Maddie &and Wes

When and how did the two of you meet, and what is most memorable about your first meeting?

MADDIE: We met in the summer of 2013; I had been living in Cincinnati for a year and Wes moved into my apartment complex, where I lived with several colleagues and friends. He instantly befriended his neighbors, who were 3 guy friends of mine (and are some of Wes’ best friends today), so he became a mutual friend quickly, and we started dating about a month later.

WES: I get this question a lot … how did an Indiana guy meet a Long Island girl? Short answer, Cincinnati, OH … To be honest, it took me a month before I had enough courage (maybe a few drinks) to finally ask Maddie out for … ice cream. Luckily, she said yes, and 6 years later I proposed to her at the same ice cream parlor in Cincinnati.

On your day, what was your first thought when you woke up in the morning?

MADDIE: This is going to be the best day of my life. Even though it was pouring, thunderstorm rain when I woke up, I was so happy and had no worries.

WES: Well my first thought was “I really hope the weather clears up,” but my immediate second thought was “who cares. Today will be the best day of my life; I’m getting married to my best friend and the most beautiful woman alive.”

MADDIE: And fortunately, the sun came out before the ceremony and we had a gorgeous day and evening.

Which feature of your wedding was the most unique?

WES: With huge help from Maddie’s aunt and Ralph Lauren, I was able to surprise my groomsmen with their colored dinner jackets; they had no idea they would be wearing yellow, pink, green & orange dinner jackets until the outfits arrived at their homes about 2 weeks before the wedding. This timing was planned, in case someone tried to back out, but they all ended up loving them and have worn them several times.

MADDIE: I think the men’s colorful dinner jackets from Ralph Lauren were most unique. So much time and attention go into the girls, but guys really love to look sharp; they are a handsome group and the suits were stunning, so they looked awesome. I think it brought joy to the day, which was really our only goal.

And of course now, our photos, which just captured the day and emotions so perfectly. Ira led us with confidence, and he made us feel like a million bucks. The places and light and moments he was able to capture were incredible. I honestly felt like a movie star and myself at the same time.

What was running through your mind when you saw your bride for the first time?

WES: I didn’t think she could be any more beautiful, and yet somehow she is. We are finally getting married, this is real, people are here, and I am one lucky guy.

If you had to choose, what would you say was the best part of your wedding day?

MADDIE: Its so hard to choose, each minute was so special. But looking down the tables at dinner and seeing everyone, and sitting next to my husband, as the sun was setting, toasting to heartfelt speeches from my dad, sister, brother-in-law, and two aunts, sipping my favorite cocktail – it felt like heaven.

WES: It’s very hard to narrow it down to just one moment, but if I had to choose, it would be the car ride we took alone after the ceremony. Seeing everyone at the church and walking down the aisle together was very special, but being able to share some alone time right after the wedding was amazing and something that I will cherish forever … the champagne in the car was an added bonus.

MADDIE: Ira really emphasized how important that alone time after the ceremony is, and it was magical. We took the most beautiful pictures as well; Ira had suggested a location in town I hadn’t thought of, and the pictures and moment were incredible and intimate – and so us.

What was the original plan for your wedding?

MADDIE: We had planned to get married about 8 weeks earlier, with the reception at my beach club, with about 200 guests. We ended up having 40 guests (the limit at the time was 50) in my parents’ backyard, the house I grew up in from age 11.

WES: When we first pushed the wedding back in March, we thought 8 weeks would be plenty of time for things to clear up, which we all know much better now. Having the small gathering of 40 was perfect – I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Do you plan on continuing to celebrate your marriage once things open up again?

MADDIE: Yes! We will have the reception at Lawrence Beach Club next summer, as we had planned to this year, which is a very special place to both of us – probably my favorite place to be in the world. Our wedding this year was already such a perfect day for us, so being able to continue to celebrate with a larger group next year just gives us more to look forward to – we feel very lucky to have the opportunity to both!

What is your advice for brides and grooms planning their own celebration these days?

MADDIE: If you are doing a small ceremony this year and a bigger celebration next year, don’t save all the good stuff for when things go “back to normal”. I’m so glad we took this day seriously, because it stands alone. At first we weren’t going to wear our wedding dress and tux, weren’t going to have speeches, etc – but we changed course and treated it like next year might not come. Our wedding day didn’t feel like a downgrade or substitute – it was the best day of our lives.
Ira and I had a great talk about 5 weeks before the wedding, which really helped me envision that this day could still be so special. I felt laid back and didn’t feel any added pressure for planning multiple events.

We’re going to do our big reception next year, which now looks more promising to be a return to “normal” than it did this summer; I haven’t recovered from how great this day was to start to really anticipate how wonderful next year will be. This day makes next year just feel like gravy, vs. something we’re anxiously waiting and planning for.

WES: I couldn’t agree more… we went back and forth on a lot of things but when it came down to it we decided to do everything we could on this day, which included getting married in the church, wearing our outfits, having our bridal party do the same, and having a small gathering afterward with close family and friends, a videographer and a one- of- a- kind photographer who made us feel on top of the world the whole day.
Long story short: do everything on this day just in case next year doesn’t happen.

Were there any funny moments that especially stand out?

WES: Hands down the funniest moment was watching one of my groomsmen do the inch worm at the reception. He fully committed and has a nice scar on his face to prove it. A close second was earlier in the day when the groomsmen and I played basketball outside and quickly realized we definitely were not as good as we once were. We nearly had two injuries right before the wedding.

MADDIE: Andrew doing the inchworm on the dance floor, which is my back brick patio (still in his really nice outfit!!). He has a scar on his face, and several awesome photos from Ira, to prove it. Lina captured some pretty funny photos of him getting ready as well.

What do you hope your guests remember most about your wedding day?

MADDIE: How much it meant to us that they were there. It was difficult given circumstances and ensuring we followed all protocols, and although we couldn’t even have everyone over afterwards, people still showed up at the church on a Friday at 4PM in the midst of all going on with smiles on their faces.

WES: I would selfishly say how beautiful Maddie looked all day, and how much we appreciate all of them for coming and for being a part of our lives, and there for the best day of our lives.