All Over Albany

Wedding Flea Market at Takk House

The Takk House event space in Troy is hosting a Wedding Flea Market September 30.

Wedding flea market? Takk House is pitching it as an opportunity for people who have already had weddings to sell leftover wedding related stuff like decor, centerpieces, and table settings -- and for people who are planning weddings to pick up this sort of stuff at lower prices. ("Sorry, but no businesses, vendors or crafters of any kind are permitted. This is a bride-to-bride wedding resale only.")

The flea market is Sunday, September 30 from noon to 4 pm. Admission is $5.

And if you'd like to sell leftover items, tables are $30. See the link for details.

photo: Heidi Sicari

Suggestions for affordable wedding venues?

G emails:

Hello! A friend of mine is hoping to get married next year and is trying to be budget conscious but still have a great wedding. Any suggestions for venues and vendors that are affordable but quality? Thank you!

We suspect this sort of course follows at least one of two angles:
1) picking a venue or vendors outside the typical wedding industrial complex and/or
2) focusing on just a few aspects of the experience that are really important to you and letting the other stuff go. We're guessing people will have some ideas about how to be creative in this regard.

So, got a suggestion for G and friend? Please share! And sentence or two about why you're suggesting something can be helpful?

Earlier: Lauren wrote about planning her wedding a few years back, and there are some bits in there that should be helpful.

Knotted 2017

The wedding Knotted will be back at The Takk House in Troy Sunday, March 26 from 1-4 pm. Blurbage:

Knotted is a curated wedding showcase for the offbeat couple who doesn't quite fit the traditional wedding market. This show is anything but that. Carefully curated Knotted is a collection of independent artists, musicians, planners, decorators and foodie superheros! This is a party. Not a convention.

You won't find yourself being herded like cattle through a banquet hall. This is going to feel like a VIP party that you snuck into. All the best businesses and crafters will be waiting for you. It is going to feel like a dream! Only well... not!

More than 30 vendors will be showing off their wedding-related wares and services. Also: There's a "no ice sculptures" rule, apparently.

General admission tickets are $8 online. There's also VIP ticket for $15 that gets you a tote gift bag and a drink voucher.

photo via Knotted

Knotted returns to The Takk House

The wedding showcase Knotted will be back at The Takk House in Troy Sunday, March 6 from 1-4 pm. The event prides itself on being different from the typical wedding show. Blurbage:

What you'll find:
• The best indie vendors in the area
• Array of music performances so you can listen to bands and dj's first hand
• Couples of all kinds!
• Food tastings
• Cocktail ideas and craft beer sampling
• Wedding dress showcase

What you won't find:
• Ice sculptures
• Cattle herding like crowds
• A strange man/lady trying to get you to register for a free cruise
• Traditional... anything
• Tanning and weight loss booths. (just why?!)

Here are photos from last year's event.

Tickets are $5 and available online.

A venue for a bridal shower that says "Albany"

Maureen emails:

I'm helping to plan a bridal shower for this August for about 40 people, and we'd like to find a venue that has both indoor and outdoor space. Preferable some place that provides food, but willing to consider all options. And since most of the guests will be from out of town, it would be great to find a place that feels "Albany." (But anywhere in the Capital Region works!)

There are a lot of places that host events like this, but the desire to find a place that's unique to this area or representative somehow is a fun twist.

So, got suggestions for Maureen? Please share! And as always, a sentence or two about why you're recommending the place is much appreciated.

Suggestions for a casual engagement party?

Lisa emails:

I wanted to ask if you could suggest any places for an engagement party? My parents have expressed interest in throwing one, but they are out of town and are asking for suggestions. Our guest list will be around 70 ppl, and I don't want them to spend a lot of money. Joe and I are [more] casual than formal, so maybe something like a BBQ at a park. Though the few places I've called charge a significant fee just for reserving a pavilion. Have you heard of any unique engagement parties, or know of any hidden gems in the area that we could contact?

Because Lisa and her fiance are looking for something casual, that probably widens the range of places. And there a bunch of parks around the region. So there have gotta be some good places.

