Ashley and Max's fall Inns of Aurora wedding was absolutely magical. The two tied the knot at one of the finest resort hotels in the finger lakes region. Located on Cayuga Lake, I have to say, this venue is breathtaking. With several homes and buildings on the property, the options are endless. This venue offers a combination of art, culture, and history while remaining classical and elegant. Planning a fall wedding at a location like this was a dream. It quickly has become one of our favorite places to recommend to clients. I can't wait to share all of the details on the blog here today!
Are you getting married at The Inns of Aurora? Or are you still looking for a New York wedding venue? This is our specialty! When you're ready to plan your own wedding, you can learn more about working together here. We would love to help you plan your own heirloom occasion or destination wedding weekend!
New York Wedding Planner Review
Before I share all of my favorite details from this beautiful fall day, I have to gush over this sweet review from Ashley. If I don't say it enough, I really do love what I do. Working with Ashley and Max was a dream. As an out-of-state couple, I'm so grateful that they trusted me to bring their modern fall wedding to life.
“We chose to work with Desirée because we loved her designs and her attention to detail! Desiree knows what she is talking about. She understood my vision and was extremely organized, which I LOVED. During welcome drinks and on the wedding day, I got to fully relax and enjoy the moment with my family and friends while Desirée made sure everything was buttoned up, running smoothly and perfect. I am super sad that the wedding and planning is over and will miss Desirée's positive attitude and her “get sh*t done” energy.”
A Lakeside Ceremony
Surrounded by 100 of their closest family and friends, Ashley and Max said “I do” lakeside. I mean, can you think of a more beautiful backdrop? It was stunning. I don't think photos will ever pick it up however, every single time we do a wedding at this venue, the lake looks like it's sparkling as the sun reflects against the water during the ceremony. It's magical.
Since the beginning of planning, Ashley had this vision of tall white roses lining the aisle as she walked toward her groom. Now, let's be clear, when a bride has a vision, you make it happen. Or at least you find people that will make it happen and we did just that! These tall stemmed white roses appeared as if they were growing out of the ground to lead the way down the aisle. The design was simple yet luxurious at the same time. To meet the couple at the altar were two large meadow arrangments. Full of texture and various flowers, the two lush arrangments complemented the couple so well. This ceremony was one for the books.
Cocktail Hour
If you've been following Verve for a while then you know we love a good cocktail hour. It sets the vibe for the night and gets the party started. Not only did we have one bar inside in the Lakeside Room but we also had a satellite bar that was on the lawn. Having two bars is very convenient for your guests and helps alleviate any rush for the bartenders.
We always love to have a lounge during cocktail hour to make it more comfortable for guests who may not want to stand at a high top. Plus, look how GORGEOUS this lounge was. The couch matched perfectly with our fern green velvet high-top linens. It was the best accent color to go with the ivory and peach color palette that we went with for the reception space. Also, not to mention, the lounge was a great photo-op for guests! It was a win-win!
The Reception
Oh, how we LOVED this reception space. I mean look at this color palette. What a lineup! We paired ivory velvet linens with burnt orange florals along with some peach, blush, and green accents. The whole design was Ashley's vision and it was stunning. It was warm and inviting but also had some fun matte black smokey accents with the glasses, flatware, and stationery.
Another fun touch that we always like to do at Verve is mixing taper candles and votive candles. It adds a dimension of height to the tablescape without blocking guests' view. Also, can we talk about this napkin fold? The waterfall fold has to be one of our favorites. It's elegant yet effortless at the same time. It doesn't feel too stiff or formal. It's perfect. Ashley's whole vision came together beautifully for the perfect fall modern wedding.
The Sweetheart Table
For Ashley and Max's sweetheart table, we wanted to do something a little more unique than what's been done in the past. We opted for arrangements in opposite corners of the table to add some dimension to the design. On the table, we did a low arrangement with seasonal blooms and foliage, and then on the opposite side, we went with a grounded meadow arrangement. While still grand, these florals leaned on the more organic side which created a fun whimsical-like display.
Sunset Boat Rides
Probably one of our favorite parts of the day were the boat rides at sunset. Not only did the bride and groom get to enjoy a sunset cruise but guests were able to enjoy their own rides too. We rented a local antique boat that made for such beautiful moments. How dreamy are these photos?
The Dance Party
The Inns of Aurora has quite the set-up for weddings. They have a dancing tent that is separate from the dinner tent so you have the best of both worlds. While some guests want to enjoy dessert and relax in the dinner tent, others want to dance the night away in the adjoining tent. It's the perfect set-up! During the couple's first dance, the guests gathered around them for the most romantic moment. Then they all joined in dancing to some classic hits. It's always fun watching people fill the dance floor to celebrate the newlyweds. We love a good party!
Planning a Wedding at Inns of Aurora
Are you feeling inspired yet? We absolutely loved helping Ashley and Max create something both modern yet timeless to them. At Verve, we believe great planning and designing need to feel just like you. In my humble opinion, that's exactly what we accomplished here. If you are planning a wedding at The Inns of Aurora, you can connect directly with me, Desiree, here. We would love to work with you to brainstorm ways to make your wedding uniquely and incredibly yours.
Photo Credit for this post goes to the wonderful Laura Rose Weddings. For a full list of wedding vendors (and even more photos!), check out their wedding gallery here.
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