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Our love story began in 2012, in Madrid, Spain (well in the JFK airport over a beer and a Diet Coke to be exact)…. As luck and perhaps fate would have it, we both signed up for a summer study abroad program through our Alma Mater, Syracuse University. Despite both attending SU only a year apart, we had never formally met on campus. We spent a great deal of time together that summer, becoming the best of friends (that tended to dance together and kiss from time to time) and creating unforgettable memories that we will cherish forever. Some of our favorites include: hanging out and chatting in the school courtyard (before Wes dozed off for his mid-day siestas), trying every sandwich at Cien Montaditos, dancing until the sun rose at Kapital nightclub (Emily somehow always ended up near the DJ Booth), searching for Wes’s wallet for an entire night after being pickpocketed, and traveling to Barcelona – a place we fell in love with and re-visited together 6 years later.

Our romance continued to grow when we returned to Syracuse University. Whether it was a party at the hockey house, attending a basketball game, or going to the campus bar, Chucks, we always seemed to find each other. As we spent more time together, it was clear our chemistry and love for one another was blossoming into something special. Wes finally asked Emily on a first date (mini golfing), foreshadowing Wes’s future aspirations to be a good husband with a decent handicap. However, Emily would like it known it was SHE who got a hole in one on that first date. Together now for almost a decade, we have been through quite a journey of long distance, graduations and new careers. In the summer of 2020, we concluded our long distance journey and moved to Saratoga Springs, NY – a very special place we now call home, and where we continue to build amazing memories together.

How did the two of you meet?

Study Abroad trip to Madrid, Spain over 10 years ago! Through our Alma Mater, Syracuse University. 

What was your favorite memory of your wedding day?

Emily: That’s such a tough one! Overall, the love that was felt throughout the entire day. The love I felt from and for Wes, the love from our friends and family. It was truly so overwhelmingly powerful. I truly feel like we are the two luckiest people in the world. 
Wes: Watching Emily walk down the aisle.

What were the main influences behind the style of your wedding, its location and your venue choice for your big day?

Emily always loved the idea of a winter wedding, and we thought having a New Year’s Eve was such a cool concept! It’s the mark of the end of a year, a time to reflect on all of the memories, and look forward to the future. We thought celebrating the start of our marriage on this date was super symbolic and meaningful. It was a day to reflect on everything that got us to this point, and a wonderful moment to celebrate our love for one another through a union, and look forward to the amazing life that lies ahead for us.

We moved to Saratoga Springs 3 years ago in the pandemic and absolutely have fallen in love with it. We really haven’t had a lot of our loved ones up here to visit and figured what better excuse to get everyone together to celebrate in a place that we love and have called home than celebrating our wedding here.

It was important to us to find a venue that could accommodate all of our family and friends! We’re both blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives and really wanted to have them all together to celebrate. We fell in love with the Hall of Springs for its historic charm and timeless elegance. (and it was kind of a full-circle moment as Wes actually had his law school reception there in 2018!) We also felt the space was super romantic and fit perfectly with a New Year’s Eve vibe! 

What would your top tips be for somebody planning their wedding?

Do what’s best for you! It’s your special day and it’s absolutely magical. No matter what you choose, it will be absolutely perfect.
Enjoy the engagement journey! Whether it’s only a few weeks, months, or years, being engaged is so special and fun! Planning a wedding comes with its challenges, but looking back it is a time in our lives that we’ll always reflect on fondly. 
Soak up every moment during your wedding day (and the days/weeks leading up to it), because it goes by in a flash! We had almost a 2-year engagement, and it felt like the day came and went before we knew it. 
Always remember what your wedding is all about: your marriage! Everything else is amazing, but your union as a couple and your love for each other is the most important.

What made you decide to hire a wedding videographer? Any tips for couples on the fence for a film?

We were on the fence! After thinking about it further, we realized that there are very few things you actually get to ‘keep’ or take with you after your wedding day. A video is one of the few pieces that you truly get to keep for a lifetime after your special day and that was ultimately all it took to convince us we needed one. We’re excited to share our memories with our family for years to come.