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A short drive from New York City, New Jersey and really, the entire east coast, New York’s Hudson Valley is home to some of Northeast’s finest wedding venues.  From rustic farm weddings, private estate and castle weddings to glamorous, resort country club affairs, the Hudson Valley does have it all.

Many destination weddings will find a haven here – the lush green hills, mountains and of course lakes, ponds and rivers offer a remarkably romantic setting.   These hills are strewn with history and plenty of historical sites that are witness to the past, but are happy to host your modern affair. Chances are you will find a few ballrooms, rustic pavilions and of course, tented sites to create the wedding of your dreams.

Here are just a handful of Hudson Valley wedding locations:

Whistlewood Farm , Twin Lakes,The Grandview, The Garrison, Opus 40

Onteora, Mount Gulian, Mohonk Preserve, James House, Cole hill Farm

Clermont Historic Site, Cedar Lakes Estate, Cat Rock Osborn Castle, Boscobel House

Check out Storied Locations website for more great wedding venues!

We are thrilled to announce one of our new contributors, Laura Ryan.

Laura has been a wedding photographer since 2007.  She first discovered her love of photography while playing with old cameras as a child and pretending to have ” fashion shoots” with her sister.  She studied photography and art history college with a concentration in 20th Century photography.

Laura is based out of Long Island, NY, in which she lives with her husband Keith and her dog, Lobo.

She has a love of all things art, photography, 80’s movies and new wave music. In her spare time she scours Etsy for all things handmade and vintage.

www.lauraryanphotography.com

All images courtesy of ©Laura Ryan Photography, www.lauraryanphotography.com

In the last two years I have photographed weddings at a venue called the Old Field Club.  The Old Field Club was founded by the Melville Family in 1929, and is located in Setauket, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island.   This location and environment has a simple vintage feel with a beautiful waterfront view.  I have photographed there both in the summer and twice in the fall. I can say both times beautiful and especially in the fall because the trees are all changing.

In addition to the outside waterfront spot, down the block there is a old lighthouse and a private beach, both locations great for extra formal photos.  The waterfront property also offers wonderful views for a ceremony.

Cocktail hour is in a separate room towards the back of the club.  If you do have a large party there is a outside back deck where your guests can mingle.  The main ballroom is beautiful with large windows, chandeliers and tall wooden ceilings with views of the water.  The dance floor and bar is located toward the end of the ballroom.  As a personal preference, I like the idea of keeping the dance floor separate from the main dining area.

In addition, the Old Field Club is such a clean, simple, elegant location, you can bring any type of wedding theme and decorations into the venue.

Pros:

Waterfront view, great service, great wait Staff,  large ceremony spot, private, delicious food, bridal suite, ballroom

Cons:

Small cocktail area if you are not utilizing the outside deck area

Dance floor can be small  if you have a band

Wooden ceilings makes it hard for your photographer to bounce flash from the ceiling.  I often use off camera flash for the Old Field Club to spread out light.

To learn more about this venues, visit their website at www.oldfieldclub.com

Centrally located below majestic Mount Mansfield, in Stowe, Vermont lies Top Notch Resort & Spa.   Understated in its quiet luxury, yet balanced by its beautiful surroundings, Top Notch Resort and Spa has proven itself to be one of the finest properties in Vermont to get married.  Offering both indoor and outdoor venue locations, Top Notch Resort and Spa provides all the amenities you would expect from a AAA Four diamond property without any of the pretense. 

Perfect for weddings with large families who are looking for all the comforts of home while staying in Vermont.  Top Notch Resort’s accommodations include newly built 3 bedroom and 3 bath units(can be fully provisioned at your request) with granite counter tops, whirlpool tubs, and gas powered fireplaces.

The tented wedding reception site offers wonderful views of Mount Mansfield, while retaining its intimate and lush meadow feel.   Epicurean’s will delight in Top Notch Resort’s diverse table offerings.  Chef Timmons is known for producing some of Vermont’s finest cuisine, utilizing local farms for meats and produce, he tempts the palate and indulges the senses.    No matter what type of activities you are seeking, Top Notch Resort and Spa provides ample opportunities to enjoy yourself during your Vermont wedding weekend. 

Property Amenities:

• Indoor /outdoor pools and whirlpools
• Full service spa
• Steam rooms
• Saunas
• Gentlemen and Women spa  relaxation lounges
• Hair Salon
• Vermont farm to table restaurant
• Fireside lounge and bar area
• Horse drawn sleigh/carriage rides on site
• Snowmobiling
• Dog Sledding
• Snowshoeing
• Downhill skiing
• Snowboarding
• Cross country skiing
• Indoor tennis courts
• Full service concierge
• Kids club activities

Photographs courtesy of Barrie Fisher and Lucas DeSousa. Top Notch Resort is a sponsor of Storied Locations.

All photos courtesy of Geneve Hoffman, www.genevehoffmanphotography.com

To continue along with vineyard venues, I thought I would post this beautiful wedding shared by one of our contributors, Geneve Hoffman.

Flag Hill is in the seacoast region of New Hampshire, just a short drive North of Boston.  With over 20 acres of rambling vines and incredible vistas, this vineyard is perfect for weddings. Flag Hill Winery also offers a tented reception site, ceremony locations and on site catering.

There is even a distillery on the property. Think of all those signature cocktails!

All photos courtesy of Laura Ryan Photography, www.lauraryanphotography.com

Nestled in between New York City and Orient Point, heading out to the stretch of Long Island known as the North Fork is an incredible wedding venue. Row and row of vineyard grapes along with the oak barrels, wine corks and the blank slate of tent can set the stage for a spectacular dream wedding.

Pellegrini Vineyards is available for weddings on Saturdays from June through September for up to 150 guests. There is a minimum purchase for wine {of course! You are at a vineyard!} and the site fee does not include any rentals. You are provided with a recommended list of professionals, but you are free to select vendors of your choice – bonus!

www.pellegrinivineyards.com

Gay weddings at restaurants can be some of the easiest weddings to plan if you are doing it yourself.  There are some serious advantages to choosing the private dining room of a great restaurant:

• There is usually no room rental fee.
• There is often a great chef with delicious, locally grown and seasonal food.
• Restaurants come in all shapes and sizes and styles – they’re not generally a “blank canvas” so if you like their decor, you can save money on wedding design.
• The bar tab is on consumption so the party can theoretically go all night (or til the restaurant closes) so the wedding doesn’t have to feel rushed.

And the disadvantages:

• There is often no good place to have the ceremony on site.
• Many private dining room coordinators aren’t experienced with weddings so there may be a learning curve.
• There is often no dedicated outside area if you require one.
• Many private dining rooms don’t have windows.
• Most private dining rooms have a maximum capacity of around 50-60 guests so you may be limited in choices unless you would consider a full restaurant buyout (in which the restaurant closes for your
party).  Some couples looking for a wedding bigger than what will fit in a private dining room still choose a restaurant.  To do so, they have to buy it out.  This means that the restaurant will be closed to the public for the private party and the couple would pay the restaurant a minimum amount (typically starts at $10,000) for the right to use the entire restaurant for the night.

That said, I’ve had many gay weddings at restaurants and they are lovely.  My favorite of course is Radius Restaurant, where my company just hosted our 6th anniversary party earlier this month.

Are you considering hosting your gay wedding in a restaurant?

For more information on gay weddings, contact Bernadette Coveney Smith, www.14Stories.com

All images courtesy of Andy Duback, www.andyduback.com

As one of the few New England ocean side venues that can accommodate a large destination wedding, The Wentworth by the Sea fills its niche tremendously.  Boasting 3 ballrooms, 161 guest rooms and amenities you dream about,  The Wentworth by the Sea is sure to be a perfect fit for any couple.

This elegant, historic wedding venue will welcome up to 300 of your friends and family to celebrate your nuptials.  Site fees range from $500-$2,000 and the food and beverage minimums are between $8,000 and $25,000 depending on the season and day of the week. Special offers may apply for Spring 2010 Weddings.

For more information on this wedding venue, please visit www.wentworth.com

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share one of the most romantic ceremony sites in the country. Far North in the 1,000 Island region of Western New York, lies Heart Island and the incredible breathtaking Boldt Castle.

Not just a ostentatious show of money, the Castle was built on love – true love. George C. Boldt – think Waldorf Astoria – began building the Castle as a monument to his wife, Louise, in early 1900.  This gesture of love was stopped short though in 1904 when Louise suddenly passed away. It is said George Boldt was so distraught he halted the construction on the Castle and left Heart Island to never return. The Castle remained abandoned until 1977, at which time the Thousand Island Bridge Authority began restoration efforts and continues to maintain Heart Island today.  Wow! True love… at its grandest!

Ceremonies only,  no wedding receptions are allowed. Nuptials at Boldt Castle are an experience your guests will surely not forget anytime soon.  Keep in mind having a private ceremony on an Island is not inexpensive. Everything – including you and all your guests must be ferried over, regardless of rain or shine. Additional “tolls” may be assessed as well. Be sure to read the fine print on contracts before securing historic venues as well, many stipulations may be in place to protect the integrity of the property!

Our valentine to you: Great Boldt Castle images from Andrea Casey Photography

Happy Valentine’s Day!

All images in this post found.

The Peter White Studios, located on West 26th Street, are perfect for any type of event, but most importantly, perfectly suited for weddings. The raw space is so versatile you can imagine just about anything!  But today, you do not have to imagine.  Many of these photos are well known, but did you know where the event took place?  Peter White Studios is home to many of those incredible weddings you see online and in popular bridal magazines.  Top event professionals are well versed with this space and keep transforming this space from one event to another.

Two studios are available for use, boasting 4500 sq.ft and 5500 sq. feet, with  incredible views overlooking the Hudson. For more information on this space click here http://peterwhitestudios.com.

photos are courtesy of http://peterwhitestudios.com