Woodside Bible and Andiamo Wedding

Alexa & Tom’s Andiamo Wedding

A little backstory.  (Bear with me; the dots will connect.  I promise.)

One of my core belief’s is that we are all lucky; lucky for our faults, lucky for our past, lucky for our gifts…the list goes on and on.  Because of that luck, I believe it is important to give back and to share your gifts with others.  I don’t get to do it as often as I would like, but volunteering is something that is important to me and something that I hope to incorporate more into my business plan.

So, how does volunteering relate to Alexa and Tom?  Every year, I volunteer to photograph McLaren’s BRAvo! event to help raise money in the fight against breast cancer.  Alexa, a trained dancer and instructor, also volunteers with the event, which is how we initially met.  Pleasantries were exchanged and small talk occurred over dinner.  Slowly, year after year, she became a familiar face that created me with a genuine “hello!”  It is hard to get to know someone when you only see them once a year, but the impression she left warm, genuine, and kind…all the same things Tom saw in her from day one.

Alexa and Tom met in high school.  Tom was immediately struck by her beauty when he first laid eyes on her at their high school orientation!  They dated, grew together, planned together, and dreamed together.  Finally, when Alexa was away in Maryland for a dance competition, Tom surprised her by coming out and proposing to her on the beach.

~

Tom and Alexa had their ceremony at Woodside Bible Church and their reception at Andiamo’s in Warren.  Alexa started her day at her mom’s house, getting ready with the help of her bridesmaids.  When I knocked on the door, Bruno Mars and laughter came pouring out of it.  The vibe of their prep was a preview of their reception – laughter, energy, and fun.

Once at Woodside, Tom also got ready with the help of his best man and parents.

With guests arriving, it was time for the ceremony.  Woodside Bible Church has a gorgeous gazebo and nature path in the back of their church where outdoor ceremonies can take place.  As Alexa walked down the aisle, both guests and Tom teared up.  So many people in their lives were waiting for this moment.

After Woodside, we went to Van Hoosen in Rochester to photograph the bridal party.

While I was working with one group, shenanigans were happening with the other group.  The excitement for their Andiamo wedding reception was only growing.

The guys were down for anything, including throwing Tom up in the air.  Because, why not?

After all of the ruckus, it was time for Alexa and Tom’s formals.

I love this shot.  It isn’t often that I am drawn in to crop so closely, but the tenderness here was too much not to capture.

Ok, back to the shenanigans, including the Mighty Ducks “quack” and an always and overly enthusiastic groomsman.

My favorite was when they even invited a local jogger into the photos.  While it may not make the album, it certainly made a memory.

With all of the formals done, it was time for their Andiamo wedding reception.

They kept with tradition and had both a bouquet and garter toss.  However, once it was time to put the garter on…

…her dad stepped in.

Needless to say, fun was had by all.