There’s something about a winter wedding in Buffalo! Cara and Dan’s wedding day had a classic romantic feel. Check out the creative, vintage-inspired portraits and elegant reception at the Twentieth Century Club!
A Romantic Winter Wedding
When I say Cara and Dan had a winter wedding, I’m telling you it was a truly Buffalo experience. The wedding was supposed to take place the week of the 2022 blizzard. They had to postpone everything by a week. Luckily, every vendor and venue was still available for the new date! Cara and Dan had to call about 90 guests to tell them the new plan, but it all worked out in the end.
If there’s one thing you can take away from Dan and Cara’s love story, it’s that good things are worth the wait. They met and dated for a while in high school. Even though they broke up, Dan always said he was going to marry Cara. They kept in contact for seven years then started dating again. Cara said, "We never stopped loving each other, even through other relationships."
In August of 2020, Cara gave birth to their son, and Dan proposed a year after that. He designed her ring with the help of a jeweler connection. He was so excited about it that he told her immediately. Once he was able to pick up the ring, he proposed in their living room while their baby slept. She called it perfect.
Cara got ready at their house. The morning light in the living room was dreamy for bridal portraits by the book cases. All of Cara’s dark emerald and white details were perfect for a winter wedding too.
Cara and Dan’s wedding ceremony took place at Saint Joseph Cathedral. This stunning church near the Waterfront has towering stained glass windows that let in lots of beautiful natural light. After the ceremony, we stuck around for some photos with family and the wedding party.
Winter Wedding Portraits around Buffalo
One of the most unique parts of Cara and Dan’s wedding was the portrait session we had between the church ceremony and reception. They hired a vintage Rolls Royce from Advantage Limo to drive them around. We started with some sultry photos in the back seat. I love the vintage feeling you get with these images in black and white. They’re like the whole day - classic.
We stopped by the Mansion on Delaware because the sun was so crisp and beautiful. The gorgeous hotel was the perfect backdrop for outdoor portraits. Cara’s sweeping veil looks so at home beside the columns and architectural details.
As lovely as it was outside, this was still a winter wedding! We spent most of the portrait session indoors at the Twentieth Century Club. These photos give me Titanic vibes. The women’s club opened in 1894, so it has all the elegance you’d expect of high society in that period. This incredible venue only allows events for people who are vouched for by members. Dan’s sister runs the events, so they had a solid in for this amazing space.
Even though the reception was set up in the ballroom, there were so many grand rooms for us to explore by ourselves. It was really special for Cara and Dan to have all this time after their ceremony to just enjoy the fact that they’d gotten married! I documented some really romantic moments throughout.
I also had so much fun getting creative with the sunlight coming through the huge windows. It gave the photos an extra glow. The light made it easier to play with prisms and other effects that are a signature part of my wedding photography style.
Reception at the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo
Once we finished portraits, we headed downstairs to the reception. The Twentieth Century Club really was a great space for a winter wedding reception. All its dark wood and marble details went well with Cara and Dan’s decor.
The reception was a mix of moving speeches, laughter, and dancing. Dan’s twin brother gave an especially touching speech that made everyone misty-eyed. Then Cara and Dan had a romantic first dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. Afterward, I stole them away for some sultry photos by the elevator.
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Thank you to the amazing vendors who made this romantic winter wedding possible:
Photographer: Kelly Kaz Photography
Portrait venue: Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo
Desserts: Chrusciki Bakery
Florist: Marigold and Vase
Hair: Hair by Bella Paolini
Car: Advantage Limo
