There is something about old estates that I find so intriguing. They have a romance within themselves, and this wise couple knew not to compete with that beauty. They used Alder Manor as the perfect inspiration for their beautiful day and the finished result is an effortless masterpiece. Isabelle Selby captured it all and we’ve gathered these works of art in one perfect place for us all right here!
From The Bride… Brandon and I have one of those whirlwind romance stories – we were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend and after much resistance finally met. After that night we were completely inseparable! We were engaged a year later in December of 2012. The most vital piece of the puzzle was finding the venue. We searched high and low – typical catering halls, eclectic spaces, destination – but nothing felt quite right. I love to peruse blogs of all kinds and I stumbled upon this hidden gem, Alder Manor. We set up a walk through and instantly fell in love. It was unique and stunning, it just fit our personalities. I love the grandeur of the property – once a luxurious weekend home of a mining tycoon with sculptured gardens, an organ built into the walls and even an indoor pool! It now lays in somewhat ruin giving it a tragic but romantic feel that I just couldn’t get out of my head. To give ourselves a bit more planning time we opted for an early June 2014 wedding which turned out to be a spectacular day! I know June weather can be fickle but we really lucked out – it was a beautiful and mild.
I was asked so many times what the theme was and I never had a direct answer for that. The venue really set the tone – we just wanted it to be beautiful and romantic and Alder Manor does that all on its own. Our invitations were very soft so we decided to carry that throughout the day. We picked light colors, mint green and pale pink – they really complemented the garden-like feel of the outdoor space and ceremony. They also inspired the flower arrangements and our DIY projects. We wanted to put our touch on the day so we created the programs, place cards, seating chart, cake toppers and ribbon wands. It was a true labor of love and made seeing all the details come together in such a special way so rewarding!
The emotion of the day was so overwhelming – I will carry that feeling with me throughout our life together. I’m so grateful for everyone that made our day so memorable and complete!
From Isabelle Selby Photography… I could ramble on about Maureen and Brandon for quite some time, but I’ll try to keep this short as Maureen has already so eloquently told you about their day. I’ve been to a lot of weddings and the effortlessness and calm that Maureen had throughout the day was really stunning. They were both glowing and I was just so impressed by the way that they truly were enjoying the day and staying present. When I first met Maureen she told me about Alder Manor in a way that the art history nerd in me went ecstatic. An old estate that she wanted to let do the talking for their day and she was spot on. The history of the manor and the beautiful details don’t need to be overshadowed and the soft pinks and mint throughout the wedding only exemplified the estate’s natural beauty.
There was so much about the day that I loved documenting, but a few things that stood out were the very apparent love between the two of them as well as the families and friends, the ceremony that included a shout out to their beloved dog who wasn’t present, the beautiful manor and the dancing. They are incredible dancers and the guests would cheer along, which made it ten times more exciting. All in all it was a day that felt truly genuine and full of love. Congratulations, Maureen + Brandon!
Photography: Isabelle Selby Photography | Coordination: Jennifer Dukham | Floral Design: Sprout Home | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Invitations: Lion in the Sun | Ceremony: Alder Manor | Reception: Alder Manor | Shoes: Sophia Webster | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Chefs At Work | Makeup: Christina Amador | Hair Stylist: NY Prostyle | DJ: DJ Shakey | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Bridesmaid Robes: Designs By Celia