What Is Vow?
Let’s take you back a year, when the first Vow magazine in several years came out. It gave us the opportunity to highlight local couples who tied the knot in their own special ways. One bride walked down the aisle with her father, in a fashion: He passed when she was 15, but she sewed a patch in her dress, near her heart, to bring her with him. One couple balanced Hindi ceremonies in New Jersey, and a Capital Region one with an apple orchard backdrop. And a Utica bride and groom found their perfect venue in Scotia. We parsed the prices of vendors in the Capital Region, brought out tips on how to share vows in any season, and showed the benefits of maybe not going with a Saturday ceremony. We’re bringing Vow back again, thanks to our repeated partnership with Mazzone Hospitality. We’ll share how local brides covered their “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Want to throw a backyard wedding? Our story on that can root out some challenges. We profile a painter who has another vision on how to capture that special day. Something else different from last year? In the Editor’s Note then, I admitted my wedding naivete, having not been married and only attending a handful of weddings. Well, the day this magazine published, look who got engaged? I know my now-fiance, Steve, didn’t hinge that event on when the magazine published — we were hosting a family holiday party the same day but it certainly gives me a new perspective on this whole wedding thing. Everyone’s wedding is unique and completely their own. We’ll celebrate those different stories and more in these pages.
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From rustic charm to effortless elegance, there are so many wedding venue styles to choose from! If you’re having trouble figuring out which style is right for you, answer these simple questions. Your dream wedding venue is waiting for you!
YOUR DREAM wedding venue?
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TIPS & TRENDS
Want some insider advice? We sat down with some of our Event Planners to get their top tips and trends for 2020:
FROM OUR PLANNERS
TIPS
TRENDS
Venue
Check out some of our favorites!
SPOTLIGHTS
Real
WEDDINGS
Hall of Springs
90 State Events
Glen Sanders Mansion
Key Hall at Proctors
Loft 433
Courtyard Lake George
Albany Capital Center
Cornerstone at the Plaza
Carly Dethomasis & Kurt Carman
Andrea Carrillo & James Fowler
Nicole Dopp & Dan Fruscio
Natalia Casale & Sean Dungan
90 STATE EVENTS April 27, 2019
CORNERSTONE at the PLAZA September 14, 2019
COURTYARD MARRIOTT LAKE GEORGE September 20, 2019
GLEN SANDERS MANSION July 19, 2019
Julia Militar & John Jacob
THE HALL OF SPRINGS July 13, 2019
Emily Campito & Jeremy Snopkowski
KEY HALL at PROCTORS September 14, 2019
Brandi Daoust & Nick Gatti
MAZZONE CATERING at Greywacke Meadows October 20, 2018
Creative
Partners
Musicians/DJ
Event Design/Decor
Fireworks
Florist
Photobooths
Photography
Officiants
Formal wear
Tourism
Salons
Rentals
Planners
2020 SPONSORS
Tips
01. Add a Midnight Snack - Add a late night snack to your reception. When you and your guests are dancing the night away, everyone will go crazy for a tasty energy boost. From burgers to donuts and even late night breakfast, the possibilities are endless!
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02. Capture the Moment - Videographers having become a must have. From handheld cameras to drones, consider them in your budget as soon as you start planning your day
05. Pick a Seat Not a Side - Don’t worry about reserving sides for the ceremony. It is a thing of the past. The only seats you need to reserve are in the front for your parents and grandparents.
03. Have your Cake...and Everything Else - Cakes have become a formality. Plan on having a small cake to cut and keep for the one year anniversary to stick with tradition. But offer guests an array of other fun desserts like cupcakes, donuts, cake pops, cookies, tarts or even a smores bar!
04. Skip the Guest Book - Whether its signing a jenga set, putting messages in a bottle to the bride and groom, signing a frame, taking and signing polaroids or puzzle pieces skip the traditional guest book and opt for something more personal
Explore some Trends
Trends
05. Make it Personal - From menswear to menus, dresses to decor, food to favors, and cocktails to cookies - everything is going custom to match your personalities in 2020.
04. Toss your Bouquet - Throwing the bouquet seemed like it disappeared for a few years but it’s BAACK, whereas the garter toss remains a thing of the past.
03. Make it all about Him: Grooms cake are on the rise, Brides are more often than not surprising their significant others with whimsical cakes designed specially for him.
02. Seasonal Selections - Selecting seasonal options like a fresh strawberry salads in the late Summer or chicken stuffed with apples and brie in the Winter have become a great way to choose your menu.
01. Keep it Simple - Minimalistic, Romantic bouquets and centerpieces with lots of greenery, floating candles
Explore some Tips
01
You’re engaged, congrats! Tell us about your ring.
E. Simple, classic
A. Handmade, we got it on etsy!
C. Gigantic! All my friends are jealous
B. NOT your traditional engagement ring
F. Soooo sparkly!
D. Family heirloom, very sentimental
What does your dream wedding dress look like?
