NICOLE + ROSS | Blue Hill Stone Barns | Tarrytown, New York | October 2017
/This wedding was a joy to plan. During the planning process, Nicole and her mother had somewhat different tastes in aesthetics. However, it was their combined love for the beautiful venue at Stone Barns coupled with our own ability to be not only diplomatic but also showcase ideas that they would both love which, in the end, set them up for success.
One element of their design that was different than most of our weddings is that they both favored paper that had considerable detail. They both moved forward with intricately designed invitations and save the dates a bit on their own and had good renderings early so the over all design fit into the paper details.
Being cohesive was super important to them both and, in particular, the Mother of the Bride. The family entertains enough at home and had learned from past experience that they love consistency. There are many details you cannot see in their photography. Details such as the ribbon and name tags on the flip flops and blankets. Other details like their specialty coffee and hot cocoa station, their enormous and cool outdoor lounge with plenty of games for those less inclined to dance.
You never know what is going to stick after a wedding. The couple’s adorable and memorable first dance, well rehearsed after months of classes, made the whole room tear up. Then the best man speech had so much love you wanted to hug your neighbor. The surprise, albeit less emotional, was the guest’s love for their linens and napkins. Multiple guests asked the Mother of the Bride where their beautiful La Tavola linens came from and they also asked about the dinner napkins, which also came from La Tavola. In fact, two ladies called us separately asking where to purchase their velvet ecru linen lined napkin!
We anxiously await July of 2019 when we will be back at the one-and-only charming Blue Hill at Stone Barns for another buyout!
Happy venue shopping and congratulations again to Nicole + Ross.
Photography by Craig Warga Weddings
Planning + Design | Ashley Douglass Events
Venue | Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Band | FAZE 4 Orchesteras LTD “Scott Yunney Band”
Photographer | Craig Warga Weddings
Videographer | 15 Minutes of Frame
Florist | Blade NYC
Photobooth | New England Selfie
Lighting | Pegasus Productions
Hair | Indulge Salon
Make Up | Hope Landry
Bridal Attire | A Little Something White
Rental Company | Nuage Designs
Rental Company II | Party Rental LTD
Rental Company III | La Tavola
AILEEN + SHAI | The Liberty Warehouse | Red Hook, Brooklyn | January 2018
/Aileen and Shai had a ton going on during the time of their engagement and wedding planning process. For one, they were pregnant! The couple was super happy and over the moon. On top of this, they were already renovating Shai’s loft for Aileen to move in and had to incorporate a new design into the renovation to accommodate their baby. If any of you have renovated any place of your own you know that renovations alone can be like giving birth to a baby with joy and pains along the way. All on top of renovations, preparing for a baby and careers of their own, the couple was still eager to plan a beautiful wedding.
Aileen is very feminine and did not imagine that one day she would get married in a place with any sort of industrial feel. However, in the end the Liberty Warehouse was a perfect fit! The couple did not have a long time to search out a venue so it was a good thing they came to a planning before signing. As their wedding was close to the holidays they were competing very much with holiday parties and events that venues had already booked and were still booking. We started, I think, in early November and this wedding took place in January! Aileen loved how the industrial details in the space were highlighted by the twinkle lights and chandeliers that were provided by Pegasus Lighting.
This wedding is a great example of an end result that is JUST what the clients dreamed of, which always makes our job worthwhile. We have the imagination and experience to put ourselves not just emotionally but visually into the shoes of our clients and we happily do so. Variety is what makes our role more fun! I can appreciate that this wedding was beautiful and we did a good job balancing the different elements that were needed to make Aileen and Shai’s dream come true!
Happy bees they all are now with a beautiful, happy baby boy! Mazel Tov to Aileen and Shai and their new family!
XO
Ashley + Team
Photography by Forged in the North
Planning + Design | Ashley Douglass Events
Florals + Design | Fleurs NYC
Photography | Forged in the North
Venue | Liberty Warehouse
Band | Hank Lane Productions, “ Pete Saunders Band”
Cake | Betty Bakery
Lighting | Pegasus Productions
Hair | Betsy Elisa
Makeup | Every Hue Makeup
Dress | Monique Lhuillier
Stationary | Katie Fischer Design
Rentals | BBJ Rentals
Rentals II | Party Rental LTD
Gather Greene | Catskill Mountains
/Thank you for your patience as we refocus our attention on blogging! It is not as high on our list as doing the actual work of planning a fabulous event is! One thing we do LOVE is to share new venues. Discovering a new venue is such an exciting thing for a planner. Working at a venue we have never worked at before is like being given a blank canvas and a brand new palette of paint.
