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A Hudson Valley Summertime Soirée

Lush gardens, an antique barn, and a tent for dinner and dancing in the meadow. These words from the bride are the best way to describe this Hudson Valley wedding set in the peak of summertime. With the help of professionals like Main Course Catering and Ulysses Photography, the couple crafted a day that showcased the beauty of the outdoors, and you can see it all right here.

From the bride… Creating the ultimate Hudson Valley summer outdoor wedding was my dreamscape for our celebration! Lush gardens, an antique barn and a tent for dinner and dancing in the meadow…this was my midsummer night’s vision for the evening I wed my husband! Barncroft is my parent’s property. I grew up there and it exemplifies everything I love about Hudson Valley summertime. Sharing my love of this sense of place to guests was important to me.

Bold, bright and beautiful was our color palate – hot pink, champagne rose and deep purple against ivory and verdant neutrals! I designed my bridal bouquet with hot pink local dahlias and roses, champagne rose ranunculus and hypericum berries with accents of deep purple veronica.

My gown, an asymmetrical masterpiece was layered with lace and other light fabrics. The waist was lined in lace and a single band of ribbon. I really owe Erika of Be Unique Boutique a huge thank you for this fantastic styling! My rainbow crystal sandals were perfect for grass and walking the property. Doug wore a unique Fiji Blue 3 piece suit with a blue/light blue checked shirt – which reads as solid from afar! The bold striped tie and pocket square tied the suit and shirt colors together beautifully… not to mention his eyes! As my bridesmaids are all gorgeous and unique, I asked them to select their favorite knee-length champagne dress. Groomsmen were mailed a funny style guide I created.

My Mother is an inspired gardener and magical with flowers. Together we crafted the look of our wedding flowers. My stepdaughter Nicole and her friend Karen both lent their talent in creating centerpieces, boutonnieres, and bridesmaids bouquets. I designed all my stationery to incorporate the color palette and the theme of bright bold beautiful summertime flowers and dreamy watercolor!

Ulysses + Jenni of Ulysses Photography were an indispensable pair to have at our wedding. I learned a great lesson working with these professionals. For example, singing and playing a couple of songs could definitely be a surprise for my groom as well as the guests – but details like these have to be planned out with your vendors! These professional are here to make yours the most special event ever, so tell them everything – they love it!

If I were to have one piece of advice for future brides, it would be to be grateful to those around you who are helping you. And just having FUN is the best way to plan a beautiful, stress-free celebration!

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Photography: Ulysses Photography | Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock | Bride's Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Catering: Main Course Catering | Makeup: Beauty Boutique | Hair: Salon Lucere | Favors: Freixenet | Groomsmen Ties: Tux And Tulle | Groom's Attire: Foeller Men's Shop | Bride's Rings: Black Hills Gold by Coleman | Custom Candlesticks + Furnishings: Agrisculpture | Garter Belt: Etsy - Special Touch Bridal | Groom's Ring: Handcrafted by the bride | Music: Bernstein Bard Trio | Paper Goods: Warwick Press

Mixing Romance and Greenery with a Stunning Rustic Backdrop

Whether you fall firmly in the romance category, love a great organic infusion or lean towards all things vintage and old-world, this wedding has all of the above. Greenery and blooms crafted by Dark & Diamond gussied up the gorgeous brick wall backdrop of the Roundhouse At Beacon Falls and Brian Hatton Photography captured all the beautiful moments.

From the Bride… Andy and I both love upstate New York and the Hudson River Valley. Our shared love of nature is a central part of our relationship and the Hudson River Valley has both sentimental and aesthetic value for us. So we knew we wanted a venue that was somewhere along the Hudson, easy for friends and family to get to, with a cute town that was close to nature.

When we visited The Roundhouse we fell in love with the industrial feel in an adorable town right next to some awesome hikes. The Roundhouse’s sleek design and decor mixed with the beautiful waterfall on one side and mountains on the other were a perfect mix. We loved the rustic setting paired with the convenience of amenities, hotel rooms, and all inclusive catering. The combination of indoor and outdoor space gave us comfort in knowing we had a great back up rainy day option. The floor to ceiling windows, exposed brick, wood beam ceiling, and open dance floor made the venue a truly unique space. It was also easily accessible for elderly family members, which was incredibly important to us.

Our floral designers, Dark and Diamond, helped us to accentuate the natural beauty of the venue by adding flowing greenery and flowers, romantic candles, and small details throughout. They had worked at the Roundhouse many times before and helped us bring our vision to life. Not to mention, they were probably the coolest couple we’ve ever met. We got married on July 3rd, 2016 and our friends and family all got to take advantage of the beautiful town of Beacon, delicious food options, cozy bars, awesome hikes, and even got a glimpse of local fireworks during our party!

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Photography: Brian Hatton Photography | Videography: 15 Minutes of Frame | Floral Design: Dark & Diamond | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Stationery: Minted | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Rings: S H Zell & Sons | Makeup: The Blushery | Hair: Giannetta Salon & Spa | DJ: Nestor Marsh From MD Music & Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Reiss | Officiant: Rabbi Lester Bronstein | Transportation: JTR Charters | Wedding Venue: Roundhouse | Klezmer Band: Shirim

Fancy Girl Table

Planning your wedding is filled with a lot of difficult decisions, but when it comes to partnering with a team of catering + event design professionals who know everything about crafting a day that is perfect for you and yours, Fancy Girl Table is IT.  Think innovative menus, beautiful decor and organic + locally sourced ingredients that will transform your wedding into the foodie paradise you’ve always imagined.

Founded by Jeanette Maier with a mission to serve only the freshest food possible, Fancy Girl Table brings local Hudson Valley farmers’ organic ingredients straight from the earth to your table.  Which means better color, quality and flavor in a menu that is completely customized for you and your event. From those special entrees created to take advantage of the season to the hors d’oeuvres served on repurposed wood to the carefully chosen wine pairings that more than complement each amazing course.  Not to mention Fancy Girl Table’s ability to transform your event space into a stunning reflection of you and your love… whether that’s a laid-back affair in your backyard or a ballroom fete for 250 of your closest family and friends.

Call Fancy Girl Table today to begin creating the sustainable, earth-friendly event you’ve always imagined.

Photography: Brian Furbush | Catering: Fancy Girl Table | Hudson Valley Winery: Benmarl Winery

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Elegant Hudson Valley Estate Wedding

Sunny skies, a sparkling river, two adorable lovebirds saying “I dos” beside an old gorgeous mansion; it doesn’t get much better than that. Hudson River Photographer was there to document it all at this summer celebration and we have this glowing gallery to sink into and get this week started. Not too shabby for a Monday morning, if I do say so myself.

From Hudson River PhotographerThis beautiful wedding was at A Private Estate in Germantown, NY. The happy couple was married on the Estate’s Great Lawn, which leads down to the Hudson River with the 19th century Estate overlooking the ceremony. The reception was held in a beautiful 1860’s barn, onsite.