A. Anything but white!
B. Low cut and flowy, a little bit boho
C. Elegant, feminine and slim fitting
D. Full skirt, lots of drama
E. Total glam! Lace and embellishments
F. Short & simple, so I can dance.
02
What’s your bouquet style?
F. White and pink, and full of embellishments
B. Dried lavender and daisies.
D. Crystal broach bouquet.
A. Big! Leafy! Succulents!
E. Round and full of roses.
C. Hand tied with wild flowers from my garden.
03
What’s playing for your first dance?
D. “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
E. “Your Song” by Elton John
C. “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet
A. “Only Wanna Be With You” by Hootie & the Blowfish
F. “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
B. “All of Me” by John Legend
04
What’s your dream wedding season?
F. Monsoon
E. Prewinter
A. Spring
D. Winter
B. Fall
C. Summer
05
Where are you heading after the reception?
B. After party at our house!
C. Airport to get your honeymoon started
A. Pub for late night pizza and pint
D. A night on the town in Saratoga
F. Hitting the clubs and dancing ‘till dawn
E. Newlywed suite
06
Your Bridal party includes...
E. The new sibling in-laws
B. Keeping it small - 3 on each side
D. Just our maid of honor and best man
C. 10 of our closest friends
F. Can’t leave anyone out! 20+
A. Our dog
07
You are so chic, and SO Saratoga. You personality exuberates exudes glam, and your venue needs to live up to those standards!
Retake the Quiz
A historic, world-renowned venue located within the picturesque Saratoga Spa State Park. Built nearly one hundred-years ago, the magnificent interior features a 38-foot vaulted ceiling, Italian marble floors, and three original grand chandeliers made of Belgian crystal. With both indoor and outdoor space available, the Hall of Springs offers a truly sophisticated experience for any wedding.
Wedding Capacity: 375 518-583-3003 | hallofsprings.com
“From the planning meetings leading up to the event, to the service, to the amazing food, everything was unbeatable. We would recommend the Hall of Springs to any family member or friend, near or far, because they make the entire planning process and day of event such a remarkable experience.”
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The historic Glen Sanders Mansion has stood on the banks of the Mohawk River for over 300 years and today provides a picture-perfect backdrop to your wedding day. Newly completed renovations bring a modern twist to this classic venue. Enjoy cocktails in the elegantly appointed riverfront patio, then move to the lavishly adorned ballroom to dine and dance with friends and family.
“Glen Sanders Mansion was amazing from start to finish. The ballroom, grounds, and Inn all provide a wonderful, comfortable space to have the time of your life. The staff for my event was fabulous and ensured that a great time was had by all.”
Wedding Capacity: 325 518-374-7262 | glensandersmansion.com
In the heart of downtown Albany, 90 State Events was originally built in the 1900’s as a National Savings Bank. Classic meets chic - timeless touches like marble columns, and the original bank vault come together with crystal chandeliers, and the largest dance floor in the Capital Region...so bring your dancing shoes!
“My husband and I couldn’t have been happier with the overall experience. Everything was just “perfect”! The atmosphere was glamorous, the food and service couldn’t have been better!”
Wedding Capacity: 250 518-688-2123 | 90stateevents.com
Key Hall at Proctors is an elegant, truly distinct wedding venue in revitalized downtown Schenectady, NY. With its towering 40 foot ceilings, lined by gleaming marble walls, you and your guests will be in awe of the beauty of a bygone era. Before your reception, your guests will enjoy cocktail hour while you take advantage of historic downtown Schenectady for spectacular photo opportunities. The repurposed original walk-in vault also makes for some beautiful photos and is available for your grand entrance as newlyweds.
“Guests’ breath were taken away by not only the venue, but also by the incredible service and excellent cuisine. The staff and chefs at Key Hall brought our vision to life. Bravo to Key Hall at Proctors.”
Wedding Capacity: 200 518-370-1167 | keyhallatproctors.com
Located in Clifton Park, our ballroom features, high ceilings, modern chandeliers, and polished decor. Coupled with the on-site hotel accommodations, it’s the perfect place to host all your friends and family midway between Saratoga Springs and Albany.
“We were so pleased with the way everything went on our wedding day. The quality of service was amazing. The food was delicious and so well prepared. It was very convenient having everything take place in one location.”
Wedding Capacity: 220 518-631-6502 | hiltongardeninncliftonpark.com
Nestled in the heart of the village, the Courtyard Lake George offers all of your needs under one roof. Start at the top with a rooftop terrace ceremony featuring sweeping views of scenic Lake George. Then move through our two ballrooms for cocktail hour, and dinner. As the night goes on, your guests can spill out onto the attached balconies to enjoy some fresh air. End your night with a stay in the Adirondack chic hotel which has everything at your fingertips including guest rooms, a fire pit patio and even Starbucks for the next morning.
