This rustic wedding was the perfect merger of the Bride and Groom’s backgrounds, coming together in one beautiful, bohemian bash. Held at the Bride’s childhood home, guests were treated to a family-focused fete, with touches of lavender paying homage to the Groom’s French heritage. This gallery, captured by Cappy Hotchkiss, has all of us crossing our fingers that we’ll get an invite to their next party.
From the beautiful Bride… When my fiance and I were thinking about where we wanted to get married, no place seemed more perfect then Sanctuary Farm – the beautiful 200-acre farm I grew up on right outside of Cooperstown, NY. We wanted every detail of the ceremony and event to feel “like us” – bohemian, relaxed and family-oriented, with great food, wine and music and a party that lasted all night.
We got married by our family pastor at “The Family Tree” – a huge solitary oak tree overlooking fields of wheat and sunflowers. The ceremony was the most special part of the whole day – we wrote our own vows, surrounded by family and closest friends, and walked up the aisle to local fiddlers.
It was really important to both of us to incorporate aspects of our personalities and histories. Austin has a French heritage so we imported the linens from Provence and guests tossed lavender at us down the aisle. We both love design so every detail of the table settings and decor were hand selected to represent our aesthetic. Most importantly we wanted our guests to feel at home at Sanctuary Farm – to be able to relax and celebrate.
The event was truly a family affair – and the statement “it takes a village” could not have been more appropriate. My beautiful sister Sedona designed and crafted the bouquets, boutonnieres and flower arrangements. My brother Joe edited and produced the wedding video. My sisters Eden and Avalon and cousin Justine designed the signs around the property. My maid of honor, my sister Ruby, ran point, planned my bridal shower and bachelorette party and made sure everything was perfect. My dad designed the amazing “corn bar” and with the help of my brother William architected the lighting, design and structure. My mom, shoe designer Susan Bennis, laid her design aesthetic on the whole day and coordinated everything.
Thank you, thank you to everyone who made this possible! So much love permeated every aspect of this day!
From Cappy Hotchkiss Photography… Isis works as the Director of Apparel at Nike and Austin is the Marketing Director at Tiny Rebellion, an ad agency. The venue was at the Bride’s family home, Sanctuary Farm, outside of Cooperstown, NY, soon to be available for event rental!
I’d like to note that Isis wore the most stunning pair of shoes that I have ever seen. Flats because of the terrain, designed by her mother, shoe designer Susan Bennis, formerly of Susan Bennis/Warren Edwards. Grecian and wrappy and sexy and fabulous.
Her sister, Sedona Rose Ward, arranged all the flowers, which were home grown and picked on the family’s property at Sanctuary Farm. The Lawton Sisters, Nicole and Stephanie, true originals and truly gifted in all things wedding, did the day-of coordination.
The food was all locally and organically grown and prepared by Origins Cafe. The veil was a vintage, heritage family heirloom from Belgium. The bridesmaids, flower girl, and ring bearer all wore their own clothes. The ceremony music were the wonderful Joe Pfeiffer and Kit Clark out of Oneonta, NY.
Cocktail hour featured great lawn games out on the property: “Golf and Scotch” over the pond, petanque, corn hole, badminton. Pastis and Pimm’s Cup were flowing. The couple exited the ceremony as a row of their family and friends pelted them with lavender. The lavender thrown as the couple exited was imported from Provence by the Groom’s mom! Her company is Spirit of Provence.
And I can’t forget their dogs, Bogart and Brando.
Photography: Cappy Hotchkiss | Floral Design: Sedona Rose Ward | Wedding Dress: Carolina Herrera | Bride's Shoes: Susan Bennis Wedding Sandals | Catering: Origins Cafe | Groomsmen's Ties: Rag & Bone | Groom's Attire: Burberry | Officiant: Pastor Rob Kazinsky | Wedding Venue: Sanctuary Farm | Cocktail And Dance Music: The Greg Smith Group | Girls' Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Groom's Shoes: Aldo | Groom's Tie: Rag & Bone | Groomsmen's Chambray Shirts: J.Crew | Lavender: Ensoleillade | Linens And Tableclothes: Ensoleillade | Signage Around The Property: Justine Hudak, Sage And Indie | Sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarer | Vintage Tableware And Props: Hudson Valley Vintage Rentals