1. Real Weddings

A Whimsical Spring Wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York

Inspired by their passion for sustainable agriculture and New York, where they met while attending Columbia University, Alice Hu (28 and an HR manager

Inspired by their passion for sustainable agriculture and New York, where they met while attending Columbia University, Alice Hu (28 and an HR manager) and Stephen Yang (27 and a product manager) whisked their guests off to Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York, for fun-filled fete filled with amazing food and great company. “Blue Hill has an awesome team that was instrumental in our wedding success,” Alice says. “Michelle Condon was there guiding us through the wedding process, always keeping us on track. Without her a lot of things wouldn't have happened. Violeta Gates was with me throughout the wedding day and made sure that everything was under control.” The couple took advantage of the venue’s quaint setting and charming stone barns by hosting their ceremony outdoors. Allowing the character of Blue Hill to shine, they kept the decor simple, focusing their attention on a birch wedding arch, which Ivie Joy Flowers adorned with a garland of textured greenery and bright roses, tulips and hydrangeas. After the “I dos,” guests gathered in the courtyard for cocktail hour, where they sipped on signature cocktails and took in the views. Dinner was one of the evening’s many highlights, with Blue Hill’s James Beard Award-winning chefs crafting a decadent meal featuring local, seasonal foods sourced straight from the venue’s four-season farm. A photo booth filled with silly props and a playlist of dance-floor favorites kept guests entertained. “It was fun looking at all the silly pictures our guests took,” Alice says. “Since we were so busy throughout the night, it helped us get a sense of how our guests were enjoying themselves. A tip from Alice: “Everyone you love and who have supported you throughout the years is there to celebrate with you, so enjoy it and don't sweat the details. You won't remember them later, anyway. And don’t forget to eat your cake.” —Libby MacCarthy

“My favorite colors are pink and yellow, so I told Ivie Joy that I wanted something warm and cheerful and left the rest to her," Alice says of her bouquet. "She used beautiful seasonal flowers to keep the costs low, and the results were stunning.” The bouquet was filled with peonies, craspedia, garden roses, poppies, sweet peas and assorted greenery and arranged into a loose bundle to achieve a textured, whimsical look.
Following Taiwanese tradition, Alice donned several ensembles throughout the evening. For the ceremony, she opted for a glam mermaid-style gown with an embellished bodice and ethereal organza skirt with lace appliques. But the gown’s piece de resistance was the dramatic cathedral-length train that was decked out in shimmery embellishments and lace. She paired the look with a crystal headpiece, blusher veil and heirloom jewelry for a statement-making finish.
Spring was in the air at Alice and Stephen’s country soiree, with a palette of playful pastels and punchy yellow, orange and coral hues bringing the beauty of the season to life. For the bridesmaid attire, Alice had her ladies don floor-length chiffon gowns in a soft shade of mauve from J.Crew. Wanting them to show off some of their personalities, while adding visual intrigue to the overall look, she let them choose the necklines they liked best.
To ensure that his midnight blue tuxedo stood out, Stephen had his groomsmen don classic gray suits, which they teamed with blush bow ties and smart black dress shoes for a polished finish.
Taking advantage of the barns’ charming stone facades and pristine setting, Alice and Stephen hosted their ceremony outdoors. The couple kept the decor simple so the venue's character could take center stage, adding a birch wedding arch draped in verdant greenery and bright blooms to the end of the aisle to create a focal point for the proceedings.
Taking cues from tradition, Alice was escorted down the aisle by her father. To establish a lighthearted feel for the ceremony, she skipped the classic bridal march in favor of “The Winner Is” from the "Little Miss Sunshine" soundtrack for her walk down the aisle.
Paying tribute to the spring season, Alice and Stephen exchanged vows under a striking canopy of brilliant coral and orange garden roses, tulips, lush greenery and playful craspedia. The gorgeous garland adorned a birch structure, which mirrored the organic vibe of the natural setting.
After cocktails in the courtyard, Alice and Stephen joined their gusts in the Hayloft Barn for dinner and dancing. “Since the venue is already so beautiful, there wasn't much needed from us in terms of decoration,” Alice says. Ivie Joy Flowers created arrangements for each table, alternating between skyward-reaching bouquets of green hydrangeas to distressed wooden planters filled with bright yellow, pink and orange blooms.
Each reception table boasted a centerpiece, with the head table displaying a long lush garland of textured greenery, cheerful craspedia and roses in shades of ivory and coral. Offset by flickering votive candles, the chic centerpiece helped establish an intimate ambiance during the meal.
Known for its mouthwatering cuisine, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York, didn’t disappoint when it came to culinary matters. With a four-season farm, local and seasonal fare featured prominently on the menu, leaving even the most discerning palettes pleasantly satisfied. As an extra-special touch, each course came paired with a glass of wine.
After dinner, Alice and Stephen treated guests to three flavors of wedding cake, such as chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, vanilla cake with raspberry preserves and almond cake with poached pears and caramel mousse. Ivory buttercream adorned each layer, carefully frosted to create a blank canvas for radiant yellow, orange and pink flowers and a playful wooden bride and groom cake topper.
“It is a tradition in Taiwan for the bride to have at least three outfit changes,” Alice says. “This is because this may be your most beautiful day, so you should wear as many beautiful gowns as possible.” After the ceremony, Alice changed into a red and gold qipao for dinner, then switched things up for dancing with a white cocktail dress.