Located approximately 20 miles southwest of Syracuse, the Mirbeau Inn & Spa is set on 10 acres of forested parkland amid a bower of 100-foot-high spruce trees. Nearby Skaneateles Lake, carved by a glacier during the last Ice Age, is one of the cleanest and most picturesque bodies of water in America.

With architecture modeled on a classic French chateaux, the Mirbeau offers a taste of Old World style with services and amenities truly befitting an aristocrat.

While staying at the Mirbeau, guests may indulge in the worldclass facilities and services of the 14,000-square-foot luxury spa, including classic massages, body wraps, and facial treatments available by appointment, and complimentary use of the heated foot pool, herbal-infused steam rooms, and dry saunas.

The Inn’s experienced staff offers a full array of reception options and venues for parties of up to 100 guests. Whether you choose the Mirbeau’s French country-style Provence Room or the Monet Deck overlooking the gardens, each refined reception site is sure to stun your crowd.

For exceptional accommodations, truly fine dining, and a world-class spa facility, this Finger Lakes gem will not disappoint.

Gem of the Adirondacks, Lake George boasts 32 Miles of pristine shoreline with something for everyone, whether it’s scuba diving in its legendary clear waters, sailing at sunset, or enjoying a gourmet meal overlooking one of its myriad of rocky beaches.

Couples seeking a mélange of refined and rustic for their special occasion will undoubtedly love the amenities the inn has to offer. Whether you’re planning an intimate wedding for two or a lavish affair for 250, the Inn at Erlowest features luxurious lodging with in-suite Jacuzzi tubs, canopied king-size beds, fireplaces, turn-of-the-century antique furnishings, and sumptuous Italian linens

Whether you come from near or far, there is no shortage of activities to entertain you and your guests, especially boating, swimming, and picnicking in the warmer months or enjoying outdoor activities in a breathtakingly snowy winter wonderland in the colder months. The Inn at Erlowest is the ideal destination to inspire the wedding of your dreams, one that will not soon be forgotten.

For more information visit www.theinnaterlowest.com

There’s truly something for every kind of couple at the Lake Placid Lodge. The seemingly limitless number of activities available will astonish all adventure lovers, naturalists, foodies, art buffs, and more. The resort has fantastic on-site amenities including a floral designer who got her start in the competitive New York City market, a pastry kitchen with state-of-the-art facilities, and a wedding coordinator who will guide you through the resort’s myriad options to find the ones that most resonate with your dream wedding celebration.

The resort specializes in small weddings of 100 guests or fewer and offers a smorgasbord of romantic locations for your ceremony. Choose from a fireplace-flanked stone terrace with sweeping views of the lake and mountains, a dreamy stretch of lakefront property nestled against the sparkling waters of Lake Placid, or other naturally inspired locations.

Every detail at the lodge is exquisitely rendered, from the 200-year-old oak floors to the Cuban cigar-rolling table in the wine cellar to the irresistible s’mores pit. Combined with the activities and breathtaking locale, the Lake Placid Lodge is a sophisticated yet rustic dream destination for brides everywhere.

Photobooths have seen quite the popularity surge over the past several years, and they only continue to get more common at weddings.  The traditional idea of 2 or 3 people squished together inside a small box with 4 quick photos of them making silly faces has really been changed. 

As modern brides continue to make their events more about having fun+creating memories and less about forced formalities, it's no wonder why these photobooths are becoming all the rage. 

With a professional camera photobooth set up, the only limitation is our imagination.  We can choose any number of backdrops, from paper photo backdrops, to fabrics, we can bring in props, couches, and even have themed photo booths!

As with anything else in modern day weddings, everything can be customized to the wishes of the bride and groom.  If they would like a miminalist approach with just a backdrop and photos of friends that's easily accomplished.  However we have an array of props and ideas to encourage people to let loose and walk away with some hilarious memories.  It's all up to the bride+groom and what kind of event they want. 

For this particular wedding the bride had a vision for her photobooth, she wanted to see a black backdrop and an oversized chair for people to use.  This allowed small groups, large groups, snuggling, and just having fun.  Your photobooth for your wedding can be anything you want it to be.  Today's brides will appreciate that.

-Clark + Walker Studio

Photos: Clark & Walker Studio

Even though WellWed is focused on 4 main markets: Vermont, Cape Cod & The Islands, New York, and The Hamptons, we still like to maintain a finger on the pulse of the wedding industry everywhere. There's one place where weddings are HUGE--NYC--and where many of the talented vendors who call home actually work in our different markets on a regular basis.

If any of you are in the city on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, stop by Locally Grown, a bridal show dedicated to unique, independent New York City vendors. There will be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and plenty of amazing individuals and companies to interrogate with those unanswered wedding questions! For more info, visit: 100layercake.com/blog/archives/6309

Photos: David Seaver, Beltrami Studios

The Blue Heron Café at Heron Hill Winery is now open weekends! The café, widely known for using only the freshest and highest-quality locally and organically farmed products whenever possible, will offer generously portioned menu items including appetizers, salads, flat bread pizzas, wraps, sandwiches and kid’s meals. The exquisite meals can be enjoyed while savoring the vista views of Keuka Lake from the café terrace.

