I met Emily 3 years ago when I got a part time job as a day camp art teacher. She was a life guard and was one of the sweetest people I had ever met in my life! Seriously, there is not a mean bone in Emily’s body! From then on we always had a great time working together! Around the same time I left to be full time in the wedding industry, Emily got a full time job as a teacher. So after several months of not seeing each other on a daily basis it was such a joy to receive an email from her about her engagement!

Even the weather was on point to celebrate Emily & Jim’s big day, by providing a beautiful sunny day and some-what warm weather (at least warm for the beginning fo April!). When Emily was finally all dressed, she took my breath away! She emanated this classic beautiful of Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn. My camera just couldn’t get enough! Apparently neither could Jim because when he saw her for the first time his face broke into a giants smile that was plastered there for most of the day! Their ceremony and reception was especially heart felt because of the community that surrounded them. The whole of Living Word Church volunteered to make their day extra special. They provided everything from the wedding coordination all the way to the food and service! It was such an honor and a privilege to be part of Emily & Jim’s beautiful day! Thank you so much!

xoxoxo,
Mabyn

How did your fiancé propose?
He took me to Chittenango Falls on a misty day in September 2011. No one else was there since it was slightly raining and a week day. He proposed on the bridge down by the falls. It was special since we were absolutely alone in the moment.
Tell me a bit about the planning process for your wedding (how did you pick the venue, colors, funny stories, etc..):
Jim and I are both a part of the Living Word Church, so we definitely wanted to be married in our church with our spiritual family, many of whom so kindly volunteered on the day of our wedding. Almost everyone including the cooking crew, chef, clean-up crew, wait staff, wedding coordinators, pastor, florist, jewelry designer and many more volunteered their time and energy to give us a wonderful wedding day. We’re so blessed by them and so grateful for their efforts. They truly live out the Bible verse from 1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Picking out the color, champagne, for the wedding was done accidentally when the bridesmaids were trying on dresses and we realized how nice they looked in champagne. It was a color I’d never considered before.
What was the most memorable moment(s) of your day?
The best/most memorable moment of the day was when we were getting into our car to drive away from the church and reception. It was so wonderful knowing that we were married and together and it was just us now.
Funniest memory from your wedding day?
When I was getting dressed, I completely forgot to put on the large slip under the dress that makes it puffier. We couldn’t figure out why the dress seemed so much longer. When I was walking down the aisle, I had to kick at the dress with each step so I wouldn’t trip over it. It was humorous to figure out later why it appeared my dress had grown longer.
If you had to do it all over again would you change anything?
I really don’t think I would change much of anything. Everything went pretty smoothly and I loved the day. Perhaps I would not have been so over-prepared. I had bought a clutch, shawl and some other accessories that I never used. It’s just that you’re being rushed around so much; you don’t even remember you have them. Overall though, I wouldn’t change anything.
Any advice for future bride & grooms?
Don’t get caught up with all of the details and minutia. We tried to focus on the big picture of the fact that we were going to get married and look at the wedding simply as a necessary component to that end. If you keep that mentality, it’s easier to not get so overwhelmed.
What was your favorite part about working with Mabyn Ludke Photography?
Mabyn is so friendly and laid-back that everyone feels at ease with her. I heard so frequently from people about how nice she was and what a great job she seemed to be doing.
I also loved that she knew exactly where to place you or have you pose to create perfect shots. She was just a lot of fun to be with and seemed so genuinely happy and excited for us. I would highly recommend her.

The Details:

Hair: Erin Houck//Makeup Artist: I did my makeup myself with a little bit of help from Erin and my bridesmaids.//Dress Designer & Store Location: Vera Wang White from David’s Bridal in Syracuse//Jewelry: Mercede Shippee//Veil or Hair accessories: I bought both my veil and hair clip online, as they were quite inexpensive. It’s definitely more economical than buying them at the bridal stores.//Bridesmaids Dresses: Vera Wang White from David’s Bridal in Champagne color//Grooms Attire: Men’s Wearhouse//Ceremony Venue: The Living Word Worship Center//Reception Venue: The Living Word Worship Center in the banquet hall//Additional photo venue: Green Lakes State Park//Florist: Elaine McKeen//Transportation: All of the groomsmen and family members drove the bridal party and us.//DJ: Ben Connor//Caterer: Frank Babiarz//Cake: Geddes Bakery//Wedding Coordinators: Joanne Walsh, Shelley McCann, Hannah Bender//Lighting: Aaron & Tanya Low//Invitations & Stationary:  Carlson Craft invitations