Michelle and Jim wanted to celebrate their wedding with the view of the Hudson river. Their final choice was The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, a premiere location for weddings in the Hudson Valley. After the ceremony held at their parish, we drove to the Grandview for photos at the Marina and the lawn on the riverside. Great weather, and great views did the rest.
Hudson Valley wedding at the Grandview
If you want to see more photos, you can watch the slideshow below.
One of the most common questions that brides ask me is “what do we do if it rains on my wedding day?” Well, New York is a wet state, and the Hudson Valley is no exception. Not to worry about it! For instance, most farmers are very familiar with rain and they plan for it. So we must do just that, be ready for anything that may happen, and just have fun anyway.
The wedding must go on, and people should have the best time of their lives. It’s important that your vendors are experienced, and helpful. Some of us professionals, come well prepared for any eventuality, and we’re willing to offer advice and alternatives–so you can have the wedding of your dreams.
If you want to be more proactive, you can prepare a list of things that you must have, and have a contingency plan. There are some measures that you can take that are very easy and fun to implement. For instance, you can shop for a stylish umbrella and boots; ask someone to stand-by in case you may need extra help; make sure you have enough time to go to a back-up place, and extra time for make-up and hair touch-ups; if using a tent, always make sure you have more than enough space under it, for guest to mingle; offer umbrellas and raincoats to your guest, if needed.
More importantly, whatever you do, you must do it long before the wedding Day. It’s imperative that you don’t let anything bother you on your most important day of your life. On your wedding day, go with the flow and have a good time.
Here are some photos taken on one such occasion, when the rain did not stop for a moment throughout the day. Please note this bride and groom had a good attitude and were determined on having a great time. Yes they had a blast, and they did everything they desired.
Did I mentioned the band? The Michael Dell Orchestra is worth mentioning, as they kept the party fired up from start to finish with great entertainment. Beside playing well, they also played very long sets throughout the night without taking many breaks.
Michael and Jessica’s wedding was not a race from start to finish. Time wise, everything was spaced out in a strategic way, so we could have enough time for photos, and they could have some time alone before the reception. Their ceremony was held in a church at Blessed Kateri; and their reception was at The Links at Union Vale. We took photos at several locations, and we spent some time on the grounds of the Links, a spectacular golf course. The theme of the reception was Superman and Lois Lane, as Michael is a comic book fanatic.
They chose a quaint wedding location here in the Hudson Valley, Feast at Round Hill. Julie and Ray wanted to have a fun wedding with their guest, and they did not let anything get in the way of that. Not even one of those notorious torrential downpour that happen throughout the summer. Yes it happened, rain and lightning; but fear did not get in the way of everything they desired. Despite the forecast, they had a great outdoor ceremony officiated by Julie’s father. Of course they kept an open mind and they were flexible with their planning. When they heard the forecast, they had all their photos done before the ceremony–including the surprised first look of the bride that we like to set up. They started the wedding ceremony a bit early and finished just in time to enjoy their cocktail hour, without being soaked.
The moral of the story is that it pays to be open minded. A wedding is a special occasion, and it should be enjoyed to the fullest. Nothing should spoil the fun, and being flexible is always a good thing.
Nevertheless, you should always get what you want, and we (all the wedding professionals) are supposed to make it happen.
To all who love someone or something; to those who feel passionate and creative; and to those with a big heart… We salute you, and we wish you a great VALENTINE’S DAY
We were glad to meet all the couples – “brides” and “grooms” – who made this latest bridal show a success. As usual the biggest bridal show in the Hudson Valley was very well attended and allowed us to meet great people.
Hope to see and document the Hudson Valley weddings of many of these great couples!
A young couple from New York City, decided to do something special for their engagement photo-session. Adrienne and Corban, took the metro-North train to the Hudson Valley to spend a romantic afternoon at the park. So I got ready at the station, and I documented their outing from the moment they stepped on the platform. It was a lot of fun, as it was at their wedding–but more about that later. The highlights of the trip, beside the delightful train ride, was the picnic they held in the park. They enjoyed the views of the Hudson River, while sipping their wine under the warm autumn sun. Enjoy the slideshow
