Carrie was lovely with her blonde hair drawn up, allowing tendrils to curl over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled.

Photo by Steph

The Details

The bridesmaids wore sheer latte gowns and carried bouquets of pale green orchids and magenta calla lilies.  The guys wore black suits with calla lily boutonnières.  Fuchsia flowers set into stone vases sat in the center of each table, surrounded by aqua napkins.

In her toast, Michael’s sister turned to Carrie’s Facebook status to trace the journey of Carrie and Mike’s relationship over the past few years.  They had unexpectedly (and uncharacteristically) met in Las Vegas.

Carrie’s Facebook status summed it up.  “They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I guess that’s not true.  We’re getting married!”

The Love

Carrie and Michael wrote love letters for each other.  In his, Michael admitted that, “he wasn’t the neatest guy” and Carrie reminisced about their first date when he showed up, “dripping in sweat and carrying a giant diet Coke.”  Their love letters were as warm and sweet as they are!

Photo by Steph

The Music

The night let us dip into some 90’s old school hip hop, like Notorious BIG and Tupac, along with rock and roll classics by the Stones.  I loved watching guests on the dance floor raise their hands over Michael’s head (no easy task!) to “California Love.”

Thanks so much for inviting us to be a part of your incredible day!

West Park Winery

Photos by Dawna Cservak

Let’s be blunt.  It was HOT.  We’ve had a string of 95 plus degree days that are enough to suck the life out of anyone.  When it gets hot at a wedding, guests can get crabby and uncomfortable.

But this wasn’t a problem at Lisa and Sam’s wedding, thanks to their game personalities…and West Park’s air conditioned tent.  Ahhhhh.

Lisa and Sam made a speedy entrance into the cool air and I got to read their love letters to each other before their first dance.  Sam declared how he felt like he didn’t need anything else when Lisa was around, “except maybe some food.”  Lisa listed the Reasons Why she was marrying Sam…one of which was because she never had to worry about wearing high heels (Sam is quite a bit taller than the already statuesque Lisa.)

THE DETAILS:  Emerald green linens on the tables set with a vase of white daisies.  The bridesmaids wore emerald gowns with a silver sash at the waist and carried white daisy bouquets.  Instead of a cake there was a beautiful display of cupcakes topped with green sugar flowers and at the top a miniature cake topped with bride and groom penguins.

The tables were numbered after significant events in Lisa and Sam’s courtship: the 2006 Table (the year they met at Ohio State) and the 134 Table (the number of days after Sam first said I love you that it took Lisa to admit she felt the same.)

Lisa was amazingly beautiful in her strapless gown, with a quick smile and that mischievous twinkle in her eye.  Her emerald and diamond earrings added a gorgeous splash of color to match her girls.

Lisa’s family made a place for the famous German family toast and taught guests how to sing along as well.

You want to talk about dance floor energy?  These guys tore it up!  I especially enjoyed Sam’s “Single Ladies” moves (seriously, he does them as well as Beyonce) and the spontaneous choreography spurred on by Sam’s brother and sister.  Amazing!

Sam and Lisa, you inspire me with your love and fun-filled energy.  Thanks so much for inviting us to be a part of your day!

West Park Winery

Photos by Hillary Harvey

Photo by Steph

come to expect: non-stop, crazy dancing Hudson Valley weddings!  Jill and Jay’s reception under the tent was all that and MORE.

What makes this a recipe for a fabulous party?  Well, the newlyweds partying attitude set the tone.  They were introduced to a live version of “Two Step” by Dave Matthews and hit the floor with unstoppable energy.  Yep, it’s contagious.

THE DETAILS:  Lavender and white rose centerpieces and photos of the couple with table numbers on the back.  The bridesmaids wore lavender/pewter gowns.  The cake topper was a groom on skiis carrying the bride on his back.

Jill was gorgeous with her curls pulled into an elegant updo.  No wonder Jay had us play, “Hot For Teacher” as he removed her garter!  I loved watching the newlyweds dancing close and whispering the words to Ray Lamontagne’s “Let It Be Me.”

The kids at this wedding were absolutely beautiful.  Three little sisters in matching patterned yellow sundresses paired off and danced with their little boy cousins, each eight months apart.  So cute!

