Holiday Valley Wedding Photography in Ellicottville, NY

What happens when you’re planning a Holiday Valley wedding, completing your MSN and working a side hustle simultaneously?  Bronchitis.  That’s what happens.  And so sometimes you just need to roll with the punches, medicate, get married and graduate within a 24 hour period – and that’s just what Rosanna did!  Despite all of that, Rosanna and Justin’s day was just beautiful.  This Holiday Valley ski lodge wedding on a warm spring day in Ellicottville was cozy and sweet, and maybe just what the doctor ordered.

brieds dress and shoes at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride getting hair done at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
groom straightening bowtie at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
groom getting ready at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom reading letter from each other at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom share moments with bridal party members at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
groom and groomsman share laughs at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
maid of honor helps bride get ready at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
maid of honor gives kiss to bride before ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride fastens shoes and looks out over reception room at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom prepare for first look atski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
groom reacts joyfully to first look at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom embrace after first look at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bridesmaids pose for portrait at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bridal party poses for portrait at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
groomsmen pose for portrait at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom pose for portrait at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom pose for portrait at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom pose for portrait at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom pose for portrait at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride comes down aisle and groom looks on at beginning of ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride comes down aisle and guests react at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom gaze at each other during ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
wide angle show of champagne deck where couple is having ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom saying vows at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
phillipeno tradition of placing veil and cord over bride and groom at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny

Rosanna and Justin honored Rosanna’s Filipino heritage with a traditional ceremony where the parents lay a veil and cords over the bride and groom and the couple exchange coins back and forth. The veil symbolizes unity, the cord is fidelity, and the coins symbolize prosperity.

Phillipeno tradition of passing coins between bride and groom at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
rose petals in aisle at ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
guests extend hands in prayer toward bride and groom at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
guests extend hands during prayer in support of bride and groom at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride groom and guests pray during ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom light candle during ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
guests blow bubbles as bride and groom leave ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bridal party exits ceremony at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
family portraits at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
reception detail photos of cake, etc. at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
guests enjoy cocktail hour while bridesmaids bustle dress at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom cut cake then kiss at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
father and maid of honor give speech at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom kiss at sweetheart table at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom dance at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom dance with parents at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
guests hug at ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom dance in ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom dance in front of fire outside ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom embrace in front of fire outside ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny
bride and groom embrace in front of fire outside ski lodge wedding at holiday valley in ellicottville, ny

Venue: Yodeler Lodge at Holiday Valley – Ellicottville, NY

Second Shooter: Joey Galdieri

Hair: Hannah Clark (Enix Salon)

Makeup: Melissa Elnicki (makeup_by_mel)

Florist: Jackie Bartels

Cake: Dessert Deli

Pearl St. Brewery, Delaware Park and Hotel Lafayette Wedding in Buffalo, NY,

Kim + Tom

The first official wedding of the season is in the books, and it sure was a pretty one. Kim and Tom had visions of whimsical bohemian details combined with a rustic urban setting, so a wedding at Hotel Lafayette and Pearl St. Brewery in Buffalo, NY was in order!

Kim and Tom brought in some real pros to see their vision through.  Vintage pieces from Quaint Rentals were styled by Rebecca Duda and the greens and flowers arranged by Alicia Reilly over at William’s Florist topped it all off.  Kim REALLY wanted lush greens for her portraits, and, well, the trees hadn’t bloomed here in Buffalo yet. We made the most of it though and rolled with some lush browns and spring blooms instead.  At the end of the day, it all created the perfect backdrop for Kim and Tom’s family and friends to come together, from all over the world, to celebrate their union.

