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From Lydia FitzGerald of Charmed Places… This event is near and dear to my heart. It was a labor of love to plan and execute and both my clients, their guests and I were extremely happy with the outcome. The dinner took place at Grasmere Farm in Rhinebeck, New York, which is not yet known as an event venue. The last private event to be held at Grasmere prior to this rehearsal dinner was the rehearsal dinner for Chelsea Clinton the summer before. With that level of event preceding ours, I knew I had to work with my clients and vendors to create an event that honored this occurrence, as well as the space itself and of course, my client’s wishes — one of which was not to upstage the wedding the following day. Yikes! Hard to do when working with such a naturally beautiful and grand location. The barn at Grasmere is a raw space with no power or running water. Among other things, I had the space power washed and a load of gravel delivered and raked to ensure that the beautiful lounge setting on the massive gravel courtyard in front of the stone barn would make a statement to guests as they arrived.

On the day of the event, guests were directed to an unmarked entrance to the property. A long and winding drive lined with lanterns that we installed that took them past massive fields, a large pond and up to entrance to the courtyard and barns. After several consecutive days of rain we were fortunate to have a beautiful and sunny day. Guests spent cocktail hour in the courtyard sipping on champagne and a specialty cocktail of marinated blackberries, fresh mint, vodka and seltzer, listening to spanish guitar melodies provided by a live musician. With one entire side of the 7,000 sq ft barn exposed, we made sure that guests were moved inside the barn for dinner before sunset so they could take in the view of rolling lawns, haystacks and blue sky before night came. Dinner was festive but intimate, with the lighting design of the barn’s interior becoming more apparent as day became night. With September being the start of harvest season in the Hudson Valley, guests sampled local produce in an heirloom tomato salad with champagne vinaigrette and grass-fed Hudson Valley beef with local chanterelle mushrooms. Many toasts were given, and a lovely and sweet video montage of the couple was played for guests. When it was time to leave, no one wanted to go! At the end of the evening the bride ran up to me, grabbed me and exclaimed, “Thank you for making this evening so special!” Mission accomplished!

Event Planning: Lydia FitzGerald of Charmed Places / Venue: Grasmere Farm in Rhinebeck, New York / Photography: Randy Ahart of Photo Pink / Event Design + Florals: Lisa Riso of The Greenhouse at Rhinebeck / Lighting Design: Salvin Design / Catering: Main Course Catering

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Post tags: Charmed Places, Grasmere Farm, Hudson Valley, Lisa Riso, Lydia FitzGerald, Main Course Catering, New York, Photo Pink, Purple, Randy Ahart, Rehearsal Dinner, Rhinebeck, Salvin Design, The Greenhouse at Rhinebeck
Post categories: Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When my husband and I were searching for a wedding location in the Hudson Valley, Shadow Lawn quickly stood out to us. We were able to rent the property for the entire weekend, so we could host our rehearsal dinner, wedding, and Sunday brunch there. The owners of the property went an extra mile to make everything perfect for us after Hurricane Irene, and I think that the beauty of the property was partly what made all of the pictures so gorgeous!  The Sheeley House Bed & Breakfast next door was the perfect location for our wedding party to stay, and my husband and I had a great time being so close to everyone all weekend long.  

We worked closely with our officiant, Barbara Ann Michaels, to create a ceremony that was both deeply personal and non-traditional. Two couples from each side of our family spoke and provided us with marriage wisdom. Instead of a traditional favor, we rented a photobooth from Weddings by Two/We Love Photobooths—it was packed all night long! Everyone from the grandparents to our youngest cousins loved snapping their pictures. Another highlight was my last-minute decision to purchase the cakes from our favorite bakery in New York City—Momofuku Milk Bar.  Ryan and I had to drive to Brooklyn the Friday before to pick up the cakes and bring them to the wedding ourselves. They were the hit of the night. Everyone raved about them!

It was daunting to choose a location that was not all-inclusive, and my husband and I both did a lot of work the entire year leading up to the wedding (much more than we had expected)! In the end, all of our vendors came together to make it an unforgettable day!

Photography and Photobooth: Weddings by Two + We Love Photobooths / DJ: Lutz Entertainment / Day-of Coordinator: Hudson Valley Events / Officiant: Barbara Ann Michaels / Floral Design: Steven Bruce Design / Caterer: Main Course / Wine: Stone Ridge Wine & Spirits / Venue: Shadow Lawn / Cakes: Momofuku Milk Bar / Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher / Dress: Elizabeth Dye via Lovely Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: Face Stockholm

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Post tags: Barbara Ann Michaels, Elizabeth Dye, Face Stockholm, High Falls, Hudson Valley, Hudson Valley Events, J. Crew, Lovely, Lutz Entertainment, Main Course, Momofuku Milk Bar, New York, Shadow Lawn, Steven Bruce Design, Stone Ridge Wine & Spirits, The Left Handed Calligrapher, We Love Photobooths, Weddings By Two
Post categories: Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings

From McKenzie of McKenzie Miller Films… Becky and Brian’s wedding was filled to the brim with the most precious details. They left no creative aspect undone. From the custom soda bottles to the adorable silhouette, their wedding was perfect! Becky and Brian were married near Hudson, New York at the Apple Barn Farm. It was so beautiful! It’s always nice to escape the city every once in a while and this was no exception. Becky and Brian wrote the ceremony themselves and it was so sweet and heartfelt. I especially loved their vows. After their ceremony underneath a canopy of trees, everyone moved inside the barn for an evening of dancing, toasting and celebrating the love of Becky and Brian. The two are absolutely perfect for one another and it was evident through every piece of their wedding day.

