Harry and I knew we wanted an outdoor wedding in the Catskill Mountains, where we met at his parents’ house.  From the moment Harry and I saw the view from Onteora Mountain House, we knew there was no more perfect a place for us to get married.  Being an avid outdoorsman, Harry was looking for something more rustic that would show his personality, and I was hoping for something romantic and ethereal to represent me. Every aspect of our wedding was a perfect union of what we like to call “Rustic Romance.”

The very first selection we made was choosing our photographers, and boy did we luck out with Ulysses and Jenni of Ulysses Photography! We had seen one of their books at Onteora and starting with the initial phone call, I had a great feeling about these two.  Our engagement picture session in Central Park was the perfect beginning to our relationship, and Ulysses and Jenni made us feel so comfortable and also captured both the look and feel we were going for. Our wedding day was no different, and I cannot praise our photographers enough for capturing the best moments of our night, often without us even realizing they were there!

Heather at A Night in Bloom Event Florist listened to our vision of rustic romance and executed our flower selection with perfection. Her recommendation of Sahara roses and green gladiolas mixed with our selection of hens-and-chicks, white sweet peas, vines and river rocks made the most amazing flower centerpieces. Our ceremony decoration of a field mix of flowers in mason jars, accented with sage green ribbon, was the perfect touch to bring our rustic romance vision into all aspects of our wedding.

Kristy Rice at Momental Designs created our invitations with a one-of-a-kind drawing of the view from the ceremony site at Onteora, with each invitation hand painted with watercolors to bring out the beauty of our venue.

Chelsea Harris from Salon 52 Hair Studio created the stunning side-swept look that exuded romance, and I could not have been more in love with my hair! Woodstock String Quartet provided our ceremony music and did a phenomenal job taking our unconventional musical selections (my bridal entrance was to “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica) and bringing them to life in strings.  DJ Mike Alevras from Hudson Valley Entertainment kept the party lively and the dance floor was packed throughout the night. Jeanne Stark, our day-of wedding coordinator, kept everything in order and made it easy for Harry and I to enjoy our wedding and know that everything was being taken care of behind the scenes.

We could not have hoped for a more beautiful wedding experience that truly represented who we are as a couple and what we wanted our guests to experience during our wedding ceremony and reception. Each and every person we worked with helped to bring our dream and vision of rustic romance to life and create the magical night we will remember forever.

Photography: Ulysses Photography / Event Location: Onteora Mountain House / Flowers: A Night in Bloom / Invitations: Momental Designs / Bride’s Dress: Demetrios / Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Hair: Chelsea Harris, Salon 52 Hair Studio / Day-of Event Coordinator: Jeanne Stark / Music: Hudson Valley Entertainment / Catering: Blue Mountain Bistro / Ceremony Music: Woodstock String Quartet

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A Night In Bloom, Alfred Angelo, Blue Mountain Bistro, Casual Elegance, Catskill Mountains, Chuppah, Color Palette Green Pink, Demetrios, Hudson River Valley, Hudson Valley Entertainment, Jeanne Stark, Jewish Wedding, Momental Designs, New York, Onteora Mountain House, Outdoor Ceremony, Salon 52 Hair Studio, Ulysses Photography, Wedding Photography, Wedding Stationery, Woodstock String Quartet
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

Carla Ten Eyck is just that … amazing …

When you hire a photographer for your wedding, you’re not just hiring a picture-taker. You’re gaining a friend. You’re hiring someone who will be by your side on one of THE most important days of your life. That person will bring out the sheer beauty, the raw emotion … the awe in you. That’s what you get with Carla Ten Eyck.

Carla Ten Eyck captured Samar and Shane’s exquisite multi-cultural wedding that spanned three glorious days.  There is no way that we can do this incredible celebration justice. We simply want to show you, brag to you, how great Carla and her incredible team are.

Samar and Shane’s wedding weekend …

The wedding took place in Hudson, NY. It was a three day Pakistani and Irish wedding celebration. Friday night the family held a Mehndi ceremony in the beautiful barn at Oak Hill Estate in the Hudson River Valley. These celebrations are traditionally women only, but Shane and Samar invited the men to participate as well. During the ceremony they sat together in a swing while guests came up to offer them blessings. After the blessings there were traditional dances upstairs in the barn. Saturday was the formal wedding ceremony. Samar’s father officiated the ceremony, and the bridesmaids carried wooden bowls full of rose petals instead of bouquets. Floral decor was by Little Black Book member, Linda Baldwin Flowers.

Shane and Samar’s incredible celebration proves without a doubt that if you are lucky enough to have Carla and her team ~ Mike Romano, Katie Slater and Graham Scobey ~ you will have memories … and a friend who will last a lifetime!

Congratulations Samar & Shane on an absolutely phenomenal wedding! And Carla, well as we’ve said before … sheer beauty!!

For the rest of Samar & Shane’s story, take a trip to Carla Ten Eyck’s blog site. It … she … is totally awesome.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barn, Carla Ten Eyck, Charmed Places, Graham Scobey, Hindu, Hudson River Valley, Hudson Valley, Katie Slater, Lily Of The Valley, Linda Baldwin Flowers, Mehndi, Mike Romano, New York Weddings, Pakistani, Rose Petals, Traditions
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography