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 :)“

---

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

---

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

alyssa + michael // Wanakah Country Club Wedding

Filed in weddings shot by Ayres Photography on April 04, 2019 at

Alyssa and Michael’s wedding was classic elegance at its finest. Every detail they chose was so beautiful, and Wanakah Country Club did an incredible job of bringing it to life! (Side note: I absolutely LOVE this venue. If you’re still in the process of looking, it’s worth your time to go check it out!)

I loved the way A and M really built their entire day around their family and friends. It was the perfect fit for us, because we’re all about capturing the emotion and connection of the day, and there were plenty of opportunities for us to do what we do best. As you scroll through, you’ll be able to see and feel how much these two value the people in their lives. It was such a special day to be a part of!

We always ask our couples to share a little bit about their story and the day as they experienced it, and it’s so special to read through the words they send over. I honestly think it makes the whole post! I love what Alyssa and Michael shared and I know you will, too!

Alyssa: “We met while attending SUNY Buffalo Law School together. We were ‘class representatives’ for our respective law school classes on the Student Bar Association (SBA), which is like student government. I started to notice Michael about a month in to working on SBA together. Michael said that he noticed me too, but he did not ask me on a date. Various law school student groups regularly hosted ‘bar nights,’ where everyone would get together at a bar to have fun on a Friday and I told some of Michael’s law-school classmates to bring him to the bar night because I thought he was cute. Michael says he was surprised to hear this. He came to the bar night and we hung out together all night. Michael does not drink, while I certainly enjoy a few adult beverages. Because I was nervous to finally be hanging out with my crush, I may have indulged a little bit too much in the boozy beverages. Michael was very gentlemanly anyway, and drove me home that night. The next morning I was VERY surprised to see that Michael was calling me. He asked me to come over for dinner the next night, which I was very happy to do. He is a very healthy person, and he made me ONLY roasted vegetables. He says that it was very good that I was happy to have only vegetables, since that’s his favorite meal.“

Alyssa: “Our engagement was not TOO much of a surprise. Michael and I dated through law school, and eventually moved in together. After Michael finished law school, however, he moved downstate to the New York City area to clerk for a Federal Judge. I stayed behind to work at a Buffalo law firm. We were apart for almost a year, visiting each other regularly, but we both agreed it was not enough. Michael knew that I wanted to get engaged before I made the move downstate to be with him. In June 2017, we met in Vermont to visit Michael’s 89-year-old Grandma, Joan. She is a very straightforward woman, and she asked us directly whether we would be getting married in time for her to be alive for our wedding. Joan immediately offered Michael a very beautiful diamond to use for an engagement ring and their conversation took place in front of me. I left that weekend in Vermont knowing that the next time we were together, we would likely get engaged. Our next visit was at Michael’s parents’ New Jersey beach house for the Fourth of July weekend. I was very excited for this particular trip to New Jersey. A little after I arrived at the beach house, Michael literally asked me ‘when do you want to get engaged?’ and I answered, ‘immediately.’ He asked me to walk with him to the beach. We were both nervous. Once we got to a spot on the beach where Michael felt was sufficiently secluded, he proposed! We took a selfie a few minutes afterwards, which we used for our Save the Date. Less than a week after the proposal, I received a job offer to work in New York City, and less than a month after the proposal, I moved downstate to be with Michael again FINALLY!“

Alyssa: “Our ‘first look’ is a group of moments that I will never forget. I remember physically shaking as I walked up to Michael and doing a lot of deep breathing. After he turned around we cried and kissed and hugged, the nervousness that I had before complete evaporated.“

Alyssa: “I found my dress at a store called Marra Bridal Boutique in Oceanside, New York. My parents were visiting us on Long Island for the weekend, and we had planned to go shopping together. I fully intended to shop for and buy my dress in one day because I didn’t want to it to be a long drawn-out process, and that plan came to fruition. I tried on so many beautiful dresses that I loved, but when I tried on THE dress, my Dad teared, and that was enough for me. The dress hardly needed any alterations and I absolutely love it’s classic simpleness!“