Steve and I began the day with Kim and Tom at the Lofts on Pearl in Buffalo, NY. These hotel rooms are amazing for wedding preparation. They have big windows allowing for gorgeous natural light and beautiful exposed brick walls and wood floors for that warm rustic modern look.

details from whimsical urban woodland themed wedding photography in buffalo, ny at pearl at the webb lofts on pearl st
details from whimsical urban woodland themed wedding photography in buffalo, ny at pearl at the webb lofts on pearl st, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery
details from whimsical urban woodland whimsical rustic themed wedding detail photography in buffalo, ny at pearl at the webb lofts on Pearl St., lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery
bride prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
bride prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
groom prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
groom prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
bride prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
bride prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
groom prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
bride prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
bride prepares for wedding in hotel room at Webb Lofts on Pearl St. in Buffalo, NY
bridesmaids see bride for first time atwhimsical urban woodland themed wedding photography in buffalo, ny at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery

Time for a Hotel Lafayette wedding in Buffalo, NY!

The courtyard at the Hotel Lafayette is one of the most unique spots for a wedding ceremony in Buffalo. Guests are always surprised when they walk outside and see this charming courtyard waiting for them.

williams florist details from whimsical urban woodland themed wedding ceremony at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery in Buffalo, NY
bride and groom cheer after father walks bride down the aisle at whimsical urban woodland themed wedding ceremony at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery in Buffalo, NY
groom waits for bride before whimsical urban woodland themed wedding ceremony at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery in Buffalo, NY
bride and groom cheer after whimsical urban woodland themed wedding ceremony at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery in Buffalo, NY
couple stands in courtyard during ceremony at whimsical urban woodland themed wedding in buffalo, ny at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery
bride and groom cheer after whimsical urban woodland themed wedding ceremony at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery in Buffalo, NY
bride sits with flower girls after whimsical urban woodland themed wedding ceremony at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery in Buffalo, NY

Before leaving the Hotel Lafayette, guests gathered in front of the hotel for a balloon release. I love the video coverage of this that my friend Andy Morin captured!

guests and bridal party release balloons at whimsical urban woodland themed wedding in buffalo, ny at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery in Buffalo, NY

From the Hotel Lafayette we ventured to Delaware Park, also in Buffalo, to create the couples wedding portraits with their wedding party. Delaware Park is a classic location for pictures with so much variety to offer! From the Ivy Bridge to Hoyt Lake, the Albright Knox Art Gallery and everything in between, there are different types of backdrops to suit all tastes. But first, wedding champagne!

bride and groom hold hands beneath ivy bride at whimsical urban woodland themed wedding in buffalo, ny at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery
photography of bride among spring blossoms at whimsical urban woodland themed wedding in buffalo, ny at webb lofts, lafayette hotel, pearl st brewery

Off to the ever charming and cozy Pearl Street Brewery in Buffalo, NY for the wedding reception!

Kim and Tom’s wedding reception featured so many special personal touches, including a traditional Vietnamese wedding tea ceremony! The tradition calls for the parents sit around a small table and the bride and groom then serve the parents tea.  Afterwards, the parents offer their wedding gifts to the couple.

Tom is an Irish American from Niagara Falls, and, well, a brewery reception seems like upholding enough Irish tradition for this lass.

whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William
whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William
whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William
whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William
whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William
whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William
whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William
whimsical spring wedding details from Quaint Rentals and William

Many thanks to Kim and Tom for including us in this celebration! It has been a blast! Additional thanks to all these amazing vendors who brought this event to life:

Preparation:  Lofts on Pearl

Ceremony: Hotel Lafayette

Portraits: Delaware Park

Reception: Pearl St. Grill & Brewery

Flowers: William’s Florist / Alicia Reilly

Styling: Quaint Rentals / Rebecca Duda

Makeup: Makeup by Allina / Allina Morticella

Hair: Beauty by Summer / Summer Slomka

Cake: Village Bake Shop

Donuts: Paula’s Donuts

Video: Andy Morin

Groom’s Tux: Bureau

[…] Caroline and Paul had the most wonderful wedding filled with warm, lovely people and personal touches as sweet as them.  We ventured around Buffalo, NY to a few of its loveliest wedding photography locations including the chapel at Buffalo Seminary, the Albright Knox Art Gallery, Delaware Park and the Hotel Lafayette Greenhouse Room run by Pearl Street Brewery (check out a Pearl St. wedding here!). […]

[…] If you would like to see another wedding at Pearl Street Brewery in Buffalo, check out Kim and Tom’s! […]

Maternity Photography in Buffalo, NY

On Impulses, Mindy, and it All Coming Together

The cherry blossom. A simultaneous representation of both the beauty and fragility of life. Here’s to taking advantage of these fleeting times while they last. Mindy had a maternity photography session scheduled here in Buffalo, NY a little later this month. But something happened and I decided, the time is now!

