allowed the bride be the true centerpiece of the day, something that was especially important to John.
Ceremony – St. Martin de Porres in Poughkeepsie, NY
The Location – Belvedere Mansion
The couple's wedding style started with the look Nancy chose for her champagne dress. Once her classic look was established, all their other choices were based around it.
The reception location had to have that same classic ambiance. Nancy and John wanted a wedding that was different and intimate. "I didn't want a 'shake and bake' wedding," John told me. They wanted a relaxed event where their 30 guests could mingle and talk without worrying about a time schedule.
Having a wedding in April can be tough for outdoor photos; it's difficult to predict whether the landscape will be green or brown. This made it important to find a location with indoor beauty. As soon as the couple found the Belvedere, they knew its historic elegance had what they were looking for.
Nancy and John found the staff at the Belvedere amazing to work with. The couple told them exactly what they wanted, even down to preparation the day before and they were very accommodating. The day was well-paced and classic, from the menus to the attentive service at each table.
The Photos – Steven Planck of Blue Sky Photography *All photos and the slideshow in this article courtesy of Steve Planck.
The couple was drawn to Blue Sky Photography because they wanted a dramatic feel to their photos and they loved Steve's outside the box, creative approach.
Steve was also incredibly patient with their 8 and 11 year old children and the rest of the family. John and little Scotty are huge Star Wars fans. When they asked Steve to take pictures of them with light sabers on the day of the wedding, he was totally game.
"Steve was fantastic. Brilliant!" John said. "I cannot say enough good things about him."
Check out this amazing video slideshow with highlights from the wedding:
The Cake – Calico in Rhinebeck, NY 
Leslie was extremely patient and really worked with the couple to create a cake for their intimate wedding. She helped them make modifications for their small group so that there was no waste and it was still beautiful.
Makeup and Hair – Marion Salon Spa in Pleasant Valley, NY
Highly recommended!
The Details
In keeping with that classic wedding elegance, John and Nancy had a classic Rolls Royce to transport them from ceremony to reception. The bridesmaids' raspberry dresses were fun and springy, but still classy. The groomsmen wore black on black.
The Flowers – Floral Fantasies by Sara
Sara was very patient and helped the couple base their flowers on Nancy's gown. She was familiar with the Belvedere's interior, which made it even easier.
They used lots of roses to compliment that classic style: white Vendella roses with just a hint of pink for Nancy, Sahara roses in a deeper shade of pink for the bridesmaids. The groomsmen wore orchids on their lapels.
John's Advice
"Whether you're planning large or small, you're still planning and it's still just as stressful," John says. "It can be overwhelming. Know what you want going in and that makes it easier. Once you've determined your theme and what you want, don't let anyone steer you from that."
Nancy and John did not choose to have an intimate wedding for economic reasons, but it can really work out that way. You can still have a beautiful Hudson Valley wedding without having to break the bank to invite 250 guests.
And whatever you choose, remember to have fun!
Want to see more REAL Hudson Valley weddings like this one?
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|69.176.195.xxx |2010-04-28 09:13:05 jillian Marro - Belvedere Mansion
Hi,
We looked into a Saturday wedding at the mansion but they told us it was mandatory to rent the all of the rooms at the inn for the entire weekend. I wanted to know if they required you to do the same?? Although I absolutely love the location, it completely turned us off. Please let me know, i am very curious.
Thank you,
Jillian