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Gorgeous Garden-Inspired Wedding At Abigail Kirsch Tappan Hill Mansion


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Katherine and Jimmy’s colors were a mixture of blush, whites and green – garden theme.

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Garden Inspired – Katherine found the perfect dress from House of Savin, one that hand-painted florals, and everything played off of that, including her escort card display, florals, and day of stationery.

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Jimmy and Katherine got engaged in Connecticut right before the Fourth of July weekend, Katherine’s favorite holiday. Katherine’s parents were in town for the weekend, so they wanted to pick up lobster rolls and wine for a picnic. Jimmy and Katherine went for a walk to the water before the start of the picnic, where he popped the question before Katherine’s parents and siblings came out to take pictures. Later that day, Jimmy surprised Katherine with a few of her closest friends and family at his house, and his parents hosted a lovely party. They celebrated their engagement all weekend with friends and family and danced.

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The wedding gown was from House of Savin at Lovely Bride NYC, the flowers were hand-painted.

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Abigail Kirsch Tappan Hill Mansion created all the food and drink magic!

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The couple wanted a meadow look for their ceremony. A lush mix was placed in u -shape at the altar and also at every other row. A mixture of lush flowers with taper or candles with low centerpieces completed the reception look. The sweetheart table was embellished with flowers from the ceremony, as well as a greenery candle backdrop. All tables were completed with gorgeous linens and chargers from BBJ La Tavola as well as custom menus and table numbers from Write Pretty For Me.

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Always from Lulu’s Bakery – Funfetti wedding cake with passed desserts of chocolate lava cake bites, churros, and ice cream sandwich pops.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Hal Prince[/field]
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The dress! Which then gave us the idea for the escort card display. Katherine found the perfect seed packets that doubled as favors. Alane from Write Pretty For Me wrote the names and table assignments. Ashley from Damselfly created the backdrop, and my team, Danielle Caldwell Events, assembled it.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Katherine and Jimmy wanted to include their fur baby so Alane created a specialty drink sign with their furry friend watercolored in. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Katherine and Jimmy wanted to show a garden theme so we used glass chargers, blush napkins, and diamondback chairs to transform the room. [/field]
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Photography: Kayla Tiffany Photography | Videography: Williams Wedding Co | Event Planning: Danielle Caldwell Events | Floral Design: Damselfly Designs | Wedding Dress: House of Savin | Reception Venue: Abigail Kirsch | Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Makeup: Face Time Beauty | Hair: Hair By Brittany | Band: Hal Prince | Hotel: The Opus Westchester | Day of Stationery and Signage: Write Pretty For Me | Photo Booth: Neeko Booths | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Something Different Party Rental | Transporation: Red Oak Transportation

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Colorful + Cultural Wedding Blue Hill At Stone Barns in New York

Having meticulously planned my own wedding, I can attest that it takes a lot to get to that end result. So, when I see a celebration like this one, jam-packed with layers of personalized details, I not only see the love, but feel every curated, every carefully crafted moment…thanks to the uber-talented designer Bride, who made all that beauty come to life. From incorporating her own art to seamlessly blending two cultures together, she truly thought of every last detail. Even asking her 90-year-old uncle to be the ring bearer (sweetest thing ever)!! With The Wedding Library at the coordination helm, Peartree Flowers on bloom duty and Sophie Kaye behind the lens, it was a truly special celebration and one that I promise you’ll want to cozy up to!

The theme of the wedding was A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a Chinese twist. Set at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, nestled in a beautiful countryside landscape just beginning to turn to autumn, the celebrations made every effort to pay tribute to the natural surroundings, from the carefully selected menu to the elaborate decor. The hallway leading to the reception featured a romantic cascade of hanging vines and fall foliage in a gradient of colours, while the tables were covered with flowers and tall, lush branches, dripping with hanging candles, to transform the space into a glowing enchanted forest. The overall effect was both sophisticated and magical.

As both the bride and groom are Jewish, and the bride is Chinese as well, the wedding represented a true marriage of the two cultures. Before the ceremony, the families and wedding party participated in a private tea ceremony and Ketubah-signing, during which the bride wore a traditional Gua dress from Hong Kong, while the groom donned a Chinese “cabbage blossom” over his suit. At the reception that evening, everyone danced the Hora, and to close out the night, they had a Taiwanese-style send-off, offering Chinese wedding candies to their guests.

The chuppah was the centerpiece of the ceremony, a gorgeous floral structure with moody and romantic hanging blossoms. At nightfall, it was revamped into a lantern-lit pavilion that guests could walk through to get from the hayloft to the main restaurant. The effect was utterly ethereal, with the soft, rosy glow from the lanterns lighting up the dark courtyard. It was the perfect way to repurpose the chuppah, and served as a stunning and memorable bridge between both cultures!

As for the bride’s gown, she chose a romantic, off-the-shoulder dress with beaded flowers across the shoulders by Israeli designer Chana Marelus, who personally added unique embellishments to the dress. Veil-designer Daphne Newman created a bespoke veil with matching flowers and beadwork. As a special touch, Daphne embroidered Kim and Isaac’s names onto the petals of one of the flowers in the center of the veil. Isaac wore a custom-made blue Zegna suit with a red velvet bow tie, and gifted his groomsmen and the two fathers with kimono bow ties in varying shades of red, each with a different pattern, to compliment the bridesmaids’ dresses. Finally, the guests wore burgundy kippot during the Jewish ceremony.

As Kim is an artist and is often commissioned to design wedding invitations, it was a dream come true for her to be able to design the artwork for her own wedding. She created and hand-lettered all of the paper goods, from the personalized crest and invitations to the escort cards and the custom-made mugs in the gift bags. The wedding suite featured whimsical illustrations of significance to both Isaac and Kim, as well as auspicious Chinese motifs and symbols to honour Kim’s heritage.

From the beginning, Kim and Isaac knew that deciding on a color scheme would be nearly impossible; Kim’s love of colors has had a huge influence on her artwork, and would play a big role in the wedding as well. Instead, they chose to draw inspiration from the mood and environment of the day: autumnal foliage and crisp chinoiserie as an homage to the season, bridesmaid dresses ranging from the palest blush to a deep burgundy as a nod to Chinese wedding colours, and rich jewel-tones for the tables and bouquets to tie everything together. On the whole, the tapestry of colours was what helped make the day so festive and unique, and full of warmth and happiness.

From The Wedding LibraryI just adored this wedding – full of color, cultural elements, and the sweetest couple. The bride, Kim, illustrated their incredible invitations, all paper goods, and the favors. I was so excited to shoot with such an amazing color palette – a pastel blue runner, a vibrant chuppah, and the most painterly florals made up their wedding day details. The couple involved moments from both of their families and religions, with traditional jewish elements, chinese lanterns, and a tea ceremony.

Photography: Sophie Kaye Photography | Coordination: The Wedding Library | Floral Design: Peartree Flowers | Gown: Chana Marelus | Ring: Susie Saltzman | Hair + Makeup: Natalia Bizinha Makeup Artist | Wedding Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Bride's Instagram: Kim Zeluck | Bride's Website: Kim Zeluck

This Fall Barn Wedding is as Sweet as it Gets!

