Real Wedding: Cheryl & Tom
Cake: Gio Culinary Studio
Entertainment: M-n-M Entertainment
Hair & Makeup: Ania Hair Studio & Spa
Floral Design: Bella Fleur
Photography: McLaughlin Griffin Photography
After a few informal dates, Cheryl Zirpoli and Tom Barrell found themselves at Fenway Park on a crisp early summer day, and finally realized for sure that they had a lot more in common than a shared love of baseball. “When we were together we always spent a lot of time laughing, joking around and having fun,” says Cheryl. The couple continued to date casually, and when Cheryl had major surgery shortly after they had begun dating, Tom never left her side. “I guess that’s when I knew he was the one for me,” she says.
Somewhere in between dinner dates, lazy days spent together, and the occasional baseball game, the couple fell in love. It wasn’t long before three years had passed and they decided to spend the evening at another baseball game at Coors Stadium. It was July 4th, 2009 and the festive atmosphere that holiday weekend resonated throughout the venue. The couple enjoyed the game before sitting on the field for a fireworks display. While waiting for the show to start, Tom told Cheryl how much he loved her before asking her to be his wife. “Of course, I said yes,” says Cheryl.
When it came to planning their wedding, the couple was faced with the challenge of finding the perfect New York venue. “There are so many traditional wedding venues in the Capital District, but we wanted something unique – something that was elegant, but expressed our light-hearted side,” says the bride. After researching, visiting, and considering an assortment of locations, the couple came across The Lodge on Echo Lake, a beautiful establishment boasting a gorgeous Adirondack setting and lake views. “After learning that we had opportunity to customize our wedding with things such as bonfires and fireworks to create not just a wedding, but an experience - we knew we had to check it out,” says Cheryl. After visiting the Lodge and seeing it for themselves, they knew there was no better place for them to be married. “Not only was everything we read about it true, but it was above and beyond our expectations,” Cheryl says.
Most important to the bride and groom was making sure their wedding incorporated a lot of meaningful touches that expressed who they were as individuals, as well as a couple. Cheryl’s dream had always been for her grandfather to walk her down the aisle, but he had tragically passed away about a year before her wedding. She honored his memory by incorporating vibrant royal purple ribbon, her grandfather’s favorite color, into her bouquet. The ceremony also included a memorial prayer and candle lighting, an Irish Blessing, and a sand ceremony, all of which represented significant aspects of the lives of the bride and groom-to-be.
The sincere and emotional ambiance of the wedding ceremony was juxtaposed against the light-hearted atmosphere created by touches such as a chocolate fountain, personalized M&M candies, and differently flavored cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake. Guests admired a digital photo frame display of playful photos of the couple. Cheryl had scheduled a photo shoot at the Joe Bruno Stadium two weeks before her wedding, and had some fantastic shots of her playing baseball in her wedding dress, the perfect theme, considering her and Tom’s love for the sport. and also enjoyed homemade chocolates made by her mother. After their fill of dancing, family and friends migrated outside to a homey bonfire, toasting the newlyweds and their future together, and enjoying the company until the early hours of the morning.
Reflecting back on their wedding day, both Cheryl and Tom agree that they couldn’t have asked for something more perfect. "The location, all of the vendors, our families and friends helped to create memories that we can build on for many years to come."
No matter what, Cheryl advises fellow brides to remember what is most important on their big days: “Don’t forget that this is one of the most important days celebrating the love that two people have for each other. It’s so important not to let others ruin what is supposed to be a special time for two people, whether it’s their advice or issues they may have. It is your day. Stay true to yourself.”