Hudson Anniversary Weekend

This weekend was our first anniversary. To celebrate, Justin and I wanted a relaxing getaway and a chance to be in nature for a while. Lots of time to talk, to rest, to just be together and not feel the pressure to be doing all the time. We're going to Italy as our "big trip" so we wanted a simple, quiet weekend together.

We drove up from New York Friday night, slightly paranoid about driving on the spare tire and starving, since neither of us had eaten dinner. The Wendy’s in Kingston tasted like gourmet goodness at 9 pm. But we were welcomed into the Renwick Clifton by Eric, one of our hosts. He showed us around the house and made us feel immediately comfortable. Then, we walked into our room and I saw the most beautiful, lush bouquet of lilies and roses. Justin had managed to track down a local florist. They made the whole room smell heavenly!

Wedding: Dan and Sara's Penthouse Party

This Monday was our friends Dan and Sara's wedding. The ceremony started a little before sundown at at penthouse space on Union Square. The windowed area had amazing views (see below) and didn't require a lot of ornamentation. It also allowed the bridal party to take some pretty cool shots on the roof, surrounded by urban fixtures like the water tank and skyline views.

The centerpieces were glass vases with votives floating in the midst of lush flowers. Every table was named after an NYC neighborhood—we sat in Tribeca! My two favorite design elements and personal touches were the cakes—they had cupcakes for everybody but there were two small cakes, one for each of them. Sara's was white with black scrollwork, similar to her old bedding and the color scheme of the wedding. Dan's was a drum—he's an incredible musician. All in all, they did an amazing job of creating an elegant wedding on a small budget. One huge factor was booking the venue for a Monday night = so much less expensive. Since their families would be taking a day off work regardless, and the rest of the guests were from NYC, it was still convenient. It was a great way for them to have the entire weekend with family and friends leading up to the event and also go easy on their budget.

We danced until late into the evening, as you can see from the last image. :)

Wedding: Katherine and Michael's Charming Tennessee Farm

This weekend, my friends Katherine and Michael got married in Franklin, Tenn. The outdoor ceremony and reception were beautiful and charming, filled with handmade details, cheerful wildflowers and Southern warmth. The farm is owned by the sweetest local couple who served as "hosts" for the evening, handling many details, but Katherine did all the planning and design. The centerpieces were wildflowers in Mason jars; the Southern food was hearty and the sweet tea cool. Several of the tables also had white butcher paper and a jar of crayons to keep the children amused. They offered flip-flops for guests so their high heels wouldn't sink into the grass. The views from the farm were stunning, and the entire evening felt personal and welcoming, like we were invited into their place and their story.

Check out the photos after the jump!

Our Engagement Photos

All photos by Eric Ryan Anderson