Real Wedding: Laura & Zack
Photography: Orchard Cove Photography, Floral Designer; Coddington's Florist, Reception Venue; The Otesaga Resort, Invitation Designer; Spark Letterpress, Gown; Monique Lhuillier, Band; Prime Time Horns, Ceremony Location; The Farmer's Museum, Makeup Artist; Joan Lincoln, Bridesmaid Dresses; J. Crew
If there were one word Laura and Zack would use to describe their quaint Cooperstown wedding, it would definitely be "fun!" A destination wedding for the Manhattan pair (they grew up in Syracuse and Boston, respectively), Laura fondly remembered childhood summers spent visiting the rustic baseball town, and the two couldn't wait to share it with their loved ones.
In a short, enchanting ceremony in the church at the farmer's museum, special details were the focus to accent the beautiful simplicity of the building. At the church entrance, guests could pick up vintage handkerchiefs "for their happy tears"--a collection a year in the making by Laura's mother and friends. At the reception, pashminas "for a midnight stroll" and flip-flops for "dancing feet" were cute and considerate offerings for festivities to come. Afraid it might rain--and it did--vintage umbrellas were on hand to keep everyone dry and happy. Laura herself went a step further by stepping into her Wellington boots! Wet weather was tempered by an upbeat attitude; and the candy bar at the reception didn't hurt, either.
The favorite memory of the day for the bride and groom? Seeing family and friends from all over come together as never before. Croquet and bocce ball, as well as a 4-day itinerary of lively group activities, created friendships between loved ones who had never even met. By the end of their wedding day, Laura noted, "it felt like 225 people were giving us one big giant hug." Who could ask for more?
Laura and Zack's advice:
1. On the day of your wedding, try to delegate as much as you can to your friends and family--because there are going to be things that you inevitably forget and people really do want to help. I didn't ask much of other people leading up to the wedding, but I knew that the day-of, I was going to need some major help, so I created little index cards of information and distributed them out to our friends.
2. Look around as often as you can and try to soak in the love and support that all of your guests are showing you by being there.
Comments
Those pictures are gorgeous! My finace and I are also getting married in Cooperstown! We are having our ceremony on the terrace at The Fenimore, and then dinner to follow at the Otesaga(only about 25 people)!
Our reception is the following day at a property we rented in Cooperstown! We are also from Upstate New York(Herkimer & Ilion) and lived in Manhattan for a little while! Cooperstown is such a great place, and brings back many fond childhood memories!
What sort of fun activities did you have planned for your guest? If you don't mind sharing! Trying to get some ideas!
-Best Wishes
Jennifer