Zoe & Aaron's stylish Statler soiree

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By Miranda Bigham / Photography by Meccay Photography

Though they now call Santa Rosa Beach, Florida home, both Zoe and Aaron were born and raised in Williamsville—making their June 2025 Queen City wedding a true homecoming.

In typical Buffalo fashion, Zoe says she always “knew of” Aaron’s family; in fact, she attended preschool with his brother. But the couple wasn’t introduced until 2016 (she can tell you the exact date). They’ve been together ever since.

Their nine-year relationship has seen storm clouds roll through. Zoe is open about Aaron being “her rock” as she’s grieved the loss of her mother and her brother.

And as enthusiastically as she recounts her wedding day, she does not shy away from the fact that the absence of her loved ones was felt, deeply. She chose to honor her family by saving two empty seats at the ceremony for her mother and brother.

Day-of details

Before getting engaged on a beach in Hawaii last summer, Zoe hadn’t given much thought to what her dream wedding would look like. But after touring the Statler, the pieces started coming together.

Zoe was inspired by the venue’s rich history, its 20th century grandeur seamlessly blending the past with the present. With their talented team of collaborators, the new Mr. and Mrs. Scheff accomplished the very same on their wedding day.

With the help of event planner Missy Cornish, Zoe and Aaron’s wedding let the Statler’s legacy speak for itself. Their vision for the day was to accentuate, rather than overpower. A simple black-and-white color palette, occasional pops of red and classic romantic touches like plentiful candles and black bow detailing helped them do just that.

Between champagne toasts and live music, their big day exuded elegance, without once feeling out of touch. While they embraced [what Zoe calls] an “old money” aesthetic, their choices throughout the wedding planning process remained true to themselves and their story. Take the crème brûlée station (the bride’s favorite), where made-to-order desserts were hand-fired as guests approached the table.

On a more sentimental note, Zoe and Aaron chose to honor their Jewish heritage with traditional elements including a chuppah (a canopy) and breaking glass during the ceremony and kicking the reception off with a hora, the traditional Jewish wedding dance.

As beautifully as it all came together, it was the diamond-in-the-rough quality of the day that really made it shine.

“The past four to five years have been so overwhelming,” Zoe says. “So, it was bittersweet. But what I remember most from the ceremony is the amount of love that was radiating in that room.”