A Slim Aarons Inspired Wedding Meets Upstate New York at the Inns of Aurora

Some weddings feel like a perfect snapshot of a couple’s world, and Ashley and Nick’s celebration at the Inns of Aurora was exactly that. Their weekend blended Slim Aarons’ sun-soaked elegance with the relaxed charm of Upstate New York. It felt like stepping into the last golden days of summer, filled with color, personality, and thoughtful details woven from the story they share.

From the beginning, they hoped their wedding would feel like an expression of who they are. Ashley later said, “We wanted our wedding to feel like us, and it did.” That vision shaped everything. Their palette drew inspiration from the places they love, their stationery held playful nods to their story, and their design grew into a warm, joyful experience that welcomed guests into their world.

At Verve Event Co., this is the heart of our planning and design approach. We create weddings that are beautiful to look at, but even more meaningful to experience. For Ashley and Nick, that meant translating the ease and glamour of Slim Aarons photography into a celebration filled with intention, movement, and color.

This is the story of their lakeside wedding. It was vibrant, layered, and full of personal touches, and we were honored to help bring it to life.

Bride and groom stand next to each other at ceremony altar, surrounded by color florals and with the lake behind them.

The Design Vision: Slim Aarons Meets Upstate New York

Ashley and Nick’s vision began with a single idea. They wanted a wedding that felt like summer captured on film. Not the polished kind of summer, but the effortless scenes you find in Slim Aarons photographs. Sunlight on water, stripes and bright color, friends gathered outdoors with the feeling that time is slowing just a little.

For them, Slim Aarons wasn’t just a style reference. It was a mood. It represented warmth, joy, and the kind of relaxed luxury that invites people to settle in and stay awhile. When we paired that with the natural beauty of the Inns of Aurora, everything clicked. The property offered the perfect mix of lakefront breezes and Upstate charm, and it gave us space to layer in color, texture, and playful details without losing the sense of ease they wanted guests to feel.

Their palette also grew from personal meaning. Hints of California sunshine blended with the tones of the landscapes they love. Scallops, stripes, and native florals gave the design movement and dimension. Even the stationery carried little “Easter eggs” from their story, including nods to Ashley’s love of needlepoint and Nick’s baseball collection. Each layer helped build a weekend that felt vibrant, welcoming, and unmistakably theirs.

This foundation set the tone for everything that followed, from the ceremony to the final toast at sunset.

A Colorful, Sun-Soaked Ceremony by the Water

Ashley and Nick’s ceremony felt like stepping into a postcard. The lakeshore at the Inns of Aurora shimmered in the afternoon light, setting the stage for a celebration rooted in joy, color, and the couple’s story.

Their vision was inspired by Slim Aarons’ vibrant, sun-drenched worlds, and the ceremony design brought that spirit to life. Lush clusters of florals in shades of raspberry, marigold, tangerine, and soft pink framed the aisle in a way that felt playful yet intentional. The palette echoed the couple’s love for color while honoring the warm, end-of-summer setting.

Elegant scalloped umbrellas lined the seating to provide shade for guests and introduce one of the whimsical textures woven throughout the day. These small details helped transform the ceremony space into something that felt both relaxed and elevated, which is exactly the balance Ashley and Nick envisioned.

A string quartet played as guests settled in, and the lakeside breeze carried hints of late-summer warmth. When the ceremony began, the emotion in the air was unmistakable. Family members wiped tears, friends leaned in, and every vow felt amplified by the peaceful backdrop of Cayuga Lake. It was one of those moments where design and meaning met seamlessly, and the entire space felt alive with the couple’s energy.

From the floral-lined aisle to the intimate storytelling woven into their vows, every part of the ceremony reflected what we believe at Verve: the most thoughtful celebrations aren’t designed in parts — they’re woven as one story. Here, that story began with intention, color, and the feeling of being surrounded by the people who mattered most.

Cocktail Hour on the Lawn

As the ceremony shifted into cocktail hour, guests wandered onto the lakeside lawn and stepped into a scene that felt straight out of a Slim Aarons photograph. The setting was relaxed and colorful, with thoughtful details that carried the story forward from the very first paper piece. This was where Ashley and Nick wanted their guests to settle in, soak up the view, and start experiencing the design with all their senses.

We used the same palette that shaped the ceremony flowers and brought it into the decor. Striped linens, rattan lounge furniture, and bright parasols created pockets of shade and color across the lawn. The effect was playful but still refined, much like the retro Palm Springs inspiration the couple loved.