Photography: Hudson River Photographer | Event Planning: Every Little Detail | Floral Design: Floral Fantasies By Sara | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Catering: Twisted Soul | Entertainment: Marquis Evans | Wedding Venue: A Private Estate | Rentals: Events Unlimited Party Rentals

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Romantic Hudson Valley Winery Wedding

Despite having emergency dental work done just days before their wedding, this Bride wasn’t going to let a minor mishap alter her perspective. Why? Because at the end of the day she was marrying her best friend, and that was simply a beautiful thing! And it truly was a beautiful thing. With a gallery brought to life by CLY BY MATTHEW, every detail is downright dreamy and you can relive it all right here!

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From the beautiful Bride… Three days before our wedding day, I was faced with a mini-debacle, a nightmare bound to make any bride shudder: my face was swollen to the size of a very large grapefruit due to an emergency dental surgery. At that point, all we could do was simply laugh about it and hope for the best. After agonizing nights of pain, prayers and antibiotics, everything miraculously came together on the big day – and even if it hadn’t, we knew all that mattered was that we were getting married, and that was simply a beautiful thing! The little “stressful” things that naturally accompany the final week of the wedding coupled by my chipmunk face, all this became insignificant as we reminded ourselves of what this wedding was truly ALL about: to be surrounded by the people we love the most in the world, celebrating our new journey as husband and wife. On the morning of our wedding day, the skies had cleared up (literally and figuratively) to be the most beautiful Saturday in June! Everything fell magically into place, like everyone told us it would, and needless to say the day, our wedding day, was just…. perfect.

Our inspiration for the wedding was for it to feel rustic and romantic while having an overall relaxed, fun atmosphere. As long-time Manhattan residents, we wanted our guests to see a different, more serene side of New York which was why Hudson Valley seemed like the natural choice. In terms of venue, we had but one criterion: no wedding halls. Brotherhood Winery was the first venue we had visited and we immediately knew it was “the one”. We quickly fell in love with the exposed brick, the wooden beams and the rustic charm of the historic winery.

We wanted to add personal touches as much as we can. Upon arrival to the hotel, our guests were greeted with welcome bags containing some of our favorite snacks; most being Korean snacks from our childhood. As for wedding favors: we’re both book lovers so giving books as favors was an idea we immediately fell in love with. From a list of our all-time favorites, we had chosen a total of seven different books for our guests and personalized each of them with old-fashioned library check-out cards.

Photography: CLY BY MATTHEW | Videography: Digital Memories | Event Planning: Lauren Paige Associates | Floral Design: James Murray Florist | Wedding Dress: Rivini | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church In Goshen | Reception Venue: Brotherhood Winery | Shoes: Louboutin | Catering: InnCredible | Band: East Coast Band | Ceremony Music: Dorian String Quartet | Ceremony Programs: Minted | Photo Booth: Viral Booth | Veil: Vera Wang

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Rustic Summer Wedding at Red Maple Vineyard

The Hudson Valley is a hidden gem, perfectly located between Boston and New York City, with a wealth of goodies at your fingertips; gorgeous venues, stunning scenery, close to city life yet removed from the hustle and bustle. And that is why we continually come upon amazingly relaxed, rustic, beautiful weddings, including this one, captured by Sloan Photographers. See why it’s so special right here.

From the Bride… Dan and I have lived in New York City for many years now. After getting engaged last December, we decided on the Hudson Valley area of New York state as it was a perfect in-between location for all of our guests traveling from my hometown of Boston, Dan’s hometown of Scranton, and our current hometown together in New York City. That, and we adore the area and really wanted to go after a laid back/rustic-chic affair for our friends and family.

We stumbled upon Red Maple Vineyard through our venue search and knew it was the place for us upon arrival. The venue has an incredibly warm and kind family running it, and it offered different spaces to entertain our guests throughout the day. Choosing them was one of the best decisions we made. Another great decision was renting a local home for the weekend that was the perfect home-base for our weekend festivities, including the girls getting ready on the wedding day.

I’m an Event Director professionally so chose to plan every inch of our wedding on my own (with the help of Dan!). We thoroughly enjoyed the process and were thrilled with the results. We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony overlooking the Hudson River, a garden-side cocktail hour, a beautiful and enormous tented reception, and a restored barn/winery for the After Party.

There were so many details we planned throughout the day that made it “ours.” Dan and I collected every single bottle and jar (200+!) that the florist used for the flowers, and we collected all of the props and decor elements over the course of our engagement that would be sprinkled throughout the space. At the ceremony we did a lemonade and iced tea stand, popcorn programs, “yay!” flags for celebrating us announced as husband and wife, Avett Brothers and Coldplay for processional music, and our sister-in-law was the officiant of the service. The cocktail hour featured “cheers!” drink flags for the passed drinks, cocktail napkins and table tent cards with our event hashtag “#McDs823” to have our guests help document the day, food inspired by our favorite meals and treats, and rented vintage furniture. The reception incorporated a fun “no-wall” photobooth, “polaroid guestbook”, an amazing farm-to-table meal, dance music by New York’s DJ Prostyle, and a very lucky live-performance by singer Mat Kearney of our first dance “All I Need.” The night was capped off with bourbon and s’mores at the firepit, grilled cheese and french fries, and local donuts for guests to take home as they exited.

My mother passed away when I was younger, and I found ways to incorporate her throughout the day as well. I sewed a piece of her bathrobe into my wedding dress, had a charm on my bouquet of her picture, talked about her during the ceremony service, and my siblings and I sent a gorgeous lantern into the sky at the very end of the night, at which an enormously bright shooting star flew directly across it after reaching its highest point. A perfect end to a perfect day.

Dan and I enjoyed every minute of our wedding because we continued to keep it about us and never stressed the small stuff. We incorporated pieces that will live on in our home (for example the chandelier hung on the ceremony arbor!) for the rest of our lives and be a constant reminder of the love that surrounded us that day. We wish we could do it all over again!

Photography: Sloan Photographers | Florist: Anne Wenniger | Wedding Dress: Lovely Bridal Shop | Ceremony Venue: Red Maple Vineyard | Reception Venue: Red Maple Vineyard | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Self-bought | Catering: Cornerstone Caterers | Makeup: Sheri Kornhaber | Hair: Make Me Fabulous | Calligraphy: Sarah Kiedis, Etsy | Lighting: Vivid Events | DJ: Prostyle | Groomsmen Attire: Tommy Hilfiger | Audio: OUO Audio Visual | Decor + Props: Self Collected, Etsy, DIY | Furniture + Linen Rentals: Classic Tent + Party Rentals | Groom's Suit - Custom: Doyle Mueser | Live Music: Mat Kearney | Photobooth Backdrop: Dogwood Party Rentals | Vintage Furniture Rentals: Sassafras Vintage Rentals

Romantic Hudson Valley Wedding

This gorgeous day hits all of my wedding sweet spots.  The perfect combo of laid-back and totally elegant, it’s a breathtaking Hudson Valley setting mix and mingling with lush florals from Pola Rebisz, crazy gorgeous colors and an 80’s cover band dance party.  Did someone say Journey?  Yes, please.  See it all captured beautifully by Raquel Reis in the full gallery.

