After all my travels the past couple of years I still contest that CNY is still one of the prettiest places I’ve known. Maybe it’s the familiar rolling hills or the lush green summers, either way I love it. I even love the little cities & towns where people pay attention to detail. When Erica and Josh told me they were going to get married in the heart of Syracuse, Armory Square, It was a breath of fresh air. One of my favorite couples in one of my favorite cities!
You may remember Josh & Erika came to visit me not too long ago in NC. They too have the travel bug and are always going here and there, so for all of us to celebrate their wedding day where we all met was just perfect. I met Josh years ago through our young adults group and he met (now wifey) Erica in a Starbucks by Syracuse University. The Cuse really has connected me with all sorts of amazing people. I am forever grateful for it’s consistency and love.
Erica’s family flew in from Cali, where I am currently writing this blog post. (See! It’s all come full circle!) And Josh gathered his family and closest friends for an intimate alley wedding behind BC Bistro. I’m a “throw the rule book out the window” kind of girl when it comes to weddings so I loved this idea! It was perfectly suited to Josh & Erika. Because their wedding was so intimate, we all really got to spend a lot of time together just enjoying every moment. It was a very special event and I’m so honored that I got to document it all. Thank you to Josh and Erika, I love you both and I can’t wait to see you again in just a few short days!
XOXOXO,
Mabyn 
Amy Semple nabbed the perfect moment on the left!
Tell me a bit about the planning process for your wedding: We started by getting rid of all the classic assumptions of a wedding and wanted to create an experience representing us and who we are. From there we wanted to have something, in a modern urban setting that showed our taste and affinity for the local atmosphere. After eating at BC Bistro one night we fell in love with the food and ambiance including: the location, the brick, and intimacy it creates. Both of us loving the serenity and peacefulness of the outdoors, we both agreed on green as the main color. Beyond that we wanted a simple yet modern feel to the venue. Having natural light flood the ceremony was important to Erika in creating the experience she wanted each guest to feel. Both of us were working and couldn’t seem to pull the whole thing together to what we wanted. However, once Dutch and Cherie got involved, it really become a wedding. It was their touch that created the experience. We had not planned a lot of aspects since we were not completely aware of what needed to be done. However, thanks to Cherie’s coordination, planning, and aesthetic skill, the ceremony came together beautifully. It was wonderful that Cherie really understood what we wanted to convey and was able to create tangible pieces to create the intangible experience we envisioned.
What was the most memorable moment(s) of your day? Josh – The two moments I’ll never forget are the vows I iterated to Erika… barely comprehensible, and the speech my brother gave. Both touched my heart in a special way and were from people I care deeply about. Erika – The most memorable moments for me were seeing all my loved ones in one place. Being far from home, and having family scattered across the US, this rare opportunity to see everyone talking, laughing, and sharing a meal was beautiful. I’ll never forget Josh’s face when I first saw as I came down the aisle! Like a little boy about to open a huge present.
Funniest memory from your wedding day? When dan explained that to truly understand Erika, you had to know Hector – that was pretty funny. Probably because it was a truth that everybody sitting their knew.
If you had to do it all over again would you change anything? It was much more than we thought it would be and had even planned for. We wouldn’t change a thing
Any advice for future bride & grooms? Erika – enjoy the process because it moves so quick. Don’t be too anxious to “get to the wedding”, because that is simply the step… have fun with every step in-between. Josh – Shuck everything you think about what a wedding should be. This is your day and it should represent you, your character, and what you hold most dear to your heart. Start with a clean slate because this day can hold any activity in any location you want. The first step in having the best wedding and one of the best days of your life, is first letting go of all the things you think you “have” to do.
What was your biggest fear before hiring Mabyn? Did it come true, and if not, what happened instead? We were desperately afraid that we would have great photos and a fantastic time. We realized this fear during our you + me session as we were able to spend the whole weekend with Mabyn; a true treat for anybody who gets the chance. The quality of the photos we received only enhanced our suspicions, that hiring anybody but Mabyn would have been a mistake.
What, specifically, was your favorite part of working with Mabyn Ludke Photography and why? She made us feel very comfortable the entire time, and what is usually a part of the day that is “in the way” ended up being one of the highlights. We had a blast during photography. You can tell that she loves her work, and this is the best type of service person to hire.
If you were to recommend Mabyn Ludke Photography to your best friend, what would you say? Forget about money, photos are the only thing (besides your spouse) that is going to carry over and last from that day. You only get one shot to get good ones, and the opportunity will never be there again. Don’t take any chances, get the best… go with Mabyn Ludke.
Hair: Martha Zemsta // Makeup: Erika (me) // Dress Designer and Store: J. Jill at Nordstrom // Jewelry: Bauble bar // Shoes: Manolo Blahnik // Groom: Express navy pants and vest, Shirt from Sacks, shoes from Johnston Murphy // Ceremony and Reception: BC Bistro Armory Square // Additional Photo Venue: Franklin Square // Florist: Wegmans! // Caterer: BC Bistro // Event and Wedding Coordinator: Cherie Schultz // Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
