If you ask me my favorite kind of wedding to photograph, my answer probably won’t be what you expect. I’m just as happy at a 200-guest wedding as a tiny elopement as long as the celebration really reflects the couple getting married. That’s exactly how I felt about Sara and Mel’s wedding at the Roycroft Inn. Their beautiful day was full of candid laughter, loving family and friends, and a really great dance floor.
A Roycroft Inn Wedding
Sara and Mel held their wedding reception at the Roycroft Inn. This Buffalo wedding venue is actually located in East Aurora. It’s only about a 25-minute drive, so it’s an easy venue to get to even if most of your guests are coming from the city.
The Roycroft Inn is pretty iconic in the area. It’s part of the bigger Roycroft Campus where creative entrepreneurs came to work and learn around the turn of the twentieth century. At one point, over 500 craftspeople visited the campus. In the 1990s, a nonprofit organization restored it and reopened it.
Throughout the inn and campus, you can see incredible architecture and vintage decor. The buildings are a unique blend of stone towers and tudor homes. Trees and gardens between the buildings make it a great place to take portraits through a large part of the year. It could even be pretty dreamy in the snow.
Which room you rent at the Roycroft will depend on the size of your wedding. It has salons and halls that can accommodate from 40 to 150 guests. You really can get an intimate micro wedding experience or a big party. During peak season, packages for a 100-person wedding start around $6,500. When it’s not hosting events, the inn operates as a hotel and restaurant. You know your guests will eat well and have convenient accommodations if they want to stay in the area.
Jewish Wedding Traditions for Sara and Mel
Sara and Mel’s wedding was the perfect mix of quiet candid moments and community-centered celebration with friends and family. On their wedding day, Sara and Mel shared that they were most excited for me to whisk them away during cocktail hour because they had so much fun at their engagement session.
We took plenty of photos with family and friends too! These two are surrounded by so much love. You can see it in the way they look at each other as well as their interactions with family and friends. Just like with their couples portraits, their group photos have a sweet historic garden aesthetic.
This Roycroft Inn wedding incorporated Jewish traditions throughout the day. Before their ceremony at the Chapel, family and friends gathered for a ketubah signing. The colorful ketubah felt very them. I really loved documenting this time when everyone was so joyful and present. During the ceremony, Sara and Mel had a beautiful floral chuppah. They included the circling and smashing of the glass as well.
A Nonbinary Wedding with Local Touches
You might not be able to guess from their Roycroft Inn wedding photos, but when Mel and Sara first reached out to me they claimed they weren’t “photo people.” They turned that into the biggest compliment ever by saying they could see themselves in my work anyway. That’s why I love candid photos! You don’t have to stress about posing or looking at the camera. You can just be with your person.
The fall before Mel and Sara’s wedding, they met up with me for an engagement session. This allowed them to get comfortable being in front of the camera. It also gave me the chance to understand what each of them liked about the moments we created together. I’m so grateful they opened up to me.
On their wedding day, Mel and Sara included a lot of unique experiences, especially when it came to music. Local musicians Maria Sebastian and Frank Grisanti played during cocktail hour. After their first dance, Sara’s brother Ayden and his friend surprised the newlyweds by singing “You’re All I Need to Get By” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
And what’s a wedding without a great dance floor? Sara and Mel’s guests left it all on the floor. The hora was definitely a highlight of the reception.
Would you like me to photograph your wedding? I’m a Buffalo wedding photographer ready to document the magic of your wedding day. Reach out to me here!
Thanks to the amazing vendors who made Mel and Sara’s wedding unforgettable!
Photography: Kelly Kaz Photography
Florist: Something Borrowed Blooms
Hair: Hair by Jodi
Make up: Laura Amaya Beauty
Venue: Roycroft Inn
Dress Brand and Boutique: Maggie Sottero Designs from Bridal Chateau
Suit Brand and Store: Calvin Klein from Men's Warehouse
Cake Baker: Wheatberry Bakery