There really is something ultra romantic about an Autumn wedding, when the brisk air makes it’s debut and the leaves turn golden as they begin to fall. This bride always knew she wanted her wedding to be during this glorious time of year and who could blame her! With a neutral color palette, an insanely gorgeous venue, and eventing planning by Ang Weddings & Events, this couple’s rustic barn wedding was done to perfection. Browse the beautiful gallery below, all captured by James Anderson of Judy Pak Studios!

From the bride… I always envisioned my wedding in the fall around my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. I envisioned close friends and family, great food and a lot of dancing. And I always knew I would wear comfortable–yet stylish–shoes. My style was “elegant rustic” as coined by my cousin. My color palette was cream, pinks and pomegranate accents. I found a vintage, cream colored mailbox that we set up on a table for “notes to the bride and groom.” We had so much fun reading them the day after the wedding. I think our chuppah was a real highlight. For an indoor wedding we had a beautiful, wild chuppa made by Saipua and it was placed in the center of the room so the guests could surround us. The ceremony was our favourite moment. We spent a year thinking about it and planning it, even though it was only 30 minutes, it was very personal and we were able to incorporate various elements from the traditional to the modern and include our families and friends. It was also lovely to have the guests seated in the round with our chuppah at the center. We felt surrounded by so much love.

The flowers and candles all designed and arranged by Saipua were amazing. We could not have been happier with the gorgeous and wild arrangements that captured the season and the space we were in. And the venue itself, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, was incredibly beautiful. The acoustics in the hayloft were wonderful. The cake was provided by Blue Hill and it was traditional, simple and like the rest of the meal, completely delicious. It was Apple, Crème Fraiche, Vanilla Chiffon Cake. The dress was by Jenny Peckham from Gabriella Bridal Salon. It was super comfortable with gorgeous beadwork and a vintage feel. Alterations by Susan Ruddy who did all of my alterations at Gabriella. She also has her own studio, The Wedding Dresser, and I’ve since used Susan for other dresses and other occasions. She’s amazing. The venue, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, was a total dream. From the space to the service to the impeccable food, it was one of the first and best decisions we made. We had our program and day of signs printed by Lion in the Sun, from Brooklyn. They were friendly and easy to work with and delivered beautiful work on time. Our rings also came from Fitzgerald’s, a jewelry designer in Brooklyn.

Our photos were by James Anderson of Judy Pak Studios. We loved working with James and Judy and they were considerate and attentive to all of our requests. We had the most amazing DJ. Sean Marquand of 74Events. They were so wonderful to work with and everyone danced all night long. People still ask us about our DJ and playlist from the wedding. My hair color was by Cassie Coen of Sally Hershberger Uptown and hair and make up were by Gary Noble of NOBLE Salon in Stamford, CT. Gary and his make up artist, Erica, traveled to the venue on the day of while he also specially opened his salon in Stamford to my bridal party. The very first and best decision I made was to hire a wedding planner. I did a lot of research beforehand and met with several planners but when I met Tzo Ai of Ang Weddings, I knew immediately she was the planner for us. This was a gift to myself so I could enjoy the process and especially the day. Making sure you have someone by your side who understands your goals and tastes and can make recommendations for your vendors and handle all the logistics is such a gift and for us, was a worthy investment. In the end, she saved us time, money and allowed for total peace of mind.

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Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Event Planning: Ang Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Saipua | Gown: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Invitations : Cynthia Hoffman | Hair and Makeup : Noble Salon | DJ: 74 Events | Barn : Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Day of Paperie: Lion in the Sun

Individual Bridesmaid Bouquets + Inspiring Details For This Elegant Barn Wedding

We’ve seen our fair share of fresh ideas around these parts so it’s safe to say that when something brand new makes it’s way across our desks, we get pretty excited. Case in point: this wedding’s approach to bridesmaids. Instead of following tradition, our bride let her girlfriends wear whatever they desired and gifted them each with a beautiful bouquet for one gorgeous group photo in the gardens. It’s unique, ultra chic and oh so sweet and we’re 100% on board. See this pic – and all the rest by Rebecca Yaleright this way!

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From Rebecca YaleEmma and Izzet were married on a beautiful summer afternoon in an intimate gathering of friends and family at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York. The couple threw a large fete for friends and family in Turkey, where they both have family, but decided to have a small luncheon gathering to celebrate in their new home, New York.

The bride got ready with the help of a friend and her aunt as they nibbled on delicious pastries and fresh fruit, all from the farm. The bride opted for loose and natural curls, perfect for the farm setting, pinned back with fresh flowers that complimented her beautiful white and green bouquet. After sharing a first look in the garden, the bride and groom were joined by their family for portraits and the ketubah signing before their ceremony. They said their “I do’s” under a beautiful lush chuppah of greenery followed by a private moment to themselves walking the gardens for a few portraits before joining their guests for cocktail hour. Instead of having traditional bridesmaids, the bride opted to honor her friends by letting them wear whatever they wanted and gifting them each a bouquet for a group photo of them all together in the gardens.

Guests enjoyed a three course gourmet meal from the farm followed by cake decorated with white and green flowers. The bride and groom paid homage to their British roots by gifting their guests truffles and Wedding Breakfast Tea from Fortnum & Mason as a wedding favor.

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Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Videography: Kiss The Bride Films | Floral Design: Bride & Blossom | Wedding Dress: Christos | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Makeup: Stacie Ford Weddings | Hair: Ryan Cotton | Band: Bianchi Musica | Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Bridal Boutique: Wedding Atelier


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Super Stylish Fall Wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Some weddings have high points, where the celebration shined extra bright for a moment in time. Everything else may be lovely, but in that one instance, everything was picture perfect. And then we have weddings like this one here, where the whole entire affair was one super chic high point after another. From the gorgeous gown to the candlelit reception at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, it’s almost too good to be true. But with Bia Sampaio and Jason’s Walz’s pics – and Valerie Barnes Film (a total must watch!)- we’re reassured that all this style is in fact real – see it all right this way!

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From Bia SampaioLana and Justin had one of those weddings that was out of this world elegant. Not only they are a gorgeous couple (Lana is also a fashion blogger) they have a great sense of style.

They enlisted the incredible Claudia Hanlin from The Wedding Library to design and plan one of the most beautiful and tasteful wedding I had ever shot.

Lana in her impeccably chic wedding dress from Ersa Atelier radiated happiness, beauty and glamour. Justin looked super dapper in his tux. And together they enjoyed every single second of their wedding.

From the Bride… Justin and I had a strong vision for our wedding. We wanted something rustic (inspired by the English countryside) but modern and extremely upscale at the same time. Blue Hill at Stone Barns was the venue that perfectly fit the aesthetic we were searching for. The natural beauty is breathtaking and makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a different country.

Romantic, intimate ambiance was also essential to us and few spaces accomplish that like Blue Hill. I’m also a huge foodie!—and I loved that the cuisine at Blue Hill is not only spectacular, but farm-to-table fresh. The culinary team there is incomparable.

With regards to my dress, I wanted something that felt regal and editorial as opposed to bridal. When I tried on Ersa Atelier’s “Candor” dress, that was it. I’m extremely decisive when it comes to fashion, and the color of the fabric, intricate beadwork and silhouette suited me perfectly.
I knew I wanted a short dress to change into late night, and Karen Willis Holmes is another one of the best bridal designers out there. I was so nervous when I did it, but I loved her monochromatic ‘Anya’ gown so much that I bought it and had it chopped into a mini.

