A Formal Winter Wedding at the Whiteface Club in Lake Placid, New York

Mackie Pilsbury (29 and in fundraising) and Mark Spadaccini (31 and in finance) met at Brother Jimmy’s BBQ in New York City. The two connected over Bud Lites and skee-ball and went on their first real date one week later. Five years down the road, on a freezing Love Actually-watching kind of Friday night, Mark popped the question in the couple’s apartment. A winter proposal led to flurries of a dreamy winter wedding in Lake Placid, New York, a location the couple frequented for various special occasions. “A winter wedding in Lake Placid was truly a no-brainer for us as we sat down to go over our ‘non-negotiable list’ after we got engaged. We also surmised that it would be a fantastic destination for our guests, which consisted primarily of hockey players and residents of New England,” says Mackie. The natural surroundings of Lake Placid helped dictate the icy, ethereal wedding day style, incorporating whites, greens and grays with soft pops of pink. Mackie chose a strapless Ramona Keveza wedding dress with a full tulle skirt and accessorized with a crystal belt, a hairpiece and her great grandmother’s ermine stole. To keep the wedding formal without venturing into black tie, Mark and his groomsmen wore navy suits with light purple Salvatore Ferragamo ties. The moment the couple left the ceremony, a light snow began to fall for their first photos as newlyweds. For their cocktail hour and reception, Mackie and Mark decided that top-notch music was of paramount importance; they brought in a New York City seven-piece band, The Elements, who belted out tunes to keep guests engaged and dancing all night. “One of my favorite parts of the entire reception was when my brother, a very talented drummer, took to the stage to play ‘Loving Cup’ and ‘Every Little Thing She Does is Magic’ with the band,” says Mackie. Since neither of the couple’s families had roots in Lake Placid, Mackie and Mark agree that it was a magical experience to create their own memories with all of their favorite people amassed in this location. “Forever we will have the memories of the boys playing outdoor hockey in the morning before getting ready and the girls primping over mimosas while watching the snowflakes gather on the Lake outside. Together with the impossibly lucky weather, the seasonal surroundings, and our love for family, friends, and winter, we created the perfect wedding weekend for our marriage to begin.”