From The Bride… As long-time city residents (I’m from NYC and Mat’s from London), we wanted to venture outside our usual stomping grounds for our wedding celebration. The majestic setting of Onteora Mountain House was exactly what we were looking for — not too far to travel for our NY area friends and family, but distinctly non-urban and, frankly, breathtaking. It was more of a trek for our UK based guests, but we knew that they would appreciate having an excuse to get off the beaten tourist track to experience the natural beauty of the Catskills.

We wanted the ceremony to express our personalities, so we didn’t pay too much attention to the conventions of traditional wedding ceremonies. I walked down the aisle to an 80’s classic — Yaz’s “Only You”. One of Mat’s oldest friends officiated (so there was lots of humor), and Mat’s sister sang Elton John’s “Your Song”, accompanied by my brother on keyboard.

The weather held out long enough for our ceremony and cocktail hour to take place outdoors, but drizzle set in shortly after we moved into the rustic pavilion for our party, which — if anything — made the warmth of the barn-like interior even cozier and more welcoming. We partied like it was 1999 to an 80’s cover band, closing out the night with a group-rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'”. It was an amazing night.

DIY Elements… A friend of ours helped us design our wedding invitations, which we letterpressed ourselves at The Arm in Brooklyn. I also (painstakingly!) handmade the escort cards by embossing our guests’ names on different colored paint chips, and packaged our party favors in mini-brown paper bags.

Photography: Raquel Reis | Videography: Yasuaki Nakajima | Florist: Pola Rebisz | Wedding Gown: Birnbaum and Bullock | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Blue Mountain Bistro | Graphic Design: Sarah Clingman Perla | Manor: Onteora Mountain House

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Rustic Meets Elegant Farm Wedding

This wedding has everything.  Sara Wight snapping up some crazy cool photos (as she does), Matthew Robbins delivering the prettiest of designs, Nancy Sloan Alchek coordinating every fabulous moment and a bride and groom who are the definition of lovely.  Add all of those amazing ingredients to a breathtaking + romantic setting like Willow Ridge Farm and, well… perfection, lovelies.  See it all here.

From Nancy Sloan Alchek Event Planning And Design… The inspiration for this beautiful lakeside wedding was to have the ceremony at the beloved family cottage where the bride’s mother and aunts were married. The property was perfect for the ceremony, but did not have the capacity for the wedding reception. The family approached their Putnam Valley neighbors, the owners of Willow Ridge Farm, who agreed to let them use their property for the wedding dinner dance.

Guests arrived to Willow Ridge Farm, valet parked their cars and buses shuttled them to the family lake house. It was a warm, humid day with threatening rain showers in the forecast. Bins of both umbrellas and flip flops ensured that the guests would be comfortable. The family canoe was filled with cold water bottles on ice.  Guests walked down to the waterfront where they entered a canopy style tent. Matthew Robbins Design created a beautiful setting for a most memorable ceremony, which took place under a chuppah, with the scenic lake view as the backdrop.

Immediately following the ceremony, guests boarded shuttle buses and returned to Willow Ridge Farm. Sperry Tents built the cocktail tent next to the farm’s pond, as well as a magical reception tent in the pasture. Matthew Robbins’ décor was both beautiful and complimentary of the bucolic setting, whether it was the charming lemonade stand, spectacular cocktail tent or the breathtaking tent interior and table design. Laurence Craig Catering served a memorable meal that made the dining experience an unforgettable one. His staff pampered the guests throughout the entire evening.

The Hudson Project had all guests on their feet throughout the entire evening as they danced the night away. The gorgeous wedding cake was made and designed by Charlotte Neuville of the Fashion Chef.

Photography: Sara Wight Photography | Design: Matthew Robbins | Event Planner: Nancy Sloan Alchek Event Planning And Design | Wedding Dress: Le Spose di Gio | Cake: New York's Fashion Chef | Ceremony Venue: Private Residence | Reception Venue: Willow Ridge Farm | Wedding Shoes: Ann Taylor | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Laurence Craig Catering | Makeup: Sally Duvall | Lighting: Levy Lighting | Entertainment: The Hudson Project | Favors: One Girl Cookies | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Paperworks: J Papers

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DIY Hudson Valley Farm Wedding

At the heart of every DIY wedding is a bride who’s not afraid to get her hands a little dirty. The type who can craft like nobody’s business and involves her family every step of the way. It’s exactly what you’ll find in this farm affair from Fabrice Tranzer, and the full gallery is something truly special.

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From the Bride.. From the start it was very important to Christopher and I that our wedding be a reflection of the commitment to be made, a day of celebrating with family and friends rather than an over-the-top production. The charming old chapel where we took our vows was an ideal setting steeped in tradition for our ceremony and my family’s farm-Jones Farm of Cornwall, NY provided the perfect backdrop for our reception. Our inspiration for the day was the rustic elegance of the farm and with each detail we sought to compliment our beautiful surroundings.

The farm has been in my family since 1914 and their was something incredibly sacred in sharing such a special day on the same land that generations before me have tended and loved so dearly. We didn’t have an unlimited budget, but were blessed with creative family and friends who were eager to help. I work everyday alongside my parents, grandparents and a team of wonderful people at our family farm and gift shop. Growing up in this environment creates a unique sense of unity that stems from hard work and commitment, and the entire farm family worked together to plan the wedding.

My 86 year old Grandmother contributed our favors-120 jars of homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, made from our own homegrown Rhubarb plants. I created the labels and packaged each jar with simple muslin and string.

I designed and printed our invitations and menus from a pastoral scene that my Mother drew of the family farm. Christopher used his artistic talents in hand stamping the wax seals for our invitations and decorating our bar menu chalkboard.

We so enjoyed adding personal touches to the tent, from making the place cards and table numbers to decorating the arbor entrance and cake table. For our seating chart we carbon copied names onto black mat board and inserted the board into a decorative screen door. The “Mr. & Mr’s.” chair signs were hand lettered from recycled apple crates laying around the farm. I hot glued faux flowers to the boards to tie in the colors from my bouquet. Our biggest challenge was decorating the inner poles of our tent. To add height and interest, we tied white branches to the poles, from which we hung jars with tea lights and faux milk glass pots with ferns to carry over the theme from our Tablescape. The faux milk glass was actually a plastic cup wrapped in bubble wrap and painted white -(an up-cycled, budget friendly, fun craft!)