“Everyone has raved about the food and how fun our wedding was and we could not have done it without all of you, so thank you so much! I can truly say the entire day was beyond our expectations!”
Wedding Capacity: 175 518-685-3402 | courtyardmarriottlakegeorge.com
This state of the art facility is the perfect backdrop for couples who appreciate clean lines and modern amenities. Located in downtown Albany this one of a kind facility boasts a strong contrast to many historic locations it overlooks. With a main ballroom offering over 25,000 square feet of event space, the Albany Capital Center offers the largest floor plan in Albany for your wedding
“What an amazing new venue! And the staff are out of this world!”
Wedding Capacity: 500+ 518-487-2166 | albanycapitalcenter.com
Cornerstone at the plaza
Cornerstone at the Plaza is in the center of all things downtown Albany. This contemporary space is a blank canvas, with floor to ceiling windows and stunning 360° views of Albany and the Empire State Plaza. A fresh take on an intimate wedding venue; Cornerstone at the Plaza is the perfect spot to celebrate with those you cherish.
“Everyone was so wonderful! All of our guests were blown away with the food, the service, and the location! If you are looking for a smaller venue in the heart of Albany this is a PERFECT spot!”
Wedding Capacity: 120 518-463-0568 | cornerstoneattheplaza.com
Mazzone Catering
The Mazzone Catering team travels the Capital Region and beyond, servicing off-premise weddings in preferred properties, your backyard, and everywhere in between. The Capital Region, Saratoga, Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks, and more…We go everywhere, and do everything. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to create the wedding day of your dreams!
“Loved the team you sent us. From the initial set-up to our day of, we were treated like royalty. The food was fantastic and the service was phenomenal. Thank you for treating our event like it was your only event.”
Wedding Capacity: it’s all up to you 518-583-3003 | mazzonecatering.com
You are the life of the party! Your urban glam style has you searching for a venue as fabulous and lively as you. You and your guests need a place to live and up and dance all night!
90 State and Key Hall
You have a keen eye for the contemporary aesthetic, landing you in the heart of downtown Albany. You love the modern look and you want your wedding day to reflect that!
Cornerstone, Albany Capital Center
Your style is classic and timeless, with a touch of tradition. Your wedding will be the event of the year, and your friends and family will be gushing over it for years!
Glen Sanders Mansion, Courtyard Lake George
Your style is cool and always on trend. You know all the best spots, and your wedding venue is no exceptions. You’re going to pull out all the stops to WOW your guests - because they’re expecting you to!
You’re easy going, original, and not afraid to blaze your own trail. You style is full of rustic charm, and you’re searching for a venue with the right vibe. So you pick the place you love the most, and we’ll meet you there!
Photo by: Matt Ramos Photography
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EXPLORE SOME TRENDS
EXPLORE SOME Tips
Why did you select the venue you chose?
We fell in love with the venue the moment we saw it. The building was rich in history, but also chic and fun. It could also fit our larger wedding comfortably and had a huge dance floor to party the night away.
What was the most unique / special / personal thing about your wedding?
We hired Mark DeSilva to do a live oil painting on canvas during our reception. The painting captured the essence of our first dance. Our guests were blown away by his attention to detail and the fact that he was painting live during the entire event. We love seeing our painting on the wall every day and is something we will cherish forever.
What was your most memorable moment?
Our wedding day (like probably everyone’s) was a whirlwind. One thing that truly took my breath away though was walking into 90 State and seeing our vision come to life after planning for so long. The venue and décor were absolutely stunning. I can’t say enough great things about Amanda and her team. If I could do it all over again, I would not change a thing.
What was your favorite food or beverage item? How did Mazzone help customize your wedding?
The butternut squash ravioli (OMG!) … we had it at the tasting that Mazzone hosted and immediately knew it had to be on our menu for the wedding. We didn’t have a chance to eat our dinners, so the staff sent us home with everything … (the cocktail hour food, the main course, the cake … literally everything). We lived off the trays of food for a week. Mazzone helped us customize so many things to help make our day perfect – signature drinks, special table settings, a memory table, confetti cannons, lit drapery, a sparkler send off and a cash smash to raise money for charity.
What was your favorite part about working with the Mazzone Team?
They truly bring their A-game! From the day we signed the contract to the days following the wedding, the level of service we received was phenomenal! Manny, our day of coordinator, went above and beyond so we had no stress on our special day. Everyone is still talking about our wedding that happened six months ago.
What tip would you give other couples?
Make sure to enjoy the planning process as much as the actual wedding. Don’t stress over what still has to be done – breathe and enjoy the planning process. From the bridal expos and vendor meetings to picking out bridal party attire, our rings and planning our honeymoon, we had a blast planning our wedding over the course of the year.
