This Taconic Ridge Farm Wedding Embraces Vintage Details

Antiques scoured across the Hudson Valley add meaningful touches to a traditional Armenian wedding.

Tanya & Arin
October 15, 2022
Hillsdale

As Tanya and Arin Abrahamian were falling for one another, their love for the Hudson Valley blossomed, as well. On weekend trips to the Catskills early in their courtship, the duo discovered new hobbies and favorite haunts. And, they formed a connection with the region that would one day host their dream wedding.

invitation

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After meeting through mutual friends in the Armenian community, their relationship began with a first date at a wine bar in New York in 2019, and the two soon realized their mutual affection for their cultural heritage, for tight family ties, and a shared appreciation for nature and design.

On one of their adventures upstate, Arin arranged for family members to be on hand when he proposed to Tanya at the iconic Phoenicia Diner, a familiar stop for them.

wedding decor

“Our parents and siblings were kind of hiding behind the bushes, and after the engagement, they jumped out, and we all spent the morning together having Champagne and breakfast. Then we all stayed the night at a property overlooking the mountains and celebrated together,” Arin says.

Wedding plans began in earnest, starting with a designer who created a save-the-date card inspired by a vintage Catskills postcard that perfectly illustrated some of the couple’s favorite activities: fly fishing, apple orchards, mountain views, and nature scenes. Choosing a venue for their October 2022 wedding felt magical, according to Tanya, who says the duo toured almost every possible place in the Hudson Valley.

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wedding ceremony“We knew immediately when we walked into Taconic Ridge Farm that it felt like home,” she says. “The owners are so warm and welcoming, and the aesthetic of the property, barn, and guesthouses felt exactly like what we had envisioned for the day.” The intimate atmosphere made guests feel like they were arriving at the home of a family member — along with an “outside ‘living room’ plus hand-picked objects and pieces that were placed inside the barn.” Much of the vintage ware and decor were heirlooms brought from their families’ homes, along with pieces the bride and groom had collected over a year of antique hunting. Their DIY approach added to the eco-friendly vibe of the wedding by incorporating beautiful, sustainable items that were later passed along to friends and family for future use.

traditions

“A couple of our favorite pieces are 1950s mid-century bride-and-groom coupe glasses and a 1950s deadstock wedding cake topper,” Tanya says, adding that extras, such as table runners, were handmade by Armenian artisans.

The wedding took place on a picture-perfect, sun-doused fall day as the combined families carried out Armenian traditions against the backdrop of the scenic Hudson Valley. A special moment took place before the ceremony when the time-honored and cherished red-and-green sash ritual was held, as was done in the old country.

wedding toast“You look at the photos from my parents’ wedding day and they have the same sashes I am wearing,” says Arin. “It carries significant sentimental meaning; back in the day, you would get married and walk through the village and people would congratulate you and know who the bride and groom are because of the sashes.”

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wedding cake

Throughout the celebration weekend, guests enjoyed tables of delectables sourced locally from organic farms, including ethically raised animal products, wild-caught seafood, and various foods with Armenian touches.

Tanya, 33, who works in fashion consulting, and Arin, 35, a dentist, exchanged vows under a wedding arch created by their families and kept at the venue for future weddings. What touched the newlyweds so profoundly about the Hudson Valley, says Tanya, was a feeling of escape while they were getting to know the small towns, fishing holes, shops, and restaurants of the area. “So much was happening and changing at that time, and it was exciting to be … learning and exploring the area while were learning about each other,” she says.

wedding seatingThe couple’s most treasured memories from the big day involve being surrounded by loving family and friends. “The entire family got together, blasting Armenian music and listening to our ’70s road-trip songs, coming upstate, and putting the entire production together — down to the tables and runners, which Arin’s mom was ironing the morning before the wedding,” Tanya says.

wedding party“Aunts and uncles were setting the tables, designing the flowers and everything was done by our immediate and extended family,” says Arin. “We love doing everything from scratch and doing things together.”
decorBeyond that joyful sentiment, Arin reveals an intimate moment that he will cherish forever: “One of the things I will never forget is being outside the barn at the end of the night when everybody started trickling out, and it was just Tanya and me, plopped on the couch looking at each other like: We did it, what a day.”

The Details

Photography
Lauren Wysocki

Invitation
Sesame Letterpress

Save the Date
Serendipity Beyond Design

Venue
Taconic Ridge Farm

Wedding Planner
Paula Smith

Officiant
Rev. Fr. Davit Karamyan

Band
Michael Arenella

DJ
Chris Habibian

Wedding Cake
Cakes By Ashlee

Catering
Fancy Girl Table

Bar
Tapped into the Catskills

Flowers
Tiny Hearts Farm

Videography
Margo Sees Stars

Rentals
North Country Vintage
Columbia Tent Rentals
Rhinebeck Rentals

Hair & Make-up
Alena Lemondy

Related: These Industrial Wedding Venues in the Hudson Valley Are Breathtaking

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