Set against the valley views at The Garrison in NY’s Hudson Highland, Alexis and Elizabeth’s wedding offered rustic elegance. “Our cocktail hour was a feast, with favorites like spicy tuna tartare, baked brie purses, and vegan dahl wade. Our passed hors d’oeuvres also included crowd favorites like maple-glazed applewood smoked bacon skewers, risotto and asparagus arancini, and chicken satay with sweet soy.”
Q: What did The Garrison serve for dinner? A: “For their entrée, guests were offered a choice between diver sea scallops with miso beurre blanc or grilled filet mignon with red wine veal jus. Both were served with seasonal roasted vegetables and orzo risotto.”
Alexis & Elizabeth | The Garrison | Garrison, NY
Why We Chose Our Venue ...
“We chose The Garrison because it feels like home. Lex was born and raised in the Hudson Highlands, and the property holds a special place in her heart, filled with childhood memories. It also offered a stunning, central location with an incredible team we trusted to bring our vision to life during the chaos of med school.”
The Wedding of Alexis Ajello & Elizabeth Dakan
Their Vendors:
Ceremony & Reception: The Garrison, 845.424.3604
[email protected], www.thegarrison.com
Officiant: Aunt Pat
Music: Atomic Funk: Dave Holst
Photographer: Sarma and Co. Photography, https://www.sarmaandco.com
Videographer: Nathaniel David Wedding Videography
Florist: TK Floral/Tyler Keeno
Hotels: Hampton Inn, Hyatt, Courtyard
Transportation: George M. Carroll Transportation
MUAH: Bridal by Alex: [email protected]
Lighting: Garrison Bistro
Photo Booth: HV Photobooths-Jen
Poem Writer: Bill Keys
Oysters: Oysters: Oysters XO
Mozzarella: Vinny Mozzarella
An Overseas Meeting
We met in Peace Corps Ghana. Our first date was in Ghana — we got tattoos, then spent hours at a beachside bar, watching the waves and talking late into the night.
. Lex proposed first on 2/3/23 in Yosemite with a custom stained-glass ring box made by Liz’s stepmom. Liz proposed back on 11/11/23 after skydiving and a Michelin-starred dinner.
“An Incredible Team”
We chose The Garrison because it feels like home. Lex was born and raised in the Hudson Highlands, and the property holds a special place in her heart, filled with childhood memories. It also offered a stunning, central location with an incredible team we trusted to bring our vision to life during the chaos of med school.
Working with The Garrison was a dream — Annie Rozycki was our planning superstar, Bridget Bell supported us behind the scenes, and Adam Cardonell made every event space shine. And of course, Executive Chef Seth Knapp created our delicious cocktail hour and dinner dishes to perfection. Their warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail made us feel cared for at every step, turning our wedding into pure magic.
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour
Our outdoor ceremony almost got moved due to rain, but a gut feeling and Annie’s bold call brought it back outside — just as the skies cleared. From the classic cars to our heartfelt vows, every moment felt cinematic, emotional, and uniquely us.
Our cocktail hour was a feast, with favorites like spicy tuna tartare, baked brie purses, and vegan dahl wade from Red Pepper Diner. Our passed hors d’oeuvres also included crowd favorites like maple-glazed applewood smoked bacon skewers, risotto and asparagus arancini, chicken satay with sweet soy, and mini pulled pork sliders with coleslaw and BBQ sauce on brioche.
Between live oyster shucking, hand-stretched mozzarella, and an over-the-top seafood station, with chilled shrimp cocktail, lobster tails, and a bright seafood salad, it was an interactive, flavor-packed celebration. We also had a Mediterranean station, with panzanella salad, grilled and balsamic-marinated seasonal vegetables, hummus and baba ghanoush with pita chips, and falafel with mint and yogurt.
A Sweet Finish
We wanted colorful, joyful elegance — and TK Florals delivered with ombré rainbow blooms, ceiling vines, and candlelit centerpieces that glowed with intention. Atomic Funk kept us dancing for three hours straight, turning our reception into the most joyful concert of our lives.
Dinner started with a salad of mixed greens, carrots, red onion, cucumber, sherry vinaigrette, and a toasted baguette. For their entrée, guests were offered a choice between diver sea scallops with miso beurre blanc or grilled filet mignon with red wine veal jus. Both were served with seasonal roasted vegetables and orzo risotto.
We also had inclusive vegan/gluten-free options to accommodate all our guests. As an example, for our gluten-free guests, we had roasted fingerling potatoes.
For desserts, we had our delicious four-tier strawberry shortcake with strawberry preserves and vanilla custard. We also offered chocolate-covered strawberries with whipped cream, plus vegan and gluten-free cupcakes, all served alongside coffee, tea, and biscotti for a sweet, cozy finish.
Thanks & Gifts To All
We would like to extend our deep appreciation and thanks to our parents for accepting and embracing our love. A heartfelt thank you to Alex and Merti for making us feel our absolute best on the most important day of our lives. We also want to thank Sarma and Nate for going along with our crazy ideas and being such good sports, taking photos and videos of us in the rain!
At the end of the night, we made it a point to thank every single staff member and vendor personally for the magic they brought to our celebration.
As for all of our guests in attendance — the wedding weekend of our dreams would not have been possible without their energy, excitement, and presence. We can’t wait to celebrate again with everyone in 10 years for the vow renewal!
The Garrison, Garrison, NY, 845.424.3604, the garrison.com
