allison + eddie // Hotel Henry
Filed in weddings shot by Ayres Photography on at
I knew about five minutes into meeting Allison and Eddie that they were “my people.” They’re the kind of people that make everyone around them feel calm, comfortable, and loved. They are an absolute joy to spend time with, and I loved getting to know them throughout the wedding planning process. They both value the relationships they have with their family and friends so highly, and they made that the driving focus of their day. Incredible dance moves are also highly valued in their lives. They hosted a dance contest at their reception, and the winners walked away with a gift certificate to a room at Hotel Henry!! I just love these two so much, and after you read their story and see the images from their day, I know you will, too. :)
Eddie has his dad to thank for finding his soulmate, Allison. Their story is pretty darn adorable and we’re so glad that Allison shared it with us! Read on for this sweet story, along with a few others, and of course Allison and Eddie’s favorite wedding day memories :)
Allison: “We met at Oliver’s restaurant on Delaware Ave. I was working, Eddie’s family came in to celebrate Babciu’s (grandmother’s) 80th birthday. His parents were a few cocktails deep and his dad said ‘Honey, you’re beautiful. What’s your story?’ I explained that I had just gotten back from a year abroad in France, and was finishing my senior year at Canisius College. His parents then introduced to me their embarrassed and very handsome son, Edward. After dinner, Eddie approached me to apologize for his parents. I wrote my name and number on a napkin and slipped it inside of an empty takeout container. As Eddie was putting on his coat to leave, I said ‘wait, you forgot this’ … I got a text message about fifteen minutes later saying ‘that was incredibly smooth of you.’“
Allison: “Eddie was home for a week before he had to go back to school at Xavier in Ohio… so for our first date he took me to Pano’s on Elmwood Avenue and then we went to a Sabres game. The Sabres lost, but I remember putting my arm around his waist and resting my head on his chest while we rode the subway back to UB North Campus. I don’t think he minded too much.“
Eddie: “My grandparents were not supposed to be at the wedding. My grandfather’s ailing health and my grandmother’s refusal to leave him meant that two of my family members that I am closest to would miss this important day. The day before, there was some talking that my grandmother might come, but I was not going to hold out hope that my grandfather would make it. About 30 minutes before the ceremony as I stood in a side hall, my mother calls to me from the main hallway. As I approach, she points down the hall and I see my uncle pushing my grandfather in a wheelchair with my grandmother walking beside him.“
Eddie: “My grandfather was hooked up to an oxygen tank and in a wheelchair. When the music stirred to announce that my bride was going to walk down the aisle, despite the urging of some to stay seated, my grandfather stood up out of his wheelchair with the rest of the crowd to greet her. I can think of no other memory of him that better encapsulates him as a person, and it will be a moment that I will never forget.”
Allison: “When Eddie’s grandfather stood out of his wheelchair as I walked down the aisle Eddie was a wreck. I knew how much it meant to him.“
Allison: “The proposal was perfect. I remember snuggling my dogs in bed one day. Eddie walks in the room and (talking to our dogs) he says ‘I’ve got something to talk to mommy about’ and he looks at me and says something along the lines of ‘so I’ve been looking at rings…and I need some help.’ And then cue a long line of questions about what style of ring/stone I like. Little did he know, I had just had a conversation with my mom that past weekend regarding a beautiful diamond that was left to her from my Grandma Corinne. So I scoured the internet for a vintage setting that I liked and we had one custom made. We visited out trusty jeweler, Barbara Oliver, and she did an incredible job as always. He picked up the ring and proposed to me at Glen Falls in Williamsville.“
Eddie: “The first kiss between Allison and I was like a waking up from a dream. The ceremony went by so quickly, yet hearing the officiant declare us as husband and wife and permitting us to kiss was a moment that lasted. The crescendo of applause and the warm embrace will be a moment I will always cherish.“
Allison: “We’re honest with each other, and with ourselves above all else. We’ve never had an argument. Five years and no fights because we know how to talk to each other. We don’t get defensive or make excuses and in the very rare instance that we are in the wrong, we own up to our mistakes and make it right. We have endless, unconditional support for each other. What we value most in life is each other’s happiness.”
Allison: “We love anything food-related, honestly. Cooking, going out, whichever. There’s nothing we love more than sharing a good meal together. We have two dachshunds and a kitty cat so there are tons of snuggles all the time. We walk home together from our jobs in Manhattan and lately we’ve been talking about the podcasts we listen to and what we would do if we won the $800 million dollar Powerball. The rest of our time amounts to procrastination on doing the laundry.“
Eddie: “The nerves of the ceremony were still lingering and began to mix with my nerves about our first dance. Despite countless runs through the dance, I was still worried about missing an important step. We waited in that hallway for what seemed like forever, but looking back it was a nice respite. Once we got called into the room there wouldn’t be another moment of quiet together for several hours.“
Allison: “I loved how incredibly handsome Eddie looked. Really, he looked so good. Someone asked us, in all seriousness, if we were filming a commercial.“
Eddie: “I knew that the dance with my mother was not going to be much of a dance. It was going to be me swaying with her while she sobbed, which was exactly what happened. However, I will never forget it because of how happy she was.“
Eddie: “Due to human error on the part of the gentleman officiating our wedding, we did not get a chance to read our personal vows during the ceremony. Allison and I both felt that what we wrote was important and shouldn’t be wasted. Instead of reading them aloud, we decided that reciting them privately to each other would be more meaningful. Later that night, in a quiet stairwell painted white, we read our vows to each other.“
Allison: “It made them infinitely more special.“
Allison: “After the wedding, when we were back in our room, I was completely exhausted. I soaked in the tub and Eddie sat on the floor of the bathroom, reading all the cards and guestbook wishes out loud. People were so generous and supportive and it was so nice. It also made us incredibly happy that everyone had a wonderful time. We just sat there together and smiled. We were just relieved that everything went smoothly.“
Allison and Eddie gave some great advice for couples planning their weddings and also said a few nice words about us, too!
“You can’t plan to make everyone single guest at your wedding happy. Just try to roll with the punches. Not everything will go exactly as planned but it’s supposed to be a day to celebrate you both. At the end of it all, you’re married to your best friend and it’s awesome.
Ayres Photography gets total aces. Jenn and Ben were quick on their feet, gave great direction without being pushy and delivered some of the most beautiful photos. We loved working with them so much.“
Wedding Vendors Include:
Venue: Hotel Henry
Invitations: Minted
Hair + Make-Up: Salon-A-Go-Go
Dress Shop: MA Carr
Dress Designer: Allure Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie and BHLDN
Groom’s Look: Oliver Wicks
Florist: Fern Croft Floral
Cake: Sassi Cakes
String Quartet: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with Alan Ross
Saxophonist: Vincent Fossitt
DJ: Moving Music