Film: McKenzie Miller Films / Song: “Always” by Holley Maher via The Music Bed

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Post tags: Barn Wedding, Hudson Valley, McKenzie Miller Films, New York, New York Weddings, Rustic Wedding
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings

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From beIMAGED Photography…Meredith and Bill did the unthinkable: they planned their Hudson Valley wedding all the way from Germany! Yes, from Germany. And it was absolutely amazing with a rustic yet elegant and classic feel to it with DIY elements infused throughout along with the natural wonder of the Hudson Valley.

The day started with Meredith getting ready at the historic Hudson House in Cold Spring, NY which is surrounded by rolling hills and is right near the Hudson River. The ceremony was then held at the St. John The Evangelist church in Beacon, NY with the mass including Filipino wedding traditions which was incredibly beautiful and emotional.

Then the party took off at the breathtaking and amazing Mount Gulian Historic Site. To first walk through a historic building filled with antiques and old wooden floors, then out to an absolutely spell-bounding Hudson Valley view and then down wooden steps to the Dutch barn — this venue was an absolute jaw-dropper. All of the hard work that Meredith and Bill, along with their friends and family, had put into planning their big day shined through every location, every detail, and every single moment.

Photography: beIMAGED Photography / Decor: DIY friends + family / Caterer: Parties by Tomas / Venue: Mount Gulian Historical Society / Wedding Cake: Dulce & Petit / Stationery: Paper City Design

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Post tags: beIMAGED Photography, Dulce & Petit, Hudson Valley, Mount Gulian Historical Society, New York, Paper City Design, Parties by Tomas
Post categories: Casual Elegance, New York Weddings

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From Erik Maziarz for Carla Ten Eyck… Grace and Ben’s New York wedding took place in the historic Hudson Valley hamlet of High Falls. Country charm was the predominant theme with a historic bed and breakfast, a quaint reformed church, a rustic barn, and even an old airfield all serving as backdrops for this gorgeous country wedding. A fun-loving couple, blue skies and tons of DIY details were the icing on the cake!

Wedding Photography: Erik Maziarz for Carla Ten Eyck / Floral Design: Dennis of The Green Cottage / Wedding Ceremony Location: Clove Chapel / Wedding Reception Location: Shadow Lawn / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Officiant: Rev. Letitia Smith / DJ: Bud Maltin Metropolitan Music

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Post tags: Blue, Bud Maltin Metropolitan Music, Carla Ten Eyck Photography, Hudson Valley, New York Weddings, Pronovias, Rev. Letitia Smith, Shadow Lane, The Green Cottage, Yellow
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings

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From Denise Fasanello Floral Design…A picture perfect setting in New York’s Hudson Valley combined with sublime golden light made for a dream come true day. The objective was to create a relaxed yet elegant outdoor tent wedding for Alix and Ashley. They requested no real color scheme except to include lavender which is a nod to Alix’s French roots.  I grabbed my collection of vintage transferware, glass bottles and weathered wooden boxes and went to town. I remember this day so fondly – fussing over the still life on the escort table, Alix’s ethereal white dress, Ashley’s ease and charming manner throughout the set up and talking at length with the father of the bride about my beloved Brooklyn. I am a lucky lady to be able to contribute to such happy moments in people’s lives.

Venue: Private Residence / Caterer: Fresh Company / Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Wedding Photography: Amy Newman Photography

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Post tags: Amy Newman Photography, Denise Fasanello Floral Design, Fresh Company, Hudson Valley, New York Wedding
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings

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From the Bride…I fell in love with my now-husband at the tender age of 14, but it was not until after college that we reconnected and started dating. Five years later, he proposed on the water, under the stars while vacationing in Mexico. From the moment the ring was slipped on my finger I began to plot a location and theme. Since my ring was an estate piece I wanted to carry the vintage romantic theme throughout our wedding, but I also wanted to incorporate the stars and water from our engagement. Luckily, we live in the Hudson Valley, a magical location. I settled on the outdoor ballroom at the Grandview on the Hudson River for its spectacular scenery. After collecting ideas on Style Me pretty for two years (having over 1400 visits to your site), and finding, and falling in love with Etsy it all came together. We wanted our wedding to be elegant, but for our guests to feel warm and comfortable. So we incorporated lots of cream, peaches, greens and pops of navy colors for a romantic mid-summer theme. From the 250 mercury candle holders, to the khaki suits and peach roses, and my grandmother’s 60 year old garter everything flowed with a simple romantic grace.