To the couple
90 STATE EVENTS // April 27, 2019
Mazzone Salesperson / Event Planner: Amanda Dembroski
Reception Venue & Caterer
Makeup
90 State Events by Mazzone Hospitality
Cassandra McKenna Makeup & Hair Artistry
Wedding Cake
HAIR
Mazzone Hospitality
J&C Beauty Bar and Salon
Ceremony Venue
TRANSPORTATION
Blessed Sacrament Church
Royale Limousine - Historic Albany Trolley
Photography & Videography
Live Wedding Painting
Dave Bigler
Marc DeSilva Art Studio
Florist:
Custom Cigar Favors
Renaissance Floral Design
Edleez Tobacco
Special Rentals/Decor
Reception Sign Lettering
Total Events
Leah Wolff Design
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music
STATIONARY
Spa City Duo
The Mailworks
DJ
Wedding Day Preparation/ Overnight Accommodations
Music Man Entertainment
Renaissance Albany Hotel
Wedding Dress/Veil
Bridal Jewelry
Bridal Gallery by Yvonne
Olive + Piper
Bridal Shoes
Christian Louboutin
Bridesmaids Dresses
RINGS
Kleinfeld Bridal Party
Hannoush Jewelers
Formal Wear
Jos. A. Bank
Vendors
RETURN HOME
What was special / unique about this couple?
Carly and Kurt were a very genuine and down to earth couple. They were very family oriented and brought a lot of family values into the wedding reception. Both of them always had a smile on their faces when I met with them.
What was your favorite detail about their wedding?
I loved that Carly and Kurt surprised Carly's parents with a live wedding painter. This is such a fun feature that locked a moment in time within a painting. The painter was on site early to paint the backdrop of the photo and added detail throughout the evening. Finally, when it was time for their first dance, he drew the couple in. Such a unique item to take away from the wedding.
We knew we wanted to find a venue in the city of Albany, something that had more of a city feel. We loved the plaza and the view at night, so the Cornerstone allowed us to get those views right from the reception space. We also didn't want a space that felt like a ballroom, or overly decorated since we wanted to be able to bring in our own style. The decor and space at the Cornerstone is modern and not overly themed. We were looking for a space that would fit 100 people comfortably and this space was perfect.
We wanted our wedding to be a celebration of us and our friends and family. We chose festive colors, both in the florals by Olive and June Floral Co. and all the items I designed. We wanted to add our own touches, so being able to design our printed items was important to me. We also have a small business named Fowler & Co, where we sell handcrafted wood housewares, so we made sure to add wood accents like the name card holders and centerpiece boxes created by James. We had a strong focus on the city of Albany, where we live, so local vendors and the location was all meant to speak for our love for this city.
It is so hard to pick one moment of the whole night! We loved having friends and family from all stages of our lives there to celebrate. The fact that every detail was perfectly executed by the team, and our vision really came to life made the whole day very memorable. From the last minute decision of moving to the Corning Tower for the ceremony and the AMAZING food, to the dancing and attentive service ALL night - it all came together perfectly.
Our favorite food item was the butternut squash ravioli, we had been dreaming about it since the tasting! We thought it was a really great touch that the bride and groom had a plate with all the entree options, so we could try a little of each. We got so many raving comments from guests about the dinner, and even some of the cocktail hour items - best wedding food they had ever had. Katelyn helped us with various customized items and was always very attentive to the details of the items we were adapting. We were able to adapt sides to the entrees, and even reorder some cocktail hour items to create a late-night station. James's father can be very picky and we wanted to make sure he had a great meal, so we asked if it was possible for him to have a burger. The team made this happen with no problem, even cooked to his requested SUPER well done. We also had a good friend joke that the entrees all sounded too good to decide on just 1, so we requested a plate with all 3 options like the one the bride and groom gets as a surprise! The team also arranged for a traditional Colombian cheese bread to be served instead of a traditional dinner roll, a small personal touch that many guests commented on.
The planning process was stress free knowing that we had Katelyn, our coordinator, to help tie all the details together. The team was so flexible with our changing ceremony location - based on construction and weather factors. The team was always keeping us informed on any changes or updates which made us feel confident throughout the process. The fact that Katelyn seemed to remember every detail we discussed was always reassuring that the day of, it would all go to plan. Meeting Steffany, leading the banquets team, kept us even more relaxed because it was apparent that she was a pro and all our expectations about the food and the service were going to be surpassed. We had a lot of family from Colombia attending that did not speak English, and multiple times I could hear her assisting them in Spanish which was an added bonus!
Enjoy it all! The process (and your wedding) is meant to be your own, so focus on what you as a couple want and ignore all outside expectations and pressures. Know that the day of the wedding, what's meant to be will be! Don't stress over the little things, and trust that the Mazzone team is in the background ensuring that you and your guests have a memorable night! And like everyone says, it goes by so fast so take time to be present that day and take in all of the small moments.
CORNERSTONE at the PLAZA // September 14, 2019
Mazzone Salesperson / Event Planner: Katelyn DeSieno
Menswear
Cornerstone at the Plaza by Mazzone Hospitality
Tommy Hilfiger from Men's Wearhouse
Observation Deck at Corning Tower
Baker
Different Blend
Olive & June Floral Co.
