When I first met with Danielle + Carlos, I knew they would be one of my most favorite couples. Do you ever meet someone and instantly feel like you have some sort of weird, karmic connection to them? That was Danielle and I. We both showed up to our first meeting dressed the same with our hair in a braid (because when you have long hair, it takes FOREVER to blow-dry completely) and upon talking, found out quickly we were very much alike and had tons in common. Danielle calls it “soul twin” and I agree 100%. Since that meeting, Danielle has become my go-to baker (Follow Dulces by Danielle on social media!) and my adoration for her just keeps on growing. By the time their wedding day arrived, I was overly excited to capture the day. On my way to the Salon where Danielle and her girls started their preparations, I was full of butterflies and couldn’t wait to get started.
Hair and makeup were done by Avant Garde Salon and Energie Spa. Danielle is the sweetest and wrote little pieces about all of her vendors so anything you see in quotes is all her!
Energie Spa
“Julie is amazing! I forget she is only 19/20 because her skill and knowledge are beyond her years! She is a wonder to work with.”
Avant Garde Salon
“Riley did my hair and a few of the bridesmaids; Jenna did the rest of the bridesmaids.
Riley is the updo master according to my hairstylist! And a complete doll! Her work is amazing and speaks for itself!”
Flowers were done by the Hillside Flower Girls, Casey and Susan. They did such a gorgeous job!
“Casey and Susan were dolls! I felt a connection with them right away and trusted in their vision. I gave them colors and a few ideas for centerpieces – they understood what I wanted, but went even further to add their own special touches to make it magical!”
Matching your shoes to your flowers is an awesome idea. I’m in love with these shoes.
“My dress was from Rainbow’s End in Oneonta…Kerry and Linda are amazing! Truly felt like family every time I went in. Linda is a top notch seamstress too and did my alterations.”
“Invitations were done by Julie Hanaan designs. They were so helpful and creative! The color options are vast which helped me to find my unique color scheme.”
Danielle did a first look with her father and her brother. This was the sweetest moment to capture.
Danielle, Carlos and their son Lucas had a first look too. Also super precious! (Lucas is seriously the CUTEST too. Brace yourself for 5 year old cuteness overload.)
I told you.
Someone might have been peeking
The ceremony took place at the Chenango Commons Golf Course. This is such a pretty venue and an apple orchard is the perfect place for a wedding ceremony.
Barb – Chenango Commons Golf Course – “She was amazing! Let guests play golf for free the morning of! Let us use the golf carts as needed and provided space inside to wait and get ready – always making sure I had a cold beer while I waited (even at every planning meeting!)”
The Orchard at Chenango Commons – Jo Anne Klenovic
“Jo Anne is an amazing decorator with an eye for detail! When you book with Red and White, you get her as event coordinator. You won’t be unhappy with her headlining the day. She makes sure everything is perfect!”
Danielle and Carlos were married by Reverend Kimberly Copeland. She was wonderful!
“This lady right here is beyond exceptional. She became my friend during our graduate years at Rutgers but we both were too kind and idealistic for the CJ system and Academia…and followed our different paths but never lost touch. She also has a powerful blog that she started when her fiancee passed away suddenly from diabetes (a few months prior to my meeting her). She helped Carlos and I, at this time because Carlos’ brother had just been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at 13 and almost died himself one day while I was at the office with Kim. Her spirit and heart are beyond words. She helped us then, and again when my mom passed. I truly have a friend for life in her and couldn’t have imagined anyone else marrying us.
Here is her blog. She posted about my dad 
An awesome shot by my assistant, Brittni! Check out that updo by the updo master Riley from Avant Garde Salon.
It’s completely normal to get the jitters on your wedding day and to vow to love yourself instead of your bride. This moment was too funny.
First kiss as husband and wife!
While Danielle was getting ready, she made it very clear that she needed pictures with her best friend! She showed me a few ideas on Pinterest but there was one idea in particular that she was really excited about. 
This one. (below) I’ve never really done selective color before. I may have done it ONCE a long time ago so I wasn’t really sure how to accomplish this but I figured it out and it came out beautifully. I’m pretty sure this needs to be framed for both of them. 
One thing that I really love about Danielle is she is SO expressive. She makes the best faces. In fact, while I was going through all of their wedding photos I was seriously thinking of adding at the end of the title “AKA The many faces of Danielle”. Without even telling her this, she told me in an email after the fact that her friends love seeing “the many faces of Danielle” (See? Soul twins!) I also told her in the salon that she has the opposite of a poker face because she so easily expresses everything she’s feeling right on her face. She said ON THE CONTRARY! She actually has the best poker face because she makes SO many faces, no one really knows what cards she has! lol 
This cake was amazing! Obviously it would have to be since Danielle is a baker and you know a baker isn’t going to hire another baker that isn’t anything less than perfection. This cake is by Gabriella’s Cakes. (All links for these awesome vendors will be posted below so be sure to check them out!)
“Gabriella is so sweet! I would consider even going into business with her! Her macarons are my all time favorite and am going to be ordering just an order of those in a few weeks…why, just because they were that amazing and I only got a few from the wedding! Amazing taste. Amazing talent. And an even more amazing person.”
I want to give a shout out to our table! Thanks for indulging in my love of chat and making dinner so interesting! We loved you guys!
The wedding reception was catered by Red and White Catering. (Jesse and Matt Dutcher)
“Jesse made the Dominican station from scratch via Carlos’ family recipes! He is an amazing chef, as well as an awesome human being!”
The music was provided for by We Can Mix Private Events (DJ Heavyness – Emmanuel Avila)
“These 2 guys were amazing! They have done many blended weddings (Irish & Dominican, Greek & Ecuadorian…). We almost completely entrusted our music list to them (minus the processionals and dances). They know their music. You can genuinely see their love of music and dance. In addition, having 2 people, one as MC to get the crowd going and the other as DJ was perfect. Each of them attended to either Carlos or myself all night long, making sure each of us were ok and enjoying ourselves! These guys are top notch and I will only hire them from now on!!! It also helped that they are frat bros to the my good friends (the guys who were at your table are all our DJs frat bros!)”
I like to leave things on a dramatic note. This shot makes my heart swoon!
A huge thank you to all the vendors that we collaborated with to make this day so amazing and special!
Hair: Riley (The updo master) – Avant Garden
Make-up: Julie – Energie Spa – energiespa.com
Dress: Rainbow’s End (Kerry and Linda) – rainbowsendweddings.com
Invitations: Julie Hanaan Designs – juliehanaandesign.com
Catering: Red and White Catering (Jesse and Matt) – redandwhitecatering.com
Venue: The Orchard at Chenango Commons – orchardatchenango.com
Bar: McGirks – mcgirks.com
Flowers/Bouquet/Boutonnieres/Centerpieces: Hillside Flower Girls (Casey and Susan) facebook.com/hillsideflowergirls
DJ/MC: We Can Mix Private Events – DJ Heavyness/Emmanuel Avila – facebook.com/wecanmixprivateevents
Cake: Gabriella’s Cakes – facebook.com/gabylooovescakes
Reverend: Kimberly Copeland – reverendyogi.com
And of course, a huge thanks to my wonderful Brittni for assisting me on Danielle + Carlos’ wedding day!