My Grandfather loaned us his restored 1953 Ford F350 purchased new back in 1953 by the farm from a dealer right here in Cornwall, NY. It was the perfect getaway car, and Christopher and I loved driving with the windows rolled down from the ceremony to our reception.

My Father planted the succulents in our milk glass centerpieces, which we have since transplanted to the garden in our new home. The milk glass pieces were antique and thrift store finds that accented our eclectic Tablescapes- inspired by a milk glass chicken that I found in our collection of family treasures. Our friends were all happy to drink for a cause and helped empty dozens of wine bottles to use as vases. I loved the strength of the lanterns against the softness of the moss table runners and Queen Anne’s lace, which to me mimicked the beautiful contrast of the tractors and industrial equipment against the rolling fields of the farm.

Everything from the flowers to the music was local and personal. Our dear friend Della made our floral arrangements and bouquets using wildflowers from our fields, eucalyptus and cabbage roses. Our talented head baker Sandy made our delicious Carrot Cake and Key Lime Pie desserts-both favorite recipes from our farm kitchen. Family Friends provided the ceremony music and a high school classmate Milich Productions was our DJ. Our caterer, Pamela’s Traveling Feast is a wonderful local company who provided a fabulous spread incorporating many of our favorite foods.

I found my Ivy and Aster Dress at the aptly named Lovely Bride in Tribeca. It was a delightful shopping experience and I was enamored by the ethereal drapery of the gown. My jewelry was all purchased from my family’s gift shop at the farm, Clearwaters Gifts, and is made by designer We Dream In Colour. The vintage inspired jewelry perfectly complimented my 1920’s engagement ring.

Having our reception at home created such a relaxing environment for our guests. It was a family affair- While most people danced, the little ones ran around in the fields, and our grandparents enjoyed the quietness of a bench gazing out over Schunemunk Mountain. We chose to have my brother and a close friend as our two witnesses rather than a full bridal party. This decision lent itself to the intimate feel that we strived to create for our wedding and made for a much simpler planning process.

A DIY wedding is a tremendous amount of work, and not all of our projects turned out perfectly – our table numbers flopped (literally) from the evening dew, but the imperfections were beautifully real, and we wouldn’t have done it any other way. We felt enveloped in such love the entire day-(a love which our photographer Fabrice Tranzer captured so beautifully in his images!)

Photography: FABRICE TRANZER | Wedding Dress: Ivy And Aster | Wedding Cake: Jones Farm | Catering: Pamela's Traveling Feast | DJ: Milich Productions | Bridal Jewelry: We Dream In Colour | Hair Artist: Tara Dederick | Location: Jones Farm

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DIY Formal Wedding at Rufflands Farm

First of all, I will never get over this Kathryn Conover Couture custom gown. But even beyond that dream, this wedding shocked me when I realized it was DIY. It’s so stinking beautiful, and obviously so, captured by Divine Light Photography, that I’ve been sitting here quite honestly in awe for far longer than I’d like to admit.


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From the stunning bride… Our Hudson Valley outdoor DIY wedding was simply perfect. It rained two hours before the ceremony and poured as soon as we started dancing the night away in the barn, but the dramatic clouds made for the perfect backdrop to our ceremony, which was lead by the brides cousin. We planned our wedding completely on our own, created all the paper products (save the dates, invitations, name cards, ceremony cards). Family members all chipped in to make the day perfect. The brides mother foraged for local flowers and made crowns for the flower girls, bouquets for the maids and bride and boutonnières and wrist corsages for the groomsmen and grandmothers. The rock climbers in the family (including the groom and best man) teamed up to scale the massive vaulted rafters of the barn to hang the swooping sheer white fabric and three chandeliers, to get the ambiance of the rustic formal wedding just right. And the DIY list goes on and on…

Photographer: Divine Light Photography | Wedding Planner: Ashley Bond | Bracelet: Lionette By Noa Sade | Engagement Ring: DVVS Fine Jewelry | Bridesmaid's Dresses: The Celebrity Dresses | Catering: Another Fork In The Road | Band: Tacuma Bradley, Charles Sirbirsky, Dan Shuman | Wedding Favors: Hand Collected Sea Salt From Salt Island, BVI | Suit: Suitsupply | Barn And Farmhouse: Rufflands Farm | Bridal Shoes: Zara | Bridal Statement Necklace: Bayila | Cape Veil: Kathryn Conover | Ceremony Bridal Necklace: Vintage | Custom Dress: Kathryn Conover | Decor: Rustic Touch | Floral: Hand Picked Locally By Mother Of The Bride | Flower Girl Dresses: Zara | Groom's Shoes: Gucci | Groomsmen Custom Ties: Tie Obsessed | Invitation Paper: JAM | Mother Of The Bride Top: Zara | Purse: Zara | Rentals: Rhinebeck Rentals | Save The Date Stamp: TheYellowNote | Wedding Band: Bianca Monros Gomez

Hudson Valley Wedding at The Red Dot

From this moment on, whenever I hear the phrase “seriously awesome wedding,” I will forever think of this gorgeous day captured by Cynthia Chung.  Because this is a day that is the epitome of the word “awesome” with fab DIY details, a darling (+ very talented) duo and locally sourced goodness at every turn.  Click here for so much more.

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From Cynthia Chung… This wedding was a blast, a rocking couple from New York City, traveling upstate to get hitched. The bride (a painter) and the groom (a bass player in a band) managed to throw a wedding that completely integrated their style and personalities. It also included beer brewed straight from the groom himself and yes, RECYCLED metal for wedding rings! Oh, and their parents even wrote and sang a song for the couple!

From the Bride… Josh and I started taking trips up north together about four years ago. We both love upstate New York, and deciding on Hudson as our wedding location was easy. In planning, we only considered the elements of a wedding that meant something to us, and it made for a very personal, very intimate day. We rented a beautiful house in town for a week and welcomed eighty of our family and friends from all over the country. We sourced everything we could from local vendors, including food, and we wound up making a lot of what we served, gifted or used by hand, even our wedding invitations! When we couldn’t personally make it, we had it made for us. As an artist, it was important for me to have that kind of human involvement, and it was super important for us to support local businesses and artists alike.

A dear friend officiated our flash mob ceremony, which took place late morning in a town park across the street from our brunch venue. Musician friends followed us up from New York City and performed a piece written by Josh for the occasion titled “Us”. Our friends also played for our jazz brunch set inside a great bar and restaurant called the Red Dot immediately following the ceremony. It was the perfect venue for us: artsy, off-centered, and free from drama. We decorated the space with a few chalkboard signs that we made at home, a couple vases of dried lavender from a local farm (that also doubled as the flowers in the ceremony, including my bouquet), and we let the natural ambiance of the Red Dot do the rest. The boys’ boutonnieres complimented the dried lavender nicely, as they were made from dried flowers as well. Remaining simple and practical, we asked our wedding party to wear something black from their closet, as it was important for us to see our guys and gals comfortable and looking like themselves. (We did, however, buy our two guys very cool skinny ties… we couldn’t resist.)