If I could give all brides to be one piece of advice, it would be to really take the day in and find little moments to be present. I know people always say that, but take time to center yourself and observe what’s going on around you. Pay attention to the conversations you have, how it feels when you put on your dress and slip on your shoes, how your new wedding band looks on your finger, how happy your new spouse looks, how the wine tastes.

After our ceremony, Justin and took time to read each other our own vows in private. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement that comes with greeting your guests, but it’s important to remember that the day really is about you and your partner enjoying yourselves.

It was so special to see our guests enjoy themselves from afar, and that’s the image that sticks out in my mind the most. I’ve also heard that the majority of brides don’t even get to taste their own wedding cake and vowed not to let that happen! A girl’s gotta have her cake after all those wedding workouts!

Ultimately, your wedding day is going to be the best day of your life no matter what happens. Don’t sweat the small stuff during planning, and regardless of how stressed you might become, always bring the real reason why all of this is happening back into focus: you love someone enough to commit your life to them, and if you’ve found that, you’re beyond lucky.

From The Wedding LibraryI was lucky enough to work with the Russo family on Lana’s sister’s wedding a few years prior to Lana’s engagement. Working on a second wedding with a family is a special treat – wedding designers and planners rarely get to work with the same family twice. Just when you are fully immersed in the dreams of each family member, the wedding is over! But while Cassie’s event was all glitz and glamour (Gatsby-inspired), Lana was looking for pure English-garden beauty. When she shared inspiration photos of Kate Moss’ wedding in England and tear-sheets from British Vogue weddings, I knew exactly the editorial, bohemian-chic look that she wanted.

To make our design and planning even more special, Lana and Justin re-created the “dream team” of her sister’s wedding. We worked with the same band, photographer, videographer, floral designer and planner/event designer to create a very different event. Each vendor, in love with the family in their own way, brought their best to the table for this gorgeous wedding.

The Rockefeller barns and rolling hills were the perfect backdrop; around each corner it appeared as if the rich and delightful design just effortlessly belonged. We re-defined the farm wedding – romantic, elevated and soft, with luxurious fabrics and metals that created distinction.

We orchestrated a distinct progression to the evening. Each stage brought new surprises to the guests and beautiful details and views. Guests arrived along the curving drive, through the fields of the farm, and were quickly absorbed into the relaxing atmosphere of Blue Hill. As they approached the courtyard with its stone walls and grand arch, they were transported to a countryside wedding.

We laid an enormous 40X40 foot sisal carpet in the middle of the barn’s courtyard for the ceremony. A lush arch and even fuller aisle flowers bracketed the space and truly defined and highlighted the gorgeous flowers. Lana wanted a long aisle, and we hid her and her bridal party so that the approach would be through the iconic barnyard arch.

As guests moved into the cocktail area terrace, they were treated to a “bread experience” from Blue Hill’s bakery, and the open-air grill that smokes meats, fishes and herbs day and night. Experiencing the working bakery, restaurant and farm is part of the rare treat of getting married at Blue Hill at Stone Barnes and delights ALL the senses!

To continue the excitement of a new experience at every turn, guests came through the same courtyard as the ceremony to get to dinner. During cocktails the floral team moved the giant carpets (that were cut in two), lined a pathway with lanterns and rotated the ceremony arch for guests to pass through on their way to dinner.

Dinner was an elegant affair. Colors, where they appeared, were subtle and included soft whites, ivories and creams. There were greens of foliage, breathy grays, greige and lamb’s ear softness. Crystal clear, gleaming glass added clean texture and reflection. Finally, brushed pewters and soft silvers picked up the light and elevated the design further. There was a slight pull of restraint throughout the design – where the flowers felt like they’re bursting to be set free. Custom chargers, cushy chairs and deckled edged menu and place cards finished the look. The band was ready in the dining area, flanked by the aisle flowers from the ceremony, and ready to perform more sedated standards during the elegant dinner.

During dinner our team was busy pulling out the stops for the last stage of the party – an after-party fully decked out with specialty bars, multiple lounges, photo booth, a gleaming plexi dance floor, band AND DJ and topped off with the wedding hashtag in neon lights above the bandstand. During dinner filament bulbs were strung across the courtyard, furniture was moved in, trees were placed and the courtyard was transformed. Passed desserts, dark sunglasses, flip flops and glow necklaces kept the party rocking until late into the night. As the perfect Blue Hill touch, an old-fashioned push wagon was filled with cookies for guests as they finally left the party that no one wanted to end.

Now the wedding team can only wait until the third Russo sister gets engaged. Hint hint.

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Photography: Sampaio/Walz Photography | Photography: Sampaio/Walz Photography | Videography: Valerie Barnes Film | Event Planning + Design: The Wedding Library | Floral Design: Stonekelly Events & Florals | Wedding Dress: Ersa Atelier | Invitations: The Wedding Library | Wedding Shoes: Steve Madden | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Sarah Janks | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Make Up: Robin Chism | Hair: Gina Rossi-Foley | Lighting: Pegasus Productions | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Transportation: MTC | Wedding Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Accomodations: test | Bridal Suite: test | Dinning Chair Rental: Rentals Unlimited | Lounge Rentals: Afr | Mother of the Bride Gown: Terani Couture | Music: Vali Entertainment | Photobooth: Mir Mir | Photography - Assistance: Frank Marshal | Reception Dress: Karen Willis Holmes | Sound + Dance Floor: KM Productions | Welcome Basket: Sarah Janks

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Wifey for Lifey: This Castle Wedding Defines Happily Ever After

This celebration is easily a new favorite. For starters? Look at those shoes! Oh, but the beauty doesn’t end there. From the outdoor sunlit ceremony to the Bride’s insanely gorgeous locks a la Once Upon A BrideHeather Waraksa and Kiss The Bride Films captured it all to share. See every second of beauty in The Vault!

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From The Bride…From the beginning, I envisioned throwing an enchanted garden party at a spectacular venue with thoughtful details strewn throughout the day. Andy and I wanted our wedding to be an intimate weekend affair for our closest friends and family; A little getaway at a venue that offered it all. The Castle Hotel in charming Tarrytown, NY had a spacious, vintage-inspired bridal suite, accommodations for guests, a poolside lounge area for our rehearsal dinner, and various outdoor and indoor spaces for the ceremony, reception and cocktail hour. We got married in a beautifully manicured flower garden overlooking the Hudson River.

I imagined lots of dark greenery with little pops of light pink, cream and gold. Our florist, Juli Vaughn, really helped this vision come to life. I told her I wanted the arrangements to look freeform and organic with a waterfall of greens down the sides. She brought long strands of ivy and draped them over chairs, balconies and tables. Our sweetheart table was magical with rose gold candelabras and hand-painted floral details.

Andy and I bought a bag of Palo Santo chips and tied together little bundles with twine to give as favors. Palo Santo is a natural, aromatic wood incense said to have special healing properties. It offered our guests a little peek inside our world, and they came with a little description of how to use.

My favorite moment was walking up the aisle with Andy, our first moments officially married as a couple while the band played Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Friends and family were cheering and there was champagne waiting for us at the end.