Got a suggestion for Lisa? Please share! And bonus points for a sentence or two about why you're suggesting that place.

What's new, interesting, and different in the Capital Region wedding scene

At the State Museum. / photo: Rob Spring Photography

With spring finally here, wedding season is upon us. If you haven't been inundated with this year's save-the-dates already, be prepared for the invitations to start rolling in soon.

Every year there are new wedding trends. And in recent years it's been especially nice to see local couples incorporating their love of the Capital Region into their big day.

So, to get a sense of how people are planning this season, I chatted with three local wedding planners. They gave me the scoop on what's new, interesting, and different in the regional wedding scene.

(there's more)

Knotted at Takk House

Coming up at Takk House in Troy on March 7: Knotted, a "curated wedding showcase." We get the feeling it's aiming to be an alternative to the typical wedding vendor show (apparently there's a no-ice sculpture rule).

Blurbage:

Knotted is a curated wedding showcase for the offbeat couple who doesn't quite fit the traditional wedding market. This show is anything but that. Carefully curated Knotted is a collection of independent artists, musicians, planners, decorators and foodie superheros! This is a party. Not a convention.

You won't find yourself being herded like cattle through a banquet hall. This is going to feel like a VIP party that you snuck into.

Knotted is Saturday, March 7 from noon-4 pm. Tickets are $5.

Earlier on AOA: Lauren's series on planning her wedding

Where to donate a wedding dress?

Jin emails:

After a dozen years, it's time for the wedding dress to go. Any reader suggestions on where I can donate my dress where it might go to do some good rather than a Halloween costume?

There seem to be donation programs for all sorts of items now, so we're guessing there's probably some org that takes wedding dresses.

So, got a suggestion for Jin -- whether a place for donations, or some other way to put the dress to good use? Please share!

photo: photo: Flickr user billaday (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Help fixing wedding photos?

SB emails:

We tied the knot recently and received our professional pictures from our photographer. We had a limited wedding budget so we weren't able to hire a very expensive photographer. Unfortunately that is now my biggest regret as we are pretty disappointed in the quality of most of the pictures : ( It appears that a majority of them weren't touched up at all and some are even downright unflattering : (

I know that with a little editing they can be salvaged so that going forward we can have a handful amazing pictures of the most important day of our lives. I know there are programs out there like Adobe Lightbox/Photoshop that could do the trick.

Could someone please recommend a local capital region photo editor? I would even be open to contacting a photo editing student that knows how to use Lightbox and wants to make some money on the side. Note: I researched a site called Fotofix online but the prices were really high so I prefer to not go to that direction.

Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

We're betting someone can help SB's photos -- but it might be within a range. At some point a photo can only be fixed so much.

So, got a suggestion for SB? Please share!

Bachelorette party ideas in downtown Troy?

Christine asks via Twitter:

[B]est downtown troy activities for a bachelorette type event? @CapCtyBrewCycle is weather dependent!

[A]bout 14 ladies, low key, starting around 3 on a Saturday in late November. Possible dinner upstairs at @GetRuckedTroy

Got an idea for Christine and her friends? Please share!

Planning a Capital Region wedding: recap!

Congrats to Lauren and George!

Over the last few months Lauren has been sharing her wedding planning process here at AOA. Well, guess what: She now's married and back from her honeymoon!

We got together with her this week to see how all that wedding planning worked out...

(there's more)

Planning a Capital Region wedding: eloping

Sita and Nick

Lauren and George are planning a wedding in the Capital Region, and they're chronicling the planning process here on AOA. But this time, Lauren's talking with a couple about going a different direction...

When planning a wedding, not everyone decides to do a big bash in a ballroom with all of their family and friends. Some couples forgo a traditional wedding and opt to elope instead.

Local couple Nick and Sita chose to "sorta-elope" to Lake Placid -- and say they couldn't be happier with their decision.

(there's more)

Planning a Capital Region wedding: photographers

"All of her pictures captured our quirky personalities, and we still looked good!"

Lauren and George are planning a wedding in the Capital Region, and they're chronicling the planning process here on AOA. Last time we heard from them Lauren was picking out a dress. Next up: the photographer.

