Love, Melissa
Since I started working in weddings, I remember dreaming of the day I’d get to photograph at this stunning venue. Fast forward to 2024, that dream became a reality. Halle and Kevin had the most beautiful and elegant Blue Hill at Stone Barns wedding this autumn, and I’m thrilled I got to be a part of it.The wedding weekend began at Raine’s Law Room in Manhattan, with a short portrait session at The Plaza Hotel just before guests arrived. Here’s a peek into what the night before entailed:
About Blue Hill at Stone Barns
In spring of 2004, Blue Hill at Stone Barns opened within the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. The Barbers helped create the philosophical and practical framework for Stone Barns Center, a working four-season farm and educational center just 30 miles north of New York City, and continue to help guide it in its mission to create a consciousness about the effect of everyday food choices.
Sourcing from the surrounding fields and pasture, as well as other local farms, Blue Hill at Stone Barns highlights the abundance of the Hudson Valley. There are no menus at Blue Hill. Instead, guests are offered a multi-taste feast featuring the best offerings from the field and market.
Blue Hill hosts elegant events at its two restaurant locations and at off-site venues. Blue Hill, their restaurant in New York City, offers a garden room that seats up to 14 guests and a main dining room that seats up to 40 guests. Private lunch and dinner events are available in these spaces.
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, their restaurant located in Westchester County, offers a private dining room for up to 12 guests and the HayLoft which seats 40 to 260 guests. In addition, meetings, outings and retreats for up to 260 guests can be accommodated on-site, with custom team-building activities led by farmers and chefs.
Blue Hill at Stone Barns Wedding
With the rehearsal dinner and welcome party behind us, it’s finally wedding day. I had a bit of deja vu arriving to Halle and Kevin’s getting ready location. Turns out, Allison and Greg held their own welcome party and rehearsal dinner at the same hotel, the Delamar! Its gorgeous, waterfront location makes it the perfect spot for serene wedding day prep.
Joining us for wedding day getting ready festivities was Halle and Kevin’s dog, Harry. I will *always* encourage couples to bring their dogs for any and all things wedding. It makes for such a fun environment to take photos! Even though we had to barricade Halle’s dress, this way Harry’s little paws wouldn’t compromise the perfectly pristine white fabric. All in all, he was a very good boy.
First Look and Private Vows
Once we arrived at Blue Hill Stone Barns, Halle and Kevin opted to do a private vow exchange. I recommend this if you and your partner want to have a moment to yourselves before the rest of the wedding day mayhem takes over. With my longest lens on, I stayed far enough away for them to have their moment. With the beautiful Blue Hill Farm as our backdrop, we didn’t have to work too hard to create some stunning portraits.
Wedding Reception at Blue Hill
Halle and Kevin’s reception was the perfect balance of dance party meets Michelin-star-dining experience. After all the formalities, Halle traded her Monique Lhuillier ballgown for a short, sequined party dress. There were even a few cowboy hats involved.
Enough of my yapping, enjoy the rest of the gallery:
