Alexandra and Brad’s Wedding at The Roundhouse in Beacon Falls

When I first met Alexandra to show her my portfolio, she ran up to me and gave me a HUGE hug, when most would have just shook my hand. I knew instantly I was in the company of a very sweet woman!  I was thrilled when she wanted to book me and I couldn’t wait to meet Brad on the engagement shoot.  When the day came,  they were beaming at each other the whole time, the kind of couple everyone likes to be around!  Their chemistry was so much fun to photograph and their happiness was quite contagious!

I was so excited about this wedding.  Sure it had a ton to do with the couple but then there was more, more than just their smiles and happiness, they were getting married at what has become my favorite east coast venue! The Roundhouse in Beacon Falls. Nestled in a quaint little town north of NYC, The Roundhouse is one of those rare venues that even on a rainy day, there are so many beautiful places to take pictures. Only a few years old now, this venue is a stunning combination of modern and rustic charm! Yes I know, that’s a very one-sided opinion based on my need to take beautiful images but besides the photography, I have never seen a venue deliver a wedding day with such expertise and grace! So when the weather looked yucky the morning of Alexandra and Brads’ wedding day, of course I was disappointed but not nearly as much as I would be at other venues!

Enough of my blabbing, let’s take a little photo journey through their amazing wedding day!

We started in Alexandra’s bridal suite, an amazing room full of sweeping views of the falls and of course the stunning Pronovias dress!

Alexandra’s wedding day timeline called for lots of time for photography, something Alexandra told me was very important to her right from the beginning!  The time allowed us to take lots of fun pictures with smiles rather than stressed expressions!  There she is, all smiles and ready to get into her dress, waiting for her bridesmaids to do their final touches.

Gorgeous!  I had to get a picture of them all glammed up! I loved their dresses and the color was perfect for an October wedding!

Alexandra’s Mom did the honors of helping her to make sure the dress was on perfectly!

Look at that stunning light! I love silhouettes and the story it tells with shapes.

Alexandra was given a tip to say a certain funny phrase that would help her refrain from crying once her makeup was done. So whenever there was a hint of emotion, suddenly throughout the room everyone was saying this phrase, resulting in a room full of laughing women rather than weepy ones!  But you know, us photographers, we like the gamut of emotions on a wedding day, so I was secretly happy when I caught this split moment between Alexandra and her Mom.  Seconds later the phrase was being yelled out by all her bridesmaids and the room once again exploded in laughter! Oh boys, if you only knew what they were saying!!!Meanwhile, Brad was getting ready with his family in a hotel down the road. Brad’s dad was doing the honors of making sure Brad looked his absolute best!  I wonder if they too had a certain phrase?

Brad’s brother, the best man, also was there getting ready!

Proud parents!Brad all ready and looking so handsome for his first look with Alexandra back at The Roundhouse.

Drizzly weather? Gorgeous modern bar?  Hmmm, not a bad tradeoff! We made a game day decision to have the first look in The Roundhouse bar and I’m so glad we did! It was a perfect place for these two to see each other without the worries of weather! I just loved their intimate first look!

The lights of this stunning bar were calling my name and I just had to get this gorgeous couple under them! And when it comes to these two and taking pictures, they agree to everything!

Then we got the whole bridal party up there  as well!

One of my favorite feature of The Roundhouse is their tall windows allowing for viewing the amazing scenery and well for me, creating silhouettes! Alexandra was the perfect feminine accent to offset the masculine lines of the bar’s architecture.

We ran outside to photograph the couple in the same window from a different viewpoint. Not only did we have another spectacular perspective but we realized it really wasn’t drizzling out at all!

And out they all went in the streets of Beacon Falls, with big smiles of course!Alexandra’s bouquet was perfect not only in its fall color palette but also the exposed stems and the burlap wrapping perfectly matched this modern rustic wedding day theme! All floral decorations for the wedding were created by Seed to Fruit. Alexandra wanted to carry a bit of the important women in her life with her on her wedding day, so wrapped around her bouquet in some ribbon 3 rings. One from each of her grandmothers and also one of her mother’s. She is hoping to start a new family tradition and that each generation will add a new ring.

Beautiful waterfall around the corner… yes. But really cool graffitti walls and modern/rustic structures were more this couple’s idea of beauty.  I think I heard someone in the bridal party coin it “urban decay”! I had to get Brad to climb up there for a groom portrait!

The ladies with Brad and the men with his bride!

Big thank you to this awesome bridal party for your kindness and fun!

Love this image of these two!  Now I know “urban decay” might not be everyone’s taste for wedding pictures but don’t worry, we took some by that pretty waterfall too later!