Michael: “I want to spend the rest of my life with Alyssa because she has a great attitude towards living and is the most caring person I have ever met. I feel like she always has our best interests in mind and inspires me to the best person I can be.“

Alyssa: “(When) I saw my Dad for the first time. He looked completely overcome with emotion, like he couldn’t believe his baby was a bride. It was so sweet to see his face like that, and that will certainly be a moment that I cherish forever.“

Alyssa: “I loved everything about our ceremony. We had perfect beautiful weather and a gorgeous view. Michael wrote the ceremony, which was so meaningful to me. I’m so glad we said personalized vows to each other. I loved telling Michael, in front of everyone who we love, that I will love him forever.“

Michael: “Having both of my Grandmas there to watch me get married is something that I will cherish forever. They have been very important to my life, and I’m so happy they were there for that day. Another very special moment for me, was holding Alyssa’s hand at the alter during the ceremony and feeling like it was just us on that lawn promising to love each other.“

Michael: “It felt very symbolic and important to me when I broke the glass after our ceremony. I remember thinking that everyone was relieved that I broke it on he first try!“

Michael: “I will never forget walking down the aisle after we were married and seeing all of our friends and family cheering for us and showing their support and love.“

Alyssa: “Michael and I both value health, happiness, and the time that we have to spend with our family and friends doing the things we love.“

Alyssa: “Michael and I danced to ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’ by Elvis. We both think the song is a beautiful, classic, love song, and we truly couldn’t help falling in love with each other!“

Michael: “My mom and I chose to dance to ‘You are the Sunshine of My Life’, I think because we are the sunshines of each others’ lives.“

Alyssa: “My dad and I danced to ‘That’s My Daughter,’ which I sent to him to listen to along with several other song options for our dance. He loved that one because he told me ahead of time that he didn’t want anything sappy. I think the song ultimately was perfect for us because it signifies pride, and my Dad has a lot of that for me.“

Alyssa: “I want to spend the rest of my life with Michael because we make an amazing team. He is so supportive of everything I do, and I try to be the same way for him. It sounds corny, and I know that it has been said a million times before, but we balance each other perfectly. I have never met a better person. He is kind, generous, caring. He will make an amazing father to our future children. He is everything that I want my husband to be. He makes me better.“

Alyssa: “I will never forget the feeling of pure joy that comes with being surrounded by all of the people who you have ever been close to in your life, and knowing that they’re all there for you and the person who you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life with. I get emotional thinking about it now. I truly believe and feel that our wedding day had an extra special feeling of love, and that was because of our wonderful guests.“

Michael: “I loved every second of dancing with Alyssa and all of our family and friends to really great music by a really great band!“

A piece of advice from the happy newlyweds: “This may sound odd but we think that, especially with weddings, the old adage holds true: there cannot be too many cooks in the kitchen. Alyssa and her Mom predominantly planned the wedding, Michael planned the ceremony, Michael’s parents planned the welcome dinner and the post-wedding brunch. Only one or two planners per major event worked out really well for us. Of course, Alyssa kept an eye on every aspect, but it’s good to separate the duties, so that everyone has a role, but also to avoid too many competing viewpoints.“

And in closing, some especially sweet words about working with us: “We loved working with you both! You brought a level of comfort to us in doing something that is sort of uncomfortable. Your kindness the day of our wedding put us at absolutely at ease. We heard from our guests how wonderful you both were. The pictures you take are truly beautiful. Thank you!!“

---

Didn’t Alyssa and Michael’s sunset photos turn out amazing?? Click here to see more sunset shots!

---

Wedding Vendors Include:

Venue: Wanakah Country Club
Hairstylist: Fawn & Fox Salon
Make-Up Artist: Passion Artistry – Makeup by Megan
Dress Shop: Marra Bridal Boutique
Dress Designer: Essense of Australia
Groom’s Look: Brooks Brothers
Florist: North Park Florist
Cake: Rich’s Catering
String Players: Greg and Ivan Docenko
Band: JoyRyde