Jamel Mosely
C.W. Whalens and Sons
Hair & Makeup
Heart & Soul House of Beauty
Transportation
Royale Transportation
Dress
Essense of Australia from RK Bridal in NYC
Officiant
Claudia Meyer
This couple incorporated 3 separate spaces in 2 separate buildings to hold their ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner/dancing reception which uniquely highlighted the Empire State Plaza and Albany. We started off with the ceremony on the Observation Deck of the Corning Tower, 42 floors up with incredible breath-taking views of downtown Albany and beyond. Then went down to the cocktail hour on the 1st floor Plaza Level of the same building for hors d'oeuvres and cocktails among the many sculptures commissioned by NYS, with 360-degree views of the Plaza from the NYS Museum to the fountains, the Capitol and more. Guests then walked one building over to Cornerstone for dinner and dancing in our beautiful venue with the same gorgeous views through our 14 ft. floor-to-ceiling windows. Andrea and James filled this room with 115 of their closest family and friends who traveled from around the globe, dancing and smiling throughout the night.
From their very initial visit to Cornerstone, Andrea and James knew how important food was to their families, and they had a couple of very special touches in mind. The first being that they wanted to incorporate the bride's Colombian heritage, so instead of the standard rolls and butter with their salad course, we did Pan de Bono, a traditional Colombian cheese bread. What a fun and easy twist to infuse something unique into the dining experience! Second, although James's mouth was watering over all of the entree options, he was concerned his father many not enjoy them as much. "A ridiculously well-done cheeseburger and fries is more his style." So that's what we did for him; when the FOG asks for a cheeseburger, he gets a cheeseburger!
Joe Vogel
To be honest, we were pretty early in our search for venues and initially we bypassed Lake George as an option only because we thought we wanted something different. We go to Lake George for everything – our happiest and our most unexpected memories are at Lake George. We love the prime location (bars, restaurants, lake, etc) as well as the ability to disconnect and just be part of the beauty around you. So, one night while talking/stressing about the wedding - trying to figure out what and where the best venue would be, we ended up in Lake George for a drink and to disconnect a little. While sitting there, we looked at the Lake and then at the Courtyard Marriott and just said “this has to be it.” So we walked over and got a tour, and we immediately emailed to set up an official Mazzone meeting….that’s when we met Amanda and everything fell into place! Looking back, it’s so crazy to think that we ever considered anyplace other than the Courtyard Marriott in Lake George.
Dan’s cousin Julie was our officiant and she did an absolutely amazing job! Everyone we have spoken to has said that our ceremony, from the officiant’s speech to our vows, has said that it was the most emotional ceremony ever. It’s interesting because we didn’t get to “witness” it, but we lived it and it was literally the best ever! Speaking more generally, we both feel that the whole day was able to be tailored around us and the things we love (family, fun, friends, décor that represents us, etc).
I don’t even know if we can pin-point ONE because truthfully the entire day was beyond perfect. I would have to say that it’s between our first look, and our first dance. Our first look was accompanied by tequila shots (so how can that not be a memorable moment?!) and our first dance was so amazing because our song was a surprise to everyone. We’d been listening to it for months before sharing it with everyone, so it was really a very special moment for us to play out what we had been visualizing for so long. And that room was filled with so much love it was absolutely perfect.
There’s no way we could pick just one! We had Mazzone do our rehearsal dinner and wedding dinner menus and everything was so amazing. Being a gluten free bride, I was worried about what options I would have and I was blown away by how accommodating and amazing everything was! If I had to pick, I would say the fact that there was endless Melba sauce (a bride’s must have!!) and GF Apple Cranberry Chicken. Dan says the beef tips hands down! As for drinks….our signature drinks were amazing: tequila + lemonade and captain + coke. Mazzone definitely helped us plan and customize our wedding by adjusting menu items for the buffet, adjusting almost everything to be gluten free, and being so accommodating to our desire for cider belly donuts!
The fact that they became part of our event and not just the “planners”! We booked with Amanda, and then somehow managed to wrap Shana up into our planning team too! It was amazing to have a total team approach from start to finish. It felt like we had a little Mazzone family working with us, and it was awesome! Shana, Amanda, and Lucien are a special breed and we could not have imagined our day without them having been a part of it.
ENJOY. THE. PROCESS. TOGETHER. Gosh, so many people told us about how quickly it goes and to enjoy the day and slow it down…and while all of that is important, we both feel it’s important to start that “slow down” mentality on day one of planning, not just on the wedding day. Take as much or as little time as you need, but enjoy all of it! It will force you to really reflect on your relationship if you do the planning together. Make the whole wedding weekend a reflection of who you two are as a couple and what values you share. If you do that, it will hopefully fall into place as perfectly and seamlessly as ours did!
