A Frequently Asked Question we get is “What is the best month to get married in Upstate NY?”
Well, I can tell you that the most popular time of year to get married in Saratoga Springs is the end of September/beginning of October. This is because the weather is generally pretty good–not too hot or cold and not as rainy as Spring. We also get beautiful Fall foliage, which is a great backdrop for photos.
However, I can honestly say each season here is pretty amazing in terms of photos–so the best month to get married in Upstate NY is really a matter of personal preference. So let’s run down some of the pros and cons for a wedding for every season here in the Upstate NY area.
Beautiful floral bouquet by the Posie Peddler for a Spring Wedding.A late Spring Wedding in downtown Albany. The weather was absolute perfection!
Spring Weddings in Upstate NY
Spring: Spring here is unpredictable. You can have anything from snow to rain and everything in between. Sometimes in the same day. Depending on the yearly trend, you could have mud/brown outdoors or it could be vibrant and lovely. The pros to a Spring wedding here would be lots of vendor availability, particularly venues. You can get awesome hotel rates because Spring is generally not our tourist season. And who doesn’t love the Spring pastel color palettes?
Summer Weddings in the Adirondacks are spectacular.
Summer, meaning June through Labor Day, can be great in Upstate NY. This is especially true if you are getting married at a lakeside venue. Tent weddings are also popular at this time of year. The downside for Saratoga Springs is that we have a six week thoroughbred racing season. Which is great if you love horses, but that has a corresponding increase in pricing for hotel blocks, restaurants, etc. However, you can still find some off the beaten track locations without a hefty price tag if you plan ahead and do your research.
Fall Foliage is the best.
Fall:
Fall in Upstate NY is especially lovely with the leaves turning. The weather is also pretty great. We do get tourists at this time of year, so pricing can be a little higher than Spring and Winter. This is a time of year that books up very quickly–often a year in advance if not more. So if you want to get married in the Fall, you need to plan pretty far in advance or be very flexible on the actual date. There will probably be little to no pricing negotiation–expect to pay full price.
Winter:
Winter can be stunning–especially if we have a fresh snowfall on your date. Pricing is lower than the Summer or Fall for most venues and some other vendors. You will definitely find more available dates with less advance notice. Bonus if you want to get married around the holidays because many of the venues already have outstanding holiday decor in their public spaces.
So what do you think is the best month to get married in Upstate NY? Feel free to leave a comment below!
Are you looking to book a photographer for your wedding in Upstate NY? Be sure to use our Contact Form or call the Studio directly at (518) 584-4237 today.
Every couple I meet that is planning a wedding wants their event to be different and distinctive. We are so fortunate that we have many unique Upstate NY wedding venues in the Saratoga area. Whether you want something formal or rustic, this area has you covered! Below are some of my favorite venues for an event that will wow your guests and show off your special style.
The Rustic Barn trend continues to be strong.
The Wedding Barn at Lakota’s Farm is a great location that also features some great amenities such as a full bridal suite for brides to get ready, a cabin for the guys to get ready in and–horses!
Lakota Barn is a lovely venue in Cambridge with lots of great extras–including horses!
Another great rustic barn is located at The Mansion. This venue offers a Victorian Mansion, a tented deck and a rustic barn for versatility. The food by Chef Rick is amazing!
This couple chose to do their after dinner dancing in the barn at the Mansion.
Rustic Country Churches
An offshoot of the rustic trend can include some of our quaint and rustic churches throughout the region. One of my personal favorites is A Wedding in the Country in Galway, NY. The church has been lovingly kept in pretty much it’s original state and photographs beautifully. It is perfect for elopements and intimate weddings.
The outside of the chapel is also very picturesque.
Museums can offer a unique and fun option.
The National Museum of Dance is located in Saratoga and is close to many great hotels and bed and breakfast inns.
The Auto Museum is fun, especially if you love cars!
Built in the New Deal Era, the front of the Auto Museum lends itself to dramatic night shots.