The key to our visual aesthetic was that nothing matched. We didn’t have “colors,” we had style. And included in that style was homebrew, naturally. Josh brewed all of the beer for our reception, and he also made a magnetic chalkboard to hold the bottle cap magnets he presented as favors. In addition to the magnets, we made donations on behalf of our guests to two NYC organizations that are important to us: KittyKind and Just Food. Even the idea of a wedding cake felt excessive to us, so we ordered homemade cupcakes from a local artisan starting her business in Hudson, and they were delicious. Our rings were also locally made, crafted in recycled palladium by an artist just north of the city. Rounding out our circle of local, unique and talented service providers was Cynthia Chung, our photographer. From the beginning, we wanted someone to capture our wedding, documenting natural, candid moments. We wanted someone who saw color and shapes, not just a bride and groom. We wanted an artist AND a photographer, and in Cynthia we found what we were looking for.

Photography: Cynthia Chung Photography | Floral Design: North Winds Lavender Farm | Cupcakes: Ashlee's Sweet Treats | Rings: Artifactum Design | Favors: KittyKind | Favors: Just Food | Venue: The Red Dot

Hudson Valley Wedding

This, my friends, is one very talented bunch.  I’m talking a beautiful bride and groom (plus awesome friends and family) who really know a thing or two about crafting an amazing wedding.  Think DIY florals, homemade IPA and a stellar taco buffet and you are on the right track.  Add in a team of talented vendors (hello Wedding Planning Plus and Kent Meister Photography) and it’s a day that is alllll about the pretty.  See so much more in the full gallery.

From the Bride… When my new husband and I started our wedding planning, we were so excited to just think about the day and imagine our family and friends being there with us, it was hard to focus on the details about how to make it happen! We started planning by getting clear on how we wanted the day to feel, and what kind of experience we hoped for our guests. Both of us are pretty laid back and fun loving, and we envisioned a relaxed comfortable day, where our guests were well appreciated with delicious food and drinks. I grew up in the Hudson Valley of New York State, and we are both lovers of the outdoors, so we thought it made sense to get married upstate and enjoy the natural beauty.  Overall, we wanted our wedding day to be meaningful, relaxed and FUN.

We chose our venue at Oak Hill because it’s so incredibly beautiful. Saying our vows with a backdrop of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains? Yes, please. The reception was held in a recently built two story wooden barn. Idyllic.

Our wedding really was the product of so many friends and family members lending their talent and contributing unique gifts and skills. Looking back, I’m pretty overwhelmed by how amazing my family and friends were! My close childhood friend and metal smith/jewelry maker extraordinaire Amelia Toelke made my husband’s wedding band. It was so special to have her craft this for us! She also helped me with a bunch of DIY projects for decorations. My stepbrother-in-law makes epic homebrew and brewed five gallons of IPA for us; we called it “Hoppily Ever After” ha! My dear friend Arielle and professional makeup artist did me up on the big day (it was so wonderful to have her with me while I was getting ready, as I was quite nervous!!). Our friend Kent Meister was our photographer, which was awesome because we know each other and he knows our style. My stepsister did the table flower arrangements; we designed them together over email! My parents gathered pussy willows from their land to use as decorations. A husband and wife duo we are friends with were our DJs for the evening, bringing a collection of old school R&B, funk and 80’s vinyl with them. Another friend, Mara Simons Jones is a farm-to-table caterer so we enlisted her help for our delicious taco buffet dinner that suited meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and the gluten free alike! My aunt owns a wine and beer boutique in Salem, MA and provided an incredible selection of wine. I’m so grateful for all the wonderful personal detail that filled our wedding day. All the help and assistance of my friends and family truly made our wedding day unique, personal, and heartfelt.

There were many DIY elements that we focused on. I love crafting, so our wedding was a wonderful opportunity for me to enjoy some crafting time with my friends. We created small animal place card holders, garland to decorate the barn, cute satchels filled with lavender that our guests pelted us with after the ceremony, chalk board cutouts for the bar, blue and white mason jars wrapped in twine, and of course all the stationery that my friend Miriam designed for us!

My husband and I love nature and that was the biggest inspiration for our wedding. We knew we wanted to get married outside in a beautiful setting. We also wanted our family and friends to be relaxed and comfortable so the feeling of the day shaped our planning as well. During the planning we kept a couple questions to reflect on when making decisions-is it worth it? Is it meaningful? Is fun?

The best advice I received was to be in the moment during the whole wedding day and take it all in. This helped keep me from stressing too much and also slowed the pace of the day. Our wedding day felt spacious and I have so many wonderful memories of my husband and I together, and also time spent with family and friends.

My advice for other brides?  Get your Thank You cards printed as soon as possible either before the wedding or shortly after if you are using a photo–this really helped me be timely. I was overwhelmed with gratitude from everyone who came to support us on our wedding day. I actually looked forward to connecting with my family and friends via the Thank You cards. Also choose awesome vendors that you trust, it pays off big!

Photography: Kent Meister Photography | Wedding Planner: Wedding Planning Plus | Wedding Cake: Verdigris | Caterer: Carlucci-Simons Catering | Hair And Makeup: Arielle Toelke | Officiant: Rev Diane Epstein | Barn: Oak Hill | Desserts - Vegan And Gluten Free: Piece Of Cake Bakery And Cafe | Florist - Centerpieces: The Rosary | Florist - Personals: Park Deli | Groom's Ring: Amelia Toelke

Hudson Valley Wedding from Style.Art.Life Photography

If there’s one thing I can get behind, it’s a Hudson Valley wedding. It plays backdrop to some of the most stunning “I dos” we ever come across, and this one from Style.Art.Life? Well, let’s just say it’s one for the books. Hitting all the right notes thanks to bloomage by Lee Vazquez Floral Design, believe me when I say you’re gonna want to spend some time with this pastel pretty. Get started right here.


From Style Art Life...So thrilled to share this elegantly Woodsy wedding that took place at The Garrison in the Hudson Valley of New York. Set among a hilltop overlooking the Hudson River, Eunsu and Chris did a beautiful job incorporating natural details to effortlessly blend in with the woodland environment where they got married.

From the Bride…Chris and I got engaged at the top of the Bear Mountain hike in the Hudson Valley, on a sunny spring day.  When we started wedding planning, we knew we wanted to get married at a venue that would provide us with the same feel as our engagement spot (bright, warm, woodsy and outdoors), and also set the tone for a relaxing, fun wedding.  The Garrison, a 5-minute drive from Bear Mountain, was the perfect place for us.

