Planner: Jeanne Stark, Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Venue: Basilica Hudson
Photographer: Jessie Casey Photography
Caterer: Victoria’s Wood Fired Pizza
DJ: DJ Freddie
Rentals: Columbia Tent Rentals
Videographer: Ben Pliss Media
Officiant: Stuart Chernoff, Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Florist: Catskill Florist and Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Cake: Hudson Valley Dessert Company
James & Stacey
Wedding Location: The Rhinecliff Hotel
Ceremony Officiant: Jeanne Stark, Hudson Valley Ceremonies
Photographer: Jean Kallina of Hudson Valley Photographer
Videographer: The Pros
DJ/Band: Flag Medeiros of Medeiros Black Tie DJ Entertainment
Florist: Floral Fantasies by Sara
Bridal Attire: Hayley Paige Gown from Bridal Beginnings in Pittsburgh, PA
Men’s Attire: Calvin Kline
Rings/Jewelry His- Anna Sheffield Hers- Tiffany’s
Hair/Makeup: Alyse Schiffman from Alyse B Salon
Invitations/Favors: Wedding Paper Divas
Advice From The Newlyweds
Make your wedding fit who you are as a couple, not just as individuals. Have fun, take deep breaths, make memories and enjoy the day. Relax, don’t stress out about every detail, the day will be perfect once you finally get to say “I Do”.
Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs Nelson who were married at Hunter Mountain on March 8th!
Advice from the couple:
A Valentine’s Day theme wedding is sure to be a romantic event with careful planning and operation. Here are some ideas and tips for your big day.
* Invitations: There are plenty of romantic wedding invitation designs out there, choose one with doves, roses, hearts or other Valentine’s Day typical signs to set the mood for your wedding ceremony. Pick your favorite envelopes with red liners and don’t forget the double heart stamps.
* Color Scheme: Pink, purple, red and white are traditional Valentine’s Day colors. However, just choose your favorite shades and hues to decorate your wedding party.
* Wedding Dress: A romantic bridal gown is a must for a Valentine theme wedding. Fluffy skirts, off the shoulder collars, puffy sleeves, sweetheart neckline and appliqués are ideal incorporation for Valentine’s outfit. You may even add a little red or pink touch to your dress, or choose a pink wedding dress for a sweet princess look. Hot lace or light-colored pearl embellishments are also amazing.
* Attire: The groom and his best men should wear formal tuxedos to match the romantic atmosphere. They may even try red or pink shirts to match the color scheme. The bridal party gowns should be as romantic as the wedding theme, but not overpower the wedding dress.
* Flowers: Undoubtedly, roses are the favorite flowers for a Valentine wedding, and pink, purple, red or white blooms match the theme. Pink lilies or tulips are also great choices which add a unique touch.
* Decorations: Besides flowers, there are still other decorations such as candles, lace and ribbons. Scatter heart-shaped confetti on guest tables and hang heart-shaped balloons over the entrance arc for a whimsical touch.
* Menu: A romantic menu could include any foods you like, such as your first date dinner. Choose chocolate covered strawberries as your appetizers. Rich hot cocoa is warm and popular in the winter holiday. Pink champagne is a superb choice for a romantic wedding.
* Wedding Cake: White chocolate and red roses covered heart-shaped wedding cake would be a perfect match for your Valentine’s wedding.
* Wedding Favors: Heart shaped favors may offer your guests a touch of romance. Colorful candies, strawberry jams, sparkling spoons, double heart photo frames are perfect for Valentine favors.
* Wedding Music: Choose love songs for weddings to play during reception.
From Christmas to New Years Eve, what better time for shopping, meeting family and friends, exchanging gifts, and . . . getting married. When you think about it, what better time during this “season of giving” than to share the most important gift of all — your marriage. And yes, the holiday season is an ideal time to elope.
The holiday season elope is popular for many reasons:
– Your marriage is one of the greatest gifts that you can give and share;
– Elopement destinations are specially decorated and offer more picture opportunities;
– The holiday festivities and goodwill of others add to the romance of your wedding; and
– Combine your elope wedding with a winter sport honeymoon — a ski vacation, for example.
Picking the Perfect Gift
Picking the perfect gift during the holidays is one of life’s most difficult chores. You want your gift to be: romantic; heart-felt; represent an important part of me; valuable; and most of all — forever. It is difficult to think of a more priceless gift than the gift of love and support of each other throughout time.