After dinner we indulged Jay and Jill’s love of 90′s pop and old school hip hop with Boyz II Men, the Spice Girls, Naughty By Nature and Biggy.  Yes, I must admit that is my era!  Of course, we didn’t forget the 80′s either; the entire dance floor did the arm pumping Wham! dance to “Wake Me Up Before You Go.”

The guests gave Jay and Jill an arm in arm send off on a NY note to “Empire State of Mind” and “New York, New York.”  The love was so palpable I could taste it.  (Or was that the champagne sprayed into the air by the Best Man?)

Smiling faces, laughter, singing and dancing.  Jill and Jay, it was an amazing night.  Thanks for making us a part of it!

West Park Winery

The couple glowed in the rays of the setting sun during their ceremony on the hilltop.  They chose orchestral covers by The Vitamin String quartet for their processional music: “In Your Eyes” (originally by Peter Gabriel) for the bridesmaids and “Stolen” (originally by Dashboard Confessional) for Christina.  The groomsmen wore black suits with red ties to match the ladies in red.

CEREMONY READING: An excerpt from Plato’s Symposium.  “And when one of us meets our other half, we are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy, and would not be out of the other’s sight even for a moment. We pass our whole lives together, desiring that we should be melted into one…”

Christina and Chris’ wedding reception under the West Park Winery tent erupted into unbridled energy.  They were introduced to “Love You Madly” by Cake and shared a lovely first dance to Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.”

THE DETAILS:  Red rose flower arrangements on the tables, favors of chocolate monograms in elegant silver boxes, hearts on the menus and on the place cards.  Two baskets of brown and red flip flops were a huge hit with the ladies in high heels.

We worked in groups Incubus and 311 into the dinner music, then dove into crowd pleasing sing alongs by Journey and Bon Jovi.  Christina and Chris had dreamed of creating a fun, laid-back “dive bar” atmosphere for their wedding, and the experience at West Park was a perfect fit…except the food was much, much better than any bar!

Thanks for letting us share in such an amazing day.  Enjoy Aruba, guys!

West Park Winery

Photos by Todd Laffler of Laffler Photography *All photos in this blog post courtesy of Todd Laffler

Day of Wedding Coordination by JoAnn of What Dreams Are Made Of

Flowers by Aubrey Flowers

Cake by La Deliziosa

Their wedding was a brilliant blend of rustic elegance and intricate detail with a dash of quirky fun. Laura and Steve absolutely poured themselves into the details…and it showed.

COOL DETAILS: Laura’s four brothers made the birch tree place card holders; Laura and Steve designed a wedding word search puzzle on chalkboard for guests to find words like LAURA, STEVE and LOVE. Guests enjoyed custom printed menus for the meal and specialty cocktails: Something Old (Manhattan, Rob Roy), Something New (Wild Hibiscus Daquiri), Something Borrowed (Tonic Flight) and Something Blue (Aruba Waves.)

Vicki of Deja vu Event Creation put her floral expertise to work on Laura’s challenge: an arrangement incorporating red and purple.  The result was an elegant early autumn inspiration that perfectly complimented the winery’s rustic beauty.

The white wedding cake was wrapped in brown ribbon and topped with a jeweled tree cake topper matching their menu and programs.

But it was the groom’s cake that had tongues wagging…and the groomsmen drooling.  A pile of Kwik-E-Mart donuts topped with a happy Homer Simpson, Duff beers in hand, next to his quote.  “Now what is a wedding? Well, Webster’s dictionary describes a wedding as the process of removing weeds from one’s garden.”

West Park Winery’s chef did an outstanding job with the multiple courses including entrees of Beef Wellington and roasted quail, but it was the “Gooey Pasta a la Booey” mac ‘n cheese that stole the show. The newlyweds imported the recipe from their favorite restaurant, and I literally saw guests roaming from table to table to “borrow” the leftovers!

Finally, Laura and Steve made S’mores kits for their guests to take home as favors.

See what I mean about the detail?

But what really struck me about Laura and Steve’s day was the warmth and love they shared with their guests. From their letters to each other, a humorous and sentimental toast by Steve’s brother and Best Man, to the way Steve drew Laura onto the dance floor in a stolen moment to dance to “Everything” by Michael Buble.

