I drove north after work from Albany to Saratoga where my mother had invited us up to barbecue.  Everything about the night was ordinary.  I became a little anxious as Joe kept slowing down and making stops, since I had told my mother we would be at the house by 6.  Little did I know what was in store.  Joe missed the left to my parent’s house and then missed a second possible left.  I became even more anxious when instead he made a right and parked in downtown Saratoga Springs.  Since we were late, my stubbornness had me refusing to get out of the car when Joe said he wanted to show me something.  After going back and forth, he decided this was the perfect place to propose, and asked me to marry him right there in the parking lot.  I was completely surprised and ecstatic!  The night ended with a champagne toast and dinner with our parents and my great-aunt at our favorite restaurant in Saratoga (they’d been in on the plan all along, alas the barbecue was not to be).  The drive home was consumed by phone calls to friends and family and sharing my wedding ideas with Joe.

With Joe’s support and input along the way, we went for a classic vintage feel with inspiration from Saratoga, NY (the horse racing capital), from the dress to the table settings and decor.  We chose a neutral palate with soft pink and yellow color integrated throughout.  One inspiration found us at a local junkyard where we found two old doors. My father cleaned them up and assembled rows of nails to hang escort table cards.  Hung by an ivory ribbon, small good horseshoes dangled with a tag featuring each guests’ name and table number.  Our hotel welcome bags were brown burlap with an ivory horseshoe painted on, filled with all local goodies (Saratoga water, Saratoga potato chips, handmade soap in the shape of a horseshoe).  To go with the vintage and Saratoga theme, the invitations were ivory cardstock with a gold edge and a gold painted horse and carriage carrying a bride and groom at the center. We sent the save the dates in the shape of a paper airplane saying “Hold your Horses, and the Date.”

I knew we would have a large wedding, but wanted to ensure that all felt like it was a small intimate affair.  The ceremony was conducted by a Cantor who we know very well and was religious, yet beautifully personal and featured participation by several guests.  The aisle was lined with small gardenia trees and the Chuppah was made from birch wood.  Although we were in a tent for the ceremony, I wanted it to feel like our backyard. The celebration continued in a gorgeous tent where tables were decorated with cake plates for the flowers to rest and beautiful, colorful china.  Our family and friends barely left the dance floor.  The perfect day ended with a trolley ride back to the hotel to continue the celebration with family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Joe Elario Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Al Woodard Films / Event + Floral Design: Fleurtacious Designs / Ceremony + Reception Location: Saratoga National Golf Club / Invitations: PaperDolls of Saratoga / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Kleinfeld Bridal