The Most Festive Season
During the holiday season, all the travel destinations are decorating their establishments with festive Christmas trees, garlands made of evergreens, wreaths with poinsettia, gift-wrapped packages, twinkling lights, ornamental holiday characters figurines, fancy red and gold ribbons, the crackle of wood in a burning fireplace, and much more. Imagine the wonderful wedding picture opportunities these festive holiday decorations will offer. And in addition to the decorations, many destinations will also be offering holiday feasts and menu specials to celebrate the holidays — and of course your wedding, also.
Beware though, the holiday season is also the most popular travel time and some destinations may be crowded. Always call ahead and speak to the manager about your ideas and plans. In most cases, early reservations will be the safest. On the other hand, brides tend to be lucky and your destination may be able to accommodate you on short notice. Either way, call ahead for details.
Romance in the snow
A holiday season elopement is also a great opportunity to travel to a wintry location and enjoy a winter sport honeymoon. There are a multitude of travel destinations that offer every kind of winter sport and activity imaginable: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing and sledding, sleigh riding, ice skating and much more. Add a few extra days to your elopement and enjoy the outdoor winter activities. The most important thing is to remember to bring warm outdoor wear; you can easily rent sport equipment everywhere. And if you don’t know how to ski or snowboard — professional lessons will have you schussing and gliding like a pro in a few hours.
Antonio & Cheryl 11/4 at Overlook Lodge
Mike & Pamela 11/4 at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel
Inna & Gregory 11/5 at The Stone House B&B
Glen & Sally 11/7 at The Rhinecliff
Brian & Ann Marie 11/11 in Hopewell Junction, NY
Matthew & Tiffany 11/12 in Stanfordville, NY
Justin & Jami 11/12 at Ceola Manor
Victor & Kristina 11/18 at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel
Leah & Jonathan 11/19 in Hudson, NY
Vanessa & Mike 12/2 at HVC
Chris & Jennifer 12/3 in Yorktown Heights, NY
Kevin & Rosaria 12/17 at HVC
Evelyn & Claudia 12/23 at Minnewaska State Park
Mike & Willa 12/31 at Bear Mountain Inn
Nicholas & Carlina 12/31 at Patriot Hills
Jason & Jason 1/17 in Beacon, NY
Maria & Christopher 1/27 at HVC
Robert & Nena 1/28 at HVC
Melody & David 1/28 in Hopewell Junction, NY
Rudy & Nadine 2/11 at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel
Rene & Dominique 2/17 at HVC
Kyle & Kayla 2/25 at HVC
Devon & Nicole 2/25 in Rhinebeck, NY
Angel & Ann Marie 2/26 at The Bykenhulle House
Choosing your wedding color theme is one of the first decisions you’ll need to make when you start planning your wedding. Colors will set the tone of your wedding and determine the dresses, decor, and stationery that you order. Whether you’re thinking about a bold color combination or something more subdued, considering these factors will help you choose the right wedding colors theme.
First of all, consider the colors that will make up your background. For most couples, this will be a church or religious establishment followed by a banquet hall. Take trips to the place where your ceremony is going to happen. What color are the carpets? What color are the walls? If there is stained glass in the windows, what colors are used? Take notes and even take photos of your ceremony location. Then take a visit to your reception hall. Again, jot down or take photos of the general decor.
Think about what colors would and would not go with your wedding ceremony and reception locales. If the church you’re getting married in has red carpets and primary colors in its stained glass windows, a lime green and hot pink combination just might clash. Red, navy blue, dark green, or other bold primary colors would go well with the windows, while in summer you can probably do pastels. Loud neon colors would just be too much when there’s already a lot of color happening.
If you haven’t chosen a ceremony location yet, try to find something with a blank pallet of white walls so there won’t be any limitations in your wedding color combination choices.
Don’t forget to think about your bridesmaids. Although you may look good in every color of the rainbow, your gal pals may not. Some people just don’t look good in mustard yellow or fire engine red. Ask your girls if there are any colors they usually try to avoid and cross those colors off of your options list. Remember that darker colors can have a slimming effect, and weight conscious bridesmaids will certainly not want to wear a shade of white.
Once you’ve narrowed down your wedding color theme choices, think about what colors generally go with the season of your wedding. Oranges and yellows can work great for a fall wedding, while light blue and silver surely speak of a winter wonderland theme wedding. Darker colors are usually used in for a winter wedding, while pastels reign for spring weddings.
