New York Weddings

Destination weddings aren’t always seaside, sipping fruity cocktails. Sometimes they’re right around the corner in the perfect rustic barn. This New York City couple chose to host a wedding weekend for friends and family in upstate New York, thus allowing everyone to extend the happy celebration for three whole days. True genius if you ask us. Because the only thing better than a wedding day is a big, whopping wedding weekend, especially when Jillian Mitchell is there to capture every last pretty second of it. See it here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Jillian Mitchell Photography… Tara and Eric opted for a close destination wedding in Hudson, NY so all of their friends and family could attend from the city, but still have a weekend of festivities together rather than one day. They stayed and got ready at the Route 66 farm house which is part of the Apple Barn Farm family and the ceremony and reception were held at Apple Barn Farm. A little rain in the morning wasn’t enough to slow anyone down and the sun cleared just in time for the ceremony. Mariachis serenaded the reception while guests may or may not have attempted to bribe the horses with gin and tonics. The bride’s father did a killer dance to ‘Shout’ so good in fact he just might have been posessed and the night ended with sparklers for all.

Wedding Photography: Jillian Mitchell Photography / Wedding Venue: Apple Barn Farm in Germantown, New York / Wedding Planning + Design: MaryBeth Barouta / Floral Design: The Rosery Flower Shop / Catering: Barbara Goldstein / DJ: Stephen Bell / Wedding Dress: Theia via Lovely Bridal Shop / Bride’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Bride’s Sash: Untamed Petals / Bride’s Headpiece: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Earrings: Macy’s / Bride’s Hair and Makeup: B Cohen Hair + Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Hair: Sarah Capilli / Bridesmaids’ Makeup: B Cohen Hair + Makeup / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen’s Tuxes: DKNY / Groomsmen’s Shoe’s: Custom Converse

Warning: You’re about to lay your wedding-loving eyes on the most gorgeous gold cake you ever did see and it’s going to make you call your bakery and redo your own to be just.like.this.one It’s the perfect complement to this pretty wedding executed to perfection by Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc.. See it and so much more right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… Steve and I met at Franklin and Marshall College in 2003, when I was a freshman and he was a junior. We actually began dating in 2004, and we have been together ever since. We both played lacrosse in college, which is how we originally met. Our teams often socialized on campus. After Steve graduated and moved on to law school, we began a long-distance relationship that lasted about five years. Our wedding date was almost nine years to the day from the night we first met in 2003. 

Some of the favorite moments of our wedding day were our ceremony, my father’s speech, the grandparents’ dance and the dance party that ended the wedding. The outdoor ceremony was perfect, the weather cooperated, and it was a lovely autumn evening with no wind, mild temperature, falling leaves and beautiful scenery. My dad’s speech was honest, and it made me both laugh and cry. We had a grandparents’ dance to honor Steve’s grandmother and my grandfather, who are 91 and 90 respectively. We were fortunate to be celebrating with them and wanted to show our appreciation for their support and love. The last hours of the wedding were an epic dance party thanks to our band, and they were exactly what Steve and I were hoping for. The band was amazing, and we had a full dance floor until the very end.

My advice to other couples planning weddings is to hire a wedding planner, or at least a coordinator. Your wedding planner will allow you to eat when the guests eat, dance when the guests dance, and be a guest, enjoying every single moment from beginning to end. Christine kept us on schedule the entire day and without that, we wouldn’t have been able to cherish all the special memories we’ve created with our family and friends.

Wedding Photography: CLY Creation / Wedding Venue: Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, New York / Wedding Planning: Christine Viola of Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc. / Floral Design: Lisa of Hudson Valley Florist, Antiques & Gifts (914-734-1222) / Officiant: Rev. Marc Sabin / Wedding Cinematography: Rambling Rose Video / Wedding Cake: Deborah Lauren of City Sweets & Confections / Save-the-Dates: Type and Love Paperie / Ceremony Musicians: NY Ceremony Music / Band: 45 Riots / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / Transportation: Brownin Transportation Inc. / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Bride’s Short Dress: Tara Keely / Hair: Sally Perez of Styles on B / Makeup: Nicole Sievers

Matthew Robbins is like the Bieber of the Wedding World. Adorable, crazy talented and he has a way of making the ladies swoon. We are definitely Team Matthew around these parts and fell even more in love when we got our hot little hands on his book, Inspired Weddings; a must read for all you Brides-to-be. Now enter this dapper, straight-out-of-a-movie-set engagement captured by another crazy talent, Christian Oth. When these boys meet up, it is indeed sheer magic and the result is a gallery bursting at the seems with beauty, love and some incredibly cute pups too.

From Matthew Robbins… When my friend Christian Oth suggested we do an “engagement” shoot I was definitely a little hesitant. I was overwhelmed with an insanely busy work schedule and I just thought we should skip this photo session knowing there would be so many great photos from the wedding day. After some back and forth about the shoot we finally agreed on a date to make it happen. Wow, I’m so very grateful and thrilled we did!! I’m in love with so many of the images as they really capture the spirit of who we are as a couple. 

Photography: Christian Oth of Christian Oth Studio / Styling: Jackie of Merci NY

We’re totally smitten with this wedding and are just going to warn you now that it may indeed charm your pants right off. It’s the perfect mix of timeless elegance and whimsy, and the groom just so happens to have been in the movie Braveheart, so you know it’s authentically Scottish and wonderful. Our favorite detail? In their response cards, guests were given an escort card to draw a self portrait, which was then displayed at the reception. Adorable! Cappy Hotchkiss caught it all perfectly and you can see even more here.

Don’t miss seeing this gorgeous wedding come to life in this film by Kiss the Bride Films:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Andrew and I were married at the spectacular Belvedere Mansion overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskills. With its jewel-toned, old-world ambiance and panoramic views, this historic American home served as the perfect venue for our American and Scottish wedding. Andrew (who, with one of his groomsmen, was in Braveheart) hails from Scotland, so his culture was a key element in our wedding day aesthetic. Groomsmen, pageboys and guests wore the kilts, sporrans and brogues — and the waitstaff wore tartan bow ties. Not to be outdone, our bridesmaids all wore clean, warm white. Rather than a traditional veil, I accented my alencon lace gown with a feathered fascinator blusher. Prior to the ceremony, guests sipped champagne on the lawn and toyed with whimsical pinwheels while a bagpiper played nearby. During the ceremony, they watched the heartfelt vows shielded from the sun by parasols. Guests were ushered into the reception by escort cards with real personality — each one was decorated with a self-portrait they’d provided with their reply card. For the celebration, the bridesmaids added handmade fascinators in bright, beautiful peacock blues. Instead of a single, larger cake, we chose a few charming and lovely deserts (one complete with Scottish bride and groom bird cake topper). Our flowers perfectly registered a rustic romantic sentiment by combining peonies, clematis and anemone with touches of scabiosa and thistle. The flowers arranged uniquely along custom-made wood farmhouse tables gave our reception space an air of highland country elegance. The perfect finishing touch was the bright American sunshine that lit up every happy little moment Andrew and I had that day.

Wedding Photography: Cappy Hotchkiss / Wedding Venue: The Belvedere Mansion in Staatsburg, New York / Wedding Planning: Laura Kral / Floral Design: Stems Inc. / Officiant: Reverend Jim Rooney / Wedding Cinematography Kiss the Bride Films / Food Truck: Big D’s Grub Truck / Wedding Cakes: The Pastry Garden / Cake Topper: Clootielugs / Wedding Invitations: Custom by Spark Letterpress via The Village Invites / Menus, Programs + Rehearsal Dinner Invites: The Village Invites / Ceremony Bag Piper: Lorne Cousin / Other Ceremony Music: Amante Strings / Band: City Rhythm / Photo Booth: The Majestic Photobooth Co. / Tables: Custom by Rhinebeck Rentals / Wedding Dress: Jenny Lee / Wedding Dress Sash: Lela Rose / Bride’s After Party Dress: Carol Hannah / Bride’s Ceremony + Reception Necklace: J.Crew / Bride’s After Party Necklace: Kenneth Jay Lane / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo + Jerome C. Rousseau / Bride’s Locket Bracelet: Brooklyn Charm / Bride’s Earrings: Family Heirlooms / Bride’s Veil: Erica Koesler via Lovely Bridal Shop / Bride’s After Party Clutch: BHLDN / Hair: Khris Wilson (khriswilson68@gmail.com) / Makeup: Megan of La Tua Bella Beauty Bar / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Fascinators: Lisa Dininger of Lovecraft / Flower Girl’s Dress, Shoes + Accessories: J.Crew Crewcuts / Groom’s Kilt: Lochcarron via Debonair / Groom’s Jacket, Vest + Shirt: Custom by Doyle + Mueser / Groom’s Cufflinks: Billy Reid / Bride’s Father’s Suit: Alton Lane

Jen Huang is the photographer behind some of our all time favorite pretties. There was this Brooklyn wedding and this crazy gorgeous garden inspired shoot. Jen also has two weddings in our soon-to-debut book that will blow your wedding loving mind. So clearly, we wear the #1 Fan button for all things Jen Huang and we’re absolutely beside ourselves with this next little number she sent our way. But before we let you lose to devour every last inch of it, we want to remind you to click through the gallery because there is so much goodness tucked inside.

From the Bride… My fiancé, Greg, and I were engaged for a year before we set the date. We had trouble finding a location and venue that made us excited and ready to dive into the planning process. When we discovered Ham House in the Hudson Valley, we were finally inspired and felt that it matched up perfectly with our vision of an intimate and timeless celebration with our closest family and friends. 

We loved the fact that we were able to hand pick and bring in every vendor, which allowed us to completely customize every element of our wedding. We chose our venue because there wasn’t much we needed to do to it; it was beautiful all on its own. The style of the house was sophisticated and elegant in an understated way, so we stayed true to that and carried it through to the styling of the event with the rentals, florals and décor. There is nothing like live music to create a unique ambience, so we hired an amazing band for the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner service. Greg and I are foodies, so we designed a fantastic and diverse menu of all of our favorite food items, i.e. raw kumamoto oysters, grilled baby lamb chops and octopus, braised short ribs and pan-seared cod. We even came up with the actual recipes for our specialty cocktail drinks, which involved infusing an obscene amount of tequila with habanero peppers. Other DIY projects included: replacing the lining of my lace dress with a blush-colored silk charmeuse; creating the chalkboard signs, which took me hours upon hours to hand-draw with actual chalk; the mirrored seating plan; our wedding website; and all of the designs for our wedding stationery.

Planning our wedding together as a team was just as important as the vows we recited to one another. We made every important decision together, put in equal effort and enjoyed every minute of it — it was a real partnership. Thus, the result was a magical, memorable event that was uniquely us and focused more on elegance than extravagance, quality over quantity, and more importantly, our union as husband and wife.  It is truly a day that we will remember and cherish forever.

Wedding Photography: Jen Huang Photography / Wedding Venue: Ham House in Tivoli, New York / Event Design + Planning: The Bride & Groom / Floral Design: CocoRosie / Catering: Swoon Kitchenbar / Wedding Cake: Butter Brown Baking Co. / Wedding Invitations: Vera Wang via Lion in the Sun / Calligraphy: DIY by the Bride / Band: Oh La La! featuring Marie Davy / Chalk Signs: DIY by the Bride / Rentals: Columbia Tent / Wedding Dress: Custom by Cymbeline Paris / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Bride’s Belt: Venust Bridal Design / Bride’s Veil: Emily Rohm via Etsy / Bride’s Robe: Oscar de la Renta / Bride’s Earrings: Rodrigo Otazu / Bride’s Bracelet: Kenneth Jay Lane / Hair + Makeup: Amy Park / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Halston Heritage / Groom’s Suit: Martin Greenfield Clothiers/ Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds / Image Processing: Richard Photo Lab

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Photography

Jen Huang Photography

View Portfolio

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think it can get more elegant than this wedding from Sara Wight Photography. Take one glance through that gallery and you’ll know exactly what I mean, because each moment is dripping in refinement and subtle glamour. Exhibit A is that amazing photograph of this Bride and Groom dancing hand in hand under the gorgeous chandelier at the Highlands Country Club. Wrapped in candlelight and surrounded by grace, everything about this celebration is pure love. And you can see it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Daniel and I knew that we wanted to get married in the Hudson Valley after we got engaged. Daniel grew up in upstate New York and after I visited the area several times — with all of its trees and natural beauty — I knew it was the perfect place for a September wedding. Although I had not dreamed of my perfect wedding since I was a little girl, I have always known that I wanted to be married in September. A mixture of both the summer and fall, a bit unpredictable, the feeling of a fresh, new start in the air … September is my favorite month (and Daniel’s second-favorite month). After visiting several wineries in the area, our last visit was Highlands Country Club. We knew as soon as we arrived that this would be our wedding venue — a rustic, intimate country club nestled in the Hudson Valley. The vision I had for our wedding was timeless elegance, with a bit of rustic mixed in, and we wanted it to feel intimate. Highlands proved to be the perfect backdrop.

