natalie + erik // Downtown Buffalo and Hoyt Lake

Filed in engagements shot by Ayres Photography on June 03, 2018 at

Natalie and Erik met because of a shared friend, two ironic re-locations from Buffalo to Chicago and a dive bar. Oh, and a yellow shirt. How much can you really credit a shirt for a relationship? Well, that’s debatable. If you ask Natalie she’ll say that, sure, she noticed the yellow shirt, and the fact that the guy wearing it happened to be pretty cute. End of story. If you ask Erik, it’s because of the yellow shirt that their first meeting ended up being so memorable. Either way, we’re pretty happy that Erik chose to wear the now famous yellow shirt that day back in 2013. And we’re even more happy that these two ended up together and chose us to document their happiness :) Natalie and Erik are outrageously adorable and also happen to both have great storytelling skills. We are so excited to photograph their wedding this August!

Natalie and Erik were kind enough to share all the details about the yellow shirt as well as some other sweet tidbits about their relationship and growing love for each other. Read along as you check out their super cute engagement shoot from Hoyt Lake and Downtown Buffalo! We know you’ll love these two just as much as we do by the time you reach the bottom!

Natalie: “It was Lollapalooza weekend 2013 and I was living in Chicago. My cousin, Andrew, was visiting from Buffalo and staying with friends who also happened to be from Buffalo. We made plans to meet up, and like any group of 23 year olds, landed at a dive bar not far from their apartment. After meeting all of his friends, I made a comment to my friend that I thought that ‘yellow shirt kid’ was pretty cute. Lucky for me, ‘yellow shirt kid’ turned out to be Erik and not too long after making that comment he offered to buy me a drink. We started chatting and didn’t stop for the rest of the night. He actually claims that I made a few digs of said yellow shirt, but I think his memory is a little fuzzy. ;)“

Erik: “One of my best friends is actually Natalie’s cousin. Despite this, we had never met when we were younger in Buffalo and our first meeting didn’t come until we were both living in Chicago. My friend came to visit for a weekend and mentioned that his cousin also lived in Chicago and we should all hang out. My friends and I were having a few drinks in our apartment when Natalie and her friends arrived. That was the first time I saw her, but we really didn’t start talking until a little later on in the night when we were all at the bar. Now Natalie might kill me for writing this, but she actually called me out for wearing a ‘stupid yellow shirt’ and was spotted dancing on the bar – so it’s safe to say it was a memorable first meeting. We spent the rest of the night talking, laughing and dancing (I’m sure we had some great moves at that point in the night). Now the bar we met at and the yellow shirt I was wearing no longer exist, but we still do!“

Natalie: “After a week of texting following our first meeting, Erik asked me out to dinner at Orso’s, an Italian restaurant here in Chicago. This was my first sign that he was a keeper, since unbeknownst to him, Orso’s was already my favorite Italian spot in the city. It was a warm summer night so we were able to sit underneath the grape leaves on their gorgeous back patio. I remember feeling at ease around Erik almost immediately and our conversation flowed easily throughout the entire date. So easily, in fact, that our dinner ended up lasting three hours. I left that night already feeling that there was something different about me and Erik’s connection. I knew really early on that I had found something special with Erik and couldn’t wait to spend more time with him.“

Erik: “Now there are some disagreements on whether or not Natalie was on time or late for our first date, but there’s no disputing I was quite early, so I took a seat at the bar and learned some interesting historical facts about the restaurant from the bartender (have to keep some conversation starters in your back pocket for a first date!). Luckily, I didn’t need to use them. It was a great night and left no doubt in my mind that there would be many more to come.“

Natalie: “I remember we were down in St Maarten on vacation, a trip that we had been talking about taking for years and finally pulled the trigger on. We had spent the day relaxing at a nearby beach and were back at the house before dinner in town. The house we were staying at was right on the water and had a gorgeous view of the sunset from the back patio.“

Erik: “There was no better setting for a proposal. I had told Natalie I wanted to get a picture of us with the sunset in the background, and I think she can attest that I was ‘toe tapping’ as I was urging her to get ready in time to get the perfect shot and get the ring out of my pocket and onto her hand.“

Natalie: “I was taking my sweet time reading in my beach clothes next to the pool instead of making myself presentable. Luckily, I did get my behind in gear because instead of just setting up for a photo, Erik was setting up for a proposal.“

Erik: “As a true millennial, I setup my iPad and set the timer as the sun began to set, dropped to one knee and asked the love of my life to marry me. And the rest is history!“

Natalie: “I said ‘YES!’ and haven’t stopped smiling and giggling since.”

