Wow, what feels like just yesterday has already been a few months ago and we realized we have yet to share most of the photos from Tim and Natasha’s wedding. This past September we packed our bags and flew out to the East coast to capture one of the most beautiful weddings, in one of the most iconic locations in upstate New York. Nestled along the forest overlooking the Hudson River, Tim and Natasha rented out a quaint airbnb where their ceremony and reception was held. Here’s a small glimpse into their intimate private elopement with a select few family members and friends.

These kinds of days are the absolute best. Letting the day unfold and unwind with no major timelines make it so laid back and relaxed. The look Tim had standing up front seeing Tasha make her way down the aisle had everyone tearing up. From standing over the mountains overlooking the Hudson to wrapping up the night with smores, it was an unforgettable trip and so glad we were able to be a part of it!

If you are planning your wedding, and looking for ideas on a smaller scale wedding. This style elopement is one that we highly recommend. Whether you are a local Southern Californian, planning you wedding here at home or from out of state and planning a destination wedding, we love the unique ideas each wedding offers. We would love to be a part in capturing your wedding, and would love to chat details. Hope to connect soon!

Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day? 

A: My wedding was an amazing day! I give full credit to my sister Chelsea, my best friend Jackie, and my mom for making our dream wedding day come true, despite a pandemic and last minute change of plans! Initially we were hoping to get married in NYC in the spring, since that is where Tim and I met and fell in love. However, a spring wedding was not in the cards for obvious reasons. I started to worry since planning a wedding is a lot of work, especially since I just started residency. That's where my dream team came in! I definitely owe my sister and Jackie for all of the work that they put in to make plan B happen, a beautiful event in the Hudson Valley!

Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY? 

A: Okay, so I really wanted a summer camp meets Anthropologie with a woodland whimsy vibe. Chelsea and Jackie found these amazing wood stumps, which they decorated with candles and florals. We used all of the rugs in our Air BnB for an impromptu aisle runner!

Q: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding? 

A: The florals were definitely a highlight for me. During quarantine, Jackie picked up the art of floral arranging and became quite an expert. She is super creative and has an eye! So, she got all of the flowers at a wholesale flower farm in rural Pennsylvania and drove them up to the Hudson Valley. The night before the wedding, each of the girls followed along while she guided us through making the centerpieces! She also made my bouquet and the centerpiece for the sweetheart table! I didn't want to limit her at all, and requested a wildflower inspired, rainbow color palette with lots of greenery. We actually roamed in the backyard of the Air BnB and collected lots of the greenery that we used in the arrangements! It was a really relaxing fun bonding moment for all of us.

Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding? 

A: Yes! Since the wedding was only 18 guests, I wanted it to be a really special weekend away. We started the wedding day off with a hike over looking the Hudson River. After the reception, we ended the night with a big bonfire and s'mores!

Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail. 

A: I picked a simple lightweight A-line dress from BHLDN (Seeley Gown, highly recommend). My main goal was to be comfy and not worried about how much I was eating or drinking all night! I also really wanted to be able to sit comfortably! Tim went with a navy suit for a classic look.

Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal. 

A: Tim and I met in the most romantic way possible... on a dating app! But actually, we did have a very cute first date at a little bar in the East Village. We stayed up way past both of our bed times and chatted until 2AM. For me, it was love at first conversation. Tim planned a really great proposal for me in Cabo San Lucas. My mom and sister were both there too, which made it really special. And, it was the same day I got SCUBA-certified! A very memorable day for sure.

Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day? 

A: The most special moment of my wedding day was definitely hearing Tim's vows, and having our good friend Ben up there to officiate.

Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day? 

A: Yes! I highly recommend a small wedding, and using photographer's who you know and trust! It makes the whole process a lot less awkward! Thank you @astrayphotography for capturing the best day of our lives!