Location: Aurora, NY, USA
Setting: A resort in the Finger Lakes
Wedding season: Early Fall
How long did the couple plan the event: 18 months
The number of guests: 120
Wedding theme/style: Bespoke, ethereal, end of summer into fall, timeless and old fashioned.
Lydia and Ryan Ratsep, who now reside in Raleigh, NC, grew up in the same town, attending the same schools and with mutual friends. They didn’t start dating until college – Ryan attended Hobart College and Lydia attended Roanoke College.
From Lydia: “We maintained long distance until moving in together post-grad, living in the Boston area. Our wedding wishes were to have our closest friends and loved ones come to one location and celebrate all weekend. Our goal was intimate, fun, and unique to us!”
One of the most notable aspects of their wedding was having their dear and talented friend, Amanda Owen, as the photographer. Capturing the day’s love and connection through the lens of someone who knows them well made the moments even more magical.
Amanda describes her feelings: “Capturing Lydia and Ryan’s wedding was one of the highlights of my career thus far. It was stunning from start to finish, and I am close friends with the couple. Having been there for the beginning stages of Lydia and Ryan’s relationship and watching them vow to love and support each other for the rest of their lives brought many emotions to the day. I am a hopeless romantic, so I always tear up a little during the ceremony, but this was different.”
Lydia wore a padded headband for her big day and had her hair in a bun. Michaela, the founder of The Emerson and Glam Squad Syracuse, did her hair. Her makeup artist, Alex Canavan from Glam Squad Syracuse too, created a natural dewy look with bushy brows and a matte red lip. They both did an exceptional job!
The bridal dress was a stunning custom creation made from dupioni silk and taffeta. Lydia chose “something blue” bow heels by Loeffler Randall for her shoes. “I wore Nicola Bathie earrings, a pearl bracelet given to me by my parents and my mom’s Cartier love bracelet for “something borrowed.” I also wore a diamond ring that my grandparents bought for me. My “something old” was my engagement ring, a vintage Harry Winston style diamond ring from the 1970s.”
The bridesmaids were free to choose their dresses, resulting in a beautiful and whimsical ensemble.
Ryan looked dashing in a white dinner jacket paired with black tuxedo pants. His wedding ring was custom-made by Attos Antique and Estate Jewelry in Portland, ME
The couple chose the Inns of Aurora as their venue, a resort of multiple inns in a picturesque lake town in western New York. The town and inns were originally envisioned and restored by the founder of American Girl, adding a touch of history to the celebration. Each building within the resort had a distinct purpose for the wedding festivities.
The main ceremony occurred under a tent on the main lawn, with the breathtaking Cayuga Lake as the backdrop.
Lydia shares, “A childhood best friend, someone who has known both of us our whole lives, officiated the ceremony.”
Lydia and Ryan described their concept as “summer camp, but make it fancy.” They wanted to create an environment where guests could gather and stay for the entire weekend without needing transportation. Trolley buses were arranged to shuttle guests to and from neighboring hotels to the event.
“We wanted the juxtaposition of a formal event in a laid-back environment. I was so inspired by Dirty Dancing, but was also mesmerized by these luxe old-fashioned Italian weddings – think The Godfather.”
“We honored the location by serving local wine from the Finger Lakes and incorporating native fruit, such as grapes and apples, into the floral arrangements.”
As a delightful surprise, the newlyweds performed a choreographed dance to the iconic song “Can’t take my eyes off of you” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
“Our stationary was completely custom by Julie King Studio, and she magically transformed our personalities into watercolor.”
Instead of one cake, the couple had a dessert table.
Advice from the couple
• Do not sweat the small stuff; spend more money on things you care about (stationary and honeymoon for us) and less on things you don’t really care for (flowers).
VENUE Inns of Aurora | PHOTOGRAPHER Amanda Owen Photography | FLORALS Michaleen’s Florist and Greenhouse | STATIONERY Julie King Studio | EARRINGS Nicola Bathie Jewelry | SHOES Loeffler Randall | MUAH Artists by Sherri Long | DJ Finger Lakes Entertainment