Once we decided on The Garrison, it was easy to choose colors and styles to complement the natural, lush backdrop of the Hudson Valley in the springtime.  We went with mint bridesmaid dresses, grey suits, and peachy pink flowers to contribute to the soft and warm feel of the venue, and added some splashes of color with coral peonies (my favorite!).  Very little dcor was needed since the floor-to-ceiling windows brought in the colors from the outdoors and provided spectacular views of the sunset.

Our wedding day turned out to be the most beautiful spring day.  Chris and I exchanged vows in front of the pergola in the Ceremony Garden, and then had an amazing time celebrating with our family and friends.  All our vendors were phenomenal, and we would recommend them wholeheartedly especially our photographer Twah and our DJ Mario!.  We are grateful to everyone for a truly unforgettable wedding day.

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Photography: Twah Dougherty, Style.Art.Life | Florist: Lee Vazquez Floral Design | Ceremony + Reception Venue + Catering: The Garrison | Save the Dates + Invitations: Rifle Paper Co. | Signs + Paper-Goods: Etsy, Various Musician: Tim Maynard | Photobooth: The Modern Photobooth | DJ: Mario-Francisco Robles | Cake: The Pastry Garden | Hair + Makeup: JAC Beauty | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Veil: Tessa Kim | Shoes: Bettye Muller | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Grooms Suit: Hugo Boss
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Glam Rock Inspired Photo Shoot from Clean Plate Pictures + Michelle Ferrara Handmade

It’s no secret that soft, pastel-loving weddings are oh so “in.” But every once in a while, it’s good to take a little walk on the wild side. To dive head first into a rock ‘n’ roll-inspired shoot that just with oozes with glam. And when Clean Plate Pictures and Michelle Ferrara Handmade are orchestrating every vibrant little detail (hello, gold dipped feathers!), you better believe it’s gonna be one for the books. Have a peek at the full gallery and don’t miss Mint Wedding Cinematography’s film for a behind-the-scenes look.

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From Clean Plate Pictures I knew that I wanted to collaborate on a styled shoot with Michelle, and from the very beginning we talked about infusing it with a glam, edgy, rock ‘n’ roll vibe. I suggested the Basilica Hudson; the space has such a cool, industrial look to it, and I knew it would provide the perfect backdrop for our shoot. I called in the super-talented Jackie Schneider for hair and makeup, and from there, we all began brainstorming. On my wish list: a marquee light! And photos along the train tracks, just outside of the venue, were a must.

From Michelle Ferrara HandmadeHaving seen a lot of the same trends in wedding style recently, I knew immediately that I wanted to do something different for this shoot. As much as I love a soft, lacy, perfectly pastel wedding, Erica and I both agreed that it would really be a blast to go in the complete opposite direction. Our visual starting point was actually the cover of David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane. (I mean, what’s cooler than that lightning bolt?) Our color palette: an ombre effect made up of vibrant shades of flame red, cherry, magenta, and purple….plus a whole lot of gold. The theme came to life though a wide array of handmade details, vivid florals, and some seriously cool wedding fashion. Lightning bolt drink stirs and a giant marquee light (Erica’s wish!) hearkened back to our original inspiration. Boldly textured arrangements of peonies, protea, cockscomb and poppy pods in gold mercury glass softened the look while remaining true to the overall aesthetic. We dressed our bride Elena in head-to-toe gold sequins and glitter, complete with studded shoes; Lawrence, our groom, looked amazing in a very slim-fitting, fashion-forward tux by Michael Andrews Bespoke. Michelle Apiar of Haute So Sweet created the (*delicious*) ombre cake pops and wedding cake. Row upon row of metallic fringe, plenty of glitter and sequins, and a wall of gold-tipped feathers — it all really popped against the incredible, distressed brick walls of the Basilica.

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Photography: Clean Plate Pictures | Venue: Basilica Hudson | Event Decor, Floral Design, Printed Paper Goods: Michelle Ferrara Handmade | Tables, Chairs, Linens, Glassware: Columbia Tent | Fashion Styling: Michelle Ferrara Handmade | Cinematography: Mint Wedding Cinematography | Wedding Cake and Cake Pops: Haute So Sweet | Hair & Makeup: Jackie Schneider Beauty | Flatware: West Elm | Menswear: Michael Andrews Bespoke | Gown: Badgley Mischka via Rent the Runway | Shoes: Betsey Johnson for The Cool People | Feather Earrings: AV Max | Gold Cuff Bracelet: Jules Smith | Citrine Cocktail Ring: Vintage | Models: Elena Nikolaeva & Lawrence Annunziata

 

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Hudson Valley Wedding from Todd France Photography + True Florette

When a bride who loves flowers gets married and brings on True Florette to handle the design of the day (including all the flowers) it is good. Everyone is happy, including this giddy wedding blogger. Todd France Photography’s images of the day are like a spring breeze and butterflies in my stomach, all rolled into one!

From the designer… Maggie and Eoin’s s Summer wedding was celebrated outdoors on the grounds of Torne Valley Vineyards in the scenic Lower Hudson Valley area of New York on June 15, 2013.

The bride was inspired by rich colors and textures found in nature and she infused loads of color into the details throughout the day. Maggie’s bridal bouquet was bursting with vibrant blooms and interesting botanicals including ranunculus, pincushion protea, peonies, dahlia, blueberry branch, succulents and garden roses all in fresh Summer shades of tangerine, coral and aubergine. As a special touch, Maggie’s bouquet handle was wrapped in lace from her Mother’s wedding gown, and her Gucci bridal shoes added an unexpected fun pop of color!

The groom originally hails from Ireland and careful attention was paid to welcoming guests from abroad and blending both families in the semi-traditional ceremony on the lawn of the vineyard. Maggie and Eoin said their vows under a birch chuppah, complete with an Irish blessing and breaking of the glass.

Guests strolled across the vineyard lawn with parasols and custom-printed fans to beat the Summer heat. Maggie’s love of flowers was evident at the escort card table where a colorful garden arrangement welcomed guests. Custom-designed wooden place card holders by True Florette held place cards handmade by Maggie and her Mother with paper from Paper Source. (The bride is a medical resident – how she found time to make place cards we’ll never know!) To complement the vineyard’s elegance, traditional elements were infused with rustic details, including aged wood serving trays, iron candelabras adorned with simple crystals, and cut glass cocktail vases.

The festive black-tie reception was a true reflection of the bride and groom’s style and personality- filled with joy and exuberance!

