Troutbeck recalls a beautiful, English country manor right here in the Hudson Valley.  Lovely stonework, gorgeous gardens, trickling streams and lush lawns.  Perfect for a wedding celebration.

Literary icons have been drawn to Troutbeck since its construction in 1765: Emerson, Thoreau, Hemingway.  It’s no wonder Andrea and Scott chose it for their day; the couple runs an art gallery together, Scott is a poet and they share a deep affinity for literature and history.

They brought that love of history into their wedding by naming their tables with their grandparents’ first names.  The tables were arranged banquet style, adorned with multiple arrangements of yellow roses and white flowers alternating at every place setting.

Andrea was just lovely in her pocketed wedding dress.  Everything enabled the relaxed, laid back yet sophisticated elegance of Andrea and Scott’s Troutbeck wedding.

After dinner, Andrea and Scott ignited the dancing with their First Dance to “My Baby Just Cares For Me,” by Nina Simone, leading into Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love.”  From there we sampled the couples favorites, from the Beastie Boys to Stephen Malkmus to Snoop Dogg and Johnny Cash.

“Scott never dances!” Andrea exclaimed, shaking her head as she watched him pogo to Elvis Costello.

We ended the night with Yo La Tengo’s “Our Way To Fall,” the song that just missed being the couple’s first dance.  Then the guests were off to a midnight snack of grilled cheese and fries at the bar.

This wedding was the perfect match for our photographer friends Sara and Sarma who we last worked with at the Garrison…a wedding that was a featured in The Knot magazine!  Let me tell you, these ladies have the goods.

Troutbeck

Photos by Sara and Sarma

Jeff and I met with a bride-to be at Troutbeck in Amenia, NY this week.  We typically meet with couples in our home, but we were happy for an excuse to visit the gorgeous inn.   We performed for a wedding there over 3 years ago, and at the time I was struck by the beauty and history of Troutbeck.  You can see a bit of the outside in this video clip.  (We’re just playing with our new Flip video camera, so it’s a little clumsy.  I promise we’ll improve!)

The Troutbeck Inn is rich with history, boasting guests such as Ernest Hemingway and Teddy Roosevelt back in its hay day.  You can just feel the history when you’re there; in the leaded glass windows, beautiful stone work, the dark wood floors and bookcases crammed with antique books, the impressive stone fireplace in the ballroom, its deep red walls.  A calm, cozy relaxation settled over me as soon as I stepped inside.

Troutbeck’s equally impressive exterior is the essence of an English country manor.  Of course, you can’t see the gardens in the winter, but that’s where our bride plans to marry, beneath the stone archway in the garden.

It’s the perfect destination wedding location nestled at the foot of the Berkshires, an awesome way to introduce your guests to the Hudson Valley.  Troutbeck fits the bride planning a sophisticated, elegant wedding and looking for a historic location to host an entire wedding weekend.

One of my favorite features are the streams running through the property.  On our way out, I made Jeff stop our van on the bridge to listen to the water.  My amateur film doesn’t come close to capturing the picturesque scene, but you can hear the running brook and imagine its lush, green brilliance in spring time.

I love it!  Have you ever visited Troutbeck?  Feel free to leave me a comment.