Eventually it was time to head on back to the venue, I could have photographed this handsome couple all day! Good thing Alexandra was going to be stowed away in this amazing little room at the venue, while guests arrived, for a few more pictures!

The room has this beautiful art deco styled settee, perfect to show off the stunning bride and her dress!

Meanwhile, as  guests were arriving for the ceremony, they were accompanied by elegant sounds of the string quartet, known as the  Art Strings Ensembles.  The best news was that weather stayed clear enough to have the wedding outside!

Brad is escorted by his parents!

Before the big moment of seeing the bride, Alexandra’s niece accompanied by her grandmother did a wonderful job of not only spreading the rose petals but some cheer as well!

Brad sees Alexandra descending down the stairs.

Alexandra is escorted by her father! So sweet!The outdoor ceremony on the grounds of The Roundhouse, on the edge of the Fishkill Creek, was so stunning, showcasing not only the couple and their ceremony but also the surrounding nature of the venue.

Rev. Louis asks Alexandra and Brad to recite their vows.

Alexandra and Brad are asked to look at all the people there who love and support them.In keeping in tradition with Brad’s Jewish heritage, he smashes a glass then…

Kisses his gorgeous bride!

Married!!!Inside the upper level of The Roundhouse, guests enjoyed a festive cocktail hour.  Alexandra and Brad are passionate about cooking and trying new spices, so to share their passion they ordered Penzeys spices and bottles and put together individual gift bags, each with two spices in glass bottles that were personalized.  They then put them in natural bags with wooden tags that had both the table numbers and the guest names to serve as both wedding favors and table placement cards!

The competition was EVERYWHERE!

During cocktail hour the main room of The Roundhouse was perfectly set up awaiting the guests to come and celebrate! I adored the flower detail in the napkin, such a beautiful touch to the table!

With all the guests seated, Alexandra and Brad arrived at the top of the stairs and were greeted with cheers by their family and friends!

One kiss for the crowd before they headed down for their first dance. Now this won’t be just any first dance, this first dance is actually EXTRA special!  What Brad did here was an amazing feat! The story goes like this. Alexandra comes from a dancing family! Her parents were ballroom dancers in the Ukraine and were invite to come to America in the mid-90s to compete and to manage a Fred-Astaire Dance studio in Hartsdale, NY.  Her whole family dances for their whole lives and here was Brad about to share a first dance with his professional ballroom dancing bride!!  In front of her professional ballroom dancing family!  Whew. To prepare Brad for this, the couple took some dance lessons from Alexandra’s Mom.  The result???

“10!” Brad you did amazing!!  You two looked so happy during your first dance, it was one I nor anyone else I’m sure will ever forget!

With the pressure off once others were asked to join the dance floor, Brad was given an extra huge hug from his wife!!!  I can only imagine how proud she felt!A great welcome toast and a big kiss from Alexandra’s father!Next up was Brad’s brother, the best man! I always love hearing the speeches and hearing the wonderful stories told!Last came the maid of honor, Alexandra’s dear friend.  I’m glad Alexandra finally let the tears roll!

Cheers!

I just love this special picture of Alexandra’s Mom sharing a moment with Brad’s Grandmother.

The newlyweds being congratulated by Brad’s grandfather.

While everyone enjoyed the reception, I stole the happy couple outside for some pictures by those beautiful falls!

Meanwhile the dance floor was full of twirling and swirling and a great time being had by all! The DJ, Dave Leonard at JTD Productions was amazing!

Then came the moment many were waiting for, when Alexandra and her dad shared their father daughter dance.  As you can imagine it was not your average back and forth shuffle on the dance floor!

I’m not sure what this head to head dance move is called, all I know is that the whole room let out an “ohhhhh” when it happened!

Perhaps a little less intricate but no less special, Brad and his mom shared a dance.

Then Brad was dragged off to cut the cake!  Then the poor guy was forced to put his jacket back on by me!  It’s hard work being a groom!

They cut the cake all nice and sweet……though at one moment it looked like there might be a little cake fight and this was everyone’s reaction!  No worries, they played nice!The rest fo the night was filled with all sorts of dancing, not just ballroom dancing! Everyone was having such a wonderful time!

But all wonderful nights must come to an end… but the best thing was that we saved the last half hour of the photography coverage to take night time portraits!!

We made our way to a structure that looked like ruins, yes more urban decay, that we had all oooh and ahhhed earlier that day.  So we saved it for the last picture and I love it!  You two look amazing!

Alexandra and Brad, thank you so much for having us document your amazing wedding day! I was so inspired not only by the love you two have for each other but also your family and friends. It was a day filled with beauty on the outside and the inside too… your wedding is one I will cherish forever!

I would like to add a HUGE THANK YOU to my incredible second shooter Charles of Charles Eames Photography!!!!