Choosing what jewelry to wear was the hardest decision for me. I went with my favorite Jacquie Aiche Diamond Shaker Necklace, Moonstone Double Pyramid Ring and Moonstone Hoops as well as an Ariel Gordon Diamond Tennis Bracelet, Diamond Droplet Bracelet and Signet Bangle with my initials. My Sophia Webster Jojo Heels said “Wifey for Lifey” on the soles. I’m a sucker for those sorts of whimsical details.

My advice is to very thoroughly research your vendors. Take time to meet with many of them and narrow it down based on the right teams that suit your needs. Make a list of what day-of details are the most important and allow for a bigger budget. Our must-have vendor was photographer Heather Waraksa who captured every moment of our day in such ethereal, dreamy detail. The photos we have from our wedding are priceless; We get to relive our momentous day any time we pull them out.

Photography: Heather Waraksa | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Event Planning: New York Wedding Consultant | Floral Design: Juli Vaughn Designs | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Jewelry: Ariel Gordon | Jewelry: Jacquie Aiche | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jarlo | Hair + Makeup: Once Upon A Bride | Band: 45 Riots | Groom's Attire: Guabello | Venue: Castle Hotel Spa | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Romantic Garden-Inspired Blue Hill at Stone Barns Wedding

I dare you not to fall in love with each and every detail of this upstate New York wedding. And how could you not with vendors like Daughter Of DesignBella FiguraJenny YooOnce Upon A BrideStacie Ford Weddings and Jarrell Entertainment. Head to THE VAULT to see all the pretty details (that Monique Lhuillier gown for one) captured by Christian Oth Studio, and don’t say we didn’t warn you!

From The Bride…We got engaged at sunset on a beautiful evening in Bagan, Myanmar, the ancient temple city. The engagement was a destination, and as we were initially discussing potential wedding locations, so at first I thought the wedding would be as well. What we soon realized, though, was that the logistics of a destination wedding would be challenging for too many of our nearest and dearest. So we decided to search for something that felt like the European countryside, but happened to be on the northeast corridor line. We were fortunate enough to get the last summer date available at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Even when we went to visit the venue on a wet, chilly day in the dead of winter, we fell in love with the location. My mother grew up on a chicken farm, so having the wedding take place on a working farm had special meaning to us. Our goal: to have a fun, casual yet elegant wedding with great food, great music, and great people, and we thought this venue would be the prefect perfect setting.

The day before the wedding, we went with our close family and wedding party for a tour of Blue Hill farm. We learned about the sustainable practices of the farm which gave us and our guests a special opportunity to really get to know the farm, the mission, and have further appreciation for the food we would be eating the day after. One part was especially meaningful: Justin helped arrange a gift that would go towards a 2016 Oak Tree planting in the memory of my father, and part of the tour included seeing where the tree would soon be planted. It was quite meaningful that Blue Hill was able to let us honor him and have him be part of our special event.

Rather than use our names or initials, we had the talented team at Bella Figura design a “goose/swan” logo for the wedding (representing our avian nicknames for each other). We used this logo on the invitation and throughout the wedding, on everything from the yarmulkes to the napkins. I’ve always loved to draw, so thought it would be fun to design the escort cards. Justin and I brainstormed and decided that rather than use table numbers, everyone would be assigned an herb, and a spring of that particular herb would be found at each table setting. We also wanted the flexibility of adjusting last- minute table assignments, so we included drawings of all the herbs on each escort card, and the Daughter of Design team waited until the day prior to circle the appropriate herb for each guest.

My dress was a Monique Lhuillier, and I thought it fit me and the venue to a tee. It was a combination of vintage classic with some modern touches.

As a pre-wedding gift for Justin, I got him a pair of cufflinks from Etsy – one with a goose and one with a swan –, made of vintage stamps. He got me an eternity band that I’d been was eyeing (but wasn’t expecting to receive for some time). I chose a gray Jenny Yoo gown for the bridesmaids – the color was flattering on all of the ladies, and each one was styled to flatter her figure. I also got each bridesmaid matching Eberjey PJ sets. I was inspired by another Blue Hill bride who had suggested them. It was fun to wear the matching sets for the sleepover the night before the wedding, and also proved an easy way to stay comfy through all the morning-of wedding prep.

For the aesthetic design, we worked with the talented Matthew Robbins. We chose a palette of lots of greens with peach, white, and pops of bright pink. We also wanted to play off the stone barns so we used hurricane lanterns. We wanted a “market table” feel for the escort card table, and leading up to the main hall were rows of live rosemary and lavender, which smelled rich and delicious, creating a subtle experience as guests walked through. Matthew also incorporated each table’s particular herb into the table’s décor.

We were very fortunate with the weather and were able to have the ceremony outdoors under a large tree in the Blue Hill courtyard. Matthew and his team designed a beautiful leafy huppah with beautiful pops of flowers. The birds were chirping as we were under the huppah – it felt magical. The cocktail reception took place in the nearby apple menagerie were guests drank signature cocktails and nibbled on delicious passed hors d’oeuvres. To our knowledge, the snacks were so good that nobody felt tempted to pluck a ripe apple off the trees surrounding us.

Music was a very important component of the wedding for the two of us. We had a talented flutist/violin duet from Julliard for our ceremony and reception. Our band, Sound House, was incredible and had all the guests on the dance floor. Justin grew up playing music with his “family band” and we thought it would be fun to incorporate that into the wedding. As the family band started playing some classic rock, Justin interrupted the song to announce that they “needed more cow bell.” Fortunately, I had one hidden under my seat! I got up from my seat (cowbell in hand) and joined the family band for a few classic rock songs, and it its own right was my full initiation into the family.

Food and drink were also important to us. We only finalized our menu two weeks prior to the event, because it is so seasonal and dependent on what would be fresh from the farm. We had a four- course tasting menu with wine pairings for our guests and there were no leftovers in sight! It was delicious – quite a few of our guests told us it was one of the best meals they have ever had.

After we cut the cake (a delicious seasonal cake with blueberry, peach and vanilla), guests kept the party going downstairs with DJ Stephen. Guests nibbled on more small bites and partied on the dance floor. At that time I changed from my wedding gown to a white sequined J Crew Wedding Romper.

As a farewell treat, guests received jars of Blue Hill’s very own honey, thanking them for being part of the “sweetest day of our lives.” We hosted brunch the next morning at the historic Tarrytown House and Estate. It was a lovely sendoff to a perfect weekend.

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Photography: Christian Oth Studio | Cinematography: NST Pictures | Coordination: Daughter of Design | Event Design: Matthew Robbins | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Bella Figura | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Makeup: Stacie Ford Weddings | Hair: Once Upon A Bride | Lighting: Pegasus Lighting | Band: Elan Artists | Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | After-Party DJ: Jarrell Entertainment | Ceremony + Cocktail Music: Julliard Music School | Getting Ready Venue: Ritz Carlton Westchester | Photo Booth: MVS Studio

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Modern Barn Wedding with Chic Egg Invites

You see, I kinda have this major love affair for all things paper and I’ve seen my fair share. So it’s safe to say that in order to seriously WOW me, it needs to be pretty fabulous. And well, Gourmet Invitations did just that with this beyond creative invitation – complete with an egg to open! But this was just the beginning to a full blown chic and modern bash, captured by Brian Dorsey Studios and Love In Progress. See the invite that has hold of my heart and every other delightful detail in our VAULT right this way!

