Casey + Rafa's Intimate, Backyard Wedding Ceremony & Brunch

If the experience you desire for your wedding day is one of simplicity and ease, I highly recommend the intimate wedding experience. With fewer guests – those who you absolutely cannot imagine exchanging vows without – you’ll be able to focus more on each other and enjoy being present with all of those who have come together to celebrate along side you.

This was exactly the experience Casey and Rafa had as they exchanged personal vows in Casey’s parents’ backyard on the morning of their wedding day. With their closest family members watching, and with both tears and laughter flowing, Casey and Rafa (and Rafa’s two young children) officially joined their lives together in this commitment to one another. Afterward everyone celebrated with a champaign toast and delicious, low-key brunch. With sun shining, wind blowing, birds chirping and at one point, even a frog croaking, it was a perfect morning filled with joy and love and I could not be more excited to share the highlights here today.

From Casey & Rafa:

How would you describe your wedding vision/theme?
A simple, intimate morning set over the fields that Casey grew up playing in.

Favorite moments/memories from the wedding?
• Walking down in the field for photos
• Spending time and chatting with immediate family (although we did miss many)
• Saying our vows
• Seeing everyone happy and enjoying the afternoon together

Do you have any recommendations for future couples planning a wedding?
Simple is beautiful.

Special shout-out to all the vendors:

Venue: Casey's Parent's Backyard
Officiant: Karen Younus (https://yellowbirdwedding.com/)
Photographer: Dawn M Gibson Photography! <3
Florist: Flowers by Nature (https://www.flowersbynature.com/)
Caterer: Jess in the Kitchen, Jessica Betzig (https://jessinthekitchn.com/)
Cake/Bakery: Sweet Beginnings Bakery (https://www.sweetbeginningsbakery.com/)
Hair: MJ Rose Salon (Rachel Maggio)
Bride/Groom Attire (dress, suit, etc): Dress: Dalia's Bridal / Groom Tux: Express
Accessories (jewelry, hairpiece, cufflinks, ties, etc): Rings from Alexis Russell Jewelry

Jenna and Daniel's Rainy, Gold-Detailed, September Wedding at Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, New York

It's hard to believe we are already in the middle of September. Another fall season is beginning; another summer season soon to be behind us. Like many photographers, blogging for me always gets put on the back-burner to all the other business things – especially during the summer and fall months. But today I am taking a pause on everything else to reflect back on Jenna + Daniel’s September Wedding at Sonnenberg Gardens. Today they are celebrating the big FOUR, and while I’m a little embarased it’s taken me THIS long to share their amazing day, I’m even more excited that we can all relive this day together on their anniversary (which oddly enough, is another rainy September morning here in Buffalo, NY)!

In our time leading up to the wedding, I had the pleasure of getting to know Jenna and Daniel and was really excited about not only working with them, but photographing them because they are seriously the cutest and most playful couple. I am so drawn to personalities like theirs – fun-loving, a little quirky, and not afraid to be themselves or be silly, but yet also super affectionate.

Their wedding ceremony and reception were planned to be outdoors at the breathtakingly beautiful Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, NY (which is a dream come true venue setting for anyone looking to have a wedding with a garden setting). But of course, mother nature didn't quite agree with their plans, so they ended up needing to get a tent up over the ceremony and sides to a tent for the reception. It was a really wet day, I'll be honest. I'm pretty sure it didn't stop raining once. But even more importantly, it was a really AMAZING day. From start to finish, the rain was a part of their story, and rather than let it get them down, Jenna and Daniel embraced it and enjoyed every minute of their once-in-a-lifetime wedding day despite all the rain. And I’m sure everyone who was there will agree – it was nothing short of perfect.

Special shout-out to all the vendors:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Sonnenberg Gardens
Officiant: Beth Bouwens
Photographer: Dawn M Gibson Photography
Florist: Wegmans
Caterer: Creative Caterers
Cake/Bakery: Scratch Bakeshop
DJ/Band/Entertainment: Turner Music Productions
Invitations: Minted
Hair & Makeup: Michelle's Salon and Spa
Bride Attire: Dress: Lovely Bride, Shoes: Wallis, Accessories: Twigs & Honey
Groom Attire: Suit: Combatant Gentlemen, Shoes: Cole Haan
Wedding Party Attire: Bridesmaids: BHLDN, Groomsmen: Combatant Gentleman
Decorations/Decor Design or Rentals: McCarthy Tents & Events
Favors: Succulents
Late night food/snacks: Mini Pies

Additional thoughts from the Bride:

How would you describe your wedding vision/theme? My friends started joking that they were going to call me "Midas" – everything that I touched with this wedding turned to gold! I knew very early on that I didn't want a specific color to be the focal point of the vision, as I felt that might be a bit overwhelming when looking at the entire wedding as a whole. Instead, I focused on a softer vision of gold, ivory, and warm lighting. I also knew that I wouldn't be wearing a white ballgown down the aisle, it just wouldn't have felt like me. Why wear a white wedding dress when you can wear an incredible golden gown covered in pearls and sequins?! I felt like a radiant sun! To keep everything soft and light, I dressed my girls in ivory bridesmaid dresses with gold shoes. Since our wedding was in September, I still wanted to incorporate a little richness in color in small touches, which I did with berry-colored flowers, vivid green leaves, navy suits, and camel leather shoes/belts for the guys. The goal was to achieve an overall sense of warmth and welcome while set in an ethereal garden, and I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out!

