savannah + george // Marcy Casino Wedding

Filed in weddings shot by Ayres Photography on April 18, 2019 at

Savannah and George’s wedding day was so lovely in every way. I’m a huge fan of photographing classic Buffalo landmarks like Marcy Casino and Hoyt Lake, so I really enjoyed the locations they chose. I also LOVE a good sparkler send off, so photographing S and G as they ran through a tunnel of sparklers along the lake was one of the highlights of my entire season! Also, guys, check out the amazing florals by Wild Blossom Hollow!!  Is she incredible or what?! I’m always stunned by her talent. That ceremony arbor is just incredible!

It’s so wonderful to work with couples who really understand and value what we offer. The most important thing to Savannah and George was to end up with photographs that capture all the emotion of the day, the beautiful human connections taking place all around them. In my opinion, that’s the very best part of every wedding day. I love what we were able to capture for these two adorable people, and I love the words they shared to accompany the photos! If you’re able to take the time to read their words as you scroll, it’ll be worth it!! :)

Savannah: “It was a beautiful, slightly cloudy day on June 18, 2010 in Buffalo, NY. I was hanging out with my friend Sally getting ready to go to Rockin’ at the Knox at the Albright Knox Art Gallery. Sally and I ended up getting 4 free tickets but due to such short notice we couldn’t find any of our friends to accompany us. We decided to eat dinner at Delaware Park to hopefully find someone to give those extra tickets to. That’s when Sally saw 2 guys walk by (George and his brother, Joe) and [we invited them to go in with us]. It was so adorable when George and I started talking, like something out of a movie, because we were sitting under a tree listening to the band play and just really connecting with super great eye contact and smiles! As the concert was winding down we all decided to go to the Tudor Lounge to have a few more drinks! I drove and I can still remember like it was yesterday, looking in the back seat at George and his huge arm muscles leaning on the car door thinking that he was the most handsome man I’ve ever seen! Before leaving the bar, George quickly asked me for my phone number and without any hesitation I gave it to him! I knew I wanted to get to know him better and couldn’t stop smiling the rest of the night! A couple weeks went by before George ended up calling me. I actually had to think about who ‘George’ was when he told me who he was on the phone. When I remembered I immediately felt butterflies in my stomach, knowing it was the start of something great!“

Savannah: “I knew looking at pictures online that Morilee by Madeline Gardner would be the designer I would choose. All the dresses she makes are super romantic and the Alencon lace she uses is spectacular! I also always had a feeling that I would find my dress at the Bridal Chateau. As a young girl driving around with my mom, every time we passed that salon I couldn’t help but stare and wonder what wonderful dresses they have inside. The first shop I went to had some good contenders but nothing was 100% right. Bridal Chateau was the second salon I ended up at with my mother-in-law and my Maid of Honor. Even just seeing the dress hanging up in the dressing room before I even put it on, I already knew it would be my dress! I didn’t cry that first time I had it on but I didn’t want to take it off! Me being the picky person I am decided to check out another salon before making my final decision but every dress I was putting on I was comparing to that one at the Bridal Chateau. I went back there with my dad, tried on a couple more before putting that one back on and then immediately knew that was the perfect dress for me! Morilee by Madeline Gardner dress #2820!!“

Savannah: “We really wanted to concentrate on each other and our love for one another so sticking to traditions wasn’t too important to us. I just wanted to make sure that I had a picture of my mom and dad in a locket that I could wear the whole night to feel like they were celebrating with me!“

Savannah: “It wasn’t a complete surprise when George proposed. We went ring shopping a few month’s before he popped the question. He proposed on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 and that morning I knew something was up. We were trying to save all the money we could for our move to Hawaii and before I even started getting ready for work he asked me if I wanted to go out for a fancy dinner that night. I just had that feeling that he was going to ask me and I was so nervous that I forgot my badge to get into work, painted my nails on my lunch break and couldn’t concentrate on anything that whole day! When I got home we headed out to the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora for the most romantic dinner ever! We ended up getting a seat right in front of the fireplace and the food was delicious! I really thought he was going to propose there but he didn’t. On our way home he asked me if I wanted to take a walk at Delaware Park which I immediately said yes to even though it was FREEZING outside! We parked on Nottingham Terrace so we could walk over the twisty bridge to go near Hoyt Lake. I was surprised when George suggested to go to the left in the darkness but agreed. When we came around the bend I noticed some lights on the ground near the water. I asked George what that was and when we got closer I could see that it was tea lights that spelled out “Will you marry me?” and they were FLOATING in the water!!! It was seriously the cutest thing ever!!! He took my hand and started saying some really cute things to me and told me that I am the best part of his morning and the best part of his day when he gets home and how he really loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me! Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! After that moment his sister popped out of her hiding spot (she took a couple pictures) with 3 glasses and a bottle of champagne so we could toast to our engagement!!! It was such a magical night!!!“

George: “After hectic morning setting up the seating for wedding, I got ready and meet up with my groomsman and headed to the hotel for the First Look. My bride, who was running behind, had me waiting, but it was worth it to finally see her in her dress. She looked beautiful.“

