A Mother and Daughter Designed Wedding on Cayuga Lake in Aurora

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Whites and greens and the backdrop of Cayuga Lake helped play into the color palette.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Our celebration took place at Natalie’s family home in the picturesque village of Aurora, NY, overlooking the serene Cayuga Lake. Each morning before work, Natalie would call her mom to catch up on all things wedding-related – “Planning everything together was such a joy. I’ve always been told I’m my mom’s mini-me, and it was so special to combine our creativity and bring Nick’s and my vision to life.”

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

This location holds a special place in our hearts—not only is it where the groom was raised and where we first met nine years ago, but it’s also where we got engaged, making it the ideal setting for our special day. PROPOSAL STORY One weekend in late February, Natalie and Nick were visiting her family’s home in Aurora, NY. On Saturday morning, as everyone was getting ready for brunch with Natalie’s grandparents, her mom suggested that she and Nick head down to the Inn to hold the reservation — her sisters, she said, were taking forever to get ready. It was a line Natalie had heard plenty of times before, but this time, it turned out to be an excuse to get her and Nick out of the house alone. They drove toward the Inns, but instead of stopping, Nick passed right by the restaurant and pulled into a nearby parking lot. Natalie pointed it out — “You missed it!” — but Nick just smiled and said, “They can wait for us. I thought it would be nice to go for a walk and see the property.” Nick led her to a quiet, snowy spot overlooking the lake, behind one of the Inns. Natalie started to get a feeling that something was about to happen — and she was right. Nick got down on one knee and proposed. Natalie immediately jumped up and down and said, “Yes!” They warmed up afterward inside the Inns, sharing champagne by the crackling fireplace, savoring the first quiet moments of their engagement before returning to her family’s home, where both their families were waiting to celebrate. It was a moment Natalie had dreamed of so many times, wondering when and where it would happen — and it couldn’t have been more perfect: simple, intimate, and full of love!

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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

As soon as Natalie tried on the Oscar de la Renta gown, she knew it was the one. The off-the-shoulder drape gave an elegance to the ceremony, and when removed, an ease of movement for dancing. Natalie wore a vintage Oscar de la Renta slip while getting ready day-of – her something old – and also wore the earrings her older sister, Alina, wore to her wedding, also in Aurora, a few years prior – her something borrowed.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

Bridesmaids were invited to select a patterned gown with green as a primary focus. The resulting texture added depth to the well-designed day.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groomsmen went with a classic black suit and bow tie – which they thankfully learned to tie in advance. [/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]

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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

Catering was done by Root, which focuses on innovative menu plans based on local seasonal harvests and ingredients sourced whenever possible from regional farmers and purveyors. Natalie and Nick reside in Old Town Alexandria, VA, and incorporated some pieces of home, as well, including one of the specialty drinks from one of their favorite local bars, “Old Hat.” Finally, guests received gift boxes with the bride’s favorite chocolate caramels from the DC area, close to where we live, and the groom’s mom’s homemade Chex Mix.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

We chose September for our wedding to celebrate the bride’s love for dahlias, which were in full bloom and added vibrant color to the day. A particularly special dahlia named “Sweet Natalie” was used throughout the event, perfectly capturing the essence of the occasion. One of the most impressive things about our florals was that Margaux, our florist, moved the 10 arches from the church to our backyard! Thankfully, it was just down the block, but impressive nonetheless.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

We decided to go with a simple and classic shape, doing four tiers with white buttercream and chocolate cake done by The Love Bean. When we cut it, we couldn’t help but go back for more.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]

The most special serenade happened for our father-daughter dance – when Natalie’s brother-in-law sang Sinatra.

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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Natalie’s parents dedicated countless hours to ensuring that the house and lawn were in pristine condition. Natalie often joked that it felt like a real-life version of “Father of the Bride,” with her dad stepping into the role of Steve Martin. Their dedication truly set the stage for a memorable celebration. Not only was the backyard re-lanscaped (no swans, however), but multiple items were built, upholstered, and created for the weekend. Every detail was thoughtfully curated to reflect our personalities, with almost every family member contributing. A standout feature was the custom-built bar, a project led by the bride’s father with support from the groom. They bonded over that project.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

To honor our engagement in Aurora, we designed custom matchboxes featuring an image of that special moment. These matchboxes served as keepsakes for our guests and a reminder of why Aurora was the perfect place for us to say “I do.”

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

The mother of the bride, Yvonne, played a crucial role in the design, crafting all the tablecloths and cushions from elegant Schumacher fabric. Her experience in the world of interiors was so helpful. Her work perfectly matched the wallpaper on the custom bartop and champagne wall, and she also monogrammed each wedding napkin with our crest. (Each one took an hour; thankfully, our guest list was under 100). Natalie also created a custom needlepoint pillow with our wedding crest, adding a personal touch that we will cherish for years to come.

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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

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