A little rain did not dampen the good spirits for Ariana and Dan’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns wedding. We had a rather cold April week, so we had been planning to be indoors anyway as the temperatures were hovering in the low to mid 50s. Our photographer Elena Wolfe knows Blue Hill at Stone Barns inside and out, so she knew all the good little covered nooks where we could keep Ariana and Dan relatively dry for portraits. She arranged for the first look in the manure shed, which is always setup so beautifully. Ariana wore an embroidered gown from Monique Lhuillier and carried a bridal bouquet of creamy white peonies, ranunculus, spray roses, dusty rose garden roses, spirea and a little touch of pale blue tweedia. Ink and Nibs had created such a beautiful letterpress invitation for the wedding including hand painted florals, calligraphy for their names and a pale blue envelope with a hand painted liner.
To keep guests dry, we moved the valet and guest drop off to the silo lobby. They were greeted with pre-ceremony drinks and a bountiful arrangement on the silo lobby table in a matte white ceramic vase from Poppies and Posies. I particularly loved the apple blossom branches that brought such a beautiful feeling of spring into the space. A collection of pleated votives in varying sizes and heights cast a warm glow in the room. Guests were invited upstairs to the Hayloft for the ceremony. We had a full floral arch setup against the windows. We chose the courtyard windows due to the direction of the setting sun coming from the opposite windows. It was such a gorgeous backdrop for Ariana and Dan to say their vows. While the ceremony was taking place, I popped downstairs to setup the hand calligraphed escort cards on the silo lobby table with the rest of my planning team keeping an eye on the ceremony.
After the ceremony, we brought Ariana and Dan to the bridal suite for a private moment to enjoy some food and drink. Guests were ushered downstairs to the lower Haybarn. We had two bars setup and some wooden café tables and chairs. Flowering branches decorated the bar. Ink and Nibs designed a cocktail sign that highlighted the badger flame beet and grapefruit in watercolour. Guests were able to enjoy a Badger Flame Margarita (turmeric tequila, badger flame beet, pink peppercorn, baiju) and Preservation Spritz (preserved habanada, ginger, grapefruit, vodka, aperol). For passed hors d’oeuvres:
Fish croquettes
Hakurei turnip, poppy seed butter
Radishes with ramp butter
Donko shiitake burgers
Polenta fries & pastrami marmalade
Smoked potato soup, fennel jam, potato crumb
Asparagus blini with caviar
Lettuce with cured egg yolk
We wanted to get some quick extended family portraits during cocktail hour and their family were ok to brave a little misty droplets for some pictures in the beautiful courtyard. It is heartwarming when a couple’s loved ones enthusiastically join in even with a little rain. Weddings are rain or shine!
While guests were enjoying their cocktails downstairs, we were busy flipping the room upstairs. Each round table had a low lush floral arrangement in a matte white ceramic vase, which I think goes so well with the Blue Hill Stone Barns plates. Flowers included creamy white peonies, ranunculus, white and green hellebores (my favourites!), blush and dusty rose garden roses and spray garden roses. Elegant pleated glass votives completed the look. The extra lovely bonus about having the ceremony in the Hayloft was that we were able to keep the ceremony arch for dinner as well. It made such a stunning backdrop for the head table! Pillar candles decorated the windowsills and the hallway leading into dinner.
For the dinner menu:
I
THIS MORNING’S FARM EGG
broccoli rabe tartare, apple
Peter Dipoli ‘Voglar’ Sauvignon Blanc, Alto Adige, Italy 2016
II
LOBSTER RAVIOLO
turnips, lettuce & ramp broth
Presqu’ile Winery Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California 2021
III
GRASS-FED BEEF
creamed spring vegetables, experimental potato blini
Château des Laurets, Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France 2016
IV
BLUE HILL WEDDING CAKE
einkorn chiffon, hazelnut, preserved peach, honey buttercream
V
PASSED DESSERTS
Cheesecake and pickled strawberry, s'more semifreddo, olive oil semifreddo
DJ Marcus Ho kept the guests dancing all night. On their way out, guests chose from three different wedding favours: whole wheat chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies and seasonal scones. Thank you to Elena Wolfe for capturing their day so beautifully. Thank you to Ariana and her mom Carol for being such a delight to plan a celebration with!
Planner: Ang Weddings and Events | Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns | Photography: Elena Wolfe | Florals: Poppies and Posies | Hair and Makeup: Face Time Beauty | Gown: Monique Lhuillier | DJ: Marcus Ho via Jay McElfresh | Strings: Highline String Quartet | Transport: Red Oak | Officiant: The Vow Whisperer
See more of our Blue Hill at Stone Barns weddings below