Real Wedding: Laura & AJ
Coordination: Timeless Weddings
Laura was a member of the Union swim team and AJ played for the college's "notorious" hockey team. Student standards at the university said that swimmers don't date hockey players, a rule that Laura had intended to follow before she actually met AJ. After being coaxed by a mutual friend, Laura gave in to meeting AJ and they hit it off right away, and five years later, were engaged.
Any proposal is difficult to pull off without a hitch, but AJ had an even harder time than most. This was most likely because Laura worked at the jeweler where AJ had bought the ring, so she knew it was coming. AJ had to get creative in finding an opportunity that would surprise Laura, and eventually it came on a normal Sunday morning as the couple enjoyed their breakfast. Typical of AJ, it was nothing too flashy, just a nice heartfelt moment that the two would remember forever.
Neither Laura or AJ were originally from Upstate New York, but they decided to have the wedding in Schenectady, where they met at Union. With the ceremony taking place in the college's chapel, they had to decide where to hold the reception. Although it's a while away, they decided on having the reception in Saratoga at the National Golf Course. They arranged for coach buses to provide the transportation for the guests.
Before departing for Saratoga, the newly-weds made sure to take as many photos as possible on the Union campus, being a place that was hugely important in their relationship. At the rehearsal dinner, also in Saratoga, and the reception, Laura and AJ wanted their guests, who mainly came from out of state, to enjoy the area. Saratoga is a wonderful destination in Upstate New York and has a lot to offer to tourists. Laura wanted the town to be a big part of the wedding, so she bought her wedding gown there and had the bridesmaids get their dresses at the same shop. Laura was also allowed to borrow a beautiful pair of diamond earrings from the jewelry shop she worked at.
When hiring the various wedding vendors, Laura and AJ focused on their personalities as well as their professionalism. They chose Luke from Clark and Walker Studios to take the photographs because of his talent and his laid-back personality. Luke also helped them find other vendors to work with, including Kris Ann from Fleurtacious Designs. Kris Ann worked very hard with Laura in picking the perfect floral arrangements.
Surrounded by her family and closest friends, Laura loved the morning of the wedding getting prepped. She had spent a long time trying to find a perfect hotel in Saratoga, and eventually settled on a historic bed and breakfast, which provided a great backdrop for photos of her and the bridesmaids getting ready. Taking the pictures was also a blast for the couple, as their photographer, Luke, made them feel completely relaxed.
As they did with Luke, Laura and AJ suggest finding a wedding professional that can point you in the right direction as far as other vendors are concerned. This is especially important for a destination wedding, as those professionals will have a thorough knowledge of the area's wedding industry. Taking the time to enjoy the planning process is just as important as enjoying the big day. Place a focus on the personal aspects of the wedding and make sure you are pleasing yourself first and foremost and not others.