Upstate NY Historic Sites are a unique way to get outstanding Wedding Photos.
The King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga is a Revolutionary War era historic site that happens to be quite picturesque.
Upstate NY is home to many historic properties that are available for events or just photos.
Boutique Hotels are a great option too.
You can go high Victorian at the Adelphi or super Modern at the Pavilion Grand Hotel. You might also like the Bed and Breakfast option at Anne’s Washington Inn.
The Adelphi Hotel is an iconic Saratoga Springs landmark that has been recently renovated.
A boutique hotel might be more inclined to offer more customization in terms of decor. Table by Fine Affairs.
Anne’s Washington Inn on Rte. 9 is set on a hilltop at the South end of Saratoga. You can rent the entire house for your Bridal Party and stay the entire weekend.
Anne’s Washington Inn is a great location for a wedding with on site accommodations for bridal party and guests.
Ballroom weddings never go out of style.
The Saratoga Hilton can accommodate up to 2,000 guests with it’s 22 multi-function areas. It is also a great option if you need to reserve a room block for your guests.
The Saratoga Hilton in Downtown Saratoga is a great space.
Saratoga National features a great ballroom as well as a golf course with picturesque vistas.
Pipe and drape, colored lighting, votive candles and varying height centerpieces made this ballroom at Saratoga National look stunning.The Hall of Springs has very stately architecture in a park setting.
The Gideon Putnam is located in the State Park and features newly renovated hotel rooms next to a golf course and spas.
Built in the late 1930’s/early 1940;s, the Gideon Putnam is a great venue because it has interesting architecture and is located inside the Sate Park.
The State Room in Albany was formerly a bank that has been converted into a ballroom wedding venue. It features a very cool bank vault that is great for wedding photo opportunities.
Bank Vault for photos? Yes, please!
The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls has been newly renovated and features an elegant ballroom, as well as hotel rooms for your guests.
Also at the Queensbury Hotel–the restaurant has wonderful light.
Victorian Mansions are a distinctive Saratoga area option.
A Victorian side porch at the Mansion of Saratoga is great for formal photos because of the great open shade.A great panoramic image is a must for wall art.
Restaurants and Wineries can be fun for smaller events.
Additionally, any of these venues would be great for an Engagement Session.
We recently photographed a Wedding at The Shaker and Vine in Schenectady–so cool!The 408 has a cool industrial vibe and is located right in the heart of Saratoga on Broadway.The Thirsty Owl in Saratoga is a great place for a tasting event with wine pairings for your wedding.Daley’s on Yates in Schenectady offers an industrial chic/Midcentury Modern venue for a small event.The Saratoga Winery is a unique wedding venue located on a large piece of property just outside of Saratoga Springs.The Lake George Boathouse Bed and Breakfast is also a great option.The Lodges at Cresthaven and The Boathouse Restaurant on Lake George present scenic vistas of the Lake that are stunning in Wedding Photos.The Nest on Saratoga Lake is also wonderful.The Lodge in Saratoga was built in the late 1930’s/1940’s and has a really unique vibe.
I am adding this video from a destination wedding at the Canoe Island Lodge. Lake George is literally the most beautiful lake in the US and a fabulous place for a destination event.
Now that you have seen some of our wonderful Upstate NY Wedding Venue options, start planning!
Getting ready photos of the guys are just as important as the girls.
Many times at weddings, the Groom is left to feel like a bit of an after thought–an accessory, like Ken is to Barbie. Let’s face it–most guys did not play at dressing up for their wedding when they were five the way their wives did. But if you really think about it, the Groom is half of the equation. As a Saratoga Wedding Photographer, I have photographed many weddings over the years. And I like my guys to look great. So for this post, I thought I would give a little love to the guys and post some tips on how they can look their best on the Big Day.
Perfectly Groomed. The hair is perfect, the beard and mustache are clean and neat.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Then hydrate some more. Seriously, drinking water is fantastic for you skin. Eight glasses per day.