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From Gourmet Invitations… Diana and Parag are foodies and loved the restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocatino Hills, New York. Although they are city through and through, this location reflected their unique personalities. From the Blue Hill website: Sourcing from the surrounding fields and pasture, as well as other local farms, Blue Hill at Stone Barns highlights the abundant resources of the Hudson Valley. There are no menus at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Instead, guests are offered the multi-taste Grazing, Rooting, Pecking menu featuring the best offerings from the field and market.”

Modern is Diana and Parag’s style. We had the challenge of creating pieces that reflected their style and personality but combining the rustic location of the wedding and reception. For their Save the Dates, they had received a mirror invitation and they loved the idea of doing something similar. We designed a clover quatrefoil motif and combined this with a very modern and clean text. Ivory ink was used on the large square mirror. Each Save the Date was mailed in a tone on tone foil printed sleeve and just hinted at the invitations that were to come next.

Diana had the idea to send personal notes inside of blown out chicken eggs. We took this idea and ran with it. Custom made boxes were the only way to send eggs and we designed a quatrefoil pattern and printed it with silver foil. When the boxes were opened, the guest immediately found the ultra-thick invitation that was embossed with silver foil. But the really surprise was underneath the invitation. The box was divided into two sections – one that held the RSVP card and envelope, and the other that held a nest. We handmade each nest and then put personal handwritten notes to the guest inside hollowed out blue chicken eggs! A small trifold note was printed in silver with the instructions to “Crack Open” and gave a little explanation about the numerous chickens and other animals that are raised at Stone Barns. We attached it to the nest with a white head stick pin.

For the reception, all of the paper was designed with the very modern look and style of the invitations. Tiny lanterns served as escort cards for the guests to carry after sundown to the reception. Custom gift boxes were made with their quatrefoil pattern. Even custom milk and donut holders were made as a good night gift for the guests. One of our favorite pieces to design was their 10 page book-style program with sketches of their two dogs – Bentley and Coco.But the surprises didn’t stop there for all of the guests. The thank you cards were actually gifts of custom acrylic magnetic frames printed with their silver pattern and thank you messages from Bentley and Coco!

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Peruse more invitation inspiration here!

Photography: Brian Dorsey Studios | Cinematography: LOVE in PROGRESS video productions | Event Planning: Lily Fink Harrington | Floral Design: Belle Fleur | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: A White Cake | Invitations: Gourmet Invitations | Makeup: Wei Lang | Band: Elan Artists | Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns

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Whimsical Garden Luncheon Wedding

Rustic, yet elegant and literally one of the most breathtaking locales you will ever lay your eyes upon, Blue Hill At Stone Barns is the perfect spot for marrying.  Now add in an adorable duo with a love of garden luncheons and beautiful details like florals from Bespoke Only and it’s an entirely new level of pretty.  Head to THE VAULT for every stunning image from Judy Pak.  They are ah-mazing.

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From the Bride… Jeremy and I actually visited Stone Barns years before our wedding. The moment I stepped foot on their beautiful grounds, I was sure of two things: Jeremy was the person I wanted to spend my life with, and this is the place I would want that to make that commitment.

When we started planning our wedding, we did not want to take away from the beauty of our venue while also highlighting the joy of our day, so we settled on a whimsical garden luncheon with our closest family and friends. Our wedding was truly a labor of love.  From the fun-filled paper goods designed by one of our dearest friends, to ceremony music by some of our most musically talented friends, most of our nearest and dearest contributed to our journey to the altar. When it came to picking vendors, we were lucky to have a team with a creative vision that we could place all our trust in. Melissa from Bespoke Only dreamt up the most beautiful floral ceremony centerpiece and bouquets, and every moment was captured through the romantic lens of Judy Pak Photography.

Our wedding day was exactly as we hoped – beautiful, full of love, and not to mention, delicious!

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See more Garden Weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Wedding Planning: Joyce Ko | Floral Design: Bespoke Only | Cake: Lady M Confections | Bride's Shoes: Phillip Lim | Catering: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Band: Julliard Musicians | Officiant: Pastor Bruce Yi | Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Paper Goods: Samantha Yi

Elegant Garden Wedding at Lyndhurst Castle

Whether you consider yourself a more modern bride, a vintage chic lady or a lover of all things romance, there’s one thing that is certain: castle weddings rock.  So take a breathtaking locale like the Lyndhurst Castle and add in a sweet bride and groom (+ some some beautiful stylings) and it’s a day that is as awesome as it is stunning.  See it all captured by Cyrience Creative Studios in The Vault right here – and the film below from Mint Cinemotography for even more castle pretty.

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From Jen Chanyi of Cyrience Creative StudiosEvery detail of Victoria and Ryan’s wedding was impeccably thought out and amazing! From the landmark castle ceremony backdrop and stunning florals right down to the beer cozies and life size Jenga game the groom himself made, it was a photography dream! But the best part is always seeing a gorgeous couple pledging their love surrounded by so much joy; neither of them stopped smiling all day. Even when buttons were popping off of suit jackets and the rain threatened, both Victoria and Ryan had such a calmness to them. Nothing else mattered except they were getting to say “I Do.”

From The Bride…Ryan proposed at sunset on the rooftop of our old apartment building in Tarrytown, NY. Tarrytown holds a special place in our hearts since it was where we first lived together and where we got engaged, so we knew it was a natural choice for where we wanted to get married. When we visited Lyndhurst Castle we immediately knew it was “the one”. The backdrop of the castle was stunning, but I also loved the rustic charm of the Carriage House (where the cocktail hour was held). It also helped that it fulfilled the only requirement we had – space for an outdoor ceremony and lawn games!

When we started planning, I knew I wanted the wedding to have a soft romantic feel with a rustic edge. Therefore, I wanted subtle color tones to reflect that. Our palette consisted of sage green, gray, and hints of blush pink. One of the things I loved most was how well our florist incorporated those elements and colors. What they put together was beyond what I could have envisioned!

One of my favorite things at the wedding was the cornhole and jenga, which Ryan built himself! It added a great personal touch to the wedding and was a really big hit during cocktail hour. In addition, my mom wound up being our wedding planner extraordinaire. Not only did she help plan so many details, but she also helped us add a lot of the DIY touches to the wedding – creating the signs, decorating the card birdcage, and surprising us with the photo guestbook. Not to mention all the wine corks that she scavenged and cut to create the place card holders.

It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite moment from the wedding since everything was so amazing. Our band was phenomenal so we rarely left the dance floor. Everyone says how it goes by so fast, and it is so true. However, it was the best kind of blur imaginable. I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire time, and I love how Jen’s photos really captured the joy of the day. I would advise any bride (and groom), as many advised us, to take a moment to truly soak it all in. It was amazing and humbling to look around and see everyone we love in one room, all there to celebrate us.