We enlisted the help of Roey Mizrahi, our event coordinator, to bring our vision to life. She helped us find the amazing vendors that made our day what we hoped for. I had a very strong vision of how to accomplish “timeless elegance” — from the tablescapes and the cocktail music to the chuppah we used for the ceremony. We wanted a clean, fresh palette and chose green and white as our main theme. Down to the very last detail, our day wouldn’t have been as amazing without Roey. She thought of things we never would have imagined and anticipated needs that we didn’t even know we had. We cannot thank her enough!

Orchids are our favorite flowering plants, and we love the juxtaposition of the delicate orchid with succulents and hydrangeas. We wanted the space to feel intimate and allow guests to see and talk to each other freely. I envisioned orchids cascading out of moss-filled pillars of varying heights, coupled with low centerpieces filled with white hydrangeas and succulents. And candlelight — our favorite — from lots and lots of candles. I set out to find mercury glass votives and accents, as well as different-sized glass hurricanes and tall pillar candles. Anne from Blade Floral Design perfectly executed this vision. She also created our chuppah, which we were so happy with. All of the guests could not stop talking about how gorgeous the flower arrangements and accents were.

Photography was a big deal to us, and after just one meeting with Sara, we knew she was perfect! We did our engagement session with her, and from the beginning, it was very relaxed and easy. Once we received our engagement session photos and were blown away, we knew our wedding photos would be even more amazing. Sara really knows how to capture a couple’s spirit while magnifying the setting to create these magnificent photos — works of art, really. We are avid music lovers and have an eclectic, but specific taste. Owen from Aria Melody was great to work with, and even after we gave him some very specific “do not plays” and “must Plays,” he was still able to combine our set list with his own twist. We received so many compliments on his style, and every song he played really drew our guests to the dance floor … and kept them there! Our wedding was a dream come true! 

Wedding Photography: Sara Wight Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Highlands Country Club in Garrison, New York / Event Planning: Roey Mizrahi Events / Floral Design: Blade Floral and Event Designs / Officiant: Rabbi Roger Ross / Ceremony Music: Dolce Vita Strings / Cocktail Music: David Galvez / DJ: Aria Melody / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Bride’s Belt: Custom Designed by the Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Vanessa Fernandez / Makeup: Sally Duvall

You know those weddings that have love swirling in the air? The weddings that melt your heart and make you feel like you were right there, feeling all that love, just by looking at the images? Well my friends, this is one of those weddings. Packed with pretty, little details captured by AhmetZe, make sure you catch the full gallery where you’ll see and feel all the love.

Be sure to catch the fab film by CINEMABRIDE Wedding Films:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Jamie and Lindsay’s wedding day was like a dream. After all of the planning and fine tuning of details, their day was finally here. It did not feel like it was really happening, and there was so much love and excitement in the air. After all of the preparations during the morning, all Lindsay wanted was to be with Jamie. Throughout the whole day, Lindsay was overloaded with excitement and found herself forgetting that there was still so much more to come. People have told Jamie that they never saw a groom so happy. He was smiling ear to ear the whole day.

Wedding Photography: AhmetZe / Ceremony: St. Ann’s Church in Ossining, New York / Reception: Villa Barone Hilltop Manor in Mahopac, New York / Wedding Cinematography: Bill Ivie of CINEMABRIDE Wedding Films / DJ: Jimmy Dee Music Productions / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bride’s Jewelry: Tejani / Hair: Arminta Cornwall / Makeup: Phyliss Juliano of Absolute Pro Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bari Jay / Men’s Tuxedos: Tuxedos by Giovanni

Oh, yes. This is one of those. Those weddings that shine so brightly with the radiance of true beauty and gorgeousness that you just might spend your whole morning wrapped up in all of the images from the lovely Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography. Overflowing with delightful details and set at the most amazing Clermont, this wedding has me in disbelief. How were bouquets THIS dazzling created by the bride and her sisters-in-law from wholesale bought flowers? I’ll believe it when I see it. And lucky for us, we get to see it all right here in the gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Tom and I met in college in New York City and got engaged eight years later in our Brooklyn apartment. We looked for a venue in the city, but I’d always wanted an outdoor wedding and when we didn’t find a place we loved, we began looking in the Hudson Valley. We’d fallen in love with the area while hiking and rock climbing. When we saw Clermont, it was the first place we agreed upon — a location right on the river, beautiful grounds and a lovely mansion. On another trip we visited the Ham House and were blown away; the house is spectacular. It was a few minutes from Clermont and the ideal spot to stay with our bridal party and host our rehearsal dinner. Shortly after this, Tom received a job offer in Denver and before we knew it we were moving to the Mile High City and our wedding had become a destination affair. Though we thought about changing our plans and getting married in Colorado, I don’t think either of us could really imagine starting the process from scratch all over again. Planning was a lot more work than we anticipated.

We took on quite a few aspects of the wedding ourselves to save a little money, so I created the save-the-dates and invitations and had them printed locally; I ordered flowers wholesale and put together the bouquets, arrangements and corsages with the help of my sisters-in-law (they were gorgeous and so worth it!); we asked our guests to download the Weddingmix app and provided a few video cameras to crowdsource our wedding video; and we provided our own alcohol from a store that allowed us to return anything unopened. Our families and friends were an enormous help with all of this and much more, and we couldn’t have done it without them. It was also important to us to plan our own ceremony and write our own vows. We were grateful that Tom’s childhood best friend agreed to become our officiant and my sister-in-law acted as our day-of coordinator. My dad came through day-of by getting a sound guy to wire us up with mikes and set-up speakers, something I had thought we could do ourselves. 

