Oh, how do I put into words how truly wonderful, amazing, and incredible Teddy and Ryan are? Their Hollow Brook Golf Club wedding day was so heartwarming in every way - I cried big tears during their ceremony. These two souls are some of the most welcoming and enjoyable people I’ve ever had the honor of getting to know, and I think of them fondly whenever the calendar turns from October to November, and the trees explode with their last bits of color.

In my mind, the late fall season is theirs - in all of its gorgeous and triumphant joy, an homage to the journey of the year prior before we allow ourselves to rest.

THE COUPLE

Teddy and Ryan got engaged at the apple orchard that Teddy has been visiting since he was young. They love the fall, so obviously both their engagement and wedding journeys involved the autumn season and all of its fun activities in the Hudson Valley.

Ryan is an opera singer, and Teddy works with school contracts and volunteers as an EMT. They’re warm, thoughtful, sweet. They’re good apart, but better together. They exude joy and comfort when they’re with each other, offering big smiles and precious, unabashed emotions as gifts to each other, and gifts for us all to witness.

THE VENUE

Hollow Brook Golf Club in Cortlandt Manor, NY is one of my very favorite venues. It is homey and rustic without feeling contrived or lacking amenities. Its golf course grounds are gorgeous, but not overly manicured, which enables everyone who gets married there to have varied and whimsical backgrounds for portraits. The grounds at Hollow Brook especially come alive in the fall, with the foliage basically becoming a paid actor and the sun sinking low over the hills to illuminate both the landscape and the couple. Hollow Brook is a gem, and whenever anyone tells me they’re getting married there, I tell them that they’ve unquestionably made the right choice.

THE DETAILS

Because the fall season is so special to Teddy and Ryan, all of their details centered around autumnal hues, florals, and fruits. Their centerpieces were wooden lanterns surrounded by orange, red, and yellow flowers, with apples tucked into each arrangement. Their boutonnieres and ceremony flower arrangements mimicked their tablescapes, with orange roses and yellow blooms. Their wedding party wore wine and light gray, while Teddy wore a blue suit and Ryan wore a dark gray one. Everything was so perfectly stunning, and so beautifully autumnal.

THE RECEPTION

Teddy and Ryan hired a live band for their reception, which is always such a treat. There’s something electric about having live music as a part of a wedding day - things feel a little more celebratory, a little more like a party. The toasts that Teddy and Ryan’s people offered to them were heartfelt, funny, and kind; and I distinctly remember Ryan’s delighted smile when listening to the toast that his best person gave. Their dance floor was full of love and celebration, and why wouldn’t it have been? The entire day prior had been the exact same way - it just overflowed into the dancing once the sun went down.

Every wedding day is a gift to witness and document, but Teddy and Ryan’s was especially meaningful and generous. The gorgeous weather. The amazing location. The endearing souls.

Teddy and Ryan, thank you for everything that you are. November will always be yours.

FROM THE COUPLE

“If you’re interested in not only having an extremely gifted, hard-working, and professional photographer, but also a personal cheerleader, problem solver, wedding guru and just overall amazing friend, then you need to book with Erica! My husband and I got married this past November, and we can’t even begin to explain how lucky we feel to have found her! She was there for us every step of the way. On our ride home from our engagement session, we couldn’t stop talking about what a great time we had, and how friendly, personable, and just overall in love with love she is. And then when the pictures arrived we were absolutely blown away.

We honestly can’t thank her enough for all that she’s done for us! She truly made our special day so much more special!”