When Hannah and Matt envisioned their wedding day, they imagined something that felt like a deep breath – organic, timeless, and touched with just the right amount of whimsy. Wheatleigh, the breathtaking 1893 estate in The Berkshires, Massachusetts, provided the perfect canvas for their celebration. The ceremony unfolded in the estate’s lush sculpture garden, where the couple said “I do” surrounded by wildflowers in rich shades of ochre, pink, and green. From the reception tent glowing under vintage colored-glass chandeliers to a custom dance floor adorned with the couple’s initials, every detail felt like a fairytale. And when Hannah walked down the aisle in a breathtaking lace halter gown by Oscar de la Renta, the moment transcended time. Hannah and Matt’s wedding was a heartfelt tribute to legacy, to artistry, and most of all, to a love that feels both timeless and entirely their own.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
Matt and I went to college together but never really crossed paths until our final year. One afternoon, before the fall semester began, my friend piled a bunch of us into her car to drive over to a friend’s house. I happened to be in the trunk, and Matt came to open it—probably thinking he’d help unload luggage—and I popped out. The rest is kind of history. We’ve been together for seven years now, through a year of long distance while he moved back to his hometown in California, and we now live together in New York City.
The Proposal
I’ll never forget the bliss of that day. It was the middle of July, and we had escaped to my parents’ lake house in Massachusetts. We did all of my favorite things that day: went for a morning hike, headed to the farmer’s market for lunch, and spent the afternoon lounging by the lake. He suggested we go for a walk around sunset, and I didn’t think anything of it at the time. Little did I know, my mom, sister, and Matt’s mom had snuck down to the dock and decorated it with flowers. When we got back from our walk, he led me down to the dock, and I saw the flowers and realized what was happening. It meant so much to me to get engaged at my family’s house and on that lake—a place I’ve been going to every summer since I was a child.
The surprises continued after the proposal when we went out to dinner that night to celebrate. Both of our families were at the table when I walked in. I had no idea they were in town or had been in on it. It was the perfect mix of first soaking in the moment just the two of us, and then later that night celebrating with family.
The Engagement Ring
My ring is an elongated antique cushion-cut diamond on a gold band. Because I wanted such a classic, timeless ring, we decided to add a fun design detail: small diamonds on the underside of the band with a ruby in the center. This touch is an ode to my mom’s engagement ring, which has been in our family for years. I love that this detail is only visible to me—it made it all the more special. He worked with Susie Saltzman, who is incredible and also ended up making our wedding bands.
Our Wedding
The Vision
We wanted our wedding to feel organic, timeless, and a bit whimsical—but most importantly, we wanted to bring together the people we love in a place that has meant so much to us over the years.
Our Team of Vendors
We had the most incredible and dedicated team of vendors. Our planner, Tara Consolati, executed our vision from start to finish and brought in the most amazing people. I’ll truly be forever grateful for the team we got to work with and their endless creativity. From Liron, our incredible photographer who made us feel so comfortable from the very first photo, to Ailish Florals, who understood the vision in my head even when I couldn’t articulate it, to PreDame Beauty, my amazing hair and makeup team—I felt so lucky to have them all throughout the weekend.
The Location
When we started thinking about our wedding, we knew right away that we wanted to do it at Wheatleigh—a historic estate built in 1893 that has since been transformed into a hotel. My parents were also married at Wheatleigh 33 years ago, and Matt and I loved the idea of continuing that tradition. It was also really important to us to find a venue where our entire bridal party could stay for the weekend, so we could be surrounded by our friends as much as possible. But then, eight months before our wedding, the owner of Wheatleigh decided to close the venue and put the property on the market.
We were told in January 2024 that all upcoming weddings for that summer had to be canceled. Thankfully, after a lot of convincing, they allowed us to keep our date. However, Wheatleigh would no longer function as a hotel—it would only serve as an event venue—so our amazing planner had to bring in everything the hotel previously provided: housekeeping, concierge, valet, catering, groundskeepers, security—the list goes on. Though stressful, it gave us more creative freedom and control over our vendors. And since the property is now on the market, it’s possible that our wedding will be the last one ever held there. We hosted our rehearsal dinner and welcome party at Stonover Farm just down the road from Wheatleigh, and our farewell brunch was at my parents’ lake house.
The Ceremony
The ceremony took place in Wheatleigh’s lush sculpture garden. The aisle was lined with wildflowers in shades of ochre, pink, and green. I wanted all the florals throughout the weekend to feel organic and gathered, so we skipped the typical chuppah design and opted for large baskets of flowers as the centerpiece. Our ceremony was officiated by Matt’s late father’s best friend. It was a special way to honor his dad and feel his presence during such an important moment.
The Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony, Matt and I took a private moment alone. Our planner’s team brought us food and drinks, and we sat together, smiling, just taking it all in. Then we joined everyone for cocktail hour on the portico. Food has always been a big part of our relationship, so we wanted everyone to be well fed and enjoy themselves. Our caterers, Acquolina, set up their signature tuna tartare station, a mozzarella and bruschetta cart, and fulfilled Matt’s dream by serving fresh prosciutto sliced straight off the leg.
The Reception
We made our entrance to “You Send Me” by Aretha Franklin, and before we knew it, all our friends were dancing with us. For dinner, we had more food than anyone could possibly eat, including an extra pasta course we added during planning—definitely unnecessary, but worth it to keep the dance floor fueled all night. Dessert was a fun variety: pressed flower lemon poppyseed cake, flourless chocolate cake, berries and cream, and an assortment of pies from our favorite local farm stand. Our band kept the energy high, setting the tone for the DJ to take over for the afterparty. There was late-night pizza, sliders, a cigar bar, and a fun (very late) night ahead—a celebration we’ll never forget.
The Special Touches
As an interior designer, I love adding vintage touches to my projects, so it only felt right to do the same for our wedding. Our lighting vendor sourced beautiful, colored glass vintage chandeliers that he customized to fit perfectly in our reception tent. It made the space feel extra special. We also had a custom dance floor designed by our stationery vendor, featuring a crest with our initials inspired by the envelope liner in our wedding invitations. We incorporated an arch motif throughout the weekend as a nod to Wheatleigh’s Italian architecture—it appeared in the velvet table numbers, custom bars, and the guest place card display.
Our Favorite Moment
Our favorite moment was waking up on the wedding day, sneaking off to take a dip in the pool before the chaos began, and then privately reading our vows to each other in bathrobes before separating to get ready with our friends. It was Matt’s idea to share our vows privately beforehand, and I’m so glad we did—it also let me get the tears out early! Another special moment for me was carrying my grandmother’s diamond pin on my bouquet. It was my something old and something borrowed. She’s 98, and I’m so grateful she was able to be at our wedding.
Our Style
The Bridal Looks
For friday night, I wanted a totally different silhouette from my wedding dress. I saw Happy Isles post a vintage 1990s Vera Wang dress on Instagram and knew it was perfect. I had it shipped from their LA store to their NYC boutique and ran to try it on. I ended up cutting off the long train and turning the gown into a cocktail-length dress to make it feel more casual. I added my mom’s pearl and diamond necklace (a gift from my dad) and wore sequined Chanel slingbacks.
For the wedding day, I tried on many dresses, but none felt like me until I found the lace halter gown at Oscar de la Renta. I fell in love with the organic feel of the lace, the antique vibe, and the perfect off-white shade. I customized the gown by extending the train an extra three feet for added drama. I paired it with Jimmy Choo shoes and jewelry from Susie Saltzman. For my second look, I changed into a vintage sequined floral dress from the ’70s, also from Happy Isles, and styled it with a silk chiffon scarf made by an Etsy vendor. The next day, we found cream sequins all over the dance floor!
The Groom’s Looks
Matt wore a custom three-piece suit from Knot Standard on Friday. On Saturday, he wore a custom double-breasted tuxedo, also from Knot Standard, paired with his dad’s vintage gold coin cufflinks.
The Bridesmaids’ & Groomsmen’s Looks
I wanted my bridesmaids to choose their own dresses so they could feel confident and amazing. I sent them a fabric sample for inspiration, and I absolutely loved the mix of patterns and colors they chose—they did such a great job. All the groomsmen wore simple, elegant black tuxedos.
Our Advice
For the Planning Process
It always works out. It can be stressful, but try not to get wrapped up in every detail. Focus on the reason you’re getting married, and celebrate each other throughout the process.
For On the Day
So many friends told us to take a moment together during the party to just watch everything unfold—and they were right. You’ll want to remember it, so step away and soak it all in.
For Post-Wedding
Go on your honeymoon right after your wedding if you can! After the farewell brunch at my parents’ house, we spent the day lounging by the lake, reliving moments and laughing. Then we spent one night in NYC to regroup and pack, and flew to Southeast Asia the next day. I was so grateful we went right away—it made the celebration feel like it never stopped.
Vendors
Photography: Liron Erel & Co., The Wedding Artists Co
Videography: Hello Super Studios
Wedding Planner: Tara Consolati
Venue: Wheatleigh Hotel
Florist: Ailish Florals, Avela Floral
Stationery: Brogan Scott Studio
Cake & Catering: Acquolina
Hair & Makeup: Pre-Dame Beauty
Style
Bridal Dress & Boutique: Oscar de la Renta
Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridal Jewelry, Wedding & Engagement Ring: Susie Saltzman
Groom: Knot Standard
