Tell us a little about yourselves!
We met in San Francisco in 2014 as co-workers at a small company. It was both of our first jobs. We quickly bonded over a shared love of books and movies, hiking and concerts…along with some shared misery over said job. In due time, a relationship bloomed.
In the years since, we’ve been constant companions, building a life together, traveling the world, switching coasts, and, thankfully, finding new jobs.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Our goal was to make our wedding feel like a weekend retreat / family reunion, so we looked for spaces that were warm, welcoming, and would inspire our guests to engage with each other.
As our “destination”, the autumnal foliage and rolling hills of the Catskills proved to be a picturesque escape that perfectly set the tone for the weekend. And for our venues, we loved that both spaces had tons of character and charm…
Hotel Lilien is like a cozy, throwback mountain house with wood accents, natural lighting, and curated retro decor.
Phoenicia Diner is an iconic diner. Classic Americana. Vinyl booths and checkered patterns.
In the end, our non-traditional settings helped us land the experience that we desired: laid back and joyous with space for moments big and small.
How many guests did you have?
Just over 50.
Tell us about your outfits.
After briefly considering some funkier options, I decided on black tie with a few twists. The tuxedo landed somewhere between 70s and western with wide lapels, flared trousers, cumberbund, heeled chelsea boots, and a ribbon bow tie. Shout out to Tanaya from SuitSupply NYC for helping land the vision.
Victoria was looking for a modern twist on the classic Vivienne Westwood silhouette. She fell in love with the corset-inspired bodice and the stunning asymmetrical skirt of Saint Bridal’s Josephine Ensemble, which perfectly balanced Westwood's signature drama with a fresh, contemporary elegance.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We knew going into the process that we were very flexible about dates, locations, and traditions, so the most important thing was cultivating a specific experience — creating an event that reflected our style and an environment where our guests could be present. We wanted things to feel laid back, but curated, so we put a big focus on hospitality and small moments of joy along the way.
The biggest part of this was deciding to make it a full weekend and having most of our guests stay together at the ceremony venue. This gave us double the time and removed a lot of logistics which allowed us to spend more time with our guests and made the whole event way less hectic.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
Nature. When we started planning, this wasn’t a major priority, but as we got further in the process, the great outdoors shot up our lists. It was an integral part of our events (outdoor ceremony, outdoor vows, etc) but also played a critical role in setting the tone for the weekend.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Be present, take it all in, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Oh, and dance, if that’s your thing.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
We had a fantastic group of vendors who all played a critical role in making our wedding a success. A few standouts:
Hotel Lilien & Phoenicia Diner were incredible venues and made all our guests feel so welcome.
Keith A Shore designed our custom wedding cartoons
Chaise, from Helaine photographer, both perfectly captured the event and charmed our guests
Victoria’s bff and former owner/baker of Paper Route Bakery, Aaron, created THE perfect wedding cake.
A massive thank you to all.
Photographer: Helaine @hellohelaine | Coordination: Just Hitched Event Services @justhitchedeventservices | Styling & Flora: by the couple | Ceremony Location: Hotel Lilien
@hotellilien | Reception Location: Phoenicia Diner @phoeniciadiner | Celebrant: Family Friend | Makeup Artist: Lemondy NC @lemondynyc | Hair Stylist: Baby Breath Bridal Services @babybreathbridalservices |
Cake: Paper Route Bakery @paperroutebakery | Entertainment: DJ Kevin Lim | Custom Wedding Cartoons: Keith A Shore @keithashore | Dress: Saint Bridal @saintbridal | Suit: SuitSupply @suitsupply | Engagement Ring: Anueva Jewelry @anuevajewelry | Wedding Rings: Macha Studio @machastudio | Shoes: Sam Edelman@sam_edelman | Other Jewellery: Jennifer Behr @jenniferbehr