Kendra and Andy knew a destination wedding was right for them from the start because it could provide the special/quaint location they so desired to say “I do” in. Specifically, the couple chose Saratoga Springs, NY, but not just for the fact that the town fit their criteria, it had much, much more to offer.

“We chose Saratoga Springs because of the many activities within the town (racetrack, golf, museums, pubs and nightlife, etc.) and the stunning scenery surrounding the nearby lake.  Additionally, Saratoga Springs was large enough to ensure that vendors would be readily available but not so large that we would need to book vendors 1+ years in advance (we planned our wedding in just 7 short months!),” the couple says.

Initially, Kendra and Andy were looking for a large, dog-friendly house on a lake that would permit them to host a small wedding of just 25 guests.  “We were very thankful our vendors were so accommodating and flexible (especially the owner of the house we rented) because our wedding grew to about 75 people,” Kendra says. 

Not surprisingly, guests were ecstatic to get explore a region they may otherwise have never visited. In fact, the couple reports that many of them stated again and again that they would be returning to Saratoga Springs in the future to get to know the town even better! The couple was already familiar with the town by the time their wedding day arrived. They had made it a point to travel to the quaint town three different times to visit with a few of their vendors in person. Otherwise, the couple was able to plan all of the rentals and catering with just a few emails and phone calls each.

“Even our flowers and cake were decided on to some degree by emailing pictures of exactly what we wanted and then tailoring our design ideas in person when we visited. When we needed to get certain ribbons to our florist we were able to have the items delivered straight to her,” the couple says.

A perk of choosing to wed at a rented private residence was that Kendra and Andy got firsthand advice from the property owner, Garth, who ultimately helped the couple choose their caterer, Classic Crust, a unique mobile pizza experience.

“He was also a wealth of knowledge regarding local ordinances (loud music, outdoor parties, etc.) and helped us navigate the logistics of planning a backyard wedding,” the two say.

Once over the major hurdles, the focus could be directed to decorating. Kendra and her family let their DIY ideas run wild to ultimately create a fairytale paradise. Their efforts resulted in a copper DIY bar, a flower curtain photo backdrop, hoop wreaths, handmade floral dog collars and leashes, a framed photo collection of loved ones nailed artfully to a backyard tree and stairs which lead down to the dock where the two would say “I do.” The event couldn’t have been tailored more perfectly to represent Kendra and Andy’s love. The couple even purchased a small Japanese Maple tree from a local nursery to replant during the ceremony, symbolizing the laying down of their roots. The final touch, however, was priceless: Andy’s father, a pastor for the Oneida Nation, ended up officiating the wedding.

“Hosting a wedding in a unique destination and an even more special venue created a lasting memory…,” Kendra and Andy say, “We will never forget the stunning backdrop created by Saratoga Lake or all the special touches added to our wedding by local vendors and products such as our beloved wedding tree and Saratoga Water.”

Vendors: Photography: Mikkel Paige Photography; Venue: Private residence, Saratoga Springs; Hair and makeup: I Do Gorgeous; Wedding gown: Tulip Bridal; Flowers: Dehn’s Flowers; Cake: Saratoga Bread Basket; Bakery/Cake topper: Lollipop Workshop; Stationery: Minted; Catering: Classic Crust; Boho Lace/Ties: Charles Tyrwhitt; Rings: Helzberg; Bride’s wedding band: Point No Point Studio; Rentals: Rustic Robin Events & Belmonte and Son; Bridesmaids gifts: Printable Wisdom