When Jess and Eric began planning their wedding from their home in Singapore, they knew they wanted to host a destination celebration in the United States that would bring together their closest friends and family for an unforgettable weekend. The couple explored venues in Napa Valley, but many properties had limitations on how late celebrations could continue. Ultimately, they chose Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York for its extraordinary culinary programme, stunning Hudson Valley setting, and the opportunity to create a truly memorable dining experience for their guests.

With most of their eighty guests travelling internationally for the wedding, Jess and Eric envisioned an intimate celebration centered around exceptional food, beautiful design, and time spent together. I worked with them for fifteen months providing full-service planning, guiding them through the many details of organizing a destination wedding from overseas. Having planned many weddings at Blue Hill at Stone Barns over the years, it was particularly exciting to collaborate with them on a celebration that took a different approach to the venue’s farm aesthetic. Rather than leaning into rustic elements, Jess and Eric wanted the wedding to feel refined and estate inspired, with the focus firmly on the venue’s remarkable fine dining experience.

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The ceremony took place outdoors in the courtyard on a warm June afternoon. To complement the elegant aesthetic of the day, we replaced the venue’s wooden folding ceremony chairs with natural linen chairs with a cane back. This change instantly elevated the space while still feeling harmonious with the natural materials of the property. The aisle was lined with lush white flowers, while two generous urn arrangements filled with hydrangea, roses, and peonies framed the ceremony area and created a timeless garden setting.

Music for the ceremony was performed by a harp and string quartet, creating a beautifully romantic atmosphere as guests gathered in the courtyard. Jess walked down the aisle to “The Swan” by Saint-Saëns, carrying a simple bouquet of white freesia that felt understated and elegant. “XO” by John Mayer played as the wedding party entered, and the ceremony concluded joyfully with “Spring 1” by Max Richter as the newlyweds recessed. Jess wore a custom gown by Indonesian designer Yefta Gunawan, an exquisite design that reflected the refined tone of the day. The gown transformed when the long sleeves were removed and a wrap was added for the dinner reception.

Following the ceremony, guests made their way to the Dooryard Garden for cocktails. On an unusually warm early summer day, the ceremony fans became a welcome and thoughtful detail for guests. Music transitioned to a keys and strings ensemble as everyone enjoyed the garden setting and signature cocktails created for the evening. The Cherry Fashioned combined bourbon, red wine, cherry, and chamomile, while Somewhere That’s Green featured tequila, cucumber, fig leaf, ginger, and IPA.

Dinner took place in the Upper Hayloft, one of the most dramatic spaces at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. With a guest count of eighty, one of our main design challenges was making the expansive room feel warm and intimate. Instead of traditional rounds or multiple smaller tables, we designed a dramatic U-shaped dining arrangement that effectively created one long table for all the guests. The configuration allowed the room to feel full while maintaining a sense of intimacy.

To reinforce the estate inspired aesthetic, we brought in upholstered linen dining chairs and elegant neutral tone-on-tone patterned linens that added subtle texture to the tablescape. Florist Denise Fasanello designed lush white arrangements in varying heights that ran along the length of the tables. Above the flowers, dramatic crystal candelabras created a glowing canopy of light that transformed the Hayloft into a refined dining space.

Dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns is always a culinary journey. The menu began with a dish celebrating summer fruits and vegetables paired with a Méditerranée Blanc from Provence, followed by halibut served alongside a Saint-Véran from Burgundy. The third course featured grass-fed beef with eight row flint corn polenta and string bean guacamole. For this course, the couple brought in a Cabernet Sauvignon from Four Winds winery in Napa Valley, which held special meaning as it was where Eric proposed to Jess. Dessert featured Blue Hill’s signature wedding cake made with einkorn chiffon, rhubarb, strawberry and Stone Barns honey.

After dinner, the celebration moved into dancing with music by DJ James Arnold, who kept the dance floor lively throughout the evening. Jess changed into a striking after-party look for the dancing portion of the night, a short sparkling silver dress finished with a dramatic deep red bow that perfectly suited the celebratory mood.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came later in the night with a playful and personal late-night snack. Jess and Eric share a love of instant ramen, particularly Indomie, and they collaborated with the chefs at Blue Hill to create a custom ramen station inspired by their favourite flavours. The station featured toppings such as sambal, fresh chillies, scallions, pork belly, eggs, and fried shallots, creating a vibrant display that guests enthusiastically gathered around as the party continued.

Jess and Eric’s wedding was a beautiful example of how a destination celebration can feel deeply personal while still embracing the character of an extraordinary venue. By blending the natural materials of Blue Hill at Stone Barns with a refined estate inspired design, the celebration felt warm, sophisticated, and centered around the exceptional culinary experience that makes the venue so special. For guests travelling from around the world, it was a joyful and unforgettable summer weekend in the Hudson Valley.

“From our first call to the moment we got into the car after our wedding (with every item already packed in the trunk!), she thought through every detail. She kept us organized, guided us through tough decisions, and somehow made the whole process manageable — even fun — even though we live half way across the world in Singapore. Despite countless Zoom calls, email threads, and messages, it never felt overwhelming. Tzo Ai brought order to chaos, and on the wedding day itself, things just flowed effortlessly and exactly as they should. ”

— Jess and Eric

An Estate Inspired Wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns: Jess and Eric

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