Laura was an inspiration in her thoughtfulness, creativity and ingenuity. Thanks for sharing your day with us, guys!

West Park Winery

Photos by Bob & Carin Liljedahl-Skinner *All photos in this blog courtesy of Skinner Photography

Wedding Planning by Deja vu Event Creation

We waited as the black stretch Lincoln Navigator carrying Megan and her bridesmaids inside rolled to a stop.  The bridesmaids stepped out in plum dresses and matching jeweled sandals.  The tiny ring bearers in tan suits, one with a green and navy tie, the other in a navy bow tie, followed their procession down the aisle.  Finally, Megan stepped out of the Navigator and took her father’s arm as Jeff played “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz on acoustic guitar.  Her hair was drawn up and fixed with a white flower beneath her veil.

CEREMONY READINGS:  Megan and Kevin’s parents did readings for the ceremony, first a poem by e.e. cummings, then selections from the Bible, followed by the reading of a prayer in Zulu by Kevin’s sister and an English translation.

The couple read the words of intent they had written for each other, Megan reminiscing about how they first met at “The Pig” where they stole their first kiss, Kevin relating in his charming South African accent how he came to know Megan, “within the pretty wrapping was the greatest gift” of his life.

The Reverend Puja Thomson presented the newlyweds in her lovely Scottish accent with final blessing; I looked up to notice a hawk circling overhead.  As the newlyweds kissed and walked down the aisle, Jeff strummed a song that had been written by Megan’s grandfather for her mother’s wedding years ago.

Megan and Kevin’s moving ceremony was just the beginning.  To honor Kevin’s South African heritage, their friend Mark acted as master of ceremonies, introducing the couple and the events.  A series of speeches followed, a lovely roast of the groom delivered by the Best Man, recounting their adventures traveling across Europe and ending with a quote written by Kevin at age 21 describing the meaning of life.  “Eat life, including the skin and the pits, so that when it comes time for you to die you don’t need to ask for a second chance.  There isn’t one.”

The music spanned the genres, including Belle and Sebastian, Earth Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson and the Black Crowes.  One of the highlights featured Megan and her girls in sunglasses performing a surprise choreographed dance to, “Ladies Night” by Kool and the Gang.

From the ceremony vows to the speeches and unbridled enthusiasm on the dance floor, Megan and Kevin’s family and friends were amazing, guests who traveled literally from all over the world to share their day.  What a pleasure!

West Park Winery

Ceremony performed by Puja Thomson

Flowers by Floral Fantasies by Sara

Sabrina and Scott’s wedding was a mix of fire and water, passion and leisure, that kept guests enlivened and entertained with the ebb and flow of energy.

When Jeff and I arrived for set up, the couple and bridal party were enjoying a photo shoot with photographer Dawna Cservak against the backdrop of the rustic winery and the stone foundation beside it.  Sabrina shrieked to see us, bubbling with excitement over the party to come.

Sabrina and Scott were introduced into the winery with a dramatic entrance down the stairs, and I read the poem Scott had written and read to Sabrina as a part of his proposal on their surprise ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  He recollected their chance encounter in a bar, their move to New York City, the transformation “from renters to buyers, to cleaning the drain with an old pair of pliers.”

The couple danced to this sweet cover of “In My Life” by Allison Crowe.

The poetry continued with the Best Man’s speech, a humorous account of Sabrina and Scott’s relationship, the union of a Chilean activist/animal lover with an American sports fanatic/commercial banker.  He spoke of Scott’s transformation from “keggers” to “Chilean wine” and so many pithy references (most of them good-hearted jabs at Scott) that I wish I had recorded them!

After a leisurely dinner in the tent, the guests returned inside the winery for Sabrina’s dance with her father.  They led everyone in a ceuca, the national dance of Chile re-enacting the courting ritual of the rooster and the hen; the male being enthusiastic and somewhat aggressive in pursuit of the demure female.  Before long, guests American and Chilean alike where strutting the dance floor waving kerchiefs in the air.

Fireworks on the hillside celebrated Scott and Sabrina’s marriage after the cake, then back inside to rock the dance floor with Beyonce, Shakira and Lady Gaga.  Sabrina danced non-stop…just like she promised.

Not even the torrential downpour that opened up on Jeff and me just as we were loading out could knock the smile off my face on the way home.

