Rachel and Sawyer created a mini getaway to the Finger Lakes wine country for their big day, choosing the Ramada Geneva Lakefront as the central location. When SHP arrived, Rachel and her ladies were ahead of schedule, donning adorable matching tank tops, and they had all the dresses set up for a photo opp! Sarah definitely took advantage of that and then set out to create a portrait of Rachel’s dress solo, including the “something blue” (a piece of one of her father’s blue dress shirts) and a piece of her mother’s wedding dress sewed into the underside of her gown. When Jenn knocked on Sawyer’s door and he answered, it was clear he was ahead of schedule too! He was dressed but for his jacket, so Jenn found some nice light and encouraged him to make a few last adjustments to his outfit as they waited for the rest of his guys to arrive.

During getting ready, the guys seriously questioned the necessity for pocket squares as each of them tried to find the perfect fold. Once they settled on one, they toasted Sawyer with some Jack Daniels – Sawyer’s departed father’s spirit of choice. He mentioned a few memories of his father before they kicked back the whiskey, and then it was time for Sawyer to see Rachel for the first time that day. Meanwhile, Rachel’s ladies gathered round to help her into her dress and with her finishing touches, including a lipstick touch up, buttoning of her dress, and final veil placement. Rachel was handed her bouquet for the final touch – suddenly she was a bride about to see her favorite person for the first time that day.

The Ramada sits on the Geneva Lakefront Park, which provided a lovely back drop for the couple’s first look. Sawyer patiently waited as Rachel approached. When he turned around to see her, he literally jumped in the air with excitement! They had lots of time to canoodle for couple portraits and then wedding party arrived right on time for their turn in front of the camera. During, the planning process Rachel had picked out a few images for inspiration, which was useful during the wedding party formals. The inspiration allowed for SHP and the wedding party to get a little goofy and have some fun. Rachel and Sawyer brought framed images of both sets of parents on their wedding days to have a portrait taken with them as well. We thought this was a very cute idea and a wonderful nod to what eventually brought them to this very day. After the wedding party was photographed, family portraits were a breeze! The couple included a framed photo of Sawyer’s father in the majority of the family portraits, which was a touching detail we loved and respected. And like that, the majority of the formal images Rachel and Sawyer wanted to capture for the day were done before the ceremony even started.

That ceremony though! They wrote their own vows, and were both fully prepared for this; however, Sawyer was not prepared for the surprise Rachel had! During her vows, she explained that she had written him a letter years ago (two weeks into knowing him to be specific), the day she realized she wanted to spend her life with him, and sealed it. It remained sealed up until this very minute, where she proceeded to open it with trembling hands and through happy tears, read it to him and all their witnesses. She had everyone in tears! It was a beautiful display of true love.

Their adorable ceremony led straight into an indoor/outdoor cocktail hour along Seneca Lake. Cindy Ormond of Ormond Entertainment helped Sarah accomplish a bunch of requested group shots during this time, which was awesome. The sun was beginning to set, so Sarah and Wesley nabbed the couple right before the beginning of their reception to get an awesome shot of them against a beautiful cotton candy sky! (While working on this photo, a couple strangers approached Rachel and Sawyer and they playfully posed altogether – totally random and funny because the same thing happened during their engagement session!)

As master of ceremonies, Cindy got the reception rolling smoothly (per usu – we love working with her and Barry!) and introduced Rachel and Sawyer as husband and wife for the first time. They shared an adorable first dance to “Moondance” by Van Morrison, complete with emphatic hip action at just the perfect times. After the maid of honor and best man gave heartfelt toasts, a delicious plated dinner was served. We were very impressed by the food at the Ramada and trust that their guests were too!

Once the cake was cut, the dance floor opened and flooded! After snapping a few grand shots of the dance party, Sarah and Wesley headed out to the pier to set up an epic night shot for the couple. After our time on the pier, SHP said goodnight to Rachel and Sawyer, wishing them the most fun for the rest of their night.

We hope you enjoy some highlights from this adorable, sweet couple’s best day ever!

Congratulations & best wishes, Mr. & Mrs. Kerr!!

Featured Wedding Professionals || Dress Designer – Kenneth Winston | Dress Retailer – Rebecca’s Bridal Boutique | Groom & Groomsmen Attire – Men’s Wearhouse | Hair & Makeup Artist – Studio Salon | Cake – Wegmans | Florist – Wegmans | DJ – Ormond Entertainment |