Father of the Bride is my favorite movie. It’s been so ever since I was in middle school. One of the most famous lines from the movie (even though most of the movie is quotable) is when Steve Martin’s character, George Banks, suggests a “wedding at home” for his newly engaged daughter. That’s almost where the similarities between the movie and Kendra and Andy’s wedding stop. (Almost because Kendra and Andra were a beautiful bride and groom, just like the couple in the movie.) Their wedding “at home” was a dream come true. Kendra and Andy’s Saratoga Springs wedding photos bring me back to their wonderful weekend.

They wanted to rent a home for a destination wedding with an intimate guest list. It would simply be family and a select group of close friends gathering to celebrate all weekend. Of course the highlight was Saturday when they get married on a dock on Saratoga Lake with two extra VIPs in attendance: their dogs, Briggs and Alfie! It was a truly spectacular day and reminded me why I love smaller weddings, whose intimacy adds a special quality to the celebration I gravitate towards.

Before they did their first look in the backyard of the home they got ready in different rooms of the house. I enjoyed bouncing back and forth to capture all the special moments.

They decided to exchange gifts on their wedding day. They were both awesome too: Andy gave Kendra a pair of diamond earrings. She gasped when she opened them – who wouldn’t?! And we all (including the bridesmaids and moms) gushed over them! She immediately put her wedding earrings she chose for the day in the second hole of her ear lobes and put her new diamond earrings from her soon-to-be-husband front and center. Kendra gifted Andy a golf club cover that looked exactly like their dog, Briggs! When Briggs came down the stairs moments later the resemblance was uncanny! I loved, loved, loved the pretty white leashes and collars they got for their pups too, complete with decorative flowers to match the wedding blossoms.

There were so many cute details at their wedding. A favorite of mine was the heart patches with “K+A” and their wedding date sewn into Andy’s suit jacket and under the belt of Kendra’s wedding gown.

Kendra carried a white, pink and peach bouquet with roses, ranunculus, hydrangea and several types of eucalyptus. The bridesmaids carried complimentary bouquets with hydrangea and eucalyptus they held against their pink chiffon gowns. The two flower girls were the cutest! They’re Kendra’s best friend’s girls and she’s essentially their “aunt Kendra”. The bride and groom got them parasols to pose with for photos along with cute wands with their names written on them.

The groomsmen wore blue suits. Andy and his best man had custom liners they chose with their initials embroidered inside: the groom’s was a fun blue paisley and his best man, John’s, was palm trees!

Their ceremony was perfect. It was on the private dock of the home they rented on Saratoga Lake, decorated with fabric swags and flowers. A small maple tree sat ready for them to blanket with soil, part of the Oneida Native American traditions at a wedding, which Andy’s father officiated and facilitated. The water vessel was also a part of the traditions of Andy’s Native American heritage.

Their Saratoga Springs wedding continued at the reception, under a white tent on the backyard lawn of the home. Their catering was incredible! They hired a vintage pizza food truck that made small pizzas of several varieties. Cocktail time consisted of lite bites like skewers with meats and veggies and a gorgeous display of cheese and fruit.

They had custom signage everywhere, from a welcome sign with colorful ferns, to a bar sign with their dog Briggs’ silhouette on it, to one at the dessert bar for their dog, Alfie, too. Their guest book was accompanied by Instax cameras for guests to use and there were lawn games to enjoy. Two tree trunks by the dessert table had framed family portraits on them. Each table under the tent had a table number of a city important to Kendra and Andy, and vintage salt and pepper shakers on them. It was fun for for me to search for them among the greenery laid down on each table and see what they were for each setting.

The head table had two special white upholstered chairs for the bride and groom with extra flowers and candle holders. Tapered candles in blue, orange and peach were at the tables as well, their flames adding to the glow of the twinkling lights strung in the tent. Wreaths of dried rosemary with pretty name tags on them were at each place setting. Kendra, Andy and Andy’s parents, Randy and Martha, had silver turtles added to their plates, an important animal to the Oneidas. (Turtles are important to many First Nations actually, which is something I learned on a First Nations trip I took to Canada recently!)

Another really fun feature of the wedding, which the bride and groom set up at the bar, was that they bought unique cups. There were one, two or three of different types of glass types, including owl-inspired copper mugs, mason jars, and colorful ones with all different types of patterns. Guests were able to choose their favorite and take them home as a guest favor. So smart!

I love all the details Kendra, especially, poured her heart into and Andy, especially, helped set up that day. It added to the warmth of the wedding and energy put into making everything pictur-eperfect! Congratulations, Kendra and Andy!

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, Etsy / Invitation: Minted, Lush Garden design / Hair: I Do Gorgeous / Catering: Classic Crust / Wedding gown: Tulip Bridal, Boho Lace / Ties: Charles Tyrwhitt / Engagement ring and groom’s band: Helzberg / Bride’s wedding band: Point No Point Studio / Rentals: Rustic Robin Events / Tent and additional rentals: Belmonte and Son / Bridesmaids gifts: Printable Wisdom, Etsy / Suits: Quintessential Gentleman

For more weddings in upstate New York also check out:

• Samantha and Tyler’s golf course wedding in Saratoga Springs
• Laura and Phil’s riverfront wedding in Germontown
• Erinn and Brett’s vineyard wedding in West Park

Don’t forget to follow @mikkelpaige on Instagram for more photo goodness! And if you’re interested in having us capture your day, don’t be shy. Contact us – we’d love to hear from you!