Moisturizer–it is not just for women. Especially in the Winter. Dry and flaky is not a great look in pictures. Ever.
Manicures–again, not just for women. Put the Man in Manicure. You don’t have to go for the full blown manicure, but do make sure your nails are neat and clean.
Massage–instant stress relief. Take some time off of wedding planning and take your woman to the spa. What a great date.
Cut to the Chase–unless you keep your head shaved, we recommend you get your hair cut one week prior to the event. Your hair will grow in a bit but will still be neat.
Facial Hair–Beards can be great. Just make sure yours looks clean and neat. Crazy Mountain Man is not a good Wedding Look. Just trust me on this one. Ditto with those rogue eyebrow/nasal/ear hairs. You don’t want to look like you are trying to communicate with Mars. If you are going for a clean shave, why not treat yourself and your guys to a real shave at the Barber–like with hot towels, straight razor. Male Bonding at it’s finest.
Fit and Fabulous–whether you are wearing a tuxedo, a classic suit or khakis with a button down shirt, make sure your attire fits you properly. Nothing looks worse in pictures than ill fitting attire. Go to a reputable tailor or menswear provider.
There you have it–Grooming for Grooms. Sounds like a TV game show. Below are some of my favorite wedding vendors for the guys:
Tuxego—Anthony and his staff provide great customer service and will make sure you look great in your tux.
Jonathan Reid Menswear–Jeff and his staff provide high quality menswear with excellent service.
Make Me Fabulous–Fabulous is not just for the girls. The stylists are great.
Did you enjoy this article Wedding Planning? Be sure to check out our other articles on Wedding Planning.
Are you looking for a Wedding Photographer? Susan Blackburn has been a Saratoga Springs NY Wedding Photographer for 20+ years. Please call 518.584.4237 to schedule a consultation.
This year Justine and Cody had a gorgeous summer wedding at the Mansion.
As we all know, weddings are a little bit different due to Covid. That did not stop Justine and Cody. Despite having to downsize the guest list and comply with some Covid restrictions, they held a beautiful and intimate wedding at the Mansion.
I think the thing that sticks with me most at these intimate weddings is that at the end of the day, it is really all about people in love coming together to formalize a union in a meaningful way. You certainly do not need to have hundreds of guests to do that! All of the couples I photographed this summer at smaller events have said the same thing to me–their weddings were perfect and they are so glad they went ahead and just got married.
Here is a short video of this gorgeous summer wedding at the Mansion:
Here are just a few of my personal favorites from this gorgeous summer wedding at the Mansion:
The Mansion features many locations for unique wedding photos. This mirror is just gorgeous.Justine’s dress from Ferri Formals was amazing, as was the cathedral veil.The obligatory Covid prevention mask. He still looks pretty cute. Cody’s aunt made the mask for him.How great is this driftwood arch from Total Events. Floral design by the Posie Peddler in Saratoga.A candid photo of Justine walking down the aisle.Selective focus is fun to play with. I like details that have context. Saratoga Wedding Officiant Joy Burke presided.Just Married!Leading lines and posing–not your typical wedding portrait.I love the red music room and it makes for some great portraits.Of course we want a matching photo of the Bride for the album.Perspective and camera angle are important too.
Jenna and Jim hosted an Intimate Wedding at the Mansion in Saratoga this past summer.
The Global Pandemic has impacted many couples planning weddings. Many have postponed to next year. However, many people are going ahead with scaled down celebrations that are absolutely beautiful and meaningful. I love capturing Intimate Wedding Photos.
I recently photographed Jenna and Jim’s Intimate Wedding celebration at the Mansion in Saratoga, NY. They decided to go ahead and celebrate their wedding on the original date at the venue they had planned. They simply cut back the guest list to accommodate the new restrictions in place for weddings. It was beautiful, meaningful and fun–all elements for a great wedding!
Below is a slideshow of their Intimate Wedding Photos.