Photography: Cyrience Creative Studios | Videographer: Mint Wedding Cinematography | Wedding Coordinator: Philip Stone Caterers | Floral Design: Forever in Bloom | Wedding Gown: Dennis Basso | Cake: Lulu Cake Boutique | Invitations: Minted | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Philip Stone Caterers | Hair & Makeup: Jackie K Styles | Band: Hank Lane Music | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Officiant: Aaron Mace | Ceremony/Reception: Lyndhurst Castle | Koozie Favors: Totally Wedding Koozies | Second Photographer: Sarah Day-Boodhoo Photography

Elegant Spring Wedding at Blue Hill

I spent a little extra time with this gem from Kate Ignatowski. It’s the kind of wedding that catches your eye at every turn with something sweet, and with just the right amount of detailing to radiate that elegant style I so love. Plus, when the gallery includes a flower girl as cute as this one and a baby lamb that will melt you, it deserves a bit of extra perusing! Don’t forget to check out The Vault for even more wedding inspiration.

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From Kate IgnatowskiIt was an absolute dream photographing Julia + Kevin’s wedding. I loved the peaceful setting of Blue Hill for an elegant affair, and there were endless backdrops and landscapes to take in. For the ceremony, Poppies and Posies created an incredible floral arch that complimented the courtyard space, and how cute is the flower girl?! The bridesmaids’ soft pink bouquets were the perfect match to their light blue dresses. And I loved Julia’s colorful bouquet. The reception space was open and intimate with bright floral centerpieces and soft candle light. Julia and Kevin celebrated with their guests well into the night, and I loved seeing how happy they were through every single moment in their day.

Photography: Kate Ignatowski Photography | Videographer: Pennylane Productions | Coordination: Cynthia Ross Affairs | Florist: Poppies And Posies | Invitations: Bella Figura | Ceremony Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Reception Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Makeup Artist: Anny Chow | Hair Stylist: Anny Chow | Band: Bounce Music & Entertainment | Men's Attire: David Reeves | Getting Ready: Sixty LES | Hair Stylist Assistant: Andy Tseng | Wedding Dress Designer: Elizabeth Fillmore | Wedding Dress Salon: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon

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Glamorous Lyndhurst Castle Wedding

This next glamorous affair is something straight out of a storybook. From their castle ceremony to the pastoral surroundings, every detail a la X-Quisite Events is downright dreamy. Exchanging vows amidst the sun-drenched foliage, Unique Visions Studios captured every happy tear while Sara Wight shared it all in the gallery.

 

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From the Sara WightWhen public relations professional Jessica, 25, and private wealth portfolio manager, Anthony, 29, met working at a small cafe in Somers, N.Y. in 2005, they had a new found friendship. What they would find over the next three years is that their friendship was something more. They got engaged in November of 2014. For their big day, the couple wanted a venue they could make their own, but one that was unique and captured the vision the bride had since she was a little girl. “I always wanted the fairytale wedding,” recalls Jessica. “We wanted an elegant farm-to-table feel with a touch of vintage.” The couple, who now lives on the Upper East Side felt it was only natural that they marry in Westchester county, the place they grew up. When it came time to wed, the couple chose Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown, N.Y. An outdoor ceremony at the iconic Rockefeller castle amid the pastoral fall foliage made for a storybook backdrop. Lanterns led down to candlelit tent – romantic and whimsical. Amber lighting highlighted the sea of white and blush hydrangeas and roses. Rustic farm tables surrounded the dance floor, which was flooded with friends and family as they danced the night away to the sounds of Hank Lane’s finest. “It was everything I wanted and more,” says Jessica.

Photography: Sara Wight Photography | Cinematography: Unique Visions Studio | Floral Design: X-Quisite flowers & events, inc. | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Lulu Cake Boutique | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Catering: Philip Stone Caterers | Groom's Attire: Black Lapel | Venue: Lyndhurst Castle

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Elegant Spring Wedding at the Tarrytown House

This dynamic duo threw a stunning soiree filled with a mix of traditionally romantic pieces, (hello, full-skirted gown and cathedral-length veil!) and distinctively modern details, like the Groom’s sockless Givenchy dress shoes and Bride’s Valentino Rockstud pumps. Take a peak at the stylish gallery here — perfectly captured through Lindsay Madden Photography‘s lens — and prepare to swoon!

From Lindsay Madden PhotographyOn a beautiful spring day, Sarah and Evan were married in front of their closest family and friends at Immaculate Conception Church in Irvington, New York. Shortly after their ceremony, we traveled to the Tarrytown House for portraits. We found a beautiful nook with gorgeous, natural light {my favorite!} and I was able to capture so many timeless and heartfelt moments between the newlyweds. Sarah looked absolutely breathtaking in her Romona Keveza dress (it had pockets too!) and Valentino shoes while Evan’s classic look was made up of a custom tux and Givenchy shoes. Sarah’s bridesmaids’ looked so elegant in their navy Jim Hjelm dresses. Sarah’s cascading bouquet was filled with ivy and garden roses in peach and ivory. It was stunning! Sarah’s mom spent a year collecting different white milk glass vases which were the reception centerpieces. Each vase was filled with beautiful garden roses and small votive candles provided the warm and romantic ambiance. Sarah, Evan and their guests all danced the night away thanks to the talented Live Wire band.

Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography | Floral Design: Agnew Florist | Invitations: Respond If You Please | Ceremony Venue: Immaculate Conception Church | Reception Venue: Tarrytown House Estate | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids' Dresses: JLM Couture, Inc | Bride's Dress: Romona Keveza | Entertainment & Lighting: Live Wire | Groom's Shoes: Givenchy

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Traditional Tappan Hill Mansion Wedding

This Tappan Hill Mansion love story is one chic affair. Overlooking the Hudson, this darling duo sweetly said their vows and kept the day personal from start to finish. With ribbon accents and mercury glass, Diana Gould made sure a vintage vibe echoed throughout, while Brian Dorsey Studios captured up a gallery that defines a modern love story.

From the Bride… Mark and I met while studying abroad in Rome during our junior year of college. After dating for 8 years, he pulled off the surprise proposal of a lifetime. He asked me to marry him during my school fundraiser and then had our families and friends waiting nearby to celebrate.

We wanted our wedding to reflected our personalities so we added our own personal touches everywhere. Upon stepping outside at Tappan Hill Mansion, we immediately knew the beautiful stone patio overlooking the Hudson was the perfect place for us. The vintage vibe set by our custom-made invitations was recreated throughout the entire day, from the ribbons blowing off the last row of chairs during the ceremony, to the mercury glass vases overflowing with flowers at the reception. For the ceremony, we created fun, unique wedding programs that captured our relationship. We are both teachers so we asked our students to give us their “Advice for a Happy Marriage”, the best bits of which were read aloud during the ceremony. Our breathtaking flowers were a soft mix of pink and white peonies, garden roses and ranunculus in white, cream, and a touch of pink, accented with lamb’s ear around the edges. The grooms’ cake that showcased all of Mark’s favorite things.

My hairpins were made from my mom’s wedding dress lace and my bouquet was also bound by the pearl and lace sleeve of her gown. My dress, Mirielle by Anna Maier, was corded French rose floral lace over a double charmeuse underdress. The team at A Little Something White in Darien, CT was able to customize my dress to provide me with two different looks; during the ceremony I wore an elegant, lace bolero with capped sleeves and a plunging back, which complimented my veil and hairpins. For our reception, I detached the lace bolero to reveal a strapless, sweetheart neckline and changed from my Kate Spade blush peep-toes into sparkly Jimmy Choos. A delicate organza sash with an oversized bow completed the reception look.

