Rochester Real Weddings

"When’s the wedding?" and "Where’s the ring?" were the common questions fired at Anita Prabhu and Vance Hagen in the eight years leading up to their engagement. Many thought they were crazy for waiting so long, but for Vance and Anita, the timing could not have been more perfect.

As two college freshman attending SUNY Geneseo, Vance and Anita were introduced through a mutual friend. They began dating soon after, and before they knew it, their lives had changed forever. As two young adults living in a world of uncertainty still trying to find their place in the world, there was one thing they knew for sure; life would not be complete without the other by their side.

It was on a beautiful May evening in 2006 that Vance finally popped the question. For Anita, the night was just like any other in the early summer. She and Vance would spend hours alone out in their boat on Canandaigua Lake. For this young couple, boating was an escape from the realities and responsibilities of everyday life. It was a time to relax, watch the sunset, and take pleasure in the simple joy of just being together. It also served as the perfect backdrop for the perfect proposal.

As a man of tradition, Vance got down on one knee with a gorgeous solitaire diamond, that no woman, including Anita could say no to. But more than offering her the perfect ring, he granted her the one wish that she had dreamed of her whole life; the chance to marry her best friend. With tears of joy, Anita accepted Vance’s hand in marriage, and soon celebrations were being had by both families. The challenge now: planning the perfect wedding!

For a girl who had been thinking about her wedding since she could walk, Anita was still presented with the same challenges of any bride to be: the venue; the photographer; the florist; and of course, the dress! The recipe for success and low stress included knowing what they wanted and starting early.

As any excited bride, Anita was eager to begin finding her perfect dress. Peggy’s Bridal in Pittsford, NY, provided the selection, service, and quality that every bride should expect. Although every dress seemed beautiful in its own respect, it was the second she tried on, that Anita knew she would be in on her wedding day. It was formal and classy with just enough glam to wow the guests, yet light and comfortable, to ensure Anita could enjoy her day, and dance the night away.

A sense of relief came with the dress purchase, but Vance and Anita still faced the dilemma of finding a suitable location for both the ceremony and reception. The couple was sure of two things; they wanted their wedding to be fun and functional. For a guest list of over 300, including many out of town visitors, Vance and Anita needed a space that could not only host a large reception, but could provide accommodations for those wishing to stay the night. The solution for this couple: a hotel with enough ambiance to create the perfect wedding atmosphere and enough rooms for all of their friends and family. The Hyatt Regency in Rochester, NY, provided just what they needed.

The couple planned an evening wedding with a cocktail hour and reception immediately following. Their main goal was to have as little downtime between events as possible, creating a flow to the evening that seemed seamless and

Once the date and location were set, everything else soon fell into place. Flowers were provided by Marguerite Herbert Florist, and included a combination of fall flowers and roses, the bride’s favorite. Each bridesmaid’s bouquet consisted of pale pink roses, while Anita’s radiated with white roses and stephanotis flower accents. Tables were set with wine favors supplied by Casa Larga Vineyards, and centerpieces were set with high vases and a cascading flower arrangement which made the reception room light up with vibrant colors and created a classy atmosphere for all guests to enjoy.

Dan, from Photo Emphasis, captured not only the memories of the couple’s wedding, but also a beautiful set of engagement photos. Both Vance and Anita suggest setting up an engagement shoot with the photographer, not only to get a sense of the product that will be provided on the big day, but also to get comfortable with the photographer’s style of picture taking. Feeling comfortable with their photographer beforehand gave Anita and Vance one less thing to worry about on the day of their wedding.

When the day arrived, Anita and Vance found themselves filled with excitement and anticipation. The girls enjoyed brunch and a bit of pampering in a beautiful suite, while the boys bonded over a morning golf session. Wavering from tradition, the couple decided to pose for pictures with the wedding party before the ceremony, both at the venue and in Hyland Park. After pictures, it was back to the hotel in preparation for the wedding ceremony. Anita and her lovely bridesmaids strolled down the aisle to the sounds of the Angelica String Quartet, with the accompanying trumpet sounds of Peter Madsen. When the "I do’s" had been said, both the couple and guests began their evening with a cocktail hour filled with drinks and hand passed hors d’oeuvres. The party then ventured into the reception, which had magically transformed from the ceremony room into a grand ballroom. After watching the couple enjoy their first dance as husband and wife, guests enjoyed a four-course sit-down dinner, followed by the traditional cake cutting. Following dinner, guests kicked off their shoes and loosened their ties, because dancing became the order of the night.

Music services were provided courtesy of Phenomenon Sound, and DJ Dan a.k.a. "Hollywood" was just what the couple wanted to make sure their guests were out of their seats and taking full advantage of the open bar and dance floor. Although the night came quickly to an end, the weekend celebrations did not. Guests were invited back down to the ballroom the following morning for brunch and a bit more time to mingle with the newlyweds.

Looking back on their special day, Vance and Anita delight in the memories that were made and the people who came to share in the union. They have no regrets on how the day panned out, but both agree in that they wish it did not have to end.

The couple is now enjoying the perks of being married and will enjoy their first wedding anniversary on October 6. With friends and family now satisfied on their marriage, you can only imagine what questions now bog down the happy couple: "Where are the kids?!"