Our Love Story
Jen Sawrenko and Matt Gellis
Photos by Synchronicity Photography
Keeping the wedding informal, fun, and welcoming were important for Matt and me. We wanted to focus on the importance of close family and friends and the beginning of our future together.
We tried not to get too caught up in the details which was challenging at times. The weekend began with a rehearsal dinner for both of our families on Friday evening. We spent Saturday boating, swimming, and barbequing at the lake. Sunday was the big day!
The wedding combined both of our families’ values, traditions, and cultures. We really could not have had a wedding as beautiful and fun as we did without an enormous amount of support from our parents.
The most memorable moments of our wedding were the quiet moments with our families and each other, the signing of the Ketubah (wedding contract), the ceremony beneath the Chuppah with our family and friends, and Yichud (quiet time together after the ceremony). Also memorable were the not so quiet sounds of the amazingly talented New York Players. They had everybody tearing up the dance floor from cocktail hour until morning.
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PLANNING ADVICE TO BRIDES AND GROOMS:
Several months before the wedding Matt’s grandmother wrote us a letter sharing a story about her own wedding day. As she fretted the details, her elder sister admonished her “Pay attention, you are getting married! It doesn’t matter where or how, but you are marrying the only person you want to be with for life. Nothing else is important.” She wanted us to be present in the moment, and to remember that the most important part of our wedding was our future happiness, together as husband and wife.
THE PARTICULARS:
- Photographer: Synchronicity Photography, So. Burl., VT, 802-238-0508, www.synchronicityphotography.net
Floral Design by: Howards the Flower Shop, St. Albans, VT, 802-524-5715, www.howardstheflowershop.com- Reception Site: Barbara and Steven Gellis’ family home on Lake Champlain
- Wedding Gown: White gown made by my grandmother Susan Kheong (it was my mother’s gown)
- Alterations and red cheongsam by As you Wish Atelier, New Westminster, BC, Canada
- Groom’s suit: By Isaia, from Holt Renfrew, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Bridesmaids dresses: The Narcissist, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Earrings by: Sewly Yours and Once Upon a Bride
- Wedding Rings by: Object Designs, Vancouver, BC
- Tents and lighting by: Vermont Tent Company
- Music by: The New York Players, Albany, NY
- Make-up and Hair by: Paragon Design, Shelburne, VT
- Catering and wedding cupcakes: Cloud 9 Catering
- Wedding Favors: In lieu of wedding favors, a donation was made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
- Wedding Planning Resource: Vermont Bride Magazine; The Vermont Bride website was invaluable while planning our wedding from afar. Searching through the list of wedding resources was easy, making planning our wedding from out of town manageable.
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