Beardslee Castle Wedding | Dani T Photography | Finger Lakes Wedding Photographer

Flash back to 2009…I am working at Forever 21 ( which lasted a whole 10 days..) I am in my final days of college and my best friend Katt and I have the brilliant idea to make our co workers dress up as monsters. This is when I first met Dani..not me Dani..but our bride for today’s post Dani! Who her ( and her hubby Andy) are two of the sweetest people you will ever meet.

Now..we are flashing forward to 2018, when Dani calls me..one of her first vendor phone calls to tell me, we are hiring you no matter what. are you free? I shouted YES! And our journey began for the next year of 2 epic engagement sessions ( one at an animal sanctuary, and another on an ice field) and one of the most perfect weddings I have ever been honored to photograph. Hold on your tissues..because this is a DAMN good one!

”We met in high school during cross country. As for our proposal it was on Cinco De Mayo- I came home from work and he had made tacos (which happens to be our ‘special meal’ since it was the first meal we made together in our apartment years ago, and we make it weekly now. He took me out back where he had built a pergola that day “so we could enjoy the night” with fairy lights and drapes. I didn’t suspect anything because this is the kind of thing he would just randomly do. We talked about being the coolest kind of married- not married people and after dinner he asked if I would like to not be that…then he proposed! The overall romance was great because it was “our meal”, using the table which was the first furniture we had bought together, the curtains that we bought for our house, and the matching cups we use daily.”

Dani & Andy had a very specific vision for their wedding day : good friends, good food and a good time. We started the day at the most beautiful ornate bed and breakfast where the entire wedding party stayed together for the weekend, while the gals were getting ready, Andy told me he had special surprise for Dani, small little kittens to unwrap and make her smile any time she got stressed out. Someone was to give to one to her. HOW SWEET IS THAT?! So right after she dove into the biggest bite of her impossible whopper from Burger King..we got her dressed and ready to open that tiny kitten. All while Andy was running around finishing the final touches on the wedding venue.

If you take a look at the winter engagement session we did (Look at those HERE) of these two…you will notice this is also the same spot we did their first look! A perfect privately owned church, surrounded by views for days! I did some extensive researching trying to find the owners of this property..which means that I am an in honorary member of the FBI now!
*SIDE STORY : On the drive to the first look spot…a Fedex truck literally hit a telephone pole in front of us…so while we were delayed getting to the location…I also earned my NASCAR driving badge that day.

After the tears were wiped and our bellies ached from all the laughter of the bridal party and my own antics, we headed over to the castle for one of the most perfect ceremonies I have ever witnessed. It was full of stories. laughs, tears and inside jokes and even included a dice roll of who was going to say their vows first.

Headed into the reception, we danced the night away, cried some more when Dani danced with her grandfather, and ate some of the most incredible vegan food I have ever tasted! Those cupcakes pictured? They were gone in about 10 minutes..I had 2..NO REGRETS!

Dani and Andy…thank you both from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to document your wedding day. It was a great reminder of why I love this career, and why I am so passionate about my couples happiness. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the both of you!

Dani

PS. If you LOVE podcasts about rad people, hot topics and good food..follow the The V Spot podcast, which is co hosted by Dani & Andy!

AWESOME VENDORS:

Florist : Self done / Allison Giguere / Art Farm Flowers
Event Coordinator : Jesse Calhoun – LaBella Planners
Ceremony Location : Beardslee Castle
Reception Location :Beardslee Castle
Cake : Bri Harrington – The Cakerino
Dress Designer :Love Story – Troy, NY
Tux : Men’s Warehouse
Rings : Green Gem Jewelry
DJ: Bret Gobe
Catering : Beardsless Castle – Vegan Menu
Hair & Make up :Katt DiCocco / Amy Jones – Upstate Beauty & Pure Elements Salon – Bridgette Guerrette
Assistant Photographer : Natalie Wendig
Additional Lodging : Hill Top Bed and Breakfast

A LITTLE MORE FROM OUR BRIDE & GROOM….

WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE PART OF YOUR WEDDING DAY?

Andy : “Our first look in the field. The setting was perfect, and getting to see Danielle for the first time was amazing. It was our first moment to really just be a couple on our wedding day.”

Dani : “Getting ready was really special. Seeing all my friends and family, everything come together, and being surrounded by all that love before the big moment was unforgettable.”

ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE COUPLES WHEN PLANNING THEIR WEDDING?
Dani : “Get all your worrying out the week before. Wrap it up by rehearsal dinner. After that, let go and enjoy the ride, because what’s going to happen happens. You’ll never notice anything slightly off, and you certainly won’t remember it. Just live in the moment and take it all in. You’re getting married, have fun!

Andy : “Same. Also stop and look around. Take it all in. Time will go by really fast and you’ll want to try to slow it down. Breath and don’t blink.”

IF YOU HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING?
Andy : I’d not try to get stuff done last minute. But that’s just a me problem anyway, haha!

Dani : “ I wouldn’t change anything honestly. Everything was how I wanted it to be. Maybe I’d save more room for more food, but that’s about it. “

WHERE DID YOU HAVE THAT FABULOUS HONEYMOON?
”We didn’t yet. But we’re planning a Disney-moon!”

WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT YOUR WEDDING DAY?
Dani: “How relax I was the entire time. I didn’t stress about anything, which is SUPER rare for me. I just felt loved and happy.”
Andy : “How fast everything went, but I was told that would be the case. I was more surprised that we got to do all the stuff people say you don’t get to do. Eat, drink, dance, visit everyone. Checked all the boxes and we weren’t dead at the end!”