When our guests weren’t on the dance floor, they were either feasting on the delectable Abigail Kirsch menu, taking part in the photo booth created by my sister, enjoying the breathtaking views, or snacking on our personalized wedding car cookie favors. Every detail was thought through to create an intimate, elegant, and light-hearted atmosphere. Our families, friends, and wonderful vendors helped us create a magical day that we will never forget.

Photography: Brian Dorsey Studios | Event Planning: Diana Gould | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier | Cake: Abigail Kirsch | Invitations: Alpine Creative Group | Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Makeup: Christina Amador | Hair: The Beauty Parlor | Favors: The Flour Pot Cookies | Bridal Dress Salon: A Little Something White | Ceremony Programs: First Comes Love Prints | Groom's Cake: Sweet Lisa's | Hairpins & Veil: A Little Something White | Location: Abigail Kirsch | Music: Craig Scott Entertainment | Video: LOVE in PROGRESS video productions

Elegant Tappan Hill Mansion Wedding

Speaking from experience, I can 100% relate to this Bride in her admission of having a tough time finding the perfect venue. We too struggled in finding our beautiful spot. But once you do, all the hard work and time spent searching, pays off—and this Tappan Hill Mansion soiree is proof. With a handful of fab vendors including Stacie FordDiana Gould Ltd. and Village Invites, we’ve got a whole lotta pretty to feast our eyes on from Tory Williams.

From the beautiful Bride…Mike and I met our very first week at Colgate University, when we moved into the same freshman dorm, and were almost instantly an item. After years of mixers, tailgates, a semester abroad, and one brief break, we both found ourselves living in New York City. Three years later, Mike proposed one Saturday in April while watching the sun set on a pier overlooking the Hudson River. After a romantic dinner, Mike led me to a nearby bar to find our friends waiting to surprise me and celebrate our engagement!

I admittedly had a very difficult time with finding the perfect wedding venue. We searched near and far, from beach locales to rustic upstate sites. We ended up choosing one of the very first venues we visited: Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, New York. The former summer home of Mark Twain, the stone mansion is stately and elegant within a natural, picturesque setting overlooking the Hudson River. With a fabric-draped ceiling, the stone-walled ballroom felt intimate within the grand estate, and the large terrace provided the perfect spot for the ceremony and cocktail hour. It was also fitting that the venue was located exactly in between each of our hometowns, mine in Connecticut and Mike’s in New Jersey – a perfect site for the joining of our families.

And so the planning began for our August wedding the following summer. As luck would have it, the day was sunny and unseasonably cool, allowing for the perfect outdoor ceremony. An indoor-outdoor cocktail hour followed, with guests spilling out onto the terrace to watch the sunset with our signature cocktail in hand, while an acoustic guitar player provided background music. The reception was in the mansion’s indoor ballroom with Hank Lane’s Marcus Reid Band playing until the end of the night. A sparkler send-off gave us the picture-perfect ending to the most beautiful day!

I chose a color scheme of soft blush pink, grey and gold, which our florist Diana Gould carried through the bouquets, ceremony décor, and centerpieces. The flowers included peach Juliet garden roses, white roses, dahlias and hydrangeas, and seeded eucalyptus. The ceremony aisle was lined with polished nickel lanterns in various sizes, with two matching floral arrangements in large urns flanking us at the end. We wanted to keep the ceremony décor simple so that the view was the focal point! In the ballroom, we alternated high and low centerpieces on each table, accented with mercury glass vases and votives. The bridesmaids’ light peach chiffon dresses perfectly matched the Juliet garden roses and added to the soft garden vibe. Touches of grey were carried throughout all of the paper products, provided by Village Invites. Our invitations, menus, programs and welcome cards were all printed on white paper with charcoal grey text, some with a subtle floral motif in the corners to add a bit of whimsy.

We are forever indebted to our incredible team of vendors, including Tory Williams who beautifully captured the day with her photographs. Her images are both timeless and candid, and she captured a joyous timeline of the day that will allow us to relive our wedding for years to come! To all of those future brides-to-be, make sure not to sweat the minor details. In the end, the day is about your marriage and that is where the focus should be. As my now-husband had told me during my most hectic days of planning, the day will be perfect no matter what – and he was right!

Photography: Tory Williams Photography | Floral Design: Diana Gould | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Village Invites | Reception Venue: Abigail Kirsch | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Makeup: Stacie Ford Weddings | Hair: Styles On B | Band: Hank Lane Music | Decor: Better Off Wed | Photo Booth: Hank Lane Music | Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

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Traditional Hudson Valley Wedding

You should know by now that Judy Pak weddings are our everything.  So starting off the week with a stunning traditional affair captured by the master herself?  Pretty amazing, if you ask me.  Especially when it’s a day that is one part lovely, one part romantic and all parts fabulous with gorgeous blooms from Barbara Flowers and the prettiest bridesmaids frock from Jenny Yoo.  See it all here.

From The Bride… Sam and I had a year and half to plan our wedding which really made it stress free and actually enjoyable. The hardest part for us was finding our venue, but after scoping out 10 other places, when we visted Tappan Hill Mansion, we immediately fell in love with the beautiful scenery of the Hudson Valley. We were both used to the crowded hustle and bustle of city life, but when we saw the plush greens overlooking the Hudson River, nature won us over. Our wedding was really a joint effort; I chose the colors, he chose the flowers. He chose the band, I picked the song list. We were looking for muted elegance so that every aspect and decor (including our guests!) could paint the perfect picture for us which it did beyond our imagination and we have the pictures to prove it!

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Wedding Coordinator: Caitlin Russotti | Florist: Barbara Flowers | Shoes: Bergdorf Goodman | Caterer: Abigail Kirsch | Hair & Makeup: JAC Beauty | Venue: Abigail Kirsch | Bride's Dress: Bergdorf Goodman | Bridemaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | DJ/Band: Hank Lane Music | Second Photographer: Studio R Photography

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Traditional Hudson River Wedding

You know what makes me happy?  A day like this.  A classic meets awesome affair dripping in gold and pink details and traditional stylings that are soon to be your everything (trust me).  It’s the sort of fairytale affair that you can’t stop dreaming about… if you’re in to dreaming about the world’s prettiest weddings.  See it all captured by Clay Austin in the full gallery.

From Clay Austin Photography… This fantastic couple could not be any cuter together and they just radiate love.  Their day started getting ready at the beautiful Double Tree Hotel in Tarrytown and then continued on to the magnificent Church of the Magdalene for the ceremony. After which the bridal party hopped on a bus and headed off to the gorgeous Blue Hill Farm for a few photos and then back on the bus to Tappan Hill Mansion for a perfect reception overlooking the Hudson River.

Photography: Clay Austin | Event Planning: Cait & Jules | Floral Design: Hope Stanley | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Invitations: Everly Calligraphy | Ceremony Venue: Church of the Magdalene | Reception Venue: Abigail Kirsch | Rings: J. Albert Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Coren Moore Inc. | Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Hair: Eclipse Hair Salon | Band: Groove Authority | Grooms Attire: Vera Wang | Hairpeice: Sara Gabriel | Photo Booth: Photo Booth Lounge

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Tarrytown, New York Wedding from Erik Ekroth

This bride lives and breathes Manhattan every day, so for her most special day, she wanted something a little more organic. Something fresh and alive. She got just that. With a floral design that almost lives and a venue so perfectly natural, the day was absolutely gorgeous, especially when offset by the almost architectural Peter Langner gown. Captured by Erik Ekroth, it’s a wedding that fills a gallery in the best way possible. Click here to see it!

