New Year’s Eve calls for a bit of elegance, no? Well, we think this stunning Gedney Farm soiree fits the bill and then some. It’s overflowing with moments that are sure to inspire your evening (even if it’s just pinning every pretty image in the gallery, bubbly in hand), and was all captured beautifully by Roey Yohai. Gorgeous gold-rimmed goblets, a jaw-dropping Monique Lhuillier gown and breathtaking stationery from Julie Song Ink – I’d say this wedding is one fine way to end a stunning year!
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From the Bride…Jason and I got engaged in our NYC apartment in February of 2012, and then he whisked me off to Paris that afternoon, where we spent a weekend roaming the city and talking about our future together. Once we got back, the search for the perfect wedding location began, ultimately bringing us to the Berkshires, and specifically to Gedney Farm. We wanted to get married someplace we had visited together before, and we loved the idea of a full weekend wedding (we liked to call it a “mini” destination wedding since everyone had to travel, even if it was just a few hours drive). The Berkshires provided the perfect country setting and made for a gorgeous backdrop thanks to all the fall foliage.
Our custom-illustrated watercolor invitations (by the wonderful Julie Song) really set the tone for a chic barn wedding. They were inspired by antique mirrors and bohemian floral imagery and so different from a typical wedding invitation. Once the invites arrived I think a lot of our guests were intrigued and excited to see what we had planned. We carried a lot of Julie’s artwork over into the day of our wedding too — using her designs on our welcome bags, menus, programs and on our chuppah for the ceremony, which was a truly special touch.
We both love a good dance party, so fun was the most important factor for us while planning the wedding. We incorporated formal elements like a black tie dress code, gold-rimmed wine glasses and chandeliers, but it was also in a very laid-back, natural setting, and we put a lot of effort into things like food, comfortable seating areas and music to make sure our guests had an amazing time!
Many details went a long way to making our wedding really special (all of which were made possible by the brilliant Annie Lee and her team at Daughter of Design). I know a lot of grooms are not really into wedding planning, but Jason helped me with everything, and we had a ton of fun working together during our engagement. Two moments that really stand out are shopping for pashminas downtown (we didn’t want our guests to freeze during the ceremony!) and Macgyvering regular mirrors into vanity mirrors for our table numbers. We also wanted to bring the comfort of the indoors outside so we decided to set up a lounge area in the tent and added a faux fireplace for effect. When Jason and I walked into the tent for cocktail hour, all of our friends had gathered together in that space – like they were waiting for us in our own home! Both Jason and I feel that no party is complete without a good cheese plate, but instead of having a cheese station, we had cheese platters set up on all the tables, so people could eat what they wanted without having to get up from their seats. At the end of the night, we had cake and dessert bars plated to the table, but the majority of our desserts were passed straight to the dance floor, so everyone could enjoy them without having to sit down. Our guests seriously danced all night!
All of the fun moments with family and friends were the best, but I also loved the quiet moments too. Following our first look, Jason and I spent a few hours taking pictures at various spots in the Berkshires, and it was during that time that we were really able to be excited about the night ahead of us, together. The rest of the wedding weekend feels like a total whirlwind but that period of time is vivid in my mind and really stands out as the start of our lives as husband and wife.
Photographer: Roey Yohai Photography | Videographer: Moho Creative | Wedding Planner: Daughter of Design | Florist: Ariella Chezar Design | Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Gedney Farm | Band: Soulsystem Orchestras | Tent: Classical Tents | After Party DJ: DJ Teddy Brown | Groom's Tuxedo: Tom Ford | Invitations, menus, programs, placecards and signs: Julie Song Ink | Wedding Ceremony and Reception: Gedney Farm