2018 Ayres Photography Client Gift Boxes

Each year we take the time to carefully curate beautiful gift boxes for each of our incredible Ayres Photography couples for the new season. This is the third consecutive year we’ve done it and we have to say, each year we have more and more fun with it! It’s really exciting to seek out these amazing locally made items that we think our couples will absolutely love. The thought of each couple receiving this special surprise on their door step after a long day of work puts a huge smile on our faces and (we hope) a huge smile on theirs as well!

These boxes are no small feat. In fact, they are quite a labor of love! Believe it or not, it takes us a few months to create these bad boys from start to finish. From brainstorming our ideas, to reaching out to the generous and talented Buffalo makers, chatting with each company to collaborate on our ideas of what will fit with the style and overall feel of the box each season. Then there’s the pick ups and drop offs of LOTS and LOTS of goods. Trying desperately not to eat all the treats ourselves as we carefully package each gift box, placing each item strategically for fit as well as keeping it all aesthetically pleasing upon opening. And then there’s the carting of 30+, 12 x 12″ boxes to the post office… we leave that part to Ben :)

But, after all is said and done, not only have we made our couples’ day but we’ve also made lots of new friendships with some seriously incredible and talented Buffalo entrepreneurs. To say that it’s all worth it would be an understatement. Between the opportunities it gives us to network within our community, the exposure it gives to the small locally owned shops, and the love and gratitude it shows to our couples (without them we’d be nothing!! This is all for YOU!), it is 100% worth every second and every cent.

We do have to say, this season’s couples are SUPER lucky – not only did they get an extra gift (we usually include 7 items but this year we just couldn’t make up our mind, so 8 was the magic number!), but the makers we chose this year were ON POINT! Seriously, our minds were blown with the amazing goods we received! Also, apparently at Ayres Photography this year we all had a major sweet tooth, and because of that, this year’s boxes ended up with the theme of sweet indulgences. You’re so very welcome, 2018 couples. We love you so!

Please read on to learn more about each of these thoughtfully chosen goods and their 716 makers!

These are the gifts (and amazing makers) that we chose to include in our 2018 client gift boxes:

The first four makers have quickly become our tried and true. Each year we’ve included offers from Butter Block, Linwood Candle Co., Zandra and Rust Belt Love. While we think it’s important to keep each year’s boxes fresh, new and exciting, we just can’t break away from these four because they are truly just THAT wonderful!! So, once again, here are our staple items…

1. Pop Tarts from Butter Block. Yes, you heard me. Homemade. Pop tarts. They are absolutely delectable. Flaky, buttery, soft and delicious. Colleen (the owner of Butter Block and a wildly talented and lovely lady) makes these little beauties herself and we’re pretty much obsessed with them. From unique flavors such as Lemon Poppyseed, Chocolate Mint, and Key Lime to the childhood classics like Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Strawberry, this girl’s got you covered. IG: @butterblockbuffalo

2. Sweet Grapefruit Soy Candle from Linwood Candle Co. We can’t exactly describe what it is about this particular candle that has us coming back for more every single year. Maybe the fact that it smells EXACTLY like a deliciously sweet grapefruit. Maybe because it completely permeates the air with it’s intoxicating scent. Or maybe because Amy, the owner of Linwood Candle Co., is just as sweet as her candles. We can’t really pinpoint it but we can say with confidence that Amy and her candles are the bomb dot com. IG: @linwoodcandleco

3. Big Balm from Zandra. If you aren’t familiar with Zandra, her name may still sound familiar to you, as she’s recently been on the Today Show and was even nominated for (and received) several young entrepreneur awards. Zandra is an amazingly talented young woman from Buffalo who, get this, started her business when she was just 10 years old! I don’t know about you, but when I was 10 years old I most definitely was not creating homemade, all natural beauty products and packaging them up to be sold to the public. Maybe I had a lemonade stand with a poorly drawn sign made out of poster board and used my profits to go by myself a New Kids on the Block cassette tape. But not Zandra. She had a dream and a hope and a goal, and she set out and made it happen. Not only is her story amazing but her products are incredible as well. AND she donates a portion of each purchase to support girls’ education. There are just way too many reasons to love her and we’re honored to be able to include her in our boxes each year. IG: @zandrabeauty

4. Buffalo Themed Letterpress Card from Rust Belt Love. Alyson has an insanely adorable shop located in the historic Market Arcade building downtown. She’s definitely your go to girl for beautifully designed stationary, cards, invitations and more! She’s just one of those people with a heart of gold and a knack for creating lovely things. She hand draws every single image that is printed on her products! If you’re looking any kind of paper goods for your wedding, this is the girl you want to go see. IG: @rustbeltlove

And now, on to the exciting newcomers…

5. Bonbons from Whimsy Confections. I wasn’t kidding when I said we all had a sweet tooth this year. Michele, owner of Whimsy Confections, definitely picked the right name for her business, with flavors like Strawberry Pop Tart, Cereal Milk, Mimosa, and Blueberry Pancake (just to name a few). She also hand paints each little chocolate candy herself!! Mind. Blown. We highly suggest you go check out her shop on Main Street in Buffalo. But don’t expect to leave empty handed because it’s basically impossible. IG: @whimsyconfections36