Here are some of my personal favorite wedding photos from Jenna and Jim’s Wedding:
The venue has an original door from when the Mansion was built. It makes a perfect spot for a classic photo.These daisies were in bloom–perfect!Love the casual feeling of this photo of Jim adjusting his tie.
Brothers.The bouquet by Posie Peddler was so perfect.I literally grabbed this photo of Jenna seconds before she walked down the aisle of the church.Candid moment in the ceremony–so cute.An overall ceremony photo is always nice.
The new Mr and Mrs.This is such a Saratoga Wedding kind of photo.I love details like this. The epitome of Intimate Wedding.
The colors were so gorgeous.
Gorgeous dress!
There are so many great locations at the Mansion to photograph.
Sometimes it is all about the shoes.
Just a simple detail, but I loved the colors.
Such a fun photo! Thanks to Saratoga Sound, the event was still festive!
Love this–it would make a fabulous wall portrait.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to the Happy Couple! I really enjoyed photographing this wonderful event!
Did you enjoy Jenna and Jim’s Intimate Wedding Photos? You might also enjoy this Intimate Wedding Post.
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So one of my couples, Marissa and Nathaniel, decided with the Pandemic to postpone their big wedding until next year but still get married on their date this year. I loved how they made some figurative Pandemic Lemonade. They decided to have a very intimate wedding in their yard in Saratoga with just parents and siblings in attendance. It was simple, sweet and just perfect. I love their very personal backyard wedding photos. I thought it was a great story, so I had them write something up for the Blog. Here it is:
“We aren’t quite your typical couple when it comes to many things. We bought a house and got a dog well before even talking about getting married. A few years later when we got to talking about marriage we ended up booking a venue and moving forward with plans before formally getting engaged.
Loved the coasters they had and it was a perfect backdrop for the rings.They still had great flowers from Native Farm Flowers.
“But by early 2020 everything started to look more like a typical wedding. We were finally engaged, our venue and vendors were all booked, hotel blocks were set, invites selected wax sealed and sent out, an after party was scheduled at our favorite bar. Friends and family were making travel plans.
Marissa’s Dad still got to walk her to the ceremony.
“Then among all the excitement covid began to get everyone’s attention. First just news from China (albeit a bit closer to home as Nathaniel had been in Wuhan for work earlier in 2019). Then growing concern as Europe began to get more and more sick. Like most people the reality of how big and far reaching the pandemic would become took a while to sink it. Once cases began spreading across the US and NYC, we began to wonder what impact this would have on our plans.
Marissa and Nathaniel exchanged vows under an arbor they made in their front yard.
“In early spring we were naive and optimistic. In our minds it was hard to imagine our wedding in late June being affected. As time went on it became clear that wouldn’t be the case. Many discussions of scenarios and options followed. Should we just postpone to next year, hold it anyway and hope everything clears up by June knowing many of our guests wouldn’t attend, postpone until later in the summer not knowing if that would really be any different from June, cancel the whole thing and get married at the court house, hold it online? You name it we had talked about, and struggled with the benefits and ramifications of what each potential decision would mean.
I loved that they planted a tree in their yard as part of the ceremony.
“Throughout all these hard talks a few points always remained constant. We love each other very much and are excited to get married. Our parents and siblings mean everything to us and need to be included. Our friends and family who love and support us will understand any decision we make.
They did it!
“Ultimately the best option for us was to hold our wedding on our original date in our front yard with just our immediate family. The full wedding will be pushed back exactly one year and will occur at our original venue, now on our first anniversary. Calling everyone who had been invited was bittersweet, but reinforced that we had made the right decision, and how ready we all are to party with everyone next year. The intimate wedding went off perfectly, vows and ring exchanged, delicious food, plenty of drinks, all surrounded by our closest family.”
Cheers to Marissa and Nathaniel! It was lovely to photograph this celebration and I cannot wait to photograph the big wedding next year!
Did you enjoy Marissa and Nathaniel’s Backyard Wedding Photos? You might want to read about planning your own Home Wedding.
