mary + nate // Hotel @ the Lafayette

Mary: “Getting ready with my bridesmaids was so fun! The morning of our wedding was fantastic. It was such a relaxing and calm morning. Having our hair and makeup done together was great!” 

Nate: “Getting dressed with the guys at our house was a little hectic.  Our little puppy Marcy (who is very photogenic!) was very excited from all the commotion and wanted to jump and slobber on all the guys.  I have to give a big shout out to Zak, the Matron of Honor’s husband and expert puppy occupier.  Without him there to distract the crazy pup I may have had a tattered suit for the ceremony!”

Nate: “I made absolutely sure to get to the church with time to spare – I had nightmares of being late and did not want them to come true!  Spending that extra time in the beautiful cathedral really helped to calm things down after the eventful morning.  By the time the ceremony got started I was completely relaxed and ready to make things official.”

Nate: “Seeing Mary in her dress for the first time was probably the highlight of the whole day for me.  I remember not being able to stop smiling as she was walking down the aisle because I was so happy to see her and how beautiful she looked in her dress.  I had been told so many times that it was poofy and blush colored and had no idea what to make from that description.  All I knew seeing her for the first time in it was that she looked absolutely amazing.”

Mary: “One thing I will never forget was the sermon given by our priest. He spoke about how the foundation of any marriage is friendship. This is something I will forever cherish because first and foremost, I married my best friend, and I am forever grateful for the friendship we have that has turned into an everlasting love.”

Mary: “Nathan and I always tell each other that we are one another’s one and only, forever and always. When we repeated our vows to each other, and looked one another in the eye, I truly felt that promise, and felt an incredible sense of appreciation for the man I have in my life.”

Nate: “Taking pictures at Silo City was the perfect choice for us.  Anyone who knows us will tell you that we are Buffalo evangelists and love everything about the city.  To make the Buffalo and its history a part of our wedding day was very important.  Jenn and Ben knew exactly where to get the best pictures at Silo City, which was good since neither of us had ever had the chance to visit!”

Mary: “I was so worried about everything turning out exactly the way I had envisioned it in my mind, and that worrying was SO not worth it. Walking into the reception and seeing my vision come to life was one of the best feelings I had the whole night. Everything was absolutely perfect. The floral arrangements were so gorgeous, and each table was decorated perfectly. There was not one detail lacking or anything that I would even think to change about the décor of the wedding. Although it is an oxymoron, I would describe it as simple, yet sophisticated with a hint of a rustic touch.” 

Nate: “Sitting down to dinner with Mary at the sweetheart table I remember looking around and seeing our friends and family gathered and having a great time.  Seeing smiles on everyone’s faces and knowing that people were enjoying themselves made me realize that all the planning had paid off.”  

Mary: “The reception was an absolute BLAST. I was probably told a hundred times that I looked like a Disney princess. The night was incredible. Dancing around with my dress and twirling it around was hands-down my favorite part of the whole day. I felt amazing, beautiful, and was overcome with absolute pure happiness. I honestly had the most outstanding time.”

And now, a little advice from the beautiful, happy couple:

“Our piece of advice to couples, as hard as this may be, is to make your day YOUR day. So many people think too much about pleasing other people, which is understandable especially if money is involved, but the most important thing is to make one another happy through the process. Enjoy every moment of planning, and stick to your dreams and visions. Plan for yourself and no one else. And when the day finally comes, RELAX. Take in all the moments.

Working with Ben and Jenn was so fun! Jenn always responded quickly to emails and answered any of our questions. When we did engagement photos, she helped us to feel comfortable in front of the camera. They were both so great on the day of the wedding. They really have an incredible skill and talent to seek out the perfect lighting. We loved that they capture moments, and do not try to take overly posed pictures. The natural look and the stunning beauty of the photos truly make them the best!“

Wedding Vendors Include:
Ceremony: Saint Joseph Cathedral
Reception: Hotel @ the Lafayette Greenhouse Room
Hair and Makeup: Elizabeth Dugan
Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal from Victoria’s Bridal Shoppe
Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew
Groom’s Look: Men’s Wearhouse
Invitations: Minted
Florist: Linda Brem
Cake: Carriage Trade Pastries 
DJ: Soundwave DJ