The bar became a key focal point. Its scalloped signage, custom cocktail names, and layered florals brought together several of the personal details that appeared throughout their paper goods. Guests sampled everything from a Hugo Spritz to a Freehand “Old Fashion,” a nod to their love of classic drinks with a twist.

During cocktail hour, you could feel how their story was woven through every detail. Nothing felt separate or pieced together. Instead, the design unfolded naturally, with textures, color, and movement guiding guests from one moment to the next. This approach is something we value deeply. A well-designed cocktail hour builds anticipation and allows guests to experience the celebration before they even enter the reception.

Ashley and Nick wanted their wedding to feel joyful, welcoming, and personal. Cocktail hour set that tone beautifully, offering their loved ones a vibrant and relaxed space to connect before the evening continued.

A Vibrant End-of-Summer Reception

As the sun dipped toward the lake, guests made their way from cocktail hour to a playful “guest check-in” moment. Inspired by classic resort culture, the escort display featured retro key tags with each guest’s name and table number. It was charming, unexpected, and one of the most photographed details of the evening.

Under the sailcloth tent, Ashley and Nick shared a private reception reveal before guests were seated. Their reaction said everything. Seeing the full design come to life, from the layered textures to the joyful palette, was a moment they’d been dreaming of since our first design meeting.

The reception reflected everything they loved about late summer. Long banquet tables were dressed in leafy green linens that created a fresh, garden-like backdrop. Colorful arrangements of dahlias, zinnias, and garden roses ran down the tables, mixing warm oranges, soft pinks, and sunny yellows. Each place setting featured scalloped menus, woven napkin rings, and green-edged napkins that echoed the cabana stripes and scalloped details used earlier in the day.

Soft bistro lights and rattan pendants added warmth as evening arrived, giving the tent a relaxed, resort-like glow. It felt inviting and nostalgic, almost like stepping into a lakeside supper club at the end of a perfect summer day.

How Verve Created a Stress-Free Planning Experience

From the beginning, Ashley and Nick wanted a celebration that felt joyful and personal, but they also wanted the planning experience itself to feel calm and intentional. Our job was to create a process that gave them clarity, confidence, and room to enjoy the journey rather than get lost in the details.

“Our wedding planning era was not stressful. Verve took control of the day-to-day, allowing us to have fun with wedding planning and not stress about the little details. We spent over two years planning the most amazing weekend and there was little to no stress that the final product would be exceptional. ”
— Ashley & Nick

One of their earliest concerns was understanding what a realistic budget looked like for the weekend they envisioned. We outlined clear options, helped them prioritize what mattered most, and checked in often. This kept the process transparent and helped them make decisions quickly without second-guessing.

As the design evolved, we guided them through each element by grounding every choice in their story — the colors from their favorite places, the playful patterns, the textures that reminded them of home. That focus helped the entire weekend feel warm, welcoming, and unmistakably theirs.

Throughout the planning process, our team handled the logistics, timelines, and countless behind-the-scenes details so they could stay present and excited. Their trust allowed us to carry their vision from concept to celebration in a way that felt effortless for them and meaningful for their guests.

This commitment to intentional planning and thoughtful design is at the heart of what we do, and it’s exactly how we approach every wedding we plan.

Bride and groom stand on dock overlooking the lake for wedding portraits.

Work With Verve to Design a Celebration That Feels Like You

Ashley and Nick’s wedding was joyful, personal, and full of heart. Every detail, from the Slim Aarons–inspired palette to the playful patterns and meaningful touches, reflected their story. But what truly made the weekend special was how effortless it felt for them. They were able to be present with their families, enjoy the moments as they unfolded, and trust that every detail had been cared for long before the day began.

That ease is one of the things we value most in our work. Great design should feel intentional, and great planning should feel seamless. When those two come together, your wedding becomes more than a beautiful event. It becomes an experience you get to savor from the very first planning conversation to the last song of the night.

“You should let Verve plan the entire weekend. It goes by so fast and you never have to worry, because Desiree and her team think of everything.”
— Ashley & Nick

If you’re dreaming of a wedding that’s visually stunning, deeply personal, and planned with the same level of care, we would love to help bring your vision to life. Inquire here to learn more about our full-service planning and design experience and see how we can create a celebration that feels uniquely yours.