Introducing - Destination Upstate

** They asked, I listened ** 

After 10 years in business I have chosen to spread my wings and focus on a client base that has been quietly begging for help for years. 

I am beyond excited to finally announce my newest planning venture with 

- Destination Upstate - 

Upstate New York's first Destination Management firm specializing in start-to-finish celebrations for out-of-town couples. 

Please be so kind and head over to check out my site, and leave a little love in the comment section here if you please. 

THANK YOU!!! 

xoxo,

Shannon

Meghan and Travis Leave WPP A Beautiful Review!

Photo by Mitch Wojnarowicz 

Meghan and Travis were married in Lake Placid on October 18, 2014.  They worked with me for their wedding planning and had WPP Planners Melissa Jacobsen as their day-of wedding coordinator.  They just posted a review of our work on Wedding Wire and it gave me chills!  Thank you so much you guys for your incredibly kind words!!

To read all of our reviews CLICK HERE.

"Working with the Wedding Planning Plus team was simply phenomenal. It was evident from our first conversation with Shannon Whitney that we were working with a seasoned pro. She quickly and efficiently counseled us through choosing a venue, DJ, florist, caterers, etc. But, what really made an impression on us was the authentic interest that Shannon had in making our wedding day perfect for us. She provided options and ideas, but when she felt that a certain element would help produce the experience we were looking for, she took the time to walk us through her vision. For example, she suggested that we do a “first look” in order to be able to spend more time with our guests after the ceremony. Who knew? It was a fantastic idea! Melissa Jacobson was our day-of coordinator. But, she was so much than that. A month before the wedding, right as the pressure and stress started to build, Melissa stepped in and coordinated all of the last details with ease. Each week when we spoke on the phone, I came armed with an agenda. But, there was no need because Melissa was always two steps ahead of me. Our conversations were so efficient, that we would end up just laughing and chatting excitedly about the wedding day. Our wedding was in Lake Placid, NY in late October, and it was a dream come true. Yes, it rained. Yes, someone locked me out of my room. Yes, there was a completely over-the-top wedding guest. But, I had not a worry in the world. Melissa was there at every turn, taking care of all of the details, large and small. She was cool and collected the entire time. The wedding party and our moms raved about Melissa’s famous agenda and what a phenomenal job she did. And, I don’t want to ruin the surprise for other couples, but Melissa and her intern put an extra special touch on the day that we were so happy to come back to after the reception. Wedding Planning Plus met all of our expectations. Our wedding was perfect, and perfectly us."

Laurie and Ray - August 31, 2013

 Laurie and Ray were married at Fort William Henry Resort on August 31, 2013.  This was a total destination based wedding as our couple is from Virginia and it couldn't have worked out better for Laurie & Ray! Choosing a resort like Fort William Henry is so nice for destination wedding weekends because everything wedding-related can be in one location which makes things super easy and convenient for guests. 

Laurie and her girls got jazzed up by the amazing Lauren at Make Me Fabulous and their personal hairstylist, Carolyn. They all looked incredible. Once Laurie slipped into to her gorgeous gown, we all headed down to the Gazebo at the resort for their First Look. A First Look was so perfect for this couple as it really calmed jitters and made everyone feel so comfortable. The fantastic Upstate Photographers, Brenda and Paul, worked so hard and captured these really fantastic images. Following the First Look, we took bridal party & family photos and then got ready for the ceremony to begin. 

The threat of rain was apparent all day but the ceremony went off without a drop of rain. Horray! Jim Manuel from We Marry U did a wonderful job as always. Jim's laid back demeanor always make a bride and groom feel at ease. The lakeside ceremony looked so pretty as it was decorated to perfection by Renaissance Florals. Stunning! Renaissance also adorned the ballroom with absolutely incredible arrangements. 

Following the ceremony, cocktail hour immediately commenced and it was so great that Laurie and Ray were able to join right into their cocktail party and visit with all of their guests! Rhonda and the Staff at Fort William Henry did a spectacular job; the cuisine was tasty and beautifully presented. The wonderful Hi Definition Band definitely kept the dancing going all night. An added bonus: there were fireworks on the lake that night that were fully visible from the reception. It was so great that guests got such a nice treat at the end of the night (as if cake and pastries from Lake George Baking Company weren't enough :) !

I was so happy to be a part of Laurie and Ray's most special day. Thank you so much Laurie & Ray for choosing me as your wedding planner!  I hope I see you next year at the track! 

Love, Erin 

Macrina and Tyson's Lake Placid Wedding is Featured on Well Wed!

Photos by Hendrickson Photography

Macrina and Tyson were married at the Lake Placid Club Golf House on September 21, 2012, and WPP lead planner Ginny Beigel was hired by the couple to coordinate their big day.  They had a super gorgeous wedding with so many beautiful personal touches which has caught the eye of the bloggers over at Well Wed New York.  We love having our weddings on beautiful blogs - thank you Well Wed for sharing this wedding with your readers!

CLICK HERE to see Macrina and Tyson's full Well Wed post.