6. All Natural Soap from Spruce Up Soap Co. We were SO excited to work with these guys this year. They are insanely nice men and create some really amazing handmade soaps. Their mission statement is “A Simple & Clean Ingredient Skin Care Apothecary” which we totally love. Their products are cruelty free (yay animals!) and made in small batches right here in Buffalo, New York! These men have a clear passion for what they create and hold themselves to very high standards and it shows. Their soaps really made our gift boxes smell amazing!! They also make some really awesome all natural skincare and beard care products for men, so be sure to check them out for all the great guys in your life! IG: @spruceupsoapco

7. Macarons from Blue Eyed Baker. Yes, another sweet! Who doesn’t love a great macaron?! They’re just so dainty and pretty! We were really pumped to have Alexandra on board this year. Her desserts are crazy!!! Hop on over to her website or IG to see what we’re talking about. Be prepared to drool, though. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. She studied in Paris so you just know she knows her stuff, especially when it comes to a French Macaron. Chocolate Hazelnut, Espresso, Salted Caramel, Pistachio… are you drooling yet? Well, we sure are. IG: @blue.eyed.baker

8. Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans from Overwinter Coffee. These guys are cool guys. Period. They roast their beans weekly in very small batches right in Orchard Park, New York so you know the coffee you’re getting is about as fresh as can be. They actually special roasted beans specifically for these gift boxes!! If that’s not love and attention to detail then I don’t know what is. We officially love these guys, for real. As of May 12, 2018 they’re officially open for biz on Genesee Street in Downtown Buffalo! So congrats to them on their brand new store front!! You can also order your freshly roasted beans right from their website! They even offer a coffee subscription for the avid coffee drinker looking for perfect beans and serious convenience. Sign up for weekly, biweekly or monthly shipped, at no additional charge, right to your door! See, I told you they were cool. IG: @overwintercoffee 

And that’s a wrap for the 2018 Ayres Photography Client Gift Boxes! What did you think of this year’s gifts??

Click here to check out the gifts from 2017 and 2016 :)

kara + brian // Hotel @ the Lafayette

If ever there was a wedding day that would make you fall in love with love, it would have to be this one. Kara and Brian are the sweetest people alive, and their love for each other is so genuine. They have the kind of connection that you just don’t see every day, and I know it seems cliche to say this, but it was honestly a privilege  to be there and witness it first hand. I’ll just be super candid for a minute here, and tell you that it isn’t always easy for Ben and I to work together. We disagree on things sometimes (like all couples do I’m sure), and sometimes if we’re having an extra tough week in our own marriage, working at a wedding together and hearing people speak the most heartfelt words of commitment (often through tears) is enough to make us forget whatever it was we were mad about in the first place. After all, ten years ago, it was us up there saying those same words with no idea what life had in store for us or even what it meant to be married; but, we were eager to take on whatever it would be TOGETHER. I can distinctly remember Kara and Brian’s wedding day as one of those days where we started out giving each other the stink eye, and ended the day not able to even remember why we were mad at each other in the first place. That’s what happens when you spend time around a love as beautiful as Kara and Brian’s – it’s contagious – and it reminds everyone it touches of what’s truly important in life.

K + B were kind enough to share some of their favorite wedding day memories, thoughts, and feelings, and I’m so glad they did!  The photos do a great job of expressing how much love was surrounding these two all day long, but reading their words really takes the whole thing to the next level. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!!

Kara: “I found my dress on NYE 2015… less than 9 months before the big day! My mother and I had been to a dozen appointments and while there was so many that I loved, I couldn’t decide on ‘the one’. When we arrived at Victoria’s Bridal Shoppe the assistant recognized me from a previous appointment and began pulling dresses. I saw it hanging out in the open; someone must have just tried it on. It was the first one I tried and within minutes I said YES! My Mom, anticipating this would be another long appointment, came running from the other side of the store! She couldn’t believe I said yes so quickly!“

Brian: “Ben came over to the house that morning to take a few photos before heading down to the Ellicott Square. I remember feeling incredibly awkward as I despise being the center of attention (it was at that moment I realized I needed to get over that real quick!), but Ben was awesome. He was snapping away, joking to just do what he says, these pictures aren’t for you.“

Brian: “I don’t exactly fit the GQ mold; Kara often jokes that I’m ‘dangerously low maintenance’. I buy the cheapest watches I can find because they’re just going to smashed, scratched, or otherwise destroyed. Regardless, my wife’s gift to me on our wedding day was a beautiful watch to make sure all the I’s were dotted & T’s crossed; my new favorite watch.“

Brian: “Once we got everybody downtown I remember hiding in the corner of the building waiting for the girls to arrive, so that I didn’t accidentally catch a glimpse of my beautiful bride prior to our First Look. We did our First Look outside the square, during a break in the rain. It truly was magical. I was briefly paralyzed taking in my stunning bride to be.“

Kara: “I was so happy we ended up doing the First Look. The morning was so crazy and even felt rushed at times. It was so nice to spend a few moments together before everything began. I will never forget the way his face lit up when he finally turned around, and how handsome he looked… and smelled! We bought new cologne and perfume just for our wedding day. To this day, when I smell it, I think back to that exact moment. “