George: “Before Savannah was about to walk down the aisle I could see her threw the trees at the top of the stairs, and got a rush of excitement for what was to come.“

Savannah: “The actual act of marrying George was the most special thing I’ve ever got to experience! Seeing George waiting for me as I walked down the aisle was the best feeling in the world! In that moment, there were no doubts or fears, just pure joy and excitement that I was about to marry the most perfect man for me!“

Savannah: “When I look at George I see such a strong, caring, devoted man who really only wants the best for me and everyone he really cares about. He’s always looking out for my best interest. Being together for so long we have this unconditional, family type of love and I don’t know what I would do without it anymore!“

George: “When I look at her I see one of the purest hearts, and I want that in my life forever.“

Savannah: “I really enjoyed the alone time my husband and I got while walking around Delaware Park with Jenn and Ben to take pictures after the ceremony. It’s definitely worth it to steal those moments for yourself! It was especially special for us because we were able to walk to the spot where George proposed and relive those moments we shared together!“

Savannah: “We value love a lot! If you can’t have love in your life it doesn’t feel complete. We also value adventure and believe that experiencing new things really helps you grow as a person and as a couple!“

Savannah: “We choose to dance to Tim McGraw, ‘Watch the Wind Blow By’. It took us a while to find a song that really fit us as a couple and couldn’t have been happier with how we felt dancing to it! It’s so true that all we wanna do is let it be and be together to watch the wind blow by!“

Savannah: “Being able to dance with my long lost friends who made it out to celebrate with me was such a fantastic feeling! With good true friends, it honestly doesn’t matter the amount of time spent apart because when we get together again it’s like nothing changed!“

Savannah: “Even though it was a little rushed to get everyone down by Hoyt Lake to do a sparkler send off, I’d have to say that was one of the best memories I have of that night! George and I were so scared about being set on fire that we literally ran through the bridge of sparklers the first time!“

Savannah: “The one piece of advice I would give to couples planning their own wedding is to make sure you have a good, well thought out plan on how you’re going to get the space decorated. It might seem a little overboard to map out where everything will go in pictures and diagrams but we honestly wish we would have been a little more on top of things for our venue. Less is not more when it comes to this aspect of planning!“

Some kind words from Savannah about working with us: “It was very easy to work with Jenn and Ben! They are both the nicest people and have such a creative eye! The photography was honestly the one thing I was not worried about after finding Ayres, and the results are fantastic!“

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Do you love sparkler send offs as much as we do?? Click here to check out more of our favorite sparkler moments!

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Wedding Vendors Include:

Getting Ready Location: Reikart House Hotel
Makeup Artist: AmandaLee Shamrock of Teez Salon and Day Spa
Hairstylist: Ashley Fletch
Dress Shop: Bridal Chateau
Dress Designer: Morilee by Madeline Gardner
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Groom’s Look: Men’s Wearhouse
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Marcy Casino
Officiant: Michelle Snyder of YellowBird Wedding
Invitations: Shutterfly
Florist: Wild Blossom Hollow
Cake: Ohlson’s Bakery
Cake Topper: Etsy
DJ: H&H Entertainment

 

 

lindsey + andy // Marcy Casino Wedding

Filed in nicole, weddings shot by Ayres Photography on April 11, 2019 at

I’m so very excited to share Lindsey and Andy’s wedding that was photographed by our associate photographer, Nicole! We’re lucky to have such a fantastic team of photographers who really embody everything we stand for. Nicole does a fantastic job of capturing the emotion, connection, and fluidity of the day. I could not be more proud of what she captured for Lindsey and Andy!  These two, together, are one of the cutest couples on earth, and the words they shared really add something special to this already beautiful post. I hope you take the time to read what they shared as you scroll!! :)

Lindsey: “Getting ready with my mom and best friend Lauren was the perfect start to my wedding day. We shared so many laughs and a few glasses of champagne – a perfect combination!“

Lindsey: “One of my fondest memories of our wedding was the ‘shoe penny’ my grandma gave me before our ceremony. It was the same penny she wore (for luck) in her shoe on her wedding day, over 60 years ago. My grandparents were blessed with many, many years of happiness and to have a little piece of their love story as we began our journey together as husband and wife, meant so much to us. My grandpa passed away years ago, but having this penny in my shoe, as we said our vows, made me feel just a little closer to him. This is a memory and a tradition that will be shared with our children and grandchildren, and a special memory it is.“

Lindsey: “The beautiful card Andy wrote for me had me in tears after the first sentence. It was such a special and unforgettable moment for me. His words reminded me of how we met, where we are now, and the exciting future we have ahead.“

Lindsey: “I found my wedding dress at the first bridal shop my mom and I went to – Bliss Bridal in Hamburg. I must have tried on a dozen dresses before finding ‘the one’. I had no idea what style I wanted so I tried as many variations as I could – this may have been one of the last ones I tried on. I loved the romantic feel of the lace and the open back. I added some bling with a belt and it really made the dress pop. Adding the belt sealed the deal!“