There are so many wonderful venues in New York City, old and new, that the list would be too long and the blog endless, so we have decided to focus more on those great venues outside of the city. We are going to share a few new venues over the coming weeks in New York State, at least two in Connecticut and perhaps a few more in Newport or Vermont, as well as a new destination location. It can be hard for couples to find the time to visit every venue, so it is great that we as planners can give an overview so that you do not have to take time off from work to travel around here and there only to potentially strike out! There are many details about a venue that effect both your wedding experience as well as your budget. It can be hard for a client to discern all these details if you have not been doing this for forever and a day.
For now, we set our thoughts and starry eyes on Gather Greene, a stunning venue located at the start of the Catskill Mountains. The passionate and smart friends Amna and Jackie began rounding out their vision of an organic resort where nature was the primary decor starting a good four years ago, maybe more. Before officially owning the land, they reached out to ADE about wedding and event planning in general and particularly in the New York State area. Questions were addressed like ‘what features do couples and planners look for most’ and ‘what are the drawbacks that prevent someone from booking a venue they love.’
Many clients are looking for that weekend away experience where everyone can spend quality time together away from their everyday grind. A weekend wedding is not just more intimate but it is also more memorable, with guests departing feeling more connected than when they arrived. There is something magical about a special event being hosted away from it all. Similar to the theater, when people arrive to a location that they have never been before their attention immediately peeks. This really does set the tone for a weekend of little to no distraction.
Amna and Jackie’s venue site is modern and organic in design. The accommodations are dressed with the conveniences of every day life. The outside comes inside, with floor to ceiling window views of the mountains, and sunsets, for each guest to enjoy while getting cozy in bed with a book.
Another problem they have solved is that this beautiful venue has upwards of 17 cabins. It is not often that a weekend long wedding site can house both the immediate family and the bridal party. Additionally, with the town of Hudson New York so close by, there are many extra options for accommodations. From the standard chain hotels, to The Wick and The Rivertown Lodge in the heart of Hudson, and more. Not to mention the plethora of Air B & Bs in the Hudson and Columbia County area.
The Pavilion is where you will most likely host your main event or multiple events at Gather Greene. Again, the outside is brought inside, while maintaining sophistication. The structure is beautiful all on its own without too much adornment yet built with the potential to become more creative. The cement wall at one end of the pavilion is perfect to dress with floral, anything hanging or even a pattern to be projected. The beams above, modern and smart in feel, can also be used to hang decor. Weatherizing options for the sides of the pavilion are in development and the venue is fully prepared to accommodate any off-site caterer in their kitchen. No cook tent needed at Gather Greene, nor restroom trailers.
We have been so excited about this venue from day one and cannot be more excited for these two ladies and the opportunity to work at this one of a kind spot.
The first photo below was taken by a staff cell phone and the succeeding photos were taken by Kelsey Ann Rose.
Photo by kelsey ann rose
PHOTO BY KELSEY ANN ROSE
Photo by kelsey ann rose
Venues | NY State
/As we place last minute clients in venues for 2018 and new clients for 2019, we are happy to share our updated list of venues. Some we have worked at, some we have just visited, other locations clients have hosted accommodations or smaller events and some venues are still being renovated or built. We will update these lists as time moves on soon.
VENUES - HUDSON VALLEY + CATSKILLS
Apple Barn Weddings
Ashokan Dreams B&B
The Barn at Libery Farms
Bascobel
Basilica Hudson
Bear Mountain Inn
Blenheim Farm
Blooming Hill Farm
Brown Barn Farms
Buttermilk Falls Inn
The Carey Institute for Global Good
The Catamount
The Catskill Mountain House
Clermont State Historical Site
Crested Hen Farms
Emerson Resort and Spa
FoxFire Mountain House
Full Moon Resort
The Garrison
Gather Greene
Glenmere Mansion
Glynwood Estate
Grasmere Farm - awaiting it’s reopening date
Handsome Hollow
Hasbrouck House
Hayfield Catskills
The Highlands Country Club
Weddings at The Hill
Hilsinki Hudson
Historic Barns of Nipmoose
Kirby Hill Farm
Liberty View Farm
The Linden House
M + D Farm
Mohonk Mountain House
Mount Tremper Arts
Oak Hill
Onteora Mountain House
Owls Hoot Farm
Oz Farm
Pioneer Farm
Preston Barn
Roundhouse at Beacon
Roxbury Barn and Estate
Shakesspeare on the Hudson
Showdow Lawn NY
Southwood Property
Spillian
Storm King Art Center
The Tin Ballroom
Willow Ridge Farm