When we arrived in New York the Wednesday before our wedding, it was over 100 degrees. We were worried and also extremely grateful that the Ham House had a pool. The evening of our rehearsal dinner (Thursday) was so hot that we postponed the rehearsal until Friday, and then Friday evening, it rained. Things weren’t looking so great, but we were incredibly lucky that on Saturday the temperature was mild, the humidity was gone, and except for one gusty moment in the afternoon, the skies were perfectly blue. I had tried to temper my expectations, knowing that it would be unlikely for the entire day to go off without a hitch, but it all turned out so perfectly. We wanted awesome music, and the band was amazing and one of our best decisions. They even came to our after party. It sounds like a cliche, but our wedding was everything we dreamed it would be and more.

Wedding Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography / Second Shooter: Isabelle Selby / Wedding Venue: Clermont in Germantown, New York / Decor + Flowers: DIY / Catering: Gourmet To Go / Wedding Invitations: DIY + Printed by Minuteman Press / Band: DT Fever / Wedding Film: Storymix Media / Transportation: First Student / Bathroom Trailer: A-John / Getting Ready Location: Ham House / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge / Bride’s Earrings: Ann Taylor / Hair + Makeup: Patricia Bowden-Luccardi of The Beautiful Bride / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Tuxedo: Hugo Boss Black

The loveliest Kate Spade heels can really get a party started and Arielle Doneson Photography knows full well how to finish that party off. Breathtaking images, that’s how. This is Hudson Valley in the most classic of ways with a Bride who is an event planner by day meaning she knew exactly what she wanted when it came time to craft her own affair. Her vision was timeless and romantic with a layer of fun and she totally nailed it. See it all unfold in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Fritz and I met at college, and after eight years of dating he surprised me with a picture-perfect proposal on Mother’s Day in Central Park. Being an event planner, I immediately jumped into the wedding planning, and I loved every single minute of it. We knew from the start that we wanted our wedding to be formal and fun, as well as romantic and timeless without being too stuffy.

We began our venue search in Manhattan where we live, but nothing seemed quite right, so we decided on a whim to take a drive up the Hudson River Valley to visit The Garrison. Almost immediately after touring the beautiful property, Fritz and I were convinced that this was the perfect place for us. The outdoor ceremony space features a jaw-dropping view, and we fell completely in love with the simple elegance and rustic charm of the interior décor. With venue decision made, the rest of the wedding details fell into place. After a bit of research, we booked who I firmly believe to be the best vendors a bride and groom could ever hope for. Working with my talented florist, we came up with a floral design concept that was soft, elegant, romantic and featured peonies – my favorite flower. As a perfectionist, I was hesitant to take on too many projects, but I incorporated personal touches to the wedding with DIY details such as a chalkboard seating chart and table numbers, homemade wedding programs and a color-coordinated candy bar.

On the big day, I loved the time I got to spend at the Garrison getting ready with my mother and bridesmaids. I could even run downstairs to check on the progress of everything throughout the morning and afternoon – the planner in me loved that! The weather was perfect all day, and our fantastic photographer got some amazing photos during our first look and portraits, then as soon as we lined up to start the ceremony the sky clouded over ominously. As if on cue, the moment before I walked down the aisle there was a terrific clap of thunder. It rained as we exchanged vows, but I honestly don’t remember anything except looking into the handsome and happy face of my best friend as we became man and wife. All in all, I could not have imagined a more perfect day, and I would not change a single thing.

Wedding Photography: Arielle Doneson Photography / Reception: The Garrison in Garrison, New York / Floral Design: Mary Lou Pappas Flowers / Bakery: The Pastry Garden / Wedding Invitations: Graphic Nature / Wedding Dress: Luna Novias by Rosa Clara / Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair: Salon at The Garrison / Makeup: Meredith Hayman / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Men’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank

Nothing sets wedding planning in motion faster than securing your reception location. And that’s exactly how it went down with this adorable couple. As soon as they walked into The Grandview, they just knew. Lucky for us Captured Photography by Jenny caught each and every fabulous moment of their big day from the gorgeous getting ready pics to the romantic moment for two on the dock. See it all unfold right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When we started planning, we knew we wanted a simple wedding that reflected who we were as a couple and what was important to us. We knew we wanted a church wedding and vows that spoke to who we were and what we wanted out of marriage. Planning our wedding was a process that taught us that God is in control and that everything is perfect by His design. We are high school sweethearts who met on the bus in middle school. (Yes, middle school!) For that reason, we opted out of using a limo and instead wanted to incorporate our unique story by using a school bus for transportation. Plus, we thought “When else are we going to be able to rent a bus? We can get a limo any time.” It was FUN! We actually chose our photographer before any other vendor, even the ceremony location! Luckily she was available and willing to make the trip from Florida to New York. We have loved and followed her work for years and knew, even before our engagement, that we wanted her to be our photographer. 

We don’t actually live near Poughkeepsie, New York, but we found ourselves there after a long hunt of searching for venues that we loved that got that “feeling” from. We had visited about 15 venues in the Hudson Valley and were about to cancel going to the Grandview because it was an hour and a half from our home town. Since we were in the area we chose to just stop by, and we knew from the minute we walked in and saw the incredible view of the Hudson River that this was where we were going to get married.  They were amazing to work with and took care of EVERYTHING. Now that the reception was going to be an hour and a half away from our home town, we had to find a church to get married at close to the venue. We had our ceremony at Faith Assembly of God church in Poughkeepsie, New York. Our grandparents had either passed away or were unable to attend for health reasons.  In order to honor them and have them be part of our day, we set up a table with pictures including photos of them and their wedding pictures, as well as our parent’s wedding photos. It was emotional to see the table when it was set up, and it made the day more special for us. We chose our DJ, MC Fish, after speaking to him at a bridal expo, and he turned out to be the PERFECT choice. He answered all of our questions and gave us tips that made our day run so much more smoothly. We would recommend him to anyone! I got my Master’s degree at Marist College and have always loved the campus. As an alumnus, we were able to take photos on campus. That is where the photos with the stone buildings are taken.

Our day was a day that we will never forget. It flew by SO fast, but we have so many special memories. We had my family fly in from south Wales, and looking over to see how far they had come to celebrate us is a feeling that I will never forget. We had waited for our wedding day for so long, and we were so happy with the final result. We are so thankful for all of the hard work that our vendors put into making our day what we imagined and for our family who provided us with endless love and support.   

