This beautiful Hudson Valley affair is fabulously classic with loads of sentimental touches topped off with absolutely stunning florals from Geranium Lake Flowers. Could her bouquet be any more cheerful and perfect? The sweet as can be couple filled their day with tradition and nods to their loving families, and the result is a day they will never forget and one we get to enjoy. For even more, check out the full gallery.
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From the Bride… Alex and I met at Homecoming at our alma mater. I was a senior in college and he was an alumnus (we did not overlap at school). We hit it off over a conversation about his upcoming trip to Argentina and his desire to learn to tango in preparation. I had studied abroad in Buenos Aires but didn’t have the heart to tell him that he did not need to know tango. Our first date was a tango lesson!
Our second date was when everything just clicked. We lived in Philadelphia at the time. We went to Tinto for a phenomenal tapas dinner. It was pouring so we sprinted to a bar down the block. The bar ended up having a photo booth. We jumped in to take photos and our first kiss was on the third photo! I still have it in my wallet. (Ever since, we have made a point of using the photo booth whenever we come across one in our travels.)
Our wedding look was inspired by Alex’s family plaid. We have strong connections to our families and it was important to us to weave pieces of both families into this event that joins them together. From Alex’s family, we chose the plaid color scheme, had our ceremony officiated by a close family friend, and held the wedding in Alex’s home town at the club where he once caddied. From my family, I wore my cousin’s (MOH) veil, wrapped my bouquet in my great-grandmother’s handkerchief that my mom used in her wedding, wore my grandmother’s ring on my left hand and put a silver pence from my father’s family in each of our shoes. From each other, Alex wore monogrammed cufflinks and I wore blue shoes from Argentina, which were both the first gifts we gave each other. Combining these elements made our wedding a deeply personal event that celebrated the joining of our families and their traditions.
The wedding flowers were really important to me since my grandmother, who passed away when I was young, was an avid gardener and flower arranger. My last memory of my grandmother is her teaching me how to put together an intricate arrangement of flowers from her garden. With that in mind, I worked with Kim Foren of Geranium Lake to create fresh, luscious, playful bouquets and arrangements highlighted by bright blues, greens and yellows. I am a fan of succulents, which Kim incorporated throughout. The bridesmaids’ and my bouquets were primarily yellow with green accents. The yellow calla lily that appeared in my bouquet was also on Alex’s boutonniere. The ceremony took place under a giant oak tree (which we incorporated into the groomsmen’s ties), and the aisle and altar area were accented with bright blue hyacinths and lemons.
We wanted a simple wedding cake that was still fun and tied into the rest of our wedding. Our one-tier yellow cake (Alex is picky – no chocolate cake for him!) with white frosting, yellow polka dots and blue ribbon around the base was balanced on top of a clear vase and topped with flowers and lemons.
Although Hurricane Earl missed us, our outdoor ceremony experienced high winds that swept my cathedral length veil straight up in the air where it hung for a second and then off my head. It floated towards the Hudson River; the crowd gasped; my cousin/MOH snatched it one handed before it flew over the wall. She had a strong incentive since, after all, it is her veil. We have re-watched it on video since and it is quite a sequence.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was the silver pence, because it was a complete surprise to us! The day before, my mom gave us each a six pence piece that my father’s family had used at all of their weddings. We were thrilled to incorporate something with such a long family tradition. Alex was distraught the day after our wedding when he thought he had lost it. As luck would have it, on the last day of our honeymoon, it fell out of Alex’s sock!
Floral Design: Kim Foren of Geranium Lake Flowers / Wedding Photography: Elena Gorelik Photography / Wedding Venue: Sleepy Hollow Country Club / Catering: Sleepy Hollow Country Club / Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. / Wedding Bands: Zell’s / Wedding Dress: Christos (Marisel) via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Veil: Borrowed from Maid of Honor, Cousin of the Bride / Bride’s Ceremony Shoes: Purchased in Argentina, Gift from The Groom / Bride’s Reception Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom’s Attire: Rock’s Custom Tailor / Groom’s Shoes: Johnston & Murphy / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom, Groomsmen, Officiant & Family Ties: Vineyard Vines / Rehearsal Dinner: Vintage Bar & Restaurant / Wedding Cake: Tarrytown Bakery / Accomodations: The Ritz-Carlton / Music: Rhythm Nights of Hank Lane Music / Makeup: The Ritz-Carlton Spa / Officiant: Friend of the Family / Transportation: The Ritz-Carlton / Wedding Invitations: The Bride / Groom’s Cufflinks: Tiffany & Co. / Groom’s Watch: TAG Heuer / Dance Lessons: Arthur Murray Studios / Honeymoon Planning: Sharon Elsen of Cardoza-Bungey Travel