David + Brynn: September Wedding at the Canasawacta County Club

January 16, 2023

David + Brynn: September Wedding at the Canasawacta County Club

David and Brynn were married at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich last September. It was a bit of gray day, but the rain held off just long enough for the outdoor ceremony and photos to proceed as planned. Bride and broom both were getting ready at Air BnBs that Yohance and I visited respectively for some laid back getting ready shots. I love it when a day starts this way! It really gives you the time to photograph everything and get a real feel for the day. Everything was beautiful, from the emotional ceremony to the very last dance of the evening, followed by a sparkler send-off. I love the new trend of the couple getting a last dance at the end of the night while the guests get ready for the sparkler send-off. It's a wonderful intimate moment for the newly married couple at the end of the night to just be with each other, and there's no time wasted lighting all those sparklers! At the reception, DJ Justino kept the tunes going, and these folks LOVED to dance. There was such a great energy all night. My second photographer for the day, Yohance Bailey, was absolutely indispensable. Things were running late (as they tend to do on wedding days!). I'm used to rolling with the punches in these scenarios, but I would not have been able to get the amount of group photos we needed done without his help. We were able to split up when necessary and get twice the work done in the same amount of time. And his portraits are stunning!

Brynn and David have a wonderful story that she shared with me; I'll share it in her words, as she says it best!

Our Story:
While we had known each other since 2011 due to our best friends being siblings (Trisha & Drew Danforth), our lives took us on very different paths for nearly a decade before we found each other once again.

We both "swiped right" on each other in February 2020, which opened up the line of communication. Our first time hanging out was just in the living room of his grandparents' house, listening to music with his brother as the third wheel. We spent time together every day after that, including our first date to a hockey game in Binghamton on Leap Day 2020. We made it official on 3/9/20 and spent the beginning of our new relationship in the world of COVID. There were so many changes we had to make and obstacles we had to navigate together, such as deciding to move in together with his two children and my dog. It was never easy, but it was very worth it to see how much we were able to grow as a couple and a family.

David bought a ring in March of 2021 but did not propose until December 2021. Truth be told, I found the ring by accident in May, told David about it, and agreed to be as patient as possible while he planned the perfect proposal.

He truly did surprise me on Christmas Eve. After an evening church service in Otego, everyone was going back to his grandparents' house (the same place where we first hung out) for dessert. David's grandma asked him to stop to the store and pick up ginger ale. For some reason, he was adamant that I go with him to get this ginger ale. I was kind of annoyed, but went with him anyway. When we got back to Nammy and Papa's house, we walked inside and I heard a familiar song playing - Speak Too Soon by Wild Rivers. I looked up and saw family members lining the pathway from the kitchen to the living room, each holding a candle and a white flower. Immediate tears. As I walked down the line, each person handed me their flower. We stopped in the living room, where David quietly spoke about this being the perfect time to propose because our family was present and my nails were done. As he dropped down to one knee, he said, "This is where I fell in love with you. And this is where I ask you to marry me." Anyone who is a fan of The Office will understand that scene/quote. We were engaged and got right to planning!

Our wedding day was so special. So perfect. Even the rain held off until we were done with the outdoor necessities! My brother and his new wife advised us to schedule a private dance at the end of the reception. We are so appreciative of this advice. As we look back at photographs, videos, and simply reminisce from memory, we both agree that our favorite moment on September 4, 2022 was dancing alone in the ballroom to Crazy for You by John Coggins. It was 3 minutes in the day that felt like we were the only people in the world. We cried happy tears together, soaking in the feeling that we were finally husband and wife.

We want to say thank you to all of our incredible vendors, family, and friends who made our day (and entire weekend!) the best ever.

David & Brynn Havens

Congratulations, Brynn and David! It was a pleasure working with you!