Are you ready to book a Wedding Photographer for your own wedding? Great! Let’s talk. Use our Contact Form to get in touch, or ring us up at (518) 584-4237 today.
As a Wedding Photographer for many years, people sometimes ask what my “style” is for photographing people–particularly Brides. Another Photographer I know sometimes referes to his style as “Fashion Meets Wedding” and I really love that.
Many times, posing is the key to giving a Bridal Portrait a more fashion feeling. Gorgeous BOHO inspired dress from Danielle’s Bridal.
I attended FIT and have a background in Fashion. That influences a lot of how I photograph women, particularly brides.
All day, Meredith kept saying “I feel like a rockstar.” Mission Accomplished.
A Bridal Portrait is perhaps one of the most iconic photographs a woman possesses of herself. So much effort goes into the image the Bride wants to present to the world on her wedding day. Brides spend a lot of time looking for “The Dress.” They spend a lot of time on getting the hair and makeup just right. Often they are committed to a fitness regimen like never before. This naturally lends itself to a more “fashion” feel in the photography.
S-curves are a Bride’s best friend in photos. I coach all my Brides on how to pose in the most flattering way for my camera.The “Beauty Shot.” Every Bride needs a head and shoulders portrait that shows the hair and makeup in detail.
I believe my job in photographing a Wedding is to create images that celebrate the Bride’s vision, particularly how she envisions herself. I want my Brides to feel like the Goddesses or Supermodels they are. That is why many of my Bridal Portraits have a fashion flair to them.
Movement and expression are important too.
Now many times people will tell me, “I don’t want to pose.” They never say, “I don’t want to look my best.” I understand that to mean they don’t want to look too “posed.” I have learned over the years, however, that most people need just a few simple prompts from me to look fabulous on camera in their bridal portraits. I don’t love a overly posed wedding photos either–but I do want to make my Brides look gorgeous and photograph the very best version of themselves. I have discovered over the years that lighting, camera angle, and posing are critical to elevate a photo from a mere snapshot to a drop dead Bridal Portrait. And to me, a drop dead portrait of a woman has a fashion flair–think Richard Avedon’s work. Whether we are doing a shoot in a wedding dress or bridal boudoir, that is the level of detail that we need to use.
Supermodel Status.
So if you want to look like a Goddess or Supermodel in your Bridal Portraits, let’s talk. Use our Contact Form or call (518) 584-4237 to schedule a consultation today.
Back in the day, a few years more than I care to remember, I took a three day workshop with David Anthony Williams on Wedding Photography. I learned so much from him, but one of the discussions the group had was on photojournalism at weddings vs. formal wedding portraiture. David calls is “found” images vs. “asked for images.” I love that. Wedding Candid Photography is an art form and such a joy to create for clients.
These are all candid, “found” images. I did ask that the Bride get ready in that particular spot for the best lighting.Another from the same wedding. This is what I think wedding photography is really all about–capturing moments like this.
During a wedding day, I create literally thousands of images. About 20% of what I do is formal, posed images–those are the “asked for” photos. The other 80% of the time, I personally like to be pretty unobtrusive and get candid photos of people just being people. If you sit back and just observe, people do amazing things.
Pretty typical “asked for” formal image. These are important and comprise 20% of what I do.Then I went behind them to move her train a little and they did this! LOVE this. Always be ready because you never know when it will happen.
This leads me to a discussion I had with a client recently when we were talking about the Timeline for her wedding. She thought she needed to schedule in time for different moments. But it really does not work like that. I can’t say “At 3:15 the cute little flower girl is going to run through the room and stop and stare at the bride.” A wedding is an uncontrolled event, and I simply do not have that power (much as I would love it). As a Wedding Photographer, you just always need to be ready to capture those defining moments.
Totally candid and unposed moment right before the Bride walked down the aisle. But the moment she looked up at the sky made for fabulous light on her face. Don’t you wonder what she is thinking? You can’t plan this ahead of time. You have to be ready and recognize it when it happens.