When my fiancé George and I first started planning our wedding, we made a list of the few things that were most important to us. Two of the items were things we could take on ourselves: having a wedding that involved our family and friends, and being true to our fun personalities.

The other priority: to have a quality photographer who takes amazing photos. It wasn't an easy task to find someone we loved while sticking to our budget, but we eventually did it.

(there's more)

A spot for a post-wedding meal that won't break the bank?

T asks via the Facebook:

I am having a City Hall wedding in August and I am looking for a nice place to have a decent meal afterward for about 20 people that won't break the bank. I would like it to be an Albany restaurant. I have researched several options and they are just too much. I would like to do something that would work out to be $20 or less per person. Can you throw this out to your readers for suggestions? Thanks.

Sometimes it seems like there's almost no ceiling on how much can be spent on a wedding. But trying to keep the cost down -- that can take some creativity and flexibility.

So... got a suggestion for T? Please share! We're especially curious if maybe there's some sort of non-traditional option that might work.

Earlier on AOA: Planning a Capital Region wedding: catering

Planning a Capital Region wedding: the dress

All three were candidates...

Lauren and George are planning a wedding in the Capital Region, and they're chronicling the planning process here on AOA. Last time we heard from them they were checking out catering. Next up: a wedding dress.

I never imagined that wedding dress shopping would be such a long and difficult process. All those wedding shows make it seem magical -- with infinite budgets, tears of joy, and champagne.

My dress process, on the other hand, is a lesson in frustration.

In the beginning I was so excited. I had scanned Pinterest incessantly and decided I was looking for a light, romantic dress with some sort of strap, and without a train. My budget was $700. I could do this.

(there's more)

Where to shop for a wedding dress?

Siobhan asks via Twitter:

518ers, any recommendations for where to buy a wedding dress in the Capital Region? Not for me, for a marriage-minded friend!

In a follow up, she mentioned that the first thing she did was check if there had already been an "Ask AOA" about this topic. So it sounds like she knows she can rely on you for good suggestions.

Non-redeemable bonus points for a short explanation of why the shop you're recommending is good -- service, price, selection, whatever.

Got a suggestion? Please share!

photo: Flickr user billaday (cc)

Planning a Capital Region wedding: catering

Considering a range of options... including food trucks.

Lauren & George are planning a wedding in the Capital Region, and they're chronicling the planning process here on AOA. Last time we heard from them they were checking out venues. Now they're trying to select a local caterer.

It is now less than six months until my wedding and I'm freaking out a little bit. My fiancé George and I wanted to have a fun and casual wedding, so we didn't rush planning and have been slow to make decisions. Now that a master list of over 50 wedding to-dos has been constructed and time is ticking, I'm quite anxious. Luckily we've already decided on one of the most important parts: the food!

Food is crucial to a wedding. Not only is a delicious meal one of the best ways to thank your guests for attending, the food and beverage is typically the biggest wedding expense. For those of you who tuned in last month, you know that my fiancé and I have booked our wedding venue: Indian Ladder Farms. We are lucky that our venue does not require certain vendors, but it also means that we have to do a lot of searching ourselves. After we secured Indian Ladder, I went on a mad search for caterers.

How much does it cost to feed a wedding of 75 people, anyway? The answer: It depends.

(there's more)

Planning a Capital Region wedding: the venue

The proposal was a bit of a surprise to me.

We'd been together about a year and a half, but it came at the end of a completely terrible week last August. A car accident and subsequent surgery had forced my boyfriend and I to cancel our vacation, so we made the best of our free weekend by going to brunch in Saratoga. At the end of the meal George casually asked if I "wanted to be together forever." I responded with sass. "Sure," I said "I'm just waiting for you to ask me."

George was completely prepared! As he got down on one knee, I was in complete shock. I kept asking "Are you for real?" and "Are you sure?" No one ever said I was smooth.

I'm Lauren, by the way, an energetic non-profit marketer by day, and a crafter/DIY-er and author of The Thrifty Ginger by night. My fiancé, George, is a freelance computer programmer and all-around nice guy. Over the next few months I'm going to share my adventures in Albany-area wedding land here on AOA.