Lindsey: “Nothing can take away from the experience of our First Look. The excitement and anticipation and then FINALLY seeing my soon-to-be husband for the first time! I remember walking up to him and tapping him on the shoulder. Our photographer, Nicole, said ‘Hold on one second!’ and we were laughing so loud. Then we saw each other, embraced, and all my nerves went away. It may sound corny, but that’s exactly what happened. It was so sweet and romantic – more than I could have ever dreamed of. We shared so many laughs and kisses during our First Look and got some of the jitters out of the way.“

Andy: “The First Look felt like forever that I had to wait to see Lindsey. It was so nerve-wracking and then it was here. It was so worth the wait!!“

Lindsey: “Andy and I  have the same tastes, enjoy the same things – we also challenge each other to be our best self. We have a very strong friendship and solid foundation. We make each other laugh and accept each other for who we are! We may not always get along, but we always make up and come to a resolution. Everything is better and easier when we are together.“

Lindsey: “As someone who has always been a daddy’s girl, walking down the aisle with one of my best friends – my dad – was something I looked forward to since I was old enough to actually picture my wedding day. He said a combination of sweet and funny things during our walk, probably so we wouldn’t cry too hard. He rubbed my hand as we walked down the aisle and reminded me to ‘walk slower’. He said he didn’t want to me to walk too fast, but I think he wanted to cherish those precious minutes for as long as possible. I know I did.“

Andy: “Reading our vows and seeing my beautiful bride walk down the aisle. I will never forget those moments.“

Lindsey: “We had our pup, Nashville, in the wedding. He stood up there as our most loyal and loving companion. He looked so cute with his collar on and we got awesome pictures! Yay Nashville!“

Lindsey: “Did I mention the kiss? Wow. Best kiss EVER!!!”

Lindsey: “My dad’s speech probably went on for 10 minutes too long! He had everyone in stitches and definitely put a lot of thought and time into his words. That’s something I’ll never forget.“

Lindsey: “We chose ‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran for our first dance. His song embodies what love is all about. With each passing year, and in our old age, we will still love each other the same way we do now. If we can manage to get through life’s toughest challenges, the highs and lows of marriage, and still love each other with the same passion and sentiment as we do today, then we are blessed.“

Lindsey: “We took dance classes a couple months before the wedding and worked on a choreographed dance. It had a lift in it and we both wanted to get it just right. Well, when the time finally came, we nailed it! From beginning to end. Our friends and family cheered and all our hard work paid off. What a memory (and a great sense of accomplishment!)“

Andy: “Everything for our first dance went off without a hitch!“

Lindsey: “‘I Loved Her First’ by Heartland was the song my dad chose for our father/daughter dance. Growing up, we went to many father/daughter dances together, but this was our favorite. I initially wanted to do a mash up of several songs, starting out with a slow song and then kicking it into high gear, but my dad insisted on this song and I am so happy he did! Dancing with my dad, cheek to cheek, as we did so many times when I was a little girl, is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. It was a hard day for him, as it is for most dads who are close to their daughters, but we shared many special moments and laughs together throughout the day – it was perfect!“

Andy: “My mom and I danced to ‘Days Like This’ by Van Morrison. It was very fitting for my mom and I to dance to this song because growing up, she always use to tell me how great things would be, and she was right!“

Andy: “Everyone had such a great time – no drama!! The whole day from beginning to end was perfect. We couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better setting!“

A bit of advice from Lindsey and Andy: “Take it one step at a time, and remember everyone wants your day to be as perfect as you do. Try your best not to stress the small stuff (although it can be hard) and remember to take in every second. It goes by SOOOOOO fast!! Every one told us that, and, man is it true. Hire a videographer and an awesome photographer and make sure you get all those great candid memories in print and on film. You’ll be so happy you did!!

The Ayres Preferred Vendor List was a tremendous help and all the vendors we used from that list were excellent! The demeanor and thoughtfulness in all of the communication with the Ayres Team was much appreciated. Planning a wedding is so stressful and their expertise and timely responses take some of the burden off the couple. We couldn’t be happier to have chosen Ayres Photography to capture our amazing day. Not only do we have INCREDIBLE pictures, we have made some new friends :)“

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Did you love Lindsey and Andy’s First Look?? So did we! Click here to see more amazing Ayres First Look moments!

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Wedding Vendors Include:

Photographer: Nicole of Ayres Photography
Bridal Suite: Curtiss Hotel
Hair and Make-Up: Rachel Rizzo Hair and Makeup
Dress Shop: Bliss Bridal
Dress Designer: Pronovias
Bridesmaid Dress: David’s Bridal
Groom’s Look: Calvin Klein
Ceremony: Delaware Park Rose Garden
Ceremony Music: String Brothers
Reception: Marcy Casino
Florist: William’s Florist
Cake: Blue Eyed Baker
DJ: CJ Sound
Videographer: Two Palm Films