They say when you know, you know, and when this gorgeous Bride found Windrift Hall, she booked it for her small summer wedding in the country—two weeks before her handsome Groom got down on one knee! And with the help of amazing vendors like Divine Light Photography, Designs By Ahn and Sperry Tent, their sweet wedding came together perfectly. See all the pretty in The Vault!
From The Bride…Ben and I met at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, became friends, and started dating a few weeks after. We fell quickly in love and knew this was it, so we dated very intentionally for over a year. During that time, we talked a lot about what we wanted in our lives, our marriage and wedding. We actually booked our wedding venue two weeks before we got engaged! While I knew we would be engaged in the Spring, Ben still managed to surprise me with his Washington Square Park proposal. He recruited our friends to hide in various places in the park to take pictures of the proposal, and afterwards, we cabbed over to his Midtown apartment where our families surprised us with a celebration brunch.
We both liked the idea of a small summer wedding in the country, somewhere that would feel like a restful retreat from Manhattan, where we lived. One night I Googled and found Windrift Hall, a restored 1790s manor house in Hudson Valley, just two hours north from us. The house was filled with stunning antiques, overlooked a private pond, and was surrounded by acres of grass and wildflowers—it looked straight out of a Jane Austen novel! The next weekend, we drove up for a visit, fell in love with the place, and put down a deposit to seal the deal. We rented Windrift Hall for three nights, which left plenty of time for our families to stay together, enjoy the property, and set up the wedding.
We only had four months to plan, but it was just enough time for us. I had a strong vision of an elegant, rustic outdoor wedding – something that was not too formal, but still tasteful. While brainstorming ways to make this wedding feel curated and personal, we figured out what were “must haves” vs. “nice to haves”, which helped us with budgeting. Then we created a Google Sheets project timeline, divided responsibilities, and conquered one task at a time. We agreed we would invest in photography, flowers, and renting decor that would enhance the natural environment, such as farm tables and antique furniture. We found cost-savings in other areas, like making our own reception playlist and going with a buffet dinner from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.
What made the wedding feel special were the personal details, and there are so many that I cherish! The vintage candlesticks we bought at a flea market in Hudson, NY…the distressed white windows that we used for table seating charts…my “something borrowed” vintage Tiffany earrings from my bridesmaid…the chalkboard signs that we hand painted…the herbs that my bridesmaids found in the garden and placed on every dinner plate…the black & white photos from Ben’s grandparents’ wedding, which fell on the same day as ours.
My favorite memories include spending quality time with our families the days leading up to the wedding: laughing over home-cooked dinners, canoeing in the pond, and talking long walks together. On our wedding day, my favorite moments were our First Look and when our pastor pronounced us husband and wife. I remember feeling so beautiful when Ben’s jaw dropped after seeing me in my dress for the first time, as he twirled me around. The overwhelming joy in finally making our covenant before God and becoming “one flesh” through our vows was indescribable. We both had “pinch me” grins on our faces and looked at each other thinking “I can’t believe I get to spend my whole life with you”. We were immensely blessed to be able to share our wedding day with friends and family, to witness before God, and dedicate ourselves to each other forever.
Photography: Divine Light Photography | Floral Design: DESIGNS BY AHN | Wedding Dress: La Sposa Detalle | Cake: Piece Of Cake | Catering: Dinosaur BBQ | Hair + Makeup: Kristian Torres | Venue: Windrift Hall | Rentals: New England Country Rentals | Tent Rentals: Sperry Tents