Natalie: “We love making dinner and then sitting on the couch, drinking wine, while watching a Dateline Murder Mystery on TV. Maybe throw in a couple rounds of the game Head Bands. We pretty much exclusively play the ‘Act it Out’ or ‘Accents’ decks. The latter always ends in laughter because we’re both terrible at accents.“

Erik: “Depending on how much wine we’ve had there’s usually some music and/or dancing to close the night out. ‘Hey Alexa, play Elton John!’”

Erik: “In the summer, date night definitely starts with dinner on a patio. If we’re lucky there’s some live music as well. After that we might head to The Lodge for a drink (my favorite bar in the city) and end the night either meeting up with friends or heading to the lakefront for some fireworks.“

Natalie: “It’s a must that the bar we meet friends at has excellent music, with added points for a Jukebox or live performers.“

Erik: “We love exploring our city as much as we can. Whether that means taking a day to visit a neighborhood we haven’t been to, trying a new bar/restaurant, or simply taking a walk around our neighborhood.“

Erik: “I truly value the relationships I have with people and the experiences I share with those close to me. Natalie and I have great families and friends and the experiences we’ve shared with them over time are irreplaceable. I’m truly lucky to have these people in my life and cannot wait to share the future with them.“

Natalie: “Erik is my person in every way. He truly makes every day of my life a little better just by being a part of it. I know that I can always count on him to support me and encourage me to be my best self. He is one of those genuinely good people who brings out the best in everyone around him. One of the things that really impresses me about Erik is his ability to truly listen to others and make sure that they feel comfortable and included. Even when challenges come our way, and I know they will, I have the extra vote of confidence knowing that we’re going to get through it together.“

Erik: “There are many things that make me want to spend my life with Natalie, but one has to be just who she is as a person. She has a contagious happiness that makes me smile when she smiles and laugh when she laughs. She’s always up for a new adventure and I love being by her side each time. She’s also always been a strong support system for me. I know there’s always going to be ups and downs in life but knowing that I will always have someone like Natalie by my side, supporting and encouraging me, means the world.“

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Loving the urban vibes in some of Natalie + Erik’s photos? Click here for another city based engagement session!

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margaret + joe // The Foundry Suites

Filed in weddings shot by Ayres Photography on May 24, 2018 at

Fall weddings are always so stunning, and Margaret and Joe’s was no exception. Their day was classic, gorgeous, and perfect in every way, including the best weather we could have ever hoped for in late October! What I loved most about M + J’s wedding day was the way their values so closely aligned with ours. They prioritized family, friends, and relationships with people they love so much; their day was just as much about celebrating their love for everyone else as it was about celebrating their love for each other, and honestly, that’s the kind of stuff that keeps our hearts on fire for this work that we do. It could not have possibly been a better fit. We adored working with this sweet couple from start to finish, and I’m so happy to be sharing their wedding day, the story of their love, and their favorite wedding memories with all of you!  :)

Margaret: “The real engagement story is so long and involves so many twists and foolings that I will skip to go good part–the actual day. Glen Park was a place that Joe and I always went when we were living in Buffalo whether to run, walk or swim, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for us to end up here. Because of this habit, when we got to the woods on February 6th, 2016, I had wanted to go to the right to the area where all the trails are but Joe was claiming that we always went left. For the record he is wrong but it was for a good reason. After I finally gave in, we walked to the left and began talking about all the different times and reasons we would come to the back trails of Glen Park. We walked further until we were headed towards a path lined with tea lights and a tree that was wrapped in firefly lights. I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. It wasn’t until I saw the book in the tree ‘The History of Love’ that it all clicked. I wish I could tell you what he said, but from what I remember it was beautiful and all about how much he values us together. Before getting down on one knee Joe grabbed the book and read, ‘Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.’“

Margaret: “The energy that my girls brought to the day made everything feel like a celebration and I didn’t have time to stress (for long).“

Margaret: “My dress was the second one I tried on at the second salon I went to. When I first saw it in the bag I wasn’t sure. But then Sam, my consultant at Bridal Beginning, told me to turn away from the mirror, get into the dress, close my eyes and turn back around while she buttoned and fluffed the train. When I opened my eyes, I remember taking it all in from the bottom up until I was staring at myself in this magnificent dress. I didn’t want to take it off. I had to FaceTime my MOH so she could see–I turned the camera around and it only took a second before she said, ‘that’s the one.’“

