To be completely honest, I don’t know how to start this blog post about this perfect ElmRock Inn wedding day. I don’t really know how to put into words how special Stefanie is to me - she is one of my dearest friends, one of my closest confidantes. We met at work over a decade ago, and I feel like we grew up together. She feels like a constant safety, like a sister. Even when we haven’t seen each other regularly, she still feels like home.

THE COUPLE

Stefanie and Mike met at work through mutual friends. They were both curious about each other, and asked their officiant (who they also met at work, ha) to introduce them. I am pretty sure it was off to the races from there.

I distinctly remember the day I received the text from Stefanie showing me her new engagement ring, and photos that were taken during the proposal. It was so exciting that it felt like my own thrill. To see one of your favorite friends experience such joy has a trickle-down effect; it brings your own heart and soul delight.

THE VENUE

ElmRock Inn in Stone Ridge, NY is one of my very favorite venues. It is the perfect place to host an intimate wedding, which is their specialty! Something about this location feels ethereal, other-wordly, and quiet. When I think of ElmRock, I imagine it is what the Shire would feel like, if Middle Earth were real.

ElmRock Inn has incredible amenities. Its owner and coordinator is fantastic, and its chef and food is top notch. The inn itself is adorable, and features a large dining room and several cute rooms to either get ready in or stay over. The grounds are beautiful, and you have access to lots of woodsy backdrops for photos. Additionally, it has several lovely outdoor ceremony spaces, and a firepit to host a bonfire once the sun goes down.

THE DETAILS

Typical wedding details weren’t important to Stefanie and Mike, because all they wanted was to get married. They knew how beautiful and special the marriage itself was, over anything and everything that the wedding day would bring, so their details were more heartfelt than aesthetic - like Stefanie’s son standing up with them during their ceremony, like asking one of their best friends to serve as the officiant, like allowing the most beautiful and adorable toasts from their parents, like Mike’s mom gifting us photographers gorgeous handmade glass art pieces that we now proudly display in our homes.

I guess it’s these kinds of details that make a family and make a life. There’s nothing wrong with pretty aesthetics, but sometimes it’s nice to focus on the details of what makes you feel loved over anything else.

THE RECEPTION

Stefanie and Mike had a dinner reception with all of their best people seated at one long table on the patio at ElmRock. It felt like the kind of family gathering you see romanticized in the movies, with a warm breeze and string lights and laughter. I got to enjoy it as much as a guest as a photographer, for which I was grateful. It was just pure perfection in every way.