Hotel Syracuse Wedding | Jenny & Shane

From the start, their priority was simple: soak it all in. Rather than spending time to sneak away for portraits, they chose to stay close to their people, to the day, to the energy around them. We did sneak away for 15 minutes at sunset, up to a neighboring parking garage rooftop, and those quiet, golden photos ended up being some of my favorites of the day. A little time to breathe, laugh, and take in the day before heading back to the party.

Jenny and Shane have a beloved mastiff named Apollo, and since he couldn’t be there physically, he made appearances in their vows and on their custom cocktail napkins. Bringing in their life at home together in the perfect way.

The evening unfolded exactly how a Hotel Syracuse reception should; classic, warm, full of energy. And by the time Silver Arrow Band took over, the dance floor never slowed down. They kept everyone moving, singing, and celebrating straight through to the end.

One moment that still makes me smile: Jenny’s grandfather tried a margarita for the first time in his 90s. Jenny’s cousins gathered around, insisted I get a photo, and cheered him on as he sipped it, pure joy.

A beautiful reminder that you don’t need a packed timeline or a long shot list to have a meaningful wedding day. Just love, presence, and your people right there beside you. And another reminder that your photo experience can reflect the wedding experience you want; these two didn’t step away from their people for longer than 20 minutes on their wedding day, and we still created beautiful portraits.

Jenny & Shane, what an honor. Here’s to a decade down, and a lifetime to go!

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