Brian: “Kara and I love our family. At the time we only hand our husky-shepherd mix Finnegan, and he NEEDED to be a part of out special day. We had him brought downtown for photos outside and the poor guy was pretty stressed out with all the commotion downtown. It was awesome that we were able to have him down there with us, if only for a few photos.“

Kara: “In lieu of traditional favors, we donated to our favorite animal rescue, Joyful Rescues! We’ve rescued two dogs from there. On our wedding day our pup, Finnegan, was able to share in the day with us and take a few pictures with us before our ceremony. There was construction going on in the street while we were getting our pictures taken. He was so scared of the jack hammer going off in the background! “

Kara: “I really hate being the center of attention, and waiting for the ceremony to begin was incredibly nerve wracking for me. I remember pacing in the Conference Room with my MOH Kayla, and in walked Brian for backup. He placed my hand on his heart which was beating just as fast and mine was. He told me that we were in this together, and I just had to keep my eyes on him and the rest of the room would fall away. He pulled this beautiful diamond necklace out of his pocket… a gift he was initially waiting to give his ‘wife’ after the ceremony was over. I hurriedly took off the one I was wearing, and made the swap shortly before the ceremony began! And Brian was right- standing up on that staircase with him, I barely noticed anyone at all.“

Kara: “The Ellicott Square Building is not only a beautiful venue, but one very important to me filled with decades of Hannon history. My Grandfather managed the Building in the 60’s, and my Dad has worked there since he’s been 18 years old. I have fond memories of playing on the staircases as a child with my brother and playing hockey in that lobby- we’d use the staircases as nets! Most wedding ceremonies that are conducted here are actually performed on the opposite staircase so the bridal party can line up in the long entry way behind the opposite stair case that empties out onto the street. It was important for my Dad and I to walk out of his office together, and so I insisted we do it the other way.“

Kara: “When my Mom was pregnant with me, one of the first people she told was her brother, my Uncle Jimmy. His response to her was, ‘and she will be a girl, and we will name her Lavender Rose.’ These flowers have always been special to me- knowing this, Brian tracked down a dozen of them off of a delivery truck our first Valentine’s Day together in 2008… nearly a decade later, hues of lavender roses made up most of our wedding flowers. Having no children of his own, Uncle Jimmy and I developed a special bond through the years, and so I chose to have him walk with us down the aisle. I learned recently, after he had passed away, that he told our cousin Kathie that it was one of the best days of his life, as he got to ‘walk Lavender Rose down the aisle.‘”

Brian: “As for the ceremony itself, it was like something out of a movie. Everything was beautiful & perfect, not a complaint to be had. Watching my bride walk down the aisle, and embracing her father before walking up the stairs together to exchange our vows is the most vivid & powerful memory I have from that day. I will truly cherish that for all time.“

Kara: “It rained so hard that day. POURED. It began right as I was getting into the limo, and kept raining well into the night. Both the Ellicott Square and the Hotel Lafayette are very old buildings, with very old roofs! There were buckets spaced out both venues to collect the rain- and it didn’t bother me at all.“

Kara: “Our first dance song was, ‘When you Got a Good Thing’ by Lady Antebellum. We loved the message it gave and have felt this way since it came out in 2010. Brian and I used to drive and listen to music together when we were first dating, and this song has always given us those warm and fuzzy feelings :)“

Kara: “My Aunt Beth had her friend’s daughter created our Candy Table for us! We love bulk candy. We were so impressed with the detail and how everything had matched our colors and theme – Beth even used some of my Mimi’s glass dishes to make it extra special.“

Kara: “My Dad and I have always bonded over country music, and ‘My Little Girl’ by Tim McGraw has always been a song we would dance to whenever it came on. I am in all ways a Daddy’s Girl- this song and their lyrics couldn’t be more perfect for us. “

Kara: “Wedding planning can be so overwhelming. You want to check all the boxes while making choices that will best represent you as a couple. The day is a beautiful magical blur- so focus on the parts that are important to you when planning… ceremony, vows, music, favors, etc. You won’t regret spending the extra time (or money) on those details, and leave the rest to the professionals!

Jenn and Ben were incredible to work with. You’d be surprised at the vendors that are less than helpful and/or enthusiastic about their work and your big day! Jenn helped us find additional vendors in the early stages and always offered her support and encouragement whenever I needed it. Ben kept the guys laughing and on task on the big day!“

How adorable was Kara’s First Look with her dad?! Click here to see more special Ayres Father/Daughter First Look moments!

Wedding Vendors Include:

Ceremony: Ellicott Square Building
Reception: Hotel @ the Lafayette
Hair and Make-up: Lox Salon
Dress Shop: Victoria’s Bridal Shoppe
Dress Designer: Eddy K
Bridesmaid Dresses: Victoria’s Bridal Shoppe
Groom’s Look: Tuxedo Junction
Stationary: Hoopla House Creative
Cake: Ohlson’s Bakery
Florist: Jane Ricotta
DJ: The Hitmen