Alexis & Daniel
Knotting Hill Farm
Jordanville, New York
This was a particularly special wedding for me… I met the groom when he was about twelve years old – one of my little brother’s best friends. I was so excited when his now bride, Alexis reached out to chat about being their photographer! It was important to Daniel to have someone alongside them that was fun, laid-back, and experienced. It was so cool to reconnect and see everyone all grown up.
I hadn’t been to this venue before so I arrived early to scope it out. I was quickly greeted by the owner and felt so welcomed. I was also introduced to Cheddar, a sweet orange tabby cat that lived on site and probably the most popular guest at the wedding. The property was SO cute and included an old farmhouse with steep staircases, strangely connected rooms, and a ton of charm. If you’ve ever been in an old farmhouse, you know what I’m talking about. The florals, dresses, and details were just perfect for a June wedding. Most people hope for sun on their wedding day, but I LOVE and overcast sky. It kept temperatures comfortable, created nice even lighting, and added a wonderful contrast to the vibrant colors of the wedding.
Alexis did a first look with her Dad and brothers, but chose not to see Daniel until coming down the aisle. Daniel’s excitement and anticipation to see his bride was palpable and he absolutely LIT up when he saw her for the first time. Officiated by Daniel’s older brother, their ceremony was short and sweet, full of laughter and happy tears. After the ceremony, everyone smiled and danced their way back down the aisle through a sea a bubbles (pro tip – get bubble guns for maximum effect). Everyone gathered afterwards for hugs and more happy tears. It is clear that these two are very loved and have an amazing, close-knit group of friends and family.
When the crying and hugging started to subside, it was time for group photos. I always recommend doing a first look to get these photos out of the way early if you want to be a part of cocktail hour but if you opt for the traditional route, I try my best to get through these as quickly as possible so you can still catch some of it. Luckily, Alexis and Daniel didn’t have an extensive list for family shots, and the wedding party wasn’t shy at all, so we were able to get some great shots and move through them relatively quickly. After group shots I decided to give the couple a break to go say hi to their guests and hang for a bit. With longer days in mid-June, I knew we would have plenty of light to take them out for portraits after dinner.
The reception took place on-site in this beautiful and cozy remodeled barn. The lighting and decor paired with the rustic wooden interior of the barn felt warm and romantic. Alexis and Daniel entered the reception following the wedding party and went straight into their first dance. It started fun and playful like them, and transitioned to a more slow and intimate dance, followed by dances with their parents and Alexis welcomed all the important men in her life to to have a dance with her as well. Joy and happy tears filled the space once again. Heartfelt speeches were shared from their best friends and parents before moving on to dinner.
While the rest of the guests were finishing up dinner, I snuck Alexis and Daniel out to do a lap around the property for some portraits. We were all delighted when Cheddar decided to join us for a few! This property is so photogenic, it was hard for me to not get carried away, but I kept it moving to get them back to the party and their loved ones.
After portraits, Alexis and Daniel made things officially official by signing their marriage license and celebrated by cutting the cake. Something I really enjoyed about this venue was the two separate spaces – the barn, and the farmhouse where everyone got ready. The barn/reception space was party central, while the farmhouse was a chill space for people to connect, play pool, and just hang. The party went deep into the night with most of the wedding party staying on-site in one of the venue’s 30 available beds. Overall, I would consider this a perfect wedding day and it was so fun to be a part of it. Congrats to the happy couple!
