The Marriage of Ashley & Brian
June 11, 2022 at The Maples Estate

Schoharie, NY - Upstate, NY

As creatives working in LA, this imaginative couple dreamed up a color filled wedding full of personality at our unique NY wedding venue!

Ashley and Brian met while living in Beacon, NY, yet joined us from Los Angeles where Brian works in the film industry and Ashley is a Production Manager for an installation artist. With a background in production, they wanted their hands on every aspect of their wedding from vendor selection to the hand-poured crayons placed on each table. A self proclaimed “DIY girl through and through” and “the person who plans for all the fires that might arise and makes sure to put them out,” Ashley wondered how she could have her hands on every detail without being overwhelmed on her wedding day. She wanted to hand her perfectly planned wedding off to someone else to manage so she could enjoy every moment of the celebration. The Maples Estate allowed them to implement exactly what they had envisioned with retro vibes, colorful attire and so many disco balls while also hosting their friends all weekend long and coordinating their big day for them.

Reception at The Maples Estate, a unique NY Wedding Venue The Maples Estate

How They Met!

This creative couple met when Ashley was attending college in Beacon, NY. Brian had grown up there and at the time, owned a coffee shop where he would play guitar in the front window. Ashley saw him in the window one day and they got to talking while he took her coffee order. 8 years later they were engaged, but with the pandemic they were stalled in their wedding plans. When they were able to pick up their planning again, they knew upstate New York was the perfect place and were dreaming of The Maples Estate for their unique NY wedding. With a minimal budget they got to planning and dreamed up this fun, retro wedding!

A Full Weekend of Activities

Their unique NY wedding began on Thursday with friends traveling all across the northeast and beyond to join them. They jammed out in the back parlor with their favorite tunes, hopped in the pool, splashed in the creek and got to work setting up their dream wedding reception. Ashley had a vision in mind and wanted full control over every details. It was so fun to watch her vision come to life and we were happy to take over on Saturday to ease her mind and finalize all her perfectly planned details! Keep scrolling to see images of their Friday rehearsal dinner before the celebration began!

The Cake Preparation

While the bridal parties were getting ready, Ashley’s aunt took control in the kitchen as she constructed their unique wedding cake! A gift that her aunt offers to all her family members. Such a special gift!

First Look With Ashley’s Dads

They embraced an artistic retro vibe with disco balls and 70s inspired calligraphy, bedazzled shoes and feather headpiece. Finding ways to incorporate her family, Ashley’s dad and stepdad joined her for a first look overlooking the pond after getting glammed up in the get ready room.

Ceremony Details

They loved the idea of assorted chairs for their ceremony so we mixed and matched our three different styles for a creative vibe overlooking the hillside in the tree grove. They wanted each of their guests to be engaged in the moments so they collected phones from everyone as they arrived and handed out dried flowers for tossing following the ceremony. When they picked up their phones they also received a disco ball seating card with their table number!

The Guest’s Attire

They asked all their guests to wear colorful attire for their unique ny wedding and they took that and ran! Each guest was decked out with their most colorful outfit and we loved how the colors came together!

The Ceremony

Choosing to stay hidden before their ceremony, Ashley and Brian saw each other for the first time while walking down the aisle and it was so special to have both Ashley’s dads join her to hand her off to Brian.

The Cocktail Hour

Following their ceremony, guests gathered in the field for a colorful charcuterie display while the couple and their bridal parties took photos around the estate.

Reception Details

The reception was full of unique details from the table numbers to the vintage assorted plates, moss, drift wood, disco balls, hand poured crayons and colorful florals. They even covered the tables with butcher paper so their guests could leave them fun notes and draw throughout the evening. Their tables numbers were images of found numbers in the wild and even incorporated some of their friends bodies formed in the shape of numbers!

Entrance & First Dance!

They entered their wedding reception from the pond walk and danced all evening long to their favorite tunes.

Dinner & Love Notes!

Their friends left them little notes and enjoyed a bbq dinner with full hog and yummy sides from local restaurant High on the Hog BBQ.

Cutting The Cake!

Their cake cutting was so special with their cake assembled by Ashley’s aunt and a handmade cake topper with two love birds!

Time for Dancing!

They day would not have been complete without an outfit change for dancing the night away!

An SNL Inspired Last Song

This group was all about the party and even celebrated the close of their wedding reception with a SNL style credits role thanking each of their friends for attending as they all joined each other on the dance floor for a final photo!

Photos by Dottie Morris

Ashley & Brian’s incredible vendor team!
Venue / Coordination: The Maples Estate | IG: @themaplesestate
Photography + Videography: Dottie Morris | IG: @xodottiemorris @zackarp
Catering: High on the Hog BBQ | IG: @high_on_the_hog_bbq
Bar Service: Franklin Alley Social Club | IG: @franklinalleysocialclub
Charcuterie: LC Designs NYC | IG: @lc_designsnyc
Makeup: Emily Elle Makeup | IG: @emilyellemakeup
Hair: Maddie Frag Hair | IG: @maddiefrag_hair
Tent Rental: Saratoga Tent & Events
Portable Restrooms: Stone Industries