Every once in a while an impulse decision leads to an awkward situation, but for me, never a regret.  I can always rest easy knowing that I followed my gut, and maybe worst case scenario learned a lesson.  So there I was this past Saturday night, resting after a long, beautiful and eventful wedding, thinking back on all the places we went and events I witnessed, and… well… I just wanted more from this one magnolia tree I spotted in Delaware Park.

So I texted one of my favorite past clients, Mindy, way later at night than I should have.  I had photographed Mindy’s engagement pictures, bachelorette party and wedding a few years back and she and I have become friends in the process, but not like, “I can text you in the middle of the night” friends.  Whatever.  I knew if I waited I would forget or get busy or whatever with other life stuff.  So I texted and asked if we could bump up her maternity session a little bit. I talked about the symbolism of the new life represented by the spring blossoms as a backdrop for the new life in Mindy’s belly… I don’t know it made sense in the moment. 

Being all pregnant and such, Mindy apparently doesn’t sleep much and replied right away!  Next thing I know she’s trying on dresses and I’m recharging batteries and within a day we’re in Delaware Park in Buffalo making maternity photography magic.

I left the shoot feeling really great, like I had put extra work in and it had really paid off!  But then came the real payoff. I got a text from Mindy.  It was a little extra, “thank you” because the session made HER feel so good about herself, that it was a boost she needed, stuff like that.  Trust me, this was a 100% selfish idea on my part, making Mindy feel great was not my purpose.  But boy do I love when things just come together like that.  When impulses turn in to these magical little snippets in time and everyone is better for it.

Without further ado, some maternity photography of Mindy at Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY

pregnant woman in whimsical spring floral maternity photography session at Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY with cherry blossom and magnolia trees
pregnant woman in whimsical spring floral maternity photography session at Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY with cherry blossom and magnolia trees
pregnant woman in whimsical spring floral maternity photography session at Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY with cherry blossom and magnolia trees

If you or someone you know is looking for a maternity photographer in the Buffalo, NY area, please have them contact me here!

And if you would like to see another gorgeous maternity session, check out this beauty from Tifft Nature Preserve and Buffalo Harbor State Park!

[…] you love spring blossoms, pop over to this maternity photography session featuring Buffalo’s Cherry Blossom […]

Erica + James – Adirondack Wind Farm Wedding Photography

This post is a little extra special because this sweet and beautiful bride, Erica, is returning from a US Navy tour in the Indian Ocean!  Erica left for her tour shortly after the wedding, so this will be the first she lays eyes on her full collection of photos! Thank you Erica and James for your service to our country!!!  I hope you enjoy reliving all these memories!

So about this wedding… generally when someone tells me they’re getting married in their parents backyard, this isn’t exactly what I imagine.  Erica’s parents run a wind farm/farm-farm located in upstate NY in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.  Their property affords gorgeous views of the surrounding hills and made the most lovely scene for a wedding. With Erica and James’ ties to the service, there were a few military traditions in the celebration as well including the marine sword arch to conclude the ceremony and the cutting of cake with the sword.

Special thanks to my friend Aaron Ingrao for making the trek from Buffalo to assist on this shoot!  Aaron now lives in an RV and is traveling across the United States documenting the, “Keepers of the Craft,” a photography series on craft cocktails and those who uphold the traditions surrounding them.  Check out his site!  www.aaroningrao.com

Thanks to the other vendors whose fine work is represented here as well!

Hair: Flawless Beauty Bar

Makeup: Doll Face Artistry

Florist: Designs By Shelly

Groom Prep Location: Overlook Mansion

Bride Prep/Ceremony/Reception Location: Romer Farm (private)