This Wedding was SO much fun ~ 8 bridesmaids and 8 groomsmen; fun fun fun!

I will probably post some more on here when I'm done editing, but I made a new ad with one of the pictures of the bride ~ such a sweetheart and SO fun to photograph.

Yay balloons! They were ALL over the front yard of their house where they were getting ready...
:)

So I've started researching possible Wedding locations. I posted a beautiful barn I went to with my mom that I just loved but they only do events through the middle of September and we really would like to have the Wedding in the fall; October. This place I'm posting now is SO beautiful and it accomodates larger parties as well as being an Inn with LOTS of space inside AND out. Beautiful spacious grounds; spacious rooms inside; trees everywhere; quaint and beautifully decorated. Very romantic. It also has a spa which could be fun if we do something there.
You pull up passing through a windy path through the woods and then the Inn is in front of you with grounds off to the left. It's called Sweet Briar located in Geneseo

Here's some pictures:











This is the entryway as you come in


Various rooms inside where people can relax, possibly dancing, and cake cutting








The pool is amazing; it's built to look like it's a waterfall going over the cliff at the end. It's enclosed, but some of the water falls over the side as if falling down the hill behind it.









This is where the bride walks down the aisle...down the stairs and on a path through arborvites coming up to the ceremony site which overlooks the genesee valley












As you go up the steps and through the colums it's enclosed; they do dancing there on the patio and there's a skylight above so you still get some light while being enclosed...I love it









Upstairs common area


Various guest rooms and details:



















That's all the pictures I took...you can see details everywhere from the fresh cut flowers to the hand painted walls in the guest rooms and special care about the place.
We're still researching, but I don't think anywhere else will be even close to this but I'll keep you posted .
:)
I'm so excited ! Can you even imagine this place in the fall??? !!

We went to the park this year ~ it was perfect!
We grilled on the available grilling stations and used picnic tables; brought lots of food and had a great time being outside.
There was a playground for the kids so that was fun doing on the side, we biked, and we all went for a walk through the woods too.
Here's some pix !



notice Buddys bandana ? ! (Thanks Pat !)





this is so funny..Dan Dan was eating chips from both bags







This is Ralphs family - Ralph is Annas boyfriend, and this is his sons family



I made that coleslaw again ...SO good!






The kids used walking sticks as we went through the woods...it's so cute watching them use it as they hike




(sigh...she's just the most amazing little girl; I love her so much)


higher, higher, higher!

If you've been following the blog, you'll remember another dinner Bob and I had with our new friends Annette (the photographer)



Annette Dragon Photographyand her partner Eve at their home back in March. I was invited back to a girls only dinner party in recognition of Cherry blossom season. It was INCREDIBLE.
Eve, an interior decorator, created an amazing masterpiece to honor the Japanese cherry blossom traditions as you'll see from the pictures below.
Everything was pink and she even had dinner menus on our plates as well as cherry blossom place cards.

I met some incredible women and was very thankful for the invitation to join them.









This is a Japanese version of the Shirley Temple


mmmm Miso Soup



SUSHI ! Notice the little cherry blossom she put on as decoration ? !



Delicious chicken with a cherry glaze and cherries in the long grain rice....amazing.



Cherry Garcia ice cream with cherries on the side...



Before we separated, I got a quick picture of the three of us..me, Eve, and Annette

(I didn't take any pictures of the guests because i didn't know them and felt funny a little...but there were about 8 of us and had such fun conversations...
Eve is amazing; she decorates and celebrates so many of the holidays and different occasions...I felt really happy to be there among such amazing women.

Mom was here for a business meeting, and then spent the rest of the time celebrating our engagement with us.
We had a wonderful dinner at 2 Vine where she gave me a BEAUTIFUL engagement gift.









It was a necklace presented in a blue velvet bag made by Swarovski ! I opened it up, and it was an all silver heart filled with crystals. So amazingly beautiful. Thank You Mom ! I wear it almost every day.

She came back to our house after dinner to talk about the guest list and to look through a planning book that she got me too; SO helpful ; thanks again mom .

The next day, she and I went to visit a place that Lillian (bob's sister) suggested because she knew they had a barn there for other events that they do. It's called Hurd Orchards (Their website explains a lot about them ; i.e. they are first and foremost farmers so they put a lot of attention and detail into every event - flowers everywhere; all home made food, and antique linens and real silverware...etc. I was completely amazed ~ I had no idea we had anything like it here in the area. Even if our Wedding isn't there, I hope to attend a luncheon there sometime.
Here's some pictures:

































We walked around on the grounds, asked questions and really enjoyed our time there. They have a country store in the front so when you first get there, you can smell all the baked goods, and it carries into the barn too...delicious! Everything was so country cozy; overflowing with nature and flowers and home made preserves, honey, syrups, candles, china, flowers...oh my!
:)

We headed over to see the photographer I've chosen to photograph our Wedding too. I've worked with her before and she even has a picture I shot while working with her on her website - that's VERY cool. Her name is Mary Corcoran and we had a great time meeting with her. My mom loved her work, and her studio; I knew she would. She has an adorable little cottage right in Pittsford ON the canal. Her backyard is filled with geese and ducks with the canal behind them. amazing. I can't wait !
:) I wanted my mom to see the life that I'm working towards. Please please please some day.

We had lunch at Simply Crepes



which was simply amazing lol before she headed back to Albany.

Thank you mom for taking the time to share in some of the things we're planning and for your excitement and love for us both. We can't wait to celebrate !