Wedding Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Ceremony: Faith Assembly of God in Poughkeepsie, New York / Reception: The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, New York / Other Photo Location: Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York / Floral Design: J & L Heavenly Florist / DJ: M.C. Fish Entertainment, Inc. / Wedding Dress + Veil: David’s Bridal / Seamstress: Style des Reves / Bride’s Shoes: Michelangelo / Hair: Rachael’s Hair on the Horizon / Makeup: Hair and Makeup by Nicole / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor / Groom’s Tuxedo: K’s Wedding Center

Trent Bailey always sends us stunners. That’s a given. But this woodland fête set the lovely bar a bit higher today, and there are a million reasons why. Maybe a million and one. The lush, Hudson Valley backdrop at the Onteora Mountain House might be my favorite reason –  second only to this sweet duo saying I do. Whatever you decide you love the most (and it’s not easy), the gallery is full of so much lovely you can’t help but smile. See so much more here.

And before you head into that gorgeous gallery, you will most certainly want to see this day unfold in film form by Kiss the Bride Films…

From the Bride… Our most important goals were making sure the ceremony was the focus and having the the whole wedding be a cohesive reflection of us. I wanted it to be refined but very connected to nature and spirituality —  simple and easy. Our reception was at Onteora Mountain House. The view was breathtaking, the pavilion made it feel like you were inside and out at the same time, and the grounds are gorgeous and provided for so many options for people to have their own experiences. We favorite parts of the day were our ceremony, as well as seeing our family and friends come together and continue the traditions of celebration in the hora.

Wedding Photography: Trent + Dara of Trent Bailey Photography / Wedding Venue: Onteora Mountain House in Boiceville, New York / Event Design: Graceful Gardens + Bob of Onteora Mountain House / Floral Design: Graceful Gardens / Wedding Cinematography: Kiss the Bride Films / Catering: Blue Mountain Bistro-to-Go / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Blue Mountain Bistro-to-Go / Entertainment: The Dexter Lake Club Band / Lighting: Onteora Mountain House / Wedding Dress: Marchesa via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Belle by Sigerson Morrison / Hair + Makeup: Pretty Bird Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Attire, Tie + Shoes: John Varvatos / Groom’s Cufflinks: Paul Smith / Rings: Designed by Groom via Solomon Jewelers

I hope you all are ready for some off-the-charts adorableness because this wedding has maybe one of the cutest little ring bearers I’ve ever seen. And don’t use up all of your awws and oh-my-goodnesses, because you’ll need them as you’re looking through every one of Elaine Palladino Photography’s images of this gorgeous wedding at FEAST at Round Hill Commence the swooning now in our gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Elaine Palladino Photography… Elise and Alberto’s wedding was a celebration focused on family and friends. Round Hill was the perfect backdrop for such an intimate wedding filled with tears, laughter and an abundance of joy. Elise and Alberto chose timeless details, from Elise’s flawless silk wedding gown to her classic, red rose bouquet. It was such a pleasure to photograph the couple and their fun-loving guests, not to mention the beauty of the grounds and the manor itself. Though rain threatened to spoil the fun, it held off long enough for their outdoor ceremony.

From the Bride… I didn’t want anything lavish for our wedding. We wanted it to be very intimate and classic. Alberto and I just simply wanted our close family and friends to be there to witness our marriage. We did basically every traditional detail you could think of: from the first dances to the garter removal. We also made a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in honor of Alberto’s mother. It was such a memorable night. I made the table numbers. I printed out the table numbers on a plain sheet of paper, then bought cute frames and framed them. Our first dance was the best. I had butterflies in my stomach for the entire dance. And I absolutely loved my bouquet. It was exactly what I wanted.

Wedding Photography: Elaine Palladino Photography / Wedding Venue: FEAST at Round Hill in Washingtonville, New York / Floral Design: A Green Thumb Florist / Wedding Cake + Linens: Round Hill / Wedding Invitations: David’s Bridal / DJ: Louis Annunziata of Spin Music Group / Party Favors: A Donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation / Wedding Dress: Sincerity Bridal via RK Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Glint / Bride’s Veil: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Bridesmaids Shoes: Their Choice in Tan / Men’s Tuxedos + Shoes Men’s Wearhouse

No doubt about it – you are going to love this wedding.  You’ll love the breathtaking Tarrytown setting, the glorious blooms crafted by Monica Chimes Floral and the intimate outdoor ceremony.  You’ll love the completely beautiful, seriously to-die-for Nicole Miller gown… and the bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning.  And most of all, you’ll love the sweet, sweet emotion literally bursting from each and every moment captured by Carmen Santorelli Photography.  Because, well.  It’s just that amazing. Click here for sooo much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Everything started with a very random event. A friend of ours, who we never thought would set us up with anyone special, decided to play matchmaker. Two years later we found ourselves at The Castle on the Hudson surrounded by the people we love most, committing uncompromisingly to each other. In front of us was our officiant, someone we cared about and trusted, the person who started it all — our matchmaker. Behind us were our closest family and friends, who made us feel at ease as we started our new life together.

From the moment we were engaged, we both knew that we wanted a very intimate wedding that represented the two of us. We had toyed with the idea of a destination wedding, but in the end, we realized that the best destination would be in New York, where we first met. It was very important to us to find a location with lots of natural light, an outdoor space for the ceremony and a setting that evoked a feeling of intimacy. After quite a bit of searching, we finally found the perfect space at The Castle of the Hudson. We wanted a to create a balance of simplicity and understated elegance with a fun, laid-back, comfortable atmosphere for our family and friends. Luckily, all the vendors we chose helped us to create this vision. It was because of them that everything came together so well. We chose not to plan every last detail but instead allowed the night to happen naturally. We had not planned for speeches or dancing, but they spontaneously happened, making the night all the more perfect. Due to the rain during the day, we thought that our ceremony would have to be moved inside, but even the weather cooperated that day, and by the time our ceremony started, it was a beautiful and sunny. We felt truly lucky that everything ended up working out perfectly. Everything ended up so much better than we had envisioned it.

Due to the small size of our party, we were really able to fully enjoy the day, eat the wonderful food and celebrate with our family and friends. We had so much fun celebrating our wedding! We thank everyone involved, from our guests to our vendors, for making our wedding day so special.

Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography / Wedding Venue: Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, New York / Floral Design: Monica Chimes Floral / Wedding Cake: Castle on the Hudson / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Suit: Burberry / Rings: Kwiat / Hair: Aurora / Makeup: Morgan Gates

Cappy Hotchkiss Photography is filling our screens with the prettiest of pink-hued weddings today, and let me just say, I am rather thrilled about it. Thrilled because it’s overflowing with details so gorgeous I want to hug them and blooms by Green Cottage so pretty I could cry. Thrilled because with just one look at this pretty party, I feel like I know this couple…and I want to be their bestie. There is just so much to raise your glasses (or coffee mugs) to floating around this sweet fête, and you can see it all right here.

From Cappy Hotchkiss Photography… This beautiful wedding was filled with lots of pink details. From hearts to frills, this pretty wedding was very feminine but not over the top. The florals were just amazing! Hand-embroidered welcome signs were made by friends, and all the friends and family made the pies, cakes, cookies, meringue and other desserts. The couple’s first dance was to Iz’s version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” During the cocktail hour, they practiced inside the barn, and when it was time, the doors opened to all the guests outside and there they were, dancing under big paper lanterns in the middle of the barn. He wore a straw hat and they played lawn games during the cocktail hour with a local ukelele duo playing. Laura works at Nanette Lapore and also makes her own fabulous iced cookies, which were included in the gift bag, along with individual tiny jams that they made. They live in Brooklyn but love to go to farmers’ markets and discovered High Falls when they visited the area to go apple picking. Fruit was a constant theme throughout the wedding with cherries and peaches overflowing out of fruit crates and the centerpieces. Laura also scoured sites such as eBay to find old books, which the florist used in the centerpieces. 

Wedding Photography: Cappy Hotchkiss Photography / Wedding Venue: Shadow Lawn in High Falls, New York / Floral Design: Green Cottage / Officiant: Shawn Kumar, A Friend / Catering: Main Course / Wedding Invitations: DIY with a Gocco / Ceremony Guitar: David Temple / Cocktail Ukelele Music: Edukated Fleas / DJ: Jimmy Lutz of Lutz Entertainment / Parasols: Luna Bazaar / Candle Holders: Jamali Garden / Wedding Dress: Judd Waddell / Bride’s Shoes: Via Spiga / Hair + Makeup: Pretty Bird Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Nanette Lepore / Hair Flowers: M&S Schmalberg / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Men’s Pants: Bonobos / Men’s Shirts: Bloomingdale’s

I’m seriously in love with this wedding! It’s rustic barn chic perfection and just one quick glance at these pretty images by CLY Creation makes me feel all giddy inside. Each and every detail is beyond beautiful: from the whimsical paper suite by Minted to the gorgeous bride’s lace dress to the super chic bridesmaids, there’s really nothing not to love! Oh, and that barn? It’s out of control amazing. See it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Joon and I met in 2005 at the University of Michigan at the ripe age of 20. We got engaged on May 14, 2011. We had been dating for a little over six years, and our engagement took place in what was then our dream home state: California. Given how long we had been dating, our vision of what we wanted for our wedding was very much aligned — a casual, outdoor, rustic wedding that would be an unforgettably fun weekend of celebrations for our friends and family. After browsing the myriad of wedding blogs online, I came upon Apple Barn Farm through a Style Me Pretty post. It was the very first and only venue we visited, and we knew immediately that we had found the perfect location.

With a year left until our big day, Joon and I spent much of our time during the next few months coming up with 101 DIY projects that we wanted to complete for our big day. We enjoyed this part the most, because let’s face it — talking about what you want to do is frankly much easier than actually doing it. We wanted a wedding that was unique to us and our tastes, and we were determined to leave our personal imprints on every component of our wedding. Our only mistake was that we neglected to do any of these projects until two weeks prior to the wedding. Thankfully, as a teacher on summer break and with Joon’s flexible time off from work, we were able to work night and day in creating most every decorative and paper item from scratch. I would say that those two weeks, while definitely stressful at times, were some of the most fun parts of planning our wedding. Laughing about our individual preferences on paper folding styles and having debates on the best way to tie a ribbon on a glass jars reminded us that enduring such “labor” was only possible and bearable because we were together — We were doing it for a day that would mark the start of our life together as husband and wife.

The wedding weekend ended up being what can only be described as absolute perfection. On Friday night, we kicked off a post-rehearsal dinner gathering with friends and family at our guest house near the venue. Saturday, June 23 presented itself as the most beautiful summer day we have ever witnessed — not a cloud in the sky — even though there was a thunder storm in a town 10 minutes away from the venue where many of our guests were staying. Working with Matthew of CLY as our photographers made the day even more enjoyable. Watching his genuine enthusiasm and excitement over our venue and DIY pieces made us feel not only special, but also appreciated. Our outdoor ceremony went off without a hitch, and during cocktail hour guests were able to enjoy hors d’oeuvres while also feeding carrots to horses. The reception took place inside the barn, and our guests were able to enjoy what was deemed as “the best wedding food ever,” made by Renner’s Creative Cuisine. The evening of food, drinks, desserts and dancing was capped off by a bonfire with s’mores. We were also able to keep the celebrations going on Sunday morning by hosting a brunch at our guest house. During this time, Joon and I realized that while our hard work definitely paid off in creating the details of the wedding, none of it would have been possible without the help of our family and friends who supported us throughout the whole process. We loved absolutely every component of our wedding weekend and would not do anything differently. Except maybe starting our DIY projects a little earlier. :)

Wedding Photography: Matthew Lee and Orlando Emmanuelli of CLY Creation / Wedding Venue: Apple Barn Farm in Germantown, New York / Event Design + Floral Centerpieces: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Bouquets: Rosery Flower Shop / Wedding Coordination: Apple Barn Farm / Wedding Cinematography: Better Productions / Catering + Wedding Cake: Renner’s Creative Cuisine / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Reception Entertainment: A Friend / Seating Cards + Favors: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Hair Piece: Simple Beauty Veils / Bride’s Shoes: Prada / Bride’s Jewelry: Nordstrom / Bride’s Engagement Ring: Custom with a 1920s Setting / Bride’s Wedding Ring: Custom / Hair + Makeup: VickyC5 / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BB Dakota / Groom’s Shoes: Loake / Groom’s Tie: The Hill-Side / Groom’s Ring: Custom / Groomsmen’s Attire: Custom / Groomsmen’s Ties: Handsome Howard

