European Elegance Meets Hudson Valley Charm
Some weddings just stick with you—and this one absolutely did. This gorgeous July wedding in the northern Hudson Valley was for a bride originally from France and a groom who splits his time between the U.S. and London. I had the absolute honor of being their Hudson Valley wedding planner and designer for this celebration and was honored to be involved in their second wedding just a few weeks later in France (très chic, I know).
The vibe they wanted for their Hudson Valley destination wedding was all about European elegance with a thoughtful, local twist—and honestly, it was such a joy to help bring that vision to life.
Locally Sourced with Love (and a Tiny Bit of Stress)
One of the things that made this wedding so special was how much the couple cared about sourcing meaningful items from both family and local farms. Some of my favorite little details:
The boutonniere: The groom picked up his boutonniere flower in London—the same type of bloom the royal family uses (yes, really).
Edible flowers: These beauties came straight from the groom’s family farm out on Cape Cod and were featured in the signature drinks.
Peach place cards: We sourced the most perfect Hudson Valley peaches (which was no small feat—this season was rough for the peach crop!). Each guest’s name was handwritten on a tiny paper leaf, pinned right to their peach at the place setting. It looked like the peaches were growing their own little place cards.
The florals: Soft, delicate, and timeless—nothing too trendy, just a perfect match for the romantic, understated elegance they wanted.
The Food (and the Chef Deserves a Standing Ovation)
The catering was next-level—beautifully presented, creative, and absolutely delicious. Honestly, I still think about that menu. And I see a lot of menus.
Oh, and Did I Mention the Tornado?
Because what’s a wedding story without a little unexpected excitement? Yes, there were tornado warnings. But as a Hudson Valley wedding planner with 15+ years of experience, I can promise you—we always have a plan B (and C… and sometimes D).
Tents are not safe in high winds, so we had a backup evacuation plan to move guests to a protected area of the property. The best part? Guests had no idea this wasn’t the plan all along. The vendor team was incredible, the venue was so supportive, and everything transitioned seamlessly. That’s the magic of a well-executed plan (and a really good poker face).
A Sparkler Send-Off and the Coolest Crew Ever
This was hands-down one of the best-dressed guest lists I’ve ever seen—such cool, stylish looks across the board. We ended the night with a classic sparkler send-off and kept the shuttles on-call to make sure guests could move comfortably between cocktail hour and the reception after we made some location adjustments.
Oh—and did I mention we rented the property next door for portraits? It was originally built by a European family and had that gorgeous old-world feel. The photos there? Chef’s kiss.
VENDORS
Wedding Planner & Designer: Cathy’s Elegant Events | Venue: A Private Estate | Catering: Swell Party | Bar: Tapped Into The Catskills Photo: Bo Shim Photography | Florist: Samantha Nass Floral Design | Rentals: Events Unlimited & Broadway Rentals | Pies: Overlook Bakery | Peaches: Love Apple Farm | Band: Wha Entertainment | Hair & Makeup: Laura Moore Beauty