Favorite moments/memories from the wedding? Even though I was next-level devastated when our wedding day came with a forecast of rain all day, it actually ended up blessing us with some truly incredible moments. We had to move our wedding location so we could get all of our wedding guests under a tent, which meant that my girls and I had to make our entrance through a beautiful wooded area. When my girls stepped out to make their way down the aisle with their huge clear umbrellas, they looked like mystical woodland nymphs! As my turn came and I grabbed my dad's arm to walk towards Dan, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and had a true out of body experience. I was immediately brought back down to earth as I heard my dad start muttering, "What do I do with this umbrella? When do I drop it? I'm going to drop it now." And with 20 feet to go before reaching the safety of the tent, my dad tossed our umbrella! Even though I got quite wet, I was ecstatic to make my way to my grinning groom through the drizzling rain and the laughter of friends and family. Moments like that can't be planned!

Do you have any recommendations for future couples planning a wedding? Don't take on more than you can handle, and feel free to let some things slide. Your engagement is an incredibly important time in your life, and you shouldn't experience it as a big ball of stress. It is meant to be enjoyed and shared with all of the people in your life that you love! Figure out ways that you can create your vision without breaking the bank or your peace of mind. And whatever you do, don't stop planning and just elope like you surely want to a few months into the process! Even though planning can be overwhelming and frustrating, nothing can beat the experience of having your friends and family surround you as you join your life with the person you cherish. It will make all of the stress worth it a thousand times over.

A Beautiful, Laid-Back Wedding at the Historic Knox Farms Estate | Buffalo Wedding Photographer

You know how sometimes in life you meet someone and you just instantly want to be their best friend? Well, I’ve been very fortunate in my business to create great relationships with nearly all of my clients, and in many instances, it’s as if I’ve been adopted into their families. Beyond the wedding day, they invite me back year and after year to document their love as it expands to fur babies, real babies, or even just more for one another. It’s undeniably the biggest honor and I’m so grateful for all the amazing friendships that have come from photographing so many couples on their wedding days.

Natalie and Dan are no exception to this. From day one, I knew we’d become lifelong friends. They’re so goddamn nice. Like, legit the nicest people you’ll ever, ever meet. They LOVE hard – whether just each other, their loved ones, life all around. And they are such joyful, positive souls. Even my husband wants to hang out with them, and no lie he and I are both over here living life viacariously through them these days post-babe and may or may not be waiting for them to have children of their own so we can all just get together for baby play dates. Needless to say, they are my type of people and therefore, this wedding day was soooo beyond special to be a part of.

Natalie and her girls got ready in the Knox Farms bridal suite, with Natalie’s baby brother doing some of the girls’ makeup. (How awesome is that to have a built-in makeup fixer on hand all day?) Dan and his crew got ready downstairs, and helped with setting up everything for the ceremony, including the big heptagon piece Dan MADE for the ceremony. Natalie had the vision, and he built it for her. (Ladies… marry a man who will build you things or make your visions come true. I’m serious.) Once ready, Natalie exchanged a first look with her father, and then did a First Look with Dan – both times her eyes swelling up with tears before they even turned around to see her. The ceremony was another tear-jerker as Natalie and Dan exchanged their own personalized vows. And the incredibly beautiful speeches at dinner brought on more tears. Needless to say, there were emotionally-charged moments of happiness and joy like that throughout the day, and it was perfectly beautiful, and perfectly true to who they are as a couple. To even out the tears, there was a fun pig roast style dinner catered by Occassions by Osteria, capped with yummy homemade pies from Everything Pie Farm Bakery, and A LOT of dancing. The dance floor was packed all night long, with everyone parting the night away to the music of Saxman Slim under the tent provided by McCarthy’s Tents and Events.

