The Meet Cute : Sydni and Edmond met through mutual friends when the group went to a Zac Brown Band concert in Saratoga Springs , New York . “ That ’ s when we really hit it off ,” Sydni says . “ We haven ’ t gone a day without talking since !”
The Engagement : In June 2020 , when on a weekend trip to celebrate Ed ’ s father ’ s birthday , the couple dined out at a nice restaurant along the Hudson River and Ed ’ s mom suggested they take some family photos by the water . While posing for the photos , Ed pulled the classic “ my shoe is untied ” move and dropped to his knee . When he asked for Sydni ’ s hand , she just thought he needed help getting back up , only to be caught off guard . To add to the surprise , Sydni ’ s mom and brother came running from the parking lot , where they had watched the whole proposal from afar . What Sydni thought was a birthday celebration for her now father-in-law ended up being a surprise proposal and an engagement celebration .
The Day of : Lucky for them , the couple was fortunate enough to keep their original wedding date and the timing was perfect : All COVID-related restrictions were lifted just in time for their big day . To boot , the vendors were incredibly accommodating . “ Castle Hill made everything seamless ,” says Sydni . “ Our families and friends supported every decision we made along the way .” Despite some morning showers , the skies cleared in time for the outdoor ceremony , just as they had hoped . The only challenge ? The coastal breeze , as it was tugging on Sydni ’ s veil and pushing around Ed ’ s hair , but it most definitely worked in favor for their wedding photos .
Back to Black : Guests were given a simple dress memo : classic black . The sleek guest and groomsmen attire and the deep navy bridesmaid gowns highlighted Sydni ’ s dress . “ There are so few occasions to really get dressed up and attend a formal affair these days , so we figured why not !” she says . “ We wanted the aesthetic to feel classy and timeless .”
The Highlights : The band ’ s performance came as a surprise to the couple , as they hired them sight-unseen during the height of the pandemic and relied solely on reviews . “[ Clockwork New England ] kept the party going , brought friends and family up on stage to sing — their energy was infectious ,” says Sydni . The icing on the cake was the final song of the night : Guests and the bridal party all stood in a big circle and sang their hearts out to “ Colder Weather ” by Zac Brown Band , a full-circle moment for the couple ’ s love story .
108 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2023