A dynamite location (to say the LEAST) at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa, a timeless gown, beautifully displayed food on the most elegant of barn tables and some oh-so-amazing florals from Linda Baldwin Flowers are what make up this in.cred.ib.le wedding from Sarah Tew Photography. The very sight of a Claire Pettibone gown makes my heart go pitter pat and when you add invitations from the great Mr. Boddington’s Studio, well, that sends me right over the moon. Oh, and did I mention that they had their Boston Terrier walk down the aisle as the ring bearer? Commence swooning. Find the full gallery of this wedding, right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Sarah Tew Photography… Katie and Sharmilan got married at one of my favorite locations I’ve shot at in the last few years: Buttermilk Falls Inn in Milton, New York. Just over an hour from the city, this picturesque venue is nestled along the Hudson River and features duck/geese ponds, pretty little bridges, rolling hills and giant weeping willows. Oh, and a field of beautiful day lilies! They had their ceremony outdoors on a slope towards the pond, followed by a cocktail hour and tent reception down near a patio with a view towards the river. Everything was SO beautifully planned and had such lovely personal touches and elegant style — everything fit the couple’s personality and had that inviting warmth that the best wedding celebrations are so rich with. The ceremony featured such sweet readings and even a sing-along. Their cute-as-can be dog, Wilbur, was walked down the aisle as the ring bearer, to everyone’s delight. For tablescapes, the couple chose (and had Katie’s father send all the way from Britain) to use colorful old tea-tins for the gorgeous centerpieces and beautifully-arranged fruit on cutting boards atop burlap runners. Pretty pink-rimmed china plates displayed letterpress menu cards with mouthwatering descriptions of the caterer’s farm-to-table dishes. The band, which I’d had the pleasure of seeing before, has got to be one of the best bands you can book for a wedding around here — and they did not disappoint. After a heartwarming set of toasts (Sharmilan’s brother’s speech brought tears to my eyes!), the crowd was ready to get down! At the conclusion of the tented reception, guests were invited to follow a lantern-lit path to the Red Barn for an after-party.

Wedding Photography: Sarah Tew Photography / Wedding Venue: Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa in Milton, New York / Floral Design: Linda Baldwin Flowers / Event Planning: The Bride & Groom / Catering: Main Course Catering / Wedding Cake: The Village TeaRoom / Wedding Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s Studio / Band: The Dexter Lake Club Band / Teabag Favors: Becky Jensen of Stamp That / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Studio One Hair Design

Oh my word, this wedding is like straight out of a gorgeous garden fairy tale. I’m totally dying over each and every single detail from the pretty pink blooms to the cute as can be flower girls, this my friends, is a picture perfect vintage loving girl’s dream come true. The gallery is bursting at the seams with so much pretty, it was super hard to choose which fab images by Lindsay Madden Photography to share with you. Lucky for you, you can see it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When Roy and I became engaged, we knew we wanted a wedding that was a reflection of us and our love — unique yet traditional and focusing on family and close friends. We  wanted to use vintage elements, and I knew I wanted to do lots of DIY  with a palette of blush, ivory, and cream. We live in NYC, and when we began looking for a venue, we knew we wanted something “different.” We wanted the venue to not only have character but also be something truly special. Keeping budget in mind, we looked outside the city to find our unique space. When we drove up to the small town of Slate Hill in upstate New York, turned the corner of the winding road and laid eyes on Catlin Gardens, we fell in love  instantly! As we toured the Victorian house with its gorgeous terrace room and amazing gardens with a stream and ponds, we knew we HAD to get married there! We would have a garden ceremony with an outdoor cocktail hour and dance the night away inside the terrace room. From my dress to the floral arrangements and all the vintage touches, the wedding was inspired by the “vintage garden” feel of Catlin Gardens. After finding the venue, I spent the next year and some months planning every detail, looking at every wedding blog and magazine for inspiration and ideas. Roy and I scoured every flea market in NYC and even my home town of Lorain, Ohio, looking for all the vintage elements that would make up our centerpieces and decor. I spent an entire weekend making the tablescapes, deciding what pieces to use together on each table, even down to which books to use with which lace doily. 

Almost every aspect of the wedding had a handmade touch, from the envelope liners in our invitations and the table numbers, to the antique paper flowers and the lace flowers made by my mother that were incorporated into my bouquet! While I am a DIYer, we definitely had lots of help from our family and friends as well. My mother spent countless hours hand sewing my veil, which I attached to my grandmother’s floral headpiece/crown. Our chuppa was put together and decorated by Roy’s immediate family, and my friends helped my mother put the finishing touches on all the small floral containers that made up the centerpieces. Since the inspiration for the wedding was “vintage garden,” flowers were extremely important. Upon meeting Heather from A Night in Bloom Event Floristry, I knew she was a perfect fit to carry out our vision. Since we didn’t have a huge budget, we saved money by only having personal flowers and the large main centerpieces professionally done, then we arranged the flowers for all the smaller containers on the tables and the ceremony ourselves. The flowers by A Night in Bloom Event Floristry were to die for and really created the vintage garden look we were looking for. 

Overall we think everything turned out really beautifully, and it was so satisfying to see all the ideas and work come together to create something really special. However, the highlight of the day for me was  definitely our first dance. In a room filled with our loved ones when all eyes were on us, I felt like Roy and I were the only two people in the room. We danced, and I sang the words of the song and cried like we were in my living room. I’m pretty sure the whole room could feel our love at that moment, and it truly felt like I was living my dream with the love of my life!

Wedding Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography / Second Shooter: Carmen Santorelli Photography / Wedding Venue: Catlin Gardens in Slate Hill, New York / Floral Design: A Night in Bloom Event Floristry / Wedding Cinematography: GT Modern Creations / Wedding Cake: Catlin Gardens / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Entertainment + Lighting: Dance Leader Productions / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Something Bleu / Bride’s Veil: Hand-Made by Her Mother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy

If ever I were to have a do-over for my wedding, this my friends would be exactly what it would look like. From the sweet and simple chamomile and mint bouquet to the rolling green hills on the Hudson River, this wedding is just too adorable and pretty for words. They kept it simple and stuck with their casual, garden themed style and it all came together brilliantly. Lindsay Madden Photography captured all the details and unforgettable moments and there’s a whole gallery right here just waiting to inspire you!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My husband and I wanted our wedding to feel like it reflected our relationship. We fell in love taking walks in the outdoors, so we decided to commit to a life together outside too. We got married by the water at Oak Hill, an estate on the Hudson River dating to the 18th century. Aesthetically, I was driven by my favorite color (turquoise) and a favorite print from 19th-century textile designer William Morris (“Anemone”). We wanted the event to have a relaxed garden party feel, so we kept the florals simple (my bouquet was just chamomile and mint), brought in some outdoor furniture and lawn games and also introduced some whimsical elements with outdoor picture frames and wedding wands. In the end, we all ended up having a blast.

