Tell us your story…
Adam and I met at the start of our senior year at Franklin & Marshall College in 2011. We locked eyes across a smoky bar, smiled, and looked away. We both couldn’t help stealing one more glance of each other at the same time, and then Adam came over to introduce himself. We talked until the next morning, and I texted my sister saying I had met “either my future husband or my new best friend.” We’ve been together ever since!
Where did you two tie the knot?
We held our ceremony and reception at Highlands Country Club in Garrison, NY. We loved this venue because of its balance between rustic and elegant. The chandelier in the ballroom is stunning, but the working fireplaces and the tavern area give it a homey feel, as well. We could picture the twinkle lights in the solarium giving a romantic vibe to the ceremony, and we loved picturing our friends and family gathered around the hearths throughout the evening. We wanted the wedding to feel less like a production, and more like an intimate dinner party.
Spill the details about your wedding!
I had always dreamed of having a December wedding, and almost couldn’t believe that my dream came true. The holiday season is my favorite time of year, and I wanted to bring that cheer to our wedding without having it scream Christmas.
We chose a rich pine green as the central color, with accents of navy, ivory, burgundy, and gold. These colors all came together especially nicely in our bridesmaids’ and groomsmens’ outfits. The girls got to choose their own style within a line from Alfred Sung, and the guys all wore their own navy blue suits. The girls’ navy pashminas and the guys’ plaid ties from Tie Bar brought the looks together perfectly!
For flowers, we wanted lots of greenery with white and pops of red. My very talented aunt did all of the flowers for our ceremony space, including the stunning arbor. Florist Edwina Sylvester created bouquets and centerpieces beyond our wildest dreams.
The one thing we couldn’t plan for was having the first snowfall of the season in the Hudson Valley bless us on December 9th. It created a snowglobe within our little venue, and really added a magical element to the whole day.
It was a true winter wonderland wedding!
I had a lot of fun DIY-ing many elements of our wedding. I practiced my hand lettering for months, and actually addressed all the Save the Dates and invitations, as well as the place cards. I handmade all of the signage. I also stood over a hot stove in the summer months melting wax with rosemary fragrance oil to make almost 150 candles as our favors. I may be crazy, but it meant so much for me to add that personal touch for our guests!
I reached out to Alyson because I wanted a beaded comb for my hair that would match a specific pair of earrings. My grandmother’s brothers gave her a pair of pearl and diamond earrings as a wedding gift, and my mom wore those earrings for her wedding. I was so touched when my mom suggested that I wear them for my wedding, too. I sent Alyson photos of the earrings and my dress, and she went to work creating the most gorgeous head piece. Now I have another treasure to pass down to future brides in my family!
What was your favorite moment?
There are so many moments to choose from! It was the happiest 24-hour blur of my whole life. The ceremony was particularly special to both of us. With the sun setting and the snow falling around us, it felt like we were in our own little world. We wrote statements of our love to one another, followed by traditional vows. I think hearing what each other had to say, and then repeating the promises that men and women have made for centuries, then actually getting to say “I do”, was just totally surreal and blissful for both of us!
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