When I first moved to New York several years ago, I became completely enamored with the fact that there was a castle wedding venue less than an hour from where I lived. It used to be one of my goals to photograph a wedding at Whitby Castle; little did I know that I would eventually get to photograph multiple weddings there - a true excitement and joy every time.

THE COUPLE

Tristan and Rachel met online, and are two peas in a pod. The way they bring each other comfort, joy, and ease is truly a delight to watch. They bring out the best in each other (like so many of my couples - what a gift to witness!), and it was clear that this was the case as soon as I met them in person for their engagement session. They are both warm and friendly; Rachel is a wonderful conversationalist, and Tristan adds in and supports Rachel as needed. They’re the perfect mix of thoughtful, intentional, and fun.

THE VENUE

If you’re looking for a unique wedding venue on the border of Westchester and the Hudson Valley, then Whitby Castle is it. The venue is situated in front of a golf course; members golf behind the castle while weddings are hosted out front. While the outside of the castle appears gothic, the inside is far from it. Of course, there are a few nods to the property’s history, with stained glass windows upstairs and stonework both inside and outside of the castle, but the reception space is light and bright, with cream-colored walls and big windows to allow in natural light.

There are a few beautiful spots to plan for photos at Whitby Castle. Aside from the obvious option of taking photos using the castle itself as a background, there is also a gorgeous willow tree, and a pretty lawn next to the main road leading into the venue grounds (perfect for golden hour!).

THE DETAILS

Aesthetic details weren’t important to Rachel and Tristan. While they and their wedding party looked lovely, of course, the more important details were the people involved - which I absolutely loved. Rachel was especially mindful of including Tristan’s children in the ceremony, emphasizing that, even though she was marrying Tristan, they were all becoming a family on that day.

THE RECEPTION

Witnessing all of the little moments at Rachel and Tristan’s wedding was truly a treat. Like most receptions, this one featured a vibrant and full dance floor, but my favorite moments were listening to the toasts, and watching Rachel and Tristan love on their kids. They were meant to be a family.

What a special and precious day Rachel and Tristan’s wedding was. I would go back and relive it in a heartbeat, if I could.

FROM THE COUPLE

“Erica was one of the BEST parts of our wedding process! My husband and I are both camera shy, and truthfully, we were dreading wedding pictures (obviously knew we wanted them). We also were going in to wedding planning fully ready to reject any engagement session since we thought that was going to be torture! From our FIRST phone call with Erica, we knew she was someone we would feel comfortable with having as a part of our day. She made us feel so special, so calm, and luckily she was informative and made us realize some key things: that engagement sessions are great practice (especially for people who hate having their picture taken) and you might NEED to do a first look since we would have to skip cocktail hour - things we never thought about. She truly wants the best for her couples and you can feel it in each interaction with her. We genuinely looked forward to seeing her on each of our calls, sessions, etc, and we could never thank her enough for bringing such calm, confidence, light and ease to our special season!”