Wedding Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography / Second Shooter: Sasithon Photography / Wedding Venue: Oak Hill in Hudson, New York / Floral Design, Lighting + Event Design: Experience Events / Catering + Wedding Cake: Bridge Creek Catering / Wedding Invitations: Katherine Watson / Entertainment: JTD Productions / Wedding Dress: Augusta Jones / Bride’s Shoes: Hey Lady / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier

By infusing both Persian and Anglo-Indian traditions, this cute as can be couple created a unique and totally personal ceremony that was beyond special, not to mention gorgeous! The colorful blooms and mercury glass make for the perfect centerpieces and stand out beautifully against the all white interior of the tent. I don’t know about you, but I’m totally smitten with all pretty images by Alyssa Rose Photography and you can see even more right here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL gallery!

From the Bride… Although Jesse and I both grew up on the West Coast and love our hometowns dearly — I’m from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Jesse is from Richland, Washington — we wanted our wedding to be in New York, where we met and where we live. We decided right away that we wanted an outdoor wedding in the springtime, somewhere with gardens, meadows, trees, the river and a big, clear-of-buildings sky (a pretty tall order, I’ll admit!) After a few weeks of looking at venues in New York’s Hudson Valley, we found Boscobel House & Gardens, a stunning historical site overlooking the Hudson River. When we visited it for the first time, it was still the dead of winter, but we could see that the grounds would be beautiful in the spring — There were huge oak trees and sprawling meadows, and in the warm weather, there would be rows of cherry trees, peonies, daffodils, and tulips. We knew immediately it was the perfect place.

Jesse and I wanted our wedding to be romantic, colorful, and, above all, fun. Our approach to wedding planning was to find vendors who “got” us and then let them loose to do their thing. This approach meant that we didn’t know exactly how things were going to look or come together at the wedding. Some of my favorite moments of the wedding were the surprises — seeing my bouquet for the first time, seeing the centerpieces for the first time, the way the tent was decorated — and marveling at how beautifully everything had come together from just a few nebulous ideas from Jesse and me and the enormous talent of all of our vendors.

My father is Persian and my mother is Anglo-Indian, so it was important for me to incorporate cultural elements into the wedding as well. My “something borrowed” was a pair of my mother’s silver Indian anklets, and my “something blue” was a Middle Eastern charm that stitched into my dress to ward off the evil eye. To honor my Persian heritage, we chose to have a Persian wedding ceremony. In Persian wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom are seated before a “sofreh aghd” or wedding spread of symbolic items. They are surrounded by close friends and family who take turns holding a silk cloth over the heads of the couple and grinding sugar over the silk to symbolize sweetness raining down on the bride and groom.  It felt so special to have our family and friends surrounding us as we said our vows to each other in a ceremony of traditions dating back thousands of years.

We have so many beautiful, happy memories of our wedding day — waking up to the first truly warm day of the spring, the bridesmaids and I speeding in a golf cart to make it to the ceremony site, Jesse tearing up as I walked down the aisle to an acoustic guitar and violin version of Regina Spektor’s “Us,” Jesse and I escaping to the fields behind the reception tent for a quiet moment at sunset, me running (in my heels!) from the bathroom through the meadow to make it back to the reception tent in time to leap into Jesse’s arms for the last chorus of “Jesse’s Girl” — but nothing was more special than holding my husband’s hand during the reception and realizing that every single person with us that day was there because they loved us and we loved them.

Wedding Photography: Alyssa Rose Photography / Wedding Venue: Boscobel House & Gardens in Garrison, New York / Floral Design: Linda Baldwin Flowers & Decor / Event Coordination: Events That Matter / Officiant: Carrie Wykoff of Events That Matter / Catering: Oliver Kita Fine Catering / Sofreh Aghd (Persian Wedding Spread): Ghazal Sofreh Aghd / Ceremony Musicians + DJ: BOK-Music / Table Numbers: Mason Rabbits Paperie / Programs, Escort Cards + Menus: By Invitation Only / Favor Bags: Lost Bridge Designs / Chair Signs: Our Hobby to Your Home / Wedding Dress: Wtoo via Lovely Bridal Shop / Bride’s Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Bride’s Rings: Mark Schneider Design / Bride’s Hair Accessories: whichgoose / Hair + Makeup: Beauty by Nicole / Groom’s Wedding Ring: Benchmark Rings

Nighttime ceremonies are maybe the most romantic thing on Earth. This couple threw your standard sequence of events out the door and decided to wine and dine their guests amidst lawn games and refreshing Pimm’s Cups pre-ceremony followed by candlelit “I Do’s” and then a whole lot of dancing. Mel Barlow + Kate Diago of Mel & Co. snapped all the festivities, one Great Gatsby-esque moment at a time. See them all here.

From Mel & Co.… Jesse and Andrea met in college. Andrea was born and raised in England, and Jesse was born in New York and raised in Connecticut. Their wedding was a celebration and reunion of family and friends from around the world. Loved ones traveled from Mexico, India, Israel and all over the states. They were married on a private estate on the Hudson River in upstate New York and had a beautiful Jewish ceremony by candlelight under a large beech tree. It was an intimate garden party with details reminiscent of the Great Gatsby era. Guests were greeted with Pimm’s Cups and tea sandwiches and played lawn games alongside the bride and groom before the ceremony began. In lieu of guest favors, the bride and groom donated to the non-profit Puppies Behind Bars. People danced late into the night, and a rain storm started just as the last guest said goodnight.

Wedding Photography: Mel Barlow + Kate Diago of Mel & Co. / Wedding Venue: Arrowfield Estate in Saugerties, New York / Wedding Planning: Laura Wright Events / Floral Design: Green Cottage / Officiant: Rabbi Aryeh Meir / Catering: Bridge Creek Catering / Garden Party Music: The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn / Wedding Dress: Saja / Hair: Haunsie Korpela / Makeup: Irene Slatest