Photos by Heather Waraksa
For a romantic affair, one couple used the picturesque landscape at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills to set the scene.
Linden & Jacob
June 9, 2019
Pocantico Hills, NY
When Linden Hill and Jacob Gallice met through mutual friends and began dating in 2018, they probably wouldn’t have imagined their wedding would take place in the Hudson Valley. The next year, the then-Brooklynites considered something more metropolitan for their June nuptials but ultimately decided they wanted a venue with an outdoor component.
The couple also needed a site that wasn’t too fussy or over-the-top. “Neither Jacob nor I like to be the center of attention,” the bride explains. “We knew we wanted something more intimate, without some of the pomp and circumstance you’d see at a typical wedding.”
Hill’s cousin, who lived in Westchester, suggested they check out Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills. “It was the first time we could imagine our wedding someplace,” she says. “Every person we met on that first visit was so kind and willing to talk to us; it was a great feeling.”
The Vibe
The guest list was limited to around 100 people, to keep the feeling low-key and intimate. Hill and Gallice decided to forgo the formal wedding party, instead opting to assign special roles for friends and siblings. “There’s some extra pressure to be in a bridal party, and we didn’t want to add to that,” Hill notes. “Our friends were still there with us to get ready that day.”
The bride applied the same approach to the decor. “I wasn’t someone with a vision and a big Pinterest board,” she admits. “Instead, we wanted to play off of the beauty that was already at Blue Hill. The florals were important to me.”
Hill and Gallice enlisted Sierra Steifman of the NYC-based Poppies & Posies to create a natural look that wouldn’t compete with the scene. The couple originally planned on getting married in front of a large tree in the courtyard, and Hill didn’t want a large floral arch to take over. Instead, Steifman created an organic installation that would come up from the ground.
When the forecast called for rain, Blue Hill’s staff suggested moving the ceremony under a large awning to stay outdoors while offering protection from the elements. “It was so cozy under there, and the floral installation was able to pop.”
The Ceremony
“Unexpectedly, the ceremony was the best part,” Hill remembers, noting that it was both her and Gallice’s favorite moment. “It was so wonderful for Linden and me to share our vows and love for each other while being surrounded by all of our friends and family,” the groom adds. “I knew right away that it was one of life’s special moments that I will always cherish and remember.”
Hill’s best friend acted as the officiant, and the couple gave her free rein. “It was so beautiful to hear what she said, and we wrote our own vows,” the bride remembers. “It was incredible to hear what Jacob had to say and be in that cozy atmosphere. It was something I’ll never forget, for sure.”
The Reception
Moving indoors for the reception, Steifman was able to repurpose the ceremony flowers throughout the silo lobby, hayloft lounge, and hallway leading into dinner. “She created romantic little moments everywhere,” adds New York City-based planner Tzo Ai Ang. Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres of garden vegetables and pea burgers, as well as a Gardener’s Gimlet signature cocktail, with gin, peas, mint, and lemon.
“Ever since Jacob and I started dating, we always said we were two peas in a pod,” the bride offers. “We wanted to incorporate that in a subtle, non-cheesy way, which mostly came through in the paperie, and for our wedding day, we caught the end of pea season at Blue Hill.”
In the hayloft, Hill wanted to create a layered, eclectic look instead of perfectly matching tables. “For an intimate wedding in the hayloft, we were able to do all long tables,” Ang adds. “They were adorned with a collection of glass cloches, ceramic dishes with flower frogs, ivory taper candles, and mixed votive candles.”
After dining on a five-course meal prepared by Chef Dan Barber, the newlyweds and their guests danced the night away to the sounds of Cafe Wha? out of New York’s Greenwich Village. “Jacob and I are big dancers, and we loved being on the dance floor with everyone,” the bride says. “They played all of our favorites.”
The Details
Photographer
Heather Waraksa
heatherwaraksa.com
Planning
Tzo Ai Ang
Ang Weddings and Events
Venue
Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Florist
Sierra Steifman
Poppies & Posies
Stationery
Katie Fischer Design
Dress
Morgane le Fay
Napkin rentals
Bayith
Band
Cafe Wha?
Makeup
Face Time Beauty
Hair
Liam Carey
Calligrapher
Ink + Nibs
Strings
The Juilliard School
Linens
La Tavola
Videographer
McKenzie Miller Films
Lighting
Pegasus Productions