COURTYARD MARRIOTT LAKE GEORGE // September 20, 2019
Mazzone Salesperson / Event Planner: Amanda Trackey & Shana DiCocco
Courtyard Marriott Lake George by Mazzone Hospitality
VIDEOGRAPHER
Gifford Videography, Inc.
Hitlin Photography, Inc.
Floral Arrangements:
Intuition Events and Floral Design
GOWN
David’s Bridal
Mr. Formal Wear
Piano Man/Conway Entertainment
Salon Innova
Dessert
Cider Belly Doughnuts
AT: With Dan and Nicole, it was love at first site... FOR ME! Getting to know Dan and Nicole has been such a blast, as we continue our friendship even after the wedding. They were both so warm, and really wanted to share the planning experience together, focusing on the little nuances that were important to each of them, like melba sauce and chicken fingers. Nicole and Dan shared their first kiss in middle school, finally being "official" during college, and seeing them both together, it's no doubt that this is a happily ever after love story.
AT: My favorite detail about their wedding was how they incorporated the Adirondack feel and special details into their day. They were so comfortable and themselves; you could feel the love. They had incredible vendor partners, capturing unique photos, including one with a man in a speedo, for them to share for their lifetime.
We were first interested in Glen Sanders Mansion because of our guest count! However, when we visited and got the full tour by Maria DeMartino, we fell in love. We were all about ease for our guests, and the layout and accomodations available made perfect sense. The inn is attached, so we had our entire bridal party stay right on site. This made our entire experience so stress free and intimate, it felt as though we had so much more time with our family and bridal party. We also loved the access to the waterfront, and the pub located downstairs for after the reception to keep the party going. We were beyond pleasantly surprised and in awe of the gorgeous renovations. From the stunning staircase in the lobby, to the elegant ballroom everything was just perfect. I couldn’t imagine having our wedding elsewhere.
I know this might sound cliché, but the most special aspect of our wedding was the people; bringing two families from two different cities, and friends from all over the country together. It was a dream to have all of the people we love in the same room. I cannot express how grateful I feel.
Every moment was so memorable! Some of my favorites included staying in the bridal suite with my bridesmaids the night before, putting on my dress with my mom and sister, lighting a candle in honor of Sean’s brother Matt during our ceremony, dancing with my dad and 90 year old grandmother, and laughing hysterically at the maid of honor and best man speech. Honestly, my cheeks hurt from smiling the entire night. I can’t leave out our decor, either. Maria Vartianian truly made my Pinterest board come alive. Sean and I were able to see the ballroom with Maria before the guests entered and it was such an unforgettable moment.
Where to begin. The cocktail hour was unreal. I am a huge fan of h'ours derves and Mazzone went above and beyond. My family and I ate the leftovers for 3 days! Sean’s favorite was the steak. Mazzone helped us to customize EVERY aspect of the menu. We were able to attend a full menu tasting beforehand, and then choose each food and beverage item we wanted. We also had our signature cocktails, the “Tallytini” and for Sean, “Something Blue Light.” Our guests still rave about the amount of food and how delicious it all was.
My favorite part about working with the Mazzone team was their attention to detail. No aspect of the day was left unplanned, and each team member was on the same page. They were always available, not just on the wedding day, but throughout the months leading up to the wedding. Maria DeMartino is so much more than a wedding planner, she gave us such valuable advice about our ceremony and marriage. Leslie and Maki were with us on the wedding day and they were so kind, hardworking, and accommodating.
One tip I would give other couples to help them plan their big day is to ask a ton of questions! Rank what is most important to you and your significant other, and communicate that to your wedding planner. Ask for suggestions, as the Mazzone Hospitality team are all experts and enjoy making your dreams a reality. Once the day arrives, just live in the moment. I received this advice the most and took it to heart. The only thing you have control over the day of is your attitude. Take a look around and embrace all the love surrounding you!
GLEN SANDERS MANSION // July 19, 2019
Mazzone Salesperson / Event Planner: Andrea Cole
Hair
Dress Shop
Ange & Mollie of The Beauty Lounge
Mira Couture Chicago
Erin Muller
Choppa & Son
Decor
Bridesmaid Dresses
Party with Mia by Maria Vartanian
Portia and Scarlett
Jeweler / Wedding Bands
Matt Ramos
Paul's Jewelry Design
Jeweler / Bride’s Earrings
Jordan Marshall of Xplosive Entertainment
Videographer
Mountain Mint Films
Anthropologie and A.B. Ellie (one set for the ceremony and one for the reception)
This couple was one of our first couples to utilize the fully renovated inn for getting ready the morning of, brand new renovated ballroom with the new chic compliments of an all gray dance floor, new carpeting and new champagne chairs! Their large bridal party was able to cocktail privately in the new Hospitality Suite on the second floor of Glen Sanders, took in the views of the lush riverbed on our new outdoor terrace upstairs, and their cocktail hour downstairs on our outdoor patio space!
They were able to "wow" their guests all night through custom hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour to late night nosh with Burger sliders, fries and hot wings!
Mia Murphy
Signage & programs
Elihav Sasson
Dress Designer
RECEPTION VENUE & CATERER
Glen Sanders Mansion by Mazzone Hospitality
An important factor for us was choosing a venue that was geographically close enough for our family and friends. Julia, who is from upstate New York, grew up attending events with her family at the Hall of Springs, and she always loved its elegance and beauty. Luckily when John (who is from Pennsylvania) saw the Hall of Springs for the first time, he also fell in love with it - especially its grand high ceilings, impressive architecture, and the surrounding scenic Saratoga Spa State Park.
We are both kids at heart and love having fun, so we scattered games and activities throughout our wedding weekend - we played corn hole at our rehearsal dinner, had a “bride and groom trivia” which allowed our guests to show off just how much they knew us and learn some fun facts along the way, and had a “polaroid photo guestbook” for guests to take photos of themselves, paste them in the book, and write a thoughtful note.
It’s hard to choose just one moment, because our entire wedding experience was amazing - from the beautiful cocktail hour on the portico, to the booming live band with a saxophonist weaving in and out of the dancing crowd as he played, to the make your own candy station, to laughing with family and friends as they cheered us on during our sparkler exit outside. Our only wish is to relive our wedding again… and again.
For our wedding reception dinner, we were given the opportunity to eat a handful of each of our 3 dinner entree offerings - everything was delicious, but we have to say (from the both of us) that the butternut squash ravioli with brown butter, sage cream, and shaved manchego was to die for. We were so happy when we found out that Pam (our bridal attendant) gave us more food to bring home after the reception. And to end the night, we chose to have a late night station with hot dogs and chili fries - this was a definite crowd pleaser!
The Mazzone Team was always friendly, respectful, and accommodating since day one, and up until the big day, when everything we planned ran seamlessly. We both have demanding, time-consuming jobs, and we were planning our wedding from New York City, but our event planner Sarah Dorrer was always patient and willing to help.
On your wedding day, try to enjoy and take in as much as you can - appreciate the details, have fun with your family and friends, say thank you to your parents and everyone who helped along the way, slow dance with your spouse, and especially don’t forget to sit down for a moment and eat - the whole night will pass right by your eyes before you know it.
THE HALL OF SPRINGS // July 13, 2019
Mazzone Salesperson / Event Planner: Sarah Dorrer
Hall of Springs by Mazzone Hospitality
Wedding planner
Christine A. Wheat Special Events Firm
Photographer
Rob Spring Photography
W Beyer Creative Weddings
Flowers and decorations
Band
The Silver Arrow Band
Wedding dress
Something Bleu
Hair and makeup
Make Me Fabulous
Julia and John were never stressed about planning their wedding; they were always smiling and enjoyed working with each other.
I loved their portico cocktail hour. It's the perfect location for a summer cocktail hour with a beautiful view of the park and reflecting pool.
We had been to Proctors many times and never knew Key Hall was right next door. We fell in love with the space, especially the high ceilings and the old bank vault. We also have eaten the food from Mazzone many times and always know they do a great job. The area around Key Hall in downtown Schenectady is also a place we spend a lot of time so it was great to take some of our pictures in that area.
The most special thing about our wedding was having everyone that loves and supports us in one place helping us to celebrate. We went to get pictures taken at the Rose Garden in Schenectady Central Park and in order to get there we rented a trolley. It was so much fun taking the trolley to the location and we got some great pictures inside!
We also had our ceremony at Key Hall and our most memorable moment was standing up in front of all our family and friends, exchanging our vows. Jeremy’s step-mother was our officiant so having her perform our wedding was a special moment.
It is so hard to choose a favorite! Food was very important to us so being able to choose all of our hors d’oeuvres and main dishes was so much fun. We especially enjoyed the Short Rib Grilled Cheese, 7 Hour Cherry Pepper Pork and Crispy Eggplant. We were also able to create a custom cocktail for our wedding which was an Apple Cider Moscow Mule. Mazzone also brought in a keg of Jeremy’s favorite beer to serve. Another way Mazzone helped to customize was we did not want a wedding cake so we instead had Italian pastries and cookies for dessert.
From our first meeting with Andrea to our day of with Roz and Maki we always felt comfortable. Everyone at Mazzone went out of their way to make our day exactly what we wanted. Every time we turned around on the day of our wedding Maki was there with a fresh drink in her hand!
Book your wedding with Mazzone! Everyone at Mazzone is incredible to work with and they made our wedding a day we will never forget! Also try and live in the moment and enjoy the day. It goes by way too quickly!
