This year was the 40th Anniversary of the Empire State Winter Games and I had the opportunity to Stage Manage the Opening Ceremonies event for the 14th year in a row. There were approximately 3600 athletes participating and over 6,000 audience members. The largest and most successful event to date. This is always a wonderful event, brining together athletes from throughout NY for the many disciplines of Winter Sports.
It feels like a NYS Olympics and the energy is contagious. As a former competitive figure skater, I competed in the very first Empire State Games and 5 subsequent years, and still have my medals and polyester track suits. Some years later, as a National Competitor, I was honored to be invited back as a guest star performer in the opening ceremonies. As a figure skating coach, I have had many a student competing in the games and they always are most excited for this event. As a mother of 2 ski jumpers and a cross-country athlete, my boys have participated and walked in the opening ceremonies for the last 5 years. To say the games are near and dear to my heart is an understatement. They are winter highlight for our vibrant Lake Placid Community. This couple selected the Mountain House in Keene for their special day. They wanted an outdoor space to feel immersed in nature with nature all around. The bride had selected a clear frame tent punctuated with large greenery chandeliers. As we often do a week-out, our planning team started looking at the forecast and instead of worrying about rain we had to anticipate the forecasted heat wave of high 90 degree temperatures. Time to adapt, let’s go team, step one, call rental company and see if we can change from clear tent to sailcloth tent (clear tents can have a greenhouse/warming effect)— Yes! Step two, the new tent design warrants a new floral design, not the planned chandeliers, so second call was to the florist who so graciously and willingly changed some of her floral order and totally changed her design plan for the tent. A face-time call upon installation of tent on Wednesday allowed her to get the perfect measurements and design down for her install team on Saturday am. End of story, bride liked this adapted design even more than her original design, and the tent and added rental fans kept the tent nice and cool, and oh-so beautiful. View wedding gallery by Mountainaire Gatherings Photography.
Not only was this bride and groom stunning, but so were all their aesthetic choices, from the all-white floral choices to the white on white tux for Jack. All of touches highlighted the grace of this couple, simple yet elegant, quiet, yet making a statement. The look of a “White Wedding” and streamlined all-white color scheme has been gaining traction in industry trends, but it is difficult to do just right, without it looking like something was overlooked. This lush greenery and natural scenery of this event made the whites pop and sing as bright as the sunny day. The weather for this late June wedding was as perfect as the touches, warm sun and cool breezes. They ventured to the Lower Lakes for some special one on one time and photographer, Julia Backus traveled along to capture some magnificent images.
Today weddings become most touching and personal when they are a representation of the bride and groom…their visions, passions, traditions and sharing it with family and friends. Annie and Tim incorporated a Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony where the couple shows respect and gratitude to their parents for all of the years of love and care. The bride had a traditional Chinese dress for this mid day ceremony before changing into a white gown for their lakeside Lake Ceremony. This couple enjoyed a special post-ceremony date in the Gondola boat, toasting champagne and drifting over the quiet waters of Mirror Lake where the groom trained that morning (a body of water very special to him from Ironman Lake Placid). See more moments captured by Leo Timoshuk Photography.
You never know what kind of weather you will get in the Adirondacks, but as they often say here “if you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes”… Most of this wedding day was lovely, and guests were out hiking and playing golf, right around ceremony time the skies darkened, and out came the white umbrellas. The dark sky was the perfect juxtaposition to the yellow and orange cheerful floral pallet. Note the creative circular alter piece constructed by Black Sheep Gardens Floral Design. Luckily this bride and groom were very go-with-the-flow as were all of the guests. Our dedicated staff was on hand to pass out the umbrellas mid ceremony when the threatening sky gave way to summer showers. As soon as the storm rolled past the mountains, we were still able to reset the cocktail hour and hold it outdoors, luckily, because here guests could enjoy the extraordinary rainbow show punctuating the mountain skyline. A very happy ending... or beginning. View photos of this beautiful wedding. Photos courtesy of SARAH DICKENSON PHOTOGRAPHY.
