Nadia and Stu's wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns was the perfect reflection of their understated, elegant style. Having spent time dining at Blue Hill in Manhattan when they lived in the city, they knew they wanted their wedding to feel like a natural extension of the surroundings, minimalist, chic, and entirely in keeping with the aesthetic of the venue.

Nadia wore a gown by Nilofer Shahid for the ceremony, complemented by a romantic, sculptural bouquet. Stu also wore a Nilofer Shahid shervani for the ceremony before changing into a blue suit by Franco Uomo for the reception. For the reception, Nadia changed into a chic Giambattista Valli dress.

With a rain forecast leading up to the day, we moved the ceremony into the Courtyard Loggia. It was just the right size to fit their 142 guests, though we tucked the ceremony jazz band (a friend of Stu's) into the Orientation Centre to give them enough space to play. Thankfully, the rain eased by the time guests were seated, and the covered courtyard created an intimate setting for their ceremony.

ExtraFloral designed the flowers, taking inspiration directly from the gardens of Blue Hill at Stone Barns. The ceremony space was framed by a delicate open crescent floor installation, with greenery and tiny summer florals appearing to grow naturally from the ground. The aisle arrangements, spilling softly into the negative space beside each chair, added to the wild, garden-inspired feel. The palette combined green and white with soft touches of strawberry, lilac, golden tones and robin's egg blue, perfectly understated and organic.

Cocktails took place in the Lower Haybarn, with the jazz band continuing to set the tone. Guests enjoyed two signature drinks: a summery blend of peaches, Reposado tequila, Madeira, lemon and a peach salt rim, and a strawberry, gin, sweet vermouth and champagne cocktail. Before moving to the Upper Hayloft for dinner and dancing.

The floral story carried through the evening, with local flowers, greenery and grasses creating the feeling of garden tablescapes. The dinner menu featured summer squash salad, Atlantic halibut with shellfish and corn chowder, and grass-fed beef with eight row flint corn and pepper piperade, paired with thoughtful wine selections. For dessert, a coconut and raspberry wedding cake from By the Way Bakery, ensuring a gluten-free option for Nadia.

One of the highlights of the evening was the surprise performance by two belly dancers during dinner, bringing energy and entertainment to the room before the party moved to the dance floor. Nadia and Stu's excellent taste in music was evident throughout the night. Their newlywed introduction to "You're All I Need" by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye, transitioning into Method Man and Mary J. Blige's version, set the tone perfectly. The first dance to "My One and Only Love" by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman followed, with the dance floor staying full for the rest of the evening.

A late-night snack of french fries with habanada ketchup and fried fish rounded off the night. Petronella Photography and her video team were on hand to capture the day from start to finish. An intimate, beautiful celebration for Nadia and Stu, with their closest family and friends, good food, good music, and a design that felt entirely at home within the setting of Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

“Tzo Ai is the absolute best. I’m so glad we were able to work together for our wedding. She had every detail taken care of and was highly organized. My husband and I are very detail-oriented and have high expectations, and she more than met our high bar, leaving nothing to chance. She often answered our questions before we even asked them. When we had some unexpected situations pop up, she handled everything gracefully and with care, going out of her way to make sure we didn’t have to worry about anything on our special day. I would recommend Tzo Ai over and over again.”

— Nadia

Sarah and Noah

Lara and David

fall wedding

Blue Hill at Stone Barns Wedding: Nadia and Stu

Blue Hill at Stone Barns Wedding: Sarah and Noah