From start to finish, it was a beautiful day to be a part of, and I am so excited to share a few highlights here today. But first, some stellar recommendations for any couples currently wedding planning:

Do you have any recommendations for future couples planning a wedding? Stay true to yourselves every step of the way. Try not to get caught up in the little details. One day I found myself browsing monogrammed cocktail napkins, and I was like, “WHAT. AM. I. DOING?!” Just make sure you have good food, good booze, good music, and most importantly a great photographer because photographs are all that will be left of that whirlwind day. We wish we could’ve been ten people at one time in order to see everyone, do everything and be everywhere, but thankfully the photos give us glimpses of those unseen moments for us! Lastly... if you can, go on a honeymoon right away! It gives you something to look forward to during those final days of planning/stressing, and it was the perfect way to celebrate and relax as husband and wife.

Thank you, Nan & Dan for everything!!
And for being the sweetest people ever and asking me to be in a photo, too.
You’re the best. <3

Special shout-out to all the vendors:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Knox Farms
Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Basically [our photographer] and our caterer!
Officiant: Glo McDonald
Photographer: Dawn M Gibson Photography <3
Florist: Flowers by Nature, plus Trader Joe’s and Sam’s Club for mantel decor and centerpieces made by the bride!
Caterer: Occasions by Osteria - Alyssa Sumers the coordinator is a godsend
Pies: Everything Pie Farm Bakery
DJ/Band/Entertainment: Saxman Slim - Matthew Tritto
Invitations: Lisa Santoro (Bride’s Aunt) at Seaboard Graphics
Hair: Fawn and Fox Salon
Makeup: Adam John Beauty (Bride’s brother) and Grace Suzanne Makeup
Bride/Groom Attire: Bride: Lillian West from Bliss Bridal in Hamburg. Groom: theblacktux.com Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Wedding Party Attire: Maids: azazie.com and Groomsmen: theblacktux.com
Decorations/Decor Design or Rentals: Our living room and dining room, ha!
Favors: Custom matchbooks from foryourparty.com
Tent, Table, and Chair Rental: McCarthy’s Tents & Events

Zoe and Jon's Laid back, Boho Chic wedding at East Aurora's Knox Farms Historic Estate | Buffalo Wedding Photographer

In contrast to their snowy, at-home engagement session last winter, Zoe and Jon were married on what felt like one of the hottest days all year, exchanging vows under a grand tree on the property of the estate at Knox Farms in East Aurora, NY this September.

With fans and music on full blast in the morning, Zoe got ready with her side of the party in an upstairs bridal suite, while Jon and his guys prepped in a room on the first floor. Once dressed – Jon in his custom-made suit from Bureau and Zoe in a boho-style dress from Lovely Bride – they shared an intimate first look, followed by an exchange of love notes to one another (Zoe’s note to Jon was actually a notebook she had been filling in for the past year when they lived on opposite ends of the state). Guests arrived to the estate welcomed with large-scale printed signs of Zoe and Jon’s beloved fur baby, Olive, and hand-passed flutes of champagne as they took their seats for the ceremony. Zoe was walked down the isle by her brother, with her father’s coat and photo thoughtfully laid on the back of chair beside her mom, and all their siblings sharing special readings as everyone listened on with tears filling their eyes. It was a heartwarming ceremony that conveyed to all the love they have for one another and how much they both cherish those they love. After the ceremony, they celebrated with their guests over drinks and food catered by the Roycroft in an hors d’oeuvres style reception and late night food from Lloyd’s Food Truck. Plush couches from Quaint Rentals were set up on the lawn, and a beautifully decorated tent gathered everyone together to dance the night away with live music from the band, Geno McManus & Stoneflower.

After meeting while volunteering at Cradle Beach Camp in 2005, Zoe and Jon developed a friendship that later brought them together in love in 2009. They have spent most of the past almost decade of their relationship living apart from one another, which made their bond and love for one another even stronger, and consequently, made this wedding day even more special for them. This day not only marked the beginning of a new chapter for them becoming husband and wife, but it also was the start in their next life adventure: selling their home in the Allentown area of Buffalo (where Zoe has lived solo most of the last year) to embark on a grand move across the country, together (where Jon’s job has them now resettled in Pasedena). Needless to say, this wedding day was a long time coming; well worth the wait but simultaneously highly anticipated by all those who know and love them.

Congratulations again, Zoe and Jon! It was an honor to be a part of your day and I can’t wish you both enough happiness as you soak up husband and life in tandem with all the sunshine and new experiences California has to offer!

Special Shout-Out to all the vendors:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Knox Farms
Caterer: Roycroft
Wedding Planner: Social Maven (Syrie)
Photographer: Dawn M Gibson Photography
Videographer: Brian Debottis
Hair and Makeup: Salon Elizabeth
Bride’s Dress: Rue DeSeine from Lovely Bride
Groom’s Suit: Bureau (Custom made)
Florist: Fern Croft
Cake & Desserts: Blue Eyed Baker
Late Night Food: Lloyd
Band: Geno McManus & Stoneflower
Rentals: Quaint, All season
Transportation: Buffalo Limousine
Signage: T 2 Printing