Gilbertsville Farmhouse Wedding in South New Berlin, New York: Justin + Mark
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Photos by Raven & The Willow. Words by Justin + Mark.
Number of Wedding Guests:
130
Wedding Date:
September 30, 2019
Tell Us About Yourselves
Mark and I are both actors, we met when Mark’s best friend introduced the two of us on Facebook. I was performing a show in Las Vegas so we got to know one another over FaceTime for weeks before Mark flew to Vegas to meet me. The rest is history.
How Did You Pick Your Wedding Venue?
It reminded us of our childhoods. Mark grew up on a farm in Wales and I grew up with a woodsy backyard in New Jersey. The venue was the perfect mixture of these two things.
What Did You Wear and Were Any Pieces Especially Significant?
We wore plaid suits, Mark in navy and me in brown. We planned to have custom suits made but found the perfect suits while looking through Macy’s for inspiration, We wore matching tie clips that said our names and the wedding date. And carried hankies embroidered by my sister-in-law.
What Special Elements Did You Include in Your Wedding Day?
The two grooms on top of our wedding cake were from my Aunt and Uncle’s wedding back in 1969. She had been clearing out her attic and going through their wedding things since it was their 50th anniversary and she found the two grooms. They looked just like Mark and I. She had purchased both to have options for their cake and ended up packing them away for 50 years. Waiting for us. We also did hand fasting as part of the wedding ceremony and wrote our own vows.
What Did You Splurge On?
The venue itself and transportation for Mark’s family from the Newark airport to the venue (3.5 hours upstate in the Catskills).
What Did You Save On?
We used combustable bamboo plates instead of renting china. We put together our own flower arrangements with the help of some of our girlfriends. We saved cans, jars and wine bottles for a year, scrubbed off the labels and spray painted the cans bronze. It was beautiful, saved a lot of money and was very personal to us, and fun to do. And we purchased all of the flowers and alcohol at Costco!
What Worked Out Really Well and Was Totally Worth the Time or Money Invested?
Having a weekend wedding with glamping and bonfires, farmyard animals and plenty of space for our loved ones to enjoy the grounds. Not to mention it was absolutely beautiful and we got some perfect photos there.
What, in retrospect, could you have skipped?
We ended up going home with a bunch of unused alcohol but it’s come in handy for us during this quarantine.
What Is Your Best Wedding Planning Advice to Others?
Take your time planning. Little by little each month so you’re not overwhelmed in the end. Make your own decorations. It feels more personal and it’s fun to do together. Create a budget and attempt to stick to it. You WILL go over.
VENDORS
Venue | Gilbertsville Farmhouse
Hair Stylist | Tyler Young
Makeup | Lindsey Mascieri Makeup & Olivia Lane
Groom Attire | Cole Hann
Groom's Rings | Greenwich Street Jewelers
Catering | Sunrise Specialty Catering
Cake | Kelly Banks Cakes
Music | DJ Trumastr
RAVEN & THE WILLOW
Raven and the Willow is a husband and wife photography team based in NYC & LA. Jenni-Kate and Bryan seek genuine interaction over posed perfection in photographs. This is reflected in the couples they work with and the stories they create. Linking authentic moments, playfulness, and intimacy to each couples cherished memories.