Margaret: “My absolute favorite part of the dress was the back, the sheer details, and the train. I had joked throughout wedding planning that I was perfectly fine being photographed only from behind. My other favorite part of the dress is that it is the perfect combination of three generations–my nana, mother, and me. Because my nan couldn’t be with us physically on our wedding day, it meant a lot to me to have a dress that emanated parts of hers.“

Joe: “Seeing Margaret walk down the aisle is something I will never forget and often plays over again in my head. I felt like I was dreaming; seeing her walk down with her father.“

Joe: “One of our priests, Monsignor Lorenzetti, right before they actually married us joked while we were on the altar, ‘this is your last chance to run’. He has known us both forever and has an incredible wit, so while not unexpected, it was very funny at the time to hear.“

Margaret: “The family heirloom that I incorporated was a handkerchief that my nana had given my mom on her wedding day. It was wrapped around my bouquet. That’s also why it said ‘Pat’ and not ‘Marg.’“

Joe: “The energy with all of our groomsmen and bridesmaids was incredible. Everyone was ready to get the party started and celebrate our wedding.“

Margaret: “After pictures were all over and everyone was back on the bus, Joe and I stopped and took a moment to walk in the park and look at each other and say, ‘We’re married, we did it!’ before heading back to the craziness.“

Margaret: “Everything is easier when Joe and I are together. We are the ultimate balance because we are both different versions or extremes of the same thing–Joe sees big picture and I put together the small pieces to make that big picture. We have so much fun together–we are best friends, there’s no way around it.“

Joe: “Cutting the cake, with all eyes on us, and almost toppling it over was hilarious and something that would only happen at our wedding. I don’t know if anyone saw that but us, but I will always remember that whenever a cake is cut.“

Margaret:  “We danced to Van Morrison’s ‘Crazy Love.’ This was ultimately the hardest decision we have ever made. Being together after seven years, we have quite a few ‘songs.’ But we ended up going with this one because we wanted to add a new one with a new memory to our collection and because Joe says that it reminded him of me.“

Margaret: “The father-daughter dance was to ‘I’ll Be There’ by the Jackson 5. Every Saturday night until I was in college my dad and I would go to the YMCA. When I was younger, my dad would workout and I would go to free swim, then as I grew up I joined him in the gym. After, we would get in the car and listen to ‘Lance Diamond’s Saturday Night Fever’ on 96.1 FM and stop somewhere to get dinner. The Jackson 5 and Earth, Wind, and Fire were our staples.“

Joe: “My mom and I danced to ‘You’ll Be in My Heart’ Phil Collins. I grew up listening to Phil Collins and Genesis, as they are my mom’s favorite band. So it was an easy and obvious choice for the mother-son dance.“

Margaret: “One of my favorite memories is our very last picture. Being outside with Jenn and experiencing how she sees things that no one else can was amazing. It made me so excited that we had chosen Ayres and I knew in that moment they had captured our day perfectly.“

A few words to those who are currently planning from Margaret: “When planning, don’t lose sight of you. It’s much easier to be a wedding guest than attend your own wedding. Wedding guests will have fun no matter what, and so it’s also important that you have fun. After all, you are the ones spending the rest of your life together.

Also, don’t be the middle ceremony.“

And lastly, some kind words on what it was like to work with us: “From the moment we met Jenn and Ben to the very last picture, it felt like we were always meant to be friends. They kept in contact throughout the process and made us feel like our big day and friendship was just as important to them. Jenn and Ben helped to smooth over every bumpy day-of situation and move us along without making anything feel rushed. Their expertise and true passion for capturing life’s special moments is what sets them apart from everyone else.“

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That Foundry Suites Courtyard is really something, right?? Check out this beautiful courtyard wedding ceremony!

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Wedding Vendors Include:

Ceremony: Christ the King Chapel
Reception: The Foundry Suites
Hair: Diva Studio
Make-up: About Face by Erica
Wedding Dress Designer: Pronovias
Dress Shop: Bridal Beginning
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Groom’s Look: Black Lapel
Groomsmen: The Black Tux
Cuff Links: Peg’s Hardware via Modern Nostalgia
Invitation Suite: Wedding Paper Divas
Florist: Maureen’s Buffalo Wholesale Flower Market
Cake: Muscoreil’s Fine Desserts and Gourmet Cakes
Videographer: Black Horse Videography
DJ: CJ Sound