Autumn weddings! Autumn weddings! It’s that time of year where I get to my autumn weddings! I love autumn weddings…if you hadn’t noticed. Even if they’re cold and rainy, there’s just something about the atmosphere that makes my blood pump! Erin & Ben’s gorgeous fall day may have had drizzle, but it didn’t lack that autumn pop that I crave so much!

Funny thing, You might recognize Erin from a wedding I was IN last May. She and I were bridesmaids for her cousin Missy.  The 3 of us were reunited again a few months later to celebrate Erin’s big day. This time though, I stayed behind the camera the whole time! Erin and I have a TON in common and when she introduced me to her fiance I had a strange moment of Deja Vu. His name, more than his face struck a chord, and after a few minutes of discussing our past endeavor I was pleased to find out that he and I had both done musical theatre at SUNY Cortland!  I knew his parents from my college days and had met him briefly in what seems like another life! Both lives somehow have come full circle and it plopped me right in the middle of Erin & Ben’s amazing wedding day with love, laughter, and MORE laughter! We had so much fun scouring downtown Syracuse for the perfect shots and then dancing the night away with all the little critters at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo! A huge thank you to Erin & Ben for choosing me to capture your fun filled wedding day. It was such a joy!

XOXOXO,
Mabyn

How did your fiance propose? He took me to the zoo and while we stood in front of our favorite animal exhibit, The Red Panda, he put his arm around me and started to tell me he really loved me. I asked him if he was feeling ok or if we needed to leave because he wasn’t feeling well and he said no, that he just loved me. He started digging in his pocket and I asked what he was doing and he put his arm around me and placed the ring in front of me and asked me to marry him 🙂
Tell me a bit about the planning process for your wedding (how did you pick the venue, colors, funny stories, etc..):
The planning was stressful but awesome. We picked the venue because we thought it would be fun to have a wedding there and when we found out they did weddings there, there was no contest or need to shop around. We live the fall so the brown and orange came from that.
What was the most memorable moment(s) of your day? seeing each other when I (Erin) walked down the aisle.
Funniest memory from your wedding day? The entire limo experience after the ceremony during photo taking 🙂 After photos at the Most, Ben and I went with Mabyn to take more photos. The limo pulled away from The MOST and didn’t know that we weren’t in the limo. Adam Cayea, a good friend of ours and my cousin and Maid of Honor, Cait Dahls’, Boyfriend, said to the driver, “uh you do realize we don’t have the bride and groom?!” They drove around for a bit until they saw us. At that point, Adam, my cousin, Tim Dahl, and my cousin and bridesmaid, Jess Lalkas’ Husband Jeff lalka came upon us. Adam scolded us and said that they were very worried about us… it was awesome 🙂
If you had to do it all over again would you change anything?More decorating in the reception space and the rain staying away…except its good luck.
Any advice for future bride & grooms?
During planning, stress is going to happen. Your going to argue with each other. Don’t think that its your relationship. Always remember how much you love each other and how much you want to just marry that person and be with them for the rest of your lives and nothing else.
What was your favorite part about working with Mabyn Ludke Photography?
I love Mabyns’ face!!! (hehe… and the rest of her too) 🙂 But seriously, Mabyns’ awesome personality and willingness to take chances and think outside the box with photos was awesome. She was willing to work with what we wanted and make some suggestions of her own too. Also, I never once had to worry or be stressed about the photography. From start to finish, it was a wonderful, exciting and carefree experience. THANK YOU MABES from the bottom of our hearts!!!

Hair: Aunt Sue (Sue Dahl of Cliptomania Hair Salon)//Makeup Artist: Melissa Wright Mitrevski//Dress Designer & Store Location: Alfred Angelo at Alfred Angelo Signature in East Syracuse, NY//Jewelry: eBay//Veil or Hair accessories: My Veil was my mothers (Kathy Gilbert) when she married my step father (Jeff Gilbert)//Shoes: orange strappy heels from DSW Show warehouse//Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo//Grooms Attire: tuxedo from Tuxedo Junction//Ceremony Venue: Plymouth Congregational Church//Reception Venue: Rosamond Gifford Zoo//Additional photo venue: Armory Square, The MOST//The Genesee Grand Hotel//Florist: Arnold’s Florist, Homer NY//Transportation: Executive Limousine and Sedan, Cortland NY//DJ: Russel Lee (brides uncle) of RDL Music//Caterer: Catering at the Zoo, James Mahler//Cake: Gabe Cruz//Event Designer: bride and groom//Invitations & Stationary: BasicInvite.com