TJ and Amanda dialed up a gorgeous Fall day for their outdoor wedding in Hoopes Park, the same park where TJ’s parents have married 25 years ago, with the reception following at the stunning Lodge at Welch Allyn!
Alan and I arrived early and checked out all of the beautiful flowers and ducks and awaited the arrival of the ladies. They all had different color bridesmaid dresses and comfy cowboy boots to really set the tone of the day: “Classy Hick” as Amanda calls it. And Classy it was. Everyone and everything was gorgeous and relaxed and perfect.
There were a lot of wardrobe malfunctions, yet that was the extent of the problems for the day. Luckily, all worked out as we had a Bridesmaid that used to photograph weddings (so she was VERY prepared and sewed Amanda’s dress in 2 places) and Tuxedo Junction even came out to sew a missing button onto the Best Man’s vest.
I didn’t fare as lucky… I split my pants! Gasp! After 11 years of doing this, it was a first. I guess all of those years of bending down, getting on the ground, running around, and washing these pants finally took their toll. Ironically, I’d been trying to buy a new pair or two all year and haven’t found what I need for weddings. I just hope no one noticed!
The ceremony was touching and Amanda’s son started bawling as soon as she walked down the aisle! It left that moment with just a touch of humor and a good reminder of the emotion we all learn to hold inside. It was also so touching that the only person that could comfort him was TJ.
The rest of the day was just awesome. Though we didn’t have much time between the ceremony and reception, everything went smoothly. Even the large family pictures that we had not scheduled or accounted for. Lucky for me, the families were all there and ready to roll.
The most difficult part of the day was breaking up Amanda and TJ! I’ve never seen a newly married couple so completely focused on each other. The entire day, it was as if they were the only two people in the room.
My assistant, Alan, remarked on the way home that he wish he had spent more time with his wife at his own wedding. That’s one of the byproducts of our job… we get to see so many ways of doing things, of reacting and of being. It’s hard not to internalize it sometimes.
Amanda and TJ were just staring at each other all day. It was great to see.
The wedding reception was held at the Lodge at Welch Allyn in Skaneateles, NY and I’d never been there before. The couple added the perfect amount of lighting to really warm the place up and the DJ had really cool pin lights on the dance floor as well as a spotlight for their entrances and toasts. Can I have that at every wedding, please?? For such a large and expansive place, those additions made it easier and more fun to photograph. To top it all off, there was a surprise fireworks display after dinner!
Congratulations to Amanda and TJ! It is now completely obvious to me why you got married so soon after meeting and dating. Both of you are clearly mesmerized by the other and it was an honor to witness and capture!
Central NY Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Heather McKay and Alan Presutti || Ceremony Location: Hoopes Park, Auburn NY || Reception Location: The Lodge at Welch Allyn || DJ and Lighting: Visa Versa || Cupcakes: Sweet Endings || Wedding Invitations: Magnet Street || Florist: Smiley’s Town and Country
Have you been to a wedding at the Lodge at Welch Allyn? Leave your review below…
Beautiful pictures, simply amazing, congrats!