First up: Picking the venue...

(there's more)

Help making wedding rings?

An Engaged Person emails:

My fiance and I are interested in making our own wedding bands. We aren't sure how to approach this though and I'm wondering if you or your readers might have some recommendations regarding how on earth we would go about doing this. Are there jewelers or metal workers in the area that do this kind of thing?

And just to clarify, I mean *make* them - not just *design* them!

Well, there are definitely at jewelers and metal workers in this area who could probably assist with the process. We guess it really just comes down to how involved EP and fiance want to be on the spectrum of actually making the rings -- with design and sourcing materials at one end, to working some of the materials, all the way up to climbing a volcano to forge the metal in lava. (OK, that far end is a little crazy -- they'd obviously take a helicopter to the top of the volcano. Who actually makes that climb anymore?)

So... got a suggestion for this Engaged Person, either for a local jewelry maker and/or how to go about finding out more about the possibilities? Please share.

Earlier on AOA: The artist as metalsmith: John De Rosier's jewelry

Suggestions for a 1920s-themed local wedding?

Allison emails with a fun question:

I'm recently engaged and am overwhelmed with all the potential wedding venues in our area. To help narrow the choices down, I've decided on a 1920's era themed wedding (secretly hoping Hemingway crashes my party, drunk).

Can you guys help a girl out with some vintage-y and spacious venues? And if you have any other dope ideas for center pieces, signature drinks, etc. please do not hold back.

This area has no shortage of wedding venues -- and some of them even date back to the 1920s (or thereabout).

So, got a suggestion for Allison? Please share!

photo: State Library of Queensland Flickr

Good venue for a medium-sized, indoor wedding reception?

Joanna emails:

My sister is planning her wedding for this December and is looking for a venue for the reception that is on the smaller side, where she can entertain approximately 80 guests. She is not bound by area -- we've been looking for places in Saratoga, Troy, Albany, Schenectady, etc. I didn't know if you've posted about this topic in the past or maybe if your readers might have some suggestions.

We've had a question before about finding a place for a small wedding. That was a few years back, though, and many of those spots were outside.

Of course, there aren't any shortages of places to hold receptions. But we're curious about places that are maybe unexpected, or non-traditional. You know, the sort of place that makes you say, "That wouldn't have occurred to me, but it could be cool." (Or, this case, warm, for December.)

So, have a suggestion Joanna and her sister? Please share!

Earlier on AOA:
+ Ask AOA: Where to get a wedding dress cleaned, preserved?
+ Ask AOA: Interesting wedding spot in downtown Albany?
+ Ask AOA: Where to have a small wedding?

photo: Flickr user billaday (cc)

Where to get a wedding dress cleaned, preserved?

Mindy asks via Twitter:

Can anyone recommend a good place to get a wedding dress (and veil? and shoes?) preserved?

We've seen a handful of places advertise this service... but it's an important item, so we can see how you wouldn't want to take it just any place.

So, anyone have a suggestion for Mindy? Please share!

photo: Flickr user billaday (cc)

Good spot for a bridal shower?

Deirdre emails:

I'm hosting a bridal shower for about 35 women- do you have any suggestions for a location? We're looking for great food and hopefully a private room option, but that's not crucial. Thanks!

There would seem to be a lot of choices. If you've had a good experience at a similar kind of event somewhere around town, maybe you can help Deirdre narrow down the choices.

Got a suggestion? Please share!

film still: Bridesmaids

Interesting wedding spot in downtown Albany?

Looking for an interesting wedding spot in Albany, Annie emails:

We aren't getting married until December of 2012, but we wanted to start browsing around for a ceremony site. We aren't religious, but if we could get married in a beautiful, old church by a Justice or something like that, that would also be ok. We are shooting for the reception to be at Jack's, so I'd ideally like to be in down town Albany.

Any suggestions for Annie? Please share! As we understand it, she's looking for something a little different, so she'd probably love creative or unusual ideas.

photo: Flickr user _FXR