March Adirondack Wedding for local couple that wanted a fun personalized party chose to rent out their favorite restaurant Smoke Signals on Main Street Lake Placid for their non-traditional event. Ceremony was, by stroke of luck and heat wave, on the back deck over looking Mirror Lake and the Great Range. Dinner in the lovely dining room and upstairs in the event loft space for dancing, cocktails, and dessert. Mother of Bride DIY table decor with Whiskey bottles (grooms trade), Wholesale natural floral touches, Bride designed ski passes for escort cards, vintage skis to demarcate the ceremony aisle and many more touches made this the perfect elegant yet casual and personal event. A GREAT time was had by all. Tomas Flint Photography, Smoke Signals Restaurant, Annie in the Water band. View photo gallery.
Summer in the Fall---A September Adirondack Day in the 80’s! We had heaters planned for the tent for the cool, fall evening hours but with all dancing going on at this event, never needed to turn them on! Taylor Rental did am amazing job transforming the tennis courts into a Napa Valley meets the Adirondacks, elegant ballroom. Custom living chandeliers designed and installed by Mad crazy Flowers, in collaboration with event floral, Trillium Floral for the elegant living tablescapes. Rehearsal dinner, in club dining room, was a classic elegant theme very fitting of the history of the club, Old World, Natural, Audubon theme with customized bird featured table toppers, and a custom loon cake (The Fancy Cake Box) like no other! All events were extremely beautiful and well-executed by all the vendors involved. Photo gallery captured by Tomas Flint Wedding Photography.
@tomasflintphoto @taylorrentalnewyork @MadCrazyFlowers @thefancycakebox @centerplate by cake Jessica Anderson, Carnivale Band, Trillium Floral. This festive Mountain House wedding was all the couple had envisioned, a backyard party—surrounded by mountains, good food, and loving friends and family. The decor made personal with a wedding rug and first dance rug. They rented a “DJ in a Box” system from Taylor Rental and played their own first dance song and background music. There was no formal dancing planned and no band or dance floor. At one point when the teenagers in attendance took over the playlist there was a spontaneous dance party on the deck of the main house. Guests enjoyed a family style feast from Dubbs BBQ and lots of lawn games. After dark, the couple played their favorite movie on the rented system outdoors, with blankets, and a mock concession stand of candies, complete with self-serve popcorn machine. Plenty of planning goes into this warm and casual event and it was a perfect day for the couple, giving them time to feel like this photo (every couple should have time at their wedding for moments like this). View the beautiful photo gallery here. #weddingbliss @taylorrentalnewyork @littlefarmhouseflowers @dubbsbbq @adkmountainhouse @heathergallaher2
By Guest Contributor: Hans, Best Bands Unless you already have the ideal band in mind (most folks don’t), a great talent agency that specializes in this type of entertainment is an amazing ally and resource. Working with a professional, you’ll quickly get to the heart of booking a great band, as well as buttoning up a lot of detail and “what ifs”, that you probably haven’t thought of. In a brief time, you’ll have bands to choose from that are in your price range, available on your date, match your musical preferences, etc.
Here are a few tips to consider in narrowing your options:
An October wedding date is risky in the unpredictable, late-fall, Adirondack weather – but in this case the risk paid off. Foliage, luckily a little behind in Keene Valley, and plenty of colors for Mother Nature to show off for this cool (47 degrees) but glorious day. Guests were warned to dress warm and bring parkas to the outdoor ceremony – and cashmere pashminas kept the bridesmaids cozy. This couple was was even more beautiful and colorful than the day – Grateful for every moment and the opportunity to share it with 100 plus of their closest friends and family. Having witnessed so very many weddings it is such a pleasure to watch this bride and groom with love and respect. #fallwedding
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AuthorMimi Wacholder, Founder and Principal Consultant Archives
February 2020
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