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Photography: Todd France Photography | Flowers: True Florette Floral Design Studio | Event Design: True Florette with Colonial Terrace | Caterer: Colonial Terrace | Ceremony & Reception Location: Torne Valley Vineyards | Shoes: Gucci from Neiman Marcus | Bridal Gown: Rosa Clara from Designer Loft | Bridesmaids Gowns: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaid | Hair: Emily Heser, twitter @emilyheser | Makeup: Linsey Snyder | Programs: Wiregrass Weddings | Escort Cards: materials from Paper Source | Bridesmaids Bouquets: displayed in Blumebox | Film Photography: a few snaps from Trish VanDeMerkt, twitter @TrishVanDeMerkt

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Hudson Valley Wedding from Bryce Covey Photography

A great photographer can take an already special day and transform it into something magical. Something that completely sucks the viewer in and plops them right down in the middle of the celebration and this is the perfect example of that magic making. From the gorgeous surroundings of Blue Hill at Stone Barns to the wildly pretty florals by Poppies & Posies and the classic black and white images of the Mr. and Mrs that will totally melt your heart, this is a wedding that sits on the corner of cozy and classic. And there’s even some to spare. Have a look at the full day shot by Bryce Covey along with Robert Sukrachand right here in the full gallery.

Before you dive into gallery la la land, you must have a look at this sweet, sweet film shot by Kiss the Bride Films

From the bride…From our very first Blue Hill bite, two years before our engagement, we knew we were experiencing something special.  It was all at once delicious, romantic, intimate and comfortable and it was with those elements in mind that we set out to plan our wedding.  We saw our big day as the ultimate opportunity to host the people who mean the most to us, most of whom where traveling from all over the globe from Tel Aviv, London, Paris, LA and beyond to celebrate with us.  We wanted all of them to feel the love and to share in the entire experience and since many of them had never even heard of Blue Hill, a large part of the excitement in planning our wedding came from secretly knowing what a treat they were in for. 

David and I both love that special something that happens when great people, good food, and yummy wine come to the table to share a meal and we wanted to curate that experience for our wedding.   Once we decided on Blue Hill, the stage was set for all of the other elements to fall into place.  Our whimsical and romantic invitations from Bella Figura provided the first insight into the vision of our day and each item on our checklist seemed to build upon the last.  From my dress to our Hudson Valley Honey favors, everything was thought of in relation to the bigger picture.  We wanted the day to be stunning, but we kept coming back to that word “comfortable” as we considered every decision. 

Coming from two different backgrounds (David is Israeli and I was born and raised in the mid-west), meant a big effort on our part to make sure all of our family traditions, as well as our own, were honored and considered.  The biggest example of that effort came during our ceremony. We worked with an amazing Reform Rabbi who was entirely open to making our ceremony unique to us and we provided our guests with programs (made by yours truly) that touched on all the traditional and non-traditional aspects of the ceremony, so that everyone could follow along. Like most brides, I had a very clear vision of what I wanted the day to be like and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with so many amazing vendors who helped bring the vision to fruition.  Not only were they all professional and talented, most importantly they were all good people.  We were so happy and flattered to received so many compliments from our guests after the wedding and all our our vendors should share in that sentiment.  The best thing we could possibly hear was to have our guests say how much of a reflection they felt our wedding was of us and how special they felt to be a part of it. [dotted] Wedding Photography: Bryce Covey Photography + Robert Sukrachand | Wedding Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns | Floral Design: Poppies & Posies | Invitations: Bella Figura | Cinematography: Kiss the Bride Films | Wedding Dress: Duchess by Ivy & Aster via Lovely Bridal Shop | Bride’s Shoes: Sergio Rossi | Hair: Savannah Bentz | Makeup: Stephanie Peterson | Groom’s Suit: John Varvatos | Band: The Mixtape Band | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab

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Hudson Valley Wedding from Sarma & Co. Photography

Wanting to treat their guests to an entire weekend of fun-filled festivities, these two NYC sweeties chose the Locusts on Hudson in Staatsburg as the perfect locale for their uber-gorgeous (+ stunningly classic) day.  And from the looks of every last glorious image captured by Sarma & Co. Photography, they couldn’t have possibly made a better decision.  Because this private estate was not only perfect for saying “I do” in the most fairytale of ways, but played host to every member of their bridal party (+ family) for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday of pretty.  See it all in the full gallery.

From the Bride… When Stuart and I began planning our wedding we had two main goals. We wanted a wedding that reflected a classic and elegant style, and we wanted a location that would allow our guests and family to enjoy a weekend of events. We live in New York City now, but Stuart grew up in Michigan and I in Washington, and we would therefore have many guests from out of town. We wanted to be close to the City and yet allow our guests to enjoy the pleasures of fall in New York State.

A friend suggested that we look at Locusts on Hudson, an estate on the banks of the Hudson River. We visited the property and fell in love with it immediately. The main house was beautiful, surrounded by acres of lawn, a pool, and a tennis court. There was everything we could have wanted for a weekend to remember. Our families and the bridal party all stayed together in the house, and we felt like we were welcoming our guests into our home.

We wanted our wedding décor to complement the beauty of the property, so we kept the colors soft, using coral, peach, ivory and white. The rehearsal dinner had a slightly “rustic” feel. Our guests dined on large farm tables with wild floral arrangements.

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Photography: Sarma Ozols, Sara Mulhearn + Jessica Mahady from Sarma & Co. Photography | Wedding Venue: Locusts on Hudson in Staatsburg, New York | Event Planner: Carrie Wykoff from Events that Matter via Oliver Kita Fine Catering | Floral Design: Linda Baldwin Flowers | Caterer: Oliver Kita Fine Catering | Band: The Steve Delisi Band | Wedding Stationery: Stuhlberg’s | Wedding Dress: Kenneth Pool | Bride’s Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale | Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren | Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferregamo | Hair: Vanessa Fernandez from Butterfly Studios | Makeup: Carlo Longo | Lighting: Stortz Lighting

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Hudson Valley Wedding from Kelly Kollar Photography

Wedding Wednesday is here again, dear lovelies, and let me assure you this day will not disappoint. First up, we have an unbelievably elegant Hudson Valley wedding set at the Onteora Mountain House. With every detail wrapped around the idea of marrying rusticity and romance, it’s no wonder the full gallery of photos from Kelly Kollar Photography are nothing but beautiful.

From the bride…I knew that I was going to marry Noah about five minutes into our first date. In the months leading up to the proposal, which I knew was coming since we’d gone ring shopping earlier in the year, I (unsuccessfully) attempted to hide my constant browsing of the many wedding blogs and websites. When he finally popped the question, I already had a long list of venues I wanted to visit. A week later, we visited the Onteora Mountain House, and from the moment we stepped onto the property, we couldn’t imagine having our big day anywhere else. It felt like home.

I started a Pinterest board in the early stages of the planning process and I kept coming back to the idea of branches. It seemed like a good place to start, considering Noah and I had decided that the unofficial theme of our wedding would be “elegant rustic,” a perfect combination of our two personalities. I had visions of homemade branch centerpieces, which we spent hours and hours creating. However, after realizing that they would most likely be a source of worry in the days leading up the wedding (they were a bit unstable and top-heavy), I decided to scrap them. I wanted to focus my full attention on my friends, family, and husband-to-be. Best decision I ever made! Our florist swooped in and saved the day with simple, gorgeous pieces that even incorporated a few branches!

