Niagara Crossing Hotel & Spa

Wedding Rehearsal

Amy & Chris' House

Welcome Party

Wedding Ceremony

Ceremony

Brickyard Brewing Company

Wedding Reception

Summer

Our Wedding

Amy and Chris embarked on their remarkable journey of love and family on a cold February 8th, 2019, when they had their very first date at The Burning Buffalo on Hertel Ave in Buffalo, NY. Fate had brought them together through the world of online dating, as they had matched on Tinder. Amy, a mother of two incredible children (Maya (6) and Soren (2)), had already experienced her fair share of Tinder date adventures, while for Chris, a dedicated teacher and father of a 2-year-old son named Noel, this was his inaugural Tinder encounter. Both were navigating life as single parents after going through divorce, and they shared the common dream of a fresh start. Chris, admittedly nervous, couldn't help but talk excitedly throughout the evening. Amy, having heard wonderful things about Chris beforehand, graciously allowed him to share. Their connection was instantaneous, and their first date extended from drinks and food at the bar to another bar across the street. They talked late into the night, oblivious to the fact that it was a school night – but it simply felt right. As they parted ways at their cars, Chris did something that would become a symbol of their enduring relationship; he planned their next date. Love blossomed rapidly between Chris and Amy, and the world around them had to catch up to the intensity of their feelings. After six months of dating, they organized a picnic at a park, introducing their children to one another. A year later, in February 2020, they took a significant step, moving in together as a blended family, just one month before the world was thrust into the grip of a global pandemic. As many can attest, blending families is a challenging endeavor, particularly amidst such challenging times. Their journey towards becoming a cohesive and loving family was marked by a myriad of experiences, both extraordinary and ordinary. It required dedication, resilience, the unwavering support of friends and family, occasional arguments, heartfelt conversations, leisurely bike rides, thoughtful plans, guidance from counselors, patience, self-reflection, practice, and, perhaps most importantly, forgiveness – all the ingredients essential for a successful marriage. Through every twist and turn, Amy and Chris made a conscious choice to stand by each other's side every single day. They weathered life's storms together, forging an unbreakable bond. They are thrilled to formalize their commitment to one another in marriage, surrounded by the love and support of their cherished friends and family.

