This was almost a last minute decision. My bride didn’t really have a bridal shower, and my bachelor party was really causal, so we decided to go out in style for the rehearsal dinner. We went to 2021 the Friday of the week before the wedding, and had a really elegant dinner with our parents and siblings. We had been here a few times, and the ambiance was great. I liked that it was also the week before the wedding, because on the eve everyone was stressing about alterations and flowers. This way, we could talk and enjoy each other’s company.

For our wedding photos, we chose to go to work with Kristian Olson. The process of choosing a photographer was long, because we had so many friends who were offering to take pictures. What made us choose Kristian was how mesmerized we were when we saw his portfolio and how beautiful his photos were. The three of us together were able to come up with a package deal that suited our budget and expectations. We appreciated the professional consultation we received, and felt that there was a good connection. I can’t say enough on how much we were glad that Kristian was available for our wedding day!

I had a suit, but agreed to get a new suit for the big day. My brother, brother-in-law, and two friends also needed to be suited up, too. They have good suits here, and we didn’t all need to go at the same time for the fitting. They were able to put us in the system, which was easy for us, and they did a great job with the alterations. We got silk tuxedo braces, ties, socks, and we also ended up getting shoes here.

My father had bought my mother her engagement ring from Tiffany's, and my grandfather had bought a ring from Tiffany for my grandmother. I liked the idea that there was tradition that I could keep. I set up an appointment, looked at rings, got flustered by the styles and understanding the differences between carat weight. I also wanted something that was fun and pretty. I chose the Flower ring, just because I think it looks like a snowflake and we met in winter. She loved it, and then we got bands. She now wears the simple band all the time, and the ‘snowflake’ ring for special occasions.

We ordered our cards online from Minted. We loved their webpage, and we were also extremely busy (we were both starting new jobs) and so there weren’t many extra hours to make our own or have someone in the city make them. The webpage was good because you could choose from within your price range, color, template, and you get proof for free! The cards were nice (stunning according to the bride), maybe more than I would have liked to spend, but it was such a no stress process! There was no way I was going to spend a free afternoon printing up my own invitations.

We have both always wanted to go to Fiji, and so made that the destination for our honeymoon. We searched around on the internet for resorts and places to stay. All the places sounded the same, but we were completely satisfied with who we were staying with. Once you get there, you realize how beautiful it is, and you want to spend as much time on the beach or on hikes and enjoying Fiji. It’s so peaceful. We’re going again, that’s for sure.

We felt that we could do without typical party favors. I personally don’t remember weddings for how nice the favors were. We did, however, give each guest something. We decided to go with our favorite treat of ours, a small box of Legacy Chocolates. It was our way of thanking each couple for taking time to be there with us. We chose an assortment of chocolates in the boxes that represented ourselves (espresso for me, caramel for her). These are some of the best chocolates in the world, and our friends and family were very pleased with them. And I felt good about them.

We had been to a wedding there before, and we both liked the place a lot. From our first meeting I felt so confident that Kim and his crew knew everything they were doing. Throughout the planning, and all the days that lead up to the ‘big day’, I could call with any questions my fiancé had and get a straight answer. Though pricey, I think the freedom from not having to stress over where we were going to get the linen from was well worth it. It was a beautiful evening, everyone kept telling me how much they were enjoying their night, and I can’t think of anything that I would have done differently.

We shopped around for a cake, but found that all the prices for quality and presence were pretty much standard in the city. We chose “It Takes the Cake” because we were greeted by a really friendly person who provided us with all the details on cost and flavors. I personally was sold on the icing. I don’t eat many sweets, but I like it when the icing is really thick and not too sweet. We had a lovely four-tier cake with berries on each level. And my bride was happy, so it was an easy decision!

I’m not into going to strip clubs, and I wanted to have a nice day with my friends, so I planned a round of paintball at Splat Tag in Hudson. I had been there before, and they have the area set up really nice. We had fifteen guys there. There are trees and abandon cars to hide behind. My one suggestion is to wear lots of layers. Wear three or four sweaters, because if your friends decided to shot at close range because it’s your bachelor party, you want to make sure you can still walk the next day. And plan to have a shower right after before you do anything else that day.