West Park Winery

Photos by Dawna Cservak

Cake by La Deliziosa

Allison and Steve couldn’t have had a more beautiful day for their wedding at West Park Winery if they had custom-ordered it.  Just a touch of coolness in the air kept their guests comfortable under the tent all night long.

Photographs are incredibly important to Allison, and she shared some of her favorites with their guests.  Allison and Steve were high school sweethearts who met at age 16, so each table was named for a special place or event in their lives…College, Proms, Vanderbilt…and adorned romantic with photos of the couple at every age.  Allison’s cousin put together a slide show photographic journey with the newlyweds from childhood, the time they met, and growing up together that was shown just before their First Dance.

(You can tell by these pictures that Allison made the right photographer choice in Steve Planck of Blue Sky Photography!)

The tent was just gorgeous with spring wildflower featuring daffodils, lilacs and cherry blossoms.  And it was a tearful Father Daughter dance for Allison and her father to “Then They Do” by Trace Adkins.

SPOILER ALERT:  Don’t read on if you’re soon to be a West Park Winery guest or you’ll ruin the surprise…

This season West Park is including an impressive fireworks display with every wedding!  The sky was lit with spectacular colors, ending with a flaming heart on the hill.

One of my favorite moments of the night came after the cake cutting when we sang “Happy Birthday” to Allison’s brother, Todd.  Once she had Todd up on the dance floor, we sang a few verses and scraaaaatch…slammed into “Apache” by Sugar Hill Gang.  Check out how Allison and Steve tore it up for their delighted guests…

West Park truly outdid themselves this time!  And so did Allison and Steve.

West Park Winery

Photos by Steve Planck of Blue Sky Photography

Cake by La Deliziosa

Could the weather have been any more perfect for a West Park wedding?

Hardly.

The guests gathered on Deer Ridge for the ceremony, allowing them to take in the golds, reds, and rustic oranges of the leaves in the river valley below. The groomsmen, dressed in dark brown suits, ivory shirts and green paisley ties, held the four corners of the birch chuppah.

The Reverend Puja Thomson, dressed in a flowing purple dress and green shawl, welcomed the guests with her lilting Scottish accent and rang the Tibetan singing bowl to begin the ceremony.

Erin, stunning in her lace gown, strode across the lawn on her father’s arm toward the chuppah and Angelo waiting underneath. He smiled at her, blinking back tears, as Jeff performed his original piece “Union.”

The air grew cool as the sun set over the hill and the guests meandered down to the cocktail hour and reception under the tent below. Each table was decorated with a single sunflower in a vase, and instead of a traditional wedding cake, the couple had four tiers of sunflower-topped cupcakes beside their sweetheart table.

Erin and Angelo chose specific songs for each member of their bridal party, then strutted in to “This Is Why I’m Hot” by Mims. The danced around each other with passionate, sensual energy, the physicality of a personal trainer (him) and a gymnast and triathlete (her.)

We delved into classic funk and disco hits, a bit of reggae and meringue, along with some new hip hop favorites. But the highlight of the night was Angelo’s performance of “Let’s Get It On” accompanied by one of his band mates on guitar. All night he had shooed off his mother’s urges to sing, playing it off as if he was shy. Then…WHAM! He was pure Marvin Gaye, working that mic like a pro.

West Park Winery

Officiant Reverend Puja Thomson

Photos by Matt Petricone

SMART IDEA ALERT: The chuppah was well anchored in clay pots filled with rocks and decorated with vines and beautiful flowers by David Anthony. It looked lovely and there was no danger of it being carried away by the wind. (I can’t tell you how many times I see groomsmen holding down the chuppah for the entire ceremony so it doesn’t get wisked away!)

Danielle was stunning her champagne gown. The cantor sang the Seven Blessings over the couple.

Later on in the reception, Danielle and Mike’s three grandmothers stood behind the challah bread and led the blessing together.

As our final Jewish tradition, we started dancing with the Hora. We started–and it didn’t stop! All night long those guests were on the dance floor, heat be damned. Danielle and Mike were overwhelmed with the expressions of love and fun. They rocked, and so did we.

West Park Winery
Photos: Kimberly Wright

Flowers by David Anthony