There’ s no better way to start off a wedding season than doing a friends wedding! Last year I was privilaged to shoot Leah & Patrick’s wedding as my kickoff to wedding season and this year that same privilage goes to Caitlin and Andy!
I have known Andy for 6ish years now. We went to the same church, hung out with the same friends, had card nights at each others apartments, and even worked at the same summer camp (just not at the same time!). So when Andy found the love of his life I was SO excited for him! Especially when they asked me to capture their special day. I couldn’t be more excited about Andy’s wife, Caitlin. She’s a gorgeous little artist who I instantly connected with! Not only did I get to capture a stunning wedding at one of my favorite places in the world (Casowasc0), but I gained a new friend in Caitlin!
So of COURSE with Caitlin being the amazing artist that she is, her wedding day was stunning! We had the perfect weather at the perfect venue and even had a few surprises snuck in! Like when her brother & friend came running up to them with a giant Gatorade jug and dumped it over them (while I’m taking pictures of them…with all of my gear…)…to only find that there was confetti in the jug, not water. I was afraid for their lives, because if it had been water I would have KILLED THEM! 😉
The evening ended with a romantic surprise when Andy and Caitlin found that their friends had set up a romantic lantern launch on the pier for them! They walked down a path lit with torches to find a the pier covered in candles and a paddle boat made for 2 for their “honeymoon” voayage. It was so sweet and stunning! Their day was the perfect display of their love and I was so honored to be part of it all! Thank you Caitlin & Andy!
xoxoxo,
Mabyn
How did your fiance propose? Five days before Christmas we had made plans to go out for dinner, that night we were on our way to the restaurant and Andy randomly pulls into the parking lot at Chittenango Falls.
It was 7:00 at night and completely dark but we started hiking down to the falls. we were standing on the bridge just enjoying the moment together when he looked down and asked me if I wanted my first Christmas present.
He pulled a long rectangular box out of his pocket and I went and sat down at a bench near by. with only the light of his cell phone to see with I began to open it, inside was a box of five Lake Champlain Chocolate Truffles.
Peeking out of the center one was my diamond wring! He knelt down on one knee, licked the chocolate off the ring and even though I could barely see him, my best friend and love of my life leaned in and asked me to share forever with him. Of course I said yes and we shared our first Kiss 🙂 the story doesn’t end here though, After a little while we hiked back up the hill and he asked me if I wanted my second Christmas present, he then lead me over to a bench where he pulled out a a blanket two snowman mugs and a Thermos of hot cocoa 🙂
Tell me a bit about the planning process for your wedding (how did you pick the venue, colors, funny stories, etc..):The planning process was a whirlwind of non stop business, we had decided before hand that we wanted a short engagement so we tentatively set the date for four months from when we got engaged. Andy kinda thought I was crazy, I thought I was crazy! but I had been told by multiple people and wedding planners that I could do it. we later determined we wouldn’t have wanted it any different! It wasn’t too hard though because we already had people and places in mind it was just a matter of finalizing and confirming. The Venue was a no brainier it was already my first choice even before we got engaged. Andy and his family had talked about Camp Casowasco since before we were dating and when I finally saw it for the first time back in October I couldn’t help but imagine a wedding there. Once we talked to them and realized that the 12th was the only weekend they had available in our time frame and that they where giving us a huge discount because of Andy’s previous Employee status, we knew God had blessed us greatly, the 12th was our date and Casowasco was where we were getting married. I picked my colors very early on I think I was walking through a store with my sisters and saw a bunch of teal silk flowers and knew I wanted to go with teal and white. Teal also happened to be a favorite color for all four of my sisters so I knew I couldn’t go wrong there 🙂 I think one of the funniest and most unique things about our planning process was just the lack of craziness and stress despite only having a couple of months to pull it all together. people kept asking us how we were doing? “how was the stress?” and I remember looking at Andy and my sisters and just laughing at how laid back and calm we all were. We were just rolling with it, busy yes, but just one day at a time “yup we’re getting married” Yup we’re planning a wedding” “yup we’ve got a lot to do” ok (shrugs) 🙂
What was the most memorable moment(s) of your day? The most memorable moment, wow I have to pick one! it was all amazing too have to narrow it down…..I’d have to say just being able to relax during the day on the lake at casowasco with family and friends was wonderful. Walking down the Isle on my Daddy’s arm to the the song I had picked out since I was a little, then looking up and only seeing Andy.
Saying our vows and watching Andy getting a little choked up. The surprise that My brother Tyson and Andy’s sister Laura along with many other friends, we walked out to the pier through lighted archways and tiki torches to find our family and friends lined up on the pier setting free giant Chinese lanterns that grouped together and floated off across the lake, and our get away vehicle a paddle boat decorated with balloons and lanterns with an “Italy or Bust” sign on the back. It was a truly magical end to a amazing fairytale wedding!
Funniest memory from your wedding day? The funniest memory is a toss up between Tyson and Laura’s “Hello Brudder Hello Sister” song they did for us. or Tyson and and our friend Tim charging at us with bucket of Gatorade while we where taking pictures only to dump a bunch of confetti on us 🙂
Any advice for future bride & grooms? The best advice I can give is plan well make lots of lists, surround yourself with a team of family and friends who can help with advice encouragement and delegation. find a great wedding planner or close friend who’s great at organizing and planning. talk to everyone and make sure the key people are all on the same page so that you as the bride aren’t the only one that knows where and what and how it’s all supposed to happen. but MOST of all be patient don’t get caught up in the details and having to have it all PERFECT. Enjoy this time you only get it once, if you can do that you will be greatly blessed and you’re guests will be greatly blessed! what could be more important!
What was your favorite part about working with Mabyn Ludke Photography? Well on top of the fact that she is a good friend of Andy’s and now mine which is exciting! Mabyn has a wonderful out going friendly carefree personality that makes working with her a blast. She takes her job seriously and does her best to capture your day so that you can hold on to those memories forever. Oh, and her willingness to risk her life on a pair of skis with a camera in hand to do an engagement photo shoot helps as well.
Hair: MY good Friend Amber Drury//Makeup Artist: Again my good friend Amber Drury//Dress Designer & Store Location: Davids Bridal/ Davids Bridal Syracuse NY
Jewelry: Trifari/JCpenny’s//Veil or Hair accessories: I found my veil for $13 online at Light-In-The-Box//Shoes: Famous Footwear//Bridesmaids Dresses: Davids Bridal Syracuse//Grooms Attire: Suits from Men’s Wearhouse Syracuse//Ceremony Venue: Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center//Reception Venue:Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center//Florist: Silk flowers from Amazon, Hobby Lobby and ACMoore//DJ: Our good Friend Jeremy Holden//Caterer: Casowasco//Cake: Andy’s Aunt Joan Stoughton//Event Designer: Andy and I with lots of help from family and friends//Wedding Coordinator: Our good friend Trina Holden ( Jeremy and Trina make and Awesome Husband and Wife team)//Lighting: Casowasco House lighting//Invitations & Stationary: I designed and painted my own invitations