I wanted the wedding to feel elegant, but also personal and special. My aunt, a graphic designer, designed all of our paper (save the dates, invites, programs, menus, table numbers…); my mom decoupaged our gift box and tissue boxes to be laid out for guests before the ceremony; and my uncle, a professional Broadway musician, played the guitar as I walked down the aisle. Since Noah is an avid reader, I wanted to incorporate books in some way. I wound up making roses out of book pages and delivering them to our florist, who used them in the seating card table arrangement. We designed our whole (10 minute!) ceremony with our reverend’s help and wrote our own vows, which, even though I was a little nervous about them, turned out to be a highlight of the day.

Noah and I agreed that the weddings we’d most enjoyed in the past were the ones where we felt taken care of, and that’s how we wanted our guests to feel. We shuttled everyone to the venue in yellow school buses and, as soon as they arrived, the Onteora staff provided them with refreshments. The caterer, Blue Mountain Bistro, uses local and seasonal ingredients, and we couldn’t have been happier with the food. Our instincts about the venue were exactly right—all of our guests were so comfortable at the Onteora, with its cozy wood pavilion overlooking the Catskill Mountains. And as the guests boarded the buses at the end of the night, our nieces and nephew handed out cake pops that we’d schlepped up from a cute little shop in the city.

I won’t lie….I stressed like crazy in the months leading up to the wedding. My way to deal was to plan out every last detail. I left no stone unturned. For example, everyone with any sort of role to play in the wedding was given a (very!) detailed itinerary of the day. I got a lot of teasing for it, but if I have one piece of advice for other brides, I will say that planning every last detail is TOTALLY worth it. I didn’t have a thing to worry about on the day of, which meant I could relax and drink mimosas with all my ladies knowing that all of the hard work had already been done. It was a perfect day. Truly, I wouldn’t change a thing. And I got the most amazing husband in the whole world out of it.

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Wedding Photography: Kelly Kollar Photography | Second Photographer: Tanya Salazar | Wedding Venue: Onteora Mountain House |  Floral Design: Sara Gast | Wedding Catering: Blue Mountain Bistro | Wedding Cinematography: Cinematic Wedding Story | DJ: Lutz Entertainment | Wedding Dress: “Calais” by St. Patrick via RK Bridal | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hairpiece: Ivory Fascinator via Gilded Shadows  | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay via RK Bridal | Hair: Tiana Arausa | Makeup: Lauren Weber | Favors: Stick & Pop

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Hudson Valley Wedding from Robin Roemer Photography

“Father of the Bride” just so happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies, so when I read that this gorgeous bride had always dreamt of an Annie Banks-style wedding day, I completely understood. Then I spotted her uber-breathtaking affair held at the Wainwright House and, well.  Let’s just say I was done for.  Because when you combine a seriously pretty Hudson Valley venue with a plethora of classically chic details, beautiful blooms from Daniel Florals & Events, Inc and glorious images from Robin Roemer Photography, that’s what happens.  Done and done.  Click here for soooo much more.

From the Bride… As a child, I loved the movie “Father of the Bride”, and I always wanted a beautiful wedding in my own backyard. While my own home could never accommodate such a wedding, the Wainwright House helped us feel like we were getting married in that same intimate setting. From the moment we arrived at the House for the first time, we knew this is where we wanted our wedding to be. The quiet setting on the water had the feel of a destination wedding even though we were only 30 minutes from Manhattan. The site also serves as a spiritual retreat center and when you’re on site, you truly understand why.

To support this setting, we wanted a classic, beautiful wedding that still felt fun, intimate, and approachable. From the hot pink shoes to the violin-guitar duo, we wanted guests to feel like they were at a celebration and were there to have a good time. For the placecards and table numbers, we bought vintage floral paper from all over the tri-state area to give to our florist – our own way of creating a “picked from the garden” feel. 

Neither my husband nor I could stop smiling the whole day, and felt incredibly present for every moment. The whole experience felt magical – even the next morning my husband looked at me and said “did that really just happen?”

Wedding Photography: Robin Roemer Photography / Wedding Venue: Wainwright House in Rye, New York / Floral Design: Daniel Florals & Events, Inc / Wedding Cinematography: Starlight Productions / Caterer + Wedding Cake: Cornerstone Caterers / Cake Topper: A Simple Start / Band: Dane Wright Band / Wedding Invitations: Designers Fine Press / Save the Date: Vistaprint / Wedding Dress: Junko Yoshiaka via Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Salon / Bride’s Shoes: RSVP via Zappos / Bride’s Earrings: Lord & Taylor / Wedding Rings: Darien Jewelers / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Ann Taylor / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Tie: Ermenegildo Zegna / Groom’s Cufflinks: Gwen Delicious Jewlery Designs / Groomsmen Ties: El Burgues

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Hudson River Valley Farm Wedding from Readyluck

This Hudson Valley wedding is sweet sophistication. It’s a wedding where family, friends, good food, and true love take center stage. A wedding everyone chips in to help bring the couple’s vision to life.  A wedding that makes you remember what it’s all about. The very talented Jacqueline Schlossman of Readyluck captured this laid-back love affair and we’re totally captivated by every single farm-fresh image. It’s proof yet again that rain can’t dampen the spirit of such a special day and it’s all right here for your viewing pleasure.

From Readyluck… Emily, a professionally trained former boxer and yoga teacher and Nicole, a public school teacher, tied the knot on July 27, 2012 at Liberty View Farm in Highland, New York. This is a couple that gives back to their community and it shows; they are centered and creative people that were very enjoyable to work with. Their family and friends came together to support this union on a stormy morning. I arrived to the tune of muddy puddles and tons of rain wondering how this would all come together but confident that something special would occur. It was amazing to see so many of their friends decorating the barn and arranging the chairs as they made the decision to have the ceremony inside; they were running around with rubber boots on and making sure everything looked beautiful. I have never seen a more supportive group of people during the wedding day; their community helped them make it happen and delivered more toasts than I’ve ever experienced at a wedding. Inside the main house, their caterer friends were prepared organic and farm fresh food to be enjoyed throughout the afternoon and evening. The certified organic apple orchard and farm was an idyllic setting and became even more amazing when the sun came out after the ceremony for their portraits. What an awesome venue, and I was so thrilled to work with the owners Billiam and Rene who are both amazing people and have made contributions to the farming and political worlds. 

Photographer: Jacqueline Schlossman of Readyluck / Second Photographer: Meaghan Carpenter / Venue: Liberty View Farm / Flowers & Decor: Couple, Friends and Family / Food and Drink: Aaron Unger of Night Kitchen Catering