I have to say that I was so excited when Liz & Erik’s wedding day finally arrived! It’s not every couple that I get to quote Homestar Runner with and laugh and laugh and laugh! This couple is not only a dream to photograph, but a joy to be around. Their laughs are infectious and their love for one another is palpable. Add all of that amazingness to the fact that they bent over backwards for pictures! Typically at an Episcopalian wedding, you’re lucky if you get to take pictures at all and if you do you’re restricted to the back of the church. Thank goodness Liz & Erik were so adamant about their desire to capture all of those little moments during the ceremony! It really paid off!

The rest of the day was my ideal schedule, 2 hours for formals (in which we stopped for ice cream at Gannons!! WAAHH!) and travel and then off to a rockin’ reception at the Crowne Plaza! Then in the middle of the reception, when Liz and Erik needed a break, we jaunted outside for MORE pictures! This is becoming a recurring theme with my clients, WHICH I LOVE!!! But it does pose a problem…Which photos do I choose for the blog?! There are so many that I want to share!!!

Needless to say, Liz and Erik’s wedding day was spectacular! The weather, the atmosphere, but especially the two friends with whom I  got to witness, document, and celebrate their love story to the fullest extent! Thank you so much Liz and Erik! It was an  extreme joy to be with you and share in your gorgeous day!

xoxoxo,
Mabyn

How did your fiance propose? We had been talking about it for a while and Erik gave instructions to go look at rings when I was visiting my best friend down on Long Island. How do you really say no to that? Sparkly things? Yes, please! Needless to say, I found what I wanted and snapped a picture of it to send him. A few weeks later, we took a trip for my birthday and ended up checking out rings together. We found the same one that I had found on the island, so he knew what I was looking for. After some discussion about whether or not it was appropriate to buy the ring with me there, we opted to split up, do some shopping and meet up in about an hour (which meant my shopping was interrupted by thoughts of “OMG, is he going to buy it NOW??”). Of course, I couldn’t ask him that question when we finally left the mall because I would have been really disappointed or way too excited to focus on anything else. A few weeks later (10/04/2011 to be specific), I got home from work, dropped some stuff off and headed off to “job” #2 at my sister’s dance studio. Lucky for me, my niece (who was just two months old) decided to have some intestinal issues that night and spent the majority of it throwing up all over me. Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to get home and change. I pull into the driveway around 9:30pm and the house is dark, so I think he’s already gone to bed (not unusual for us “old folk”). I climb up the stairs, unlock the door and wham! I know immediately what is going on. There are a bajillion tea light candles all over the house, there’s music playing and I see little note cards positioned throughout the house, too. I have no idea where he is, but the first words out of my mouth are “… but I smell like puke!!” I put my stuff down and head into the kitchen because that’s where I see a note. I open it to read it and notice that it is numbered. Realizing that I probably shouldn’t start reading at #7, I turn around and go back into the living room, where I find #1. I read through all of the notes that Erik has written (ignoring the whines of the dogs from the basement) and work my way up to the last the note, which is taped to the bedroom door. I open the door, find him down on one knee and totally said yes before he ever asked. Ha! A little anxious? I think not 🙂
Tell me a bit about the planning process for your wedding (how did you pick the venue, colors, funny stories, etc..): Because of the large number of out-of-town family and friends coming to our wedding, we wanted to have a reception venue that was attached to a hotel so people wouldn’t have to worry about driving afterwards. We contacted a few around Syracuse and after playing with our budget (and hearing that we could use the Horizons Ballroom on the 20th floor) we settled on the Crown Plaza! As far as colors go, we originally started toying with the idea of fall colors. As we were looking at color swatches and realizing nothing was meeting our expectations, we opted for a more “timeless” appeal, so Erik suggested black & white instead of going for colors that would fade out of style. One of the more entertaining stories of the process happened at the beginning of July after Erik witnessed about 5 minutes of “Bridezillas.” He made me sign a pledge that I wouldn’t become a “Bridezilla” and put it on the fridge. It worked! And it might still be on the fridge.
What was the most memorable moment(s) of your day? Failing at being sneaky and having my best friend’s mom see me getting out of the elevator at the hotel (of all people, it had to be her :-p); the flower girl needing a diaper change literally 5 minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start; seeing Erik at the end of the aisle and not being able to walk slowly to get to him; stopping at Gannon’s Isle for chocolate milkshakes before the reception!
Funniest memory from your wedding day? We didn’t actually see this happen but we have photographic evidence of my cousin and his wife getting a little rowdy and all most falling out of the photo booth at the reception.
If you had to do it all over again would you change anything? I would make a rule: don’t hug anyone holding two glasses of wine, especially if one is red. I am so thankful for Tide-to-Go pens as they worked miracles at getting the wine out of my dress.
Any advice for future bride & grooms? Take time to do what you want to do on your day. We weren’t sure we’d have time to stop for ice cream, but the wedding party reminded us, “Dude, it’s your day”, so we stopped. It took all of 10 minutes out of our day, but totally made for classic memories. I’ll follow this advice with, “Stop and get ice cream before your reception!”
What was your favorite part about working with Mabyn Ludke Photography? Erik: After working with Mabyn, I can honestly say that I don’t feel like I met a really cool photographer, I feel like I made an amazing friend. Liz: The idea of being photographed always traumatizes me. I don’t like the experience and find myself avoiding the camera at all costs, so finding someone that can make all that apprehension go away was such a blessing. She truly is a “photo ninja” and am so grateful to have had her be a part of our day.

Hair: DeJon’s Hair Design//Makeup Artist: Jacqueline Babcock – Mary Kay Products//Dress Designer & Store Location: Maggie Sottero – Kleinfeld, NYC//Jewelry: Kleinfeld, NYC//Veil or Hair accessories: Kleinfeld, NYC//Shoes: Aldo//Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal//Grooms Attire: Tuxedo Junction//Ceremony Venue: St. James Episcopal Church, Skaneateles, NY//Reception Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel/Horizons Ballroom//Additional photo venue: Baltimore Woods & Gannon’s Isle//Florist: St. Agnes//Transportation: American Limo//DJ: Kevin Colangelo//Caterer: Crowne Plaza Hotel//Cake: Gabrielle Chocolates, Cazenovia, NY//Invitations & Stationary: The American Wedding