A Family is Born

Our Story

Photos

Caroline Taggart

Bryon Thoin

Maya Puca

Soren Puca & Noel Tepas

Alex & Corey Tepas

Kristy Miller

Jackie & Bill Tepas

Wedding Party

We hope this Q + A section will help clarify any questions you may have about our big day. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or needs. We CANNOT WAIT to celebrate with you. Where is the wedding taking place?The wedding ceremony will take place on the balcony of Niagara Crossing Hotel &amp; Spa (100 Center St. Lewiston, NY 14092). What is Lewiston like?Lewiston is a beautiful, quaint, and historical village in Western New York.&nbsp;It lies on the Niagara River just south of the USA/Canada border. Why Lewiston?Chris has owned a food tour in Lewiston, NY for over a decade. He loves the town, the people, and the businesses so much. For our wedding, we wanted to support the local restaurants&nbsp;Chris has collaborated with for 11 years. The Village Bake Shoppe, who has been with the Roaming Table since the beginning made the couples’ beautiful wedding cake.&nbsp;Another original tour location, Brickyard, will be hosting our wedding reception! What time should I arrive?The ceremony will begin promptly at 2:30pm. Please arrive no later than 2:00pm to allow time to park, enter the venue, and find a seat. There will not be assigned seating or a bride and groom seating side. Please sit where you feel comfortable. We anticipate that the ceremony will last until approximately 3:30pm. We will greet all of our guests after the ceremony.After a small break, we will all convene at Brickyard Brewing, Co. (436 Center St.) for the reception, which will take place from 5-10pm. Does the ceremony venue have parking?Yes!&nbsp;Parking is plentiful both on premises at Niagara Crossing along with “overflow” public parking which is located directly in front of the venue.&nbsp;Free parking is also available all along Center Street and N Water Street. Does the reception venue have parking?Yes! There is a small parking lot located behind Brickyard Brewing and Brickyard Pub &amp; BBQ (access from Ridge St. which runs parallel to Center St.)&nbsp;There is a public parking lot located next to the Frontier house (also access from Ridge St).&nbsp;Free parking is available all along Center St. and MOST side streets.&nbsp; How far is the ceremony from the reception?Brickyard Brewing is a short 7 min walk (0.3 miles) from Niagara Crossing Hotel (ceremony location) and the Lewiston Waterfront.&nbsp;Be advised that there is a small hill along the route from the ceremony to the reception venue. How much time is there between the ceremony and the reception? What can I do in between?Lewiston is THE PLACE TO BE in the summer months.&nbsp;There will 60 – 90 minutes between our ceremony and reception.&nbsp;If you are looking for something to do we recommend the following: §&nbsp;Looking for a cold one …with a view?! – check out Griffon Brewery and Gastropub or The Silo Restaurant.&nbsp;Both of these establishments have a PREMIERE view of the majestic Niagara River.&nbsp;There are also plenty of benches and swings to sit and enjoy the views on the waterfront. §&nbsp;Classic craft cocktails you say? – Battle Flag Tavern is the place to be.&nbsp;Located (literally) next door to Brickyard Brewing Company (our reception venue), Battle flag is the choice for a quality drink while also staying close to your next stop. §&nbsp;Looking for a patio? – Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen offers Lewiston’s largest patio and a great vibe.&nbsp;It is also just a stone throw from Brickyard Brewing! §&nbsp;Feel like exploring a bit? <a href="https://www.artpark.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Artpark</a> is a 15 minute walk (or 3 minute drive) from Brickyard and Niagara Crossing.&nbsp;Artpark offers shaded trails that are perfect for grabbing some pictures and checking out some local artwork. §&nbsp;Looking for something sweet? - Check out The Village Bake Shoppe – Lewiston’s premiere bakery (across the street from Brickyard) or grab a cone from Hibbard’s custard, the country’s sixth oldest, free standing custard stand!&nbsp; What is the dress code?We would love to see our family and friends dress up with us! We know you all can git it ;) Dress code is semi-formal to formal attire, completely rejecting any gender norms. Please be you! The ceremony will be outdoors on a patio, but will be moved inside at the same location in the circumstance of bad weather.&nbsp;The reception will be housed inside Brickyard Brewing Company. What weather should I expect?To the locals, you all know that Western New York is beautiful in the summer! To our out of town friends and family, no, it will not be snowing in July ;) Summers in Lewiston are beautiful, typically 70s. Check the weather the week before to make sure you are prepared. Can I take pictures?We kindly request that you enjoy this special moment presently with us and leave all cell phones or cameras in your purse or pockets during the ceremony. We have hired an awesome photographer to capture every detail of the wedding and we will of course share those photos with you afterwards! After the ceremony, we would love for you to capture our special day and we encourage you to snap away! We will have QR codes available at the reception that you can use to upload photos to a shared Google Drive folder. When is the RSVP deadline?Please get us your RSVP by May 31st, 2025, so we can obsessively work out every detail and Amy can make the right number of flowers. Do you have a hotel block for guests? Where do you recommend I stay?Yes, please refer to the “Travel” section of our site for more information! Are the ceremony and reception location wheelchair accessible?Yes, there is an elevator available at both locations, as necessary. I have dietary restrictions, what’s the best way to communicate that with you?We definitely want to make sure you enjoy your time and meal on our wedding day, please let us know when you RSVP about your dietary needs. If you discover new dietary restrictions after you RSVP, you can update your RSVP by clicking the button on the home page and updating your information. Will there be an open bar?Yes! There will be an open bar for 4 hours during the reception. The bar will be closed during dinner.&nbsp;Please support the BBC staff by tipping your bartenders (bring cash 🙌!!). Are you registered? Where should we ship your gift?We are not formally registered.&nbsp;In July, Chris and Amy are leaving on the spiritual, meditative, and soul-merging honeymoon of their dreams to Bali, Indonesia.&nbsp;In August, the couple and their 3 children will celebrate with a “familymoon”, a 4 day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.&nbsp;If you would like to help offset costs of of our trip, you can contribute by clicking on the “Registry” link.&nbsp;We appreciate your kindness and generosity. Are kids invited?While we love your little ones, we have decided to keep our wedding reception an adults only event with the exception of a few older family members and our children (only because they are in the wedding!) Also, we will be having them exit the reception with their babysitter earlier in the night as things really ramp up. We kindly ask that you only bring those formally invited on your invitation. We hope you understand and enjoy “the night off” as we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Q + A

A Stunning hotel that overlooks magestic Niagara River in Lewiston. This is the site of Chris and Amys wedding ceremony and is walking distance from Brickyard Brewing Company, the reception site. Room block available- *Must CALL to book* Mention “Tepas/Puca Wedding” for discount Room Details: Our 73 elegantly appointed guest rooms are comprised of either a King or Two Queen-Size beds. Some guest rooms may also feature a spa-style soaking tub and/or a view of the Lower Niagara River. Accommodations include comfortable seating, luxurious bed linens, fireplace, work desk with telephone, and flat screen television. Our 8 fully furnished One- and Two-bedroom Apartments feature either a King or a Queen size bed(s), with a fully furnished kitchen and living room. Each has a flat screen television, complimentary Wi-Fi, and complimentary parking. All of our rooms and apartments provide a 100% smoke-free environment.

