Photos by Elena Wolfe Photography
A fall fête set in the mountains with plenty of colorful vintage details might just be the perfect Hudson Valley fall wedding.
After getting engaged on a family trip to Maine, Hannah and Joe knew they wanted a fall wedding with the backdrop of the outdoors and foliage at its peak. They chose Hayfield in Catskill State Park for just that reason.
“Hayfield truly embodied everything we were looking for. The barns and the beautiful surroundings laid the foundation for the aesthetic we [wanted], especially the color of the leaves, which inspired the colors that were featured in the floral arrangements, the bridal bouquet, the invitations, and the color palette I gave my bridesmaids so they could choose their dresses,” says Hannah.
The Details
The invitations, which were fall themed, were designed by the bride’s sister-in-law. She painted leaves in watercolor and then scanned them digitally to create the invitations. “Those motifs were utilized throughout the invitation suite, as well as the programs, menus, and table settings,” says Hannah. “We loved having this unique, personal aspect to the wedding.”
The bride chose to have her four closest friends and three sisters-in-law as bridesmaids. As a gift, the bride had custom pajamas made for her bridesmaids. She worked with the Etsy shop Beyond the Reef to choose fabrics that she thought each woman would like. “They were super comfortable and fun to get ready in, especially as it was a cool fall morning the day of the wedding,” says Hannah.
Hannah gave each bridesmaid a choice of dresses, patterns, and colors to go along with the fall color palette. “It was important to me that each of them chose a dress they would be comfortable wearing so they felt their best,” says Hannah. “I love the mismatched look. I loved all their choices and how they really fit each bridesmaid’s personality, and the way they looked all together at the wedding was exactly what I envisioned.”
For her dress, the bride was the first customer at The One Bridal Boutique in Brooklyn. “My sister-in-law found Halfpenny London on Instagram and sent me a photo of a dress with a similar shape and noted there was a studio in Brooklyn that carried the brand,” says Hannah. “The One Bridal Boutique wasn’t open yet, but [Sue at the boutique] had samples, so she let me come in and try them on. [My dress] is actually a top and skirt, and I just loved it from the beginning. Not only was it beautiful, but it was really comfortable.”
For her shoes, the bride wanted to have a pop of color and chose burgundy velvet pumps. “I absolutely loved them, but they were not comfortable, which I learned the hard way,” says Hannah. “My biggest advice for any bride now is to get comfortable shoes!”
The couple chose to have a short nondenominational ceremony officiated by their dear friend. “Having someone close to us who knows us both really well and therefore was able to bring very personal touches to the celebration and then be the one to pronounce us husband and wife was beyond special,” says Hannah.
The Reception
The table assignments were written on vintage window frames the couple rented from Hudson Valley Vintage Rentals. “The look and feel of that display fit perfectly with the rustic beauty of the barns and gave a nice, no-frills touch to the seating,” says Hannah.
Vintage pieces were also used throughout the reception. There was vintage furniture set up for guests to lounge on, as well as colorful glasses on the tables.
I love everything vintage in regard to furniture,” says Hannah. “Since we had the cocktail hour outside, I knew right away we needed tables and seating. Setting up those vignettes was another way to add in unique touches and colors that fit into the overall aesthetic for the wedding.”
For the food, the groom, Joe, took charge since the caterer was his parents’ business, One Twenty One restaurant in North Salem. The menu incorporated the couple’s favorite dishes, seasonal ingredients and even family recipes. “During cocktail hour we had a passed hors d’oeuvre of Grandma’s zucchini pie, one of our favorite dishes his grandmother makes, and during dinner we had sides of seasonal vegetables,” says Hannah. “Everything was served family-style so everyone could have a taste of everything.”
In lieu of a traditional cake, the couple chose to do a dessert bar featuring a selection of their favorites, including panna cotta, baked apples — a fall wedding favorite — and tiramisù, as well as a bar with espresso martinis, one of their favorite drinks.
Colorful Touches
Throughout the entire day there were tastefully presented pops of color — from the yellow bikes for guests to ride at the Eastwind Hotel & Bar, to the foliage-inspired florals and tabletop décor.
“It was important for me to use local vendors whenever possible, and for the florals I wanted everything to be in season, which Kelsey at Heart & Soil Flowers [in Newburgh] is a pro at,” says Hannah. “I love dahlias and how they come in all different colors, so we started there. For my bouquet, I wanted vibrant, fall colors to stand out against the white dress, and for the bridesmaids, since they were all wearing different colors, I chose to simple white [flowers] so their dresses were the main focus. We also added some greenery throughout the barns.”
For the table décor, Hannah chose white table runners and white plates. “I always think food looks best on a white plate,” she says. She added color with the flowers and the colorful glassware lent to her by her sister-in-law, making this fall wedding a true family affair.
All the details came together beautifully to create a colorful fall fête of the couple’s dreams.
Planner | Bethany Pickard, Modern Kicks
Photographer | Elena Wolfe Photography
Videographer | Hello Super Studios
Flowers | Heart & Soil Flowers
Vintage Furniture | Hudson Valley Vintage Rentals
Calligrapher | Ella Romero, Farebella
Band | Kazz Music
Photo Booth | Hudson Trailer Co.
Caterer | One Twenty One
Accommodations | Eastwind Hotel & Bar
Dress | Halfpenny London from The One Bridal Boutique
Suit | Hugo Boss
Hair | Kyra Tarquinio
Makeup | Kim Misner
Read More: 5 Tips for a Foolproof Fall Wedding in Westchester