Bayfront Convention Center Wedding with Toni and Frank

On New Years Eve I met back up with Toni and Frank in Conneaut and we ended up the evening for their wedding reception on the shores of Lake Erie at Bayfront Convention Center.  As with the day before it was a chilly day and the breezes off of Lake Erie made it even cooler. This group braved the freezing temps for photos though!

Toni and Frank were so much fun to work with.  I found out quickly during their engagement they had an easy love and just fell in naturally with one another.  They are so sweet together and Tony was more than happy to wrap his arms around Toni to keep her warm from the chilly breeze.  I’m still impressed with how long they toughed it out in the chilly Lake Erie breeze!

New Years Eve weddings are so much fun.  Take a wedding and amp up the sillies and the love and that’s what a NYE wedding is like.  It was SO much fun and there was something going on at every corner of the ballroom all night.  I have to give a special shout out to the ladies I was seated with.  They were an older group of ladies and they were an absolute hoot to sit with.

Thank you both so much for having me along for your day and sharing your holiday with me!

Ceremony: Corpus Christi in Conneaut / Reception: Bayfront Convention Center / Cupckaes: Icing on the Lake / DJ: Selective Sound

I started out with Frank and his guys at his parents house.  They were all pretty chill and relaxed and it was a perfect way to start the day.

Men getting ready for wedding in Conneaut Ohio

I then headed over to meet up with Toni and her ladies.  While they were finishing up getting the final touches done, I documented some of the lovely details including these gorgeous bouquets that were made for the wedding!  How amazing are they?

Handmade red and white silk floral wedding bouquets

I really loved the festive colors they chose for their wedding.  The red and gold brightened up the dreary day and I especially loved the invitations in red and gold!

Red and gold wedding invitation

Finally it was time to get Toni into her FANTASTIC gown.  How gorgeous is this?

Bride getting ready for New Years Eve Wedding

There were quite a few layers to her gown to straighten out but her ladies did an amazing job.

Bride getting ready for New Years Eve Wedding

The final touches before heading to the ceremony!  These earrings were beautiful.

Bride getting ready for New Years Eve Wedding

Frank waiting patiently for Toni to make her way down the aisle with her parents at Corpus Christi in Conneaut.

Groom waiting for Bride to walk down aisle

Everyone was barely holding in the tears as they made their way to Frank.

Bride and parents walking down aisle

Holiday ceremonies are always so much more festive!  I loved the wreaths on the doors to the sanctuary at the church.

New Years Eve Wedding Ceremony at Corpus Christi in Conneaut

The whole ceremony was beautiful and perfect.

New Years Eve Wedding Ceremony at Corpus Christi in Conneaut

The kiss!

New Years Eve Wedding Ceremony at Corpus Christi in Conneaut

Those smiles say it all, don’t they?

New Years Eve Wedding Ceremony at Corpus Christi in Conneaut

I adored these beautiful red gowns on Toni’s bridesmaids, especially with the beautiful white fur wraps.  These ladies braved the cold with nary a complaint.

Bride and Bridesmaids wearing red in Conneaut Ohio

The breeze off Lake Erie was bitterly cold but they managed to sneak out a few giggles!

Bridesmaids in fur stoles at winter wedding

The guys had a bit more to keep the cold at bay but as you can see, they didn’t hide their chill quite as well.

Groom and Groomsman after wedding in Conneaut

It was still a good time and they were great sports about everything!

Groom and Groomsman after wedding in Conneaut

I let the bridal party head back to the bus to warm up and Toni and Frank braved a few more minutes outside by Lake Erie for photos.

Bride and Groom winter wedding in Ohio

How cute are these two?!

Bride and Groom winter wedding in Ohio

I am still in love with the gown Toni wore.  The lace was so divine!  I’m glad we kept her train out for the photos outside!

Bride and Groom winter wedding in Ohio

Frank was more than willing to keep Toni warm!

Bride and Groom winter wedding in Ohio

We headed down to the shores of Lake Erie where they had some lights in the trees and took a few more photos.

Toni’s veil was so pretty to play with… and they were such great sports about the cold!

Bride and Groom winter wedding in Conneaut Ohio

Originally we were going to take more photos once we arrived in Erie from Conneaut but due to the early setting sun and the cold temperatures everyone opted to hang out at a nearby bar for a while instead and take some more casual photos.  It worked out perfectly as it the winds picked up a lot during our drive and the bar was nice and toasty!

It doesn’t always work out during a wedding day but I always love when my couples are able to get a bit of a breather in between the ceremony and reception – especially when their reception is going to go late like theirs.  After the bar they were able to have a couple hours of downtime to relax before heading to the reception.  Every time my couples are able to do this everyone has smiles on so much longer and they are SO much more relaxed.

While they were taking some downtime I was able to get checked into my hotel for the night (the adjoining Courtyard by Marriott) where they gave me the most ridiculous suite for one person.  I had a couple hours to kill and found myself curled up in my living room watching the Harry Potter marathon and this may have made their wedding one of my favorite weddings of the year.

Yes, I am a nerd.  LOL

Bride and Groom celebrate wedding at bar

I headed down to the reception early so that I had a chance to document the details before everyone arrived.  There were so many festive touches for New Years Eve!  I loved the bell place card holders to “ring” in the new year.

Bell placecard holders for New Years Eve Wedding

Another perfect touch for the New Year – Hershey Kisses for favors.

Hershey Kisses Wedding Favor

The whole ballroom for the wedding reception at the Bayfront Convention Center was sparkling and festive with their red and gold details.

Red and Gold Wedding Reception Decor

Finally it was time for the reception to start and Toni and Frank entered the ballroom in style!

Entrance to wedding reception on New Years Eve

They went into their first dance immediately which was perfect.

First dance at Bayfront Convention Center Wedding ReceptionFirst Dance at Bayfront Convention Center Wedding ReceptionFirst Dance at Bayfront Convention Center Wedding Reception

While they had cupcakes for their guests (in champagne glasses!) they cut a small cake for themselves and it went perfectly.

Cake Cutting at Wedding Reception in Erie, PA

After a delicious meal the dance floor opened and people kicked up their heels.  Thanks to the ever-amazing Selective Sound, the dance floor was packed all night long.

You may recognize these dancers – the bridesmaid is Jenna’s sister!  I got lucky enough to have her in TWO weddings last year! And man, can her and her hubby dance!

Bayfront Convention Center Wedding Reception

This is one of the ladies that I was seated with and she was SO much fun!

Bayfront Convention Center Wedding Reception

The evening was full of full on dance parties and sweet slow songs – perfect for the bride’s parents to take a moment to themselves!

Bayfront Convention Center Wedding Reception

So, this awesome lady is known for her rocking out at every family member’s wedding and it.was.amazing!

Bayfront Convention Center Wedding Reception

Soon enough it was time for the BLUE champagne to be poured and the countdown to 2017 to begin!

Blue champagne for New Years Eve Wedding Reception

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

NYE Bayfront Convention Center Wedding Reception

Not long after everyone made their way back to their rooms for the night with huge grins on their faces from a fun holiday celebration spent with friends and family!

Can you tell I LOVE NYE weddings?

New Years Eve Wedding Reception

Of course I had to play with their beads for their ring pictures!

New Years Eve Wedding Reception

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