KEY HALL at PROCTORS by MAZZONE HOSPITALITY// September 14, 2019
Photographer and Videographer
Flowers
Felthousen’s Florist & Greenhouses
Bride and Bridesmaids dresses
Ferri Formals and Bridals
Groom’s suit
Black Lapel
Groomsmen’s suits
Generation Tux
Upstate Transit of Saratoga
Color Me Gorgeous
Ashley Smith
Conway Entertainment
Favors
Saratoga Olive Oil
This couple was special to our Key Hall team and myself, since we helped them all the way through their planning process from the shower at Glen Sanders Mansion, to their big day at Key Hall! Emily hosted their bridal shower at Glen Sanders Mansion, attended our Grand Tasting and had a wonderful time planning the actual big day!
This couple was laid back but had a beautiful vision for their big day! I loved that they incorporated their parents into our meetings, where it was fun to bond with the full family! It is so special as a planner to make those relationships!
Key Hall At Proctors by Mazzone Hospitality
We both love the outdoors, nature and that relax by the fire with all your friends, laid back vibe. When we went to this venue it had that feeling, and it was such a gorgeous spot for fall. It had all the elements we wanted all in one spot; a beautiful ceremony space, water nearby, places on site for both of us to get ready, and a gorgeous barn with the fun, cozy fall night vibe we wanted. We loved that the owners clearly put a lot of thought into every detail and that the price was reasonable compared to lots of other places we looked at.
This is hard! Everything was personal and special because that was important to us that our wedding day was filled with everything that felt like us. We came with a UHAUL a few days before and decorated the ceremony space and my husband, brother in law and our fathers built doors in the field for me to walk through out of the original doors from my parents house. We had blankets on the chairs for our guests and had blankets for our bridesmaids and one for ourselves that we added a "just married" embroider to. We both love to read and that cozy snuggle up in a blanket feeling, so we made journals as our table numbers and each one was a place that was meaningful in our relationship that made up our "love story", such as " Madison theatre- our first date". These were great because they had pages in them that all our guests wrote messages in for us that we have forever! Our guest "book" was a bench that my husband built and carved a heart in with our initials like "the giving tree" to go with our book theme. Other special things were that I wore my mom's veil and my necklace was made from my grandmother's ring, and a handkerchief for my dad made of my grandmas wedding dress. And of course, we wrote our vows and got to say them under the setting sun in a field of autumn trees.
Also hard! We both loved driving in the car to our first look with nick blindfolded and me with my eyes closed because we got to hold hands and talk but didn't see each other until we got to the water. That was such an exciting wonderful moment. Dancing into the barn and feeling all the love fill the room from our family and friends was truly overwhelming and we still talk about it every day. That really was the best, just seeing how much fun our friends and family were having and sharing in our love.
Our favorite food was the brisket with all the sauces, the chorizo and scallop skewers at cocktail hour and the apple cider donuts! We wanted a fall barbecue kind of menu and a few different unique appetizers and Mazzone did an amazing job customizing that for us and making it so yummy. They went above and beyond to make sure we had all the things that we were hoping for. Mazzone Catering did an incredible job working with our coordinator to help bring all of our Ideas to life and put everything together with the feeling we wanted for our day. They certainly did more than the standard expectations!
The Mazzone Team was so easy and fun to work with, asked questions we didn't even know to ask, and worked so beautifully with all our other vendors to help our vision come to life. Having a team like there's, knowing they were there and knowing how great they worked together with everyone else truly allowed us to have no worries (even when some bumps came along) and just focus on how happy we were to have each other and all our loved ones together to celebrate. You guys are seriously amazing and we can't ever thank you enough.
Enjoy your day and make it about the two of you and sharing that joy with your family and friends. If you do that, no rain or things that didn't go exactly to plan matters and you won't even know because you will be beaming from the love that surrounds you. That's the best tip we can give, when the day comes actually enjoy it, the planning is done the only thing left is to have fun with your loved ones and spend time with each other. We soaked up every minute of our day. Pick vendors that you love and be kind because they will go above and beyond for you if you do, we loved every single one of ours and felt like they were all our friends
MAZZONE CATERING AT GREYWACKE MEADOWS // October 20, 2018
Mazzone Salesperson / Event Planner: Amanda Trackey
ceremony/reception venue
Greywacke Meadows
caterer/bar service
Wedding Cake & Desserts
photographer
Andrew Franciosa
Bill Hardy
True North
Shear Creations
Coordinator
A Lively Event
Crystal Rose Studio and Cristina Rivera Beauty
Flower Scout
Brandi has been one of my best friends since preschool. When she decided to look to us for catering, I was beyond thrilled to help her and Nick plan their special day. Since I was lucky enough to be there at the beginning of Brandi and Nick's love story, I felt honored to create unique touches scattered throughout their wedding, that meant so much to them.
Our other best friend, Angela, just happens to be married to Nick's brother, Justin. It was the second wedding for the families and friends, so the focus of the wedding was family! It was a non stop reunion of new friends, and old, with an amazing party atmosphere, and delicious autumnal desserts to boot!
First Student
Suit
Men's Warehouse
