More from Susie & Jordan’s intimate Hudson Valley wedding celebration…
What was your favorite part of your day?
Our favorite part was sitting around the dinner table for the toasts. We were all one big family at that moment.
What was your favorite part of planning your wedding and why?
Definitely the food! We had a lot of fun going through the menu and choosing items to taste. We’re especially excited about the welcome station with donuts and hot cider with bourbon!
What was the most challenging part of planning your wedding and why?
Unfortunately, securing the venue was a bit of a roller coaster – our original location in Rhinebeck fell through after we had it booked for 8-months. It’s a long story, but ultimately, we’re very happy with how things worked out. We think it must’ve happened for a reason. We also got a little push back from family for choosing not to have a formal ceremony. We held our ground because it was important that we stay true to ourselves and who we are as a couple. For the most part, everyone came around.
How did you choose your venue?
We knew that we didn’t want to have a time limit on the festivities, so we decided on a luxury vacation rental so that we could make a long weekend out of it and have our family stay at the property with us. It was crucial that we were able to dance and hang out well into the evening – ultimately this beautiful house in New Paltz allowed for us to have a pre-wedding cookout the night before, the wedding dinner and cocktail party, an after party, and a brunch the following morning. We settled on the Hudson Valley area because we knew it would be beautiful in autumn and it’s also not too far for out-of-town guests. This particular house spoke to us because the town of New Paltz has a great vibe and the owner, Gina, is really warm and fun.
Tell us about your cake and/or dessert?
Our moms made miniature cheesecakes in three different flavors for dessert: chocolate, pumpkin and vanilla bean. A big, elaborate cake felt too fancy, plus our moms are really excellent bakers. We even had a stash of vanilla beans that Jordan’s aunt had imported on her last trip to Bali… everything was delicious. We gave a cheeky nod to tradition with one large cheesecake with a ceramic bride and groom cake topper (only on ours, the bride is giving the groom a “love pinch”).
Now that you’re married, and you’ve been through planning a wedding together, what advice would you give to other couples who are just starting the process?
It’s about who you are as a couple and what you want that day to feel like. Take your time, talk things through and don’t take it too seriously – weddings should be fun. Keep an open mind to suggestions, but make sure not to get lost in them.
How does it feel different being married?
We’re just really happy that we actually did it after being together for almost 9 years, it refreshed the sense of permanence that we’ve always had about our relationship. And of course, we’re both happy to finally wear the wedding bands we bought almost a year ago.
What’s next for the two of you?
House, 2nd dog, honeymoon – not necessarily in that order.
Venue: Private residence – New Paltz, NY
Caterer: Bridge Creek Catering – New Paltz, NY
Dress: Anthropologie
Suit: Brooks Brothers
Cake: Moms
Venue coordinator: Wendy Nash
Flowers: DIY by Susie
Paper cranes & granola favors: DIY by Susie & Jordan
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Hudson Valley wedding photographer – Leslie Barbaro