I do believe, however, that because I have studied the more formal aspects of portrait photography (light, posing, etc.) that it has made me a stronger candid photographer. Knowing how to compose an image and recognize good lighting can take a boring candid to the next level.
So which do you prefer? Formal “asked for” images or “found” candid images? There is no right or wrong.
Did you enjoy this post on Candid Wedding Photography? You might enjoy this post on Wedding Photography.
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Independence Day is a holiday for fireworks, so what could be more explosive than an almost July 4 Wedding at the Mansion in Saratoga NY?
It was a hot, gorgeous day with lots of love and laughs. Team Mansion was on point as always and it was a joy to photograph this wedding. The Mansion in Saratoga never disappoints with it’s beautiful settings and excellent staff.
Below are some of my favorite images from the day.
The guys got ready downstairs at the Mansion. The socks were so perfect!Ring Security. How cute is this?I personally like to use black and white for the getting ready portion of the wedding day a lot, especially with the guys.A little help from Mom.
The Mansion recently installed a beauty salon area for all the girls to get ready–perfect!
A calm moment before the excitement begins.
Seriously, moments like these are why I do what I do.And voila! All dressed and ready to take on the world.That front room on the second floor with the huge mirror is such perfection!
How about the groomsmen and those spectacular socks!
I just love the emotion in these photos.
How adorable are the ring bearers?Roses and Eucalyptus from the Posie Peddler--so pretty with the navy bridesmaid dresses.The incomparable Reverend Joy Burke working her magic at the wedding ceremony.Tying the knot–for real!Did you check out that arbor, mantel and chandelier?Some of my favorite wedding photos to capture are the candid moments.
Ashley’s gorgeous dress and veil were from LIly Saratoga.Black and White or color? Which is your favorite?Love the look of high key photos and this backdrop is perfect.
The falls also make a great backdrop.
How fun!
The topiary wall from Total Events was a nice touch, as were the Saratoga Water Bottles.The blue was perfect for an Independence Day Wedding!Entertainment by Saratoga Sound is always great.
We took just a quiet moment to capture this image, and I am so thankful we did!The details at this wedding very much were in keeping with the venue’s ambiance.
What better way to send the bride and groom off on Independence Day than with a sparkler exit? Well done!
Wedding Venor Team for Ashely and Michael’s July 4 Wedding:
Venue: The Mansion Saratoga Wedding Officiant: Reverend Joy Burke
Florals: The Posie Peddler Entertainment: Saratoga Sound
Have you considered having a First Look with your Dad?
We have seen lots of First Look Photos of Brides and Grooms–they are very touching and beautiful. But have you considered having a First Look with your Dad–the very first man in your life? I love photographing the first time a Dad sees his Little Girl all dressed up for her wedding.
Angus seeing Danielle for the first time in her wedding gown at the Gideon Putnam. Moments like these are so important to capture on a wedding day.
Here is what Angus had to say about his First Look when seeing his daughter Danielle for the first time on her wedding day:
“I enjoyed being able to have our “first look” before my daughter Danielle’s wedding this past September. It was a very special private moment that we were able to share together. I will always remember her happiness when our eyes met , the smile on her face, and her radiant beauty. It made me reflect on her growing up- various moments, such as her first day of school, the challenges she had faced over the years, and her having to work so hard to succeed. At that moment I was so proud of her and also happy it was captured by our photographer. In the moment, I only saw my daughter and never realized anyone else was there. To see that special moment in photographs makes me smile, something I will always treasure. I would advise every dad and daughter to have their “first look”. It’s something they’ll never forget.”
As a Wedding Photographer, I feel so privileged to be able to capture such meaningful moments for my clients. I am in awe that people trust me to do this for them. Thank you to Danielle and her family for allowing me to photograph this special day!
Did you enjoy this First Look Post? You might also enjoy reading this First Look or Not Post.
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