Wedding Feature: Jackie & Dave’s Elegant Waterfront Wedding at the Inns of Aurora

On September 5th, 2020, Jackie & Dave said “I do!” We were so honored to play at their gorgeous wedding reception at the Inns of Aurora, located in the finger lakes region of upstate New York. It featured stunning lakefront views, sprawling lawns, spacious seating, and an overall feeling of airiness and ease. Like so many engaged couples during this pandemic, Jackie & Dave did not have the wedding they originally planned. However, as plan after plan changed, love always remained.

We are excited to share Jackie & Dave’s journey as a couple: how they met, how they adjusted their wedding during COVID, and how they managed to create an incredible final result filled with joy and love.

1. Tell us the story of how you two met.

Dave and I met socially through mutual friends. We actually knew of each other for years before we started our relationship, growing up in the same town; however, I attended public school while Dave went to the Catholic school. I think it’s fair to say there was an instant attraction and interest. Once we got together, we only had eyes for each other. We purchased a home together early in our relationship and, honestly, that in itself is a huge commitment, so I’d say I knew he was the one even before that.

2. What made you decide that this was the right person to be with for the rest of your life?

Jackie – I am 100% completely comfortable being myself with him from day one.

Dave – She is extremely caring and a great cook! And she just gets me.

3. What do you enjoy most about each other’s company?

Sense of humor, goofiness, and ease in our relationship.

4. How was your experience with Sound Society?

Amazing! From the start, Hannah was so great to work with. And the band was perfection! Dave and I both ended the night saying we had the best wedding ever. Prior to the wedding, Hannah had asked how we wanted the wedding to go in regards to the pandemic (slow music to enjoy while seated or music to encourage dancing). We love to dance and definitely wanted to go in that direction. The band did exactly as we asked. From the look of the dance floor you would think we had 200 guests and not the 50 we were limited to, all wearing masks of course.

5. What was your favorite song you danced to at your wedding?

We loved our entrance song “You Make my Dreams” and our first dance “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. I loved dancing to Lizzo and everyone danced to “Shout”.

6. Share one special memory from your wedding with us.

Seeing everyone enjoying themselves on the dance floor was great. But Dave getting to play drums with the band was amazing! It was very special for us both.

7. What changes did you have to make to your plans due to the pandemic? Do you have any advice or great solutions you found that you would like to share with other couples?

The pandemic definitely made wedding planning interesting. We originally were to be married May 30^th, postponed to July 18^th, then postponed again to September 5^th. Originally, we had planned for 150-175 guests and had to downsize to 50. We couldn’t control the unexpected but still had absolutely the best wedding day ever. We couldn’t have been happier. All of our vendors were amazing and great to work with, especially Sound Society. The only advice for other couples is to keep in mind what the day is truly about and why you are getting married. Everything you’re feeling is valid right now and it’s been such a great time to remind each other that we’re in this together. We just feel so incredibly lucky that we have a partner to navigate this with, and we constantly remind ourselves we’re doing okay; and simply put, we’ve just been nice to each other. A wedding is just one day of your life, but your marriage is the rest of your life, so we’re putting our energy into building our marriage first and the wedding will fall into place. And plus, what a crazy story to tell our kids one day. We wouldn’t change a thing.