I also received so much gratification from doing many of my own DIY projects. All of my paper-goods; table numbers, programs, invitations, and seating chart,  I created with some collaboration from Etsy. But the most tedious task was the home-made candy bar and cupcake jars favors. Little did I know the full extent of labor it would involve, it took months to collect all of the jars and several days for my mother, mother-in-law, and myself to bake and assemble over 200 “cup cakes in a jar.” But I never felt so much pride as I did the day they unveiled it to our guests and everyone asked where we bought them.

A special thank you to our photographer, Robin Roemer, who captured the day in all its vividness. The love and encouragement from our family and friends was overwhelming, and we could not have asked for a better day with better people.

Wedding Photography: Robin Roemer Photography / Flowers: The Green House at Rhinebeck / Ceremony Location: St. Martins De Porres Church / Reception Location: The Grandview / Programs + Seating Chart: EM & N Designs + The Bride / Table Numbers: The Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Sash: Kirsten Kuehn Designs / Hand Bag: Judith Leiber / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm / Candy Bar + Labels: The Bride / Cupcake Jars Favors: The Bride, Mother + Mother In-Law

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Post tags: Badgley Mischka, EM & N Designs, Enzoani, Hudson Valley, Jim Hjelm, Judith Leiber, Kristen Kuehn Designs, New York Weddings, Robin Roemer Photography, St. Martins De Porres Church, The Grandview, The Green House at Rhinebeck
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings

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From the Bride… I was never one of those girls who’d been dreaming about my wedding day since age 10, so I had nothing in mind for the big day when I got engaged. While my fiancé and I love a good party and host plenty of them at our apartment, we realized our wedding would be a celebration for our family and friends. We tried to focus on the necessities that would make the day urbane to us as a couple: a beautiful view, good food, good music and bright colors. Most of all, when I looked at my wedding album, I wanted to make sure the images were timeless. I’d been perusing wedding blogs as soon as I got engaged and found that many of the images appeared trendy. I saw a lot of photographs that produced images with a smoky, vintage look or a fishbowl roundness to them.  I wanted to make sure the one thing I took back from the day—the pictures—would be clean and focused on the moments of the day.

I’d picked The Garrison for our venue easily after looking at a handful of places in the area. I liked the clean, open feeling of their space. I wanted to be away from New York City where we live to allow for a slower-paced day. My mother, soon-to-be mother-in-law, and I looked around the room at the Garrison and instantly knew all of our friends and family would feel comfortable spending the day there. The view really made it stand apart from the rest.

From the jump, Jenni and Ulysses at Ulysses Photography were incredibly responsive. Jenni answered all our questions easily and promptly, and their experience spoke for itself. At the end of big day, I was most pleased with Jenni and Ulysses. They are so wonderful as a team and really got to know us beforehand through email and our engagement photo session.  On my wedding day, I was overwhelmed with all sorts of emotion: nervousness, excitement. When it came time for our private photo shoot, I couldn’t believe the day was actually happening and needed a moment once I saw my groom. Jenni and Ulysses were so patient. Jenni even gave me a pep talk about all the little things that were floating around in my head and distracting me. Above and beyond the call of duty!

The general décor was to be simple as we are as a couple. The details seemed to fall together. I wanted pears to be on display, as my new last name, Hruska, meant pear in Czech.  I picked three wicker baskets that matched the wooden tables at the Garrison to hold a few pears. We also included two images of pears on either side of the guest names on our escort cards. In memory of my cousin Samantha who had passed away in the time I got engaged and married, I had two sunflower arrangements, as they were her favorite flower. She was so excited when we got engaged and I needed to have a visual reminder of her. To spruce up the table settings, our dear friend and artist, Emily Nagle, created custom images of places Mike and I had been to in our relationship and planned to go to on our honeymoon. She designed our save-the-date, so we wanted to tie the feel of her artwork into the day itself. For music, we picked DJ PQ, who was recommended by the DJ at a friend’s wedding where I had danced all night. We wanted to make sure the dance floor was packed because we both love to dance. His mix cd was right up our alley. It contained a majority of the songs I’d been compiling to play at the wedding anyway!

Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch. All of our gut reactions proved solid. Our vendors helped make the day just as special as everyone who attended. I can’t describe the feeling of looking out into the crowd as you prepare to say your vows and knowing that all the hard work (prepping for the wedding and nurturing your relationship) is fully supported by those staring back at you.  Utterly priceless. Make the day what you want by surrounding yourself with good people. That’s my wedding motto!

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Flowers: Bridal Flowers Exclusive / Location: The Garrison / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Make-up: Jill Imbrogno / Hair: Diane, The Garrison Salon / Wedding Cake: The Pastry Garden / Artwork: Emily Nagle

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Post tags: Badgley Mischka, Bridal Flowers Exclusive, Emily Nagle, Enzoani, Hudson Valley, J. Crew, Jill Imbrogno, New York Weddings, The Garrison, The Pastry Garden, Ulysses Photography
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings