A Gorgeous Outdoor Wedding in Hudson Valley

Nicole and Mike hosted a fabulous outdoor wedding in Hudson Valley this summer, and we have been waiting to share their gorgeous wedding photos and a few outdoor dining tips here on the blog! These two took advantage of a small venue and truly made it their own. Both the ceremony and reception were completely open air. They chose not to have a tent, so we were ready for ANYTHING. We were hyperfocused the entire day to ensure the execution was flawless. Today, we are going to share some behind-the-scenes and a few tips if you are also dreaming of an open air affair.

Hosting an outdoor wedding can have its share of challenges, so if this is something you are considering for your own outdoor wedding, you can learn more about our wedding planner services here. As wedding planners who have specialized in unique wedding venues for almost a decade now, this definitely isn’t the type of affair you want to handle by yourself. With that said, as you can see if the photos below, it is well worth the extra planning effort!!

Creating the Outdoor Wedding Design & Vibe

I truly enjoyed working with Nicole and Mike to execute their wedding day vision. They kept mentioning the vibe they wanted, above the details. Nicole’s dress was a huge inspiration throughout the entire design process as well. It really spoke to the gilded age/downtown abbey vibe the couple loved so much. We didn’t start designing until she found THE DRESS.

Both Nicole and Mike wanted the design to feel very whimsical. Not overly trendy, but still feel like a wedding. We started with a classic yet natural color palette of greenery, ivory, and pops of pink in the florals. More than anything, they wanted their guests to remember a good time. We included several surprising little touches for their guests to enjoy. They wanted their wedding day to feel magical.

Hiring a Hudson Valley Wedding Planner

When I first spoke to Nicole and Mike, one of the things they mentioned being a high priority was the logistics of the wedding day. I have to admit, this isn’t something I often hear as a wedding planner (couples often mention florals, traditions, or something else of the sort), but as wedding planners it made our hearts sing when they said they wanted everything to be “flawlessly executed”. They didn’t want a pretty wedding that wasn’t enjoyable to be at. Their guests’ comfort came up in many planning conversations and was a top priority. On top of that, especially with outdoor weddings without a tent, you always need a plan B that can be quickly executed in case of rain.

On top of that, Nicole and Mike wanted to make sure there were no awkward “lulls” leaving guests not knowing what’s next. They didn’t want dinner to take hours and drain the energy by the time they were ready to hit the dance floor. They were hiring a wedding planner to take their stress away and help them remain completely present on their wedding day and enjoy themselves in every moment.

Outdoor Dining Under the Stars

Nicole and Mike chose family-style dining for their catering style which fit perfectly into the effortless and welcoming vibe they wanted to create for their wedding day. It also gave us a chance to add in a node to Nicole’s love of charcuterie. The entire evening was a toast to what the couple truly loves – great food, being out in nature, an abundance of candlelight and whimsical, magical decor. Their wedding day was as unique as they are.

Open Air Outdoor Wedding Planning

As you can tell, the extra planning details that came with hosting an open air, outdoor wedding, were well worth the effort. We were fortunate that the weather cooperated and Nicole and Mike had a chance to enjoy their wedding day exactly as they had envisioned. If you are feeling inspired by their gorgeous wedding design and vibe, we would love to hear from you. You can connect with Angela, our lead wedding planner and creative director, here.