Lewiston has great local Airbnb options. All of which are walking distance to the Wedding venues! Click the link to view the options available

Lewiston AirBnbs

Options just beyond Lewiston...

Room Block available. Use this <a href="https://www.holidayinn.com/redirect?path=hd&amp;brandCode=HI&amp;localeCode=en&amp;regionCode=1&amp;hotelCode=IAGBA&amp;_PMID=99801505&amp;GPC=HIP&amp;cn=no&amp;viewfullsite=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">link</a> to recieve Wedding block discount (note: group name will not appear but discounted price will apply) OR call 716-285-2521 Ext. 2 and Have the desk make a reservation under the "Tepas Wedding Block". Parking is also discounted $10 per night.Note: This hotel is located in Niagara Falls (15 minutes from the wedding venues). There is no shuttle service however it is 1 block from the <a href="https://www.discoverniagarashuttle.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Discover Niagara Shuttle</a> which runs on a continuous loop (including Lewiston) every 40 minutes. Exit at the "Lewiston Waterfront" for ceremony or "Lewiston Center" for reception. Uber/Lyft readily available options as well

Holiday Inn Niagara Falls State Park 

This boutique hotel in downtown Niagara Falls is a fantastic upscale option for your stay in Niagara County. Close proximity to the Discover Niagara Shuttle which runs on a continuous loop (including Lewiston) every 40 minutes. Exit at the Lewiston Waterfront for ceremony or Lewiston Center for reception. Uber/Lyft are readily available options as well

The Giacomo Hotel

Travel

Lewiston is full of things to do. Below are some of our favorites. We have also listed some other ideas in the travel section. No matter what you decide, make sure you take time to check out the beautiful Lewiston Waterfront. If you are in town for the weekend, support the local shops and amazing restaurants. There are over 30 restaurants within a half mile radius! Feel free to reach out to Chris if you need any suggestions.

The couples' small business!If you haven’t tried one of their tours…now’s your chance!Tours available on Friday July 11th (bookable online now) and by request (please give at least 2 weeks notice) on Sunday July 13th!Use promo code: FOODIEFUN for an exclusive discount ❤️ Lewiston Food TourThis guided food tour offers one-of-a-kind food tastings while exploring the rich history of this small town near majestic Niagara!Sample tastings from six local restaurants nationally featured on Food Network’s “Man v. Food” and The Travel Channel’s “Best of the Road”.Explore our quintessential small town with a history that compares to any city with links to the Underground Railroad, War of 1812, and much more.Sample a world-famous tasting from one of Western New York’s finest bakeries.Come discover why Rand McNally (“Best of the Road”) calls Lewiston one of the Best Small Towns in America – Best for Food! Lewiston Prohibition TourEat and sip your way through the home of the original cocktail!Enjoy four unique libations paired with food as we journey through Prohibition times.Four generous alcohol tastings (beer, wine, cocktails), each paired nicely with food. The perfect happy hour!Explore the Village of Lewiston — learn about the Prohibition Era and history that compares with any city!Sample Classic and Modern cocktails at 2 locationsVisit Lewiston’s first brewery and sample local beer at The Brickyard Brewing Company.Tour booklet with exclusive guest coupons included.Understand the history of Prohibition and how it shaped Lewiston and beyond, all while learning new culinary perspectives

The Roaming Table Food Tours

Take a 45-minute ride on the Niagara River aboard our WET JET BOAT TOUR -or- FREEDOM JET BOAT TOUR and experience the natural awe-inspiring scenery of the Niagara Gorge. Learn about the rivers historical significance and feel the thrill of Devils Hole class 5 whitewater and the magnitude of the Whirlpool.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours

Ummm...it's Niagara Falls...do we need to explain?!

Niagara Falls State Park

Established in 1939, Hibbard's custard in a Lewiston STAPLE. Hibbard's is&nbsp;the sixth oldest family-owned, continuously operated frozen custard stand in the United States. Many celebrities and music artists who pass through Lewiston (preformed at Artpark) have visited Hibbard's.

Hibbard's Custard

Artpark is one of Western New York's largest concert venues which attracts premiere artists throughout the summer It is also home to many (free!) local art installations throughout the park. Artpark is a great place to take a nice walk and explore!

Amy and Christopher

Amy and Christopher

A&C

Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Reception