Enjoy the winery's award-winning vino and relax with free, live music every Sunday on the terrace from 12:30pm – 4:30pm all summer long. Finger Lakes music favorite, PJ Elliot, kicks off the season on July 4th and live music continues until the end of October!

The café is open weekends May 15 – October 31 and everyday from June 18 – September 7, until 4pm. For more information about Heron Hill Winery, Tasting Room on Seneca Lake and Tasting Room at Bristol, visit www.heronhill.com.

OFFERING MIDNIGHT BONFIRES, FIREWORKS, DANCING, COCKTAILS ON THE DECK- THIS LAKESIDE WEDDING HOTSPOT TRULY HAS IT ALL.

Originally opened in 2001, The Lodge on Echo Lake brings new meaning to Adirondack chic. Nestled against the stunning backdrop of wooded pines and 35 acres of pristine Echo Lake, The Lodge has become one of the North Country’s most popular destination wedding venues.

Whether your wedding is small and intimate or large and elaborate, The Lodge’s uniquely peaceful location makes it the perfect place to not only spend your wedding day- but to also enjoy a weekend-long wedding celebration. The Lodge can accommodate weddings of up to 200 guests.

For brides and grooms looking for a little pre-wedding adventure or post-wedding fun, there are a myriad of outdoor activities to choose from on the 135 acre campus. Guests can partake in a quick game of softball, try their hand at rock climbing, or even partake in a round of golf. Also available are volleyball and tennis courts, swimming, mountain bike trails, kayaks, rowboats, and canoes. With such an array of activities, guests can enjoy entire wedding weekends without ever leaving.

Whether you are looking for a romantic wedding getaway or an adventurous weekend filled with swimming, biking, and hiking, The Lodge on Echo Lake is a unique locale perfect for anyone looking for that truly extraordinary New York destination wedding. With its charming accommodations, finely prepared cuisine, and wide range of recreational activities, it’s hard to imagine anything better.

For more information, click HERE

With 2.5 million weddings in the U.S. each year, if each bride made just one green choice, it would make a big difference. “Flowers are the most pesticide-laden crop that comes into the country,” says Kate Harrison, Author of The Green Bride Guide.

Instead of imported blooms, substitute local, seasonal flowers whenever possible. Most weddings are in the spring and summer, meaning there are likely to be tons of seasonal blooms you can use that are grown within a few miles of your wedding venue. Talk to your florist about what you can get locally, and be flexible—conditions may require some last-minute substitutions.

 Though there may be a few imperfections on local flowers, they do tend to last longer. Emily Anderson, author of Eco-Chic Weddings, also suggests looking at flower alternatives, such as paper and ­fabric flowers (etsy.com is a great source for these), or building centerpieces around reusable or recycled components instead—think evergreen topiaries or other live plants, river stones, or fruit in vintage containers, for example.

 What are your ideas for a green wedding?

Offering both photo & video, Clark + Walker Studio has a wealth of experience capturing memories for their brides. In addition to literally being flown around the world for weddings, they are regularly commissioned to shoot for the top wedding magazines & blogs in the industry & have a good pulse for the questions on the current bride's mind.

Luke Walker, of Clark + Walker Studio offers his expert advice when planning your engagement & wedding day photos.

(Expert Tip)
"Make sure the imagery from your wedding, whether it be video, photographs, or your engagement shots, reflects your event & most importantly your personalities. You don't have to go take your pictures in Congress Park because "that's what brides do." Quite the opposite in fact, choose a spot or a theme that reflects your character, your relationship, & something unique about you. Two months ago when we shot in Puerto Rico we elected to do the relaxed, signature portraits of the bride & groom in Old San Juan. Instead of going to the beach, which is what most people think they have to do with a destination wedding, we all decided that Old San Juan would be the area that really represented what the bride & groom loved about Puerto Rico & why they chose to get married there. Bright colored buildings in the background, cobblestone streets, hand-painted tile staircases.... The images we created together were very special to the bride & groom. When it comes time to do your engagement shoot, if you are wine fans then go to a winery & get some shots in the vineyards at sunset & some shots sitting on the large barrels of wine. You don't have to to stand in a generic park if that's not your vibe & your style.

The important point here is to create images that put you in your comfort zone, that show you having fun, & represent the two of you, your interests, & your life together. That's really what the entire wedding process should be about anyway right?"

For more expert advice or to book your photo sessions, visit Clark + Walker Studio

Can you believe it? March is knocking at our door already, which means spring has almost sprung! As April, May and summer weddings quickly approach this is the time for brides to take action kick planning into high gear. And there's no better place to get the best ideas in the biz than at A Wedding Affair. This one-of-a-kind bridal event is dedicated to catering to local & destination couples that want to experience the BEST the Hudson Valley has to offer.

From planning seminars & decor workshops to makeovers & manicures, The New York Wedding Affair - unveiling Hudson Valley's Finest - will introduce you to the products, people & places that create New York State's most talked about events.

For ticket information: Hudson Valley Wedding Affair