From the gorgeous bride … Taka proposed on our third “First Date Anniversary” at our home. He gave me a placement ring on the day of proposal and the real gift was for me to design (I have BFA in Oil painting) my engagement ring with the jewelry artist from scratch! It was fun looking for the right stone and sketching the designs. Truly a one and only design.

Because I work and live in Manhattan, I wanted to be out of the city and breathe. Lyndhurst had everything that Manhattan couldn’t offer. Serenity, smell and feel of nature. The venue was a blank green canvas that stimulated my inspiration.

Early on in the planning, I got lost in the information and lost sight. So I had to find my vision by creating a collage of magazine cutouts. It resulted in a beautiful collage of different yet similarly themed objects and colors. I used that collage when I communicated with the vendors because often times, it’s hard to convey exactly what you are looking for through words. It really helped to convey what vision I had.

Since Taka and I are both from Japan, we wanted to incorporate Japanese touches to the wedding. We invited the Japanese drum group for opening stunt and later, we did the traditional ‘kagami-biraki’ ritual which is to crack open the lid of the wooden sake barrel (wishing prosperity). We gave our guests the custom made wooden cup as their take home favor. Guests loved the entertainment and the ritual!

I was tired of seeing flower arrangement styles that were unnatural and abusive to flowers. Then, I came across my flower artist, Ariel Dearie’s, flower design which was so airy and “alive” in all arrangements. The style that worked with the innate beauty of the flowers. I loved it, and it was elegant.

I then looked for the cake that will have the same natural feel and settled with Ron Ben-Israel after seeing tons of his creations that were just speechless and moreover, elegant. Ron created intricate sugar flowers for the cake that matched Ariel’s selection of flowers and shades of flowers used at our wedding to give entire reception the consistent theme. The cake was gorgeous.

When it came to the dessert choice, Taka and I are opposite. While I enjoy cheese or anything savory, he loves anything sweet and sugary. So, reflecting our personality, we set up farm tables for both sweets and savory items. We gathered our favorite sweets from all over NYC. We also created a lounge area next to the farm tables so that the guests could mingle with guests from different tables and enjoy the sweets and cheeses.

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Photography: Erik Ekroth | Flowers: Ariel Dearie | Catering: Le Moulin | Band: 747 Orchestra | Event Design + Planning: bride | Day of Coordinator: NY Engagements Inc. | Venue: Lyndhurst | Invitations: Elum Designs | Cake: Ron Ben-Israel | Sake: Hakutsuru Sake | Dress Designer: Peter Langner, Mark Ingram Atlier | Shoes: BCBG | Makeup & hair: Atsuko.Shimizu from Dlala Salon | Bridesmaid Dress: Vera Wang White | Men’s Fashion: John Varvatos | Men’s ties: Brioni | Officiant: Rev. Ron Sheppard | Sweets & Cheeses: Levain BakeryBluebird Coffee ShopMomofuku Milk Bar, La Maison du Macaron, Dessert Club by ChikaLicious, Murray’s Cheese

Castle on the Hudson Wedding from Carmen Santorelli Photography

No doubt about it – you are going to love this wedding.  You’ll love the breathtaking Tarrytown setting, the glorious blooms crafted by Monica Chimes Floral and the intimate outdoor ceremony.  You’ll love the completely beautiful, seriously to-die-for Nicole Miller gown… and the bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning.  And most of all, you’ll love the sweet, sweet emotion literally bursting from each and every moment captured by Carmen Santorelli Photography.  Because, well.  It’s just that amazing. Click here for sooo much more.

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From the Bride… Everything started with a very random event. A friend of ours, who we never thought would set us up with anyone special, decided to play matchmaker. Two years later we found ourselves at The Castle on the Hudson surrounded by the people we love most, committing uncompromisingly to each other. In front of us was our officiant, someone we cared about and trusted, the person who started it all — our matchmaker. Behind us were our closest family and friends, who made us feel at ease as we started our new life together.

From the moment we were engaged, we both knew that we wanted a very intimate wedding that represented the two of us. We had toyed with the idea of a destination wedding, but in the end, we realized that the best destination would be in New York, where we first met. It was very important to us to find a location with lots of natural light, an outdoor space for the ceremony and a setting that evoked a feeling of intimacy. After quite a bit of searching, we finally found the perfect space at The Castle of the Hudson. We wanted a to create a balance of simplicity and understated elegance with a fun, laid-back, comfortable atmosphere for our family and friends. Luckily, all the vendors we chose helped us to create this vision. It was because of them that everything came together so well. We chose not to plan every last detail but instead allowed the night to happen naturally. We had not planned for speeches or dancing, but they spontaneously happened, making the night all the more perfect. Due to the rain during the day, we thought that our ceremony would have to be moved inside, but even the weather cooperated that day, and by the time our ceremony started, it was a beautiful and sunny. We felt truly lucky that everything ended up working out perfectly. Everything ended up so much better than we had envisioned it.

Due to the small size of our party, we were really able to fully enjoy the day, eat the wonderful food and celebrate with our family and friends. We had so much fun celebrating our wedding! We thank everyone involved, from our guests to our vendors, for making our wedding day so special.

Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography / Wedding Venue: Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, New York / Floral Design: Monica Chimes Floral / Wedding Cake: Castle on the Hudson / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Suit: Burberry / Rings: Kwiat / Hair: Aurora / Makeup: Morgan Gates

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Tarrytown Wedding at Lyndhurst Castle from Ulysses Photography

Oh, you guys. You know JUST how to make my little heart swell up with pure glee and giddiness. Obviously, an almost entirely white – which is (surprise surprise) my absolute favorite color – wedding with the prettiest of peonies from Xquisite Design is sure to put a grin on my face, but a CASTLE too?? Ulysses Photography, you’ve really outdone yourselves. One look through this gallery and you lovelies will feel like you’ve been transported into a real life fairytale. See all the magic right here.

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From Ulysses PhotographyThis stylish wedding had an all-white theme with just a touch of blue, which blended perfectly with the deep blue skies that served as a backdrop to their fairytale castle wedding. Their florals were overflowing with several varieties of huge white flowers, and the bridal bouquet was especially lovely in its simplicity with its sweet white peonies. The rose garden adjacent to the castle was at the height of blooming and was the perfect setting for romantic photos. Their sunny, outdoor wedding on this perfect summer day was followed by cocktail hour on the porch of the castle, then hours of dancing under the tent. We enjoyed every moment with this darling couple!

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Wedding Venue: Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown, New York / Event Planning: Debra Thompson / Floral Design: Xquisite Events / Catering: CulinArt / Wedding Cake: Lulu’s Cake Boutique / Wedding Paper Goods: Papyrus / Band: Perrone Bros. Entertainment / Lighting + Tent: Party Line / Wedding Dress: Augusta Jones / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Hair: Carmen Caramihai / Makeup: Linda Gallo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo + Ann Taylor

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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here