Bold colors are great for summer weddings or beach-themed weddings. Although those may be the trends, don’t be afraid to break from tradition to use your favorite color combination. Make sure you choose wedding colors you enjoy, and not an outrageous combination you’ll be sick of by the time your honeymoon rolls around! Follow these tips and you’re sure to come up with the perfect combination for you.
You Me Oui Photography
Lisa
lisa@youmeouiphotography.com
www.youmeouphotography.com
www.youmeouiphotography.com/blog
Willa and Mike ~ December 31, 2011 ~ Overlook Lodge at Bear Mountain
Very few things tend to be as beautiful and magical as a winter wedding. The summer season is filled with stereotypical “dream weddings”, but it’s all to easy to overlook the options and individuality of a winter wedding. Let’s look at how a winter wedding will make your big day a day to remember.
Why a winter wedding?
There are several reasons you may opt to have your special day during the winter weather. The most simple explanations? Perhaps you or your sweetie don’t like the heat. Or maybe winter is your favorite time year. Perhaps you just want to stand right out in the crowd. Or maybe you want to fully appreciate a honeymoon in a very warm climate.
Many times winter weddings are more cost-effective because it’s the off-season. Some venues reduce their prices during the off-season to bring in more business. Remember too that a number of places routinely decorate for the holidays; this allows you to definitely spend less on flowers and rentals. And with that snow – just think of the photo opportunities! You will have the ability to be so creative with your photographer, from cuddly fur stoles and cozy boots under your custom made wedding dress to a smooch under the mistletoe.
You won’t have to concern yourself with poor weather ruining your outdoor event. However, a lot of people travel during the wintry weather holidays or head to the south for vacations, so you’ll have to share your wedding date with your guests a lot earlier for them to reserve the date.
How can winter elements make your wedding magical?
There are several ways you can use winter to your advantage. Here are a few ways to get you started:
1. Numerous reception halls, churches, as well as venues decorate for the winter months and holidays. These decorations add flavor in your wedding. For a heat, as well as an intimate feel at your reception, look for a setting with a fireplace, a historic estate, or a private clubhouse. Other winter-themed decorations to take into account: an all-white cake covered in silver snowflakes; ice sculptures; and centerpieces made from sprigs of cranberries encircling pillar candles.
2. The best photographer will have a great deal of ideas for poses not to mention props that will insert that important dash of winter into your photos. In particular, for outdoor photos you will need to wear a wrap or shrug. You can coordinate this with the groom’s attire and huddle with him under a snow-covered pine tree for a unique, everlasting portrait. Skilled photographers are able to capture the sparkling light on the snow while portraying you your groom at your best. Other possible props comprise of snowmen, ice sculptures, holiday decor, poinsettias, and cute boots protruding from under your dress.
3. Guests can be enveloped in winter warmth while they are at your wedding reception with gourmet hot dark chocolate or spiced wine and by dining on warm pumpkin soups, among other winter plates. Possible party favors include spiced hot chocolate mix, snow globes, or dressed-up christmas cookie cutters.
Winter weddings supply the best of both worlds: tons of options to select from and lower pricing for it all.
Weddings can be expensive. Many people save most of their lives for their wedding, and can easily spend thousands alone on just the dress. However, planning your own wedding on a strict budget isn’t impossible. In fact, many find it gives them a chance to be more creative, and make a more personable wedding experience, for both you and your guests. With so few couples looking to save, a more competitive wedding vendor market has emerged. You’ll find that not only do you have more options to choose from, but that it is also easy to stick to the budget you’ve set, and not sacrifice your dream wedding.
There are a few tips that you can follow that will help you save money and cut spending, all while not sacrificing your wedding vision.
~ As little as choosing the right date for your big day can affect the overall cost. Wedding venues, such as reception halls, will ask near three times the cost for a summer or fall wedding, compared to on off-peak season date.
~ You can also choose a flower that is in bloom during your set date, which cuts down on the costs of expensive imports.
~ When it comes to the dress, avoid those expensive retail stores and check out your online resources. You can find designer dresses for a fraction of the price, sold by former brides.
~ For those brides and grooms who are particularly creative, consider the following options: baking and decorating your own wedding cake, sewing your own gown or bridesmaids dresses, creating gifts for the guests and more.
~ As for the venue, you can easily cut your wedding expenses in half by choosing an nontraditional location. For example, a friend’s back yard, farm, or property.
The best part about planning a wedding on a budget? It gives you a chance to think outside the box, and make your big day a truly memorable one.
