Megan still remembers the first time that Jodie took her to Stone Barns in Tarrytown. They explored the farm and the adjoining state park. Jodie casually mentioned that if she ever got married, it would be at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. When she proposed, it was a no brainer for them to get married there. Megan and Jodie’s idea for the wedding was on the non-traditional side. The best way they described it was a wedding with all the boring parts taken out. They did not plan on having a ceremony and eloped in Central Park in August instead. They wanted to have an awesome party with their family and friends. None of the typical formality involved in weddings.
The non-typical design started with their eggplant purple save the dates and invitations from 1440. Their save the date had their date in big numerals and their names in copper foil. On the reverse side a minimal line drawing of their dog Lu chasing a chicken (a nod to the farm), with their wedding website. The whole thing was so chic and modern with an air of mystery given the minimal information. Their main invitation suite continued this feel with two simple cards, but now incorporating some colour. Grey for the RSVP and hot pink for the liner. Minimalism at its best!
It was an unusually warm day for November. It was so nice for Megan and Jodie to walk around the grounds together for portraits with Jillian Mitchell before their guests arrived for the cocktail reception in the lower Haybarn. Megan carried a bouquet from Liv Florally incorporating anemones, ranunculus, orchids, thistle and amaranthus in a palette of deep orange, burgundy, periwinkle, and plum. Jodie had a boutonniere featuring a combination of periwinkle and deep orange. It looked so good on her plum suit from Bindle and Keep.
Given how warm it was, we had considered moving the cocktail reception to the Dooryard Garden. However given that the garden was mostly done for the year and the need to add lighting along the pathways we kept it in the lower Haybarn instead. Guests entered through the Courtyard, and we kept the Haybarn doors to the Courtyard open. It was dusk as guests were arriving, so many had their welcome drinks in the Courtyard before moving into the Haybarn as it got darker. For the cocktail reception, guests enjoyed these passed hors d’oeuvres:
Donko Shiitake Donuts
Hakurei Turnips with Poppy Seed Butter
Beet Burgers
Smoked Celery Root Soup
Stone Barns Charcuterie Croquettes
Fish Bites
Polenta Fries + Pastrami Marmalade
Widow’s Hole Oysters, carrot escabeche
Megan and Jodie enjoy drinking Tequila and Mezcal, so guests were offered two signature drinks named after their pets:
Frankie Flame - Badger Flame Beet Reposado Tequila, Turmeric, Baiju, Pink Peppercorn Syrup
Tru Lu - Quince-Infused Mezcal, Rum, Ginger, Lime
We had cocktail group comprised of sax, keys, drums and bass from Chevy Chevis providing the music.
After cocktails, guests walked through the Silo Lobby and collected their escort cards from the beautiful wooden table. Liv Florally had styled the table with petite florals, moss and votives. Two photographs from their elopement were also arranged on the table to give guests a peek into their Central Park ceremony.
Liv Florally built an interesting walkway of flowers, moss and branches along the hallway into dinner. Each individual installation was different and impactful with a burst of colour. The upper Hayloft was a mix of long and round tables. The long tables had a repetitive patterns of petite arrangements, taper candles and votives. The four round tables had tall installations of greenery and texture. The table for Megan and Jodie was a sight to behold! Liv really went above and beyond building a magnificent installation on the windowsill as a backdrop for the table and growing up from the ground in front of the table. It was absolutely stunning. We joked that even though Megan and Jodie didn’t have a ceremony that day, they still had an installation around their table worthy of a full wedding ceremony! Here was the dinner menu:
I
LOBSTER RAVIOLO
pickled ginger, lettuce & herb sauce
Domaine Trotereau “Vieilles Vignes” Quincy, Loire Valley, France 2017
II
THIS MORNING’S FARM EGG
potato blini, mushrooms
Presqu’ile Winery Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California 2019
III
GRASS-FED BEEF
Eight Row Flint Corn polenta and creamed spinach
Château d’Arsac ‘Le Kid d’Arsac,’ Margaux, Bordeaux, France 2018
IV
WEDDING CAKE
Rye chiffon cake, apple butter, pumpkin seed praline, maple buttercream
V
PASSED DESSERTS
S’more semifreddo, burnt honey & sesame panna cotta, lemon verbena and peach donuts
Chevy Chevis provided the music for the entire evening and I was blown away by their artistry. The music they played during dinner was just so good and they kept the dance floor packed all night. I get to hear a lot of bands doing what I do, and the transitions for Chevy’s band were incredible. I can’t speak highly enough of the Chevy Chevis Band! As my planning team mentioned to me, it wasn’t like watching a typical wedding band, it was like watching a top performer do their thing.
After dinner and speeches, Jodie changed into a hot pink suit and Megan into a red and gold qipao as a nod to her Chinese heritage. We brought them back into the Hayloft to a pretend cake cutting (the cake was in the middle of the dance floor), but instead guests were surprised by two festive lions coming to the room for a lion dance by the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon and Lion Dance Team. It was such a fun part of the festivities. Guests fed the lions hong bao (red packets) and some lettuce!
I am so grateful for Megan and Jodie for letting me be a part of their journey. They told me a few times during the planning process to always let them know if there was anything they could do to make my job easier. They said the same to the venue and all their vendors. They really wanted their vendors to have fun doing what they do. What an absolute gem of a couple. We all did have a tonne of fun collaborating on that wedding and feel very lucky to have gotten to work with them!
Planning: Ang Weddings and Events | Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns | Photography: Jillian Mitchell | Florals: Liv Florally | Band: Chevy Chevis Entertainment | Paperie: Fourteen Forty | Makeup and Hair: Pre-Dame Beauty | Suit: Bindle and Keep | Gown: Jenny Yoo | Lion Dance: Wan Chin Ming Hung Gar Institute Dragon and Lion Dance Team
See more of our Blue Hill at Stone Barns weddings here: