Surrounded by picturesque rolling hills and weeping willows in Accord, New York, Ashley and Sean's wedding was a true embodiment of natural beauty. Floral arrangements of blooming delphiniums and dahlias blended harmoniously with the abundance of wildflowers amongst the outdoor setting, the true heart of this magical celebration. Matched by the beautiful symphony of style coming together with the bride's elegant Danielle Frankel gown contrasting the mismatched bridesmaids' dresses, emphasizing the individuality of each. Together, weaving a magical atmosphere filled with love and the colors of eternal happiness.
Tell us a little about yourselves. How did you meet? What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies?
We met at one of Sean’s shows. A mutual friend introduced us after they played, and our first kiss was that night in the photobooth. The rest is history. We both work in production in New York City; I work in documentary production at Bloomberg and Sean works in audio at the Public Theater. We love to travel and go on hiking and ski trips. We own a second home in Vermont, near Killington and spend a lot of our free time there. Sean is also a musician and plays guitar in multiple bands.
Can you share your engagement story?
Sean proposed to me on New Years Eve. We were on a ski trip at Stratton, Vermont and it was about to strike midnight so we were getting in the hot tub. As I got in he got down on one knee and asked me. I was in shock and forgot how to speak so he was crouched in the snow in a bathing suit waiting for my answer, like uhh, hello? It’s getting cold out here! (He didn’t actually say these things in the moment but it’s pretty much what he was thinking). I eventually came to and said yes so thankfully he didn’t turn into a popsicle.
Did you have any pre-wedding events, like a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower?
My mom threw me an intimate bridal brunch in Miami, where I’m originally from, and one in New York City. We had a rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks at a dive bar near the venue. It was a great way to greet our guests and welcome them for the weekend.
Where was your wedding? Why did you choose this venue?
We got married at Inness in Accord, New York. We loved the design of the hotel and the bucolic landscape of rolling hills and weeping willows. It was the perfect blend of modern design and natural beauty. The accommodations were also perfect for our wedding party and family to stay comfortably on site with us the entire weekend. Inness also has an incredible food and beverage program. Our guests still talk about the menu, the rigatoni con prosciutto was definitely the biggest hit.
What was the concept behind your wedding and how did you find your inspiration?
Inness’ stunning natural landscape provided the perfect backdrop, and inspired the whole look and feel of the wedding. Our floral arrangements fit seamlessly into the abundance of wildflowers sprawling behind us.
How long did it take to plan your wedding? Did you encounter any challenges during the planning process?
It took about a year and a half to plan the wedding with the help of my wedding planner, Grace Heller. We absolutely could not have done it without her. It was so easy and seamless to work with her and she really helped us enjoy the process. 
How many guests did you have? And what was the seating arrangement at the wedding like?
We had 125 family and friends attend our wedding. We had 8 very long tables decorated with floral arrangements that incorporated all of our favorite summer flowers like delphiniums, clematis, foxgloves, and dahlias. Nicolette, our florist, created a beautiful tablescape by surrounding the arrangements with moss and decorating the tables with fruits like peaches, plums, and berries.
Tell us about your outfits. How many different styles have you tried?
I wore a Danielle Frankel gown with white Prada pumps for the ceremony and then changed into a Khaite dress for the reception. I also wore a Khaite dress for our rehearsal dinner, with white kitten heels by Reike Nen. Sean wore two suits, a green J Crew number for the wedding, and a brown Banana Republic suit at the rehearsal.
What was your first dance song? Did you choreograph or improvise?
Our first dance was to “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young. We both knew this was going to be our first dance song long before we were even engaged. We saw him on tour in 2018, where he played a tiny 1800-person venue. He rarely ever plays “Harvest Moon” live, but that night he did, during an actual harvest moon and it was a very special moment for us. We didn’t choreograph the dance because we wanted to just be in the moment.
Did you have any special performances or entertainment?
Sean’s dad played “Space Age Love Song” by A Flock Of Seagulls on the piano as my dad walked me down the aisle. We had the actual recorded song play as we kissed and exited the ceremony. Also, Sean’s 8 year old nephew Jack, gave us an incredible impromptu and completely unplanned performance of “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus on the dancefloor. The entire room gave him a standing ovation so he followed up with an encore by performing “Party In The USA”. I would absolutely say he was the most popular person at our wedding.
What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?
It’s hard to say because of how surreal it all feels and how quickly it all goes by. We had so much fun at our wedding. One of my favorite moments was during our ceremony, there were so many butterflies that appeared around the floral arrangements that surrounded us as we got married. There is so much symbolism in butterflies, but my favorite one was told to me the next morning by one of my bridesmaids. She said that they represent people who have passed on who couldn’t attend our wedding, like our grandparents. It made me emotional thinking about it.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Our planner, Grace Heller, was an absolute angel who not only made the planning process seamless, but also designed the most gorgeous wedding of my dreams. We spoke pretty much on a daily basis so I was a little sad when the wedding was over haha. Nicolette Camille was our incredible florist. She is so talented and is an artist when it comes to flowers. Her arrangements looked so natural, but still captivatingly beautiful and seamlessly integrated into the existing wildflowers and landscape. Nicolette is also a family friend of Sean’s and actually used to babysit him when he was little, so it made it extra special that she was able to be a part of our wedding day and provide us with her gorgeous floral arrangements. Our photographer, Samantha Dean, was also incredible. Her and her husband made us feel so comfortable and we had a lot of fun taking photos while also bonding over our mutual love of cats.
Did you have any special or unique elements (such as a signature cocktail or a fragrance) at your wedding?
Our day-of stationary was designed by Vanessa Ngueyen, an artist based out of Australia. She designed the most beautiful menus and signage that blended perfectly with Inness’ surrounding nature and design. One element that we loved was that she included small designs such as luna moths (which we love seeing during the summertime in Vermont), bumblebees, and elements from our table arrangements like strawberries and clematis flowers. We broke the venue rules (shh) by playing one song past curfew which of course was UGK’s International Players Anthem. It was our last song so the crowd went wild and was the perfect way to transition to our afterparty at the farmhouse. Inness shuttled all of our guests from the reception to the afterparty in golf carts or sprinter vans where we kept the party going. It was so much fun to see our family and friends mingling together in more of a house party setting. We ordered some late night pizzas and had jell-o shots by Solid Wiggles.
What advice would you give to couples who are currently planning their wedding?
Planning a wedding can be a lot of emotional and financial stress. Try your best to step back from it to enjoy the ride. If your budget allows, definitely get a planner – they can make all the difference. But ultimately, don’t forget that the day is about you and your partner.
Design & Planning: Grace Heller Events
Florist: Nicolette Camille
Photographer: Samantha Dean
Dress: Danielle Frankel
Venue & Catering: Inness NY
Furniture: Rhinebeck Rentals
Hair & Makeup: Predame Beauty
Stationary: By V
Cake: Lael Cakes
DJ: Lucas Kabuki
