“My mom suggested Falkirk Estate and Country Club and when we looked it up online we loved the aesthetic. It was rustic and elegant all in one. We arrived and met the general manager and immediately felt at home.
“Being an LGBT couple, we were nervous about our reception, but he was so welcoming and treated us in a warm and friendly manner from the get-go. It was the first and only venue we needed to look at.”
Ceremony & Reception: Falkirk Estate & Country Club, 845.928.8060, www.falkirkestate.com
Photographer & Cinematographer: Fantasy Flash Studios
Makeup: Bride, Self Done; Bridesmaids, Litemakeup
Hair: D’Agostino Hair Artistry
Florist: Greenery Plus Florist
Cake: Palermo’s Bakery
Band/DJ Hybrid & Photo Booth: Crossing Midnight Entertainment
Officiant: Evelyn Murphy
Kim and I met on Instagram. I followed her, she followed back, and then one day she responded to one of my posts. We kept talking and exchanged phone numbers, meeting for our first date three weeks later. We went apple picking, which was a new experience for Kim, a city girl! She loved the apple cider donuts and we both loved how being together felt like we’d known each other forever.
She lived in Long Island and I lived in Rockland County, so there was a lot of FaceTiming. Yet, when we managed to see each other, everything felt right. It was easy and natural and time together made it clear we were right for each other. My mom loved Kim when she met her, as did the rest of my family. Coming from a traditional background, it was a little stressful not knowing how things would go, but their positive reaction reassured us all the more.
My mom suggested Falkirk Estate and Country Club and when we looked it up online we loved the aesthetic. It was rustic and elegant all in one. We arrived and met the general manager and immediately felt at home. Being an LGBT couple, we were nervous about our reception from venues, but he was so welcoming and treated us in his warm and friendly manner from the get-go. Seeing their grounds and their picturesque barn, we knew Falkirk was the place to be. It was the first and only venue we needed to look at. The staff was so amazing, we trusted them to plan everything. We took their guidance because we knew of their wonderful reputation from word of mouth.
Before our ceremony, we did a first look at Falkirk’s beautiful barn. They drove Kim over, then picked me up and brought me to her. Her back was to me, I tapped her shoulder, and we saw each other as if for the first time. The barn had horses that day, making for beautiful photos. The moment was incredibly special. For our indoor ceremony, Falkirk organized everything like a well-oiled machine, preparing champagne with berries and sparkling water for guests to enjoy ahead of time. My aunt officiated, and it felt so personal to have someone who knew and supported us be the one to bring us together. We wrote our own vows and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Before going into the cocktail hour, Kim and I were brought to the bridal suite to talk and try a little of everything from the cocktail hour. We had tons of food with a great variety, our favorites being the chicken and pineapple with a teriyaki glaze, the meatballs at the Italian meats display, and the whipped potato martini bar, which was amazingly delicious. We had a Moscow mule signature drink named “The Hummingbird,” in honor of my late grandma.
At the reception, our centerpieces were tall branches with votives hanging from them with flowers intertwined throughout. Guests signed in by putting vintage postcards with an adventure or advice for us into a mailbox, something I custom made. Everyone had a blast with the photo booth, and we made a sweet memorial with photos of everyone who passed and couldn’t be with us that day. For dinner we had chateaubriand in a red wine demi-glace, a miso glazed salmon, and the Falkirk chicken stuffed with spinach and asiago; all of which were served with seasonal vegetables and potato croquette. Every choice was excellent!
Our wedding cake had three tiers with different flavors; peanut butter and jelly, raspberry, and cannoli. Each table had a family-style dessert tower and personal servers to bring them drinks or anything else they needed. We had a band-DJ hybrid which everyone said was the best they’d ever heard! They mixed in all different kinds of music and really were absolutely amazing.
Everyone who participated in our wedding made it the most perfect day imaginable. Falkirk and their staff treated us like family and we’ve never felt more comfortable being ourselves. The band, photographers, our officiant, family, and friends all made our wedding a dream come true. Thank you to our parents for being so supportive. We couldn’t have had such an amazing day without all of you!
Falkirk Estate & Country Club, Central Valley, NY, 845.928.8060, www.falkirkestate.com