Destination Wedding Spotlight - Vermont

Vermont is a beautiful state with snowy winters, warm summers, and the best fall foliage around. With the Green Mountains, secluded lakes, and a local love of nature there are tons of outdoor activities available to enjoy like hiking, skiing, fly fishing, paddling, and just about anything else you can think of. I've always loved Vermont and have spent many vacations and overnights in towns like Manchester, Dorset and Woodstock in Southern Vermont and Stowe and Burlington in Northern Vermont. There are so many unique sections of this state with beautiful bed and breakfasts, resort, barns and outdoor spaces for ceremonies and receptions. Add to that spectacular local vendors and the government support of marriage equality and you have a state that offers an awful lot to an awful lot of engaged couples.

I am always looking for a good excuse to get to the Green Mountain State and would be happy to help anyone looking to have their special day in this very special state. Call or email me to schedule an appointment so we can chat through all of your options and get you started planning your Vermont affair.

Seereiter Wedding - September 4, 2011

Lara and Mike were married on September 4, 2011 in Lake Placid. Their wedding was held at the Lake Placid Club which offered them the opportunity to use three different spaces - the outdoor pavilion, the outdoor patio and the indoor ballroom - for all of their wedding activities. The couple chose to have their ceremony in the pavilion, cocktails on the patio overlooking the golf course and Adirondack Mountain range, hold their dinner and toasts in the ballroom, and then head back out to the pavilion to dance the rest of the night away. Because all three spaces are right next to each other this kind of transition was made all the more possible.

Lara and Mike have a special love affair with the Adirondacks and with Lake Placid specifically. They have a large canoe on hand in their Albany home ready to go on their next trip up north, and even an Adirondack chair made out of downhill skis as a welcome seat on their front porch. Holding their wedding in the Adirondacks was a no brainer decision for them, but planning it from afar proved to be a little more stressful than they anticipated. This couple came to me six months before their wedding date with concerns that they may not be able to plan the rest of their wedding on their own. Both the bride and groom are busy professionals and although they had started in with selecting some vendors and making some of their decisions on their own, they felt very uneasy about all that was left to do and making sure they didn't miss or forget anything in the rest of their planning process. Because I custom build all of my packages I was able to create a totally unique planning service for them where we met once a month and I guided them during those sessions on what they had accomplished during the current month and what they needed to focus on going into the next month. Lara and Mike were such a super joy to work with - they are both such gentle souls and I looked so forward to our monthly meetings. Even though Mike was always nervous he'd get "yelled" at for not doing his "homework" I think they would say the experience was really fun for them, too. :)

PS - I never yell.

In planning their event Lara and Mike wanted to put family first and make this day as special to their family and close friends as it was for them. They decided to have Lara's uncle officiate the ceremony, Lara's brother hand made their chuppah and Mike's brother stood as his best man. Mike brews his own beer and they chose to give these out at the end of the night as to-go favors for everyone (I personally tried these beers and they were excellent!!). Using a mix of Lake Placid, Syracuse and Albany-based vendors we created a vendor team that brought all of the simple personal elements to their big day. A big thank to you to Matt and Leah Bailly of Bailly Photography for taking such beautiful images of Lara and Mike's wedding day. I also want to thank Catherine at the Lake Placid Club for her help with the planning and execution, Greg Fraiser from Frasier Entertainment for rocking the reception music, and all of the Lake Placid vendors - Creative Florists (Syracuse based), Cake Placid, Liz and Co. hair stylists, Martina's Skin Care for doing the girls' makeup, Gilmore Video for filming the couple's ceremony and lastly to the Lake Placid Marina for providing trolley transportation for guests to get to and from the wedding location.

Lara and Mike are a special couple who just make you feel happy when you are around them. I am so very happy they found me and chose me to be their wedding planner. I wish much love, happiness and continued Adirondack memory making to you both!!

Destination Wedding Spotlight - Lake Placid

The Adirondack Park is an amazing national and natural treasure situated in the northern section of New York State. The Park itself is the largest national park in the country and is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those just looking to get away somewhere quiet for a little while. Within the Adirondack Park is a tiny gem in the town of Lake Placid. Perhaps best known for being the site of not one but two Olympic winter games, this town is the perfect blend of cute and sweet and quiet and beautiful. What better place to host your destination wedding than in a place like this?

There are several amazing venues in Lake Placid so there are several options for the style and size wedding you are looking to host. The mountains and the view of Mirror Lake are the true draw for this area so outdoor ceremonies are an obviously perfect choice for more couples. And with so many activities to offer it is a great place to make a whole wedding weekend for you and your guests. From athletic activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking, to more relaxed adventures like touring the Olympic facilities or checking out one of the local breweries, the Lake Placid region truly has something special for everyone in your group. And it is a true year-round destination - the spring brings hikers back to the trails, the summer has people out in town and on the water, the fall is breath taking with the foliage and crisp air, and in the winter you can enjoy world class skiing at Whiteface Mountain. There is not a bad time to get here and bring your friends and family along with you.

Here are some photos I've taken during several trips to the area. Please tell me these aren't the most amazing views and picturesque towns you've ever seen!

Makes you want to head up there and say I Do??